PCK Weekly Newsletter

As we approach the end of the first few months of school, we wanted to take a moment to share some of the exciting activities our students have been engaged in during science class. Science education plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded students by encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for academic success and life beyond the classroom.

Our third graders recently had a unique opportunity to dissect owl pellets, an engaging hands-on experience that helped them understand the balance of ecosystems and food chains. Meanwhile, our kindergarteners participated in a taste-testing lab, exploring their senses and learning the basics of observation. Other grades have been actively applying the scientific method to various experiments and delving into topics such as energy and momentum.

We believe that by making science fun, interactive, and relatable, we can spark a lifelong love for learning. Through real-world experiments and visualization, our goal is to ensure that students not only understand scientific concepts but can also apply them to the world around them.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your participation and support in our athletic camps! These camps provide a wonderful opportunity for our aspiring future Cougar athletes to engage with our programs, meet our current coaches, and enjoy a variety of activities.

Additionally, the camps give our current players the chance to give back by sharing their skills and passion for their sport with younger athletes. It's a great way for them to develop leadership while fostering a sense of community within our programs.

We encourage all of our interested students to get involved in future camps, helping to build on the success and experience of our outstanding athletes and coaches.

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 after Fall Break.

As we transition into October, we are shifting our focus to Responsibility as our Character Trait of the Month. At PCK, we believe that teaching students about responsibility is essential in helping them grow into respectful and dependable individuals. Responsibility builds trust, fosters accountability, and encourages students to take ownership of their actions, both in and out of the classroom.

To support this month’s theme, we invite you to participate in our Character Challenge by recognizing individuals who play an important role in the background of our daily lives—those whose efforts often go unseen but are crucial to our community's success. Please take a moment with your child to acknowledge these individuals to let them know they are appreciated and valued.

Together, we can continue to build strong, responsible leaders in our school and beyond.

The Douglas County School District will be hosting a Diwali celebration on October 28. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important festivals in Hindu culture. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and is celebrated with family gatherings, festive meals, and the lighting of lamps.

At PCK, we believe it is essential to recognize and celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our community. Understanding different traditions fosters respect and empathy, helping to shape well-rounded and globally-minded students.

Families who wish to attend the Diwali celebration must RSVP by October 7 to allow event organizers ample time to prepare. We encourage you to join us in celebrating this beautiful festival and learning more about the rich cultural heritage of Diwali.

We are excited to announce that our Trunk or Treat event is coming up on Halloween, and we are currently searching for volunteers to create fun and festive trunk displays for our trick-or-treating students to enjoy. This is a great opportunity to get creative and make this event a memorable experience for our students.

As we get closer to the event, we will be sending out weekly reminders to ensure everyone is aware of the procedures. This week, we want to remind trunk-or-treat participants that set-up can begin no earlier than 12:30 p.m., and visitors can arrive starting at 1:45 p.m. Additionally, those with trunk displays will need to pack up promptly after the event to clear the parking lot before carpool begins. This will help us ensure a smooth transition into our regular afternoon carpool schedule.

Thank you for your continued support in making this a fun and safe event for all!

As we prepare for the PTO annual Fall Festival tomorrow, we want to remind you of a few important procedures to ensure a smooth and safe transition from the school day to the event.

Student Pickup: All students must be picked up after school. Children may not stay on campus to wait for the Fall Festival, even though it starts shortly after dismissal. Any students who remain on campus will be brought to Champions, and you will be charged a drop-in fee. Please plan accordingly and ensure your children are picked up on time.

Parking for the Fall Festival: Parking will be available once our carpool has finished. Please be aware that parking may be limited, and we ask everyone to proceed with caution as our staff leave the parking lot to make room for families attending the event.

We appreciate your cooperation in making this a fun and safe event for all!

PCK is fortunate to have a strong and engaged community of volunteers who help make many of our school's fantastic events possible. As we enter October, we have several opportunities for parents and families to get involved and support our students.

Earlier today, we notified you of our upcoming Hearing and Vision screenings on October 24 and 25. These screenings provide evaluations for our students, thanks to the dedication of our health staff. To ensure the event runs smoothly, we encourage you to sign up for any available volunteer slot that fits your schedule.

Additionally, our Scholastic Book Fair will open next week, and we still have a handful of one-hour volunteer slots to fill. This is a wonderful event for our students, and your time, no matter how small, contributes greatly to its success.

We truly value and appreciate any time you can volunteer. Your efforts help us reach our goal of providing an exceptional experience for our students, and together, we can continue to make PCK a great place to learn and grow.

We want to remind you that Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10. Due to these conferences, we will have early release on both days, with carpool beginning at 12:10, 12:20, and 12:30.

If you haven’t yet signed up for a conference, there’s still time. Please visit our website using the link below to secure a slot. We look forward to seeing you and discussing your student's progress.

The National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) is reintroducing our Homework Help service this fall. This is a wonderful opportunity for your student to receive one-on-one assistance from a member of NJHS. Whether your child is looking for extra support or just needs help with daily homework, our NJHS students are ready to lend a hand.

Homework Help will begin on Monday, October 7 and will be held in the science lab on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10–3:45 p.m. Each session will cost $10, with all proceeds going toward NJHS dues and funding important initiatives for the honor society.

Questions about placement or registration should be directed to Mr. Robbins via email at drobbins@ckcs.net. He will provide more information and match your student with one of our highly qualified NJHS members. If you would like to proceed with registration, you can do so below.

Tomorrow is our annual Fall Festival!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

The success of our Fall Festival depends on the support of our dedicated volunteers, and we cannot make it happen without you. We are seeking volunteers to assist with setup, cleanup, ticket sales, managing games, and more. If you have the availability, please consider signing up for more than one slot.

TICKET INFORMATION

To avoid long lines, we encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets are required for all activities except for food trucks and bounce houses. Individual tickets are $1 each, but you can save by purchasing in bundles before tomorrow, as prices will increase on the day of the festival.

Pre-Sale Ticket Pricing

$1 = 1 ticket

$5 = 6 tickets

$10 = 13 tickets

$20 = 25 tickets

To purchase tickets in advance, please use the button below, or via Venmo @ckcspta (please provide the name of the person picking up the tickets).

Our next SAC meeting is right around the corner on Wednesday, October 9 at 8:15 a.m. in the MS Commons. 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 Blaise Singer at bsinger@ckcs.net.

This week, we are thrilled to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on Chelsea Spika for her outstanding support through her photography. Many of you may have seen her work without realizing it, as Chelsea is responsible for capturing countless priceless moments at PCK events. Her photos not only showcase the joy, growth, and achievements of our students but also help us all visualize the deep significance these moments have for our school community. Thank you, Chelsea, for everything you do—you make our school a brighter place!