Habit #1 - Be Proactive!
Each month, our students practice a habit for turning small actions into big wins. This helps us work together to be effective students and leaders!
October's habit was Be Proactive! These students were chosen for demonstrating the qualities of being proactive. Proactive people choose their own way and take responsibility for the results. You are being proactive when you:
Remain calm
Take responsibility
Think before acting
Focus on solutions
Take initiative to make things happen
See alternatives, not roadblocks
Focus on what you can influence
- I have a "can do" attitude and always try my best at everything I do!
- I follow directions and do the right thing without being asked, even when nobody is looking!
- I choose my actions, attitudes and moods and don't blame others for my wrongdoing!
Congratulations to these students, and to all our Pinedale Panthers for being awesome!
Each month, our students practice a habit for turning small actions into big wins. This helps us work together to be effective students and leaders!
October's habit was Be Proactive! These students were chosen for demonstrating the qualities of being proactive. Proactive people choose their own way and take responsibility for the results. You are being proactive when you:
Remain calm
Take responsibility
Think before acting
Focus on solutions
Take initiative to make things happen
See alternatives, not roadblocks
Focus on what you can influence
- I have a "can do" attitude and always try my best at everything I do!
- I follow directions and do the right thing without being asked, even when nobody is looking!
- I choose my actions, attitudes and moods and don't blame others for my wrongdoing!
Congratulations to these students, and to all our Pinedale Panthers for being awesome!

CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This 2nd grader was nominated by Mrs. Lundin and Mr. Shane for consistently being on the lookout for ways she can help out another school family member. Nearly every day, she uses part of her recess to help Mr. Shane clean tables after lunch. We are so proud to celebrate how she uses her light to help others shine, too. Way to go!




Reminder that tomorrow, Friday, November 7th, is an RCAS scheduled Early Release day. Pinedale students are dismissed at 12:50 PM.

TONIGHT! SCREENAGERS
The PTAs of Pinedale, Corral Drive, Meadowbrook, and South Canyon are partnering to present a special showing of Screenagers, for parents and caregivers only. FREE!
📍 Location: Corral Drive / Southwest MS Lunchrooms
📅 Date: Monday, November 3rd
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
Screenagers is a one-hour documentary that explores the impact of screen time on children and provides practical strategies for fostering healthy digital habits. It covers topics such as social media, gaming, and screen addiction—offering valuable insights to help parents navigate technology use with their kids.
We’ll also have two investigators from the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force joining us. They’ll share helpful information about keeping kids safe online and with their phones, and they’re happy to answer any questions you may have after the documentary.
Please park in the Corral Drive parking lots. The Main Office Door (west side) and Activities Entrance Door (east side) will be open at 5:45 PM.
We hope you can join us for this free, informative event!
The PTAs of Pinedale, Corral Drive, Meadowbrook, and South Canyon are partnering to present a special showing of Screenagers, for parents and caregivers only. FREE!
📍 Location: Corral Drive / Southwest MS Lunchrooms
📅 Date: Monday, November 3rd
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
Screenagers is a one-hour documentary that explores the impact of screen time on children and provides practical strategies for fostering healthy digital habits. It covers topics such as social media, gaming, and screen addiction—offering valuable insights to help parents navigate technology use with their kids.
We’ll also have two investigators from the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force joining us. They’ll share helpful information about keeping kids safe online and with their phones, and they’re happy to answer any questions you may have after the documentary.
Please park in the Corral Drive parking lots. The Main Office Door (west side) and Activities Entrance Door (east side) will be open at 5:45 PM.
We hope you can join us for this free, informative event!


Weekend Reminders 😊
Don’t forget that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Friday, October 31st. It is a calendar-scheduled Professional Development day for RCAS staff.
Tomorrow is also pie drop-off for the bazaar, between 7:30-9:00 AM and 12:45-3:00 PM!
The Pinedale Bazaar is on Saturday between 9:00AM and 3:00PM! There are still lots of slots available for volunteers, as well:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA5AD29A4F4C07-59196547-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawNsXMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnbV-Dk22V4aiY-2VZTDB0ipUMnziibEENTzOdXnirUqKnU5y2OiVmpyL4ZT_aem_EFlHBNZNN0MTN-lJCxupsA#/
Don’t forget that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Friday, October 31st. It is a calendar-scheduled Professional Development day for RCAS staff.
Tomorrow is also pie drop-off for the bazaar, between 7:30-9:00 AM and 12:45-3:00 PM!
The Pinedale Bazaar is on Saturday between 9:00AM and 3:00PM! There are still lots of slots available for volunteers, as well:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA5AD29A4F4C07-59196547-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawNsXMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnbV-Dk22V4aiY-2VZTDB0ipUMnziibEENTzOdXnirUqKnU5y2OiVmpyL4ZT_aem_EFlHBNZNN0MTN-lJCxupsA#/
CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This 5th grader was nominated by Mrs. Tschetter for setting and accomplishing a long-term 5th grade goal with determination and hard work - mastering the spelling of all 1,000 high frequency words! Wow! We may have pulled off a fun, little trick (and treat) with the phone call home today. Way to go!




