PRE Newsletter
September 16, 2022
Important Dates
September 18 Directory Information Due!
September 21 Two Hour Delayed Start, students report between 10:30-10:45 AM
September 22-23, 26-29 Book Fair
September 23 Lap-a-thon
September 28 Half-day with dismissal @ 12:10 PM, Parent/Teacher Conferences Late Afternoon and Evening
September 29 No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 30 No School
October 1 Chipotle Fundraiser
PRE Directory
Plan Ahead for Late Start Days!
The Board of Education approved three (3) delayed start days for the 2022-23 school year. The first delayed start date is Wednesday, September 21. Students will begin school two (2) hours later than normal. Students will need arrive at school between 10:30-10:40 AM for the 10:45 a.m. start time.
Students who ride the bus will simply add two hours to their normal pick up time. For example, if the normal pick-up time is 8:05 a.m., the pick-up time on September 21 would be 10:05 a.m.
Teachers and support staff will report for duty at their normal time on September 21. Schools will utilize time with staff for needed training and professional development. The other two dates for delayed starts will be November 9 and April 12.
PRE Lap-a-thon
It’s time for LAP-A-THON our most important fundraiser of the year!
We are using Pledge Star online fundraising to make online payments easier and to allow you the option to request pledges from family and friends. It’s easy and schools who use it typically raise twice as much as those who don’t!
Help us reach our fundraising goal of $15,000 by creating your family page and requesting donations at: https://pledgestar.com/prairie/
What is Lap-A-Thon?
Lap-A-Thon is our fall fundraiser for Prairie Ridge PTO. On September 23rd each class will get a chance to have a fun run outside of the school. For each lap run the student will get a bracelet. They can run as many or as few laps as they like during their selected time period. At the end they are treated to a popsicle. As part of Lap-A-Thon each student will receive a free school t-shirt from the PTO that they can wear on school spirit days and on school field trips.
Lap-A-Thon Donations
In lieu of having school sales drives to raise money we ask that families (and friends) donate what they can to make the PTO school programming possible. On average the PTO spends $80 per year per student. Asking for donations is how we make that spending possible.
Who benefits from your donation?
100% of our proceeds go to support the efforts of the Prairie Ridge Elementary PTO. Each year the PTO provides a FREE school shirt for every student, 6+ teacher meals for conferences and holidays, classroom supplies, Enhanced Teacher Curriculum (ETC), Makerspace supplies, student school events, $10,000 in teacher grants for classroom improvements, FREE school field trips, community service opportunities and more.
Donate Today: https://pledgestar.com/prairie/
We need a few volunteers to lend us a hand at Lap-A-Thon on September 23rd. Help support our students as they run by handing out wristbands for each lap or popsicles after they finish their laps. It only takes a few minutes and the kids love seeing you there!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DAFA828AA8-prelapathon2
PRE Fall Book Fair
Books are tickets to NEW WORLDS! Mark your calendars for our Fall Book Fair! Student and book fair volunteer shopping times will be scheduled during school hours on September 22, 23, 26 & 27, and we will be open for family shopping on September 28 and 29. New this year: sales tax will be charged on each purchase. “For every dollar, bring a dime, you’ll have enough every time!” Visit www.scholastic.com/bf/PREFall2022 for more information!
Do you love the Book Fair? Please sign up to volunteer here: tinyurl.com/prefall2022
PRE Family Hoedown
GRAB YOUR PARTNER!!! It's time for the PRE FAMILY HOEDOWN!!!
Please scan the QR code on the flyer or click the link to register by September 24th!
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
PTO EVENTS
September 23--Lap-a-Thon Day
October 5--Walk to School Day
October 1--Family Hoedown
October 19--Skate Party
January 20--Bingo Night
January 26--Skate Party
March 8--Skate Party
May 5--Carnival and Basket Raffle-6:00-9:00 (Rain or Shine)
May 1-5--Staff Appreciation Week
MUSIC PROGRAMS
November 10--4th Grade Performance @ 9:10 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
December 8--5th Grade Performance @ 10:10 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
December 15--Choir and Band Concert @ 3:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.
February 23--2nd Grade Performance @ 2:45 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.
March 9--3rd Grade Performance @ 9:10 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
March 30--1st Grade Performance @ 1:50 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.
April 13--District Choir Festival
May 2--Choir and Band daytime concert @ 2:40 PM, Band Concert @ MVHS with MTMS evening performance
May 4--Choir evening concert @ 6:30 PM
PARTIES
October 31--Fall Parties 2:45 parade with parties to follow @ 3:00 p.m.
