Looking Ahead in

Lower School Fort Lauderdale Campus

M a y 2 0 1 6

Save the Date!

New Family Orientation

Coffee

Monday, August 1

9:15-10:30 a.m.

After you drop your child off at

Preview, join Dr. Shealy and

Mrs. Bhalla in Egan

Auditorium.

Registration Drop-ins

and Enrichment

Programs Open House

(Grades PK-5)

Monday, August 15

for last names beginning with

A-L 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, August 16

for last names beginning with

M-Z 8:30-11:30 a.m.

On these days, visit your

child’s classroom to meet his/

her teacher, register, and stop

in Egan Auditorium to hear

about all our Enrichment

offerings.

First Day of School

(Full Day)

Wednesday, August 17

Back-to-School Nights

Grades 3-5

(Parents Only)

Tuesday, August 23

6:00 p.m.

Grades Pre-K-2

(Parents Only)

Thursday, August 25

6:00 p.m.

Dear Lower School Families,

Whether you are a new or returning family, we are thrilled that you chose

Pine Crest for the most important people in your lives, your children. Pine Crest is

a dynamic environment. We hope that this newsletter introduces or re-familiarizes

your family to the exceptional programs made available to our students. In addition to outlining our academic and extra-curricular options, we also included important

information to help you and your child transition into the new school year.

The Lower School Office is here to help! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the start of the school year or if you need further

explanation about a policy or procedure listed in the Lower School Handbook.

Tina Smith, the Administrative Assistant, and Sylvia Montero, the Office Coordi-nator, will help answer your questions or connect you to the appropriate person to

address your concern or need. Scott Weil is the Lower School Guidance Counselor

and can help guide both you and your child through the transition process. In her

work as the Lower School Instructional Coach, Nancy-Lynn Kidwell supports teachers in their work with students, can answer any curriculum questions, and

completes our Lower School administrative support team.

Every member of the Lower School team is excited to welcome new and returning families for the 2016-17 school year! If you have any questions or would

like to meet with a member of the Lower School administrative team, please con-

tact him/her via the telephone or email information below. We are here to help you.

Enjoy your summer, and see you in August!

With Panther Pride,

Kristin Shealy and Narinder Bhalla

Lower School Administration

Contact information for the Lower School Office:

Telephone: 954-492-4144

Email: first.last@pinecrest.edu

(ex: tina.smith@pinecrest.edu)

Click here for the 2016-2017 Academic Calendar

Each Lower School

classroom has access to

technology that enhances

student learning. iPads,

laptops, and SmartBoards

are integrated into daily

classroom lessons in

purposeful and

meaningful ways to

enhance student learning.

This dedicated space,

equipped with high-tech,

manipulative materials and

staged by a professional

innovation specialist,

inspires our students to

imagine, design, and

innovate.

Academics The caliber of our academic programs are thoughtfully designed and implemented

based on the developmental needs of your children and research-based teaching

strategies. For this reason, we are able to offer exceptional programs that support our

school mission. The Pine Crest Lower School curriculum incorporates skills such as:

critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, inquiry, and communication. Highlights of

our academic program include:

Math Workshop

Our math curriculum in the Lower School is differentiated to meet the needs of

individual students. Our teachers use research-based teaching strategies to promote a

strong number sense to complement the computational fluency required of difficult

algorithms. Our math curriculum is based on a continuum of learning and progress in

both rigor and conceptual depth as students progress through the Lower School.

Model Drawing

Students in grades one through five engage in model drawing, a component of Singapore

Math, in order to reinforce the difficult cognitive process of transforming complex word

problems into mathematical procedures. The model drawing program aligns with our

math continuum and complements our Math Workshop instructional model.

Science

Science in the Lower School at Pine Crest is inquiry based and uses investigations and

experiments to promote higher ordering thinking skills and critical thinking strategies.

Students in grades pre-kindergarten through five experience science in a classroom

laboratory setting that is hands-on and engaging.

Reading and Writing Workshop Model

Our reading and writing program is based on a continuum of learning and is thoughtfully

designed based on the needs of our individual students and high expectations indicative

of a Pine Crest School education. Reading and writing are taught together in the Lower

School, with special emphasis placed on small group instruction and developing superior

phonemic awareness, understanding of word origin and meaning (Word Study), and

reading and writing fluency.

