Pinewood Elementary School eNewsletter

Mounds View School DistrictOctober 30, 2015

PAWPRINTS

Principal - Allie Storti

Pinewood Elementary School eNewsletter

Mounds View School DistrictDecember 12, 2015

Holiday Break No school December 21-

January 1See you back at school on

Monday, January 4

We need weekly volunteers to help in the lunchroom and/or outside at recess. Pick a day (or two or three) a week to come and help our students get their bodies filled with food and get their wiggles out on the playground. What a great way to get connected with the amazing students at PW. Please contact Kimberly Buggs at kimberly.buggs@moundsviewschools.org

Got lunch?

STORTI Time.... a note from your principal

As we head into this Holiday Season and break, I personally want to wish you and your family Happy Holidays.

One of my favorite things to do at night is snuggle in bed with my kids and read. Here are a few of my holiday favorites.

1. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg2. Dream Snow by Eric Carle3. The Mitten by Jan Brett4. Bear Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

Make time to read a book with your student this holiday break. Those snuggle times will build good readers and even better memories.

Dress for Winter Winter weather is arriving soon!  All

students go outside for recess unless the temperature falls to 0 or

-10 degrees wind chill. So it is important that children are

prepared for the cold weather. Snow boots, snow pants, warm jackets, mittens/gloves, scarves

and hats are all recommended for playing outdoors at recess

Operation Joy

9:05am-Doors open for only students having breakfast

9:15am- Doors open for all students to enter the school building

9:25am- School starts for all students

For the safety of all students, please do not drop your students off before 9:05am, especially with the cold weather quickly coming upon us.

Morning Drop-off Time Reminder

We again have seats

reserved in the Grandstand

for Pinewood staff,

students, and families to

enjoy a day at Target Field

together and listen to the:

Pinewood Performing

Arts Club sing Oh

Canada!

Sunday, May 22nd

Game Time: 1:10

Twins VS. Toronto

Cost: $11.00 per ticket

Remember to place your

order by Wednesday,

January 27th.  Tickets

will arrive at Pinewood

the beginning of May and

be sent home with your

child.

Order forms sent home last

week. Please see your

student's teacher.

Pinewood

Day at Target

Field!!!

School Happenings December 15 Chess Club 8:15am-9:15amDecember 17 Orchestra Concert 1:30pm-2:00pmDecember 17 Family Library Night 5pm-7pmDecember 17 PTA Meeting 6pm-7pmDecember 17 Orchestra Concert 7pm-7:30pmDecember 18 Local Brass Band during 11am-1pm

lunchDecember 18 November and December 11am-1pm

Lunch with the principal

December 21- January 1- HOLIDAY BREAK

January 4 First day back after break January 7 Family Library Night 5pm-7pm

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.

- Thomas Jefferson

All Visitors Entering The Building:

• Must sign in at the table near the entrance

• Must receive a wrist band to wear visibly

• Must enter at the main entrance

KINDERGARTEN

Our Pike Lake Kindergarteners will be bussing to Pinewood for the parade.

If you have a kindergarten student and an older sibling that you will be taking home with

you,

be sure to sign in before the parade and get your wristband. After the parade, first go to

the North lot where the K buses will be to sign out your kindergarten student, then enter

Pinewood to pick up the older sibling.

****** The Kindergarten bus MUST leave by 3:20 ******

364,058 The total minutes read for October is 214,554. That is awesome!  

This brings our grand total to 364,058 minutes read. The thermometer in the main lobby has been updated to reflect the achievement of our PW students.

We recently learned that elementary and middle school handbooks were not updated to accurately reflect a District regulation already in place. This regulation states that student absences for vacation/travel are considered “unapproved” absences. Absences that are “unapproved” hold no consequences and do not appear on a student’s record throughout the student’s career. We do realize there are times when families take vacations when school is in session. Please continue to complete the “Travel Plans Form” available in the school office. This form is used to inform the school office and teacher of your child’s absence. Thank you for your support. To view the regulation, find 3109: Student Rights and Responsibilities at http://www.moundsviewschools.net/pages/MoundsViewPS/School_Board__Group_/Policies/Regulations_-_School_Board.

Parent Handbook update - Absences for family vacation

Read- a- Thon results

School Board Meetings

Want to stay current with School

Board discussions and decisions?

Visit the School Board website to  . . . • Watch live meetings via

webstream• View archived meeting videos• Download meeting agendas • Read meeting summaries

Visit: http://www.moundsviewschools.net/

pages/MoundsViewPS/

School_Board__Group_.

 Mounds View has joined a group of neighboring school districts in

deciding it will rely solely on forecasts provided by the National Weather Service –Twin Cities, which is the official government

authority on weather forecasting and weather warnings for the state of Minnesota.

Threshold for closingsSchools could be cancelled if...• Our neighborhoods experience sustained wind chills of 40 to 45 degrees below zero during the hours between morning bus pick ups and afternoon bus drop offs.• Buses won’t start or run dependably.• Local road conditions in our neighborhoods are dangerous or impassable. Because metro districts (even neighboring districts) can experience differing weather and road conditions, do not be surprised if there is inconsistency among school district closures throughout the metro this year.2-hour late startsAlthough 2-hour late starts aren’t convenient for families, this option could be used to avoid school cancellations which could ultimately allow the District to avoid a greater inconvenience of make-up days added back to the calendar. If the District calls a 2-hour late start, here’s how it will work:• Buses will pick up students 2 hours later than their typical bus stop schedule.• Schools will start 2 hours later than their typical schedule.• Class periods will be shortened throughout the day.• Schools will dismiss at their regular dismissal times.• Buses will drop off students at their regular drop-off times.NotificationsFamilies should always assume schools are open and in session, unless they hear or see differently. Websites will only indicate when schools are closed—not when they remain open. If schools will be using a 2-hour late start or canceling altogether, the District will notify parents no later than approximately 5:30 a.m. on the day of the late start or cancellation, using the following tools:• Text messages• Voicemail messages• E-mail messages• Facebook and Twitter• 651-621-SNOW hotline recordings• District and school website postings The District will also notify local media outlets, but cannot guarantee if or how the media will report the information we provide them.Make-up days?This year’s school calendar allows for two cancellation days without makeup days required. However, now that Mounds View has the ability to use 2-hour late starts, it’s not as likely that calendar adjustments will be necessary.

One-source forecasting

5500 Quincy Street, Mounds View, MN 55112651-621-7500 Fax: 651-621-7505