PCMS Weekly Update
February 2, 2024
![PCMS Weekly Update February 2, 2024](https://cdn.smore.com/u/d9db/164ceaec85e32072af029614a906d164.jpg)
Good afternoon PCMS Families!
Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the warmer weather ahead, and GO PIRATES!!
😀 Check Out What We Did This Week!
Our career speaker for 6th grade this month was a representative from NCC and Blankenship Heating & Cooling who spoke about career opportunities within the construction industry.
Thank you to STUCO for sponsoring the "New Student Gathering" on Thursday where they played games and helped all the students new to PCMS feel welcome!!
🤖 Pirates in Action
Here’s a quick recap of our Pirates in action from this past week.
We had a slow week for our Activities. Robotics and Archery have both been practicing hard for their upcoming tournaments. Spring Sports will be starting soon ... more information coming soon.
This Week's Pirates of Character 🧡 Focus
Here’s a quick recap of what we talked about this week in our CharacterStrong sessions - some good stuff right here!
6th Grade explored Values in the Community. This is the 2nd of 3 sessions focused on exploring values. In this session, we reviewed our group's Community Agreements from earlier in the year. The class chose 1 Community Agreement and explored it from different value perspectives, considering how different people demonstrate their values and how we show others what we value.
7th Grade focused on Emotional Vocabulary. Following two sessions on emotion understanding, this was the 3rd session a series of 5 focusing on emotion regulation. In this session, we learned about regulating our own strong emotions by Naming them and improving our ability to use this approach by practicing distinguishing between different intensities of emotion to help us find the right name for what we are experiencing.
8th Grade had an introduction to Servant Leadership. In this session, we learned the definition of Servant Leadership and how to identify the parts of the Servant Leadership triangle.
💻 School Tips & Reminders
Please remind your students to charge their Chromebooks every night and/or bring their chargers to school. The Library will no longer be loaning out chargers! If your student’s charger has been lost, they can purchase a replacement in the office for $20.
👪 Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences- February 15th
PCMS will conduct our upcoming PARENT-TEACHER conferences both in-person (at PCMS) and virtually via Google Meets on Thursday, February 15th. The purpose of these particular conferences is primarily to meet with families of students who need extra support, either academically or behaviorally. Teachers have begun reaching out to families where they feel a conference is necessary. Additionally, if you would like to schedule a conference with any of your child's teachers please click the link below. Special Note: Time slots are limited since these conferences only run one day.
🎭 Musical Rehearsals
Musical Rehearsals will be held Monday - Thursday from 3-5 pm each week until the performances on April 19th and 20th. If rehearsals are canceled for any reason, it will be communicated as soon as possible. Parents of Performers, please sign up for the following links so that the Choir directors can communicate all information to you directly.
🏫 High School Enrollment Information
8th Grade Parents/Families
Yesterday, the high school counselors visited PCMS and spoke to our 8th graders during our “Out to C” time. High school counselors reviewed graduation requirements and worked with students on completing their ICAP. Not only did they discuss 9th grade course options, but they also discussed options available to your student over the course of their high school career. As we told the students, any course they list for grades 10-12 is simply a plan. Nothing is set in stone -- we just asked them to think about what they might like to take during their high school career.
Students also heard a presentation about the AVID program at the high school. AVID is a class offered for elective credit and there is an application. Click here to access the link to this presentation. The deadline to submit an AVID application is March 1.
Right now the main focus is your student selecting 7 credits for their 9th grade year. The high school counselors will return to PCMS (date TBD) to enroll 8th graders for 9th grade. This is simply entering their course requests into PowerSchool - our student information system. Students will not receive schedules until August.
Below is a link to the “Future Freshman Course Offerings” presentation from Wednesday, January 31 at the high school.
If you have any questions or need assistance throughout this process, please contact your student’s school counselor, Kim Schank (A-K) or Whitney Edman (L-Z).
Have a great weekend!
Kim Schank & Whitney Edman
School Counselors, PCMS
📝 PCR-3 Parent Survey
Thank you for your Feedback! Please Complete the Next PCR-3 Parent Survey by February 7
We're conducting our next parent survey cycle to gather feedback on strengths of the District, as well as areas to consider for growth. Your input is important and will be considered when making future decisions. Results from our first cycle can be viewed here. Please complete the second cycle survey by Wednesday, February 7. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
💗 Character Warms the Heart Week
February 12-16 is our Pirates ROCK "Character Warms the Heart" week, when we warm up with our good character and great leadership with fun spirit week activities and collect items for our Treasure Chest resource center to help PCR-3 families in need. We're collecting shampoo & conditioner, body wash, deodorant, and toilet paper this year. Participate in our spirit days and send in any donations to our schools! The class, PLT, or Advisory in each school with the most donated items will receive a donut party! 🍩🍩🍩
Reminder: Friday, February 16 there is no school for our Professional Learning Day. See flier for details on our spirit days and come cheer on our Pirates at the Home Basketball games on February 16!
