Ms. Lynn Zaldua Principal Welcome Back Orientation | 2021-2022 The ONLY “A” School since the Inception of the State’s School Grading System! Accolades from 2020-2021: • Gold STEAM School Designation • Fairchild Challenge Recognitions • Dream in Green Recognitions • Numerous Art Awards and Exhibitions • Individual students and group performances selected for Superintendent’s Chorus • Social Studies Essay Contest Winners • Spelling Bee District Participant Staying Informed • Parent Portal (for student grades push notification) • Contact Main Office to obtain PIN to set up account • Dadeschools Mobile App • Pinecrest PTA Mobile App • School Website https://pinecrestelem.net/ • Join the PTA https://pinecrestpta.com/ • Social Media • Pinecrest Twitter @PESParrots • Pinecrest Facebook search for “Pinecrest Elementary School Official” President, Jen Sturges Meet the Pinecrest PTA! 1st VP Administrative Affairs, Jessica Lissauer 2nd VP Fundraising, Aleesa Adams 3rd VP Programming & Events, Sara Dajer 4th VP Communication, Christine Jenkins Treasurer, Maritza Shapiro Corresponding Secretary, Carli Hoppe Recording Secretary, Maritza Shapiro Parliamentarian, Christine Jurado How does PTA support our school? Did you know our PTA assists with … • School upgrades: recess area, PE shelter, playground, landscaping, technology, etc. • School programs: AR, Reading Plus, Wordly Wise, IXL, Science Fusion, Brain Pop, DARE, etc. • Teacher/Staff Support: room parent program, art appreciation program, safety committee, teacher appreciation week, etc. • School Marketing/Recruitment: secure corporate sponsors, Dream in Green & Fairchild Community Challenges, new marquee coming this year, and more! Additional PTA school sponsored activities: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Carnival / Fun Fest Boosterthon Dance Party Memory Book After-School Clubs Primary Art Class Support Family Paint Night th 5 Grade Promotion Events Field Day Teacher Appreciation Scholastic Book Fair Volunteer Program Teacher Mini-Grants Technology Initiative Meet the Pinecrest PTO / PEP Fund! President, Christine Jurado (Parent) VP, Lisa Gomez (Library Media Specialist) Stakeholder, Marilyn Morrison (5th Grade Teacher) Stakeholder, Crystal Tejera (1st Grade Teacher) Stakeholder, Jennifer McCafferty (Parent) How does PTO/PEP Fund assist? • Our PTO is also known as the PEP (Pinecrest Enrichment Programs) Fund. • Our goal is to raise funds to hire classroom aides (ACT), support our school clubs (Robotics, Chorus, History & Geography) and address the students’ needs. • Benefits of ACT Aides include: • Assist teacher during classroom learning • Provide temporary coverage for teachers during emergencies & staffings/meetings • Help to reduce student/teacher ratio when beneficial • Assist children in the cafeteria during lunch time. • Goal is to hire six (6) ACT Aides each school year. • Fundraising Events include: • Movie Night • Direct Capital Campaign • Other exciting events Important Dates • Wednesday, August 18th, 2:30 PM: PreK in person tour of the school • Thursday, August 19th, between 4:00-5:30 PM: PTA school store drive-by to collect online purchases on 57th avenue circular driveway. • Friday, August 20th • • • • • • • • • 9:00 AM: Kindergarten (last names A-L) in person tour of the school 10:00 AM: Kindergarten (last names M-Z) in person tour of the school 11:00 AM: PreK class orientation via ZOOM 11:30 AM: Kindergarten class orientation via ZOOM 12:00 PM: 1st grade class orientation via ZOOM 12:30 PM: 2nd grade class orientation via ZOOM 1:00 PM: 3rd grade class orientation via ZOOM 1:30 PM: 4TH grade class orientation via ZOOM 2:00 PM: 5TH grade class orientation via ZOOM zoom link will be sent to registering parent’s email • Friday, August 20th, between 4:00-5:30 PM: PTA school store drive by to collect online purchases on 57th avenue circular driveway. Week of Welcome Links will be available on registering parent’s email on the day of the zoom meeting. -see flyer for more details- SAFETY school safety is a shared responsibility Covid-19: Parent Responsibility for Safety • Daily health screening: • Temperature check • Look for signs & symptoms: • i.e: persistent cough, difficulty breathing, chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, fever (100.4 or higher), runny nose, diarrhea, nauseous, vomiting, feeling tired, headache, and/or poor appetite. • Awaiting direction regarding face coverings from District. ** If a student presents any of the above symptoms and will be absent, please email 4421attendance@dadeschools.net and copy your child’s HR teacher.** Classroom Layout & Usage • Classroom space will be organized so that students are seated at 3ft apart from each other. • Each classroom will have a disinfecting station to include hand sanitizer and/or soap, and paper towel. • Non-essential furniture has been removed to accommodate spacing for social distancing. • Wiping down of desks and high traffic areas will take place throughout the day, daily. • Frequent hand washing is encouraged, and students are encouraged to utilize the hand sanitizers located in key areas throughout the building. • Electrostatic sprayers will be used to disinfect the building. Classroom Assignments • Classrooms will be departmentalized this year in grades 2 through 5. • Students will have assigned seating to reduce contamination, including in special area classes. • Student seating charts will be kept to identify students in a possible quarantine. • Each cohort will be kept together to minimize movement. Health Screening Area • Staff will be vigilant of students with signs of illness throughout the day. • A sick child will be escorted to the Health Screening Area to be assessed by medical staff. • School staff will contact the parent of any student visiting the Health Screening Area. Sick students will require early student sign-out. Please keep contact information current and have someone available