PCK Weekly Newsletter

We wanted to take a moment to spotlight some wonderful new additions to our PCK family. Since returning from Fall Break, we've had the privilege of welcoming three new staff members to fill key roles within our school. Each of these talented educators has brought fresh perspectives, energy, and enthusiasm to their respective roles, and we're excited to have them here with us.

To help you get to know them a little better they've shared some personal details about their backgrounds.

Mr. Lawson - I began my teaching career in 2012 at Job Corps and transitioned to substitute teaching in 2023, before joining PCK this year. I am originally from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and am excited to contribute to the growth and success of our students.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my wife, two sons, and dogs, as well as hiking, golfing, traveling, and being active in my church community. I'm proud to be part of the PCK family.

Mrs. Buck - With over eight years of teaching experience, I have spent six years in Douglas County and one and a half years as an educator at the Colorado State University SPUR campus.

I am deeply passionate about science, as it not only illuminates the world around us but also fosters critical thinking, curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. I believe that science extends beyond the classroom—at home, I manage a greenhouse and care for a small herd of farm animals, which provide a wealth of hands-on learning opportunities.

Outside of work, I cherish spending time with my husband, our daughters, and friends, enjoying the outdoors. I am excited to be part of the PCK community.

Mrs. Mendralla - With over 26 years of experience in education, I have had the privilege of serving in various roles, including secondary foreign language and as a social studies teacher. My career has also included extensive work as an instructional coach at the K-12 level. Additionally, I have served as a school leader, overseeing key initiatives.

Outside of my professional life, I have been happily married for 29 years and am the proud parent of a son and daughter, along with a rambunctious dog. This summer, we celebrated my son's wedding, and we are eagerly anticipating our daughter’s college graduation this year.

I am thrilled to join the PCK community and look forward to contributing to this outstanding institution.

If you happen to see any of our new staff members in the building, we encourage you to give them a warm welcome to PCK and help them feel at home in our community. We're confident that they will quickly become valuable members in the pursuit of our students' education, and we're grateful to have them on board.

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.

On Monday, November 25, PCK’s mass notification system will undergo maintenance. During this time, we will be unable to send messages through our usual communication channels, including mass text messages and emails from the pcknoreply@ckcs.net email address. In the event of an emergency, notifications will be sent via email. We encourage our families to monitor their email throughout the day for any important updates.

As many of you may have read in last week’s Badge Brief, we are excited to share that our very own School Resource Officer (SRO), Deputy Sandifer, took an active role in the classroom. Deputy Sandifer recently participated in tests alongside our fifth and third graders, covering subjects such as state capitals and spelling. We are thrilled to report that she passed with flying colors.

Deputy Sandifer’s involvement in these activities has proven to be a motivating factor for our students. When students see role models engaging in the same activities and challenges as they are, it fosters a sense of connection and encourages them to strive for excellence. This approach not only strengthens relationships but also builds a positive learning environment where everyone is motivated to do their best.

We want to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Sandifer for going above and beyond her duties to connect with our students. Her efforts are greatly enhancing the learning experience here at PCK, and we are grateful for her continued dedication to our school community.

PCK's Middle School Winter Dance is just around the corner. The event will take place on 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 are thrilled to announce that, for the very first time, we will be offering an Astronomy Club for our third and fourth graders. This exciting new opportunity will allow students to explore the wonders of space and deepen their understanding of the universe.

Registration for the club can be completed through the button below. Please note that spaces are limited, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, in the Science Lab.

Last week we received several fantastic submissions for our 2024 Yearbook Cover. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our students who participated in this creative endeavor. The talent, and artistic expertise demonstrated in each submission was truly impressive.

We are grateful for the time and effort our students dedicated to this competition, and we are honored to showcase their artistic abilities. Next week, we will announce the finalists and the winner of the Yearbook Cover Competition.

Thank you once again to all of our talented students for sharing their artwork with us.

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the final day to donate to our Bin Blessed Food Drive. Your generosity will support families across the United States with children facing medical crises.

Each grade has been assigned a specific food item to donate:

• Kindergarten: Goldfish Crackers (family size)
• First Grade: Quaker Oatmeal (six count box)
• Second Grade: Motts Applesauce (six count cups)
• Third Grade: Ramen (12 pack)
• Fourth Grade: Jelly (plastic jar)
• Fifth Grade: Quaker Granola Bars (six count)
• Sixth Grade: Spaghetti (two pound box)
• Seventh Grade: Ragu Pasta Sauce (plastic jar)
• Eighth Grade: Capri Sun 100% Juice (10 pack)

Bin Blessed has committed to providing the classroom with the most donations with a root beer float party. We are truly grateful for your support, and your contributions will make a meaningful difference for families who need our help. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Our theatre department’s musical performance of Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is just days away on Saturday, November 23. Due to high demand, there are only a limited number of tickets remaining. If you haven’t already secured your seats, we encourage you to purchase tickets as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on this production.

Tickets can be purchased using the button below.

Due to a recent surge in orders, our partners at Square 1 Art have extended the deadline for ordering custom keepsakes featuring your child's artwork. Families now have until tomorrow, Friday, November 22, to make a purchase.

This is the final opportunity for families to order a variety of items such as mugs, magnets, t-shirts, pillows, and more, all featuring your child's unique artwork.

To view your child’s artwork and place your order, simply click the button below to access Square 1 Art’s search page. Enter your state, school, and your child's name to find their personalized designs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Visual Arts Teacher, Kate Dulaney, at kdulaney@ckcs.net.

At our most recent School Accountability Committee (SAC) meeting, we focused on upcoming school events, fundraising efforts, and how to balance these activities in a way that remains manageable for our families.

To better align our fundraising initiatives with the needs and preferences of our community, we are in the process of developing a survey. This survey will help us understand how best to allocate donations to support the areas that matter most to you, ensuring we create a positive and thriving environment for both students and staff. We plan to make the survey available to the PCK community after Thanksgiving.

This week, we are excited to shine our volunteer spotlight on the PTO for their incredible efforts in organizing the ButterBraids sale. Their dedication went above and beyond in ensuring a smooth process—from distributing orders to managing the sale. These fundraisers directly support initiatives that prioritize teacher wellness and satisfaction, which are essential to the strength and success of our school community.

The PTO plays a crucial role in many initiatives like this, contributing to the pride and spirit of our school, all driven by our outstanding volunteers. We are deeply grateful for their indespenable support.