Dear Pine Ridge Prep Families,

This week we are beginning the myIGDIs assessments with our students. We are excited to see the progress they have made since the fall! Please note, student dismissal is from 4:00-4:15 each day. Students must be picked up by this time. Continued patterns of late pick-up will be addressed by school administration.

As the weather is getting colder, please ensure you are sending your student to school dressed warm and prepared to go outside for our outside times. Per district policy, we go outside if the windchill is 20 degrees or above, even if only for a few minutes to get some fresh air!

We are very quickly running out of extra student masks. We simply can not keep up with the number of students that are coming without them daily. We are at the point of asking those regularly coming without a mask to leave with your student and come back with one. Please ensure your children are coming to school with masks each day. It is a good idea to send a spare mask as well. We appreciate your support in ensuring students come to school prepared to learn and masks are essential to a safe learning environment.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Thank you for the privilege of serving you ~

Mrs. Gabrielle Tanner, Principal

Mrs. Shelley Banzhaf, Building Leader Intern

• January 24 - myIGDIs Assessment Begins

As we continue to respond to the community spread, if your student has tested positive for COVID-19 or had a COVID exposure, please complete the TPS COVID-19 Self Reporting form located on our website, and a district health official will contact you within 24 hours. Your child should not return to school until given guidance from school health officials.

Due to the volume of exposure in our county, all COVID student exposures being reported to Topeka Public Schools are to be reported online by going to TopekaPublicSchools.net. This process will allow us to address the current parent COVID needs and allow nurses to carry out their regular school duties and meet daily student needs. Please click on the link labeled Reporting a COVID-19 Exposure, which is on our main web page. Based on the information parents provide, an emailed response will be given informing you of the date your child can return to school and your child's school principal and nurse will be notified.

If you do not have the internet and need to report your exposure through this call, please provide your name, phone number, email address (if you have one), your child's name, birthdate and the date of the COVID-19 positive exposure. If you have school-related questions regarding a COVID-19 exposure, please leave a message and a health professional will return your call within 2 business days. Messages are only checked once every afternoon as our nurses are focused on patients for the majority of the day.

Families are asked to complete the self-reporting form for any COVID exposure. If a parent does not have internet access, they can call the COVID-19 reporting line at 785-438-HELP (785-438-4357) to report a COVID exposure. Schools will redirect families to the form on our web page or to the number to call.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be taking place on February 16 & 17. These will be held via Zoom. Your child's classroom teacher will be sharing more information about scheduling next week.

Student dismissal is from 4:00-4:15 each day. Students must be picked up by this time. Continued patterns of late pick-up will be addressed by school administration.

Attendance Policy

*As established by SCDC Head Start Policy Council and based upon Topeka Public Schools rules and regulations.

1. The Topeka Board of Education believes that attendance at school is a key factor in student achievement and success. Students are expected to regularly attend school, participate, and learn.

2. If your child is ill, has an appointment, or other reason that will constitute an excused absence, you must call into the office between 8:00-9:00a.m. Advanced notice is appreciated.

3. A phone call attempt will be made on any child that does not arrive at school by 10:00am and 11:00am on late start Friday.

4. Head Start performance standards require children to be in attendance at a minimum of 90% of the time. Students who drop below 90% attendance will be placed on an attendance plan to improve student attendance. Any child who has been absent for 10 consecutive days, or 15 cumulative days, risks being dropped from the program and placed on the waitlist.

5. After 2 days of unexcused absences, staff will conduct a home visit or make other direct contact with the child's family, determining what assistance is needed to remedy the problem.

6. Tardies are cumulative and can affect attendance just like absences do. Students must arrive at school on time each day. Excessive tardies may result in the family being placed on an attendance plan.

7. Although Kansas law does not require students to be in school prior to the age of 7, ANY child enrolled in public school does fall into the state truancy policies. Truancy reports may be made to the district truancy officer for any student with excessive absences and/or tardies.

FCC has announced a permanent AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM that will provide eligible families, who apply, a credit of up to $30 per month to cover the cost of Broadband services with various providers, including Cox. Eligible families include those who qualify for free and reduced lunch, SNAP, WIC or those with an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for family size. Click one of the next links for information from Cox in either ENGLISH or SPANISH.

It’s easy to see the best in children and others when their behavior is as we think it should be. But, how do we view children and others when they act in ways that are hurtful or make poor choices?

Misbehavior from children often triggers upset throwing adults into the lower centers of the brain. Our perception of the child dictates the state from which we will respond. We can see disruptions and misbehavior as a call for help or disrespectful and defiant. When we access the Power of Love we are able to see behavior as communication and teach children new skills. The Power of Love asks us to see the best in others. Check out this video on the Power of Love.

The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education voted on August 5th to follow the CDC Universal masking guidelines to start the school year. This means that masks will be required indoors for all staff, students, and visitors regardless of vaccination status. Masks will not be required during outside times. Please be sure you send your student to school with a clean face mask each day. This is part of their required dress code and we appreciate your assistance with ensuring we are providing a safe environment for our students! We will also be continuing with frequent handwashing/sanitation, disinfection protocols, and maintaining a social distance of 3 feet. Follow this link to view the entire "TPS Safe to Return to School Plan".

You can find the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar HERE.

Kansas has received funding to help support in the area of emergency rental assistance. Here is what KERA can cover:

• Up to 15 months of current and past due household rent.
• Up to three months of prospective household rent at a time, even if the household does not have rental arrears.
  
• Past due residential utility or home energy expenses for tenants (electric, as, water, sewer, and trash services), even if the household does not have rental arrears.
  
• Past due or prospective internet expenses for tenants, paid in one lump sum of $750, provided the tenant household is also eligible to receive assistance for past-due rental or utility bills.
• Additional fees associated with past-due rent or utility bills may be covered, including: reasonable late fees, rental security deposits, application or screening fees, pet fees, utility fees, parking fees, garage fees, and/or legal fees.

This link provides FAQs in English and Spanish, as well as a Tenant Flyer with information about the program, available in both English and Spanish.

Did you know that you can check out a WiFi Hotspot from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for FREE? Get more information here.

Applications in both English and Spanish are available for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

1/24/2022 @ 1pm to 4pm @ Catholic Charities Topeka 234 S Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603

2/2/2022 @ 9am to 3pm @ Community Resource Clinic 455 SE Golf Park Blvd, Topeka, KS 66605

This updated document provides a list of food pantries and food resources available in English and in Spanish.

The Nest, Pine Ridge Prep's food and clothing bank, is up and running! Ms. Heather is available to assist families with needs. You can reach her at 785-329-7876.

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.