The Scoop from South Pines

Dear South Pines Families,

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday was filled with meaningful moments spent with family and friends. It’s always wonderful to take time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives, and I’m grateful for the special community we have here at South Pines.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the parents who joined us for conferences before the break. Your partnership and engagement are invaluable in supporting our students' success. I’d also like to express our gratitude for your enthusiastic support of our Scholastic Book Fair. Thanks to your involvement and the incredible partnership of our PTO, the Book Fair was a resounding success!

Looking ahead, our PTO will discuss how to distribute the funds raised during their December meeting. If you’d like to be part of the conversation and share your ideas, I encourage you to attend. Your input helps ensure that these resources are used in ways that directly benefit our students and school.

Lastly, I’d like to share a gentle reminder regarding after-school plans. Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in last-minute arrangements for students to go home with friends. For the safety and security of all students, please call the office to inform us of any alternate plans as early as possible. This ensures that everyone is accounted for and transitions are smooth for all involved.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. Together, we create a safe, caring, and thriving environment for our students.

Warm regards,
Mrs. Reyes
Principal, South Pines Elementary

Friday, December 13th

PTO Babysitting Activity - 5:30pm

Thursday, December 19th

PTO General Assembly Meeting & Craft Night Activity at 6:00pm

December 21st - January 5th

No School - Winter Break

Hello South Pines families! During this time of year things get extremely busy and finances get strained. If you could use a little help, know I am here and ready to support.

We still have winter coats available, so if this could help your family, please call the office or myself.

You can call me direct at 509-558-4416 or email me at sphillips@cvsd.org. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you have and be sure to check out the links below for resources.

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Shannon Phillips

School Counselor

Use the link below or QR code above to let us know your kids will be joining us!

South Pines PTO: Parent's Night Out

Attention South Pines parents & staff!! Wondering how you can support the PTO from the comforts of your couch? Download the Box Tops APP! Our school can get up to $500 from Box Tops. All you have to do is download the app and link South Pines Elementary. After you shop, upload an image of your receipt and they do all the work for you. OR you can link your online shopping account and it will track the eligible items automatically.

Click on the photo to the right for more information.

October 17th Meeting Minutes - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fSlzB_U4vrA7rva-_j8BvD9Bx3maqRhc_HFILV61YIo/edit?usp=sharing

November 14th Meeting Minutes - General Assembly Meeting 11-13-24 - Google Docs

Feel free to follow along the South Pines Elementary PTO Facebook page for the most up to date information!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551592470924

It’s important for parents and guardians to be aware of the policies regarding medical concerns during after-school programs. Specifically, if a student has medical needs, a parent must be present in the building to assist with those needs, as nursing services will not be available during after-school activities. If your child wishes to participate, please make sure that a parent/guardian is available to be with the student in the building at all times during the activity. This ensures that all students can participate safely and that their medical requirements are adequately addressed. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to your school nurse, Amanda at extension 4412, ahubof@cvsd.org, or via cell 509-919-2161.

11/14/24

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Your child may have been exposed to whooping cough (pertussis). Since July 2024 Spokane Regional Health District has seen an increased number of whooping cough cases Spokane. Whooping cough is an infection that affects the airways and can easily spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing. Whooping cough can cause a severe cough that lasts for weeks or months, sometimes leading to coughing fits or vomiting. Anyone can get whooping cough, but it can be very dangerous for babies and people with certain health conditions.

Recommendations:

1. If your child has a cough:

· Keep your child home from school and activities, such as sports or playgroups. See items 4 and 5 about when your child can return to these activities.

· Make an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider as soon as possible and tell them that your child may have been exposed to whooping cough.

2. If your child has a health condition that may be worse with whooping cough, such as asthma, ask your child’s healthcare provider to prescribe antibiotics to your child as soon as possible to prevent whooping cough. Healthcare providers should give antibiotics to a child with certain health conditions if they may have been exposed to whooping cough, even if they are not coughing.

3. If your child lives with any of the following people, ask your child’s healthcare provider to prescribe antibiotics as soon as possible to your child, even if they are not coughing:

· A person who is pregnant

· A baby younger than 12 months old

· Anyone with health conditions that may be worse with whooping cough, such as asthma

4. If your child has been diagnosed with whooping cough by their healthcare provider:

· Tell the school that a healthcare provider diagnosed your child with whooping cough.

· School officials may request that you keep your child home from school and activities, such as sports or playgroups, until your child has been on appropriate antibiotics for five days.

· Ask your child’s healthcare provider for a note that states your child has whooping cough.

5. If your child’s healthcare provider says your child does NOT have whooping cough:

· Ask for a note from the healthcare provider telling the school that your child’s cough is NOT whooping cough and that your child can return to school and other activities at any time.

Please make sure your family’s whooping cough vaccinations are up to date. If you take your child to a healthcare provider for a cough, please show the reverse side of this letter to them. If you have any questions about whooping cough, please talk to your healthcare provider or contact the Spokane Regional Health District’s Disease Prevention and Response division at 509.324.1442.

Sincerely,

Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program

Spokane Regional Health District

Student cell phone use during school has an impact on student learning and wellbeing. CVSD is developing consistent guidelines for student cell phone use. Your input is valuable. All secondary students (grades 6-12) will receive a separate survey. Parents may fill out this quick 5-minute survey before Monday, December 16.

Parent Survey: https://forms.gle/ucg2rrSgGCDC3Wcf8

2024-25 HOW IT WORKS

2024-25 Passport Applications Open!

Submit your application with the one-time $29 processing fee + credit card fee . We’ll e-mail you a passport that gives your 5th grader three free days at all participating locations.

You can either print the passport and bring it with you or pull it up on your smartphone and present it at the ticket office. Either way, your kid’s skiing free. Of course, a parent or guardian must be present, and the passport must be shown at the resort in order to receive the lift ticket.

https://skinwrockies.com/5th-grade-ski-passport/

Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our students and enhancing the educational experience at South Pines Elementary. To ensure a safe and positive environment, all volunteers must be district-approved, a process that needs to be renewed every two years. If you're interested in making a difference in our school community, please take the time to complete the approval process. Your dedication and involvement are greatly appreciated! For more information call 558-5400 or email volunteer@cvsd.org.

• Online Volunteer Registration

• School Volunteer - Orientation Manual

Don't forget to follow South Pines on Facebook to see the most up to date information.

https://www.facebook.com/southpinescvsd/

Principal Jennifer Reyes

Email: jreyes@cvsd.org

Website: https://spes.cvsd.org/

Phone: 509-558-4400

Attendance Line: 509-558-4410

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southpinescvsd/