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Join us for a fantastic event on Saturday, August 19th, from 10 AM to 12 PM as our PTA proudly presents our Welcome Playdate! This exciting gathering offers the perfect opportunity for your child to forge new friendships with fellow students who will be joining Pine Spring in the upcoming fall.
While your child is busy making new connections, parents can take the opportunity to meet other families from the Pine Spring community. It's a wonderful chance to establish connections and create lasting bonds within our school network.
Mark your calendars, and let's come together to celebrate the spirit of community at Pine Spring. We can't wait to see you and your child there!
We are thrilled to invite you to our highly anticipated Annual Open House on Thursday, August 17th! This special event grants you the valuable opportunity to meet your child's teacher and explore their classroom. We received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback about the less crowded classroom approach we implemented the last 2 years, and we are excited to continue with this format. By providing a calm and relaxed atmosphere, we aim to minimize stress for our youngest students as they transition into the new school year.
- You will meet your child's teacher and visit the classroom to explore the safe and welcoming environment that our incredible teachers have created.
- If you cannot attend the Open House, staff members will be available on the first day of school to assist students in locating their classrooms. You could also look it up in your ParentVue account starting on August 16th.
- You are welcome to bring your child’s school supplies so they do not have to bring them on the first day. If you purchased your supplies through the PTA, they will already be delivered to your child’s classroom before the first day of school.
- While we understand that the schedule below may not be the most convenient for all families, we have prioritized a safe and low-stress opportunity for all children to walk into the building for the first time.
- Please note that only teachers of the assigned time will be in their room, as all other teachers will be assisting you to your new classrooms. We ask that all students stay with their caregivers for the duration of the Open House.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child at our Annual Open House. Together, let's kickstart another incredible year at Pine Spring!
As we prepare for the upcoming school year at Pine Spring, we continue to be a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. Through this program, all students at Pine Spring are eligible to receive no-cost breakfast and lunch throughout the school year, regardless of their family's income.
What You Need to Know About CEP:
CEP is a USDA program that ensures every child at Pine Spring has access to nutritious meals, creating a healthy and supportive learning environment. Your child will have the same meal options as non-CEP schools.
Even though all students at Pine Spring receive free meals, we encourage parents/guardians to submit a free and reduced-price meal application for a few key reasons:
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Unlock Additional Benefits: By applying, your child may qualify for extra benefits such as weekend meal support.
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Access Community Partnership Programs: Our school offers various community partnership programs that provide crucial support. You help us connect your family with these valuable resources by submitting the application.
Please remember to submit a household application for free and reduced-price meal benefits to ensure your student receives these benefits. You can apply at https://www.myschoolapps.com.
This year we will return to our normal bell schedule. Students will be welcomed into the building promptly at 8:30 AM, with the late bell ringing at 8:45 AM. We will release all students starting at 3:30 PM each day.
Additionally, please note that Kiss and Ride will close at 8:40 AM after the first week of school. This adjustment will provide students with a valuable 5 minutes to travel to their classrooms and be fully prepared for a productive day of learning. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in adhering to this schedule change.
The first day of school is approaching, and we couldn't be more excited! It's a special day for our students. To ensure a smooth start, we kindly request your cooperation with a few important guidelines:
- Please have your child arrive at school using their regular transportation method on the first day. Consistency helps establish a positive routine from day one.
- Discuss with your child their planned method of transportation for going home. Clear communication ensures a successful dismissal process.
- It's essential for all children to confidently share their first and last names to ensure we can guide them to the correct morning location. For students in grades K and 1, please write their first and last name inside their backpacks using the name provided during registration. For example, if your child's name is John Robert but goes by JR, please write John Robert in the backpack. This will help to eliminate any confusion.
If your child is going to take the bus, you will receive communication from transportation with your child’s bus number, stop, and approximate times. During the first week, your child should arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes early until the bus driver establishes a regular routine. We encourage you to practice going to your bus stop before the first day of school to help eliminate any additional first-day jitters.
Here Comes the Bus®
FCPS knows that knowing when the bus is coming is an important part of your morning and afternoon. You can download the app to know when your bus is approaching your stop. Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. You can get additional information about the app and how to download it here.
If you are planning to use Kiss and Ride during the school year, we ask that you please have a tag. If you previously had a Kiss and Ride tag, you will continue to use your current number. If you are new to Kiss and Ride, please complete the Kiss and Ride form. Please note that Kiss and Ride will take longer during the first week. We ask that you continue to be patient and allow extra time.
The Kiss and Ride process will remain the same as the last 3 years with one small change.
AM Drop-off
- Cars will pull to the front of the building with their student on the passenger side of the car if at all possible. (We do understand that some families have babies that need to be in that seat.)
- A Pine Spring team member will open your child’s door and ensure your child gets into the building. Please do not get out of your car.
- We ask that you have said goodbye to your child and ensured that your child has everything they need for the day before you get to the drop-off zone. This ensures that all families are able to get through the line in a timely manner.
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This year Kiss and Ride will close at 8:40 AM. Families who come after 8:40 AM will need to bring their child into the building.
PM Pick-up
- Cars will line up in the Kiss and Ride line outside of the main door, where you dropped your child off. We ask that you do not line up for pickup before 3 PM.
- A staff member will collect your tag number (or your child’s name for the first week).
- Once dismissal begins, children will come out of the building in the order of your arrival once you stop at the designated cones.
- Again, a team member will open your door so that your child can get into the car.
- If your child does not come out in time, or if your child still needs support with their seatbelt/car seat you will pull to the designated area so that you can park the car to wait/support your child.
- Please do not go around a car in line unless you are directed by a Pine Spring staff member.
Walkers Arrival
- We will welcome PreK-1st students starting at 8:30AM at Door 1.
- We will welcome 2nd-6th students starting at 8:30AM at Door 6.
- We will have staff stationed outside to support the transition.
Walkers Dismissal
- Parents of PreK walkers will be asked to meet their child at Door 1
- Parents of K walkers will be asked to meet their child at the Library Door across from the flagpole.
Parents of 1st-6th walkers will be asked to meet their child at Door 6 near the playground.
- A packet of information will be sent home on the first day of school. Please complete all mandatory forms in the packet and return them to school by Friday, August 25th
- White envelopes will be sent home each Wednesday. Please be sure that you check these envelopes each week and review the contents with your child. The folder should be returned each week.
Did you know that caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities?
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center is already scheduling a helpful series of webinars for the 2023-24 school year. Save the date for the following discussions in September. See the full list of workshops. Click on the title to register for each event:
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New School Year, New Strategies: How to Plan, Persist, and Achieve Academic Success This Year, on Friday, September 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
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Meet the Author Series: The Self-Driven Child by Dr. William Stixrud, Friday, September 15, 10-11:15 a.m.
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Characteristics and Needs of Twice-Exceptional (2e) Learners, on Tuesday, September 19, 10-11:30 a.m.
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Who's the Boss? 5 Ways for Families to Help Kids with Big Emotions, Friday September 29, 10-11:30 a.m.
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