Ridgecrest Panther Press

It’s a great day to be a PANTHER!

Dear Parents,

Happy Friday!

It was so good to see you all at Our Title One Annual Open House this week! We hope you learned a lot about your child's teacher (s) and their expectations.

This month we celebrate Family Literacy Month. This aligns with our One School - One Book initiative "The One and Only Ivan," which we hope you all are enjoying. There are some activities in this edition of the newsletter that will help your child be able to discuss and learn from the book.

This month's character trait is Gratitude! We will be showing our gratitude by collecting NON-Perishable food items to help our neighbors in need. A list of needed items can be found further on in the newsletter. Please help if you can.

Remember that individual class pictures are scheduled for Friday, November 8th, don't forget to SMILE!

Discovery Night for new prospective families will be held on November 12th at 6:00pm. Our SEM Showcase is also scheduled for the 12th of November at 6:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you on campus for GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN on November 13th. If you haven't signed up to participate and would like to, it's not too late! Email Barronca@pcsb.org, to get on the schedule.

Parents, our morning arrival begins at 8:15am with the final bell ringing at 8:45am. School promptly begins at 8:45am in which each child should be in his or her seat, ready for the day. Arriving after 8:45am is arriving late and missing valuable learning time. If there is a barrier in which hinders your timely arrival, please reach out to our office to support getting your child here on time daily.

We are looking forward to seeing you throughout the week!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Gardner

Mrs. Nguyen

November:

11/2 - DAP, (District Application Program)

• All County Fair at Largo High - 9:00am - 11:30am

11/4 THRU 11/15 - CANNED FOOD DRIVE

11/8 - Individual School Photos

• Raise the Flag for the Bucs! Wear Red!

11/12 - Discovery Night 6:00pm and SEM Showcase Night 6:30pm

11/13 - Great American Teach In - ALL DAY

11/19 - Spirit Night @ Chipotle on Ulmerton - 4-8pm

11/22 - All Pro Dads @ 7:45 am

11/25-11/29 - Thanksgiving Holiday🦃

December:

12/2 - Students return to classes

12/6 - Raise the Flag for the Bucs! Wear Red!

12/12 - Jet's Pizza Spirit Night 4:00-8:00pm

12/13 - Dress Rehearsal for Choral Concert 9:30am

• Coffee with the Principal - 3:30 - 4:30pm
• CGS Program Review and SAC Meeting

12/16-20 - Winter Spirit Week, Details to follow.

12/17 - Choral Concert 6:00pm

12/20 -iMoms 7:45am

• Last day of school for 2024! 🌲Winter Holidays🌲 See you on January 6, 2025

January:

1/6/25 - Hurrican Make-up day All Students in School

1/14 - PTA Meeting 5:30pm

1/21 - Spirit Night @ Texas Roadhouse 3:00pm to Close

1/27 - 1/31 - Literacy Week

• BOOK FAIR - RIDGECREST LIBRARY details to follow soon.

Dear Ridgecrest Families,

This year’s food drive, sponsored by Girls In Pearls, Building Tomorrow's Leaders and the SAVE club, is even more important than last year's, due to the devastation caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Please look into your hearts and pantry and see if there are any non-perishable food items that you are willing to donate to families that are struggling during these very difficult times.

• Jars of Peanut butter
• Canned proteins: Canned chicken, tuna, and salmon
• Canned beans: Black beans, garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, green beans, and pinto beans
• Pasta noodles (packaged or boxed) and pasta sauce (canned or jarred)
• Rice: Brown or white
• Cooking oils
• Formula and Baby Food

Thank you all in advance for your generosity, and kindness to our community and fellow neighbors.

National Family Literacy Month is celebrated in November each year. It's a time to recognize the importance of families in their children's education and to encourage families to read and learn together.

Here are some ways to celebrate National Family Literacy Month:

• Plan activities: Plan activities that focus on families learning together, such as a book club or outdoor celebration

  Set aside time: Set aside time for reading and keep books visible around the house

• Visit the library: Visit the library regularly

• Read together: Read the book version of your child's favorite movie

• Organize a book swap: Invite friends and neighbors to exchange books they've

Each month our school focuses on a character trait to model, practice and showcase around our campus. For the month of November, we highlight GRATITUDE.

National Gratitude Month encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude. Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” Gratitude's amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives.

