Pine Ridge Prep Update

Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

We hope you had a great 3 day weekend!

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

During Parent/Teacher Conferences, Pine Ridge is spreading warmth to our families! As part of our Week of Warmth, every student will receive a new coat, hat, gloves, and blanket to help stay cozy this season. We’re grateful to our community partners to help every child and family feel cared for during the colder months. Stay tuned for more information over the next couple of weeks.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on October 22nd from 4:00-8:00 and October 23rd from 8:00-8:00. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on October 23rd & 24th. Expect to hear from your child's teacher soon to sign up for a time frame that works best within your schedule. Teachers will then use that information to create a finalized schedule. Once that has been done, your student's teacher will send a confirmation of the date and time for your conference. These conferences will be held in person in your child's classroom. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing your child's progress!

We are excited to be heading to the Pumpkin Patch for our first field trip of the school year! All classrooms will be going on Tuesday, October 21st. Permission slips for this trip will be sent home. These must be returned by the day before your child is scheduled to go. Those students without signed forms the day of the trip will not be allowed to attend. It is critical all students arrive on time to school as buses will leave as scheduled.

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.

Lil Munchkins Pumpkin Patch: Tuesday, October 21st @ 10:00-12:30

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

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

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.

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.

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/

The Pine Ridge Prep Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is looking for family members to serve on PTO. More details to come!

If you are interested in being a part of Pine Ridge Prep's PTO, please reach out to Mrs. Meyers-Lopez at klopez@tps501.org.

Thank you for your consideration!

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