By Christine Erntson, director of communication and community engagement
September 10, 2023 | 8 a.m.
It was great seeing everyone at the open house!! We loved meeting new families and seeing familiar faces. We’re very excited for the first day of school!
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 >>
COULD YOU DECLINE BUS TRANSPORTATION?
With our expansion, we've had some unplanned surprises. One of these surprises is a higher percentage of families wanting bus service for their student(s). We have heard from American Transportation that our number of riders is so much more than expected that they do not have enough drivers to meet our needs and buses are too full. The buses experiencing the highest level of riders are those closest to the school in Ramsey, Anoka, and Nowthen.
So we are asking for your help! If you signed up for a bus as a backup plan or live in one of these cities and can drive your student to/from school or carpool with another family, please consider withdrawing your name from the bus list. If you are willing to give up your student(s) space on a bus, even one-way, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible to decline bus service for your student(s).
DRESS CODE POLICY
PACT adheres to a strict dress code, and parents should review the policy with their students. If clothes are found to be inappropriate, students will be REQUIRED to modify clothing. Students are encouraged to keep a sweater or sweatshirt in their locker if asked to cover up. Any student receiving multiple warnings may be subject to disciplinary action.
INFINITE CAMPUS REGISTRATION
Returning families: All our forms and sign-offs are online this year in Infinite Campus. Please log in and complete the registration before school starts. Parents/guardians 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 it will go much quicker in subsequent years. Questions? Contact Ms. Hatchner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Pro tip: It works better on a computer than a mobile device.
<< Elementary 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 way and be independent.
BUS RIDERS
Please arrive early for your stop the first week. As drivers get used to real-time routes with standard traffic patterns, the times can be off by as much as 10 minutes. After the first week, the routes get adjusted to allow for efficiency, and you may receive a new time schedule for your route.
Students in kindergarten and grade 1 should attach the green tag to their backpacks that they received at the open house. Drivers and PACT staff will look at the tag to ensure students are at the right place. If you did not attend the open house, you must pick up your open house packet at the School Office.
SILENT DISMISSAL CAR TAGS
Car tags were distributed at Open House, and you must follow the instructions (scan QR code) on your tag to register. If you did not get your tag, you will need to pick it up in the School Office. Students will only be released in the pick-up lane if they show the tag. If you do not have your tag, you will be asked to park, go to the School Office, and show your ID, and we will call your student down for dismissal.
Student pick-up ends at 3:30 p.m. Anyone arriving after that time must park and go to the School Office. We expect the first week to run a little slow, but as everyone gets used to the system, we know it will get faster!
PICK-UP / DROP-OFF INFORMATION
Please use the car drop-off/pick-up lane off Sunwood Drive and Peridot Street when transporting your student to and from school. The flow is one-way at the west entrance (door #3) by the flagpole. Our trained Safety Patrols and school personnel will direct traffic in the lanes from 8-8:15 a.m. and 3:15-3:30 p.m. Families picking up students at the end of the day will enter the carpool lane from Rhinestone Street NW. Please pull as far forward as possible. Please do not drop your student by the school office (door #1).
View Online Map: https://pact.charter.k12.mn.us/families/transportation.html
<< Secondary Information >>
DID YOU MISS OPEN HOUSE?
Students who missed the open house should go to the cafeteria when they arrive on Monday to pick up their packets and planners. New students will receive their Chromebooks at this time. Look for a table staffed by our counselors.
LOGGING into YOUR CHROMEBOOK
Log-in information for your Chromebooks will be provided during your first hour class. Questions? Contact the technology department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BUS RIDERS
Please arrive early for your stop the first week. As drivers get used to routes in real time with standard traffic patterns, the times can be off by as much as 10 minutes. After the first week, the routes get adjusted to allow for efficiency, and you may receive a new time schedule for your route. In the morning, the bus drops students at Secondary before traveling to Elementary. In the afternoon, the bus picks up students at Secondary before traveling to Elementary. When the bell rings at 3:05 p.m., you have five minutes to get to the bus before it leaves at 3:10 p.m.
Also, as a reminder, students may not shuttle between campuses to meet parents for pick-up (e.g., taking the bus from Secondary to Elementary where parents are waiting with a car at the end of the day). The only exceptions are those athletes who practice at the Elementary campus. Ridership will be monitored.
Athletes who practice at Elementary will get on the blue or gray bus at the end of the day. Parents should pick up the athletes after practice at the Elementary building.
PICK-UP / DROP-OFF INFORMATION
Please use the car drop-off/pick-up lane on the east side of our building when transporting your student to and from school. The flow is one-way at the east side entrance. Our trained Safety Patrols and school personnel will direct traffic in the lanes from 7:45-8 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m. Please pull as far forward as possible. Please do not drop your students by any other door, as those are designated for buses or special education vans.
View Online Map: https://pact.charter.k12.mn.us/families/transportation.html
LOCKERS
Some had trouble getting into their lockers during the open house, and some asked for changes. Lockers were being updated late Friday afternoon. If you made a request, check Infinite Campus to see if you had a reassignment or new combinations. The homeroom teacher makes locker changes for grade 6, so if a change is needed, please have your students talk to their homeroom teacher. If you requested a change at the open house at the school office, those requests were communicated.
DRESS COOL and BRING WATER
The Secondary building has a temporary cooling unit allowing air movement and filtered air, but no air conditioning. The permanent unit will be installed in November. We recommend students dress comfortably for warm conditions and a water bottle. There are water bottle filling stations located in the halls.
If the building becomes too warm, the class will be moved to a cooler part of the building. Questions? Contact Mr. Nyquist (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
CELL PHONE USE
At PACT, electronic devices (including cell phones) are prohibited in the classroom. All electronic devices must remain in a student's assigned hallway locker during school hours and may only be actively used by Secondary students by the Acceptable Use Policy during passing time in the hallway. All electronic devices will be confiscated if used in violation of this policy. Exception: High school students can use their cell phones and/or headphones during their lunch period.
525 - Electronic Devices (Student) Policy
524 - Acceptable Use Policy
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Deadline: September 15
The last day to change your schedule for semester 1 is September 15. If you need to request a change, please complete the form on the Guidance Counselor webpage. Questions? Contact the School Counselors as follows:
- Last name A-Ld contact Mr. Bjork (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Last name Le-Z contact Ms. Kaminski (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
STUDENT PARKING
Students who drive to school are asked to obtain a parking permit to park in the PACT Charter School student parking lot. Priority for parking permits will be given to upperclassmen based on available space. Student parking is at the activities entrance at the back of the school.
Online Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehBzyWwq8IvFckng2UgnKPVz6vEovYN9OwmOTSNBydnhkcfQ/viewform?usp=sf_link