PCHS Pirate News

February 24, 2025

Pirate Families,

We’re excited to welcome everyone back to school after recent inclement weather days. As we move forward, there are several important events on the horizon that support our students’ growth and development.

On February 27th, students will have the opportunity to explore future career paths during our Career Fair. Looking ahead to March 11th, our College & Career Readiness Day will help students prepare for their next steps beyond high school. Finally, on March 13th, we are proud to host our annual Diversity Fair, celebrating the unique backgrounds and perspectives within our school community.

We encourage you to discuss these upcoming opportunities with your student and look forward to their participation. As always, thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students' success.

- Dr. Kiel Giese

Principal, Platte County High School

Feb 24-28: Spirit Week Re-Do!

Feb. 27: Career Fair

Mar. 11: College and Career Readiness Day

Mar. 11: Ballot Issue Info Meeting, Cafeteria, 6:00-7:30 pm

Mar. 12: PTSA Meeting, 6:00 pm

Mar. 13: Diversity Fair, during both PLTs

Mar. 13: Grad Announcements/Cap & Gown Delivery, during lunch

Mar. 13: NHS Induction Ceremony, Auditorium, 6:30 pm

Mar. 19: Additional Grad Product Delivery Day, 7:00 am

Mar. 24-28: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break

Click here to view the full calendar on our website.

Due to all of the snow days, we are having court warming spirit week the 24th-28th.

Spirit Days

Monday: 80s Workout Gear (last work didn't work out, but Pirates do!)

Tuesday: PJs - Come Glowing in your PJs

Wednesday: On Wednesdays we wear PINK (Neon!)

Thursday: Class Color Day - Battle of the Brightest!
9th - yellow

10th - orange

11th - pink

12th - blue

Friday: Blackout

Baseball

2025 High School Baseball Tryout Form

Track and Field

2025 Track & Field Information

Girl's Soccer

Meeting for all girls interested in playing this spring:
Tuesday, Feb. 25 You can choose to attend at 7:15 am or 2:50 pm in Coach Brantley's room, 120 (downstairs in the new building).

Tryouts begin March 3rd, after school on the turf.

Practices are M-F from 3-5 pm.

Please bring cleats, shin guards, and a water bottle.

Boy's Golf

Please complete the questionnaire using the link provided if you are planning on trying out for the 2025 Pirates Golf Team.

2025 Pirate Golf Team Questionnaire

We will respond to all questionnaires completed with information regarding the 2025 Pirates Golf Team.

Tryouts begin March 3rd in Coach Janssen's Room 47 in the High School.

Boy's Tennis

1st Day is March 3 - 3-5. Athletes will meet at the tennis courts behind Siegrist Elementary.

PC Spring Athletics/Activities

The Platte County Health Department is partnering with Platte County R3 to offer required immunizations for students entering 12th-grade for the 2025-2026 school year. They will also provide recommended vaccines, should you choose. Health department staff will be at PCHS on Wednesday, March 12th to administer vaccines to students who have signed up and qualify.

This clinic is ONLY for qualifying, current 11th-grade students entering 12th-grade for the 2025-2026 school year.

Please review the attached letters from the health department for detailed information on eligibility for the vaccine clinic. If you decide to enroll your student in this free immunization program, please complete the online Consent and Registration Form by scanning the attached QR code or clicking the link below.

The deadline to sign up is February 26th.

https://tinyurl.com/2cb8p4s4

All incoming 12th-grade students must receive a 2nd Meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine before they can receive their back-to-school schedules. In accordance with Missouri state law, students who are not up to date on their immunizations will be unable to attend school.

PLEASE NOTE: The Meningococcal "B" vaccine is NOT the 2nd vaccine in this series. Other names for the Men B are Bexsero or Trumenba. Again, the "B" series will not meet the required vaccine requirements for school, though it is recommended.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. (816) 858-2822 ext. 1209. If your student has had the 2nd Meningococcal vaccine, please send the record to school with your student or send it via email to one of the school nurses.

