Pine Ridge Prep Update

Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

Welcome back and happy new year! We hope you had a wonderful winter break. We are so excited to have students back tomorrow!

You will receive a weekly newsletter from us highlighting all upcoming dates and events. The weekly newsletter will also include reminders and important information. Please make sure to read the newsletter each week so you stay informed! This is the number one way we communicate with all families. This newsletter will be sent via email, text, and posted on our Pine Ridge Prep Facebook page. Speaking of, haven't followed us yet on social media? Please do! We love to share pictures of all the fun we are having!

If you have further questions after reading, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

The Topeka Public Schools Inclement Weather webpage includes important information on how families can stay connected, what to expect in the event of school closures or delays, and answers to FAQs regarding district procedures. Whenever school is impacted due to inclement weather, families will be notified via text and/or email and updates will be shared across our social media platforms.

As a reminder, we follow district guidelines for outside time during colder months. We WILL go outside if the wind chill is 20 degrees or above. Please be sure you are sending your student with weather appropriate clothes, coat, hat and gloves. If you need help with any of these items, please reach out to the office.

Don't forget to return your completed Winter Break Choice Board!

Let's keep the fun and learning happening over Winter Break! The Winter Break Choice Board pictured below will be sent home with all students today. Students who return it in January with at least 8 items signed off by a parent will receive a book to take home!

We will go on several field trips this year. Dates and locations are listed below. Parents are welcome to attend field trips BUT must provide their own transportation and their own entry fee. Siblings are welcome to attend, with parents providing transportation and entry fee, EXCEPT for the Discovery Center field trip as they are closed to the public on the day we visit and children outside of Pine Ridge Prep will not be able to attend. We will pay all fees for PRP students. Even if their family attends, students are to stay with their school group. Finally, we require a signed permission slip before every field trip. Teachers will provide these. These MUST be completed in order for students to attend.

Discovery Center: Monday, March 9th @ 10:00-12:00

Topeka Zoo: Tuesday, April 14th @ 10:00-12:00

Norovirus season is here, and if your kid's school looks like a ghost town right now, you're not alone. This virus is absurdly contagious — we're talking as few as 18 viral particles to get infected. It survives on surfaces for days to weeks, spreads through vomit and poop (and even tiny aerosolized droplets when someone throws up), and people stay contagious for at least a few days after they feel better. Talk about spreading holiday cheer!

So what actually helps?

• Soap and water. Hand sanitizer doesn't cut it with norovirus. Scrub those hands before eating and after bathrooms. 🧼
• If someone pukes near you, leave. Seriously. Aerosolized droplets are no joke. 🏃‍➡️
• If it hits your house:
• 🧤Gloves on, clean the area with paper towels, then disinfect with a bleach solution (5-25 tbsp per gallon of water). Leave it on for at least 5 minutes.
• 🦠Wash contaminated clothes/linens on hot, dry on high heat.
• 😷Keep the sick person away from food prep for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.

• For sick kids: Small, frequent sips — not big gulps — of an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte). If they won’t take that, try diluted juice or broth. Every 5 minutes. It's tedious but it works.
• Watch for dehydration: sunken eyes, no tears, dry mouth, feeling weak or dizzy, not peeing much.
• Call your pediatrician if you're seeing those signs.

You will get through this! 🫡

Topeka Public Schools has a new site for school menus. Please use this link to access school menus. You will use the drop-down boxes to choose Pine Ridge Prep and then choose the breakfast or lunch menu you would like to view.

Topeka Public Schools will be using My School Bucks as a way for parents to track and pay student fines, fees and other costs online. Pine Ridge Prep students DO have an enrollment fee. This ranges from $21-$32. The lower rate is for those families who qualify for free or reduced lunch. See the pictures below (you can click on a picture to make it bigger) for instructions on how to set up your My School Bucks account and pay your fees for the 25-26 school year. Please reach out to the office with any questions.

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

• Arrival begins: 8:20 AM (drop off at classroom door)
• School starts: 8:30 AM
• Arrival ends: 8:30 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 8:30 AM. Students arriving after 8:30 AM will need to sign in at the main office )
• Dismissal begins: 3:30 PM (pick up at classroom door)
• Dismissal ends: 3:45 PM (all students must be picked up by 3:45 PM)

Late Start Fridays (every Friday): 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

• Arrival begins: 9:20 AM (drop off at classroom door)
• School starts: 9:30 AM
• Arrival ends: 9:30 AM (Students will be considered tardy after 9:30 AM. Students arriving after 9:30 AM will need to sign in at the main office)
• Dismissal begins: 3:30 PM (pick up at classroom door)
• Dismissal ends: 3:45 PM (all students must be picked up by 3:45 PM)

Pine Ridge Prep follows the Topeka Public Schools Academic Calendar. The only exception is a later start date. The first day of school for Pine Ridge Prep students is Wednesday, August 20th.

Our Pine Ridge Prep Facebook page is active! We use this as a way to communicate with families and share many pictures. Please follow the page to stay updated!

https://www.facebook.com/PineRidgePrep/

Check out this link for Kansas Food Source. This link provides a map of all of the KS counties and indicates what food resources are available in each county.

Take a look at the Topeka Resources Checklist. This is very helpful for planning! This is a list of possible resources to help you stretch your dollars and avoid economic emergencies. Place a check beside the ones you are using or have used.

You can find the link to the 2021 Community Resources Council Resource Directory here. This directory provides contact information for a variety of community resources.

If in need of resources, you can also contact the United Way by dialing 211.

See the following links for Food Pantry resources available to families.

English and Spanish

Email: klopez@tps501.org
Website: https://pineridgeprep.topekapublicschools.net/
Location: 1120 Southeast Highland Avenue, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785-329-7870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PineRidgePrep/
Twitter: @PinePrep