Welcome to Pinecrest Elementary
April 2024
About Us
Main Line: 651-480-7280
Attendance Line: 651-480-7281Health Office (Nurse): 651-480-7286
Kids' Campus: 651-480-7296
Hastings Bus Company: 651-437-1888
Website: pinecrest.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 975 12th Street West, Hastings, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7280
DATES TO REMEMBER
APRIL
1 - PTA Meeting at 7:15 pm in the media center
18 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development
19 - NO SCHOOL
25 - K-1 Informances
26 - K-1 Informances
MAY
6 - PTA Meeting at 7:15 pm in the media center
17 - 4th Grade Music Demonstration
17 - 2nd Grade Music Demonstration
17 - 3rd Grade Music Demonstration
27 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
31 - Carnival
JUNE
6 - Last Day of School
STUDENT WELLNESS SURVEYS
During the week of April 8th, our 3rd and 4th grade students will be taking the annual Student Wellness Survey. It helps us to understand each student's current health and well-being. Please use the link below to preview the survey and to access the opt-out form and the district survey calendar. If you choose to complete the opt-out form, please return the form to the main office.
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration is OPEN!
If your family, or someone you know, has a student that will be entering Kindergarten, please register. The student must be five years old on, or before, September 1st, 2024.
To enroll, https://www.hastings.k12.mn.us/enroll/enroll
2024-25 CLASSROOM PLACEMENT
A class placement form is available in the office if you wish to provide specific input into your child's 2024-25 classroom assignment. Please return the form, to the office, by Friday, April 12th.
Please do not phone or email this information.
PTA NEWS
Current Events:
- All the cardboard at the Tennis Sanitation Cardboard Recycling Bin at Coborn’s is benefiting the Pinecrest PTA from now through June!
Upcoming Events:
- Family Fun Run Fundraiser (May 2 from 5:30 - 8:00 on the Middle School track). Food Trucks and DJ (sign up details coming soon)
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6 from 4:00 - 7:00) sidewalk chalk for all Pinecrest families to come and write messages to the teachers
- BOGO Book Fair/Playground Ice Cream Social - May 23rd
- Carnival Planning
PTA MONTHLY MEETING
Next Meeting is Monday, May 6 at 7:15 pm in the Pinecrest Media Center
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Just a reminder that if your child is having a birthday party and wants to invite their friends from school, we are not able to give out names, phone numbers or addresses of the students. While we know it is exciting for children to have a birthday party and invite their school friends, we ask that you not send invitations to school with them to pass out. It can cause hurt feelings for those students who did not get invited to the party.
TREATS AT SCHOOL
The district has adopted a wellness policy. We are still celebrating student birthdays; we are just not doing so with birthday treats. We ask that students not bring any treats in honor of their birthday.
Food & Nutrition Services
2023-2024 Minnesota Free School Meals Program
What is the Minnesota Free School Meals Program?
The Minnesota Free School Meals Program provides state reimbursement to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program so that students can have one breakfast and one lunch at no cost at school.
Can the meals be picked up or brought home like we did during the pandemic?
No. Congregate meal service is required in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Meals may not be taken off campus, sent home, delivered, or picked up by parents or others.
Do I still need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits?
Families need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. Applications for Educational Benefits determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and support. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits, such as:
- WIC Benefits
- Metro Transit Assistance Program
- FCC Affordable Connectivity Program/Reduced price internet programs
- Some summer camps, athletics programs, and child cares offer scholarships or discounts
What is included in the MN Free School Meals Program?
The student must choose at least three items to be counted as a reimbursable meal at breakfast. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their breakfast. At lunch, the student must choose at least three components to be counted as a reimbursable meal. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their lunch.
What is NOT included in the MN Free School Meals Program?
Single-item purchases and non-reimbursable meals are not free. Some examples include: a carton of milk, snack items, a second entrée, a second breakfast, or a second lunch, meals that do not meet the minimum requirements, and meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults.
The price for breakfast and lunch meals will be $0 for all sites.
Fill out the Form! The Application for Education Benefits helps determine how much education funding your school will receive. Complete an application for your student for the school year 2023-24.
- Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Parents should complete an Application for Education Benefits.
- Only meals that meet the requirements are reimbursed. Students that want additional or single items will be charged for those items.
- The 2023-24 Free and Reduced Meal Application is available online on the district website under Food Service.
For more information, please call Andrea Seleski 651-480-7050 or Brittney Hirschauer 651-480-7126
HEALTH SERVICES
Illness and Keeping your Child Home
A student should not come to school (and may be sent home from school) if they have or have had:
a fever of 100 degrees F or more in the past 24 hours
vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
an undiagnosed skin rash
Reporting Absences
If your student will not be at school, please call and report the reason for their absence at 651-480-7281. If your student is ill, please report their symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable condition like chicken pox, strep throat, cough and fever, influenza, or pink eye. It is recommended that you follow the MDH and CDC exclusion guidelines for communicable diseases.
Immunizations
In order to attend school, students must show that they're in compliance with Minnesota School Immunization Requirements (see the Minnesota Department of Health Link below for more Information). Hastings School's immunization policy states that students who are not up to date on their immunizations will not be allowed to start school until they provide the school with documentation that they have received the required immunizations.
Parents/guardians may check their student's immunization status by logging on to the parent portal in Infinite Campus. To see the immunization records, click on the HEALTH tab. If your student's immunization status says "current for grade" in ALL immunizations required by law, then the student is up to date and ready for the start of school. If your student is not current, they will need to get the required immunizations to attend the first day of school. Yearly physicals with their healthcare provider are strongly encouraged for students to have optimal health.
Parents/guardians may choose to decline immunizations for their students by filing a legal exemption with the school. Student Immunization Form
If you have further questions, please reach out to our building nurse at 651-480-7286.
Change of Address or Daycare
If during the school year your address or daycare changes and this requires a change in transportation, please contact the school, not the bus company. If you give us the information we will work with the bus company to make the changes. The only changes that can be made are those that are permanent or for an extended length of time. It is very difficult for the bus company to make brief or sudden changes in the routes. If you need to update your address, please complete this form to turn into the office.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Early Pick Up for Students
In order to minimize interruptions to the classroom, students should not be picked up early unless it is an emergency. On those occasions when it is necessary to pick your child up during the school day, please go to the school office to sign your child out. The office administrative assistant will call the classroom and have the student sent to the office. Teachers will not release students unless the office gives prior approval. This practice has been established to help protect your child.
Your child's safety is of prime importance to us. There are a few procedure guidelines that help us maintain a secured building and limit the number of distractions to our classrooms. Our building is designed to have a single entry point during the school day. Please keep the following in mind:
- Always check in at the office whenever you are at school.
- We have a new secure entrance, please ring the doorbell and state your reason for visiting.
- When delivering things for your child (ex. snow gear), please drop them off at the office. We will deliver articles or call your child down to the office.
BRING YOUR ID
Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student.
If the Hastings Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather conditions, the Kids Campus Program will also be closed. If school is delayed two hours in opening, Kids Campus will be open at the regular time (6:30 am).
If school closes two hours early, then Kids Campus sites will close two hours early
(4:00 pm). Parents will be called and notified by Kids Campus staff to pick up their child.
Please pick up your child by 4:00 pm or authorize someone else to pick up your child by that time. Please listen to the radio and TV for school closing announcements.