Stay Connected
Good Afternoon Crew, 

We are very grateful that we have been able to keep our doors open to in-person learning this past week.  And it was great to get our quarantined classes back in the building.  I am hopeful that we will be able to keep our doors open all the way through November 19th.  

Thank you for your continued collaboration throughout the year.  Your efforts have helped us stay open and keep our Crew safe. You all have been highly cooperative with keeping your children home when they are sick, ensuring your child has a mask to wear at school, minimizing your family’s exposure to unnecessary risk, engaging with virtual learning when necessary, reporting exposures to COVID, and continuing to be an encouragement to our staff.  Thank you! 
  
As you know after Thanksgiving break we will be moving to remote learning through the end of the semester. At this point, I want to let you know a timeline for receiving more information from Pine Lane on what you can expect and what our strategies will be in place to help your children be as successful as possible during remote learning.  Next week, please expect communication from me by Wednesday informing you what you can expect from us and what we expect from you and your child during these three weeks. By the end of the week, teachers will communicate with you what you and your child need to know for Monday, November 30th as we come back from break and into remote learning.  I recommend saving these communications for your reference at a later time.  Please remember that next Friday, November 20th, is now a teacher plan day; there will not be school on this day.  We are hopeful that we can return safely to in-person learning soon.  

This year our Pine Lane teachers have been tremendous.  Their love for our students and ability to creatively provide instruction in spite of shifting between multiple instructional formats and navigating health and safety protocols is truly remarkable. The DCEF Apple Awards Nomination is now open.  To nominate a favorite educator or staff member, visit: https://www.foundationdcs.org/nominations  The nomination window will close at midnight on Sunday, December 20th. Please click on the link above and express your gratitude for a teacher that has had an impact on your child.

Remember we are Pine Lane and we are Crew!  Continue to take care of your family and each other!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Chris Stairs
Principal 
Pine Lane Elementary. 
Preparing for Remote Learning
Next week, we (DCSD) will send a follow-up communication with more details about what your family can expect in the remote learning platform. In the meantime, the following is some information on how to begin preparing for the transition to remote learning.

Personal Belongings, School Work, Supplies, Medication, etc.
  • Next week, students should take home school work, supplies, loaner technology devices (if needed), personal belongings from their lockers (if applicable), etc.
  • We ask that parents make arrangements to pick up any medications that their students may have at school, as well as larger personal items such as musical instruments, etc.
Technology
  • If your student(s) need a technology device for remote learning, please complete  this request form by Monday 11/16,so that your child can bring the device home prior to Thanksgiving Break. 
  • DCSD has access to a limited number of WiFi hotspots for families in need. Click here to submit a request for a hotspot. In addition, many of the major Internet providers are providing access to more affordable internet access for learning devices. We recommend checking in with your internet provider to see how they can help, or visiting https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19 
Meals Bags During Remote Learning
  • Starting Tuesday, December 1, DCSD’s Nutrition Services Department will begin meal bag pickup sites with free meals available to all children ages 18 and under. Meal pick ups will take place every Tuesday and Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • On Tuesdays, children will receive three days' worth of breakfasts and lunches, and on Fridays, children will receive four days' worth of breakfasts and lunches. Click here for a list of pick up locations.
  • There will be no remote meal bag pickups the week of 11/23-11/27 (Thanksgiving Week) or during Winter Break (12/21/20-1/1/21)
  • The last week of school in December, pickups will be 12/15 and 12/17 due to a staff furlough day on 12/18.
Full-Day BASE Care (Child Care)
  • Full-day BASE programming will be available during the remote learning period. However, due to Douglas County’s Level Orange status availability may be limited.
  • The DCSD BASE program will be sending more information about BASE hours, locations, pricing, as well as health and safety protocols.

DCSD COVID-19 QUICK LINKS
UPCOMING DATES

NOVEMBER
2nd - Dec 1st - Open Enrollment
17th & 19th Parent Teacher Conferences
20th - NO SCHOOL STUDENTS
23rd - 27th - Thanksgiving Break no School
Discovery Program Application Process
The application process for the Discovery Program will open Monday, October 19. 
Applications are due December 4, 2020.
The Discovery Program is designed for highly advanced gifted learners in grades 2 - 6 whose needs will be best met in a center based program.  Please share the following information about the program with your families through your regular communication channels and consider students who might benefit from this intense gifted programming option. 
Nov 2nd thru
Dec 1st
Masks! Masks! Get your masks!!

Pine Lane spirit masks are now available for $5.

We have adult and child sizes available.

The first picture features our adult masks and the second features our kid masks.

Money raised will benefit our 1:1 technology goal!

Masks will be delivered to your child at school. Check those backpacks!


PTO 2020/21 Fundraising Efforts
We are raising funds for Technology Needs
Goal: $30,000
To Date Raised YTD $3,661
We are particularly targeting our goal to be fully 1:1 with devices k-6. Our current situation has increased the importance of ensuring our students can be connected to school at home. We are currently 1:1 in grades 2-6 with Chromebooks and need about $30,000 to become fully 1:1 in grade K-1 with iPads.
Fund Raising Breakdown Earned YTD

Red Robin - $417.78
Alternative Fundraising: $1050
School Store: $1,146.95
Chipotle Night: $145.35
Swirls Night: $141.58
May T-Shirt Sales: $750.00

School Store Fundraiser there were 230 Gift Cards to Specific Classrooms totaling $7,215.00

Please check out our PTO hosted

Thank you for your continued support of PLE!