PCMS Weekly Update

Thank you to all the parents and families that joined us for 6th Grade Pastries with Pirates! It was so nice to see all of you and get to know you each a little better.

Dr. Miller and Mr. Mueller took "Talk Like A Pirate Day" to whole new level!

At PCMS, we emphasize character development in our community. We're excited to introduce the CharacterDare challenge.

The CharacterDare is like a workout for your heart. It is a practical invitation for students (and adults) to exercise things like kindness, patience, and respect with themselves, peers, family, and friends. These school-wide challenges are invitations for staff and students to put their character into action. When everyone at school is collectively working together to improve their character, it not only promotes personal growth, but it can also have a positive impact on the culture and climate at school.

Throughout the year, we'll present various CharacterDares and will keep you informed, so you can engage with your students about their progress.

This Week's CharacterDare is: The Connector (see below).

We invite families to join us in these challenges and look forward to the positive impact they will have on everyone.

All of our Pirates were in action this week! Here’s a quick recap of their week.

Football: On Tuesday, the C team won 36-6. Jacek Kwiatkowski threw two touchdowns passes, one to Bo Wilkens, the other to Max Johnson. Rowdy Hawk had two rushing touchdowns, and Spencer Powers added another. Langston Wilson kicked four extra points, and Brigham Nelson ran in an extra two point conversion.

On Thursday, the A team lost a tough one to Excelsior Springs 12-7. Kade Fowler had a rushing touchdown and Macklin Bollin kicked in the PAT. Phin McMain played a great game on defense with 11 tackles. The B team followed with a 26-0 win. Landon Stewart threw three touchdowns, two to Graysen Smith and one to Hunter Hayes. Krue White added a rushing touchdown. Maddox Chleborad had an outstanding interception and returned it nearly for a touchdown.

So far the teams have a combined record of 4-2. Next week, the C team plays at home on Tuesday against Northgate Middle School, and the A/B teams play at Plaza Middle School on Thursday. Well done, Pirates!!

Volleyball: It was a clean sweep for the volleyball girls against Walden Middle School on Monday and against Maple Park Middle School on Wednesday! A, B & C teams all won by wide margins!

Cross Country: There were 12 teams and almost 200 runners in the boys' race and 150 in the girls' race at the meet on Tuesday. Haddon Newsome and Claire Babcock both medaled.

When you come to our building, please check out the new window coverings in the front and back vestibules. PTO purchased these for us from our fundraiser money that was raised last year as a safety and security enhancement. They look great and we are indeed thankful for all the efforts made in fundraising to make improvements to our building possible. Thank you PTO and thank you PCMS families!

• All tickets for PCR-3 athletic events are now digital. Fans will purchase tickets online through GoFan (click here) or by presenting a card or mobile payment option at the ticket gate. Fans unable to make the game, can watch a live stream on our PCR-3 Activities YouTube Channel.
• All middle school and elementary age students must be accompanied by a supervising adult to attend PCHS athletic events. Middle school students are not allowed to be dropped off. If they do not have a supervising adult, they will not be allowed to attend.

We kicked off our Platte County Education Foundation discount card sales program last week. Our schools, in conjunction with Major Saver, work with businesses throughout our District to offer a $15 discount card providing customers with 21 local buy-one-get-one-free or discount offers. In most cases, redeeming only two offers offsets the cost of the card. Proceeds from the card campaign directly benefit your student's school and the Platte County Education Foundation. The Foundation gives back to the Platte County R-3 community by awarding annual pre-K through 12th grade classroom and building site grants, as well as senior scholarships. Your student brought home an envelope with information and instructions on Thursday, September 12, and will be instructed to not go "door-to-door," but to offer to relatives, friends, co-workers, etc. Collection dates started on Tuesday, September 17, and the program wraps up on Tuesday, September 24. Please consider purchasing a card and supporting our schools! You can also purchase cards online below.

Next week, 6th graders and students who are new to PCMS will be sending their parents an email about becoming a Canvas Observer. Our courses are housed in a singular learning management system called Canvas. In Canvas, the “Observer” role is used for parents to allow them to see what is going on in their student’s courses. Use the attached guide to set up your Canvas observer account using the student pairing code from each of your students. Once your student shares the code with you, it expires in 7 days. Click here to create an account and log into Canvas: platteco.instructure.com/login/canvas.

You can then set up your notification preferences or log into Canvas to see the Dashboard of what is happening in all your student's courses. Within Canvas, you can see assignment details, submissions, comments, and more. Official grades are then posted to PowerSchool. Contact the school if you have any questions.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and our District is coming together to show support. On September 30, we encourage all students, staff, and community members to wear gold in honor of those impacted by childhood cancer. Many of our PCR-3 families have been affected by this disease, and by wearing gold, we stand in solidarity with them. Let’s raise awareness and show our support for these brave children and their families as we work towards a future without childhood cancer.

