This week is Staff Appreciation Week!  Let's celebrate the hard working staff and another amazing year at Pine Ridge.  Since we can't celebrate in person, let's show our Pine Ridge staff some virtual appreciation. For some ideas, please see below...

Keep an eye out on the Pine Ridge PTO Facebook page for posts this week, as well as an email from the Home Room Parent of your classroom, for some ideas on how to appreciate the teachers and staff of Pine Ridge.

The Staff Appreciation Committee will surprise our staff with some goodies sent directly to their home this week, on behalf of all families at Pine Ridge. Thank you for your help to make this a week full of THANKS for everything all of our AWESOME staff members at Pine Ridge do for our kids every single day!

Dear Pine Ridge Families,

It is with saddened hearts that we’ve had to cancel two of our favorite PTO events this school year due to the COVID-19 virus and the direction of the national, state, and local health departments and officials. Our annual school Carnival was scheduled for March 14 and our Auction was planned for May 1.  Both of these events are large fundraisers for our school and PTO.

While we are happy to refund those of you who purchased tickets for Carnival or Auction, we strongly encourage you to consider your ticket purchase as a donation to the Pine Ridge PTO.  These events are important fundraisers for Pine Ridge and without these funds, our PTO won’t be able to support many of the initiatives that we’ve supported in previous years.  The PTO funds cover many important school initiatives such as field trips, staff development, classroom libraries, technology (including IXL and online learning subscriptions!), Cultural Arts events, and many other innovative special grants and classroom projects.  Should you decide to consider your ticket payment as a donation, you do not need to do anything.  Should you want a refund, please email us at pineridgeschoolpto@gmail.com by Friday, April 3.  In your request, please include your child’s name and teacher so we can match your ticket purchase to your family.  If you choose to consider your ticket purchase a donation, please visit the “Helpful Links” tab on the PTO website to download a donation form for your tax purposes.  The Pine Ridge PTO is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3). 

Finally, we are excited that our 2020 Auction is NOT completely cancelled, but we are moving to an online auction format.  Watch your email for more information.  There are some great items that we can’t wait to offer up for your bidding!

​Everyone is invited and no ticket required!

Your Pine Ridge PTO
​

Dear Forest Hills Families,

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we all adapt to this unique and oftentimes challenging reality.  Here is some updated information on a variety of topics:
​

• Stay at Home - Stay Safe Order - The State of Michigan issued an order directing all residents to stay in their homes unless they’re a part of the critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity, or performing tasks necessary to the health and safety of themselves or their family, like going to the hospital or grocery store.  This order begins on March 24, 2020, at 12:01 a.m., and extends through April 13, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.  Schools will remain closed at least through this date.
• Meal Distribution Changes - Beginning Friday, March 27, we will distribute meals from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Central High School and Northern High School.  We will not be distributing meals during the evening pickup time and, effective Friday, Eastern High School will no longer be a pick-up site.  This allows our wonderful food service staff to consolidate their efforts at the places and times where we have the highest demand.  Again, this begins on Friday.  On Tuesday, March 24, we will have the mid-day and evening pickup times staffed at all three schools.  See our previous communication for exact locations. Breakfast and lunch meals are available for any student or child. 
• Technology Devices - A huge thank you to our Technology Department staff, nearly 500 families have reserved an FHPS Chromebook device for use at home during the school closure period. Final distribution will take place on Tuesday, March 24. 
• Internet Content Filtering - The district has implemented technology protection measures and content filtering on all student Google accounts both on campus and off-site when using a Chromebook device.  The additional measures will ensure that anywhere students are logged in with their school Google accounts they will be protected as required under the guidelines of the Children's Internet Project Act.  Disclaimer: While Forest Hills Public Schools use technology protection measures to limit access to material considered harmful or inappropriate to students, it may not be possible for the district to absolutely prevent such access.  Despite our best efforts and beyond the limits of filtering technology, a student may run across some material that is objectionable.  FHPS has a three-layer approach when students are using the internet.  The device is automatically routed through the FHPS filter for appropriate content.  The second layer is the monitoring of the student use by an adult.  The third layer is the student using digital responsibility.
• Goodwillie - The student nomination form for Goodwillie Environmental School, to be completed by parents/families, is now due this Friday, March 27, 2020.
• Kindergarten Kick-off - Kindergarten kick-off meetings scheduled for this spring are postponed.  Families may continue to register for kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year.  Additional information will be forthcoming for families with an incoming kindergartner. 

Please visit our website where you can see a Commonly Asked Questions page, all previous COVID-19 communications to families, and a list of resources to assist families during this challenging time.

Finally, I am grateful to our teachers and principals who continue to adapt and provide instructional resources to our students and families during this closure time. We know that some families want more online resources while other families are either satisfied or unable to process more at this time. Our teachers are responding to this diversity of need with flexibility, communication, and creativity. Additional resources were posted today, customized by grade level. With each passing day, we are connecting with more students and families. We know families are juggling a lot and our intent is to support our families, not add to the burdens many are currently shouldering. The health of everyone — students, staff, parents, and families—is the most important thing at this time!

Thank you for your support of our schools, staff, friends, neighbors, first responders, health care workers, and our entire community during this challenging time.  Please stay close to home, stay safe, and know that we will get through this as a community.

We respect and appreciation,
Dan Behm
Superintendent

Our teachers and staff have prepared​ learning opportunities for enrichment and review so that students stay sharp during this time of school cancellations.  It’s our hope that students will read, write, and review materials that will allow them to continue growing as learners. The work is not required, but we believe it is beneficial for the continued progress of our students.  Take care of yourselves and our community.

Pine Ridge Families,

The PTO Auction committee is excited to invite you to SAVE THE DATE for our 2020 Pine Ridge Auction! Your student will be bringing home information about the auction in the next couple of days. We are looking forward to a great night of fowling, food, and fun-draising!

We are also securing auction item donations and lane sponsors at this time. Please contact our committee chair, Britt Metzger, at brittmetzger@gmail.com with any questions regarding the event.

​Hope to see you there!

- Your Pine Ridge PTO Auction Committee

You've seen the save the date - but we could use your help before we start to Fowl!

Do you have an item you could donate for the Silent Auction or the gift card tree.....

• A timeshare?  Cottage?  Hotel Points?
• A prime parking spot/tickets/passes/vouchers we could add to an "experience" gift basket?
• That amazing new gizmo you got recently as a gift that's still in the box and you're never going to use!?
• A gift card you won't use (or one you're willing to purchase and donate)?

 
No idea is too crazy - we're making amazing packages and baskets - and we could use any help you can give!

Questions?  Kindly contact Kim Morris at 745-1099

Order your spirit wear now and have it in time for the Holidays!

Visit:
victoryapparel.org/team-sales
choose: Pine Ridge Elementary
use Team Code: FHCPC


The online store will be closed down on November 20, 2019
Please have your orders submitted before this date
(The store will re-open again in the spring)