Reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on these two days next week:
Monday, October 12th (ALL RCAS SCHOOLS) for Native American Day
Friday, October 16th (RCAS ELEMENTARY ONLY) for Elementary school conferences
CONFETTI CALL ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎉 This Kindergartener was nominated by Ms. Shaw for being a great role model, listening carefully during class time, and eagerly raising her hand to share her thinking. Her excitement for school is contagious, and we are so happy to celebrate her hard work with a surprise phone call home!
SEPTEMBER SNAPSHOTS! Enjoy these 10 photos highlighting some of the fun, learning, and special moments from September at Pinedale. 📸
☀️ Lunch in the courtyard - a favorite in September
📚 Our teachers learning and growing together at a recent staff meeting
🦎 A few critters making an appearance on campus
🚸 Spinami safety - a big focus this first month of school
🎨 A sidewalk chalk note left behind in the Zen Zone
🧡 Orange Shirt Day
🖍️ Student coloring pages on Mr. Shane's door
🎃 And our first batch of Spooktacular Behavior pumpkin winners
🐾🩵
☀️ Lunch in the courtyard - a favorite in September
📚 Our teachers learning and growing together at a recent staff meeting
🦎 A few critters making an appearance on campus
🚸 Spinami safety - a big focus this first month of school
🎨 A sidewalk chalk note left behind in the Zen Zone
🧡 Orange Shirt Day
🖍️ Student coloring pages on Mr. Shane's door
🎃 And our first batch of Spooktacular Behavior pumpkin winners
🐾🩵
NATIONAL CUSTODIAN DAY! 🦸♂️✨
Yesterday we celebrated the hardworking custodial, maintenance, and facilities staff who work behind the scenes to keep our school buildings clean, safe, and welcoming every day!
A HUGE shout-out to our very own superhero, Mr. Shane!
We are so fortunate to have him at Pinedale. His hard work, care, and dedication make such a difference in our school community. We are thankful for Mr. Shane today and every day!
Yesterday we celebrated the hardworking custodial, maintenance, and facilities staff who work behind the scenes to keep our school buildings clean, safe, and welcoming every day!
A HUGE shout-out to our very own superhero, Mr. Shane!
We are so fortunate to have him at Pinedale. His hard work, care, and dedication make such a difference in our school community. We are thankful for Mr. Shane today and every day!
EARLY RELEASE FRIDAY
Don't forget that tomorrow, Friday, October 2nd, is a District Early Release Day.
Pinedale students will be released at 12:50 PM.
Thank you!
Don't forget that tomorrow, Friday, October 2nd, is a District Early Release Day.
Pinedale students will be released at 12:50 PM.
Thank you!
🚫 TOYS, SQUISHIES & SIMILAR ITEMS!
We are asking for your help in reminding students to leave squishies, gel-filled toys, water-bead toys, stuffies, toy-like keychains, and similar items at home.
While these items can be fun, they have created some challenges in our school setting – even when kept in backpacks. Concerns seen in schools nationwide include items breaking open, students putting them in their mouths, trading them, and items becoming lost or stolen. With nearly 400 students in our building, these situations can create frequent distractions and safety concerns for students and staff.
Please help us by talking with your child about this expectation. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to reduce distractions and keep our Panthers focused and engaged in learning!
We are asking for your help in reminding students to leave squishies, gel-filled toys, water-bead toys, stuffies, toy-like keychains, and similar items at home.
While these items can be fun, they have created some challenges in our school setting – even when kept in backpacks. Concerns seen in schools nationwide include items breaking open, students putting them in their mouths, trading them, and items becoming lost or stolen. With nearly 400 students in our building, these situations can create frequent distractions and safety concerns for students and staff.
Please help us by talking with your child about this expectation. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to reduce distractions and keep our Panthers focused and engaged in learning!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our WIN groups are up and running! WIN stands for "What I Need." This is a dedicated time each day when teachers provide targeted math and reading instruction based on the individual needs of students.
To help determine those needs, all Pinedale students are screened three times each year in reading and math. Kindergarten and first grade students are assessed using Acadience, while students in second through fifth grade take the NWEA MAP Assessment. The results of these assessments were sent home in your child's Friday Folder.
Teachers who provide instruction during WIN include classroom teachers, Intervention Specialists, Literacy Specialists, Special Education teachers, and paraprofessionals. Together, they work to ensure every student receives the support and instruction they need to grow.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your child's classroom teacher.
Sincerely,
Pinedale Staff
Our WIN groups are up and running! WIN stands for "What I Need." This is a dedicated time each day when teachers provide targeted math and reading instruction based on the individual needs of students.
To help determine those needs, all Pinedale students are screened three times each year in reading and math. Kindergarten and first grade students are assessed using Acadience, while students in second through fifth grade take the NWEA MAP Assessment. The results of these assessments were sent home in your child's Friday Folder.
