PCMS Weekly Update

August 9, 2024

PCMS Weekly Update August 9, 2024

Good Afternoon PCMS Families!

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! Hopefully, your summer has been enjoyable and relaxing (even though it seems like you run around even faster during the summer!). Our teachers and staff have been busy ensuring that this year is your child’s best middle school year yet!


As always, we are here to partner with you in helping your child be their best! If you have any questions about registration, back to school nights, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Looking forward to seeing you and your kiddos soon!


Enjoy these last few weeks of summer and GO PIRATES!!

🚗 School Tips & Reminders

Here are this week’s helpful tips and reminders about middle school.


  • When dropping off your child in the morning, there will be cones that direct you to snake through the front parking lot so cars do not back up on the main roads. You can then drop your child off along the curb in front of the middle school. Please don't drop students off on the outer main roads or at another parking lot on campus. With all of the traffic in the mornings, we want our students to get safely to school!

  • If you are dropping off your child and they are late to school, you will need to come to the office with your child to check them in.

📝 Class Change Request Form

Students and parents have an opportunity at the beginning of each semester to request a class change. If a student is wanting to request a class change, the Class Change Request Form must be submitted by Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00 am. Once the deadline has passed, requests for a class change will not be accepted. Administration and counselors will review the class change requests and final decisions will be made based on class sizes and availability.




Please keep in mind the following when requesting a class change:

Class change requests are not guaranteed. Avoiding class overload and maintaining class balances are of primary importance.

  • The following requests will NOT be approved:

    • Request to change teachers

    • Request to change Advisory

    • Request to switch scheduled classes around to obtain a more preferred schedule


Class Change Request Form - deadline Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00 am

🌮 Breakfast and Lunch Update for 24-25/ Change to Online Meal Payments

Breakfast and Lunch prices have slightly increased for the 24-25 school year. Please visit the FOOD SERVICES web page for more information about the cost of meals, menus and Free/Reduced meal applications.


For the new 24-25 school year, there is also a change to our Online Meal Payment System.


To get started, simply download the brand-new LINQ Connect app from Google Play or the

Apple Store or visit LINQConnect.com.


Once you're in the LINQ Connect portal, you'll discover a world of possibilities.

• Set up one-time or recurring payments for your student's meals

• Effortlessly view past transactions

• Establish spending limits

• Transfer funds between students

• Receive handy low balance notifications

Get ahead of the game and make the upcoming school year a breeze by utilizing the

convenience of LINQ Connect - the ultimate payment platform for your meal account

needs.


To set up your student's account, you'll need their student ID number, which can be found on your Parent Portal. Parents can still send lunch money with students for their account - Dropbox is located in the FRONT OFFICE.


🍕 Student Lunch Schedules

Since lunch shifts do not show up on the student’s schedule. Please read the following to clarify when your students will eat throughout the week. All 6th-grade students will eat during A lunch shift every day. On M/T/FR, 7th and 8th-grade students will eat lunch based on who their 5th-hour teacher is. Locate your 7/8 grade student’s 5th-hour teacher name under the B, C, or D lunchtime and that will tell you their lunchtime on M/T/FR. On Wednesday (Odd hour day), 7/8th grade students will eat according to their 5th-hour teacher. Again, locate your 7/8 grade student’s 5th-hour teacher name under the B, C, or D lunchtime and that will tell you their lunchtime on Wednesday. On Thursday (Even hour day), 7/8th grade students will eat according to their 6th-hour teacher. Again, locate your 7/8 grade student’s 6th-hour teacher name under the B, C, or D lunchtime and that will tell you their lunchtime on Thursday. Once we start school, we always evaluate our lunch shifts to make sure they are balanced and manageable so there always is a chance slight changes could be made. Regardless, ALL kids will have lunch daily.

🚌 Transportation

Bus route information was emailed to parents this morning with your student’s bus number and times. If you have any questions about transportation, please email transportation@pcr3schools.org.


Also, please see the following information regarding the new Bus Compass App that we will be using this year for you to track your students while on the bus. This will be implemented about two weeks after school starts. If you have any questions regarding this, please email transportation@pcr3schools.org.

🎺 6th Grade Band Instrument Rental Night Information

For new 6th Grade Band students, we will be hosting Instrument Rental Night on Thursday, August 22nd at 6:00pm. This event will be held in the PCMS Gym. As a service to the school, Meyer Music will be present for families seeking to “rent-to-own” an instrument, purchase instrument supplies, and the Tradition of Excellence method book that we will use daily in class.


Instruments typically rented include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. If your student will be playing french horn, baritone, or tuba, those instruments are supplied to your student by the school district. Students playing school-owned instruments will only need to purchase a mouthpiece, a band book, and a care kit for these instruments. Those supplies will be available for purchase through Meyer Music at Instrument Rental Night, as well.


More information on all things 6th grade band and how to get an instrument or supplies will be sent home to band families soon. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Chesney, PCMS Band Director at chesney.christine@pcr3schools.org.

👤 Bus Drivers Needed

Want to be part of our awesome team at PCR-3 like Scarlett? We are looking for a few more bus drivers to join us!


We offer: $20.72/hr starting rate, Board-paid medical insurance, summers off + paid-time off.

🥁 8th Grade Band Step Off Night T-Shirts

8th Grade Band will be learning the basics of marching band and performing with the PCHS Traditions Marching Band on the September 20th Home Football Game. 8th Grade Band students will receive a free Platte County Band t-shirt to wear for the event. Please complete the following Google Form with your student's name and t-shirt size by Tuesday, August 20th. T-shirts will be distributed to students during the week of September 16th.


Step Off T-Shirt Form: https://forms.gle/Aff1rbRJRRa8Csdg9

📏 2024-25 School Supplies

Click below for this year’s school supply lists. And, this is Missouri's Tax Free Weekend!

🔬 Back to School Nights

We will be hosting two Back to School Nights for our students and parents. Dates are Thursday, August 15 for 6th Grade from 7:00-8:30 pm and Tuesday, August 27 for 7/8th Grade from 6:00-7:30pm. Please have your child bring their class schedule that they received at registration (or take a picture of it on your phone) as you will be following their schedule and visiting all of their classes throughout the evening.


🍎 PTO Information

PTO welcomes back all Pirates to the 24-25 school year! We’ve got an amazing PTO that supports our students and teachers here at PCMS. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to join. Joining does not mean that you are required to donate anything, volunteer, or plan a school event. Joining simply means that you are supporting our PCMS school community. The PCMS PTO does so much for our school, such as:

  • Sponsors our grade level field trips

  • Items for teacher appreciation throughout the school year

  • Provides treats and items for recognizing our students

  • Coordinates fun student events

  • And much more!


You can join by filling out the following form or scanning the QR code. The membership is $7. Pirate Spirit Wear will be available here.

💻 One 2 One Chromebook Insurance

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.

📸 Fall Pictures - August 27

Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27. If you would like to order pictures, you may bring your order on picture day payable with cash or check made out to Reed Photography . You may also order online. (These images are also used for ID purposes and yearbook pictures).

Please note the following info:

  • Color backgrounds are not available to purchase online

  • Add-ons are only available by purchase of a portrait package

  • If you have more than one student at this school, you will need to complete each child's order with payment info

Click here for online ordering information.

🏈 7th/8th Grade Fall Sports Information

7th/8th Grade Fall Sports practices start soon or have already started. Please read the following document for all information if your 7th or 8th grade student is interested in Cheer, Cross Country, Football or Volleyball. Also, a physical is required for all of these sports. Please follow the instructions found here for uploading physical forms online.

📱 Text Notifications

The District uses text messaging and automated phone calls to notify parents of upcoming events and days off, school closings due to weather, and during emergency situations. Newly enrolled families will automatically receive an opt-in message from 67587. If you missed it, simply text “Yes” to 67587 to receive text messages.

🏴 Treasure Chest Support

The PCR-3 Treasure Chest is a stocked resource center providing food, milk, and toiletries for PCR-3 students and families in need. Qualifying families will receive a weekly form via email to sign up or can call 816-858-7001 for assistance.


Families will receive an email with approval to come to the Treasure Chest on Wednesdays from 4-6pm at the new Treasure Chest site (south side of Paxton building).

📆 Upcoming Events

Aug 15

  • 6th Grade Back to School Night, 7 - 8:30 pm
Aug 19, 20, 21
  • 7/8th Volleyball Tryouts, 3 pm

Aug 20

  • First Day of School
Aug 22
  • First 7/8th Volleyball Practice, 3 pm
  • Band Instrument Rental Night, 6 pm

Aug 27

  • Fall Picture Day
Mark Your Calendar
(Click the button above to view the full PCMS calendar on our website.)

🏴 Pirates ROCK Character Trait for AUGUST: Self Confidence

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 Self Confidence: having a positive belief in yourself.

💼 Thank You to Our Pirates ROCK Star Business Partners!

Welcome to Platte City Middle School where we are Building Learners of Tomorrow!

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/

Kristie Tomlinson
Kristie is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters