Pinecrest Elementary School is located in a low income area of Ottawa which contains the largest number of immigrants in the city. Faced with under-funding and a high needs community, Pinecrest`s reputation for poor academics and bad behavior has closure threatening the school. The Pinecrest Diaries follows their new principal, Charles Austen, his inspirational vision, three boys, their community and a story of how the school and its students have begun an amazing turnaround.