Parent Newsletter

Arrrgh, Matey!! It was a fun day at the 'Purch! Students and teachers joined in for "Dress like a Pirate Day," transforming the school into a lively crew of Platte County Pirates! Classrooms and hallways were filled with pirate hats, eye patches, and playful accessories, as both students and teachers embraced the spirit of fun. It was a day full of adventure, and, of course, plenty of 'Arrrghs!' Check out some of the pics below!

Middle School Football Home Games & Cheer Team:
Thursday, September 19 A/B Game (vs. Excelsior) 4/5 PM & Cheer Team
Tuesday, September 24 C Game (vs. Northgate) 5 PM & Cheer Team

Volleyball Home Games:

(From now on, our front doors will unlock at 3:45 PM for home volleyball games)

Wednesday, September 25 (vs. Maple Park) 4/5 PM
Monday, October 7 (vs. Walden) 4/5 PM

First Cross Country Meets:
Tuesday, September 17- 4PM, Platte Ridge Park
Thursday, September 19- 3:45 PM, Platte Ridge Park
Monday, September 23- East Trails Middle
Wednesday, September 25- Heritage Middle

C Team Football photos taken by PPMS 8th Grader- Leah Gold. Thanks, Leah!

7:25 am- Doors open & breakfast begins

7:37 am- 3 minute warning bell

7:40 am- Students should be in class and ready to learn

2:50 pm- Dismissal begins

A HUGE shoutout to our kitchen staff for making this INCREDIBLE pirate ship scene!

• September 14:
• Super Saturday Cheer Clinic (see flier below for details)
• September 15:
• Wrestling Club Open Gym (see flier below for details)
• September 16:
• Professional Learning Day- NO SCHOOL
• September 17:
• Cross Country Meet- Platte Ridge Park, 4 PM
• Volleyball Practice, 3-5 (PPMS Gym)
• Middle School Football C Team Away Game, 4 PM (bus departs @ 2:40 PM) (Antioch)
• September 18:
• Volleyball Practice, 3-5 PM (PPMS Gym)
• Cheer Practice, 3-5 (PPMS)
• Football Practice, 3-5 (PPMS)
• Cross Country Practice, 3-4:30 (PPMS)
• September 19:
• Cross Country Meet- Platte Ridge Park, 3:45 PM
• Middle School Football A&B Team Games vs. Excelsior Springs, 4/5 PM (PPMS)
• Volleyball Practice, 3-5 PM (PPMS Gym)
• EF London & Paris Spring 2026 Meeting, 6 PM (PPMS Library)
• September 20:
• WEAR YOUR PAJAMAS TO SCHOOL!
• Step Off Assembly, 9 AM (PPMS Gym)
• STUCO Pajama Mixer, 3-5 PM (PPMS)

Professional Learning Community Time Designed to Improve Student Achievement; First PLC Day - September 16

On Monday, September 16, school will not be in session for our first Professional Learning Community (PLC) day of the 2024-25 school year. PLC days are designed to establish sustained and uninterrupted time for teachers to work together and collaborate to improve student learning and achievement. This time allows educators to examine and respond to the four basic fundamental questions of a Professional Learning Community:

• What is it we want students to learn?
• How will we know when each student has achieved the learning?
• How will we respond when a student is not learning?
• How will we respond when we know a child has mastered the learning?

For more information on PCR-3's Professional Learning Community, visit the PLC page on the District's website.

Parents are encouraged to opt-in for text notification PLC Day reminders by texting "YES" to 67587 (standard text messaging fees apply). All no school and early release days are also listed on the District calendar.

Wear your pajamas to school on Friday, September 20th! STUCO is hosting an all-school Pajama Mixer directly after school from 3-5PM at PPMS! Tickets will be sold during lunchtime the week of the event.

Dear Platte Purchase families,

We’re going to London and Paris in Spring 2026, and you’re invited!

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity.

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.

In this info session, we’ll talk about:

How this opportunity will benefit your student

What we’ll see and do on our trip

Everything that’s included in this experience

How your child can earn academic credit

How we’re keeping this safe and affordable

How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Thanks,

Daria Opanasenko-Davydova

PCHS Cheerleading is sponsoring their 38th annual “Super Saturday" cheer clinic on Saturday, September 14. Participants are invited to perform at the October 9 Victory Supper during Homecoming week. See flier for details and click here to pre-register.

