PCMS Weekly Update

Students that submitted a class change request should continue to follow their current schedule until you receive an email from one of the counselors. We are currently enrolling new students, therefore we may not be able to review class change requests until next week. Students and parents will receive an email letting them know if we were able to accommodate the request or not. We are no longer accepting class change requests.

Through a program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), we are working with our kiddos on organization all of their school life (pretty daunting challenge we’re taking on!!). As you’ve seen with the school supplies, we’re expecting them to have a 3-ring binder that we’ll show them how to organize all their things with. They will take this, and a planner that we’ll give to each student, to each and every one of their classes. Our goal is to help them to organize their life a bit to be more successful, prepared, and productive in their learning.

Each day will begin with an Advisory period where we will focus on character education and organization through the use of a 3-ring binder (see the school supply lists) and a planner. Please pay particular attention to the supply lists as students will be expected to carry a 3-ring binder (with their supplies) and their planner (which we will provide) to each and every one of their classes. Our goal is to help them to organize their life a bit to be more successful, prepared, and productive in their learning (and to help solve the mysterious disappearance of all the things that a middle schooler loses 🤪)

As a reminder, students are allowed to have water bottles with them throughout the day. We have several water bottle filling stations located throughout the school that students can use all day. We do ask that their bottles have a sealed lid to help contain spills and messes. One thing that we are asking your help with this year is not having students bring in the QT, Sonic, Starbucks, energy drinks, etc. into school in the mornings. If they do bring that into school, they will be asked to take it to the cafeteria to finish and not to their classrooms. We appreciate your help with this!

As we get closer to the start of school, we continue to receive new students to PCMS. Some student schedules do get adjusted to make sure class sizes stay balanced. So, there is a slight chance that your student might have had a class change since they picked up their schedule during Registration. If your child’s schedule does change, we will email you their updated schedule. On the first day of school, we do give each student a new copy of their schedule so they know for sure where they’re going.

In Middle School, we follow a Block schedule. For our new 6th graders and all our families that are new to the district here is a short explanation of how our schedule works.

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday will be a 7-period day with 50-minute classes. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, students will be rotating through 90-minute classes. Wednesday will be hours 1, 3, 5 & 7 (odd days) and Thursday will be hours 2, 4, & 6 (even days) with a flexible time at the end of the day.

We will follow the 7-period schedule for the entire 1st week of school. The Block schedule will start on the 2nd week of school.

Parents, it might help your students out if you would highlight their schedules with different colors showing them their Wednesday and Thursday schedules before the 2nd week of school.

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.

Bus route information was emailed to parents last Friday 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

Aug 19

• 7/8 Volleyball Tryouts, 3 pm
  
• First 7/8 Football Practice @ PPMS , 3:15 pm

Aug 20

• First Day of School
• 7/8 Volleyball Tryouts, 3 pm

Aug 21

• 7/8 Volleyball Tryouts, 3 pm
  
• First 7/8 Cross Country Practice, 3 pm

Aug 22

• Band Instrument Rental Night, 6 pm
  

Aug 27

• Fall Picture Day
• 7th & 8th Grade Back to School Night, 6 pm
  

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.

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/