PCK Weekly Newsletter

Hello PCK Communtiy,

You may have seen the recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlighting ongoing challenges in student performance nationwide. The nation's educational report card indicates a glum outlook on reading and math proficiency. A mere 39% of students in fourth grade math and 28% of students in eighth grade math are meeting national proficiency marks. In literacy, 31% of fourth graders and 30% of eighth graders meet national proficiency marks. Encouragingly, we see vastly different results in our building with 95% of fourth graders and 96% of eighth graders proficient in math, and 94% of fourth graders and 100% of eighth graders proficient in literacy at PCK.

A recent research publication points to an effective solution and the key to PCK’s success. A comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia, led by David Grissmer, has demonstrated the significant benefits of E.D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge curriculum. This long-term study found that students who engaged in the Core Knowledge sequence made notable gains in reading comprehension. So much so that researchers note, "if we could collectively raise the reading scores of America’s fourth graders by the same amount as the Core Knowledge students in the study, the U.S. would rank among the top five countries on Earth in reading achievement". Research supports that background knowledge is essential for understanding complex texts, a gift we give our students through the Core Knowledge education provided at PCK.

By systematically building a broad base of knowledge across subjects, Core Knowledge equips students with the context needed to grasp sophisticated language and ideas. These findings highlight the importance of a content-rich curriculum in strengthening academic success.

As we strive to provide the best possible education for our students, we remain committed to fostering a strong foundation of knowledge that will prepare them for lifelong learning.

Warm regards,

Dr. Weyman

This week, we are excited to spotlight sixth grader Sonit Kumaravel for his remarkable achievement of advancing to the Colorado State Spelling Bee, which will take place on Thursday, February 20. Sonit is one of only 24 students who will represent Douglas County after winning the PCK Spelling Bee, and advancing from the DCSD Spelling Bee.

We are incredibly proud of Sonit's hard work, dedication, and the way he has represented PCK throughout this journey. Please join us in wishing him the best of luck as he competes at the state level.

Good luck, Sonit all of us at PCK will be cheering you on!

We are officially releasing our PCK Intent to Return Form for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. This form is designed for families who are certain they will not be returning to PCK for the next school year, as well as for those who are considering a change in schools and may not yet have finalized their decision.

Please be aware that submitting this form does not serve as an official withdrawal from PCK. If your circumstances change and you decide to continue at PCK, submitting this form will have no impact on your child's enrollment status. Instead, this form helps our enrollment team gain a clearer picture of potential openings for the upcoming school year, allowing us to better plan for incoming students and manage waitlists efficiently.

Families with students in eighth grade who are transitioning to high school do not need to complete the Intent to Return Form.

We appreciate your time in completing the form.

We are thrilled to share that our recent Retro Dress Down Day was an absolute success. It was a joy to see our students and staff embracing the spirit of the event, dressing in style from their favorite decades, including the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

We believe that these themed dress down days are more than just a chance to have fun—they foster a sense of unity and school spirit. Seeing our staff and students come together in such a lighthearted way strengthens the bond between us all and creates lasting memories.

As part of PCK’s ongoing commitment to enhancing student learning, we are excited to share a recent grant through our Foundation that has been put into action. Our Spanish Department received a generous grant from the Foundation that provides all of our Spanish classrooms with Spanish-English dictionaries.

These books will play a crucial role in supporting language acquisition and comprehension for our students. By having these resources available, students will be able to engage more deeply with their lessons, and improve their vocabulary connections between Spanish and English.

It is through your support that grants like these are made possible, directly impacting the quality of education at PCK and enhancing the learning experience for all of our students. These grants are funded through Foundation fundraising initiatives throughout the year, and we are so grateful for your continued partnership in helping us provide the best education possible.

Thank you to all of the campers who attended our K-5 Basketball Camp this week. This year, we had the unique opportunity to combine our girls’ and boys’ camps, allowing us to offer a more personalized, hands-on approach to teaching the fundamentals of basketball. Our campers were able to focus on the skills necessary to succeed in the sport, while also learning the value of teamwork and dedication.