The four A's of gratitude are a way to express gratitude and develop an attitude of gratitude:

• Appreciation: Express gratitude to people and things in your life. For example, you can say "Thank you for doing this".
• Approval: Give praise and approval for reasonable effort, ideas, and suggestions.
• Admiration: Compliment people on their accomplishments and traits.
• Attention: Listen to others with patience and attention. You can also send an email to praise people for an accomplishment

Family Reading Plan is as follows:

Week 3: 11/1 to 11/7 - Themes of Hope and Art

Reading:

• Read pages 131 through 195 (memories and ideas)

Week 4: 11/8 to 11/14 -Plans for Change

Reading:

• Read pages 196 through 260 (main character uses art to help save a friend)

Week 5: 11/15 to 11/22 - The Future and Reflection

· Reading:

• Read pages 261 through 319 (determination leading to the climax

You can order online or use the flyer that went home (a copy is attached) and send money or check, in an envelope to school.

PLEASE, make sure your CHILD'S NAME, TEACHER NAME, AMOUNT IN PAID, And the package you selected, are clearly written on the envelope and SEAL the envelope.

Hard to believe that the Holiday Season is so close. Toys For Tots would like to help those that need it this Holiday Season. Below is information on how to apply for their help.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Resident of and children living in Pinellas County Scan this QR to register.
2. Children Ages 12 and under as of 12/25/24
3. Financial need (i.e., receiving financial assistance of some type, homeless, or has recently had life changing event such as unemployment, fire, hurricane damage, etc.)

How to Request Toys from Toys for Tots

********************************BEFORE NOVEMEBER 10, 2024 *******************************

• 1. Go to https://t4tpinellas.ptaptsa.org/pre-registration before November 10th to register.

• 2. Enter your e-mail address. You will receive an email from Toys for Tots with a link to the registration page.

• 3. Fill out the form entering your family name, address, and your preferred date and time for toy pickup as well as information for each child (ages 12 and under) by adding their name, age and school they attend. Submit the registration request after confirming all information is correct. The screen should now tell you that you have an application pending. You can check the status of any application at any time by going to https://t4tpinellas.ptaptsa.org/pre-registration and re-entering the email address you used at registration.

• 4. You will receive an e-mail acknowledging your request and another email when you have been approved by December 11th.

• 5. You will receive a confirmation e-mail

• You MUST acknowledge this email and confirm your appointment by December 18th.

• FAILURE TO RESPOND WILL REMOVE YOU FROM THE LIST!

• Upon acknowledgement of this email, you will receive your bar code.

6. Toy pick up will be held on 12/20/24 and 12/21/24. Toys for Tots will send you an e-mail with the pick-up location. Please arrive no earlier than 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. You must bring your bar code with you to distribution (either on your phone or a printed copy).

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact

Ms. Della Penna, Curriculum Specialist

727-588-3580 ext. 2060 or dellapennal@pcsb.org

ALL are invited to come and share with the students the things you have learned through the years. Share your love of a hobby, your career, travel, cooking, gardening, or any other area of interest!

Presentations can last for 1 hour or an entire school day!

• If you are interested in participating in the Great American Teach in, scan the QR code.
• If you are interested in becoming a VOLUNTEER in any capacity, please contact Candice Barron at: (727)588-3580 or barroncapcsb.org

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Did you know that every Friday is spirit day at the Ridge?

Please encourage your child to show off Ridgecrest colors (blue and yellow) or wear a Ridgecrest t-shirt on Fridays.

At Ridgecrest we are 2 programs with 1 HEART!

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Please Remember that the YMCA is kind enough to let us use their parking lot as long as we park in the BACK lot. There is NO PARKING in the front of the YMCA. They ask that we park in the back of their building so as not to inconvenience the paying members who need to park out front. The YMCA hours of operation are 6:00am to 8:00pm daily. All cars parked in front of the building, that are not members will be towed at the owners expence.

Scholars should arrive prior to 8:45 am so they are not marked TARDYl.

Scholars who are tardy must be escorted into the office lobby by the parent or guardian.

THIS IS INCLUDING SCHOLARS WHO WALK TO SCHOOL.

The adult MUST sign the child in.

1. Arrival begins at 8:15 am *No drop offs before 8:15am*
2. Dismissal begins at 2:55 pm
3. Breakfast is available daily from 8:15-8:45 in the cafeteria
4. Crocs, slippers, flip-flops, slides or bubble shoes are not permitted on campus
5. Hoods are down w/ no hats or beanies
6. Cell phones/wireless communication devices need to be powered off and put away upon arrival.

Cell phones/wireless communication devices

The resulting actions will be taken for students not adhering to our Ridgecrest cell phone and/or wireless communication protocols:

1. Verbal reminder
2. Warning *note home*
3. Parent contact to pick up device in office
4. Discipline referral
5. Discipline referral and action plan

• PARKING
• Please Remember there is NO PARKING in the front of the YMCA, they ask that parents and staff only park in the rear of the building.
• Parking around school is limited, but you may park in the Staff Parking and the Back Field for most events in the evening and during school hours.
• Please DO NOT park in the Bus Circle.