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Welcome Back 2017 Parent Newsletter
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Open House -  Aug.30 • 4:00-6:00 p.m.
First Day of School - September 5
Lifetouch Picture Day - September 13
A Note from Mr. Epping, Principal of Cedar Ridge Elementary
Welcome Back! We are very excited for the 2017 - 2018 school year! We hope you are ready for a great school year at Cedar Ridge. As your principal, I look forward to getting to know the students, families and community members in the Cedar Ridge area. Last week I had my first opportunity at the "Meet and Greet" to visit with families. A special thank you to the families that were able to make it to Cedar Ridge to meet with me. I look forward to meeting everyone on Open House Night at the front entrance area of the school.

Ms. Benz, Associate Principal, and I have been busy getting the school ready for the year. We are just completing the roof construction, adding carpet to some areas of the school, and getting classrooms ready. Our custodians have done an excellent job this summer and have worked hard. If you see them, send them a BIG thank you!

We are excited for our new Cedar Ridge Newsletter format. This will allow for easy scanning and access to information. It also is easy to read on the cell phones. Please pay special attention to the links at the top of the page (School Website, District Website, Parent Portal) and at the bottom of the page (PTO Website and Lunch Menus). We are trying to ease all of the websites for parents to have immediate access.

We have a lot of new adventures for this school year. It will be a fun, rewarding and exciting year at Cedar Ridge Elementary! 

Mr. Epping, Principal
Our District Mission and Commitment to Excellence
The Eden Prairie Schools are committed to excellence for each child. Our District Mission is "Inspiring Each Student Every Day" and we see this as we watch the learning in the classrooms. Our staff is committed to excellence and helping each child grow in their own understanding of who they are and how they contribute to our ever changing world. 
School Hours and Morning Breakfast Program
Cedar Ridge School Hours are 8:40 am - 3:00 pm. Our doors open for the children at 8:30 am. Buses will unload first in front of the school. Students that would like breakfast may enter the school at 8:20 am. Please use the front doors to enter the cafeteria
Class Assignments
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Students will receive information about their class assignment via the Parent Portal. Please see the directions below for access to the Parent Portal. Class Assignments will be available on August 28th.
Parent Drop Off
This school year we will continue to use the loop in front of school for both daily drop-off and pick-up.  Students should enter and exit vehicles from the passenger side only. Adults are on hand to assist with student safety.  Cell phone use is prohibited in the carpool lane when traffic is flowing. Please follow the instructions of staff who are directing traffic and show patience and courtesy to those around you.  All cars continue to pull up to form one long line. Children exit the car and walk to the door that leads to their atrium. Please keep the line moving without any gaps as this makes it efficient for all parents.  The morning staff would like to thank the parents for the "thank you notes" that they received last year - they had some cold, wet, and windy days on morning duty!
Morning drop off time is 8:30 - 8:40 am. 

If you need to drop a student off prior to that time, please make arrangements with the YMCA program as school staff supervision is not available.         
Walkers and Bike Riding
Our Grade 5 and 6 students volunteer to be our morning and after school patrols on Braxton. They will help the students cross the street in front of the school to make it safely to Cedar Ridge Elementary. However, if it is raining or temperature/windchill below -10, they do not patrol.

Due to the heavy traffic and the one road, we would rather have students walk to school. However, if a student does bike, they are required to walk their bikes on any of the property for Cedar Ridge. We have 25 buses and over 100 cards daily, so this is for the safety of everyone.

Parent Portal Log In Information

The Parent Portal allows parents/guardians to view grades, transportation information and update select contact information in one convenient location. Through the Portal, parents/guardians can also add funds to their child's lunch account, access the online version of the free/reduced priced lunch forms and access FeePay (payment system for school activities). Here are some tutorials on how to access the portal, which are also available at www.edenpr.org/parent-resources.


Accessing the Parent Portal

New families should receive an email with login details a few days after completing the registration process. If you have not received this email, please contact the Parent Help Line at 952-975-7094.


