PCK Weekly Newsletter

Last year, PCK was honored as one of just 16 schools statewide to receive a grant through the Governor’s Bright Spot Award. This award was given to schools that have demonstrated outstanding science achievement. The Bright Spot Award highlights educational excellence, and is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our students and staff.

With these funds, we were able to enhance our tech department by adding four 3D printers to our classrooms. These printers are giving our students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, where they are developing problem-solving skills and gaining a deeper understanding of the many applications that technology like this can have in our everyday lives.

Currently, our students are using these 3D printers to solve real-world challenges, including designing solutions to improve the experience of our staff members in their classrooms and offices. This project is an example of how these new printers can enable creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Hello PCK Families!

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving! I was able to spend time with my family up in South Dakota which I love but I’m happy to be back. I love hearing from the kids what they did to celebrate the holiday and hear all sorts of stories. We are in the home stretch before winter break and I’ve really enjoyed how much the school gets into all the holiday seasons so I can’t wait to see what you all have in store!

Just a few reminders to keep things running smoothly:

Some of you have seen my smiling face in the area of Pine Drive and Centennial Drive during pick up. Please remember if you are coming up to the school from Lincoln and the turn lane is full, you may not stop in the turn lane for Centennial and then continue to drive straight into the PCK turn lane. This is clearly marked by signage so if you get into the turn lane before passing Centennial, you must turn on Centennial. In the event that the PCK turn lane is full, please turn on Centennial and use Village Creek Pkwy to go back up to Lincoln and then try again. The PCK turn lane usually only needs a few minutes to clear up once pick up starts.

This leads to my next reminder: please do your best to not arrive early, especially for pick up. When people arrive early, that quickly causes the extra traffic congestion which can be frustrating for everyone.

I really appreciate everyone’s effort with this!

Please reach out if you have any questions: sro@ckcs.net

Best regards,

Deputy Sandifer

Although Thanksgiving has come and gone, we want to take a moment to reflect on the celebrations that took place at our school last week.

In fifth grade, students embraced the holiday with their annual Turkey Creation Contest, where students crafted unique and imaginative turkeys. Staff members were invited to vote for their favorites, and the winners were recognized for their efforts:

Best in Show: Chloe Terreault

Most Creative: Emma Dunsmore

Most Festive: Olivia Thomas

Meanwhile, our eighth-grade Spanish classes took a more introspective approach, engaging in the “Doy Gracias Por” (I Thank You For). Each student cut out the shape of their hand and filled each finger with something they were thankful for. These individual hands were then arranged together to form the shape of a turkey, symbolizing the collective gratitude of our community.

As we reflect on these celebrations, we are reminded of the many things we have to be grateful for, including the supportive and engaged community that we are so fortunate to have at PCK.

PCK is now offering a Debate Club for students in grades fifth through eighth. This club will provide an excellent opportunity for students to build their public speaking and critical thinking skills in a supportive, engaging environment.

When: Mondays from 3:10-4:00 p.m.

Duration: The club will run for eight sessions, from January through March.

Culmination: The club will conclude with two formal debates judged by parent volunteers, giving students the chance to showcase their skills in a real-world setting.

Debate Club is a fantastic way for students to develop confidence, improve their communication abilities, and engage in thought-provoking topics. Whether they are new to debate or have prior experience, this club will provide a fun and enriching opportunity for all.

Here are the themes for our Snow Much Fun Dress Down Days, which will take place from Monday, December 16 to Friday, December 20. Please ensure that your child’s outfit adheres to the PCK Dress Code Guidelines. A common mistake made by students during this festive week is wearing pajama pants, which are not permitted at PCK.

The results are in for the 2024 PCK Bin Blessed Food Drive.

Thanks to your generosity, we received well over 1,000 donations from our wonderful community. The winning class who will receive a root beer float party for their efforts was Mrs. Vento’s Fourth Grade class.

The top three grades by donation totals were:

Fourth Grade: 277 donations

Second Grade: 196 donations

First Grade: 115 donations

We sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed to this important cause. Your donations reflect the caring and giving spirit that makes our PCK community so special.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all families of our health room procedure regarding students who are unwell. If a child has experienced vomiting or a fever of 100 degrees or more, they must remain home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom-free.

If a child returns to school before the 24-hour mark, parents will be notified and asked to pick up their child immediately. The child will be isolated from other students until they are able to leave.

For the health and safety of all students, parents are asked not to leave children in the health room until the 24-hour period has passed. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please take note of the following closures and cancelations at PCK over the next two weeks:

Homework Club is canceled from Monday, December 16 through Thursday, December 19.

The Late Testing Lab will not be open on Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 18.

We apologize for any inconvenience these closures may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Coming up on Thursday, December 12, students will have the opportunity to participate in a Dollar Dress Down Day. For just one dollar, students can dress down and show their support for PCK's eighth grade graduation.

Donations will be collected by eighth grade students at the main, preschool, and fifth/sixth grade entrances to PCK. The dress down day will take place on December 12, giving students a fun opportunity to dress casually while contributing to a meaningful cause.

Our Lost and Found is beginning to fill up! Each week, any items that are clearly labeled with a student’s name are returned to their classroom. However, there are many unlabeled items still remaining at the Lost and Found station.

We kindly ask that you remind your child to check the Lost and Found for any belongings they may have misplaced during the first few months of school. Please note that any unclaimed items will be donated once we return from Winter Break.

PCK's Middle School Winter Dance is tomorrow, Friday, December 6, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the Middle School Commons. This dance is exclusively for our seventh and eighth grade students.

The theme for this year’s dance is Winter Wonderland. Please note that tickets will only be available for purchase at the door on the day of the event, and the cost is $5 (cash only).

We have released a brief survey to help guide future fundraising efforts at PCK. The purpose of this survey is to ensure that our donations are directed toward areas that matter most to our families, allowing us to continue fostering a supportive and thriving educational environment for all students and staff.

The survey is completely anonymous and quick to complete. Your feedback will be invaluable in helping us better understand donor preferences and improve our community's impact.

Please note, the survey will close at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 16. We appreciate your participation and look forward to your input.

This week’s Volunteer Spotlight honors two outstanding Safety Dads, Virgil Mathias and Matthew Koller, as we conclude the month of November. These dedicated individuals generously volunteered their time and efforts to provide invaluable support to our Front Office staff during one of the busiest periods of the year. We are deeply grateful for their hard work and commitment, and they truly exemplify the spirit of community that defines our school.