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August 4, 2017
 

Quick Links

Forms for Open House
Important Upcoming Events
 
Busing Change Parent Requests due
8/11

Schedules Available in Portal
8/22

8th Grade WEB Leader Training
8/23-24  8am-1pm

Final Busing info Posted
8/28 

Orientation and Curriculum Open House
8/29  2-7pm

1st Day of School
9/5

6th Grade WEB Orientation
9/5

Picture Make-up Day
9/21

If your child is absent, late or needs to be picked up early, please email our new Attendance Line at:
Or call: 952-556-7899

See our Attendance Procedures here:
PRMS Attendance Procedures

Donate to Innovate the Ridge to help PRMS reach its $15,000 goal.

Important Phone Numbers

Counselors:

Kris Moe (A-L): 952-556-7833
Ryan Newell (M-Z): 952-556-7832

Nurses:
Terri Tompkins &
Mary Alice Mayerle:

952-556-7819

Positive Connections Bus Company: 
952-361-0899

Transportation Dept:
952-556-6160

Food Service:
952-556-6152 
 
Pioneer Ridge MS
1085 Pioneer Trail
Chaska, MN 55318

Main Office: 952-556-7800

Attendance: 952-556-7899

Fax: 952-556-7809

New Office Hours:
8:00am - 4:30pm

New School Hours:
8:40am - 3:30pm

Si necesita una traducción en español de este documento, por favor llame a Maria Johnson al
 (952) 556-7881.


Welcome to Another School Year at PRMS!
It is hard to believe it is already time to welcome you back to another school year! I am very excited to be back serving as your principal.  It has been a busy summer with staff working throughout the summer on curriculum and personalizing learning. A few of our staff have changed classrooms, so be sure to walk around during open house to find all your classes, as well as meet the new staff we have hired.  We want to especially welcome our incoming sixth graders and new students to the PRMS family.  This year we are back to starting school the day after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5th.

New School Hours
8:40am - 3:30pm

With the new school hours, student drop-off may begin at 8:20am unless a student has a pre-scheduled meeting with school staff.  If you need to drop off your student earlier, child care (Pulse) will be provided by Community Ed.

Please continue to visit our website to keep up with news and events at Pioneer Ridge for the school year.  See our news page for more detailed information.  You can also find our archived newsletters on this page.

We are looking forward to students returning and embarking on an exciting and successful year.  To get a glimpse into personalized learning at PRMS, see the social media links below. If you have any suggestions or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We greatly value your input and involvement in our school. Enjoy the remainder of your summer!

--Dana Miller, Principal

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Please be sure to read the information below about:
Orientation and Curriculum Open House
Forms to Bring to Orientation
Deep Portage Meetings for 6th Grade Students and Parents
School Times Changing - New Bus Schedules Posted
Student Schedules and Campus Portal
Parent/Student Communication
Set up Your Campus Portal Account Today
Student Pictures Taken at Open House
Chromebook Information for Parents
Cost of Meals for 2017-18 School Year
Attendance Notification
WEB Program for 6th Grade Students
News From the Nurse
Can You Help? PRMS PTO Needs You!
Counselors' Corner
Student Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
Family Breaks

OpenHouse
Orientation and Curriculum Open House
Tuesday, August 29th (2-7pm)*
Open House is a drop-in, come-and-go format. To ease congestion, we are asking families to attend according to their last name:
  • A-K attend 2-4:30pm
  • L-Z attend 4:30-7pm
However, students and parents are welcome at the time that best fits your schedule.
 
During the August 29th open house, parents and students need to:
  • * Bring a paper or electronic copy of the student's schedule *
  • Hand in student documents in the designated location - see Forms to Bring to Orientation
  • Drop off supplies in the Commons - School Supply List
  • Walk student schedule and meet teachers
  • Find the student's locker
    • Practice locker combination
    • Organize for first day of school
    • Store any class-specific school supplies
  • Have the student's picture taken in the band room.  See below for picture order information
  • Put money in your lunch account
  • Visit the commons with the One-Stop Shop to:
    • Purchase a PRMS Chromebook Sleeve
    • Pay the music book and school-owned instrument usage fee (Band and Orchestra students only)
    • Purchase Personal Wellness Uniform
    • Make a donation to Innovate the Ridge
  • Visit the Community Education table for after school options/activities
  • Stop at the PTO table to learn more about parent involvement
  • Visit the Epilepsy Foundation's Resource table for information about seizure first aid

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Forms
Forms to Bring to Orientation
Please print and fill out the following forms before arriving at the Open House.
DP
Deep Portage Meetings for 6th Grade Students and Parents
Parents and students may attend one of two short informational meetings to learn about the Deep Portage trip taking place November 6th - 10th.

Meetings will be held in Room A204 at:
3:30-4pm
or
6:30-7pm

 
Bus
School Times Changing - New Bus Schedules Posted
Adding a new elementary school and changing some attendance areas and school times requires revised bus routes.

