ADDTIONAL INFORMATIION

LUNCHES
Nutritious hot lunches are prepared daily and served from the cafeteria.  Regular hot lunches may be charged on a yearly or monthly basis.  Students purchasing occasional hot lunches must pay for the lunch, in cash, at the beginning of the school day.  (Due to the large amount of bookkeeping involved, we do not accept charges for individual hot lunches).  Complimentary fresh milk is offered to all Pinecrest students each day.  Soy milk is also available.

Do not send glass containers or food items needing microwaving or heating.  Microwave ovens and the Salad Bar are only available to students in 3rd – 8th Grades.  Well-mannered eating behavior is expected at all times and students are required to clean up after themselves and discard all trash when finished eating.

SNACKS
Snacks such as crackers, chips, pretzels, cookies, ice cream, Icees, and fruit rollers, as well as natural fruit juices, may be purchased from our Student Store.  The Student Store is open daily from 10:00 – 10:30 AM (Nutrition) and 3:30 – 4:00 PM (Snack).  Breakfast is served in the Cafetorium from 7:45- 8:15 AM.

PARKING AND PICK UP:
Even if you are a returning Pinecrest family, please make sure that your emergency pick-up names and numbers are updated.   These names are used in emergency situations only — i.e., when the parent cannot be reached.  If you would like someone else to collect your child, they must be in possession of a current laminated pick-up pass.  You may bring or fax a note to the office with your verifiable signature.  
Extra pick up passes may be obtained in the office. We will continue to stop anyone who does not have a laminated pick-up pass in his or her possession regardless of how long your child has attended Pinecrest. This is a safety matter and is not intended to offend anyone.

Extra pick up passes may be obtained in the office.   We will continue to stop anyone who does not have a laminated pick-up pass in his or her possession regardless of how long your child has attended Pinecrest.  This is a safety matter and is not intended to offend anyone. 

In order to alleviate the congestion in Circle Drive, we will be implementing the following pick-up procedures:  Please pull as far forward as possible in Circle Drive. As space becomes open in front of you, we ask that you keep moving as far forward as safety allows.  Every afternoon, Circle Drive on Hazeltine will be reduced to one lane.  The inside lane will be closed, thus eliminating the risk of cutting off another car or hitting a pedestrian.   

Please do not park your car or leave it otherwise unattended in Circle Drive.  Unattended cars are subject to towing.    

Additional parking is available in the back lot off Sherman Way.  On assembly days, the north end of the playground will also be open for parent parking at 8:30 AM.  The entrance is on Sherman Way.

SPECIAL INTEREST OPPORTUNITIES
Pinecrest students have many opportunities to pursue special interests.  Our after school schedule provides a balance of active and quiet activities.  Our sports program (Pee Wee = 1st - 3rd) (After school teams = 4th– 8th Grades) is open to everyone, regardless of ability level. In addition, other “fee” classes are offered such as Dance, Drama, Art and Tae Kwon Do.  Sign-up information will be sent home before October 1st.

SPORTS
Pinecrest belongs to the San Fernando Valley Private School League and participates in football, basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball, plus other sports selected by the League.  Students in Grades 4 and up may participate in the sports program upon verification of academic eligibility.  Eligibility includes maintaining at least a “C”  (2.0) average in academic work, and having no unsatisfactory citizenship marks.  Students falling below eligibility level are suspended from the team for five weeks, to allow time for study and improvement.  Re-evaluation will take place after that time.  Practices are held daily prior to the first game of each season.  Our winning Bulldog teams depend on players attending every practice and game.  Game schedules and permission slips are sent home at the beginning of each sport season.

HONOR GUARD
The Honor Guard recognizes Pinecrest students who have pride in themselves, their school, and their community.  Members are allowed to help administration, teachers, coaches and other Pinecrest faculty members with special activities and events.   They also perform community service projects and hold fundraisers. 

To be considered for Honor Guard a student must be in Grade 5 or higher, maintain a 2.0 GPA or better.  Teacher recommendations, taking into consideration a student’s academic performance as well as citizenship, are required for each student.

BIRTHDAYS & OTHER EVENTS
While birthdays are important and happy milestones in a child’s life, the school campus and schedule is not equipped nor conducive for hosting birthday parties.  Please do not bring decorations, gifts or goody bags to school.  If your child wishes to share a small treat with the class, please let the teacher know (Grades K-5) several days in advance, so that time may be set aside from the regular program.  Middle School birthdays are not held in the classrooms.  They can be held on the school yard at lunch time.

To avoid hurt feelings, party invitations, Valentines, etc. should not be distributed at school unless everyone in the class will receive one.  If you are planning a smaller party, the office will be happy to address cards for mailing.  Please have the child's name and a stamp on the envelope and we will do the rest.

 FIELD TRIPS
Field Trips are planned to meet educational objectives and are a “traveling” extension of the classroom.  Field trips are a privilege and students may be excluded for various reasons including but not limited to: low attendance, poor grades, bad behavior, causing trouble on trips or any combination thereof.  Field Trip Permission slips must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned by the date due in advance of any trip.

On rare occasions we will allow our school parents to chaperone field trips and other off-site events. Only those parents who have signed up in advance as drivers or chaperones may attend a field trip; no guests or siblings are allowed. 
 In such cases, a signed parental attendance & release is required from each parent going on a field trip.  Parents are responsible to pay for themselves to attend any field trip unless otherwise specified.