Student Placement for 2014-15

This was information sent in a separate email on April 2, 2014 - information may be sent directly to Mrs. Actkinson @ kactkinsonpr@olatheschools.org

 

 

As we enter this final stretch of the year, our staff has already begun to plan and prepare for the upcoming 2014-15 school year. Each year, I share the following information regarding our class placement process which is very complicated. If you know that your family will not be returning to Pleasant Ridge next year, if you could please contact our front office 780-7590 or even reply to this email.

The following is a brief summary of the student placement process.

Class placement is an important task, and is something the staff at Pleasant Ridge takes very seriously. In order to create the best learning environment, we take many variables into consideration. Classes need to have an equal distribution of students according the academic ability levels, social/behavioral skills, work habits, and gender. Other variables include instructional/learning styles of students, social dynamics between students, and an equivalent number of students in each class at a grade level.

As a staff, I believe we know our students very well, and do a thorough, informed job of forming the class lists. We understand that we may not always be fully aware of unique family, friendship, or social/emotional factors outside of school that may affect placement. In these cases, we allow parents to bring these situations to our attention via our Student Placement Request form. Our team takes into consideration the information parents share.

We want you to know that it is our goal to provide the kind of learning environment that will help every child have a successful year. Although requests for specific teachers will not be accepted, we will take into consideration the information about your child you feel the team may not be aware, but must receive this information by April 30 on the Student Placement Request form. This form is attached and also available in the front office.

 

If you know that your family will not be returning to Pleasant Ridge next year, please let the office know as soon as possible.
Here's to a FABULOUS 4^th quarter!

Summer Vacation Movie Series

Order your Summer Vacation Movie Series Tickets now!
Below is the list of Summer Movies.  This was the flyer that was emailed & sent home in Friday Folders on April 25.  Additional Copies are available in the front office as well.

Construction Update 4-24-14

 Entryway with some Patriot Color!

Floating Lights & Clouds in our New Front Entrance!  

     

Early Childhood Classroom in the front portion of the Old Administrative Suite

 Kindergarten Classroom in the back portion of the Old Administrative Suite (Kdg/1st Grade Hall)

Sidewalk & Driveway looking marvelously NEW!

Tic Tock Tic Tock!  We are getting closer to opening up the front of the building.

Construction Updates - April 13

The shaping of the walls in our new front entryway

 

Paint and accent colors coming this week in the entryway!

 Inner Vestibule

New Early Childhood Class Room

 New Kindergarten Classroom

Restrooms trenched and lines laid for both classrooms

Sidewalk & Driveway Additions - to meet Slope Compliance Regulations, the Sidewalk and Driveway needed to be built up .  It was raised a little over a foot.  Thanks for everyone's understanding and patience while this occurred!

 

We may be close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, with the completion of Phase 2 of Construction - end of April is what they are currently telling me!   
Phase 3 will then begin this summer which will be the demolition of our current computer lab.  It will be relocated in the current 2nd grade pod, with the current computer lab becoming our Conference Room.
In addition, this summer we will have "lockers" installed in all of our pods and a new HVAC system replacing the 23 old heating and air conditioning unit. 

Fine Arts Festival - April 24

End of Year Calendar Updates

Construction - Demolition of Old Administrative Suite - Spring Break

JE Dunn did not wait very long then to begin demolition of the old administrative suite over spring break.  In preparation for the new classrooms that would be built (new kindergarten classroom & early childhood classroom), on Saturday morning 3-15-14), cabinetry started coming down in preparation.

Old Reception office

Old workroom

Old Principal's Office

 

 Old lounge

 

Then on Monday, March 17, the walls started coming down.  This is the wall between the old nurse's office and the reception office.

 Wall between the old nurse's office and the teacher workroom (do you see the door going into the side of the library).

 

 And then there was no wall (or nurse's restroom)

This is the nurse's office & reception.  

(That is the old principal office door behind the large roof drain) 

 

And new walls started going up!

Then by the end of the week, ALL the walls were down that were coming down, and holes dug to lie new plumbing for the EC & Kdg restrooms.  This picture is being taken from the inside corner of Mrs. Roe's old office, so going clockwise from the bottom, you can see her office, the corner of the workroom, teacher's lounge (down the middle), Mrs. Actkinson's office, then Hollywood.

Do you notice the location of the restrooms?  Yep, right in the old principal's office!

 

While this was going on in the old Administrative Offices, work continued to get the inside of our front vestibule ready! 

3-18-14

3-22-14

  

3-27-14

Mrs. Roe's new office

Construction Update 3-14-14

The City of Overland Park did provide us with Temporary Occupancy on Friday afternoon (March 14)!  Yippee!  This means that we were able to begin the process of moving our office into the new Administrative Suite, and it has been a whirlwind.  Here are some pics of the last few days.

Last minute appliance installs.

Friday Evening "move" of the front office.

 

Teacher Lounge

 Teacher Workroom

Nurse's Office

An empty "old" principal's office. I may be smiling, but this was quite emotional for me.  I began my first principalship 15 years ago within these 4 walls. 

Moving into the New Principal's Office

Roofers continue to work on getting our new vestibules sealed and dry (here's a view from the roof).

 

The secondary vestibule getting the inner windows and drywall. 

Doors have gone in over spring break so the inner vestibule will be open to the public following Spring Break. 

The outer vestibule (and front doors) will still not be finished until Phase 2 is completed, which could be the end of April.  Students and parents will continue to use the Temporary Entrance until that time.

 

Individual & Class Pictures this Thursday, March 13

Thursday, March 13

INDIVIDUAL SPRING Pictures

All students will have their photographs taken, but are not pre-purchased like our fall pictures.  Instead, photos will be printed and then sent home for parents to decide whether to purchase ALL of them, portions of them, or none at all and return them.  

CLASS PICTURES

Class Group Photos will also be taken on Thursday. 

Order forms were sent home with your child last Friday in their Friday Folders.  

Additional order forms are available in the office.