Please make sure that your address, e-mails, telephone numbers and emergency contact information is correct when you log into the Parent Portal. This is important for our communication from Cedar Ridge. If you need to make changes, please contact the Cedar Ridge Office at 952.975.7800.


If there is a concern with custody of your child, please make sure that the paperwork is filed in the office with Mr. Epping.


Open House - August 30, 2017 - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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Open House is a time for students and parents to meet the classroom teacher, visit with other families, and learn about Cedar Ridge Elementary School. Teachers are in workshops August 28 - September 1st, so Open House is the time that they are in their classrooms.


Please also stop in the Cafeteria for other program information: Transportation, YMCA Daycare Programming, Community Education Programs, Boy/Girl Scouts, PTO Information, Food Service (Paying for Lunch), etc. 


The PTO will also have an "Eden Prairie Spirit Wear" display in the small gym across from the cafeteria. Stop in and see the sample Spirit Wear, try on sizes, and place your order. 


School Security

Our goal at Cedar Ridge is to keep all children safe! We have a secure school during the student hours of 8:40 am - 3:00 pm. We ask that in the morning, the parents drop their child off at the proper door and do not enter the building. This is to keep all students safe and the building secure.


During the school hours, if you are volunteering in a classroom or attending a classroom function, please enter through the main office door. You must have a valid drivers license that will be scanned for clearance.


Parent Volunteers Needed

The PTO will be using Parent Volunteers for the first week of school to help with morning bussing and lunch. Please visit the Sign Up Genius to sign up for a slot to volunteer. All volunteers should check in at the main office and ask for Kelly Derouin. Parent Sign Up for Volunteering


The PTO will also be providing a Staff Welcome Back Luncheon on Wednesday, August 30th. This is a great time that we celebrate all of the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff.


Parent Information Night - September 21 - 5:00 - 7:30 pm

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We encourage all parents to attend the Cedar Ridge Curriculum Night as this night gives an overview of the curriculum, standards, expectations and technology use. Please mark your calendar for the sessions:

5:00 - 5:45 pm - Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 6, ELL, Specialists, Interventionists, Key Program

5:45 - 6:30 pm - Grade4, Grade 5, Specialists, ELL, Interventionists, Key Program, Schoology Parent Help

6:30 - 7:15 pm - Grade 2, Grade 3, ELL, Interventionists, Key Program, Schoology Parent Help


A full agenda with room locations will be sent out the first week of school.



School Supply Lists - Headphones Too!

The School Supply list can be found on the Cedar Ridge Website under the dropdown for "Families". Please do not purchase backpacks with wheels as they do not fit in the lockers.


It is important that all students have headphones for the school year as we have iPads for every child. It is also best to mark your child's headphones with their name.


Food Service Program

The District Food Service has an excellent lunch program in the elementary schools. We also offer a breakfast program for those students who choose to attend.  Our breakfast lines will be open from 8:20 am until 8:45 am. Students may access breakfast from the YMCA Program, Extended Day School Programs or immediately after coming off the buses.  Students may purchase lunch and breakfast credits during the Open House events.  All students will have a personal identification number (PIN).  Checks should be made payable to Eden Prairie Food Services (EPFS) and can be dropped off in the cafeteria on Open House Night or the children may bring them to the office during the school year. Payments can also be made online.


 If you need financial assistance to help defray costs, please complete the application on the district website (available after August 14th) and mail to the district office. Parents need to reapply each year. A monthly menu is also available on our school website and also in a link at the bottom of this newsletter.


Due to the size of the lunchroom and developing a lunchroom routine, we ask that parents refrain from coming to lunch the first week of school. After the first week, you are welcome to join your child at lunch. If you have a special request for the first week of lunch, please see one of the principals.


Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter. We are excited for the new format to our school newsletters. Thank you for being great parents and for supporting your child in their educational learning and growth at Cedar Ridge Elementary School!


Attendance: 952-975-7801         PTO Website                         Lunch Menus
Cedar Ridge Elementary
8905 Braxton Rd.
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
952-975-7800