Pine Island Families,

I hope your summer has been fantastic and you have been able to spend a lot of time having fun with friends and family. It seems almost impossible that I am already writing to you about important details to ensure we have another GREAT START to a new year of learning together at Pine Island. 

Seems just like yesterday we were just opening Pine Island Academy.

Yet, here we are ready to start the 22 – 23 school year and as I have reflected over our last year, my heart fills with joy and love through the experiences we overcame together. It was not an easy year, but I learned a lot and most of all, met some of the most amazing students and families I have ever met in my career. 

I am looking forward to continuing our journey together as we become the school our students, families, and staffulty identified last summer in our mission and vision.

Mission (why we exist) – Discovering Strengths and Pursuing Dreams

Vision (what must we become) – One Pod, Making Waves, FINS UP! – Fostering an inspiring, nurturing environment, unlocking, unlimited potential.

Year One(1) was a great success for our Dolphins.  Our achievement scores on all state and iready testing exceeded district levels and, in many areas, scored in the top rankings of SJCSD. Our students showed resilience as learners and worked hard to do their very best every day.

Our greatest success at PIA were the relationships that we created with our students. As a Staffulty, we made it a priority to get to know students personally as human beings and as learners. We know when students feel valued, in return they will value themselves and their learning environment. The very most important thing to me, is that our students and Staffulty feel valued! 

Dolphins – it is time to embark on “Catching the WAVE” of success for the 22 – 23 school year as we introduce student leadership, internships, and engaging ways for students to connect at Pine Island.  The PIA WAVE, will lead our charge this year, as we kick off the year with WAVE tie-dye parties throughout the building. Building community and uniting Pine Island as a family is the guaranteed foundation of creating a thriving school culture.

The PIA WAVE builds a common language in how we treat and value each other every day –

                                   We are respectful,

                                   Always responsible and safe,

                                  Value ourselves & each other,

                           where EVERYONE achieves.

We know for students to thrive as independent learners they must feel connected to their community. Creating a sense of belonging with love and friendship will foster the environment our students described when they created the Pine Island Vision. 

As we prepare for the 22 – 23 school year, we are committed to continuing our traditions of excellence in a learning environment that is full of love, compassion, hard work, and perseverance! It is great to be a Pine Island Dolphin!

In addition, to ensure safety, only parents of kindergarten students will be invited to escort their student(s) to class on their staggered start day ONLY. It is important that our students are confident learners, and we believe that after their first day, they will be eager to get to class! Thank you so much for your support as we begin this year. 

We are currently working on class placement and are super excited about sharing this information with you soon. Should you not have access to email or do not receive an email by Friday, August 5 or for Kindergarten ONLY Wednesday, August 3, please call the front office for assistance - 547 – 4300. 

Although the next few weeks may become extremely busy, we are never too busy to answer your questions.  Please contact the front office if we can be of any assistance. 

Enjoy the remainder of your summer and I cannot wait to see you real soon! 

Much Love and Appreciation

Amanda L. Riedl, Principal

Please read through each section of the NEWSplash to ensure you have all the details. All communication will come through this format to in hopes to help families identify information that is important to their family.  

REGISTRATION 

(going on NOW):

• Please make sure you are encouraging those around you to complete registration ASAP. We know students are more successful when they are ready to start school the first day. 
• To serve our families at the highest levels, making sure we are staffed is a priority and completing the registration is the only way to ensure we are fully staffed.  

NEW FAMILY ORIENTATIONS

• Presented by your Admin Team
• We have prepared three (3) orientation opportunities for our new families at PIA this year. 

We want to make sure that our new families have important information and are able to ask questions. 

• All orientations will be virtually for easy access to all families.  
• Zoom links will be sent to all families registered at Pine Island closer to the date of each orientation. Orientations dates and times are listed below:

•  Kindergarten Orientation – Monday, July 18 – 5:30PM
• 1st - 5th grade New Family Orientation – Monday, July 18 at 6:30PM
• Middle School New Family Orientation – Tuesday, July 26 at 5:30PM

K - 5 UPDATES

VISITNG THE CLASSROOMS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

• Students and families are invited to visit their student’s classroom, meet the teacher, and drop off school supplies. 
• This time will not be dedicated to discovering classroom expectations, but simply becoming acquainted with the classroom and meeting the teacher. Learning routines and schedules will be discussed during Curriculum Chat Night in late August(stay tuned for specific dates). 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for MEET AND GREET: 

• Teachers will send placement emails to families on August 5. 
• We will schedule alphabetically by last name to ensure families have parking available. 
• Kindergarten students are invited to come 30 minutes early to avoid the large crowds during their scheduled time. This is optional!
• I encourage families to use the times below in planning to ensure you are able to accommodate all students.

K - 5 - MEET AND GREET DATES AND TIMES –

1. Tuesday, August 9 – A – L (LAST NAME)

• A – L (KINDERGARTEN ONLY) – 8:30AM – 9:00AM
• A – L (Last Name) – 9:00AM – 10:00AM

1. Tuesday, August 9 – M – Z (LAST NAME)

• M – Z (KINDERGARTEN ONLY) – 10:00AM – 10:30AM
• M – Z (Last Name) – 10:30

KINDERGARTEN

INFORMATION 

Kindergarten Placement -

• ALL Kindergarten students will receive an email from their teacher by Wednesday, August 3.
• Staggered Start – Teachers will include a sign-up for parents to use to choose their preferred staggered start day in their placement email.
• Staggered start dates will be August 10, 11, OR 12.
•  ALL KINDERGARTEN students will start their first full day together on Monday, August 15.  
•  More details will come during Kindergarten orientation on Monday, July 18. 

Pictures: 

• During Meet and Greet our bus drivers will be available to answer questions and meet our newest Dolphins. 
• Additionally, we will be taking pictures of all our Kinder friends that will be uploaded into our system to ensure the safety of all students. 
• We will replace these pictures once we take fall pictures in September! 

 MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE UPDATES

• August 3 - Schedule Preview
• MS schedules will be available via HAC to preview only.  

• August 8 –Middle School schedule walk – 
• 6^th, 7^th, & 8^th grade - 9:00AM – 11:00AM

• Please join us to walk your schedule, receive locker information, & drop off your school supplies if you choose. I have found that this gives our students to a way to move around the campus without pressure and even visit with friends while walking their schedules. 

• Middle school teachers WILL NOT be available on this day. This day is solely to give our students an opportunity to spend time walking their schedules and becoming acquainted with their locker, should they choose to have a locker for the 22 – 23 school year. 

• Please use the sign-up genius below to schedule a time to pick-up and walk schedule. 
• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4CAEAF2EA7FA7-msschedule           

• August 9 - MIDDLE SCHOOL MEET & GREET – Should students want to meet their teachers, they can visit teachers during the scheduled times below(these days/times are the same as K – 5)
• Tuesday, August 9 –
• A – L(Last Name) – 9:00AM – 10:00AM
• Tuesday, August 9 –
• M – Z(Last Name) – 10:30AM – 11:30PM

Pine Island Volleyball Information 

• Are you interested in playing Volleyball for PIA this year? 
• You must have a complete SPORTS PHYSICAL on file before attending open gyms or tryouts.
• Information about open gym and tryouts will be announced soon.
• Please use the link below to complete the form for sign-ups.
• Volleyball Sign Up 2022-2023 Season

 PTO UPDATES

Click on the graphic to access all live links.