Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

We have had a wonderful start to the year and your child is already growing and learning, making friends, gaining independence and exploring new materials. Thank you all for supporting your child in the school transition! As we move forward with the year, here are a few items to help keep your child and you happy, healthy and safe!

• Say your goodbyes at the door. I know it is hard, but your babies are doing great and thrive with independence walking in the door and starting their routine.
• After 8:30 Please bring your child to the office and sign in. We will walk them to their room.
• Communication is key to any partnership and we appreciate your commitment to your child’s education. Your classroom teacher will send home a monthly newsletter and will provide communication with individual families as needed. If you need assistance during the day or to pick up early please call the office at 785-329-7870 or email Ms. Kim at klopez@tps501.org. Please visit Pine Ridge Prep’s Facebook Page, school website and our weekly newsletter.

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

Mrs. Kim Meyers-Lopez, Building Leader

August 31: All ASQs must be complete!

September 2: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 5: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

September 12: Fire Safety Lesson #1

September 18: Family Fun Fitness Night @ Hummer Sports Park

September 19: Picture Day!!

September 19: Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30

September 23: NO SCHOOL - Personal Development Day

September 26: PRP Family Event!

As a state and district expectation, all preschool children must have the ASQ3 and ASQSE2 completed each year.

Please use the appropriate link below to complete both the ASQ and ASQ-SE screening forms. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. When you click on the link, you will have the option of choosing to complete BOTH surveys.

English version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/ca822f

Spanish version: https://www.asqonline.com/family/54618c

If you need additional help completing the screener please use our step-by-step directions using the link below.

ASQ Parent Guide

SPANISH ASQ Parent Guide

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:

• health assessment (physical) - must be submitted for a child enrolling in school for the first time
• 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.

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.

Child Nutrition Form

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..

As of July 2024, 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 by completing the Child Nutrition Form (link to complete is further down in this newsletter). 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 24-25 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)

Late Start is on FRIDAYS for this school year and the doors will open at 9:20 and school will begin at 9:30. This is for every Friday that school is in session.

This handbook includes important information about Pine Ridge Prep including our mission and vision, policies and procedures.

Please take time to review this handbook.

Pine Ridge Prep follows the Topeka Public Schools Academic Calendar. The only exceptions are a later start. The first day of school for Pine Ridge Prep students is Wednesday, August 21st.

Students at Pine Ridge Prep are dropped off and picked up from their classroom door. Beginning at 8:20 Monday-Thursday and 9:20 on Friday, school staff will be outside each classroom to greet students. An adult is to walk the child up to school staff for them to be checked in. DO NOT drop your child and pull away/walk away. It is important for safety that an adult have eyes on all children at all times. At the end of the day, please walk up to pick up your child. The arrival process ends at 8:45. Any student arriving to school after 8:45 will need to check in at the office, located in building 1120. The dismissal process ends at 3:45. Any student not picked up will need to be checked out at the office.

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/

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors that determine school success. The habit of attending school every single day begins with the preschool year(s).

Daily Absence Information

• Parents/guardians should notify the school each day a student is absent by 9:15 a.m, by calling (785) 329-7870. If leaving a voicemail, please provide the student's name, classroom teacher and reason for absence. If the parent/guardian fails to notify the school, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian. The communication can be in a variety of methods, such as electronic communication, telephone call or in person. Home visits will be conducted if there has been no contact made after two days.
• All absences, including those excused, will count against a student’s attendance.
• The school encourages parents to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours, or on days when school is not in session.
• Parents/guardians may be required to submit supporting documentation in order to excuse the absence of their student if student absenteeism is excessive.
• Preschool absences are recorded in Synergy, the district's student information system. The expectation is that students attend school at least 90% of the time. If the student falls below 90% (excused or unexcused) a letter will be sent home. If this issue does not improve an official attendance plan will be put into place and/or a meeting with the school principal will be scheduled.

The Kansas State law specifically says that a student is truant if they have missed 3 unexcused days in a row, 5 unexcused days in a semester, or 7 unexcused days in a school year. Truancy may result in a report being filed with DCF.

Examples of Excused Absences:

• Personal illness or medical appointment
• Illness of an immediate family member
• Death in the immediate family or other emergency beyond the control of the family
• Religious holidays of the student’s religious faith
• Participation in a district approved or school sponsored activity or event
• Required court appearance or subpoena by a law enforcement agency
• Family vacation/Out of town (that have been pre-approved by the school principal)

Examples of Unexcused Absences:

• No contact by parent/guardian
• Oversleeping
• Personal grooming appointments (hair, nails, etc)
• Shopping/errands
• Suspension from school
• Family vacation/ Out of town that have not been pre-approved
• Missing the bus/ride

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