Pine Hill Families

Reminders about Checking Students Out:

1. Identification: To maintain student safety, please make sure that anyone checking your child out of the office has his or her identification such as a driver’s license and is listed as an emergency contact in Infinite Campus, our student information system. As we know students and families better, we will not need to repeatedly ask the same people for identification. We ask that families remain in the vestibule. There is a sign in and sign out clipboard on the table. Thank you for understanding the balance of being welcoming and maintaining safety!

2. Emergency Contacts: Please be certain that your update your emergency contacts using Parent Portal. We are not able to release your child to anyone who is not on that list or you have not provided permission in writing. We cannot accept verbal permission for a student to go home with anyone who is not listed in Infinite Campus. To update you information, you can access Parent Portal using this link: https://campus.district833.org/campus/portal/southWashington.jsp

Students and Cell Phones/Smart Watches/ Personal Technology:

There are new guidelines regarding cell phones and E-devices (AirPods, iPads/tablets, iPods, Bluetooth speakers, portable music players, game players, cameras, video cameras, smart watches, etc.) in our schools.

Grades K-8 AWAY FOR THE DAY

Starting the first day of school from the first class bell to the last class bell, cell phones or other E-devices should be turned off and put away.

Grades 9-12 TIME AND PLACE

Cell phones and E-devices should be turned off and put away in classrooms/instructional spaces, including the media center.

Cell phone and E-device use is allowed during passing time, at lunch, before and after school.

We firmly believe that these Cell Phone Guidelines will positively impact the learning experience of our students and create an environment where every student can thrive academically and socially.

Learn More

Indoor Recess

Students do go out for recess on cold days. We will have indoor recess when the actual temperature is below zero degrees or if the wind chill is less than -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Hats, mittens or gloves and a warm coat are definitely "musts" on these cold days.

Carpool

Pine Hill is a busy place before and after school! For safety and efficiency, we have created and maintained a number of procedures and supports. Please always pull forward and be aware of foot traffic.

Celebrate Student Birthdays with Non-Edible Birthday Treats

NO EDIBLE TREATS are to be sent to school to celebrate birthdays. We will make your child’s birthday special in the classroom without edible treats. If you would like to send a little something to honor their day, please consider an alternative birthday treat such as pencils, a book or game donated to the classroom. We ask that no edible treats be sent in due to varying allergy conditions and to better align with our wellness policies.

Holidays

At school, we acknowledge and teach about holidays. We have moved away from celebrating holidays at school to allow all students to feel welcomed and included in our celebrations. We do have special events and parties for rewards and community building.

Field Trips

No more than two fee-based field trips may be planned during a school year. Families provide field trip permission when completing the annual Parent Portal update. Anyone who is asked to chaperone must have completed and passed a district background check.

Lunch Visitors/ Guest Table Reservation 

Pine Hill will be able to host limited lunchtime visitors beginning in mid-October.  Specific dates will be shared in the Pine Hill family newsletter. Based on space and safety requirements, a family member listed in Parent Portal may sign up to accompany their child at our guest lunch table.  Please contact the office staff at 651-425-3900 to sign up for a lunch visit.  Requests should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the requested visit.  

We ask families to review the process below so that we can ensure this practice is available:

1. Sign up for the visit no later than the day prior to your visit. (No more than two lunches per year with each child is our guideline.)
2. Upon arrival for the visit, present identification and complete the Raptor screening.
3. Wear the visitor badge so that it is visible during the entirety of the visit.
4. Go directly to the lunchroom and eat in the guest space with your student.
5. No friends or additional students will be permitted to join the guest space.
6. Visitors may not visit during recess time.
7. The visit is limited to the guest space during the student’s identified lunch period.
8. Any outside food brought in can only be shared with your student.
9. Do not take pictures, record or film while at school. Use of cell phones is strongly discouraged for safety and privacy.

Lost and Found

Pine Hill has an area in the cafeteria for lost and found items. Please be sure to have your child's clothing labeled whenever possible so items can easily be returned to your student.  Students are encouraged to look in the lost and found for their lost items.

Due to the volume of items we collect, the lost and found is cleaned out and donated near the end of each month.

E- Learning Days

During an e-learning day, students will log into SeeSaw from home with their district-issued Chromebook or iPad to access assignments and/or simply use the Choice Board provided. Families can access Choice Boards by grade level to view or print by clicking on the links below or use a paper copy provided already by the school (See your child's green take home folder.)

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Schedules:

Day 1: Learning activities for K-5 students will be posted in SeeSaw or students may choose learning activities from an E-Learning Day Choice Board. Students will check and complete assignments and interact with teachers during regular school hours if needed.

Day 2 and Beyond in Series of E-Learning Days: Students will connect and interact with their teacher and classmates through a live video conference with a set schedule for the day. This may also include logging into SeeSaw to complete assignments. If you have any technology difficulties or problems connecting to online learning, please use the Choice Board. Please choose the number of activities to complete on the Choice Board based on your discretion.

Bus Delay Information

If your student's bus seems to be significantly off schedule, visit our transportation webage to check their bus status: https://www.sowashco.org/services/transportation

Parent Meetings

Please note that if you ever need to meet with a teacher, schedule a time via email or phone for a meeting directly with the teacher. Teachers are not able to be pulled from their duties if the meeting is not previously scheduled.

As more of our students ride e-bikes and motorized scooters to school, we are asking families to discuss important safety guidelines with their child.

Adults and children cannot operate recreational vehicles on district property, therefore adults and children must turn off the electronic motors of e-bikes and motorized scooters as they enter school property. 

E-Bikes: Minnesota law requires riders to be at least 15 years old. Helmets are highly recommended. Riders must follow all traffic rules and local trail regulations.

Motorized Scooters: Riders must be 12 years or older. Helmets are required. Scooters should not be used on sidewalks (except when accessing or leaving property) and cannot carry passengers.

Please have safety conversations with your child about riding near high traffic areas, such as school parking lots during drop-off and pickup times. 

Encourage your child to ride responsibly—obey traffic signals, stay alert and use bike lanes when available. Let’s work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey to and from school.