Pinehurst Elementary School

June Parent Letter

Dear Pinehurst Parents,

I hope this letter finds you looking forward to the summer months.  As our community opens after COVID, I hope you find some time to enjoy all that Western New York has to offer this time of year.  I want to thank you for your support and partnership over the past 16 months.  “Teaching and Learning During a Global Pandemic” was not a course that was offered when I was preparing to be a school administrator.  Our work was not without its challenges but together we endured each and every instructional model pivot and, most importantly, our students persevered.  We have learned a lot and with our challenges came opportunities for growth as well.

We are in the home stretch.  We continue to impress upon our students that we have time and work left to do.  We are also planning for some fun in the month of June!  We are holding some of our traditional events, they will just look differently.  Our events will be for our students only, during the school day.  

Thursday, June 17th Field Day for K, 1, and 2

Friday, June 18th Field Day for 3, 4, and 5

Wednesday, June 23rd Move-A-Thon for K, 1, and 2

Thursday, June 24th Move-A-Thon for 3, 4, and 5 and the Last day of School for Students

Our Move-A-Thon will be held in honor of Isabella Phelan.  Bella is a second grade student who continues her fight against cancer.  Bella has spent many years between Roswell Park Cancer Institute and John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.  Any donations we receive will be split and sent to Roswell and Children’s Hospital in Bella’s name.  You will receive a letter regarding our Move-A-Thon early next week.  

Our 5th Grade Moving-Up Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 22nd.  We are finalizing details but are planning for an outdoor event at Pinehurst the morning of June 22nd.  Parents of 5th grade students will receive an invitation to that event in the coming weeks.  

June 23rd and 24th are half days for our students.  Students who ride the school bus will be dismissed at 10:45 am.  Parent pick-up will begin at 10:15 am.

In June we will begin the process of creating class rosters for the 2021 - 2022 academic year.  

I welcome any information you have that will assist us in making a placement decision for your son or daughter.  Your email should include your child’s strengths and any unique learning needs you want us to know.  Please do not include a request for a specific teacher.  Classroom assignments are made with a great deal of thought.  We work collaboratively to create class rosters for each grade level.  As you can imagine there is a lot to consider.  Your emails are due to me on or before Wednesday, June 9th.  My email address is jmakowski@frontiercsd.org.  

You can expect to receive classroom assignment letters nearing the end of August.  Grade level supply lists will contain the bulk of what students will need in September.   Look for our PTA’s initiative, 1st Day School Supplies, for a mail order option.  Supply lists will be posted on our website as well.  Your child’s classroom teacher may add a few items in his or her welcome letter in August.   

As you know summer is a busy time of year.  Our 12-month staff members will be working hard to get ready to welcome students and teachers back to school.  This is also the time of year when we take some time away.  I encourage you to call ahead to the Main Office to make sure that someone is here to help you if you have a need to come to school.  You can call the Main Office at 926-1770 extension 7411 or 7410 to make sure that someone is here for you.  

Despite the challenges of COVID, this year has been filled with great moments and many fond memories.  Thank you again for your support.  Our partnership is important to me and is greatly appreciated!  I hope you enjoy your summer!  If you have any questions or are in need of anything, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I can be reached at 926-1779.  If I don’t return your call on the day that you called, it is because I am out of the building.  I can be reached via email at jmakowski@frontiercsd.org.  I will take some vacation time in July and August but I will check my email while I am away.  Thank you again for helping to make Pinehurst a special place to work and to learn.  

Sincerely, Mrs. Makowski