Pine Ridge Prep Update

Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

*Next week's newsletter will come on Monday and will have important information regarding arrival and dismissal. Stay tuned!

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I am so excited to welcome all of our new and returning Pine Ridge Prep Wolves!

I am privileged to be beginning my fourth year as principal at Pine Ridge Prep Preschool and Sheldon Head Start. Here at Pine Ridge Prep we are blessed with the best ~ the most passionate and dedicated teaching staff, incredible students, and rock star families! Working together, we will set the tone for your child's continued academic success!

Once school starts, you will receive a weekly newsletter from me 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 I 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!

This edition of the newsletter contains important information you need to know leading up to the first day of school. I hope this newsletter helps answer many of your questions.

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

My name is Kim Meyers-Lopez and it is my pleasure to serve as the Building Leader Intern at Pine Ridge Prep! I am excited to be a part of the Pine Ridge Community to continue and grow our partnerships with the community. I have spent my teaching career in early childhood and early childhood special education and look forward to serving you and your family.

I have a Bachelor of Agriculture from Kansas State University in Conservation - Parks and Recreation and a Secondary Degree in Natural Resources. My specialization was Interpretation. This is a non-traditional teaching position in State and National Parks. My love of teaching led me to earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Unified from Fort Hays State University and an ESOL endorsement. I also hold a Master’s of Science from Emporia State University in Educational Administration.

Personally I live with my husband and two children. My son is very active in hockey and my daughter plays soccer. Our family loves sports and we spend a lot of time at the rink or the pitch. I love nature and spending time outdoors. I enjoy hiking, bird watching and spending time at the lake.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and collaborate with the Pine Ridge community!

~Mrs. Kim Meyers-Lopez, Building Leader Intern

The child nutrition form is a required form that all enrolled families need to complete. The district was awarded a grant that results in all students in Topeka Public Schools receiving free meals this school year. By filling out this form, you will NOT be charged any amount for meals this school year. This form benefits the TPS district because it helps us receive funding for many programs and technology to ensure student success. Please take time NOW to complete the form.

This form is for your whole family, so if you have multiple children at several schools, you only have to complete one form.

Topeka Public Schools Homepage

Click on "Free/Reduced Meal Application." This will take you to a Horizon Software page that indicates Topeka Public USD #501 at the top. Read through the "Welcome" page and click on "Start Application" at the bottom.

A requirement for early childhood programs is that all families complete the ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE2 for their student(s). Below you will find links to complete these online, available in both English and Spanish. Please choose the first option to complete BOTH surveys at the same time. You are able to save and come back to it if you need more time. It is important on the questions that ask about whether your child can do a certain task/skill that you actually ask/do those with your child. This gives us accurate information to support your student at school. Please complete these as soon as possible and let us know if you have any issues! Thank you!

ASQ - English

ASQ - Spanish

Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Arrival begins: 8:30 a.m.

Arrival ends: 8:45 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 8:45 a.m.)

Dismissal begins: 3:30 p.m.

Dismissal ends: 3:45 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 3:45 p.m.)

Late Start Fridays (every Friday): 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Arrival begins: 9:30 a.m.

Arrival ends: 9:45 a.m. (students will be considered tardy after 9:45 a.m.)

Dismissal begins: 3:30 p.m.

Dismissal ends: 3:45 p.m. (all students must be picked up by 3:45 p.m.)

Before the first day of school, you will receive a newsletter that explains the arrival and dismissal procedures.

We will be providing each student a water bottle to use throughout the day. There is no need to send one with your student.

At Pine Ridge Prep, we are part of the district's food service program and provide breakfast, lunch, and snack to all students. If you have a need for a religious or medical meal modification, please reach out to your child's teacher as putting that in place requires paperwork to be completed.

Families should plan to attend "Meet the Teacher Night" on Wednesday, August 16th. This event is from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and is a come and go event. Bring your child, see your child's classroom and school.

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 Thursday, August 17th.

At Pine Ridge Prep, we provide all school supplies. The only items we ask your child bring are two sets of weather appropriate clothes (socks, underwear, bottom, top) in case of an accident or getting messy throughout the day. Additionally, while a backpack is not required, most students do bring one. If you need assistance with providing a backpack for your student, please reach out!

Thank you to the families who have delivered, sent or uploaded the required preschool documents!

If you have not done so, please submit your child's:

• birth certificate
• immunization records
• your W2 forms or 1040 (first page of taxes)

The above documents can be submitted by uploading them into Synergy, scanning and emailing them to klopez@tps501.org, or delivering them to the Pine Ridge Prep office.

We must have the required documents before the first day of school.

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/

It is important that your child attend school each day to have a consistent educational program. Of course, illness or other family emergencies can cause absences. If your child will be absent please let us know by contacting the office at 785-329-7870.

The Topeka Public School Procedures are as follows:

1. Absences are excused for student illness or family emergencies. If your child is going to be absent, you should call the office before 9:30 a.m. It is each parent’s responsibility to be sure the office has been notified of the reason for absence. Advanced notice is appreciated.
2. A phone call attempt will be made on every child that does not arrive at school by 9:30am.
3. After 2 days of unexcused absences, staff will conduct a home visit or make other direct contact with child’s family, determine what assistance is needed to remedy the problem.
4. Unexcused absences can result in a truancy report being filed.
5. Each absence after 10 excused absences may result in the need for a doctor’s release note to be considered an excused absence.
6. Although Kansas law does not require students to be in school prior to the age of 7, ANY child enrolled in public school does fall into the state truancy policies. Truancy reports will be made to the district truancy officer for any student with excessive absences and/or tardies.

Check out this article on WHY attendance matters!

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