Jennie Olson BSN, RN Email: olson.jennifer@pcr3schools.org

Mindy Kearns RN Email: kearns.mindy@pcr3schools.org

School Counselors have met with Juniors and Sophomores and are currently meeting with Freshmen to discuss the modification of their ICAP in determining course choices for next year. As the ICAP serves as a document for course selection, please review your child's ICAP to approve and support their course selections for the 25-26 school year. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child and individuals that may assist them in making an informed decision. If you have not seen your child's ICAP, please ask them to show you their ICAP, located in their Google classroom. Official course enrollment is set to begin soon. Once courses are entered into our scheduling system, changes can only be made if they align with the PCHS course change policy.

For parents of Sophomores & Juniors:

Is your child thinking about the Northland Career Center for next year? Applications are now open! Please check out the program's website to learn about opportunities and then ensure your child has completed the application, if they are interested. Have questions? Please contact your child's school counselor.

Northland Career Center Website

Northland Career Center Application

How do I qualify?

• US Citizen

• Signed A+ Agreement

• Attend A+ High School for 2 years

• Simple graduating GPA 2.5 or higher

• 95% Cumulative Attendance

• Achieve proficient or advanced on Algebra EOC or 17 on math ACT

• Complete and document 50 Peer Helping hours with our teachers

• No illegal drug or alcohol use, no more than 6 days of OSS

• Apply for FAFSA https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

• For more information: https://mcckc.edu/financialaid/aplus/

https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php

We are excited to host our first ever Career Fair! This Career Fair will be a great opportunity for our upperclassmen to get to know employers in our community, and learn more about the opportunities that these employers have to offer. The employers attending offer a mix of full time employment opportunities, part time opportunities, summer only opportunities, as well as internships opportunities!

Junior and Senior students will attend the career fair with their PLT teacher, while Sophomore students interested in attending will need to sign up to attend through their 2027 Google Classroom. Sophomore sign ups will be posted on Tuesday, Feb 18th.

This question will be placed on the April 8, 2025 ballot. If approved by voters, the approximately $62 million bond issue would fund the following projects identified in the District’s Long-Range Facility Plan:

• Completing Phase 2 of rebuilding Platte County High School, creating a consolidated high school building with all classrooms and programs under one roof
• Constructing site amenities at Platte Purchase Middle School activities complex
• Constructing playground facilities at Pathfinder Elementary
• Expanding parking and improving traffic flow and safety at Compass Elementary

For more information, click here, or attend an Informational Meeting:

• Monday, March 3, 2025, 6pm, Platte Purchase Middle School
• Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 6pm, Platte County High School

Join to learn and celebrate our community with Down Syndrome on World Down Syndrome Day!

Platte County High School Field House

Friday, March 21, 2025

Begins at 4:30 pm.

See flier for more details

Register Here

We will update you with more detailed information as we get closer to March 11, 2025.

• DATE CHANGE!! MARCH 7th, 8-noon, NOT Wednesday, April 2

More details along with sign-ups will be provided soon.

Parents of existing students currently in grades PreK-7 interested in K-8 Summer School: You can now enroll for 2025 Summer School via the Forms on PowerSchool Parent Portal (via a browser or the app). Please complete by May 9, 2025.

Summer School will be held May 30-June 27 at the following locations. Click here for more information about summer school.

• Barry Elementary: For all K-5th grade southern attendance area students (Pathfinder and Barry Elementaries)
• Compass Elementary: For all K-5th grade northern attendance area students (Compass and Siegrist Elementaries)
• PCMS: For all 6th-8th students, and 9th-12 grade students

*Incoming Kindergarten students can complete summer school enrollment after completing their regular school year enrollment (Kindergarten Kickoffs will be held April 15). New Student Enrollment for 2025-26 school year will be available soon.

**Information about enrolling in the High School summer school program will be available in April.

This is the spot for Senior Information and Dates.