👷 Career Day Participants Needed
This year 7th graders will be focusing on career exploration during their counseling lessons. Part of this unit includes students participating in a career fair on Friday, April 5, 2024. We would love to partner with our PCMS parents. If you are interested in participating in the career fair, please complete the form provided below. We appreciate your time and consideration.
🤸♂️ PCHS Cheer Stunt Clinic
PCHS Cheer Stunt Clinic - Feb. 7
PCHS Cheerleaders are inviting K-8th graders to learn stunting skills with them at their stunt clinic on February 7. Sign up by clicking here and see flier for details.
📈 No Tax Rate Increase Prop C Waiver and Levy Transfer Informational Meetings
This question will be placed on the April 2, 2024 ballot. Pending voter approval, this proposal will allow the District to allocate resources to better attract and retain quality staff, and enhance safety and security. For more information, click here, or attend an Informational Meeting:
- Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 6pm, Platte Purchase Middle School
- Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 6pm, Platte County High School
🏊 Swim Team INFO
Who: Any PPMS or PCMS 7th or 8th Grade Middle School Students
What: This is a program for both the advanced competitive swimmer and those who wish to try out
competitive swimming and are thinking about competing when they get to high school.
When: Start Date: Feb 25th. Season will finish around April 26th, depending on meet schedule.
After school from 3:15 – 4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday * NO PLC day practices * We will NOT practice over Spring Break.
Where: Platte County YMCA
Physicals: All athletes MUST have all forms (physical, insurance, concussion signature, activity participation form) on file by Monday February 25th.
Transportation: A bus will be provided to Platte County YMCA from both PPMS and Platte City Middle School. Athletes can change at the YMCA in the locker rooms before practice. Have your rides home planned for 4:50 if they are picking you up from the YMCA. Arrange car-pooling as needed. There will be a bus that can pick up the swimmers after practice @ 4:50 to return to PPMS.
Other General Information:
• Students CAN participate in other activities (theater and Band) during the swim season.
• Athletes MUST have 14 practices before they are allowed to compete (Mandated by MSHSAA)
• Grades: The athlete must have no more than one failing grade for the quarter just prior to the sport or activity.
Supplies: For practice, swimmers will need to provide their own swimsuit (one piece for girls), goggles, a swim cap, a towel, and a bottle of water. We will wear an ALL black suit for swim meets and you will purchase a Platte County Swim cap ($10) from me at the beginning of the season. Club team caps are not allowed at meets as they are a violation of MSHSAA Rules and the swimmer will be disqualified. No tie-back suits are allowed for competition.
Middle School Google classroom code: z7ro7rw
Questions?
Contact Head Coach: Jessica Anderson andersoj@platteco.k12.mo.us
Assistant Coach: Nicole Stephenson stephenn@platteco.k12.mo.us
📖 Yearbooks on Sale NOW!
Yearbooks are on sale until March 31st. Your student should have an envelope for ordering - if not, we have extra in the office or no form...no problem. Put $20 cash or a check made out to PCR-3 in an envelope with the student's first and last name and Advisory Teacher on the outside. Have the student turn in to the office.
📆 Upcoming Events
- Robotics Tournament @ KU
- Archery 6th Annual Blazer Shootout Tournament @ Northland Christian School, 9 am
February 9
- FCA Meeting, 7:10 am
February 10
- Archery 1st Annual Whitetail Warriors (3D) Tournament @ Smithville High School, 8 am
- Archery 6th Annual Warrior Shoot Out Tournament @ Smithville High School, 8 am
February 12
- MWSU Middle School Honor Choir
February 15
- 3-Hour Early Release
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12 - 6:30 pm
- No School - Professional Learning Day
- Archery 2nd Annual NCS 3D Qualifier Tournament @ Northland Christian School, 6 pm
February 17
- Robotics Tournament @ Platte County High School
- Archery 2nd Annual NCS 3D Qualifier Tournament @ Northland Christian School, 9 am
- Archery Border Wars Tournament @ Johnson County Community College, 12 pm
February 18
- Archery Border Wars Tournament @ Johnson County Community College, 9 am
February 19
- No School - Presidents' Day
🏴☠️ Pirates ROCK Character Trait for FEBRUARY: Self Control
Pirates R.O.C.K. (Raising Outstanding Character Kids) is a program designed to surround our families with examples of strong character traits through school experiences, at home, and reinforced in their community. Each month our community focuses on a specific character trait and students are recognized for exhibiting these traits: Self Confidence, Pride, Responsibility, Citizenship, Compassion, Individuality, Self Control, Integrity, Perseverance, Respect, Honesty, and Cooperation.
February's #PiratesRock trait is Self Control: displaying your emotions & behaviors in a positive way.
💼 Thank You to Our Pirates ROCK Star Business Partners!
Email: tomlinsk@platteco.k12.mo.us
Website: http://www.pcms.plattecountyschooldistrict.com
Location: 900 Pirate Drive, Platte City, MO, 64079
Phone: (816)858-2036
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plattecitymiddleschool/