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February 1, 2017
 

Quick Links

Late Start:
Thursday, February 9th

No School:
Monday, February 20th
in observance of
Presidents' Day


Friday, March 3rd
Grading day following the end of 2nd trimester on March 2nd

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

Join us for the next PTO meeting

Tuesday, February 14th
2:45 PM
Commons

Winter weather is here.
Are you getting district text messages?
Find out how.

If school is canceled, do you know where to find accurate and up-to-date information?
Find out here!

Hooked on Books...
and the Arts, too!

Saturday, February 11, 2017 
9am to Noon 
Chanhassen High School 

Save the date for a morning of free family fun... 

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

Order the Yearbook Online by March 17, 2017

Read the changes to attendance areas, school start times and transition plans for 2017-2018 school year.

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

Fax: 952-556-7809

Office Hours:
7:00am - 3:30pm

School Hours:
7:30am - 2:20pm

Si necesita una traducción en español de este documento, por favor llame a Nayely Becerra al
 (612) 930-6376.

Thank You for Attending Conferences!
Thank you to all families that were able to attend conferences on January 12th.  It was fun to see and hear all the great conversations taking place throughout the night.  If you missed it, or missed the poster as you walked into conferences, please look here.  We would like to thank PTO & student council for their continued support of learning here at PRMS.  We also want to give all parents some information regarding ways we support your child here at school and give you some information about how you could be involved as a parent.  Thank you for a great school year so far and thank you for your continued support.

A BIG THANK YOU to all parents who donated food for the teachers' conference dinner.  The teachers really loved the taco bar and desserts donated by so many generous PRMS parents!

Don't miss the important information in this newsletter regarding registration for next year's classes.

Top
Please click the links to read more information below:
Ellis Island Day at PRMS an Amazing Success and Experience
Geography Bee Finalists
Community Jazz Festival is February 3rd & 4th
Yearbook Group Photos February 10th
7th Grade Courage Retreat February 14th
Registration for Next Year in Full Swing
Winter Spirit Week is February 13-17
Thanks a Latte Day is February 28th
Showcase is March 9th
Washington DC Information for 7th Grade Parents
PRMS Counselors' Corner
Free Dental Care Available February 3rd & 4th
Chinese Traditional Music Program February 25th
Run the Ridge is May 6th

Ellis
Ellis Island Day at PRMS an Amazing Success and Experience!
On Friday, January 27th our school was transformed into Ellis Island for our 6th graders across the District.  All 6th graders from PRMS, CMSE and CMSW came to Pioneer Ridge Middle School to participate in this simulation about Ellis Island and the process of immigration and becoming a citizen in the United States around the year 1900.  It was an amazing day of dressing up and role-playing for our learners as they worked their way through the building.

Almost 200 parent volunteers were also in our building that day.  THANK YOU TO ALL PARENT VOLUNTEERS for giving us your time and talents that morning--we couldn't do this without you!  What a wonderful day for our learners, their parents as volunteers, and our staff to witness all the great role-playing and experiences last Friday.

THANKS to everyone that made this experience possible!!!
Mr. Lazzari and Mr. Moran

Bee
Geography Bee Finalists
  
National Geography Bee
(L to R) Grayson LeSueur, Jenna Williams, Talitha Anderson, Jake Ryan, Connor Selken, Meghan Pierson, Emma Abrahamson, Brian Gilbertson

All PRMS students participated in the National Geography Bee at the beginning of January.  The Geography Bee is for students in the fourth through eighth grades and is held at thousands of schools across the United States and in the five U.S. Territories, as well as in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools around the world.  After our school bee in early January, ten students (noted in the picture) participated in the championship round.  Brian Gilbertson, a sixth grader at PRMS, won the school competition on January 12th and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.  Brian will be taking a test to qualify; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state bee on March 31, 2017.  We wish Brian the best of luck and congratulations to all of those students who participated.
 
