Pine Ridge Connection

Dear Pine Ridge Families,

At Pine Ridge Elementary, we believe the partnership between home and school is essential for student success. We encourage you to attend our upcoming Family/Teacher Conferences in October.

Fall Conference Dates:

• Thursday, October 8th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, October 13th from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

To simplify scheduling, you will receive an email from Pine Ridge with a classroom link to sign up for a conference time.

Scheduling Multiple Conferences:
If you have more than one child, we recommend scheduling a 15-minute gap between conferences. For example, if you have a 6:00 PM conference, aim to schedule the next at 6:30 PM. This will allow time if one conference runs long.

Important Dates for Sign Up:

• Thursday, September 17th at 10:00 AM: Families with 3 or more conferences will receive the sign-up link.
• Friday, September 18th at 10:00 AM: All families will receive the link to sign up.
• Wednesday, September 23rd at 9:00 PM: Deadline to sign up for conferences. After this time, teachers will assign time slots.

Tips and Reminders:

• For families with parents in different households, please communicate and choose a time when both parents can attend.
• If you don’t sign up by the Wednesday, September 30th deadline, a conference time will be assigned, and you will receive confirmation.
• If you have a special circumstance or need assistance, please contact your child’s teacher directly.

We look forward to seeing you at Family/Teacher Conferences!

Warm regards,

Nathan Peltz

Our PRIDE Pup, Chevelle, is back in action and bringing smiles to students and staff throughout the building! She recently completed her annual recertification test, where she demonstrated that she is still following her commands and putting her best paw forward. We’re happy to report that she passed with flying colors!

Students may spot Chevelle in the Media Center, hallways, Counselor Office, or classrooms throughout the building, spreading joy, offering comfort, and helping make Pine Ridge a great place to be.

If your child has a fear of or allergy to dogs, please reach out to the office. We are happy to work with families to make sure everyone feels comfortable and supported at school.

We are lucky to have Abby Terranova as our counselor at Pine Ridge! Mrs. Terranova plays an important role in supporting our students, families, and staff throughout the school year.

Would you like to learn more about Mrs. Terranova and the many ways she supports our Pine Ridge Rangers? Click the attachment below to get to know her and learn more about her role at Pine Ridge!

We’re so glad to have you on our team, Mrs. Terranova! 💚

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. It is also possible to work part time in this role.

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 give our office a call 616-493-8910.

Pine Ridge - Job Application Page

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

Ranger Rally Volunteer Opportunities

A successful Rally depends on many volunteers! There are a few available spots left!

Link to SignUp Genius

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

• 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!

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.

Join our Ranger community at the annual Ranger Country Community Tailgate on Friday, September 18, 2026. Lots of fun activities, food trucks, and Ranger pride! Purchase your $10 youth wristbands at the tailgate to participate in the pre-game activities; adults are free. All festivities occur at FHC High School lower turf field and adjacent parking lot. Go Rangers!

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