PCK Weekly Newsletter

Hello PCK Community,

I would like to take a moment to highlight the important work of our School Accountability Committee, specifically their survey focused on fundraising efforts at PCK. The feedback we receive from this short, and anonymous survey is invaluable to us, and we would greatly appreciate the participation of all our families.

Fundraising plays a critical role in enabling us to continue offering exceptional educational experiences and resources to our students and staff. The generous contributions from our community reflect the dedication, collaboration, and shared vision that defines PCK. Charitable contributions serve as a testament to the collective belief in the importance of education and the shared desire to see our school thrive for years to come.

The opinions of our families are always at the forefront of our planning, which is why your input through this survey is so valuable. Providing opportunities for you to give feedback is a high priority for us, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to help shape PCK.

These survey results will guide us in assessing the future allocation of funds, determining the frequency of fundraising initiatives, and identifying the specific areas at PCK that our families would most like to see supported. In short, these results will help us to better align our school with the wants and needs of our community.

Thank you for your support and for being a part of what makes PCK such a special place.

Warm regards,

Dr. Weyman

Fundraising at PCK is not just a means of financial support; it is a powerful reflection of the generous spirit that defines our school community. Giving plays a major role in empowering our teachers to expand the learning experience beyond the traditional classroom setting by providing supplemental learning materials that enhance student engagement and understanding. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our fundraising initiatives, the Foundation has been able to award numerous grants recently that enable our teachers to enrich the educational opportunities available to their students.

Examples of these grants in action can be seen in third grade, where Mrs. Earle was awarded a grant to purchase interactive times table rewards, aimed at enhancing students' understanding of multiplication by celebrating their progress.

"I've never seen my students so motivated to pass their multiplication tests. What's even more remarkable is that everyone is passing—a rare achievement. The multiplication rewards are used in both third and fourth grades, so they have a broad impact and reach." - Mrs. Earle

Additionally, these funds have contributed to the expansion of our character education program. With the support of a grant, Mrs. McKenzie was able to purchase supplemental books, providing her students with additional reading materials to enhance character lessons.

“These books can be utilized across a wide range of age groups to reinforce the key lessons we emphasize throughout our character calendar. I am truly grateful for the opportunity the books provide us to continue making a positive impact on the development of our students.” – Mrs. McKenzie

It is because of you, our devoted families, that we are able to provide our students with an education of the highest caliber. Your generosity makes a lasting difference, ensuring that our students have the resources they need to thrive.

We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s Yearbook Cover Contest. The theme, “Our Story 30 Years in the Making,” inspired some outstanding submissions, making this the most competitive contest in recent memory.

After careful consideration, the following students were selected to have their designs featured on the yearbook:

Front Cover: Cody Ferg

Back Cover: Sharvani Malot

Inside Cover: Chloe Terreault

Congratulations to Cody, Sharvani, and Chloe. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all students who participated. Your creativity and talent are greatly appreciated, and we are thrilled to showcase your artwork on this piece of PCK history.

As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a positive and structured environment during lunch and recess we wanted to take a moment to share the following reminders about our school's lunch/recess rules. We kindly ask for our families' cooperation in ensuring that these procedures are followed to help maintain consistency and order for all students.

Parent Lunch Visits: When a parent joins their child for lunch, only their child or sibling may sit with them at the designated parent table.

Soda Restrictions: We kindly remind parents that students are not permitted to have soda with their lunch, even if a parent brings it during a lunchtime visit. This policy applies to all students.

Recess Procedures: For safety and supervision reasons, we ask that parents refrain from being present during recess time unless specifically designated as a "Safety Dad."

Frigid Temperatures: Please ensure that your child is dressed in appropriate warm clothing for school during the winter months. Unless there is heavy snow in the recess area, outdoor recess will take place daily, provided the "real feel" temperature remains 20 degrees or above.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in following these procedures. By working together, we can ensure that lunch and recess times remain a positive and enjoyable experience for all students.

PCK's Eileen Chu recently achieved a remarkable feat by auditioning for the Douglas County Honors Orchestra and earning the position of First Chair (Principal Cellist). This accomplishment is a testament to Eileen's exceptional talent and dedication, and it underscores the fact that PCK students excel not only academically but also as outstanding artists and musicians. Congratulations to Eileen for representing PCK with such distinction and for setting an example of excellence that all PCK students should strive to emulate.

'Tis the season to spread some holiday cheer, and PCK is excited to celebrate this festive time with you and your loved ones. As we come together to share in the joy of the season, we invite you to get creative and design a family holiday card. Bring your card to our Front Office, where our Front Office staff will be putting together a holiday display of all the cards. We can't wait to see the designs and celebrate the season together.

For the month of November, PCK focused on the character trait of Gratitude in celebration of National Gratitude Month. Our students were encouraged to express gratitude daily for their teachers, peers, and PCK staff. While many students demonstrated remarkable kindness and appreciation, the following individuals were selected as the November Gratitude winners:

Avery Nguyen – Kindergarten

Karly Jenkins – First Grade

Declan O'Connell – First Grade

Lily Sears – Third Grade

Logan Snodgrass – Third Grade

Graham Carroll – Fourth Grade

Amanda Marsh – Fourth Grade

These students embody the values that define PCK: critical thinking, responsible citizenship, and leadership. Their actions serve as a shining example of the positive impact that gratitude can have within our school community.

PCK's Snow Much Fun Dress Down Days will begin next week on Monday, December 16.

If your child plans to participate in the festive attire, please ensure their outfit follows the PCK Dress Code Guidelines. Please note that while many students may consider wearing pajama pants as part of their outfit, pajama pants are not permitted at PCK, even during dress down days. If you're unsure whether your child's outfit meets the dress code requirements, feel free to reach out to us at dresscode@ckcs.net for assistance.

Please take note of the following closures and cancelations at PCK next week:

Homework Club is canceled from Monday, December 16 through Thursday, December 19.

The Late Testing Lab will not be open on Wednesday, December 18.

We apologize for any inconvenience these closures may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Each week, any items that are clearly labeled with a student’s name are returned to their classroom. However, there are many unlabeled items still remaining at the Lost and Found station.

We kindly ask that you remind your child to check the Lost and Found for any belongings they may have misplaced during the first few months of school. Please note that any unclaimed items will be donated once we return from Winter Break.

We would like to kindly remind you to complete our recently released survey, if you have not already done so. This brief survey is designed to help us ensure that our fundraising efforts and donations are directed toward the areas that are most important to our families. Your input will support our ongoing mission to create a nurturing and dynamic educational environment for both students and staff.

The survey will remain open until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 16, and we greatly value your feedback.

If you are experiencing any difficulties accessing the survey through the button below, please click "View in Browser" at the top of the embed in your email. All parents received a notification with the survey link sent to their email address registered with the school.

This week, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on John and Mary Gagliardo, the grandparents of the Rhein family. Throughout this year, John and Mary have generously volunteered in various areas of PCK. John has served as a Safety Dad on multiple occasions, while Mary has supported our technology and art classes. Their involvement exemplifies the many ways PCK families can contribute to the school community. We encourage all of our families to invite relatives to participate and assist with volunteer opportunities in our daily activities. The impact that our families can have on both students and staff through volunteerism is truly limitless.