Platte County Wrestling Club Open Gyms and Registration

Platte County Wrestling Club (for boys and girls ages 5-14) registration opens September 15, visit www.plattecountywrestling.com to register. Want to give wrestling a try before registering? Attend an open gym night, Sundays starting September 15. See flier for details.

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.

Best Life Therapy KC and Kindness Connects Us are offering a FREE virtual parent workshop.

When: September 19th, 2024

Time: 6-7pm

More details available through the link below

Registration Link: studentsmentalhealth.eventbrite.com

Support Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Wear Gold on September 30

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.

We are excited to launch our after-school program again for middle school students - PACE.

A few details about the program:

Program will start on September 24
Tuesday, and Thursday 3pm-4 pm
1st quarter will only have a 4 week short session while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter will be 7 weeks

PACE focuses on Lifestyle Activities - Depending on the strengths of our staff, activities will be offered that are outside of the realm of sports. Activities offered 1st Quarter will be Board/Digital Games, Line Dancing, and Kindness Club

Please take some time to review the slideshow for all details.

Please click on the form below to sign your kids up to attend PACE. Students can sign up for one activity per day. If you have any questions, please contact the PACE coordinator, Tyler Crawford (crawford.tyler@pcr3schools.org).

PACE INFORMATIONAL SLIDESHOW

PPMS PACE SIGN UP LINK

The Platte County Education Foundation is partnering with Major Saver again this school year as our district-wide fundraiser. The Major Saver card sells for $15, features 18 local businesses, and offers great discounts to families. This year, the Major Saver Fundraiser will run from September 11th through September 24th this school year. Here is an overview of what this will look like:

• Wednesday, September 11th / Major Saver campaign Kick Off
• Wednesday, September 11th / Packet Delivery: These will be sent home no later than Friday, September 13th.
• Tuesday, September 17th – Tuesday, September 24th / Daily Collections & Card/Prize Distribution: Students can turn in their sales to the office to receive their prizes!

Platte Purchase Middle School is seeking a second (or third) business partner to support our Pirates ROCK character education program! Your $500/year sponsorship includes:

• Participation in monthly character recognition events
• Logo and link in building parent and staff e-newsletters
• Logo and link on Pirates ROCK webpage
• Partnership status for flier/community event promotion on Community Events webpage and social media
• 18” x 24” poster displayed in building front office/entrance and additional poster and window cling offered for business to display
• Exclusive event table at annual staff Convocation in August
• Invitation to participate in other school-wide events

For more information or to sign up for this important program, contact Laura Hulett, Dr. Jessica Hoffecker, or Dr. Jeff Adams.

Homecoming 2024: GAME ON, October 7-12

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

Preventing a New Generation of Addiction

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 flier for additional information.

Pirates ROCK Character Trait: PRIDE (September)

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.

September's #PiratesROCK trait is PRIDE: a feeling of self respect & worth.

Leader in Me connections to PRIDE:

Habit 1: Be Proactive - You are in charge of you.

Habit 6: Synergize - Work together to do better.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Take care of yourself.

Character Strong connections to PRIDE:

Self-awareness

Social Awareness

Commitment

Humility

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).

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.

The following business partner contributes goods, services, and financial support toward supporting students and staff at our school! Thank you!

Tradition Home Group:(816) 857-5700

https://livelovekchomes.com/

Email: hoffecker.jessica@pcr3schools.org
Location: Platte Purchase Middle School

9400 N. Platte Purchase Dr., Kansas City, MO 64155
Phone: 816-436-1433 x. 3401
Twitter: @PlattePurchase

Facebook: www.facebook.com/plattepurchasemiddleschool

Instagram: @plattepurchase

Email: adams.jeff@pcr3schools.org
Location:Location: Platte Purchase Middle School

9400 N. Platte Purchase Dr., Kansas City, MO 64155
Phone: 816-436-1433 x. 3402
Twitter: @PlattePurchase

Facebook: www.facebook.com/plattepurchasemiddleschool

Instagram: @plattepurchase