PCMS Weekly Update

We hope everyone has had a great week and enjoyed some of this warmer weather we experienced! Just a few things before your weekend begins ... First, congratulations to our basketball teams as their successful seasons came to a close this week - both the A Boys and B Girls teams took 1st place in their end-of-season tournaments 🏆! Thank you to our coaches and students for their hard work and dedication and to you as parents for your support! We wish our Archery Team 🏹 good luck as they head to their tournament at Northland Christian this weekend. We are super proud of their efforts so far this year and wish them the best!

Every day we remind our Pirates that we have👆rule in this school: To Make Someone's Day Better by Taking Care of Yourself, Each Other, and This Place! Have a wonderful weekend and GO PIRATES!!

These students were nominated by their teachers for doing it the Pirate Way by showing great character! These students were recognized at our Assembly on 12/20 where they received a certificate and a gift bag with goodies. Today, they were able to have a pizza lunch with a friend and play in the game room with a friend during Advisory. Congratulations - we’re super proud of them!

The CharacterDare is a heart workout, inviting students and adults to practice kindness, patience, and respect with themselves and others. These school-wide challenges encourage staff and students to put character into action, fostering personal growth and positively impacting school culture.

This Week's CharacterDare is: Many Hands (see below).

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

Here’s a quick recap of our Pirates in action from this past week.

Archery: Platte County hosted The 7th annual Hunger Games this past weekend. The Archers came away with a lot of new personal best scores. Team one got first place with a total of 3215 and team two got sixth place with a total of 2913. The Top 3 Boys were Carson Fattmann - 277, Cooper Gurgens - 272, and Blake Lopeman - 270. The Top 3 Girls were Victoria Kallo - 280, Zoey Miller - 272, and Emeri Snyder-Richardson - 272. At the end of the tournament, we had a shoot-out for 5th place! Corbin Williams competed in a one round shoot out against a Northland Christian opponent and won by one point!

Girls Basketball: Congratulations to the 24-25 PCMS girls basketball team on a successful season!! There were several key returning 8th graders, some impressive new 7th graders. There were a number of skilled players who led the way, and also some brand new basketball players that wanted to try something new.

The season was highlighted by the last few weeks of the season. The C Team played their best games in their final week, losing two close contests to Plaza and Heritage. The A Team won 4 of their last 6 games defeating Liberty, Northgate, Platte Purchase, and Moreland Ridge. The B team finished strong by winning 3 in a row against Excelsior Springs, Grandview, and Platte Purchase and were champions of their End of Season Tournament.

The coaches want to recognize the courage that it takes for players to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. They also want to recognize the attitude and effort displayed by all. Finally, the coaches would like to thank the PCMS staff and supporters for helping with another successful season.

Boys Basketball: The Boys B team played in a tough tournament. They just missed getting the first round win, but bounced back in the second round. They finished up their season with a tough loss, but got better with each game.

The Boys A team also played in a tough tournament. They started the journey with a convincing 20 point win. Second round was not as easy, but they were able to get out with a 2 point victory and a shot at the Championship. In the Championship game, the team fell behind quickly, and went into the half down by 10. They fought back and took the game into overtime with 2 clutch free throws. A back and forth overtime ended with a made free throw with 2.6 seconds left to win the game.

Let's bring the energy for Super Bowl Spirit Week next week (Feb. 3-7) as our Pirates cheer on our Chiefs to a THREE-PEAT VICTORY! 🧡🖤🏈❤️💛

PCMS will conduct our upcoming PARENT-TEACHER conferences both in-person (at PCMS) and virtually via Google Meets on Thursday, February 13th. 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.

Counselor conferences: Parents are welcome to sign up for a conference with their student's school counselor if needed. We are encouraging any 8th grade parents/students with questions regarding 9th grade course requests to sign up for a conference. (See graphic below for 9th Grade Enrollment Timeline.)

February 10-14 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! This year we are teaming up with PCHS FBLA to collect items (art supplies, stuffed animals, books, games, etc.) for Happy Disciples, a student-run non-profit that provides care packages to children fighting cancer. 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!

On Thursday, we'll either be making our own hand-made notes for cancer patients, or using this form to create a digital note.

Reminder: Friday, February 14 there is no school for our Professional Learning Day. See flier for details on our spirit days and come cheer on our Pirates and participate in the activities at the Home Basketball games on February 11!

We are partnering with the Platte County Health Department to host an in-school vaccine clinic on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. This clinic is specifically designed for incoming 8th graders, providing a hassle-free way to ensure your child's vaccines are up-to-date.

The in-school clinic is available to Vaccine for Children (VFC) eligible incoming 8th graders (current 7th grade students) including those who are uninsured, underinsured, covered by Medicaid, or identified as Alaskan Native/American Indian. Additionally, children covered by the following insurance plans are eligible: Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna.

To take advantage of this opportunity, please complete the online registration form below.

An order form is now available to fill out on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you are using the app on your phone, please select the "More" icon at the bottom of your Dashboard screen. Then you will select the "Forms" icon to find the "2024-2025 Yearbook Platte City Middle" Form. If you are on a desktop, you will just need to select the "Forms" tab from the Home screen. (see pictures below)

While you are filling out the order form online, you will be able to pay the $20 for the yearbook via debit/credit card. You may also choose the cash/check option, but then will need to send the money with your student to the front office.

Yearbooks will be on sale now through April 11th. If you have any questions, please contact the office.

This question will be placed on the April 8, 2025 ballot. If approved by voters, the approximately $62 million bond issue would fund the following projects identified in the District’s Long-Range Facility Plan:

• Completing Phase 2 of rebuilding Platte County High School, creating a consolidated high school building with all classrooms and programs under one roof
• Constructing site amenities at Platte Purchase Middle School activities complex
• Constructing playground facilities at Pathfinder Elementary
• Expanding parking and improving traffic flow and safety at Compass Elementary

For more information, click here, or attend an Informational Meeting:

• Monday, March 3, 2025, 6pm, Platte Purchase Middle School
• Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 6pm, Platte County High School

Eat at Chipotle on Monday, February 3 at 4 - 8 PM and a portion of the proceeds go to PCHS FBLA. Thank you for your support!

You may want to call ahead, order through the app, or online. The lines can be long at Chipotle and this could save you time. Attached are instructions on how to order through the app and/or online and still participate in the fundraiser.

"Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Platte County FBLA. Come in to the Chipotle at 8600 N Boardwalk in Kansas City on Monday, February 3 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm. Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Platte County FB

Jan 31 & Feb 1

• Archery 7th Blazer Shootout @ Northland Christian School
  

Feb 5

• Musical Auditions, 3:15 pm
  

Feb 6

• Musical Auditions, 3:15 pm
  

Feb 7

• FCA Meeting, 7:10 am
• NJHS Meeting, 7:20 am

Feb 8

• Platte County Robotics Tournament @ PCHS
  
• Archery 7th Annual Whitetail Warriors (3D) Tournament @ Smithville High School
  

Feb 13

• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences - 3-hour Early Dismissal

Feb 14

• Professional Learning Day - No School
  
• Archery PC Shootout (3D) Invitational, 5 pm
  

Feb 15

• Archery PC Shootout (3D) Invitational, 8 am
  

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.

Leader in Me Connections to SELF CONTROL:

• Habit 1: Be Proactive - You are in charge of you.
• Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - Know what you want before you do it.
• Habit 3: Put First Things First - Do the important things first.
• Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood - Listen first, then talk.
• Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Take care of yourself.

CharacterStrong Connections to SELF CONTROL:

• Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making, Patience, Respect, Forgiveness

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/