Teachers who provide instruction during WIN include classroom teachers, Intervention Specialists, Literacy Specialists, Special Education teachers, and paraprofessionals. Together, they work to ensure every student receives the support and instruction they need to grow.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your child's classroom teacher.
Sincerely,
Pinedale Staff
PUMPKIN DELIVERY! We have THREE big shout-outs:
🍂 Thank you so much to Scott Henrikson (again this year!) for his generous donation of pumpkins.
🚚 Thank you to Matt’s Melons here in Rapid City for delivering to Pinedale this morning.
💪 And a final shout-out to Mrs. Campbell’s 5th graders for jumping in and helping unload.
These pumpkins will be raffled off as prizes for students throughout October as part of our “Spooktacular Behavior” incentive. Be on the lookout as they begin to come home in the next few weeks! 🎃
Pinedale Picture Day!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23rd is Pinedale's Picture Day! Student pictures will be taken in the morning in the gym.
If you haven't already ordered, you can visit https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry and use code 0541PMA for Pinedale. Orders will arrive in 4-6 weeks and come home in Friday Folders after we receive them.
Picture Re-Take Day will be on Friday, November 6th.
Panther PTA Newsletter for September!
Catch up on highlights, meet the PTA Board, and see what events are coming up and how you can help!
Hello Pinedale families,
Just a reminder about updated RCAS District attendance policies going forward this year:
TARDIES are included in the new attendance policies as being either excused or unexcused. As with ABSENCES, in order to be considered excused, tardies/late arrivals must be called into the school by the parent/guardian AND the reason must be included in the list of qualifying reasons.
LATE AT 8:00 - BEAT THE BELL! We are encouraging our students to arrive on time to the playground and enter the building with their classmates. Our first priority is knowing their location and safety at 8:00 AM. Please always call the office at 605-394-1805 if your child will be late or absent.
For a late arrival or an absence to be considered excused, it must be reported within the required timeframe (no later than one full school day following the absence), AND the reason must fall within one of the District's identified excused absence categories as follows:
Student illness or illness in the student's immediate family
Medical appointments or treatment
South Dakota Department of Health exclusions
Cultural or religious observances
Bereavement
Family leave, including weddings, vacations, and non-District sponsored club or sporting events, up to five days per academic year
Participation in state or nationally recognized youth programs of educational value, up to five days per academic year.
Under the updated attendance policy, Verified Personal is no longer an excused absence category.
https://www.rcas.org/page/attendance-and-truancy
Thank you for your understanding, support, and partnership in making sure our Pinedale Panthers "enter to discover the world, and depart to lead the world"!
Early voting begins Friday, September 18!
The RCAS bond referendum will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026, General Election.
Before voting, we encourage community members to review the bond proposal, project information, tax impact, and FAQs.
🔎 RCAS Bond Information:
https://www.rcas.org/page/bond-information
🗳️ Official Election Information:
https://sdsos.gov/.../2026%20Election.../default.aspx
The RCAS bond referendum will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026, General Election.
Before voting, we encourage community members to review the bond proposal, project information, tax impact, and FAQs.
🔎 RCAS Bond Information:
https://www.rcas.org/page/bond-information
🗳️ Official Election Information:
https://sdsos.gov/.../2026%20Election.../default.aspx
➡️SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. This week, classroom teachers provided students with age-appropriate ALERRT safety instructions, similar to the ALICE approach RCAS has utilized for many years. Students learned simple reminders for responding during an emergency: avoid, deny, defend. Our goal is to help students feel prepared, confident, and safe—not scared. We also welcomed our SRO, Officer Pi, who stopped by classrooms to say hello and introduce herself to students. We are thankful for her support!
Pinedale 3rd-4th grade families — Washington, D.C. trip information came home this week!
Join us to learn about the trip, pricing, and how to reserve your student’s spot.
🗓️Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 22nd | 6:00–6:30 PM
📍Location: Library
🔵RSVP: https://rsvp.worldclassrooms.com/inperson/53674960271?rsvp_id=53674960271
💲Families who attend receive $500 off each traveler!
We hope to see you there!
– Mrs. Amanda Fish
Join us to learn about the trip, pricing, and how to reserve your student’s spot.
🗓️Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 22nd | 6:00–6:30 PM
📍Location: Library
🔵RSVP: https://rsvp.worldclassrooms.com/inperson/53674960271?rsvp_id=53674960271
💲Families who attend receive $500 off each traveler!
We hope to see you there!
– Mrs. Amanda Fish
TEACH! LOVE! INSPIRE! A big thank you to Harley-Davidson for bringing over Teacher Appreciation Bags today for our staff! 🏍️🍎
These thoughtful bags are filled with supplies and goodies that teachers and students use every day. We are incredibly grateful for our community of supporters. 💙
These thoughtful bags are filled with supplies and goodies that teachers and students use every day. We are incredibly grateful for our community of supporters. 💙
Picture Day for Pinedale is on Wednesday, September 23rd in the morning.