Pinedale Picture Re-Take Day: Wednesday, November 5th
This picture day is for students who need to be re-photographed and students who missed the original Picture Day.
If you're satisfied with your child's picture, no further action is required.
If you purchased and were unhappy with your Picture Package, please send your Picture Package to school with your student on Retake Day. Your Retake Picture Package will be produced and shipped to the school four weeks after Retake Day. Please note, if your child is photographed on the original and Retake Picture Days, the Retake picture will replace the original picture in certain products, like the yearbook.
Students who were absent for Picture Day should come to school prepared to have their picture taken. If you have not preordered, please use the Retake Order Code 0165BVF to place your order at https://inter-state.com/Order. To see your Order History, check your Inter-State Account.
This picture day is for students who need to be re-photographed and students who missed the original Picture Day.
If you're satisfied with your child's picture, no further action is required.
If you purchased and were unhappy with your Picture Package, please send your Picture Package to school with your student on Retake Day. Your Retake Picture Package will be produced and shipped to the school four weeks after Retake Day. Please note, if your child is photographed on the original and Retake Picture Days, the Retake picture will replace the original picture in certain products, like the yearbook.
Students who were absent for Picture Day should come to school prepared to have their picture taken. If you have not preordered, please use the Retake Order Code 0165BVF to place your order at https://inter-state.com/Order. To see your Order History, check your Inter-State Account.

Last week, Pinedale 3rd graders had a special visit from the new Raider mascot and some of our "big buddies" at Stevens High School. One of them was Mrs. Benson's daughter! Students from the SHS Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) were gathering ideas for a new mascot name. We're excited to hear what they choose!




CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This kindergartener was nominated by Ms. Wilson for consistently setting a great example. She has learned quickly what Panther Pride means and enjoys doing the right thing! This student demonstrates kindness and responsibility, and Pinedale is proud to celebrate her today!



CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This 2nd grader was nominated by Mrs. McNabb for always being polite and showing Panther Pride everyday! He can often be found holding the door open for his peers and teachers. He is respectful in class, has a contagious smile, and knows how to tell pretty funny jokes. His family (and his school family) sure are proud of him!



🎃THANK YOU! One of our Pinedale parents, Scott Henrikson, was able to arrange a large pumpkin donation. We're giving these away during the month of October! We have raffles going on for Spooktacular Behavior choices during the school day and to families that attend conferences this week. This 4th grade class was full of happy helpers as we unloaded them near the front office!






Panther PTA October Newsletter

Reminder for next week!
No school on Monday, 10/13/25 for Native American Day. This is a no school day for ALL RCAS students.
No school on Friday, 10/17/25 for RCAS Elementary students ONLY for daytime conferences. Evening conferences will be held Thursday, 10/16/25. Confirm your scheduled conference day/time with your child's teacher.
Thank you!
No school on Monday, 10/13/25 for Native American Day. This is a no school day for ALL RCAS students.
No school on Friday, 10/17/25 for RCAS Elementary students ONLY for daytime conferences. Evening conferences will be held Thursday, 10/16/25. Confirm your scheduled conference day/time with your child's teacher.
Thank you!

CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This 1st grader was nominated by Mrs. Bendewald for always bringing her best self forth - whether it's doing her best work, participating, or working with classmates! She has a heart of gold, and we're so happy to celebrate her. The phone call home sure made her family's day!



CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This kindergartner was nominated by Ms. Shaw for showing Panther Pride in the hallway even when no one was looking! (Or so we thought!) When asked if he did this because it just felt good to do, he replied enthusiastically, "Yes!" Pinedale is proud of you.



Our teachers are life-long learners! Did you know that in a typical K-12 system there are over 3,000 learning benchmarks? During our Early Release time together today, teacher teams engaged in work focused on some of these essential K-5 learning standards. When we teach to high levels, our students will learn at high levels. Go Panthers!






Early Release Friday at 12:50 PM!
Tomorrow , October 3rd, is an RCAS scheduled Early Release Friday. Pinedale's dismissal time is 12:50 PM. Students will have lunch before they are dismissed.
Thank you!
Tomorrow , October 3rd, is an RCAS scheduled Early Release Friday. Pinedale's dismissal time is 12:50 PM. Students will have lunch before they are dismissed.
Thank you!

CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! This 4th grader was nominated by Ms. Eining for showing great leadership and being a positive role model for her peers. She is kind and respectful to her classmates and teachers, and she consistently works hard as a critical thinker in the classroom! The surprise phone call home brought lots of proud smiles! Way to go!




Last week, all K-5 classes learned about Fire Safety topics during grade-level presentations with Bailey Wild, Fire & Life Safety Specialist with the Rapid City Fire Department. Grade-specific topics such as Home Fire Safety, Detecting Dangers in the Kitchen, and The Science of Fire were covered. Bailey said, "Thank you, Pinedale, for taking the time for me to come talk to your students about essential fire and life safety skills. Educating others on these topics is a deep passion of mine, and the students in these classes were AMAZING listeners and participants!" Kudos to all our Panthers! After their presentation, kindergarten students got a special visit from Truck 3 and Rescue 3 from Fire Station 3! Check out the pictures!





Dear Parents and Guardians,
Pinedale Elementary students will be participating in a daily 20-40-minute block of time called “WIN,” which stands for What I Need. This time is set aside for teachers to provide instruction that targets the individual needs of each student.
To help identify these needs, all Pinedale students are screened three times each year in reading and math. Our first round of assessments has already been completed, and students have been placed into groups based on this data.
During WIN time, instruction is supported by classroom teachers, Intervention Specialists, Literacy Specialists, Special Education teachers, and paraprofessionals.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.
Sincerely,
Pinedale Staff
Pinedale Elementary students will be participating in a daily 20-40-minute block of time called “WIN,” which stands for What I Need. This time is set aside for teachers to provide instruction that targets the individual needs of each student.
To help identify these needs, all Pinedale students are screened three times each year in reading and math. Our first round of assessments has already been completed, and students have been placed into groups based on this data.
During WIN time, instruction is supported by classroom teachers, Intervention Specialists, Literacy Specialists, Special Education teachers, and paraprofessionals.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.
Sincerely,
Pinedale Staff

