Panther Pride STEM School
Achievement: Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts
September Newsletter
A message from Pinello’s Administrative Team:
Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2024-2025 school year! We are off to a great start. For those that are new to Pinello, welcome! We are a 2024 No Place for Hate school, and a National Showcase school for 2023-2024 for Capturing Kids Hearts. On our Pinello website, we have the monthly newsletter for the word of the month posted, if you are interested in connecting with what your student is learning with CKH.
Just a reminder that no toys, or pokemon cards are allowed at school. We do not want them to be lost or stolen. By order of the Board of Education walking dogs on school grounds is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.
Our website is a great place to find out about our clubs, and any other information related to the school pinello.wsd3.org. We also have a Facebook page that you can see daily pictures, and meet our current new staff members (Pinello Elementary School). Coming soon we will be have an Instagram as well.
We look forward to a wonderful school year!
Respectfully,
Amber Crigger – Principal
Tiffani Lind – Assistant Principal
Counseling Corner & Social Worker:
Social Emotional Learning
Welcome to our new and returning families to Pinello Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year! It is our pleasure to serve our students and meet their academic and personal/social needs. With the collaboration of students, staff, and parents, we can make this a positive and productive year.
Within the counseling program, the school counselor and social worker can provide a variety of services. Since we are a National Showcase for Capturing Kids Hearts, we are continuing to implement important components of this program. CKH helps our staff build positive relationships with students and helps teach pro-social skills. Some of these social skills include learning about empathy, teamwork, and courage. Along with these lessons, the counselor will be in classrooms once a month to cover topics such as bullying, growth mindsets, and conflict resolution.
Emily Zarkovacki, our social worker is an amazing support provider in our school! She meets with students one on one or can lead several counseling groups for students who may need additional support. During these sessions, she can focus on friendship, social skills, or family changes. Teachers and parents can contact me or Ms. Z and refer students for counseling. Ms. Zarkovacki can also help families connect with community resources (i.e. food, shelter, financial). So do not hesitate to reach out to her at zarkovackiemily@wsd3.org for any referrals.
If your child is needing professional counseling, our school district is fortunate to now have a Social Emotional Wellness Team (SEWT) of district licensed therapists. After the referral process, students are able to receive therapy within the school day. Please reach out to us if interested.
We appreciate all what you do for your children and for our school. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
With Children First,
Darlene Monson
Pinello Counselor
(719)391-3398
About Pinello
Email: criggera@wsd3.org
Website: pinello.wsd3.org
Location: 2515 Cody Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-391-3395
Facebook: facebook.com/PinelloElementary
A Note from Music
Hello Families,
I hope you all enjoyed the Summer Break! School is back in session and the Music classroom is abuzz with students and music. Remember, each grade will put on a Music program. Listed below are the dates for each grade. Please mark your calendars for your students’ performance date(s). We need all students to participate in these programs, so please try to not schedule events on a performance date.
5th Grade - November 6
1st Grade - December 4
3rd Grade - January 15
4th Grade - March 5
2nd Grade - April 9
Kindergarten - May 20
On September 17th, Choir will begin. Choir is open to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. It is on Tuesdays, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm in the Music room. If your student wants to join the Choir, have your student get a permission form, fill it out and return it to their teacher.
Stay Safe and Make Music,
Mrs. Means
PE News
Hello Panthers,
I am sure everyone has been waiting for the start of school! I agree summers are so long. With so much time on your hands I hope you had time to travel, play, climb trees, play softball, go for some walks or hikes and ride your bike.
I can't wait to get out the equipment and start teaching, I hope you are as excited as I am.
We will continue to develop and improve our skills while hopefully getting our heart rates elevated and maybe even sweat a little. Thanks for always bringing that great attitude and work ethic to PE.
Can't wait to get started,
Mr. Lubich
STEM News
STEM is a big focus here at Pinello. This year we have a new science curriculum for each of our grades. A few of our classrooms are also adding new interactive BenQ boards for staff and students to use. As we move through the year, we have plans to continue adding new technology and equipment to our STEM resources as well as incorporating STEM in our library and computer enrichment times.
You may be wondering “why STEM?” Here is a quick little video that explains a few of the reasons STEM is important in the educational setting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5awwm3pGoQ
I am excited by all of the problem solving and creative thinking that your students have already started the year with and hope to continue to challenge and empower your students as we move through this STEM journey together this year. Be sure to keep an eye on the Pinello Facebook page to see pictures of the great work your students are doing throughout the year.
Birthday Celebrations
This year, we are not allowing parents to bring treats in for parties. Parents can bring non edible treat bags to be distributed at the end of the day.
Only clear drinks are allowed in classrooms. Shared food items including lunch meals and snacks are prohibited.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students healthy and safe!
SCOUTREACH at Pinello
Boy Scouts of America Pathway to the Rockies Council is offering Scoutreach Program
at the following location
The Scoutreach Program is being offered at Pinello Elementary School free of charge to
all Pinello students in grades 2 through 5. We will meet after school for approximately 1
hour on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
You can sign up for Scoutreach at https://bsa060.us/pinello or find out more about
Scoutreach by calling Mark at 719-219-2906
Attendance
One criteria of a student’s success in school is regular and punctual attendance. To report an absence or tardy, please call our attendance line, available 24 hours, at (719) 391-3396.
