Welcome To Pine Hill School
Mid-Term Reports Went Home On May 5
The last progress reports of the year went home on Friday, May 5. If you have not yet received your child's progress report please contact the school office or your child's teacher.
2012-2013 Kindergarten Registrations
South Bay Union School District is currently accepting registrations for the kindergarten class of 2012-2013. Registration packets are available at the school office. We have some important events planned for parents, guardians and other caregivers of prospective kindergarten students.
Our annual Open House will be held on Wednesday, March 28. You will be able to visit the classrooms and see the wonderful things the kindergarten students are doing this year.
Click here to visit the Kindergarten Registration page to see more information and download resources.
You and your child are also invited to Pine Hill School‘s Kindergarten Visitation Day on Saturday, May 5 from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Starting in Mr. Lentz’s room (#9) at 10:00 am, there will be activities for prospective students. We will then move to Mrs. Blanchard’s room (#10) for more classroom experiences, concluding at 11:00 am.
Tours of the school will be given to parents during this time.
If you wish to visit classrooms at a different time, please call the school office to schedule an appointment.
There has been a lot of confusion about what the State of California is doing about the newly instituted Transitional Kindergarten in light of recent budget cuts. We are asking parents to keep checking the California Department of Education's Transitional Kindergarten FAQs page. It answers frequently asked questions regarding California state law relating to kindergarten.
Principal's Message
Click here to download the newsletter as a pdf.
Principal’s Message
We are heading into the final stretch of our academic year. We have lots of fun events planned as we move towards the summer. The most important focus though, as always, is learning! Several classes have educational field trips planned over the next few weeks. If you’re available, it is always wonderful to have your support…and your children adore having you come along.
We are also working on our yearbook and continuing with our monthly character traits. This month, our trait is compassion (Caring, Kindness and Empathy). Our recognition assembly will be Friday, May 4th. As summer nears, our newsletter this month highlights some of the activities planned over the next few weeks. We hope you can join us! Thank you for all your support this year!
Kindergarten Visitation Saturday, May 5th
Registration Now Open for 2021-2013
Please spread the word to family and friends with children who will begin kindergarten next year. We are now accepting applications for kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 year. We will host a Kindergarten Visitation on Saturday, May 5, from 10AM to 11AM. Prospective kindergarten students will spend time in class with our kindergarten teachers, for classroom activities, outside play and a healthy snack. At the same time, parents will take a tour of the school. All prospective kindergartens and their parents are welcome. Kindergarten information/registration packets are available in our school office.
Nutrition Fair
There will be a district nutrition fair sponsored by our Healthy Start Program & a student leadership group from South Bay. The fair will take place on Wednesday, May 9th beginning at 5pm in the South Bay gym. There will be lots of delicious food, activities, information and contests. Please look for a flyer coming home soon for more details.
California Standards Test for 2nd and 3rd
This spring, students throughout California will be taking the California Standards Test (CST) including Pine Hill students in grades two and three. In our district, CST testing will begin Monday, May 14 and will go through Friday, May 18. These tests measure how well students are achieving California standards in each subject area tested.
Results of the CST Program tests provide valuable information about the academic achievement of all students. It is important, therefore, that students do their best on those tests. On testing days, please make sure your student attends school, gets a good night’s rest, and has a healthy breakfast. If for some reason, your child must be absent, make up testing will take place from May 21st through May 23rd.
Test results for the CSTs will be sent to each student’s home address on a CST Student Report within 20 days after the school district receives the reports, usually in August. Individual results are confidential and will be shared only with parents or guardians and the student’s teacher(s). Please keep these reports for use when talking to teacher(s) about ways to support your student’s learning. Please call our office if you have any questions.
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
8:00 to 9:30am
Pine Hill Healthy Start
Thanks to all the parent and outside volunteers who support us throughout the year. Your presence makes our school district a great place to be! We want to honor you and show you how much we appreciate your support. Please join us for a special breakfast buffet in your honor. It will be the morning of June 6, from 8:00am to 9:30am in our Healthy Start building. More information will be available closer to the event.
Speaking of breakfast…..
This year we began offering universal free breakfast for all students, beginning at 7:45 and ending at 8:15. Research shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies conclude that students who eat school breakfast at the start of the school day show a general increase in math and reading scores as well as improvements in their speed and memory in cognitive tests. If for some reason, your child arrives after 8:15, a limited breakfast of cereal, milk and fruit will still be available. Please remind students that they should get their breakfast before going to the playground, doing banking on Thursdays or going to the library.