Language Classes

Our World Languages Department exposes students to the rich and diverse cultures of

the Spanish language. Beginning in pre-kindergarten and continuing through fifth

grade, students build a phonemic awareness and receptive fluency in Spanish. Students

in grades pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are offered an Art in Spanish immersion

class to reinforce knowledge of sounds and prosodies specific to the language, and to

develop a fluent ability to comprehend oral instructions. Heritage Speakers are offered

an advanced Spanish class beginning in first grade.

page 2

Health Forms

In order for your child to

attend the first day of school, the Health Office

must have a copy of the

2016-2017 Health

Information Form. Students will not be

allowed on campus until

this form is complete and submitted to the Lower

School Office.

Deadline: June 24, 2016

LINK TO HEALTH FORMS

Lower School Handbook

SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Elevate Elevate is a summer academic program (June 6 - July 15) aimed at meeting individual student needs while fostering

self-esteem and enthusiasm for learning. This fun summer study experience offers small student/teacher ratios and a

variety of instructional strategies while working with Pine Crest School educators.

Preview Preview is a one week (August 1 - August 5) academic summer program designed to allow our new and returning

Pine Crest students a smooth transition either from one grade to the next, and/or one school to another. The

academic setting and relaxed atmosphere provides our students the opportunity to preview the new school year, while

also gaining additional exposure to our curriculum taught by our very own Pine Crest teachers. This program is

available for all new students and returning students in grades pre-kindergarten through

five.

The Lower School Handbook is a wonderful resource to access information about

specific policies and procedures unique to the Lower School.

The updated 2016-17 Handbook will be available in August. In the meantime, you

may access last year’s Handbook as a reference:

Lower School Handbook 2015-16

Please read over the Handbook with your child prior to the start of the school year,

as it contains important information that will help ease the transition into the Pine

Crest School community.

Should you have any questions about any policy or procedure noted in the

Handbook, please contact the Lower School Office at 954-492-4144.

First of all, and most importantly, please enjoy your summer with family and friends!

We do encourage a little bit of summer review work for children to maintain the academic progress that they made throughout the school year. Click on the links

below to find grade-specific suggestions for summer work.

Incoming Kindergarten Students

Incoming 1st Grade Students

Incoming 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students

Health Office

Please check out our many other programs such as:

Fine Arts, Athletics, and Coding and Robotics

Summer Review Work

page 3

Student Welcome Letters

One of the most exciting times in the Lower School is discovering who a

student’s teacher is going to be for the upcoming year!

Student Welcome Letters will be emailed home on Friday, August 12.

Once the Welcome Letters are received, you may access your child’s class

list via My Backpack.

The entire Pine Crest community values character development and believes it is fundamental to educating the whole child. The Lower School character development

program, Panther Pride, teaches our students to live and work together as a cohesive

and inclusive community of learners.

Our Panther Pride program guides our students to act ethically and compassionately. The core values of Panther Pride are focused on in guidance classes and are also

featured during our monthly Community Building Assembly (CBA) and daily

PCAM Morning Show segments.

Under the direction of our guidance counselor, Scott Weil, a newly-developed group of students known as

Student Ambassadors will play a key role in helping

new students get to know the culture of Pine Crest School. All new students will be assigned a Student

Ambassador who will help them acclimate to the

classroom and campus. These special friends will

introduce new students to their classmates as well as answer any questions that may arise. Helping our

newest Panthers get acquainted with the Pine Crest

family and quickly feel at home will be our Student

Ambassadors’ goals.

Student Ambassadors

School

Supplies

Your child’s school

supplies have

already been

ordered and will

arrive at school

prior to the first day

of school. Teachers

receive and sort

their students’

supplies and then

distribute the

supplies on the first

day of school.

Students in grades

three through five

will bring a

backpack from

home. Students in

grades pre-

kindergarten

through two are

required to

purchase a Pine

Panther Pride

The Panther Pride core values are:

Kindness

Respect

Honesty

Responsibility

Citizenship

Initiative

Inclusivity

page 4

Enrichment Activities

Our academic programs are enriched by a tremendous offering of before-, during-, and/or after -

school activities for our students.

Sample of program offerings:

Dance

IMACS

Robotics

Chinese

Art

Chess

Band

(Grades Four and Five)

Orchestra

(Grades Pre-Kindergarten

through Five)

LEGO® Club

Tennis

Swimming

Science Club

Individual music lessons

For more information, please attend our Enrichment Programs

Open House during your child’s Registration Drop-In on Mon-

day, August 15 or Tuesday August 16 from 8:30-11:30am in

Egan Auditorium.

Information on how to register students for all before-, during-,

and after-school activities will be emailed in August.

Pine Crest

Spirit Store

Store Hours

Monday - Friday

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

by appointment

Marci Danzansky

954-492-6624

Please click here for

the Spirit Store

website.

Pine Crest

Cub Closet

Gently used

uniforms available

for purchase

Store Hours

Monday and Friday

3:00-3:45 p.m.