Compulsory School Attendance
In order to reduce the incidents of truancy, parents/guardians are hereby notified that every child who has attained the age of six (6) on or before August 1 of each school year and is under the age of seventeen (17) shall attend public school for at least the following number of hours.
One thousand fifty –six (1056) if secondary school pupil;
Nine hundred sixty-eight (968) if an elementary school pupil in a grade other than kindergarten;
Nine hundred hours (900) if a full-day kindergarten pupil;
Four hundred fifty hours (450) if a half day kindergarten pupil;
(Except as otherwise provided in CRS 22-33-104)
Two hour Late Start
Red Flag Days
The red flags will be hanging on the playground and out front to let parents know that it is indoor morning recess. The guidelines for calling red flag is as follows: The red flag temperature will be 25 degrees or below including wind chill. Students will enter through outside classroom doors.
Inclement Weather Procedure
Widefield District 3 will:
• make inclement weather decision(s) based on students’ safety
• collect data at the earliest appropriate time
• make the decision as to whether schools will be open and announce no later than 5:30 am by calling radio stations and TV stations
• not penalize students if parents keep them home or pick them up from school early on questionable snow days.
In the event the decision made earlier is to open schools and the storm worsens unexpectedly, Widefield District 3 will:
• inform the same media as stated above that schools will dismiss students early
• keep buildings open as long as necessary to evacuate all students safely
• announce that if an early dismissal occurs, afternoon activities, and evening events will be cancelled
Parents are expected to:
• be responsible for custody of children
• listen to the news broadcasts on stormy days
• decide whether or not to send children to school on threatening, stormy days
In the event the decision is made earlier to open schools and the storm worsens, parnets are expected to:
• know that students may be dismissed earlier than normal
• listen for an early dismissal announcement
• make sure children know what to do and where to go if dismissed early
• not rely on telephones to make last minute arrangements for their children. (Lines tend to malfunction during storms.)
Title 1: Parent Right to Know
Your child participates in a program in Widefield School District which receives funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. You have the right to know what professional qualifications are held by the teachers who instruct your child. The Act gives you the right to the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:
Whether the teacher is licensed or qualified for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency permit or other provisional status under which state licensing criteria have been waived.
The college major of the teacher, any advanced degrees held by the teacher, and the subject matter of those degrees.
What instructional aides or similar paraprofessionals, if any, provide instructional services to your child, and if so, what qualifications they possess.
If you are interested in receiving information of this sort, please contact the Human Resources office at 391-3015.
Notice Concerning Directory Information:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Widefield School District 3 (“the District”), with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child's education records. However, the District may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the District to include this type of information from your child's education records in certain school publications. Examples include:
A playbill, showing your student's role in a drama production;
The annual yearbook;
Honor roll or other recognition lists;
Graduation programs; and
Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent's prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories - names, addresses and telephone listings - unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student's information disclosed without their prior written consent. If you do not want the District to disclose directory information from your child's education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing by September 20th each year. The District has designated the following information as directory information:
Student's name
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Address
Telephone listing
Weight and height of members of athletic teams
Electronic mail address
Photograph
Degrees, honors, and awards received
Date and place of birth
Major field of study
Dates of attendance
Grade level
The most recent educational agency or institution attended
Annual FERPA Notice
Annual FERPA Notice The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal [or appropriate official], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
[NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or eligible student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.]
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Educational Rights of Homeless Children
- Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.
- Choose between the local school where they are living, the school they attended before they lost their housing, or the school where they were last enrolled.
- Enroll in school immediately, without proof of residency, immunizations, school records or other documents.
- Get transportation to their school of origin
- Get the school services they need.
- Be free from harassment and isolation
- Have disagreements with the school settled quickly.
Calendar of Events-Also listed on the website
September
-Sept. 2-Labor Day-No School
-Sept. 12-PTO Meeting 4:00 in the Library
-Sept. 19-Buck a Hat day, PBIS parent night 5:30-6:30
-Sept. 20th-Professional Development Day-No School
-Sept 23-Mid Terms sent home
-Sept 24-Coffee with Principal at 8:45 in the Library
-Sept 27-Smencil Sale-before school
October
-Oct. 2-Picture Day
-Oct. 4-Fund Run
-Oct. 5-Community Parade at 9:30
-Oct 10-PTO meeting at 4:00 in the Library
-Oct 11-October Day-No School
-Oct 14-District closed-No School
-Oct 18- First quarter ends-Buck a Hat Day
-Oct 19-First Lego League Scrimmage
-Oct 21-25 Red Ribbon Week
-Oct 21-Nov 1-Book Fair
Oct 25-Professional Development Day-No School
-Oct 29-Online Mcdonalds Night-change of date from October 17th.
-Oct 30- Costume Parade at 11:00, K-2 Renaissance Assembly 1:30, 3-5 Renaissance Assembly at 2:30, Class Parties, Teacher Conferences 3:45-7:45.
-Oct 31-Parent Teacher conferences 7:45-3:45-No School
-Nov. 1-Parent Teacher conferences-7:45-11:45-No School