After School Registraion for Next Year
EXPLORE After School Program 2012/13 registration forms have been sent home with students. Students must reregister each year; space DOES NOT carry over from year to year. Be sure to register immediately since slots are going very fast. Call Susan Maschmeier 445-5933 with any questions.
Carnival
One of the highlights of our school year is the annual district carnival at South Bay School. It’s a very special night of fun activities, food, and family time. It is also our biggest fund raiser. Our PTO does an excellent job of planning and carrying out this event. Your support and help are much appreciated. Listed below are just some of the ways you can help out to make this year’s event another great success. Contact our PTO, our school office or your child’s teacher to offer support and look for a flyer coming out soon. The first planning meeting will take place Thursday, May 3rd at 6:15p in the South Bay School Library. The Carnival will be Friday evening, June 1st.
- Support your child’s teacher in planning their booth or activity
- Volunteer for a shift in the ticket booth, serving or preparing food, parking cars or working in your child’s classroom booth or activity.
- Donate an item for our silent auction.
- Donate baked items for sale or cake walk.
- Get donations from community organizations or businesses for the silent auction (please coordinate this effort with the PTO).
- Come to the planning meeting and find out what else is needed!
Story Time With The Principal
Parents are invited to bring their future kindergarteners and other preschool age children to our library for story time. Reading aloud to children helps them to: learn to read, discover and learn about the world,achieve more success in school and develop their imaginations. Allowing younger students to come to our library during school hours will help them feel comfortable on campus and see school as a place to learn and have fun. Our first session will take place Thursday, May 10 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 3 - PTO Carnival Planning Meeting 6:15@ South Bay Library
Friday, May 4 - Character Trait Assembly 1:30 pm
Saturday, May 5 - Kindergarten Visitation 10am
Tuesday, May 8 - SSC Meeting 2:30pm Room 8
Wednesday , May 9 - Health & Nutrition Fair @ South Bay 5pm
Thursday, May 10 - Story Time With the Principal 9am PH Library
Thursday, May 10 - Board Meeting 7:00pm @ Pine Hill
Thursday, May 17 - PTO Meeting 6:00pm @ Pine Hill Library
Mon.-Fri., May 14-18 - CA Standards Test/Assessments 2nd /3rd Grd.
Thursday, May 24 - Spring Concert at South Bay 7pm
Friday, May 25 - Fifties Night at Pine Hill –look for a flyer
Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day Holiday-No School
Wednesday, May 30 - No Early Release
Friday, June1 - Minimum Day/Early Release---Carnival!!!
Wednesday, June 6 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 8:00-9:00 am
Friday, June 8 - Attendance and AR Recognition Assembly 8:45am
Wednesday, June 13 - Field Day @ Pine Hill and South Bay
family is out of town. Please call our office if you have questions.
Click here to download, view, and/or print the Pine Hill School Attendence Plan.
April Menus Now Online
New this year: Breakfast is free for all students, regardless of family income. The salad bar will only be available at South Bay School and will NOT be available at Pine Hill. At lunch, students will again have the option to order peanut butter and jelly sandwiches if they do not what the entree that day. The menus for school breakfast and lunches will soon be available online. They are in the pdf format so that anyone with a connection to the Internet can download them onto their computer can use the free program Adobe Reader® to view and/or print them.
Click on the links to download the Menus: Breakfast or Lunch
If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, you can download it for free by clicking on the link. Download Adobe Reader
The cost of a student breakfast is $1.00 for children and $1.25 for adults. Student lunches are now $1.85 per day and adult lunches cost $3.50.
Just added - nutrional information for menu items. You can click the links to download, view, or print the information about breakfast nutrients and/or lunch nutrients.
Dear parents and guardians:
Last year we instituted a district wide policy limiting the amount of meal charges. As of October 1st, 2011, we will lower this limit to $50 per child. While we wish to continue the occasional charged meal, we must also keep an eye on our food service dollars. Your assistance in pre-paying, or promptly addressing, your child’s meal balance allows us to continue offering the best nutrition possible for all students. Beginning October 1st, students who exceed $50 in meal charges will not have full access to our meal program.
Your school secretary is available to work with any family that needs to establish a payment plan for past balances. They can also assist you in reapplying for the federally funded free and reduced meal program. Families that have had changes, even temporarily, to income or family size may qualify to begin receiving free or reduced price meals immediately. Families that receive state benefits, such as food stamps, TANF, CALWORKS, and those families with foster children may qualify regardless of income. Please see your secretary for more information.