Wednesday

7:45-8:30 a.m.

by appointment

Adriana Arabia

adriana.arabia

@gmail.com

Uniforms & Dress Code

The dress code for all Lower School students is an approved uniform available from Jonathan Reed. These uniforms should be

worn daily with the exception of Spirit Days (every Friday) when

any Pine Crest spirit shirt is acceptable. Other important notes

about school uniforms are:

Boys and girls should wear white socks or PC socks, with mostly white shoes with

white shoelaces.

Velcro strapped shoes are worn in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

No shoes with lights or charms are permitted.

In grades one through five, shirts must be tucked in, and if shorts have belts loops,

brown, black, or PC belts must be worn.

Students in grades one through five will need P.E bags and P.E uniforms. The

uniforms will be given out at school, and the P.E bags must be purchased at the

Spirit Store.

All colored sweatshirts and sweatpants with Pine Crest school logos are permitted

and can be purchased at the Spirit Store, the Cub Closet, or at Jonathan Reed.

Green Lower School pep shirts are worn every month for Community Building Assemblies (CBAs) as well as on most field trips. The pep shirts must be

purchased at the Spirit Store.

Jonathan Reed

141 Northwest 20th Street #H6

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Tel: 561-910-1547

www.jreedclothing.com

Click here for the 2016-2017 Uniform Ordering Information

page 5

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

_______________

Attendance

Information

When a student is

unable to attend

school due to

health reasons or

other

emergencies,

parents should

call the Lower

School Office to

report the

absence before

9:00 a.m.

Students who

arrive at school

after 8:10 a.m.,

must be

accompanied by

an adult to the

Lower School

office to sign in.

Join the

LSFA! Contact Tara

McGinn ‘88,

President of the

Lower School

Family

Association to

volunteer for

school events!

mcginntm@me.com

An Important Note about:

Garage Safety

Your children’s safety is our #1 concern! For this reason, students are not

allowed in the garage for arrival. No students may walk through the

parking garage after 7:30 a.m. However, parents are allowed to park in the

garage for pick up as long as they come onto campus to pick up their

children.

page 6

It is important to your child’s growth and

development to arrive to school on time.

Students who arrive late to school miss

valuable learning opportunities that cannot be

replicated. For these reasons, students should

arrive at school by 8:00 a.m. Students will be

marked tardy after 8:10 a.m.

Arrival Options:

1. Parents may drop students off in the

Lower School carline, located on the

north side of campus. Students may be

dropped off starting at 7:30 a.m.

2. If you walk your child into school, you

must park in the west campus parking lot.

Children may not walk through the

garage, even if accompanied by an adult,

after 7:30 a.m.

3. Parents may utilize the buses through the

Pine Crest School transportation system.

Dismissal Options:

1. Parents may pick up students from the LS

carline, located on the north side of cam-

pus. See dismissal times below.

2. Parents may park in the parking garage

and walk in to pick up their child. Stu-

dents may not walk into the garage with-

out an adult.

3. Parents may utilize the buses through the

Pine Crest School transportation system.

Dismissal Times:

Pre-K and K: 3:00 p.m.

Grades 1 and 2: 3:30 p.m.

Grades 3-5: 3:38 p.m.

After school, students who remain on campus

must be enrolled in an activity or in the Ex-

tended Day program.

Click here for PC BUS SERVICE info.

Pine Crest Lower School

MISSION STATEMENT

To offer a challenging academic experience

complemented by excellence in the arts and athletics;

to develop the character, independence, and

leadership of each student; and to provide a nurturing

learning community that prepares students to meet

the global challenges of our future.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT In recognition that a diverse environment is desirable

for an excellent college preparatory education, Pine

Crest School promotes and values diversity in

backgrounds, talents, experiences, and opinions. As a

community that honors and celebrates diversity, we

endeavor to educate Pine Crest School students to

value differences in the global community.

1501 NE 62nd Street

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334

Phone: 954-492-4144

Fax: 954-492-4146

Pine Crest School

In the early 1930s, Mae McMillan

began tutoring children of winter

visitors to Fort Lauderdale. She

helped them with assignments so

they could return to their home

schools with their studies up to

date. The high caliber of her

teaching soon attracted full-time

local students, and in 1934, she

founded her school in rented rooms

in the old Elks Club Building in

downtown Fort Lauderdale. In

1939, Dr. McMillan moved her 100 students to an eight-acre site on East

Broward Boulevard and added a boarding department. It was here that Dr.

McMillan established the name of Pine Crest School. Read more about our

school’s prominent history here.

page 7

Pine Crest School: A Distinguished History