Week of: August 13, 2018 Volume 3, Issue 1

Welcome to the 2018-19 School Year!

Dear Families, Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year at Pinecrest Academy at Inspirada! The staff and I are eager and ready to start the new school year and partner with you to educate your child. It is our mission to work with the community to prepare students for the high school, college and career of their choice. We do this by providing instruction equal to or commensurate with each child’s ability level as our vision is to differentiate instruction and provide enriching experiences so that your child will achieve at his or her highest level.  We are kicking off our year with a strong focus on STEAM instruction. Stop by our main hallway and MP Room to see our new displays and murals. Elementary students will attend the STEM lab once a week and receive STEM instruction in their classroom twice a week. Middle School students attend Science every day and can choose from a variety of STEAM electives.  We are also introducing students to the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Our first habit we will start the year with is “Be Proactive.”  This habit focuses on teaching students to be proactive instead of reactive, owning choices they make instead of blaming others, and being responsible for themselves. You will hear more about the Seven Habits for Success throughout the school year!  At school, all staff will focus on Learning Skills such as critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration and communication; Literacy Skill s including the use of media and technology resources to teach reading, researching, and writing; and Life Skills such as innovation, goal setting, productivity, and leadership. Starting in mid-September, we will be implementing both “Homeroom Instruction” and “Power Hour” for all K-5 students in Reading and Math. Homeroom Reading will address the Nevada Academic Content Standards using the Wonders Literacy Series along with Ready Common Core, while “Power Hour” will provide instruction equal to or commensurate with students’ ability levels. Power Hour Math will utilize Everyday Math and Ready Common Core to meet students’ differing needs.  We are also very excited to introduce our new i-Ready software program for students to practice and master essential skills in Reading and Math. Parents will hear more about this program from Principal O’Dowd during Open House.  Let me encourage you to be actively involved at school this year. We need parent volunteers to make our classroom programs successful; assist in supervising students in the lunchroom and on the playground at lunch; and helping to make “Car Loop” flow smoothly. I would also ask that you consider becoming a member of the Pinecrest Inspirada Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The PTO helps organize and provide our school community with programs, family activities, resources and services that will enrich and maximize our educational program. Finally, let me encourage you to establish nightly routines of checking your child’s homework and providing extra practice on any skills you see him/her struggling with. I also ask parents to check their student’s grades on Infinite Campus at least once a week. Please feel free to talk with your child’s teacher(s) if you ever have a concern or an idea to help your child at school.  I look forward to sharing many of the strategies and resources that will be implemented throughout the year during Open House for parents. Open House Nights will be: Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for Grades 3-5 Wednesday, August 22, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for Grades K-2 Thursday, August 23, 2018, for Grades 6-8 The Pinecrest Administrative Team Consists of: Mr. Michael O’Dowd, Principal K-8 Mrs. Tiffany Bailey, Elementary Assistant Principal (K-5) Mr. Steve Albrecht, Middle School Assistant Principal (6-8) Mrs. Kortney Hill, Student Support Advocate Mrs. Nicole Tomaino, Teacher Support Advocate We value your input and your participation. If throughout the year you would like to meet with either one of us to discuss your child and his/her education program, please call our Office Manager (Lokelani Rosehill) at 702-473-5777 to schedule an appointment. If you are leaving a phone message, please understand that throughout each school day, we are in classrooms, on the playground, in the lunchroom, attending meetings, and dealing with student issues. We will make every attempt to return your call within 24-hours. Enjoy the new school year!       Committed to Excellence, Michael O’Dowd, Principal

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures :   Please see the detailed directions for drop-off and pick-up procedures as well as Car-Loop Procedures, attached to this newsletter.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

Athletics : Pinecrest Inspirada will offer a variety of sports for students this fall. Some sports may include: Grades K-2: T-Ball Flag Football Grades 3-8: Cross Country Flag Football Volleyball Cheer                                   We will have a Fall Sports Information Night on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. in the MP Room.

DATA Days for 2018-2019 :  Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, there will be seven (7) Data Days at Pinecrest Academy for teachers and staff to monitor, report, and discuss student achievement. Students will attend school from 8:00-11:30 a.m. on the following Data Day dates:  Friday, September 14             Friday, October 19                  Friday, November 09 Friday, December 21               Friday, January 18                 Wednesday, February 15 Friday, March 22                     During Data Days, teachers meet to monitor and track student progress. Teachers present data on students and answer questions as to why students are or are not improving. The staff offers suggestions, materials, and resources that may help these students increase their achievement. Professional development training will also be provided to staff on these days that relates to school and grade level initiatives.     On Data Days, students must be picked up at 11:30 a.m. or be registered to attend TEAMS. TEAMS coverage will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Lunches may be purchased at your discretion three (3) days prior to a Data Day. **Please note- there was a typo on the Middle School folders that indicated different dismissal times for Elementary and Middle School. Dismiss time is 11:30 a.m. for both Elementary and Middle school.

Drop-off Lunch Table : A “drop-off” table will be set up in front of the Multi-Purpose Room for parents to drop off a lunch, if their child forgot it at home. Please know we will not call to the classroom and disrupt instruction to let your child know his/her lunch is here. Your child will simply check the table when they walk into the lunchroom. Please be sure your child’s name is printed on the bag.

Independent Reading Time, READING Series & Blended Learning Time : Student dismissal is at 3:00 p.m. each day. While students wait in the classroom to be called down to the “Car Loop,” they are expected to read silently, finish up some school work, take an AR test, or work on one of their “Blended Learning” programs.  According to research cited in Rigorous Reading by Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher, the more time students spend reading independently, the higher their achievement level. In this book, they site a study that found that the average elementary school student spent only 4-5 minutes a day in school actually reading independently. Most of Reading Instruction time was teacher directed instruction or the practicing of reading skills. They found that by adding just ten minutes a day of independent reading, students were exposed to over 800,000 more words per year and achievement scores increased by 30%. We encourage students to use this time for independent reading to build reading fluency, comprehension, and the love of reading! This year, we are also encouraging students to find and read through a series they like to build the love of reading and to build endurance in their reading. Please help your child find a book series at their reading level.

