Laura Beaton

Pioneer-Quincy Elementary school children exit the campus on the second day of classes.  Photo by Laura Beaton

Principal Kristy Warren said she is excited to be at the helm of the combined schools. “It feels like home,” she said.

She and her staff have worked extensively to make the transition as easy and productive as possible.

The school had 356 students on the first day. The teaching staff consists of 13 general education teachers, 2 special education teachers and one K-6 opportunity teacher.

Warren, a 1997 graduate of Quincy High School, is in her seventh year as principal. She started her career at Greenville and Taylorsville Elementary Schools and spent the last five years at Portola High School.

She lives in Portola with her husband Matt and their two young children.  Warren praised head custodian Frank Carey and his staff for working extremely hard over the summer. Among a plethora of jobs was moving the contents of Pioneer classrooms to their new location.

After-school activities include band, taught by music teacher Tanner Johns.

Artists in the school, a program orchestrated by Plumas Arts, begins in Oct. The grant-funded program offers hands-on workshops with local artists for Plumas Unified School District K-6 students during the regular school day.

Plumas Recreation and Park District (PRPD) runs sports programs for county schoolchildren. Fall soccer for boys and girls grades K-9 is happening now.

About 300 youths throughout the county and Loyalton will play in games Sept. 15 – Nov. 3. There are 20 – 22 teams in various divisions.

Most games will be played at Feather River College.

Jim Boland, director of PRPD, said $10,000 was donated by PRPD to the college to build a new soccer field.

Boland called volunteer coaches the backbone of the whole program. In lieu of payment, coaches get free tickets to the Town Hall Theater in an arrangement made with Plumas Arts.

“Together we build community,” is Boland’s motto.

In addition to soccer, PRPD also sponsors the Chatterbox and High Sierra Community Youth Orchestras, conducted by local musician Johny McDonald. Students practice at Quincy High School.

Pioneer Quincy Elementary School also utilizes the Alder Street Garden as an outdoor classroom. One of the garden’s founders, Alan Morrison, teaches science at the school.

Cody Reed will continue her Digging In educational garden program in conjunction with classroom teachers.

A school librarian will be on the job just 10 hours per week. Classroom teachers will be able to utilize the library throughout the day.

Warren credits her administrative team with developing a decision-making process to deal with challenges: 1. Kids first. 2. Honesty. 3. Respect.

“The teachers are great,” Warren said. “We have an awesome staff.”