Please note, this policy does not affect our school breakfast program, which this year is free for every student. We are excited to offer this pilot program, and about the potential benefits. Multiple studies have shown; increased test scores, decreased absences, tardiness and behavioral problems when students eat a balanced meal just before the beginning of each school day. I would highly encourage you to take advantage of this program. Your child can enjoy a free breakfast, every day, without adding to their meal balance! Because this is a pilot program, it is dependent on student participation. In order to continue the program, we need to serve breakfast to as many kids as possible. Please talk with your child and encourage them to eat breakfast at school.
Sincerely,
Mason Clark
Food Service Director
Become A Fan of Pine Hill On Facebook
Kindergarten Newsletter #33 Posted
Mrs. Blanchard, Mrs. Lindblom, and Mr. Lentz send a note home with their kindergarten students every Friday during the school year. If your kindergartener did not bring the note home or if you would like to view it now, you can click on the newsletter link on the left side of the page.
All newsletters are saved in .pdf format. You can read them using the free program Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, you can download it for free by clicking on the link on the right side of the newsletter page.
Each week the kindergarten students are introduced to a new Alphafriend who will teach them about a new letter of the alphabet. The students will learn the name of the letter, the shape of the letter and the sound of the letter. Use the links below to find the Alphafriend song you want to practice. Go to the Alphafriends page
Mr. Lentz's Class Site Updated 5/17/12
Mr. Lentz has created a class web site where parents and the community can see pictures, movies, songs, read weekly newsletters, podcasts, and access resources such as Alphafriends. When you click on Mr. Lentz's song page, you can listen to the songs your kindergarten student sings in class so they can sign them to you at home. Check it out!
Mrs. Romick's Newsletter
MRS. ROMICK’S CLASS SINGS
AT SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
WHEN: This Friday, May 4, 2012
Starts at 1:30 PM
WHERE: PINE HILL SCHOOL
Multipurpose Room
WHY: Our class will be singing
What a Wonderful World
By Louis Armstrong
WHAT: DRESS CODE;
Boys are to wear black pants with a white shirt. Shirts must have sleeves.
Girls are to wear black pants, a black skirt, or a black dress with a white top. Tops must have sleeves unless it is a sleeveless dress with a white top.
We will provide a spring accent.
Hope to see you there!
Every week Mrs. Romick produces a newsletter informing the parents of her students about happenings in the classroom. She sends home a printed version but wants to also make it available online. You can either view it on your computer or other mobile device or download it and print is as a pdf.
Mrs. Bergenske's Class Web Site
Mrs. Bergenske, the new first grade teacher has created a web site for her class. Once there you can select from announcements, homework, class calendar, links, supply list, wish list, classroom schedule, about the teacher and an email link. Click here to go to her class web site.
Pine Hill Studios
Embedded on the Pine Hill Studios page are YouTube videos made by Mr. Lentz. The videos are set to play at 360p, but you can reset them to HD if you wish. You can view them on this page, subscribe to the Pine Hill Studios channel, share them with others, or embed them in your own site. We would appreciate it if you would "like" us on YouTube.
Click here to visit Pine Hill Studios.
Kindergarten Alphafriends
As part of our Houghton Mifflin language arts curriculum, we use Alphafriends to help the students learn their letters. Alphafriends, a collection of characters designed to teach children about the alphabet and the sounds of the letters, come with their own songs, activities and take-home books. Each week the kindergarten students are introduced to a new Alphafriend who will teach them about a new letter of the alphabet. The students will learn the name of the letter, the shape of the letter and the sound of the letter.
We have created an entire page of resources for families to use. Click here to link to the Alphafriends resource page.
Volunteer Handbook Now Available Online
Volunteers play an important and valuable role in education. The volunteer program provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the educational process. Regardless of the type of volunteer work you do, you will play a key role in helping our students. You will receive satisfaction for doing an important job and have an opportunity to meet other members of the community. Volunteering may help you acquire new skills and work experience for future jobs. Volunteers enable teachers to maximize their time. Our children benefit from more individualized attention and an enriched curriculum. Teachers, students, administrators, parents, and the community benefit from the work of people like you, who freely share their talents and resources. There is a place for every kind of volunteer talent.