Lunch at School :  Students can either bring a sack lunch from home or purchase a hot lunch from the school cafeteria.  Lunches must be purchased through our online payment system. The cost of hot lunch for the 2018-2019 school year will be $3.50. Your child may qualify for free or reduced priced meals. For Detailed information about free or reduced priced meals, please visit our school website and click on the “Lunch” tab in the yellow row under the Pinecrest crest. An August Lunch Menu is also available under the “Lunch” tab on our school website.

Newsletters : This is the first issue of the “Pioneer Weekly” newsletter written by Principal O’Dowd. This weekly publication will be sent home via email each Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). We hope you will look for this weekly publication and carefully read it to stay up to date on school-wide events.

Parent Student Handbook :  One of the pages being sent home on Monday, August 13, 2018, in the School to Home Folder will be an acknowledgment form that you have read the Parent Student Handbook . Please read the Parent Student Handbook online, sign this form, and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher. You can access the Parent Student Handbook through our website link below.

Parent-Student Handbook

School to Home Folder : Coming home today with your child will be a large collection of papers inside our School to Home Folder . This folder was designed for daily/weekly use to take papers home from school and return them to your child’s teacher. Please read through all the papers coming home today very carefully and return any forms as necessary. This folder was provided compliments of the school. If additional folders are needed throughout the year, they can be purchased in the front office for $1.00. If you did not receive a School to Home Folder and the collection of papers inside, please stop by the office to pick one up.

School Website : Check out our updated website at www.PinecrestInspirada.org . The website is a great tool to stay informed and up to date on events and activities throughout the school.

TEAMS Before and After School Care :   Pinecrest Inspirada offers before school care, after school care, athletics, clubs and more through our TEAMS program. For detailed information, please see the TEAMS packet attached to this newsletter.

TEAMS Packet

Visiting/Volunteering at the School : When you visit the school, please report to the office, sign in, and receive a visitor’s badge. You will be asked to show personal identification until we get to know you. If you have a scheduled appointment with a teacher or need to drop off items, please check in with the front office and they will notify the teacher that you are here.

PTO's Boo Hoo Breakfast: All new kindergarten parents are invited to attend PTO's annual Boo Hoo Breakfast on August 13, 2018 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Come meet other kindergarten parents after you send your kindergartner off to their first day of school!

Fall Sports Information Night: We will hold a Sports Information Night on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for all families interested in having their child play a Fall Sport. Fall Sports will include: Coed T-Ball, Grades K-2 Flag Football, Grades K-8 (3 levels: K-2 team, JV & Varsity) Girls Volleyball, Grades 3-8 (3 levels: 3-4 team, JV & Varsity) Cross Country, Grades 3-8 Cheer, Grades K-8 (4 levels: minis, 1st grade, JV & Varsity)

PTO Meeting: 2:15 p.m., MP Room

Girls Volleyball Tryouts: Grades 3-4; 4:00-5:00 p.m., MP Room JV & Varsity (grades 5-8); 5:00-7:30 p.m., MP Room

JV & Varsity Football Tryouts: Grades 3-8; 4:30-5:30 p.m., Grass Field Area

Cheer Information: Click HERE for more information regarding Pinecrest Inspirada Cheer!

Chromebook Deployment: We are fortunate enough to have a Chromebook for each student in grades 5-8 to check out and use throughout the year. On the first day of school, your child will bring home a Chromebook Usage Agreement packet. Be sure to bring this with you to the specified Chromebook Deployment time this agreement must be signed by both parent and child (do not turn in packet prior to this day). Grades 6-8: Chrome Book Deployment for students in grades 6-8 will take place on Thursday, August 16, 2018 in the Multi-Purpose Room according to the following schedule: Grade 6 students and parents 5:30 p.m. Grade 7 students and parents 6:15 p.m. Grade 8 students and parents 7:00 p.m. Grade 5: Chrome Book Development for students in grade 5 will will take place on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. Students will report to their homeroom classroom to receive their Chromebook.

Band Rental Night: Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (rental information will be distributed to students once school resumes).

Orchestra Rental Night: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (rental information will be distributed to students once school resumes).

Open House: Open House will be held on on the following dates: Grades K-2: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Grades 3-5: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Grades 6-8: Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Each night’s Open House will start in the M.P. Room. with a presentation by Principal O'Dowd from 6:00-6:45 p.m. If you have children in multiple grade levels and need to come more than one night for your child's teacher presentation, you only need to attend one MP Room presentation by Principal O'Dowd from 6:00-6:45 p.m. As space is limited, Open House is intended for Parents Only- please make other arrangements for children on this night. Parking is always difficult, so we will open up the playground for parking as well as lane one of Car Loop. Please make plans to carpool, walk, or park at Aventura Park and walk up Angel Bluff.

Cub Scouts Pack 362 Information Meeting: Some kids avoid obstacles. Scouts overcome them. When your child joins Cub Scout Pack 362, they’ll make friends, develop important skills, learn valuable life lessons and build character and confidence. For more information, email Vegascubscoutpack362@gmail.com or join us at our recruitment event on August 30, 2018, at 6 pm in the multi-purpose room. All children from kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome. Come join the adventure!

Labor Day Holiday : Monday, September 03, 2018, will be a school holiday in honor of Labor Day. Enjoy a nice three-day weekend with your family to close out the summer.