We look forward to hosting more campers next year and continuing to provide opportunities for young athletes to grow and develop their skills.

As we recognize National School Counseling Week from February 3-7, 2025, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the incredible work of our student services team. This week is a reminder of the vital role they play in supporting the educational, emotional, social, and mental well-being of our students.

At PCK, we are proud to have a dedicated team who work to provide our students with the resources and support they need to thrive—both academically and personally. Our student services team ensures that every child has the tools and guidance to reach their full potential.

We firmly believe that placing mental health at the forefront of education is essential for student success. When students feel supported emotionally, they are better equipped to face challenges, focus in the classroom, and engage in meaningful relationships with peers and teachers. A positive mental health environment is not only critical for academic achievement but also for fostering resilience, self-confidence, and overall well-being.

We’re excited to announce that our Tech Department will be hosting Minecraft Club, starting Wednesday, February 19. This club is exclusively for students in second, third, fourth, and fifth grade, and will meet each Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in Mrs. Yanzito’s room, running until April 16.

In Minecraft Club, students will have the opportunity to connect with one another through creative builds, exciting adventures, and friendly competition in a collaborative gaming environment.

Please note that seats are limited, so if your child is interested be sure to sign up soon.

We would like to inform you that Homework Club will be cancelled from February 10 through February 13. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Students who normally attend Homework Club can be picked up at their usual carpool times on these days.

Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on Wednesday, February 12, and Thursday, February 13. Due to these conferences, we will have an early release on both days, with carpool starting at 12:10, 12:20, and 12:30 p.m.

Our tech department is eager to offer extra learning opportunities for students to explore the exciting world of technology, and is offering their very first Tech Camp.

Tech Camp will meet in the Lunchroom, taking place on Wednesday, February 12, from 12:05 to 3:10 p.m., and is open exclusively to students in second, third, and fourth grades.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore technology in a creative and interactive setting, and we hope to see many students take advantage of this experience. Please note that spaces are limited.

There are still available slots to rent the PCK Spirit Rock. This is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate a special occasion or send a message of support, while also helping fund our eighth grade class' graduation later this year.

All proceeds from the Spirit Rock rentals will directly benefit the eighth grade graduation, helping create a memorable celebration for our students.

Our next Coffee With the Director event is coming up on Tuesday, February 18 at 8:30 a.m. This event will be entirely virtual, allowing families who cannot attend in person the opportunity to join us and speak directly with Dr. Weyman.

To participate, please complete the RSVP form below. A virtual meeting link will be sent out the day of the event to all those who complete this RSVP. We look forward to connecting with you again and continuing our work together to support our students and community.

We look forward to hosting our families at our upcoming Community Feedback Session for PCK’s Strategic Plan. This session will take place on Wednesday, February 26, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Your insights and input are essential to the continued growth and success of our school. In order to attend and share your feedback, please complete the RSVP form linked below.

We strongly encourage all PCK families to attend, as your voices will help us refine and strengthen our plan for the future. Together, we can ensure PCK remains a thriving and forward-thinking school for years to come.

We wanted to remind families that our Father-Daughter Dance is just one day away! The event will take place this Friday, February 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and we can’t wait to see everyone there. This year’s theme is Under the Sea.

Please note that starting today, ticket prices have increased. There will be a difference in ticket pricing for those purchasing today or at the door, compared to those who have already secured their tickets. We are looking forward to hosting our fathers and daughters for a wonderful night of fun and memories.

Our upcoming Spirit Night is just a week away, and will be at Parry's in Englewood.

The next SAC meeting is set for Wednesday, February 12 at 8:15 a.m. We welcome your participation and input as we strive to enhance our school community.

If you have any questions about participating in SAC, or if you would like to contribute topics or questions to SAC but are unable to attend, please feel free to reach out to us at our email, SAC@ckcs.net.