By Christine Erntson, director of communication and community engagement
September 7, 2023 | 10 a.m.
I’m reminiscent of my first year at PACT. It was 2004, and we were doubling our student body's size and moving from a small Elementary and a small Secondary building into a new K-12 facility, our current Elementary campus. I was hooked on PACT from the start. I felt blessed to be part of a school with strong parental involvement and a strong sense of community focusing on academics and character. The new and returning PACT families bonded in an exciting new experience together. Many lifelong friendships were established that year.
With all that said, we had many challenges that fall, including starting school in trailers in the parking lot and all Elementary classes in cubicles in the gym. We started the year without access to the internet. It was late October when we finally moved into the rest of the building. It was a joyful event as everyone, parents, students, and staff chipped in to carry desks, chairs, etc., from the trailers into the building. We faced the challenges together and stayed true to our principles. Many from that era are still involved at PACT, and we are thankful for your dedication and impact on getting PACT into this new era.
It is 2023, and we embark on another significant change for PACT. I hope our new and veteran families will develop similar bonds and friendships as we work together to positively impact the lives of our students. We will face challenges again, as not all rooms will be set up to their full potential as we begin the year. We will all be learning and practicing new procedures together, and sometimes, it may look like we don’t know what is happening. We will face these challenges with our supportive community and continue to stay focused on our mission to partner as parents, students, and staff to develop students of character and academic excellence. This will be a year to remember! We are thankful and blessed to be serving you all in this mission.
Josh Nyquist
Chief Executive Director
We’re ready!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Monday, September 11
All students start school on Monday, September 11. School instruction times are as follows:
- Elementary: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- Secondary: 8:00 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Please plan extra time for the first week as we get our bearings - everything will probably run slow, but we’ll improve each day!
<< All-School Information >>
BACK-to-SCHOOL BASH!
September 15 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. | Central Park
We’ll end our first week of school with a big party at the park! All families are invited to Central Park, where there will be inflatables, trampoline bungee, a Spikeball tournament, archery tag, carnival games, prizes, food trucks, school merch, and more! The PACT Panthers PTO and the Panthers Booster Club sponsor this event. Wristbands are needed for the games and inflatables and can be purchased online for $8 in advance or $10 cash at the door. All proceeds benefit PACT activities.
INFINITE CAMPUS FAMILY REGISTRATION
All of our forms and sign-offs are online this year in Infinite Campus. Please log in and complete the registration TODAY. Parents can access their family registration link through their Infinite Campus Parent Portal app. On the menu on the left side of the parent page, choose More > Online Registration Portal > 2023 School Year Existing Student Registration > Start. Follow prompts and update information as needed, paying close attention to the permissions on the student portion's last page. This process will take approximately 20 minutes to complete this year, but in subsequent years it will go much quicker. Questions? Contact Ms. Hatchner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM
Deadline: 11 p.m. on September 7 - TODAY!
All students qualify for one breakfast and one lunch daily at no charge. Each meal comes with one milk. PACT pre-orders catered meals that are delivered daily to our school. The meals must be ordered in advance to get accurate numbers and ensure your student has their desired meal. Questions? Contact Ms. Holmbo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
PACT Charter School - Nutrition | Wellness
VISITORS in our BUILDINGS
During the school day, PACT utilizes the Raptor Visitor Management System. The system allows the school to produce visitor badges and electronically check all visitors against registered sexual offender databases. The overall goal is to control access, thus providing enhanced student and staff protection. All visitors, including parents, must check in at the front desk to receive a visitor badge each time they enter the building. Be prepared to present a valid driver's license.
NUT AWARE CLASSROOMS
Due to severe allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and/or products that contain nuts, we need your help in supporting the following guidelines to make our classroom peanut/nut aware and to prevent potential allergic reactions:
- Please do not send any snacks with your student which contain nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products.
- If your child packs a lunch containing tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products, it must stay in a sealed container while being kept in the classroom.
- Students will be permitted to bring nut products as part of their lunch, as students with allergies sit at a separate table where there is adult supervision of food products.
- Nut-aware tables will be clearly labeled in lunch rooms for students with allergies.
Thank you for your support as we continue to create a safe environment for all students. If you have any questions, please contact the School Nurse (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
DANCE TEAM KIDS CLINIC
October 2-5 w/ show on October 7 | 3-5 p.m. | Secondary Cafeteria
The PACT Pantherettes Dance Team will hold their annual dance team kids clinic for students in grades K-6. Transportation will be provided from the Elementary Campus to the Secondary Campus. Registration deadline is September 21, 2023.