in the event your child needs to be picked up early from school. • Students will be need to wear a facial covering while in the Health Screening area. On Campus Activities • At this time, in-person assemblies will not be taking place. • Open-house events will be forthcoming. • Until further notice, parent conferences are to be held remotely. • After-school care and activities will continue implementing the same protocols as during the school day. Off Campus Activities • In-person, off-campus field trips are only permitted if approved by the Region Office. • Student participation in academic contests (STEM events, science fair, etc.) will only be attended if the organizing entity provides clear guidance regarding health and safety measures aligned with District guidance and protocols with the approval of the Principal. • Virtual field trips remain an option. Restrooms • Only two students will be allowed in the group restrooms at a time. • Students in the lower grades, as well as ESE students, have been prioritized for having restrooms inside the classrooms. • Students without restrooms inside the classrooms will use the group restrooms by obtaining a sticky note from their teacher to be used as a hall pass and posting the sticky note on the bathroom door to advise that the bathroom is in use. • If there are already two sticky notes posted, the student is to wait until the restroom has become unoccupied by a student, who will take their sticky note from the door and throw it away in front of the teacher upon returning to class. Cafeteria • Indoor/outdoor seating will be available to accommodate the social distancing needed. • Classes that are assigned to eat inside the cafeteria will keep a social distance of 3ft within each cohort, and 6ft between cohorts. • In outdoor eating situations, there is not a minimum social distancing requirement, however we will only allow 3 students per picnic table to maintain an acceptable distance in an abundance of caution. School Safety Measures • Raptor machine • All gates and points of entry remain locked during school hours • Emergency Drills • Code Yellow Lock Down • Code Red Lock Down • Fire Drill Evacuations Attendance • Daily school attendance will be taken every scheduled school day. • PK – 1st grade: 8:20 AM • 2nd – 5th grade: 8:35 AM • A student is considered tardy to school if the student arrives after these times. At 8:35 AM gates on 102 street and 104 street will close and all tardy students after this time must enter through 57th avenue. Parents must sign-in tardy students at the welcome center after this time. • Detailed information on our attendance policy is included in the Parent Handbook. Arrival & Dismissal Grade: Pre-K through 1st Grade School Hours: 8:20 – 1:50 PM School Days: Daily (M-F) 2nd through 5th Grade 8:35 AM – 3:05 PM 8:35 AM – 1:50 PM Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays Wednesdays only Transportation • Buses will arrive on SW 104 Street & school personnel will be available to receive students at arrival and assist with dismissal. • Transportation is eligible for students who reside outside of the 2-mile radius of the school but live within the boundaries assigned to Pinecrest Elementary. • Students riding a M-DCPS school bus are required to wear a mask. safety is a collaborative effort SW 102 Street (North Side) SW 104 Street (South Side) SW 57 Avenue (East Side) Pinecrest School Programs • • • • • Prep Start - PK, K Global Tech Challenge EFL (Extended Foreign Language) ELL (English Language Learners) • ESE (Exceptional Student Education) Parental Involvement • • • • • • Monitor student engagement and grades on Parent Portal Attend PTA Meetings Become involved in PTA Committees Support school events Reinforcing the Core Values, from the Superintendent’s Values Matter Initiative • Citizenship • Cooperation • Fairness • Honesty • Integrity • Kindness • Pursuit of Excellence • Respect • Responsibility Support our environmental conservation efforts. Go Green at home! Student Awards and Recognitions • Principal’s Honor Roll Breakfast • Quarterly recognition for students earning all A’s in all academic areas as well as 1’s in effort and conduct. • Parrot Club • Recognizes one student that exemplifies the core value of each month, celebrating SEL (Social Emotional Learning). • Birthday Book Club • Students are highlighted on WPEN with a small donation to the Media Center through the PTA • End of the Year Promotion Ceremony Supporting our Families • For information on textbooks, devices, etc., contact M-DCPS at 305-995-HELP • M-DCPS Mental Health Assistance Line 305-995-7100 (M-F, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) • Contact your child’s teacher or the school’s counselor if you are in need of academic or social-emotional support SEL (Social Emotional Learning) • Through our Social Emotional Program, students will acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to: • • • • Recognize and manage their emotions Demonstrate caring and concern for others Establish positive relationships Make responsible decisions • Opportunities for Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness Practices will be supported through WPEN morning announcements. Communication System • Teacher • Ms. Terri Vega, Counselor • Terrific@dadeschools.net • Ms. Maria Mayo, Assistant Principal (PreK-2nd grade) • MariaLMayo@dadeschools.net • Ms. Yamberli Cruz, Assistant Principal (3rd - 5th grade) • MrsCruz@dadeschools.net • Ms. Lynn Zaldua, Principal • LynnZaldua@dadeschools.net Please allow 48 hours for school personnel to reply to your request “Where things happen every day!” Should you require additional information, you can contact: pinecrestptacommunication@gmail.com Questions will be compiled and addressed during the Principal’s Report at the first PTA General Meeting on September 1st at 6:00 PM via Zoom. Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to a stellar year!
