Pine Ridge Connection

Pictured Above: Fourth grade students building, creating, and exploring during STEAM class!

Hello Pine Ridge Families,

We had a great second week at Pine Ridge! Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we settle into the new school year.

Afternoon Pick-Up

Thank you for using your pick-up tags during afternoon dismissal. We truly appreciate your partnership as we work to create a safer and more efficient way to reconnect students with their families at the end of the school day.

When possible, please use the pick-up line rather than walking to pick up your child. We completely understand that some families walk because they live close to school. However, if you are driving and parking behind the school, using the pick-up line is the best option and helps us move students through dismissal as efficiently as possible.

Learning at Pine Ridge

This week, our teachers really began settling into classroom instruction, and it has been exciting to see our students learning and engaging in their classrooms.

One new component of our instruction this year is CKLA Amplify (Core Knowledge Language Arts). During our 90–120 minute language arts block, students are immersed in the CKLA curriculum through a combination of listening, reading, writing, discussion, and vocabulary development.

I have included a few links below if you would like to listen, watch, and learn more about what your child is experiencing through CKLA. We hope these resources provide you with a better understanding of this new curriculum and the learning taking place in our classrooms.

As always, if you have questions about CKLA or your child's learning, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher.

It has been wonderful to be in classrooms this week and see the excitement, engagement, and learning taking place. We are off to a great start!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Nathan Peltz

Friday, September 11th is picture day! So send your students with their smiles! Photos will be take before lunch and recess! Look for order forms in your mailboxes.

The week of September 21st, we’ll have a little Spirit Week fun with a few themed dress-up days! These days are completely optional, but we hope they add a little extra fun and excitement to our students’ week. 🎉

Spirit Week Dress-Up Days

• Monday, September 21st: Favorite Sports Team or FHC Day
• Tuesday, September 22nd: Hat Day or Wacky Hair Day
• Wednesday, September 23rd: Superhero Day
• Thursday, September 24th: Bright Colors or Favorite Color Day
• Friday, September 25th: Wear Your Ranger Rally Pine Ridge T-Shirt

Pine Ridge Elementary is currently looking for caring and dependable individuals to join our team as Lunch and Recess Paraprofessionals. This position is a Monday - Friday position from 11:10 AM - 1:10 PM.

This position provides an opportunity to support students during lunch and recess while helping create a safe, positive, and enjoyable environment for all.

If you're interested in this position, please see the job posting below for additional details and application information.

Pine Ridge - Job Application Page

Join Pine Ridge families, students and staff for dinner and dessert at the 28th Street Culver's on Monday, September 21st and Thursday, September 24th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.

Come out to visit with other families, friends and Pine Ridge staff. Pine Ridge staff will be running food to tables!

Pine Ridge will receive 20% of the proceeds. You won't want to miss these nights

We are so excited to share that planning is underway for the 2026 Ranger Rally! Please consider donating to this one-time fundraising effort!

• The recommended Ranger Rally donation is $30-75 per student, but any amount is very appreciated! Donation envelopes can be sent in with your student to school at any time until the day of the Rally. All checks should be made payable to the Pine Ridge PTO.
• Online donations can be made here: https://tinyurl.com/yj79md7r
• Please note: Square donations are subject to a processing fee. If you would like us to receive the full amount of your donation, cash or check is preferred. Thank you for your support!

Ranger Rally is coming! September 25th, 2026. EACH PR STUDENT/STAFF will receive our PR Ranger Rally shirt. But if your family/siblings would like to order a PR Ranger Shirt the link to order is below. The store closes September 7th at 11:59 pm and they will be sent out 8-10 days after ordering. Order here: https://radco.chipply.com/PINERIDGE26/

• Volunteer Consent Form Link
• This Form must be submitted every year to participate in any volunteer activities.
• If you have more than one child in the district, you can include all students on the one form.
• You will need a copy of the front of your ID to complete this form.

PTO Committee Link

The PTO Committees are responsible for planning various events and activities during the school year. The Committees are essential to ensuring successful events for our staff, students, and families! These are separate from volunteering the day of the event - those opportunities will be made available via Sign-up Genius sent in Mr. Peltz' newsletter. The PTO Board Members are available to guide/assist the Committee leads! There are also documents from years past to steer the work. Committees are very supported by the staff, as well! These are fun and fulfilling opportunities that impact our students. Feel free to check all options that interest you!

Online directory information must be re-confirmed every year to be published and visible to others. Please update your information no later than September 4.

RETURNING DIRECTORY USERS:

Visit https://pineridgeto.membershiptoolkit.com/login-form OR open the Membership Toolkit App to update your contact information, student grade level, and teacher for this school year.

NEW DIRECTORY USERS:

Go to https://pineridgeto.membershiptoolkit.com/login-form to register.

• If you already have a username/password for another school, use that information to log in under “Returning User?”

• Otherwise, click on the “Create Account” button for new users.

• Check your email for a link to complete the account set-up process.

• Please allow 24-48 hours for full access to the directory, new members/families are screened for security purposes. Some information may not be visible upon account creation.

Visit your App Store and download the FREE "Membership Toolkit" App onto your smartphone for easiest access to the directory.

All families at Pine Ridge Elementary are members of the PTO! Stay connected with up to date information about all the fundraisers, activities, and events going on at school. Join our Pine Ridge Elementary PTO group- invite your friends and share with new families!

I'm so excited to say that KDL's Legendary Readers Challenge starts today! This reading challenge is a 100 day challenge for kids in grades kindergarten to 5th grade. They simply read for 20 minutes or more each day and mark off a feather. Upon completion, participants will get a prize and vinyl sticker of the Griffin, this year's creature. Please use the attached reading log to track your reading. For more information, check out Legendary Readers (Grades K-5) | Kent District Library.

Forest Hills Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy is now enforced by Michigan law. Our policy states that students may not carry or use cell phones or any electronic device during the school day. Electronic devices includes any smartwatch. Phones are available in the Pine Ridge office should a student need to contact their parent/guardian.

Location: 3250 Redford Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Phone: (616)493-8910