Pine Ridge Connection
9.18.26
Dear Pine Ridge Families,
Today, your child will bring home their fall NWEA MAP Growth and DIBELS assessment reports. These assessments are administered three times throughout the school year and provide teachers with valuable information about your child’s academic progress. Both assessments were completed in early September, so please keep in mind that your child has had additional learning opportunities and may have already made significant growth since testing.
Understanding MAP Growth Testing
Students take two NWEA MAP Growth assessments: one in reading and one in mathematics. These computer-based assessments adapt to each student’s responses, adjusting the difficulty of questions as students demonstrate their understanding.
MAP Growth helps teachers understand what students know, identify areas of strength, and determine where additional instruction or challenges may be beneficial. By comparing results throughout the year, teachers can monitor academic growth and adjust instruction to meet students’ needs.
Understanding DIBELS Reading Assessment
DIBELS is a reading assessment that helps teachers look more closely at the foundational skills students need to become successful readers. Depending on the grade level, DIBELS measures skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, word reading, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
While MAP Growth provides a broader picture of reading achievement, DIBELS offers more specific information about the reading skills students have developed and the areas where they may need additional practice or support. Teachers use these results to plan instruction, provide targeted interventions when needed, and monitor students’ progress toward becoming confident, capable readers.
How We Use Assessment Results
At Pine Ridge, assessment data is one important piece of the larger picture of your child’s learning. Teachers consider these results alongside classroom performance, daily observations, and other measures of student progress. This information helps us celebrate strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and make instructional decisions that support every student.
We encourage you to review your child’s reports and celebrate the learning journey. Remember that these results represent a snapshot of your child’s performance at the time of testing, not everything your child knows or can do. Our students continue to learn and grow every day!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Nathan Peltz
Principal, Pine Ridge Elementary
Students Attempting the Discus
Mrs. Courtade and Two Students
Mrs. Vroegop and Mr. Peltz Joined the Fun
On Thursday, our second grade Rangers traveled back in time to experience the excitement of the Olympics in Ancient Greece!
As a culminating event for their language arts unit, students put their learning into action by participating in a variety of Olympic, inspired activities. From trying their skills at each event to discovering more about ancient Greek traditions, students had a blast bringing history to life!
It was a day filled with learning, laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of Ranger spirit. What a fun way to celebrate everything our second graders have learned about Ancient Greece!
Let the Olympic spirit live on!
Last Tuesday, we celebrated our local farms with the 2026 Apple Crunch! All classes joined in, counted down together, and enjoyed a delicious bite of apple at the same time. The photo and video captures the excitement and countdown from this fun event. We had a wonderful time as a school dancing to the music and enjoying our apples!
We are excited to celebrate Halloween with all of our students this year.
Pine Ridge will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, October 30th.
Please send your child to school in regular clothes. Students will change into their costumes prior to the school parade.
We will be having an outdoor school parade (weather permitting) starting at 2:00. Family members may line the outdoor parade route and enjoy this portion of the Pine Ridge festivities. The parade route will go all the way around Pine Ridge.
After the parade, students will return to their classroom for classroom parties. Only head room parents and designated class helpers may return to the classroom for the party.
Make sure to have a volunteer form on file if you are a designated volunteer. Those that do not have a form on file, can not volunteer.
There is an alternate Fall Fest opportunity with amazing activity for all students that choose to not participate in the parade and class party. Please see below for more detailed information.
When Planning Your Costume
Costumes must be appropriate for elementary aged students.
Avoid violent costumes, any Halloween masks (beyond what we wear everyday) & blood / gore costumes.
Roller skates / roller blades may not be worn.
No fake weapons
A Second Option for Students:
As in years past, we will continue to have two options available to students during our October Fall Festivities. If your child will be wearing a costume and participating in their classroom party, NO RESPONSE is needed.
If you would prefer opportunity #2 (no costume/small group) for your child, please see the additional information below.
Thank you!
If you would prefer that your child not participate in the classroom Fall Harvest Party, we are happy to provide alternative activities for them during this time. Students who choose this option will not wear costumes and will be supported by Pine Ridge staff as they participate in alternative Fall-themed games and activities in a separate location throughout the duration of the class party. If you would like your child to participate in this alternative option, please email our School Counselor, Abby Terranova, at aterranova@fhps.net.
A Safer, Simpler Check-In
FHPS will implement a New Digital Visitor Management System Coming in November.