• Class of 2025 IMPORTANT DATES
• Keep sending pictures for senior slideshow (1 baby, 1 current)
  *Scan and send the pictures to pchssenior2025@gmail.com
• Mar. 13 - Pick up Grad Announcements and Cap/Gown
• Apr 4 - Deadline for sending in pictures for slideshow
• Apr. 15: Senior Class Meeting, during PLT
• Apr. 26 - Prom

Senior Scholarships:

Scholarships for senior students can be found on our Local Scholarship page! New scholarships open every day, so we encourage students to check back often for new opportunities. Students and families with questions, or community groups wishing to offer a scholarship can reach out to Ms. Mikyla Murphy at murphy.mikyla@pcr3schools.org

Junior Scholarship Opportunity:

Traditional 11th Grade Scholarship through Great Jobs KC (formerly KC Scholars)

Ewing Marion Kauffman believed that nothing should stand in the way of anyone who wants to get a college degree. We agree and make it our mission to help remove the barriers that keep low- and moderate-income students from achieving their dreams of going to college. One of the programs that allows us to help make this a reality for thousands of Kansas City students is our Traditional Scholarship for 11th graders. This scholarship provides for up to $50,000 paid directly to the college. The 2025 scholarship application window is January 9th through February 28th. Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA or a 16 on the ACT. Students must also demonstrate financial need and community involvement. More information on the eligibility requirements, and the application can be found here.

Freshman Scholarship Opportunities:

My Missouri "MyMO" Scholarship Promise

The first scholarship opportunity I wanted to pass along that you may be eligible for is called the My Missouri “MyMO” Scholarship Promise Program. MyMO is a scholarship promise program intended to place 9th grade students from low-income backgrounds on a successful path to prepare, save and plan for college. To qualify, students and families will complete a Federal Student Aid Estimator to show exceptional financial need as well as open a MOST 529 College Savings account. Attached is the flyer with information including eligibility requirements and how to apply. The application is now open and will close March 1, 2025.

Informational zoom sessions will be held January through March for families to learn more about MyMO and get help with applying. Register for an evening session on zoom to learn more.

College Savings Match- Great Jobs KC (formerly KC Scholars)

I also wanted to share information on the College Savings Match Program, through Great Jobs KC, formerly known as KC Scholars. The Great Jobs KC – KC Scholars Scholarship Match and Incentive program provides eligible students with a 1:1 match and incentives up to $1,400 to use toward college. It is a one-time scholarship match. Match and incentive participants must enroll in college full-time following high school graduation to receive Great Jobs KC 529 matching grant funds. The application window for this program is from January 9th until February 28th. More information about the eligibility requirements, and the application can be found here.

SCHOLARSHIPS

As a reminder, your family must register for the meeting if you plan to attend. If you have not done so yet, click the following link: https://rsvp.eftours.com/cu77zxv

Those who register for the meeting will be eligible to receive a $200 tour scholarship and be eligible for Risk-Free Enrollment if they enroll on tour!

This informational meeting for the Summer 2027 trip to Switzerland, Italy, France, and Spain will take place at 6:30 PM on February 26.

I cannot wait to tell you more about this trip of a lifetime!

Dr. Sarah Majors

Whether you know it as marijuana, THC, cannabis, or weed, one fact is clear: No amount of marijuana use is safe for youth. Because young people’s brains are still developing into their mid-20s, they are much more vulnerable to the harmful effects of marijuana. Not only is today’s marijuana stronger than ever before, but it's more addictive than ever before. Marijuana use harms teen mental health and school performance, and makes driving even more dangerous for our kids. Here are 5 urgent reasons to keep our kids marjuana-free:

1. Marijuana today is stronger than ever before. The average potency of THC is marijuana flower in 1995 was just 3.96% compared to 15.34% in 2021. That’s an almost 400% increase in just the last 25 years!

2. Marijuana, like other drugs, can be addictive. About 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted, but if they start before age 18, the risk of addiction rises to 1 in 6.

3. Marijuana use harms teen mental health. Depression and anxiety are more common in teen marijuana users than in their non-using peers.

4. Marijuana use negatively impacts school performance. Students who use marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school compared to their peers who don’t use. The effects of marijuana use can include things like difficulty thinking, worsened problem-solving, memory and learning issues, and difficulty maintaining attention. All important skills for succeeding in school.