  New Pioneer Ridge School Day
8:40am - 3:30pm

A complete list of all school start and end times for the 2017-18 school year can be found here

Bus schedules have been posted online through Campus Portal and can be found under the Reports option.  With the exception of special education students, no bus schedules will be mailed.

If your child requires busing arrangements other than to and from home, please visit the Transportation site and follow the instructions to complete the appropriate forms.  Please contact the Transportation Department at 952-556-6160 with any questions.

If you are in need of child care before school Community Education will be offering the Pulse program from 6:30-8:30am if there are enough students enrolled.  Please see the Community Ed website for more information.

If parent(s)/guardian(s) do not have a Campus Portal account, please plan to visit the office during the open house to set one up or see below for more information.

Schedules
Student Schedules and Campus Portal
Student schedules will be available electronically through Campus Portal by Tuesday, August 22nd. You will need to bring a paper or electronic copy of the student's schedule to Open House, as well as on the first day of school. The schedule, with locker combination, is available under the Reports option (not the Responsive Schedule option).
ParentInfo
Parent/Student Communication
Is your phone number and email accurate in Infinite Campus?
   
To allow us to partner with you and to communicate effectively and efficiently, it is critical that your phone number and email address are accurate in Campus Portal.

Please take a moment to log into Campus Portal to verify your contact information and update it if necessary.  To update your email address or phone number, click on the "Family Members" option on the left.  Your household phone may be changed under the "Household Information" option.  Please contact the PRMS main office for address changes.  Name changes are handled at the Welcome Center with legal documentation.

If parent(s)/guardian(s) do not have a Campus Portal account, please plan to visit the office during the open house to set one up or see below for more information.

Direct Communication:  We will utilize direct communication through phone calls, texts, and emails using the Campus Messenger system.  The mode of communication depends on the preferences you have elected in Campus Portal.  You will also receive an electronic Parent Newsletter at the beginning of each month, emailed to the address listed in Campus Portal.

General Communication: General school and student information is available through our monthly newsletters, website, Campus Portal and Empower. You can also follow us through social media. We encourage you to check the district and PRMS websites at prm.district112.org, Campus Portal and Empower weekly for building and teacher updates and to monitor your child's academic progress.

Communication with School Staff:
If you need to reach a staff member, you are encouraged to send an email or call the main office to be directed to the teacher's voicemail. Please remember that teachers are busy during the school day and may not be able to reply to your message until the start of the next school day. It is our goal to respond to all parent inquiries within one school day if possible.  Our staff list can be found here.

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PortalAccount
Set up Your Campus Portal Account Today 
As your child progresses to secondary school, it becomes very important that the district have at least one email address on file per household, as the majority of our teacher, school and district communications are sent using this method.

It is also recommended that each parent/guardian have a Campus Portal account, allowing you access to your child's schedule, other student information and to update your contact information.  To set up an account, please contact the main office at PRMMainOffice@District112.org or call 952-556-7800. 

 
Pictures
Student Pictures Taken at Orientation
All students must have a picture taken for the school yearbook and ID.  See your picture package options on the Lifetouch Flyer.  You may then order your pictures directly on the Lifetouch website .  You will have up to 48 hours after picture day to complete your online order.

Make-up pictures are scheduled for Thursday, September 21st if you are unable to attend the open house.

A note about Student IDs:
As well as being used for school purposes, a student ID with picture is required by most athletic leagues for tournaments, discounts and may be useful for travel outside the US.  When your student receives their picture package with the ID, please encourage your student to keep the ID in a safe place.  Should you lose the ID, you may print your child's Campus Portal page with their picture and black-out the Student ID number.  The office will not generate student verification letters for outside activities.

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Chromebook
Chromebook Information for Parents      
Please visit the Connexions website at http://connexion.district112.org/summer-chromebook-information/ for frequently asked questions. 
 
Students new to the district will receive their Chromebooks on the 2nd day of school in the HUB.

Meals
Nutrition Services Information
Please see the Nutrition Services Back-to-School letter.
 
There will be a slight increase ($0.10 per meal) for all school meals for the 2017-2018 school year.
 
The prices will be as follows:
 
Breakfast K - 12:  $1.70
Lunch Middle School:  $2.75
 
The cost of additional milk will remain the same at $0.50.

You will be able to deposit funds into your student's account at the open house, or you may use the  MyPaymentsPlus site to deposit funds online.

New this year, is an Unpaid Meal Charge Procedure.  Please be sure to review this information.

For more information, or to apply for free/reduced lunch status, please visit the  Nutrition Services website.

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Attendance
Attendance Notification   
Please contact our Attendance Line at 952-556-7899 or email PRMAttendance@District112.org for all absences, late arrivals or early departures.

Absences:
Include your name, your child's first and last name (with spelling), grade and the reason for his/her absence in your message. If your child is ill, please list his/her symptoms. You must inform the school each day your child is ill.

