Pinedale Elementary School (Rapid City, SD)

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Rapid City, SD
Pinedale Elementary School (Rapid City, SD)

"Enter to discover the world. Depart to lead the world." Principal: Mrs. Laura Kamarainen
Enrollment: 380

09/04/2026

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!

09/03/2026

Quick reminder that both today (Thursday, Sept 3rd) and tomorrow (Friday, September 4th) will be an Early Release Day. Pinedale students will dismiss at 12:50 PM.

Today is for specific schools due to heat, and tomorrow is for all RCAS schools as a regularly-scheduled Early Release.

09/02/2026

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 s*x 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!

09/01/2026

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).

08/28/2026

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.

08/27/2026

📵 KEEPING DEVICES PUT AWAY

A friendly reminder/update for our elementary school families…

To help our students stay focused, connected, and ready to learn, ALL electronic devices—including cell phones, smart watches/Gizmos, and similar devices—are to be put away and silenced in backpacks during the school day.

⏰ Device-free time is from 7:35 a.m. (breakfast time) through the last bell at 2:50 p.m.

This expectation is in accordance with RCAS District Policy JT, Electronic Communication Device, which was updated by the RCAS Board of Education in April 2026.

📞 Need to get in touch with family? We’ve got you! If a student needs to communicate with a parent, guardian, or family member during the school day, our friendly front office staff, including our school nurses, are happy to help students navigate that process.

We know these devices can be helpful tools and can be especially convenient during drop-off and dismissal times; however, we want to be proactive in protecting instructional time for all 400 students at Pinedale. We appreciate families partnering with us to make sure they are powered down and tucked safely away during the school day. Please have a conversation at home with your child about this and develop a routine to follow this updated expectation.

Thank you for helping us create a school day where kids can focus on learning, building friendships, and being present!

08/26/2026

THIS FRIDAY - BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL!

🗓️Starting this Friday, Aug. 28th, we will be reinforcing an important part of our school safety procedures: parents and families staying off the playgrounds and saying their goodbyes at the gate.

👀This helps our staff keep their focus where it belongs—on the safety and supervision of all of our students—and allows us to have a smooth, positive start to each school day.

💙 We know goodbyes can be hard, but they can do it! And we will help! A quick wave, hug, and “Have a great day!” at the gate helps your child build independence and confidence while keeping our school routines running smoothly.

Thank you for your understanding, support, and partnership in keeping all of our Panthers safe!

08/25/2026

Attendance Changes

Rapid City Area School District has adopted new attendance policies that will affect how your child's attendance is recorded. Please read below to see what this will look like.

In previous years, families may have used the "Verified Personal" absence category. Under the updated attendance policy, Verified Personal is no longer an excused absence category. There is now an important distinction between reporting an absence and the absence qualifying as excused.

For 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
Working as an election official if the student is 18
Cultural or religious observances
Bereavement
Military obligations
Inclement weather impacting transportation
Family emergencies
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.

An absence that is reported by a parent/guardian but does not fall within an excused category will be recorded as unexcused. For example, a parent reported personal day does not, by itself, qualify as an excused absence under the updated policy.

We would like to make sure our families are aware of this change going forward.

As always, regardless of the reason, please call and let us know when your child will be late or absent, as we want their whereabouts and safety to be our top priority.

Thank you!

08/20/2026

OPEN HOUSE!

💛Teachers and staff have been hard at work getting ready for the 2026–27 school year, and we’re so excited to welcome our Panther families tonight!

⭐️ Join us for our Meet the Teacher Open House beginning at 4:00 PM. We can’t wait to see you and kick off a great year together.

⚠️ Our new entrance is almost ready. However, for tonight’s event, please follow the posted signs for the designated entrance and exit location near the flagpole out front.

See you tonight, Panthers! 💙🐾

05/20/2026

PANTHER PRIDE! The Pinedale staff wishes all our students and families a safe, fun, and relaxing summer break. See you in August!

Address

4901 W Chicago Street
Rapid City, SD
57702

Telephone

+16053941805

Website

http://www.rcas.org/

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