PRMS School Geography Bee Finalists-2017
1st Place - Brian Gilbertson (6th grade)
2nd Place - Connor Selken (7th grade)
3rd Place - Jake Ryan (7th grade)
4th Place - Meghan Pierson (8th grade)
 
Jazz
Community Jazz Festival February 3rd & 4th
Chanhassen High School will host the 23rd Annual  Community Jazz Festival on February 3-4, 2017. The public is invited to attend many of the events, culminating with the Finale Concert on Saturday, February 4, at 7:00 pm at Chanhassen High School. To find out more, or to purchase tickets, click here.

Yearbook
Yearbook Group Photos February 10th
On Friday, February 10th, Lifetouch will be at PRMS to take photos of all student groups! This includes Student Council members, WEB Leaders, archery students, etc., as well as band, choir, and orchestra groups. Please encourage your child to dress appropriately for the day, listen carefully to announcements, and be a part of the photos representing the different groups he/she is part of at PRMS!
 
If you have not yet ordered a yearbook, you may do so online by March 17, 2017! The link is on our homepage or here.

Courage
7th Grade Courage Retreat February 14th
On Tuesday, February 14th, the 7th Grade class at PRMS will be attending the Youth Frontiers COURAGE Retreat. Youth Frontiers is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing student character and improving school climate since 1987. The organization has worked with over 1.6 million students and educators primarily in Minnesota schools.  We are looking forward to this day with ALL of our 7th grade students.  There is no cost to students, but you are reminded that each student must bring his/her own lunch.  Click here to read more and get the permission slip, which was due Monday, January 30th.

Registration
Registration for Next Year in Full Swing
The registration process for students attending Pioneer Ridge next year, and for those 8th grade students moving on to high school next year, has begun.

Incoming 6th Grade (5th Grade) Students
Next Year's 7th & 8th Grade Students
8th Grade Students Attending High School Next Year

All registration materials for next year's Pioneer Ridge students can be found on our Academics and Registration website.

Fifth
Incoming 6th Grade (5th Grade) Students

School counselors and other staff members from PRMS are in the process of visiting five different elementary schools to present school information and registration materials to our incoming 6th grade students.  Registration for 5th grade students is due to their 5th grade homeroom teacher before Friday, February 10th.

5th Grade Parent Preview Night
PRMS will host parents of 5th grade students at our 5th Grade Parent Preview Night on February 9th from 6-8pm.  Click here for more information.

See Us Live!
Are you interested in seeing Personalized Learning in action?  If so, sign up for one of 3 days in March to check out the amazing things happening at Pioneer Ridge.  Sign up here to See Us Live!

Seventh
Next Year's 7th & 8th Grade Students

School counselors are visiting classrooms this week and next to provide next year's class information and registration materials.  Please expect to see these materials at home, as we want all student to go over their class choices with parents/guardians.  Students will need to return their completed, signed registration sheet to their Social Studies teacher by Friday, February 10th.  Counselors will assist students in registering for next year's courses online during the week of February 13-17.

Back to Registration 

HS
8th Grade Students Attending High School Next Year

Counselors from both high schools visited Social Studies classrooms this week to provide students with high school registration materials.  Please expect these materials to come home and please discuss with your child their course choices for high school.  Students registration sheets must be returned by Monday, February 13th in order to register online with counselors' assistance that day.

Chanhassen High School Registration Website
Chaska High School Registration Website

Spirit
Winter Spirit Week is February 13-17
Student Council is excited to sponsor a Winter Spirit Week during the week of February 13th - February 17th. There are many fun activities planned for the week, including a Box Tops Drive, dress-up days, a school-wide talent show (which parents are invited to attend), and an all-school party. Please click here for more details of the fun week Student Council has planned!

Latte
Thanks a Latte Day February 28th    
It's time once again to celebrate Thanks a Latte' Day! Consider joining us on Tuesday, February 28 th for food and fun.
 
We truly appreciate the parents who help make this successful every year! You can donate supplies, come to serve, and/or send your child with $1 on 2/28/17.  Each student has the opportunity to get a cookie & a cocoa for $1 .  The event will be held in the hall outside the HUB.  Mrs. LaMoore will have activities and drawings for prizes.  The money raised this year will go to buy new books that students have requested!