Link to register: https://form.jotform.com/232404839185056
<< Elementary Information >>
ELEMENTARY BACK-TO-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE - TONIGHT!
Thursday, September 7 | 4:30-6 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you at our Back-to-School Open House! You can meet teachers, get cubby or locker assignments, drop off school supplies, and tour the building. There will be tables in the cafeteria to ask questions about Skyhawks, Silent Dismissal, Infinite Campus, American Transportation, food service, volunteer opportunities, job opportunities at PACT, dance team, robotics, and counseling/social work. The PACT Panthers PTO will also sell PACT merchandise, and the dance team will sell concessions.
Visit our Elementary Open House Checklist for more information.
FIRST DAY JITTERS?
As is the tradition at PACT, parents are welcome to walk their child all the way to the classroom on the first day of school to help them with first-day anxiety. Students who take the bus are cared for by staff and assisted to their classrooms by many greeters and hallway helpers. On day two, we ask that you allow your student to find their own way and be independent.
SILENT DISMISSAL
PACT wants to ensure we have procedures for a safe and orderly end-of-day dismissal. Silent Dismissal™ alerts classroom teachers when a parent/guardian has arrived to the pick-up lane and allows parents/guardians the ability to change their student’s dismissal plans without contacting the school office. This is an online system that all PACT K-5 families will use to tell the school exactly how they want their children dismissed at the end of each school day. This may include car pick-up, bus, walking, or staying for an after-school activity. PACT requires that families use this system so that the school can provide a safe and accurate dismissal for every child. Information has been emailed to all Elementary parents, and teachers will distribute car tags at the Back-to-School Open House on September 7.
BUTTON: Learn More
ELEMENTARY STUDENT COUNCIL
This year will be exciting for the Elementary Student Council. We will be planning fundraisers, events, and spirit weeks. It is going to be an action-packed year. The student council believes all students have a right to make their voices heard. We need a representative from each grade 3-5 classroom to ensure this happens. If interested, learn more at this link. Questions? Contact Ms. Bosman (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
PANTHER FLAG FOOTBALL
Registration Deadline is September 14
The Panther Flag Football League is open to grades 3-5. We will practice once a week and compete in games on Saturdays at Enloe and Central Park. NEW this year, we will be playing games with ARAA. This program is designed to teach basic football skill techniques along with ensuring all participants enjoy each session. Players will receive a flag football belt to use during these sessions and a football jersey to keep. Questions? Contact the AD or Assistant AD at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions about this program. This program is great for all skill levels, from beginner to advanced!
Learn more: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f7x63NZ69YYd1sSIg_1E1nvwGcqGuFqUbO3kdHBimwo/edit?usp=sharing
Register online: https://pactcharter-oar.rschooltoday.com/
<< Secondary Information >>
SECONDARY BACK-TO-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE - TONIGHT!
Thursday, September 7 | 6:30-8 p.m.
We look forward to seeing your family at our Back-to-School Open House! You can meet teachers, get schedules, find your locker, and tour the building. There will be tables in the cafeteria to ask questions about Infinite Campus, American Transportation, food service, volunteer opportunities, job opportunities at PACT, and talk to the counselors. The PACT Panthers PTO will also sell PACT merchandise, and the dance team will sell concessions. Many of the activities will have a table, too!
Visit our Secondary Open House Checklist for more information.
SECONDARY PARENT PREVIEW NIGHT
Meet, greet, and find your student’s seat!
September 18 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Secondary Campus
A night just for Secondary parents/guardians (no students)! Come out and walk your student’s schedule and hear from teachers about what they will learn this year. More information will be available closer to the date. Questions? Contact Ms. Hamernick (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
DRIVERS ED
PACT offers driver education courses through Equip Driver Education. Our next session runs after school from October 23-November. Register online. Questions? Contact Ann Sirpless at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 612-408-8095.
E-LEARNING DAYS FOR GRADES 7-12
If an e-Learning day is declared, families will be notified via phone and email by 6 a.m. Students must log in to Infinite Campus to receive their daily school work, and specific requirements must be met by certain times for a student to be marked “present.” Teachers will be accessible via telephone and email during e-learning days. Students in grades K-6 will not have school.