Library Catalog Available Online
Alexandria WEB opens the Pine Hill library to the Internet, where our community can search our collection and online databases from home (no installation required). Students, parents, teachers, and administrators at home, school, or at the office can easily access all library resources using any Web browser on any computer.
There are many benefits:
- Provides easy access to our library collection through the Web
- No installation required
- No software update hassles
- Find out if the book has an Accelerated Reader test at school. To do this: 1.) type title of book and press the TITLE button, 2.) Pick your title from the list of books that appears, 3.) Scroll down on the screen to "Accelerated Reader" to see the book's reading level and point value, 4.) If your book does not show up on the list, we do not thave that book in the library, 5.) If you scroll down the page and do not see "Accelerated Reader" we do not have a test for that book.
- Patrons can check the status of their account, see what items they have checked out. To use this feature you must know your password. See Mrs. Wilson to get your password.
Internet Explorer or Netscape 5 or later recommended with Java enabled. Firefox and Safari browsers also supported. Click on the graphic below to access the Pine Hill School library computer.
Accelerated Reader Resources
Here are some resources to help families help support their children in using the Accelerated Reader program.
The Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader
This document gives parents a complete reference to Accelerated Reader, including common questions and answers about the software. Parents will receive a comprehensive overview explaining how you can help your students become stronger readers with AR™.
A Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader: Questions and Answers
A Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader - Spanish Version
The Parent’s Guide to AR BookFinder
If parents want to help their children choose books, or if they want to help their kids learn how to choose the right books for themselves—AR BookFinder™ is the answer. With a few clicks of a mouse, parents and children can search for titles at the appropriate level, so they will find books that are both interesting and enjoyable.
A Parent’s Guide to AR BookFinder
A Parent’s Guide to AR BookFinder - Spanish Version
AR BookFinder Quick Link
Encourage parents to help their child search for appropriate books based on their child’s interests and ZPD at: http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx.
The Parent’s Guide to Renaissance Home Connect
Research confirms that parental involvement in a child’s education is a strong predictor of student achievement. Encourage your students’ parents to log onto Renaissance Home Connect™ to get instant updates on their student’s reading progress!
A Parent’s Guide to Renaissance Home Connect
A Parent’s Guide to Renaissance Home Connect - Spanish Version
Click here to log on to Pine Hill School's Home Connect™
After using AR Bookfinder to find a book that your child would like to read and then take an Accelerated Reader test on you can use the link to the Pine Hill School library computer and search to see if the book is in our collection. If not, you can use the link below to go to Humboldt County Library website to see if it in their collection.
Humboldt County Library Online Library Catalog
Click here or on the graphic below to go the Humboldt County Public Library Online Library Catalog.
STAR Information
The STAR Program is an annual state assessment that measures your child’s progress in meeting California’s Content Standards. These standards indicate what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.
Students in grades 2 – 6 take the California Standards Tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics in May each year. In addition, students in Grade 5 are tested in Science. A summary of your child’s results are mailed home in August. Student performance is reported in five achievement levels ranging from Advanced to Far Below Basic. The report will also show the percent of questions that were answered correctly on each test.
If you wish to know more about the STAR Program, go to the California Department of Education’s Website at: www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/resources.asp. The state has prepared many excellent resources for parents related to the STAR. One of the best resources is a new site that the California Department of Education developed last year. This new site can be found at: http://www.starsamplequestions.org/. The site has sample test questions available online so that students and parents can become familiar with the format and level of difficulty at each grade level. Sample test questions include the standards being assessed, questions as they appeared on the tests, and their related proficiency levels, correct answers to questions, and the percent of students that answered the questions correctly. The information will help parents and students to understand how children are performing and will identify areas where children need additional help.
Click here to get more information about STAR testing.
Kids' TV time linked to school woes, bad habits
By Amanda Gardner, Health.com
Click here to download a pdf of this article.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- TV watching is associated with bullying and lowered overall math achievement
- Negative effects of TV could be symptoms of broader family and household dynamics
- Another theory is that the act of watching television can harm developing brains
- The best way for young children to watch TV is with a parent
(Health.com) -- Young children who watch a lot of TV aren't just missing out on more stimulating activities. They may also be destined for problems at school and unhealthier habits later in life, new research suggests.
Healthy Choices
South Bay Union School District has a Wellness Policy that is in line with state mandates. The following are the goals of this policy:
Standards & Frameworks
Information regarding standards and frameworks designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.
Content standards were designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student, by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.
Frameworks are blueprints for implementing the content standards adopted by the California State Board of Education and are developed by the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission
