PCMS Weekly Update

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

Swim: Our swim team had their last track meet yesterday. Most of our swimmers were able to improve their times and Khloe Niehaus was a 1st Heat Winner in 50 Free. They have had a very successful season and we look forward to seeing more of their swimming in the years to come!

Track: Our track team had a great final home meet yesterday! The results can be found here: https://www.bandbracekc.com/

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: High Alert (see below).

Remember that all students need to bring wired earbuds with them to their classes as this was an item listed on their school supplies. Many teachers give students individual video assignments so they can do them at their own pace. Without wired earbuds, it is difficult for many students to concentrate when doing an assignment with a video because so many are playing their video out loud. Also, we have testing in the next few weeks that requires them to have wired earbuds. If they need to purchase earbuds, they can be purchased in the office for $1.

Our 8th Graders will have the opportunity to go on a Field Trip to the Kansas City Zoo. The High Tide and the Anchor Down Teams will be attending the Zoo on Wednesday, May 28th. They will leave the school at 8:45 am and return to the school around 2:15 pm. There is a $11 admission fee for this field trip and our amazing PTO is paying $6 per student, so parents are responsible for $5.

A permission slip is now available to fill out on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please fill out the form even if your student will not be able to attend or will be absent that day. All permission slips need to be returned by May 16th.

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 8th Grade Field Trip 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 permission slip, you will be able to pay the $5 for the trip via debit/credit card. If you have any questions, please contact the office.

We are in need of parent volunteers in order to go on this field trip. Below is a Parent Volunteer Supervision Sign Up for parent volunteers. Please pay attention to the slot you sign up for. The link is split between the High Tide team and the Anchor Down team. We are able to provide some tickets for free for volunteers so please pay attention to the sign up slot. . (Parents who sign up and pay for their own ticket… you will have to purchase tickets online for $20 or at the door for $22).

Parents of existing Kindergarten through 11th grade students: Yesterday, you should have received an email to complete re-enrollment for your returning student. If you haven't already done so, please complete online re-enrollment forms and electronic proof of residency by Tuesday, May 27, via your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account and clicking on the "Returning Student Registration 2025-26" link. If you need assistance, please contact your child's school. Please note: This must be done via a browser, not on the Parent Portal app. If using your phone, please turn your phone horizontally.

• Platte County School District is excited to announce that Summer School will be held June 2-30, 2025 (please note updated dates). All Platte County R-3 students are invited to attend and continue to grow as learners throughout the summer! The purpose of PCR-3’s Summer School Program is to provide an experience that is relevant, rigorous, and engaging, based on individual learner needs, in a safe and caring environment. Click here for more information about Summer School at PCR-3.
  

  
  

  • Parents of existing students currently in grades PreK-7 interested in K-8 Summer School: You can now enroll for 2025 Summer School via the Forms on PowerSchool Parent Portal (via a browser or the app). Please complete by May 16, 2025.
  • Incoming Kindergarten students will be able to complete summer school registration after they complete regular enrollment. Click here for 2025-26 New Student Enrollment. (Kindergarten Kickoffs will be held April 15 and parents will learn how to enroll your kindergartner in Summer School).
  • High School summer school program enrollment began April 14, 2025 via Parent Portal.

Middle School students will partner with the Missouri Department of Conservation to explore real world ecological issues on our campus, as well as participate in a Make48 Innovation experience.

• Missouri Department of Conservation: Students will be examining issues related to water and its impact on our land. Teachers will guide students through a project-based experience with the Missouri Department of Conservation, called "Unhooked."
• Make48 Innovation Experience: Students will work in teams for this innovation challenge, and will engage with a real-world client to work through a design problem and ultimately create a solution including a small-scale prototype, a one-minute marketing or informational video, and an informational sales sheet.

Click here for details on high school summer school offerings including traditional courses, credit recovery courses, and driver's education. Sign up via Parent Portal starting April 14.

We are happy to announce that we are again partnering with Miles of Smiles to host in school dental services for students in the Platte County R-3 School District.

