Good afternoon PRUSD Parents and Students,
We hope your summer is going well and your time away from school has been enjoyable. We are 18 days from the first day of school. The summer crew is working long hours getting the schools ready for the return of students. Below are a few items that will help us prepare for the beginning of the school year. Please read thoroughly to be ready for the first day of school.
School Offices Reopen
School offices will reopen on August 3rd at their regular scheduled time. You can find that time on the school’s website. The first two weeks of the Secretaries being back are busy, so we ask your patience with them responding to your requests or questions. Thank you.
Alta Sierra Elementary School 530-272-2319
Arete Charter Academy 530-268-2805
Cottage Hill Elementary School 530-268-2808
Magnolia Intermediate School 530-268-2815
Class Sizes
One developed goal was to keep average class sizes smaller before the pandemic and phase out the reduction over three years. We are currently in year two. We ask you to complete all online annual registration forms in Power School before August 5th, as we are seeing new people move into the community, and with the increase of new students, we may need to hire more teachers for this school year. We do not consider a student of PRUSD until all enrollment documents are completed online. Please call or email your child’s school if you have any questions. PRUSD Enrollment Link
TK New Enrollment Age
The age at which children are eligible for TK changed. In 2021–2022, children turning five (5) between September 2 and December 2 were eligible for TK. In the 2022–23 school year, children who will turn five between September 2 and February 2 are eligible for TK. If you have a child that will turn five within these dates, please enroll them immediately if you choose to. Remember, the mandatory school age is six years old, so those that are not ready can wait.
After-School Learning Opportunities
PRUSD has transitioned from afterschool recreation services to Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO). ELO is like the elementary afterschool recreation services, but we will be adding enrichment opportunities for students between the grades of TK through 6th grade. ELO programs will be offered at Alta Sierra and Cottage Hill this school year. Any 6th grader that would like to engage in the ELO program can do so at Cottage Hill Elementary School. The ELO program will also be offered on Saturdays throughout the school year to engage in learning experiences beyond the school day and on campus. More information will be sent home on the entire expanded learning opportunities during the first week of school. ELO Information Link
State Funding
The LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula) changes how the state funds school districts. Under this system, school districts receive a uniform base grant for every student, adjusted by grade level. School districts receive additional supplemental grants for students with greater challenges, defined as low-income students, English learners, and foster youth. Districts received additional concentration grant funding when the numbers of these students enrolled in a district make up more than 55 percent of a district’s total enrollment.
What does this mean for Pleasant Ridge School District? I will provide a comparison between PRUSD and Grass Valley School District. PRUSD and Grass Valley School districts have the same number of students enrolled in traditional schools. Grass Valley Schools have more students who fall into the supplemental and concentrated funding category. Thus, they get approximately $5000 more per child to educate their students annually. This equates to approximately $5 million more per school year. They also received about $5000 more per child in COVID relief funds.
I am sharing this with you because PRUSD is held to the same standards and expectations with fewer allocated dollars from the state. What can we do about it, you may ask? First, contact Assemblyperson Dahle and Senator Dahle to express the inequity within the state of California. Also, please fill out the free and reduced lunch forms. Your child may not want school lunches, but this is how the state determines if a school district receives supplementary or concentrated dollars. Currently, PRUSD receives very little to none. The lunch forms are in the Online Annual Registration Forms of Power School. Thank you for your help with increasing school funding. School Lunch Application
COVID 19 Guidance for Schools
There have been very few changes to the guidance since the end of the 21-22 school year. To mitigate the spread of COVID 19, PRUSD will require all students, staff, and visitors to conduct a daily symptom check. If anyone has any symptoms, we ask that you remain home and immediately contact your child’s school for guidance. The link below will connect you to the latest guidance for schools in California. 22-23 School Guidance
New Band Teacher
PRUSD had the opportunity to hire a new band teacher this summer. Below is a little information about Mr. Horton. Mr. Horton is a graduate of Concordia University Irvine, where he earned a degree in the field of Music, with a concentration in Music Education. He is well-versed in the Classical performing style and spent considerable time studying Western art music, including extensive clarinet, piano, and organ training. Originally from Reno, NV, he has been teaching for one year, and Mr. Thorton is thrilled to serve students in the Grass Valley area for the months and years to come. Outside of school, he can be found kayaking or paddle boarding on nearby lakes, frequenting local coffee shops, or simply spending time at home with his wife and two cats. He looks forward to a year of musical growth for the 4th-8th grade students in our community!
Mr. Horton would like all 4th-8th graders interested in taking band or 6th-8th graders interested in taking choir for the 22-23 school year to email him if they have not already signed up for band or choir. He will visit the elementary schools to recruit for the 4th -5th-grade band during the first two weeks of school. Students can email him at [email protected] for those who are interested.
Pre-School
PRUSD continues with our 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds recreation pre-school programs at our comprehensive elementary schools (Alta Sierra Elementary and Cottage Hill Elementary). Our preschool programs aim to meet the needs of our families in our community by providing a rich, fun, nurturing environment that will prepare your children for kindergarten while sending them home with a smile on their faces every day. You may click on the link for more information about Alta Sierra and Cottage Hill programs. PRUSD Pre-school Info
We hope the remainder of your summer is enjoyable, and we anticipate an exciting year! See you on August 16th.