Flyers will be coming home in Friday Folders, and can also be ordered online at https://inter-state.com/Home using Order Code: 0541PMN
Flyers will be coming home in Friday Folders, and can also be ordered online at https://inter-state.com/Home using Order Code: 0541PMN
Labor Day Holiday - No School
Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, September 7th due to it being Labor Day.
Enjoy the long weekend, and we will see everyone back on Tuesday!
Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, September 7th due to it being Labor Day.
Enjoy the long weekend, and we will see everyone back on Tuesday!
Volunteer Registration Reminder!
If you plan on helping in the classroom, going on field trips, assisting with PTA events, or helping students in other ways, don't forget to register as an official RCAS volunteer! Find out more by going to the RCAS volunteer website:
https://www.rcas.org/o/rcas/page/volunteer-opportunities
There are multiple Volunteer Levels:
Level 1: This volunteer is a supervised volunteer and works under the immediate direction of a RCAS staff member. They must remain within sight and hearing of a RCAS staff member at all times while students are present. Volunteers under the age of 18 will always be Level 1. Examples would include Friday Folders, Clerical Assistants, and those doing tasks outside the school campus without student contact. A Level 1 Volunteer is screened using Megan’s Law to verify the applicant is not a registered sex offender. This is renewed annually for all volunteers.
Level 2: This volunteer has direct or ongoing contact with students. They may be out of the line of sight or hearing of the supervising school employee. Must be 18 years or older. Examples would include Day Trip Chaperones, School Dance Monitors, PTA Leadership, Hallway Work – reading, etc. A Level 2 Volunteer is screened through Background Screeners of America. This will be renewed every 3 years.
Level 3: This volunteer has the same contact as a Level 2 but would also include direct one-on-one contact with students or overnight chaperones or volunteering more than 3 times in an academic year. Overnight chaperones must be 21 years of age or older. All other Level 3 volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Examples would include Overnight Chaperones, Volunteer Coaches, Chaperones driving students, Tutors, Mentors, and Proctors. A Level 3 Volunteer is screened through the DCI Fingerprinting process also used for all RCAS employees. Level 2 background check repeated every 3 years.
Thank you to all of our volunteers who help make our school an amazing place to work and learn!
Due to the continued high temperatures and heat conditions in several of our buildings, students at the following schools will have an early release day on THURSDAY, September 3:
Grandview, Horace Mann, Meadowbrook, Rapid Valley, Robbinsdale, Pinedale, South Canyon, South Park, Wilson, and North Middle School.
FRIDAY, September 4th is also an Early Release Day for ALL schools (Friday is a regularly calendar-scheduled Early Release Day).
Grandview, Horace Mann, Meadowbrook, Rapid Valley, Robbinsdale, Pinedale, South Canyon, South Park, Wilson, and North Middle School.
FRIDAY, September 4th is also an Early Release Day for ALL schools (Friday is a regularly calendar-scheduled Early Release Day).
PANTHER BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
💫This morning we had our first Behavior Refresh “Set up for Success” assembly of the school year. It was a nice way to come together and celebrate a great first week! All staff members around our building were introduced, common school expectations were reviewed (including the likelihood of lunch in the courtyard next week!), and we had a short discussion about “Minor” and “Major” behavior choices. Minor behaviors are documented as those that require multiple reminders about being respectful, responsible, and/or safe. Major behaviors are those that become repeated Minor behavior concerns or are isolated incidents of escalated intensity and/or severity.
🏫Our team is committed to helping students learn and grow, and creating an environment that supports this is key. Altercations here at school are handled with restorative conversations, time with staff to reflect, and often include logical consequences that relate to the specific behavior as closely as possible. Consequences are designed to teach, foster accountability, and help students understand the impact of their choices. Sometimes that does mean missing out on something or having options modified temporarily.
💗We approach each situation with care, focus on conflict resolution, consider age-appropriateness, and truly seek to understand to better help all students. As a staff, we’ll continue to communicate and model for kids what it means to work hard, have fun, and be kind.
💫This morning we had our first Behavior Refresh “Set up for Success” assembly of the school year. It was a nice way to come together and celebrate a great first week! All staff members around our building were introduced, common school expectations were reviewed (including the likelihood of lunch in the courtyard next week!), and we had a short discussion about “Minor” and “Major” behavior choices. Minor behaviors are documented as those that require multiple reminders about being respectful, responsible, and/or safe. Major behaviors are those that become repeated Minor behavior concerns or are isolated incidents of escalated intensity and/or severity.
🏫Our team is committed to helping students learn and grow, and creating an environment that supports this is key. Altercations here at school are handled with restorative conversations, time with staff to reflect, and often include logical consequences that relate to the specific behavior as closely as possible. Consequences are designed to teach, foster accountability, and help students understand the impact of their choices. Sometimes that does mean missing out on something or having options modified temporarily.
💗We approach each situation with care, focus on conflict resolution, consider age-appropriateness, and truly seek to understand to better help all students. As a staff, we’ll continue to communicate and model for kids what it means to work hard, have fun, and be kind.