5. Marijuana use makes driving dangerous. Marijuana negatively affects the skills needed for safe driving - especially for inexperienced teen drivers - like alertness, concentration, judgment, coordination, and reaction time. Marijuana use is thought to roughly double a driver’s chances of being in a crash.

School Messenger is our automated phone calling and text notification system. We use this system to notify parents quickly for sudden changes in schedules due to emergencies, school cancellations, or just important school announcements.

If you aren't receiving the District's text reminders and notifications and would like to opt in to receive these, simply text "YES" to 67587. Standard text messaging rates apply.

You can now shop the PCHS student-run spirit store online. Orders will be filled Monday through Friday when school is in session. Check it out and support our students today!

PCHS Pirate Store

Safety is our District's top priority. PCR-3 has a system of safety and security measures in place, including trained security staff (now at every building following the passage of the Prop C Waiver/Levy Transfer), secure entryways, ongoing monitoring, and partnership with local law enforcement.

We remind parents, staff, and students that school safety is the responsibility of the entire school community. Please follow the principle of "see something, say something." If anyone (student, parent, staff member, community member) sees or hears anything of concern, please contact the District office at (816) 858-5420 so that those concerns can be investigated. You and your child can also easily report tips on bullying, harassment, or any safety issue you're concerned about through our online Safe Schools Alert system. Every tip is immediately logged in the system and our administration is notified so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. Tips may also be submitted anonymously. Each building's website has the Safe Schools icon located within the “quick links” bar on the homepage.

We are now using LINQ CONNECT for meal payment and account management.

Please create a new account - with student's ID - and you will be able to add money to their balance, as well as control limits, block a la carte, and transfer funds between your students when you need to.

• High School doors are open from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm. School begins at 7:30 am.
• No outside food or drink delivered or dropped off for the students. (see the handbook)
• Please CALL AHEAD if your student needs to be dismissed. This gives us time to prepare a pass so the teacher knows they need to leave class and check out at the welcome center or Paxton Center. It takes a longer time to reach classes that are outside (Band, PE, etc.)
  ***PLEASE NOTE: Students have been forgetting to check out with the Admin. Assistant when they have been called out. They MUST check out properly before leaving.

See the flyer below for information about tickets, schedules, registering online and uploading the student's physical, etc.

Pirate Activities Website

Activities Calendar

Click here for clubs and organizations offered at PCHS.

The Announcements button below is linked to our live document that is updated as soon as new events come up. Please check often so you do not miss anything!

👉Students can save this in their Google Drive and access it at least weekly.

Pirates ROCK (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.

February's #PiratesROCK trait is SELF CONTROL: displaying your emotions & behaviors in a positive way

Join PTSA and support students and staff!

PTSA Membership Form

Meetings are every second Wednesday, 6:00 pm, at Mid-Continent Library.

• President - Jennifer Ball - ptsapchs@gmail.com
• VP - Melanie Doll - ddoll1@att.net
• Treasurer - Jill Talbot - jrtalbot23@gmail.com
• & Robin Herron - herron.robin@pcr3schools.org

The Board of the Platte County High School Booster Club

• President: Heather Duncan farm2epa@gmail.com
• Vice President: Kim Macias-Lewis kimmacias@hotmail.com
• Treasurers: Kate Harmon harmons42@yahoo.com and
  Robin Herron herron.robin@pcr3schools.org
• Secretary: Keri Dillingham kerilucas@hotmail.com

Website: http://www.pchsboosterclub.com/ (Links to everything there!)

Twitter: @PirateBoosterPC

Signup Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084BACA92EA1FB6-booster4

Email: pcpirateboosterclub@gmail.com

The PCR-3 Treasure Chest is a stocked resource center providing food, milk, and toiletries for PCR-3 students and families in need. Qualifying families will receive a weekly form via email to sign up or can call 816-858-7001 for assistance.

Families will receive an email with approval to come to the Treasure Chest on Wednesdays from 4-6pm at the new Treasure Chest site (south side of Paxton building*).

*NEW Location