A link for sign-ups to donate and/or serve will be sent out soon. Thank you for supporting literacy and students at PRMS!
 
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Showcase
Showcase is March 9th
The 2017 Showcase will be held on Thursday, March 9th, and traditionally, the PTO has hosted a silent auction and raffle.  This is the major fundraiser for the Pioneer Ridge PTO, raising an average of $6,000 per year.  For those of you who are new to PRMS, the Showcase is an evening where students showcase their successes in all areas of academics and the arts for their families.  Band and choir concerts are also featured.  All the money raised from the event goes towards the needs of our students.

The PTO is looking for volunteers for the night and donations towards the raffle/silent auction.  This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer for those of you who are unable to do so during the day. Please consider a contribution of your time or resources.
 
Please respond to prmspto@gmail.com if you would like to be part of 2017 Showcase Fundraiser Committee.   The Showcase fundraiser will also be discussed at the next PTO meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 14th at 2:45pm in the commons area.  
 
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please e-mail prmspto@gmail.com.  Your suggestions or fundraising ideas are welcomed.
 
Thank you for your time!
PRMS PTO
 
DC
Washington DC Information for 7th Grade Parents  
 
Hello to all 7th graders and Parents of 7th graders,

Your child will be an 8th grader next year and eligible to go on our Washington DC Trip over MEA weekend from October 19-21, 2017.  This is an optional trip but one that many 8th graders go on since it is so much fun to visit our Capital of Washington DC with their classmates and friends.

We will have an informational meeting on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 5-5:30pm in our HUB/Media Center.  This is an optional meeting but one that is highly encouraged if you have questions about signing your child up or even if you have already signed your child up.  Many 7th graders have already signed up.  Those now signing up are getting put on our wait list.  If we manage to get about 15-20 more students signed up, then we will be able to get a 2nd touring bus while in DC and then everyone (even wait-listed students) will be able to go on this great trip.

Registration letters went out to all 7th grade families in early December and were also handed out in January to anyone who still wanted the registration information.  Students will choose their roommates in May during a FLEX Time with Mr. Moran in his classroom.  There is a Pre-Trip meeting scheduled for Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 4-4:45pm.
 
THANKS and let me know if you have any questions or if I can assist you with anything about our Washington DC Trip.

Mr. Joe Moran
Washington DC Trip Coordinator and PRMS Teacher
moranj@district112.org 

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Counselors
PRMS Counselors' Corner
As we head into February, we are in the midst of registration for next year's courses and also the middle of winter, where some kids get the winter blues. If you need any questions answered about the registration process as your child brings home registration materials, please call or email. If your child is struggling with the long winter, please call us and we'd be happy to check in with them.
If you would like to talk to either one of us throughout the year, please call us or send us an email.

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

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Smile
Free Dental Care Available February 3rd & 4th   
Give Kids a Smile is a charitable program coordinated by the Minnesota Dental Association to provide free dental care to low-income children who face barriers to accessing dental care.  The two-day, statewide event is Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4, 2017.  If you would like more information about free clinics available in our area, you can read more here in EnglishSomali or Spanish

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Chinese
Chinese Traditional Music Program February 25th
The 2017 Chinese New Year was celebrated on Saturday, January 28th.  According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2017 is the year of Rooster.  In order to celebrate Chinese New Year and help students study Chinese culture, the Chinese program at  Chanhassen High School is hosting a Chinese traditional music performance on Saturday, February 25th, 11am - 1pm.  Click here to see all the cultural activities planned for this fun day!

RTR
Run the Ridge is May 6th
Pioneer Ridge Middle School is excited to be hosting our annual Run the Ridge 5K on Saturday, May 6th, 2017! We would love to see all of you at this community event supporting Pioneer Ridge.  We are now opening up registration. If you, or someone you know, would like to sign up for this year's event, stop by our office, or have your child stop by, to pick up a paper copy of our registration form.  Cost for the event is $25, which will include a 2017 Run the Ridge t-shirt.