December 20--Winter Parties 11:15 a.m. (This is a half-day for Students.)
February 14--Valentine Parties 3:00 p.m.
Fall Parties
Fall parties are scheduled for Monday, October 31. The parade will begin at 2:45 with the party following. We have an outside parade route so that families can come and watch.
You can help us to keep our fall celebration days safely on track by following these easy guidelines!
First, please remember that although students are invited to wear costumes to the fall parties, those costumes should be designed to be entertaining, not actually scary for our littlest cougars and bigger cougars (and Mrs. Fulcher). No blood, no guts, no gore, no weapons and no violence, please.
All students need to bring costumes to school in their backpacks or bag marked with their name. Time will be given for students to change before the parade.
Please save some excitement for evening trick-or-treating by leaving hair and face paint at home with extra costume parts like swords and daggers. Masks are fine as long as kids can see well enough to walk safely during the parade which will start at 2:45 P.M.
Classroom parties are from 3:00-3:30 in the classrooms. Thank you to our many parent volunteers who help to make this event happen! Volunteers may go to the classrooms beginning at 2:15. We will be maintaining our normal daily schedule until then, so disruptions to the classroom will be kept at a minimum with your help. Thank you!
As safety is always important, please remember that the parties are intended for Prairie Ridge Elementary students of attendance only. We do not have babysitting services during parties, so please make other arrangements for siblings if you intend to attend. All ages would be more than welcome to join us for the parade, but please do not plan to take younger or older (non-PRE students) children down to the classrooms.
All visitors must enter through the front doors and sign-in and out...even on party days! Thank you!
Golden Spoon Winners
K-Peterson/Willis
1-Lawyer
2-Dolan
3-Mulder
4-Bockhoff/Harrison
5-Proehl
Double Diamond
The Double Diamond Award is given out every Friday to two classes (one K-2 and one 3-5) that have exemplified specific expectations during their specials classes. Specials teachers have explained what students need to do in order to earn this award.
•Listen AND follow teacher directions
•Only talking during appropriate times
•Use an inside voice when working
•Show RESPECT to everyone and to property
•Enter and Exit the classroom appropriately
•Give YOUR personal best effort during class
Mrs. Allison's 1st class and Ms. Johnson's 5th grade class won the Double Diamond Award this week. Congratulations!!!
The Cleanest Classroom Award
The cleanest classroom award goes to Mrs. Lawyer's class and Mrs. Grayson's class. Congratulations!
Students of the Week
Landry Wampler Grant Thompson Savannah Ventrone Dylan Urban Mckenzie Stacks Charlie Bentson Winnie Komosinski Grady Krase Mason Lewis Grace Bateman Annie Nowak Anika Kamath Leyton Boggs Grace Andrews Lynet Ledesma Nico Rivas Jakob Beacham Zoe Bond Jamie Pellman Kaitlyn Forshee Jack Lowe Addie Keck
PARAEDUCATOR, CASHIER & EVENING CUSTODIAN NEEDED AT PRE
Thinking about getting a job while your kids are at school? Or just thinking about a career change? We’re looking for YOU! The Student Nutrition Department is currently looking for a cashier at Prairie Ridge. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. No nights, no weekends, same schedule as your students, and eat for free on the job.
PRE is also looking for a paraeducator and an evening custodian. Please apply if you are interested or pass the information on to a great candidate!
Click here to apply:
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR LUNCH SEATING AT SCHOOL!
Please, keep in mind the following important points:
- Lunch periods are 27 minutes long and we have to stay on schedule to fit everyone in close to a normal "lunch time."
- Parents may be joined at their reserved table by their child only. It can create negative competition with hurt feelings when we allow for others to join.
- Parents may bring in outside food for their dining party only. Food and/or drink must be consumed during the lunch period and not sent back to class with the student.
- Confidentiality is important to us, so kindly refrain from sharing stories later if you happen to notice that another child is having behavioral or learning challenges. We've got people for that! Feel absolutely free to seek assistance from our on-duty staff if you notice that someone else needs help!
How do I sign up? Click this link to let us know when you are coming! Closer to your date, please call the office to reserve a school lunch if you're not bringing your own. The cost of an adult lunch is $4.35, which needs to be paid (with exact change, please) on the date you will eat with us.
2022-23 Lunch Times
10:50--K
11:50--1st
11:20--2nd
12:20--3rd
12:50--4th
1:20--5th
If you like LOTS of happy noise all at once and don't mind the possibility of wearing syrup and ketchup on your body when you leave...feel free to join us!