If you did not register for Chromebook Insurance during Registration, we highly encourage you to do so as this gives you insurance protection. The price for this insurance is $30. However, if you qualified for Free/Reduced Lunch last year, the $30 enrollment fee is waived, but you do still need to register. Click on the link here for more information and to register your Chromebook. Here is a video to walk you through the process. Feel free to call our office if you have any questions. The deadline to register is October 1st.

PCHS Pirates Blackout Football Game is October 25! Blackout shirts are available until October 4; order online (click here) or return the order form/payment to our school. Pickups will be October 17 from 3-5pm and October 19 from 9-11am in front of PCHS's South Gym entrance. See flier for details.

Platte County School District's Homecoming festivities run October 7-12, 2024. This year's theme is "Homecoming 2024: GAME ON." Click here for information on Homecoming activities, including spirit week information, the Homecoming Victory Supper, parade, and football game.

PCHS Student Council is also partnering with Glory Days Threads for an official Homecoming tee. Click here to order yours! The pre-sale will run until September 25. All orders will be delivered to PCR-3 schools on October 9. A portion of the proceeds from every shirt sold will be donated back to PCHS Student Council.

• Homecoming Spirit Week Flier
• Homecoming T-shirt Orders

At PCMS, we have a long-standing tradition of welcoming our extended Pirate families to enjoy breakfast with their middle school students. We are happy to announce we will be again hosting our 7th Grade Pastries with Pirates breakfast on Wednesday, October 9 at 7 a.m. 7th-grade students are encouraged to invite special family member(s) to join them. This could be grandparents, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or any other significant person in the student's life. We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 9th!

Safety is our District's top priority. PCR-3 has a system of safety and security measures in place, including trained security staff (now at every building following the passage of the Prop C Waiver/Levy Transfer), secure entryways, ongoing monitoring, and partnership with local law enforcement.

We remind parents, staff, and students that school safety is the responsibility of the entire school community. Please follow the principle of "see something, say something." If anyone (student, parent, staff member, community member) sees or hears anything of concern, please contact the District office at (816) 858-5420 so that those concerns can be investigated. You and your child can also easily report tips on bullying, harassment, or any safety issue you're concerned about through our online Safe Schools Alert system. Every tip is immediately logged in the system and our administration is notified so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. Tips may also be submitted anonymously. Each building's website has the Safe Schools icon located within the “quick links” bar on the homepage.

Our teens are in the time of their lives where they’re trying new things, making new friends, and taking risks! During adolescence, youth need adults to guide them towards healthy, safe exploration and away from harmful risks like vaping. The brain is still developing until about age 25, making teens especially vulnerable to nicotine and cannabis addiction. Learn how we can prevent teen vaping, and encourage safe risk taking, at ParentUpKC.com/drug-topics/Vaping, and see the attached fliers below for additional information.

PTO needs help with running concessions during Volleyball, Wrestling and Basketball this year. They need student and parent volunteers. Consider signing up below.

You can still join the PTO by filling out the following form. The membership is $7.

• 8th Grade Band Step Off Night @ PCHS, 7 pm
  

Sept 23

• Cross Country @ East Trails Middle School, 4 pm
  
• Volleyball @ Northgate Middle School, 4 pm
  

Sept 24

• C-Team Football vs Northgate Middle School @ Platte Purchase Middle School, 5 pm
  

Sept 25

• 6th Grade Field Trip - Swagger Team
• A & B Team Volleyball @ Kearney Junior High School, 4 pm
  
• C Team Volleyball @ Nowlin Middle School, 4 pm
  
• Cross Country @ Heritage Middle School, 4 pm
  

Sept 26

• 6th Grade Field Trip - Navigators Team
• A/B Football @ Park Hill High School, 4 pm
  

Sept 27

• FCA Meeting, 7:10 am
  

Sept 28

• B Team Volleyball Tourney @ Bingham Middle School, 7 am
  
• A Team Volleyball Tourney @ Platte County High School, 9 am
  

Sept 30

• A & B Team Volleyball vs Congress, 4pm
  
• Cross Country @ Stocksdale Park, 4 pm
  
• C Team Volleyball @ Bingham Middle School, 5:30 pm
  

Oct 1

• Cross Country @ Capitol Federal Park, 4pm
  

Oct 2

• A & B Team Volleyball @ Excelsior Springs Middle School, 4 pm
  
• Cross Country @ Pioneer Ridge Middle School, 4 pm
  
• A/B Football vs Kearney Middle School @ Platte Purchase Middle School, 4pm
  

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.

August's #PiratesRock trait is Pride: a feeling of self respect & worth.

Email: tomlinson.kristie@pcr3schools.org
Website: http://www.pcms.plattecountyschooldistrict.com
Location: 900 Pirate Drive, Platte City, MO, 64079
Phone: (816)858-2036
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plattecitymiddleschool/