Park Center Pirate Newsletter

December 2024

It's the start of trimester 2! Start the trimester off strong by getting to know your teachers and writing down due dates.

Friday, December 20 is our last day of school before winter break. We will return on Monday, January 6.

Nine PCSH students attended the annual Northwest Suburban Visual Art All Conference workshop day at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Students engaged in workshops ranging from Raku firing, cover art illustration, teeny tiny paintings, acrylic horizons, watercolor expressions, wire sculptures and jewelry beading. They worked with professional teachers in their respective fields and worked in a professional studios at the MCA. It was a great day for all! See more here.

As part of their grand re-opening celebration, the Walmart in Maple Grove donated $1,000 to the PCSH Backpack Project, led by Emily Juaire. A huge thank you to them!

Do you ever feel concerned about how much your child uses their phone?

The disruption from phone use and social media includes social anxiety, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction. Staff at PCSH have been exploring the book The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. The book was inspired by alarming the rates of anxiety and depression in adolescents. At school we are exploring our cell phone policy and trying strategies to help students limit their phone use. You can find free resources to try at home to "free the anxious generation" here.

• Winter Sideline Cheer Tryouts are on Tuesday and Thursday this week in the Forum Room from 3:30 - 5:30 PM - those interested in trying out need to be present both days. On Tuesday students will learn the cheers, Thursday they will be evaluated.
• Musical Auditions are right around the corner on December 11th and 12th! Students can ask Ms. Kallevig for more information!

The CRC offers monthly Career Panels for students to learn about a wide variety of positions in a given career field. Upcoming Career Panels include:

• January 9 - Sports
• February 11 - Construction and Automotive
• Students must sign up in advance to attend at https://forms.gle/R35jmyfTYZTta5J58
• All upcoming events, including college visits, are posted on the CRC website > Sessions. Please check often and sign up for those that interest you!

The Health Science Program is designed to support and build future leaders in Health Science and Medical fields. The program provides authentic learning experiences that prepare students to achieve their future goals in medicine. Students develop practices through hand-on, project based experiences in a professional work setting. Health Science students graduate with college credits, professional certifications, internship experiences, and memories for a lifetime. Students interested in learning more can attend a Mini-Session in the CRC on Tuesday, January 7. Students must sign up in advance to receive a pass to attend.

Genesys Works is an opportunity for students to participate in a paid internship during senior year and earn up to $16,000. As high schoolers, Genesys Works students are offered business technology skills training, meaningful paid internships, college and career counseling, and alumni support. Genesys Works fuels students’ ambition so their dreams become lifelong realities. Students are placed with a partner company for the duration of their senior year of high school. Genesys Works partners with 49 local corporations. Partner companies include Target, Caribou Coffee, and Huntington Bank. Students receive skills training, college and career coaching and continued support in college as an alumni of the program. Students who are eligible and are selected will work with their counselor to schedule the internship. Current juniors will learn about the program during Advisory In January and applications will open in January for interested students. Application website

Reminder! The FAFSA will open for ALL SENIORS sometime in December. The CRC held a FAFSA session with senior students during Advisory on November 7. You can find the link to the recording on the PC CRC website > Advisory > CRC Sessions. On January 23 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm there will be a virtual support session for students and families with specific questions or issues with their FAFSA application.

Page Grant is a scholarship program awarded to students of color who graduate from a Minnesota high school and attend a Minnesota post-secondary institution. Students at all levels of academic achievement seeking to pursue a 2 or 4 degree at a Minnesota college or university and agree to complete annual service projects with children can qualify for a grant. Page Grants range in value from $1,500 to $2,500 annually. Subsequent grants are based on students’ academic progress and mentoring performance. Encourage your college-bound student to sign up for a mini-session to learn more!

At Park Center we expect every student to demonstrate P.R.I.D.E.

• Participate in your education
• Respect yourself and others
• Inspire others
• Do the right thing
• Excel in all you do

For all Park Center rules and expectations, refer to our Student and Family Handbook