Pine Ridge Prep Update

Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

Welcome back to the 2021-2022 school year! Staff reported back last week and we have been busy preparing for students to arrive! As a reminder, the first day of school is August 19th. We open the doors at 9:15 and will begin our dismissal at 4:00.

This is the first of our weekly parent newsletters for this year. We try to make this very comprehensive and include school and district information that you need, as well as community resources. Please read carefully each week as this is the major form of communication you will receive. We send this out via email and post it on our website and Facebook page.

Click the link to access the 2021-2022 Family Handbook.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

Mrs. Shelley Banzhaf, Building Leader Intern

Teachers have begun calling families to schedule porch visits prior to the first day of school. If you haven't heard from your teacher by the end of this week, please reach out!

We will be hosting a Meet the Teacher Night on August 18 from 4:30-5:30. While you will have already met your teacher through home visits, this is an opportunity to see your child's school and classroom and ask any last minute questions you may have.

*Masks are required for anyone entering the building*

The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 19. Arrival is 9:15 and we will begin dismissal at 4:00. We will be serving breakfast and lunch. The car line will run as usual.

If your child takes medication at school, you will need to have your child's physician complete and sign a Request to Administer Medication form, which will need to be returned to Mrs. Banzhaf. Medication must be sent in the original packaging with the original label. If your child needs meal modifications due to medical restrictions, please complete and return the attached form.

Please be sure you send an extra set of clothes (bottom, top, underwear, socks) with your student on the first day of school, in case of accidents. Make sure they are appropriate for the current weather.

Pine Ridge Prep will be using a car line arrival and dismissal process again this year. It will take us a few days to get it down, but if you give us grace during that time, I ensure that we will be a well-oiled machine by the end of the second week of school! Our highest priority is student safety so we will take our time to ensure the safety of all. The number one thing I have learned over the years is that when everyone follows the rules, the system works, and works quickly!

The maps below highlight the traffic flow for the car line and for families who walk up. Please remember that we are located in a fairly compact neighborhood. We want to ensure we are respectful of all Pine Ridge Prep's neighbors by following speed limit and other traffic signs and by not blocking driveways.

The picture above shows the proper way to enter the neighborhood to join the car line. Cars will enter SE Highland from SE 10th. Vehicles will stop in front of their assigned building (Owl, Deer, Rabbit) to drop off their student. Vehicles will continue on SE Highland to exit the car line.

Walkers will approach the school from the intersection of SE Highland and SE Gilmore.

The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education voted on August 5th to follow the CDC Universal masking guidelines to start the school year. This means that masks will be required indoors for all staff, students, and visitors regardless of vaccination status. Masks will not be required during outside times. Please be sure you send your student to school with a clean face mask each day. This is part of their required dress code and we appreciate your assistance with ensuring we are providing a safe environment for our students! We will also be continuing with frequent handwashing/sanitation, disinfection protocols, and maintaining a social distance of 3 feet. Follow this link to view the entire "TPS Safe to Return to School Plan".

Late Start has moved back to FRIDAYS for this school year and the arival time will be at 10:10. The first late start of the year will be our second day of school, August 20th.

You can find the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar HERE.

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.

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

English and Spanish

Website: https://www.topekapublicschools.net/pine-ridge-prep
Location: 1110 SE Highland Ave.
Phone: 785-329-7870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PineRidgePrep/
Twitter: @PinePrep