Miles of Smiles is a full service dental program that provides FREE comprehensive dental care to those who qualify. Whether you have insurance or not, qualifying children receive comprehensive dental services at no cost. You might be surprised at how flexible the income guidelines actually are. For example, if your annual family income is below $62,000 for a family of 4, your child will qualify for services.

If your child participates in the program, their dental care will be provided on site, in the school, by a Missouri licensed dentist and dental team. These services include, but are not limited to, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, crowns, pulpotomies, and extractions. Miles of Smiles also offers follow-up appointments year-round at their office, Monday through Friday.

The dental clinic will be in our district from May 5th to May 20th. Your student could be seen at any time during that time frame.

For more information about Miles of Smiles and to take advantage of this opportunity, please complete the online registration form below.

The deadline to sign up is May 2, 2025!

If you need a paper copy sent home with your student, please call or email me, and I will be happy to do that for you.

Open to current 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students.

Cheer clinics: 5:30- 7:00 pm, PCHS North gym, May 5-7

Cheer Tryouts: Starting at 3:30pm, PCHS North gym, May 8

The high school robotics team will be holding tryouts for incoming freshmen in the new part of the high school from 3:15-5:00pm on May 20th - 22nd. (Enter through the main doors at the bus loop, Entrance 6. The robotics room is to the left.)

In order to try out, you will need to do the following:

1. Sign up for tryouts on this Google Form. You can sign up for multiple days if you want to present in two different areas (one each day).

2. Fill out this Questionnaire as part of the application process.

3. Get 2 teacher recommendations. Please send/share this Teacher Recommendation Form with 2 of your teachers. **Ask that they complete it by Friday, May 9th.

Below are the guidelines for each tryout:

Building: To demonstrate your building skills, you will be asked to reconstruct a small structure using typical Robotics parts.
Programming: You will program a simple autonomous and/or drive program that will be tested out on a bot.
Driving: You will be asked to demonstrate your driving skills through a predetermined course on the field.

Notebooking: You will have a short interview about your style of notebooking, and if you have previous notebooking experience, please present your best pages from your notebook. This may be shared in one of three ways: 1) email a selection of pages to assel.wendy@pcr3schools.org, or 2) digitize your entire notebook and email it to assel.wendy@pcr3schools.org, or 3) bring your physical notebook with you to tryouts.

If you have any questions, please email Coach Assel (assel.wendy@pcr3schools.org) or Coach Perkins (perkins.kyle@pcr3schools.org).

The Board approved the following make up day plan to address our 10 inclement weather days to date this school year:

• January 7, 8, 9, and 10, and February 5, 2025 - Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days (do not need to be made up)
• February 12, 2025 - To be made up on Monday, April 14, 2025 (previously a no school day)
• February 13, 2025 - To be made up on Tuesday, May 27, 2025
• February 18, 2025 - To be made up on Wednesday, May 28, 2025
• February 19, 2025 - To be made up on Thursday, May 29, 2025, a 3-hour early release
• February 20, 2025 - The Board has waived this day. With this waived day, PCR-3 would still be at the 169-day calendar required to receive full salary funding from the state.

Please note, with this plan, May 23 will now be a full school day. With this make up plan, we are also shifting Summer School Dates to June 2-30, 2025.

May 2

• NJHS Meeting, 7:20 am

May 5

• MAP Testing Starts
• Top 2 Preliminary Track Meet @ Staley High School, 4 pm
  

May 6

• 7th Grade Only Track Meet @ Kearney High School, 4 pm
  

May 7

• Championship Track Meet @ Staley High School, 4 pm
  

May 8

• So This is Middle School Night for 5th Grade Parents, 6 pm

• FCA Meeting, 7:10 am
• Robotics Vex World Championship
  

May 10

• Robotics Vex World Championship
  

May 11

• Robotics Vex World Championship
  

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.

April's #PiratesROCK trait is PERSEVERANCE: giving your best effort regardless of obstacles & rejection.

Leader in Me Connections to PERSEVERANCE:

• 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 4: Think win-win - Find ways where everyone can win.
• Habit 6: Synergize - Work together to do better.

Character Strong Connections to PERSEVERANCE:

• Self-Management, Commitment

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/