As part of our ongoing commitment to safety and security, FHPS is introducing a new visitor management system in all of our schools this November. The system keeps track of who is in our buildings at all times, so we can continue providing a safe and welcoming environment for students, staff, and families.
When you visit any FHPS school during the school day, there are two important things to remember:
Always enter through the main entrance and check in with the office staff.
If your visit will take you beyond the main office, for example, to volunteer or read to a class, bring a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID.
If you’ll be going beyond the office, here’s what to expect when you arrive:
Enter the secure vestibule area inside the main school entrance. Press the security door buzzer, and proceed to the main office. Scan your ID using the designated iPad and follow the directions posted at each iPad kiosk. If you need assistance, an office member can help you.
Scan your ID at the kiosk each time you visit.
The system reads your name, photo, and date of birth from your ID. It then runs a brief background check against the sex offender registry and any flags or local alerts entered by school personnel.
Once you’re cleared, the kiosk prints a visitor sticker. Visitors must wear their sticker where staff can easily see it throughout their visit, so staff knows you’re an approved visitor.
Before you leave, return your sticker to the front office and quickly scan out.
The entire check-in process typically takes less than 30 seconds.
Not every visit requires scanning in. If you’re stopping by briefly to drop off or pick up a student, or to make a delivery, you won’t need to use the system. FHPS employees also won’t scan in, because all district staff are already required to wear their FHPS ID badge at all times, enter through the main office, and check in with office staff before going further into the building. Furthermore, for larger school events, the check-in process will be more streamlined and communicated to families prior to these events, such as class parties or school fundraising walks, to name a few.
Behind the scenes, the new system replaces paper sign-in sheets with a secure digital process. It keeps a real-time record of everyone on campus, including when each visitor arrives and leaves. It also connects with PowerSchool, our student information system, and can generate reports for building administrators. If a visitor is flagged, the system immediately alerts an administrator so they can respond quickly and discreetly.
Most importantly, remember to bring your government-issued ID every time you plan to go beyond the school office. Our front office staff is always willing to assist. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and welcoming for everyone.
Last week, during our early release day, teachers engaged in professional learning focused on the mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, designed to help educators better understand student literacy development and make data-informed instructional decisions. Teachers explored how to use assessment results to identify individual student needs, monitor growth over time, and adjust instruction and interventions to support continued literacy development.
You can learn more about mCLASS by visiting the mCLASS Caregiver Site.
Special area groups met to discuss pacing, unit collaboration, and district-wide alignment.
On Friday, November 13th, we would like to invite your students to bring a veteran of the Armed Forces to join us for lunch at Pine Ridge. The veteran can be a family member, neighbor or friend. The students and staff would like to say thank you to these men and women for serving our country.
Lunch times
11:10- 11:45am -JK, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade
12:10-1:00pm 3rd and 4th Grade
** Veterans will be provided a complimentary lunch. Students need to bring a lunch or order hot lunch. Have more than one veteran to invite? Please submit another form. Questions: Email Shanda Drury shanda.drury@gmail.com
You’ve probably heard of Athletic Boosters, Band Boosters, and Academic Boosters. Now you can be a Library Booster! To see how it works, please click on the link below.
Lunch and Recess Paraprofessional Position
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.
We are excited to kick off our Ranger community fundraiser and to continue our relationship with Family Promise of West Michigan next week! Central High has been partnering with Family Promise for over 25 years and helping support our community to end homelessness one family at a time. Our Ranger community has been the primary supporter of their holiday store event, which provides toys and gifts during the holiday season. With our fundraising efforts, we are able to help provide a holiday experience for over 120 kids and 80 adults each year. For over 15 years, families have been able to come and shop the holiday store to pick out gifts for their children. All is made possible by the efforts of our Ranger families.
Our new Pine Ridge Ranger Gear store is officially open!
Shop apparel and gear for the whole family and show your Ranger pride all year long. The best part? The online store will stay open throughout the school year, so you can shop whenever you’re ready! Check out the flyer for details or use the link to start shopping:
- 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.
Please make sure to email prattendance@fhps.net or call the 24 hour attendance line (616) 493-8916 to report your child's absence from school. Please keep your child home when they are not feeling well. They must be fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medication before returning to school.
Pine Ridge Contact Information
Location: 3250 Redford Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Phone: (616)493-8910