Dear Pine Spring Elementary School Parents and Guardians,
We hope your summer has been filled with joy and relaxation. As the new school year approaches, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and information about what promises to be an extraordinary year at Pine Spring Elementary!
Our Theme for the Year: "Pine Spring; Polishing a Hidden Gem."
When thinking of Pine Spring, so many of us call it a "hidden gem." As we plan for the 24-25 school year, we are taking this sentiment to heart. This year, we are embracing the theme "Pine Spring; Polishing a Hidden Gem." We believe that every student is a unique gem with incredible potential. As a school community, we are dedicated to ensuring that each child shines brighter than ever before.
Academic Excellence
Our commitment to academic excellence remains steadfast. This year, we are introducing new curriculum enhancements and teaching strategies to foster strong literacy skills, critical thinking, creativity, and a love for learning. We will continue to provide a supportive and challenging environment where every student can thrive.
Extracurricular Opportunities
In addition to our academic programs, we will continue to work with our PTA to offer a variety of after-school activities and events to provide students with a well-rounded education. From Running Club and Math Olympiad to Art Club and Science Olympiad, there will be numerous opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop new skills.
Community Engagement
We believe that a strong school community is essential for student success. This year, we will host various events and activities to strengthen the bonds between students, parents, and staff. From family nights and cultural celebrations to volunteer opportunities and parent workshops, we encourage everyone to get involved and be an active part of our Pine Spring family.
This year, you will notice some changes to our schedule structure for students in grades 3-6. Students in grades 3-6 will continue to benefit from having two dedicated teachers. However, in the past, students only went to a second teacher for math. This year, your child will be with their math teacher for science and social studies as well. This time will equate to half of their core instructional day, while our Language Arts teacher will focus on Reading and Writing during the other half of their core instructional day. This integrated approach will allow our students to interact with more of their peers with the same amount of transition time. It will also allow our teachers to better plan for strong differentiation, ensuring that they can both scaffold and enrich to create an even more individualized approach for more dynamic and engaging learning experiences.
For our youngest learners in grades K-2, students will remain with one incredible homeroom teacher for all core subjects. This continuity fosters a nurturing and consistent environment where our little ones can thrive and grow.
We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program to include students in grades 3-5 this year. Pine Spring successfully introduced this college and career readiness program to our 6th grade students last year, focusing on developing critical thinking, organization, and study skills. We observed significant progress in executive functioning skills among participating students, and we are proud to extend this opportunity to all students in grades 3-6 this fall.
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.
Pine Spring is working to ensure that families are well connected. We use a variety of platforms to provide you with the type of information you are looking for about your child. Below is a brief explanation of what you can expect from each of these avenues of communication.
eNotify
Critical and timely information will be shared through eNotify. Every family is automatically enrolled in eNotify with the email you provided when you registered your child. This platform is used by both Pine Spring and other FCPS departments to communicate information such as school closures, emergency information, attendance information, and critical health information. Please be sure that your email is up-to-date in your ParentVue account.
SIS ParentVUE
This platform is used for you to access information about your child such as homeroom teacher, attendance, county assessment results. You can also use this platform to update information such as your contact information and your child’s emergency contact information. If you need support setting up this platform, please contact our front office at 571-226-4400.
News You Choose
This is a weekly email from Principal Yacubovich. This is our primary method of communication used for noncritical information with families. You will find information about important news, upcoming events, answers to frequently asked questions, PTA events and information, and stories about things happening in the building. Do you know someone who hasn't signed up for NYC yet? If so, please encourage them to subscribe here.
Talking Points
Teachers use the Talking Points messenger app, which allows teachers and staff to connect and communicate with families via text messaging directly to their phones and in their native languages. Teachers will share information on how to sign up for Talking Points.
Schoology
Schoology is FCPS' Learning Management System that replaced Google Classroom. In this platform, you will be able to find information about the curriculum, assignments, due dates, and other information about what your child is doing in class. Your child’s teacher will discuss this platform during our virtual Back to School Night.
8/15- Open House
8/17- PTA Playdate
8/19- First Day of School
8/30- 9/2- Labor Day Break (No School)
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