Late Arrivals:
Any student arriving after 8:40am MUST HAVE contact with office staff.  A note from the doctor or a phone call from a parent/guardian to 952-556-7899 are also acceptable.

Leaving the building during school hours:
All students needing to be released early due to appointments, vacation, sick, etc. MUST HAVE a parent/guardian or representative come into the office to sign the student out.

To make this process more convenient for you and your child:
  • Send a note with your child stating the date, time and reason for early release. Your child will need to bring the note to the office in the morning. He/she will be issued a pass to be released from class. Students may not leave class early without a pass or direct contact from the office staff.
OR
  • You can call 952-556-7899 to leave a message with the time your child will need picked up and the reason. Please allow time for the office staff to get the pass to your child during the school day. At least a 2-hour time frame is recommended.
If your child is returning to school, you do not need to accompany them into the office if they have a note from the doctor.
 
*Please note: If you come to the office to pick up your child without sending a note or calling, allow extra time for us to locate the student, contact the teacher and have the student come to the office.
 
Thank you for your cooperation in following these attendance guidelines.

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WEB
WEB Program for 6th Grade Students
Pioneer Ridge Middle School participates in the nationwide WEB Program, an organization whose purpose is to help sixth graders feel more comfortable, as well as help them achieve success in their first year of middle school.

WEB, which stands for "Where Everybody Belongs," welcomes and prepares sixth graders by assigning them an 8th grade WEB Leader as a mentor during this first year.  A WEB Leader is a responsible older student who was selected from a large pool of applicants and has met the qualifications of being a good role model and positive leader.

Eighth grade WEB Leaders will run 6th grade orientation on the first day of school.  Each 6th grade student can also expect an upcoming phone call from their WEB Leader introducing themselves, welcoming them to Pioneer Ridge Middle School and explaining more about the first day orientation. Thanks for your support of this incredible program!

Nurse
News from the Nurse
Greetings--My name is Terri Tompkins, and I am one of the school nurses at Pioneer Ridge Middle School. Working with me, is Nurse Mary Alice Mayerle.  In planning for the school year, please feel free to contact us to discuss any significant health condition information you feel will help us get acquainted with your child before the start of next school year.  

Please visit the Health Services website for forms or more information about 7th grade immunizations needed before starting school.  The immunization record can be sent to the attention of the nurse at PRMS.

Carver County Public Health and Metro Public Health offer low-cost immunizations for children without insurance coverage.  Learn more here.

If you have any questions or need assistance with a form, please contact Terri Tompkins or Mary Alice Mayerle at 952-556-7819.

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PTO
Can You Help? PRMS PTO Needs You!
We would love to have you join PRMS PTO! We have several active 8th grade parents who will be "graduating" out of PRMS in the spring of 2018. We are in need of a few leaders to learn the ropes and help grow the PTO.  We assist the school with parent communication, organize a small fundraiser and meet 5 times a year.  We would love to have YOU! Please e-mail us at prmspto@gmail.com with any questions you may have!

If you would like to volunteer to help at the Orientation and Curriculum Open House please sign-up here .

If you are interested in joining PTO, please watch for our meeting schedule in future newsletters.  If you have specific questions, feel free to call or email Ryan Meulemans, Administrative Dean, at 952-556-7812 or MeulemansR@district112.org
 
--Tonya Bushey and Michelle Donahue

Counselors
PRMS Counselors' Corner
Our counselors are out of the office until August 28th.  If you have questions about your student's schedule, or other counseling concerns, you may call or email the counselor.  They will reply when they return to school on August 28th.  If you have an immediate concern, please call the main office at 952-556-7800.

Kris Moe (A-L), 952-556-7833,
moekris@district112.org 
Ryan Newell (M-Z), 952-556-7832, newellr@district112.org

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Dropoff
Student Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
Thanks to all of you for your cooperation in following our student drop off and pick up procedures. See  diagram.  It is for your child's safety that we insist all pick-up and drop-off traffic must pull completely around into the circle before the car door is opened.  This will be especially important with all the construction traffic this school year.

Our staff works to move traffic as efficiently as possible. Cars pulling out of the line before reaching the end of the circle, not only endanger other students, but also send the wrong message to students and other parents who are complying with this safety measure. If you have an emergency that requires you to leave more quickly than the five to ten minutes it takes to move all cars through our circle, we ask that you park and walk to the circle or office to pick up your child.

Please do not allow your child to walk down the line and enter your car before reaching the end of the circle. We also ask that you do not stop wherever your child is standing, but pull as far forward in the circle as possible before stopping.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

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FamilyBreaks
Family Breaks
Family breaks are times when students and families can count on no new assignments being due after a school break.  The first family break will be October 19-22 for the Education Minnesota break.  Our hope is that by clearly setting aside these times, families can make plans accordingly and students can enjoy time away from the stressors of schoolwork.

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