PCK Weekly Newsletter

We are excited to share some outstanding news regarding the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report for the 2025 school year. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our students, staff, and community, and these rankings are a direct reflection of that effort.

For the 2025 rankings, PCK has achieved remarkable success across multiple categories:

#1 in Douglas County School District Elementary Schools

#1 in Colorado Charter Elementary Schools

#1 in Colorado Charter Middle Schools

#1 in Colorado Middle Schools

#4 in Colorado Elementary Schools

These rankings are based on an analysis of 979 elementary schools and 479 middle schools in Colorado, and we are thrilled to be recognized at such a high level.

Additionally, PCK has earned top state rankings in subject proficiency:

#2 in Middle School Reading Proficiency

#3 in Elementary School Reading Proficiency

#4 in Elementary School Math Proficiency

#4 in Middle School Math Proficiency

These accomplishments are a testament to the tireless efforts of our exceptional staff, who continually work to provide our students with a world-class education. We are proud of how our community embraces our mission to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and character, all while fostering the critical thinking, responsibility, and leadership qualities that will help them excel in the future.

Thank you for being part of our community and for helping make PCK a place where excellence is not only expected but achieved. Together, we continue to build a legacy of success for our students.

Hello PCK Families,

Well Colorado appears to be starting the season strong with the winter weather! I’m very excited for the snow to have started but I, like most people, think it’s best when I can either be snowboarding or curled up at home in my pajama pants. Please be safe while driving, keeping the speeds appropriate for the weather and giving yourself plenty of space. I want everyone to be safe, families included!

I was so excited to experience my first Castle Day! The kids did such an amazing job! I took a states and capitols test with 5th grade (passed with a 98%!) and I’m continuing my Y.E.S.S. (Youth Education and Safety in Schools) presentations in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade health classes and this week through winter break about substance use and healthy relationships.

While colder weather sees less kids walking to and from school, please continue to be attentive during drop off and pick up of pedestrians crossing the streets. We have several crosswalks in the area of the school so please keep an eye out. On that same note if you have children who walk to or from school, please have a conversation with them about being safe when crossing the street and to use crosswalks. Our kids are so important to all of us so please be extra attentive!

And finally, if you do park off school property and wait for your pick up time please be cognizant of making sure you’re not parked in a way that is obstructing other traffic in the area. If this occurs, residents can call in parking complaints which could result in a summons.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Regards,

Deputy Sandifer

This week, our fourth grade students had the exciting opportunity to showcase their talents during Castle Day, a special event centered around medieval history. Students performed in front of their families, highlighting their skills in music, public speaking, teamwork, and creativity. The event was a fun and engaging way for students to explore the medieval era while demonstrating their hard work and learning.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families who attended to support our students, as well as to our dedicated fourth grade teachers. Their time, effort, and enthusiasm made Castle Day a success, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to creating such a memorable experience for everyone.

Tomorrow, Friday, November 15, is the final day to submit nominations for the prestigious 2025 Douglas County School District Apple Awards, and we encourage all of our PCK families to participate. These awards honor the exceptional educators and staff who inspire a love of learning and drive innovation within our schools.

Nominations can be made through a short video or a brief essay, highlighting why a staff member deserves to be recognized for their dedication and impact. The categories for nominations include:

We invite you to take this opportunity to celebrate the outstanding staff members at PCK who go above and beyond to create a positive and enriching learning environment for our students. Your nominations help shine a light on their hard work and dedication to our school community.

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow, November 15, is the final day to submit entries for our Yearbook Cover Contest. The theme for this year's yearbook is “Our Story: 30 Years in the Making” in celebration of PCK's 30th Anniversary.

Please keep the following in mind for your submission:

Format: 8.5x11 inch white paper, vertical orientation.

Theme: All entries should include a reference to PCK as the main image. This could be the PCK Cougar mascot, the PCK logo, character traits, or an image representing the school.

Submission: Please drop off the entry at the front office with your child’s name and grade level clearly labeled on the back.

We can’t wait to see your creative designs as we celebrate this special milestone.

Using the scientific method, students worked together to analyze clues from the scene of the crime, deduce possible suspects, and establish motives. With Deputy Sandifer’s help, our budding detectives were able to crack the case and find Bery safe and sound.

It was an exciting, hands-on learning experience that allowed students to apply critical thinking and teamwork in a fun and engaging way.

We are excited to announce our upcoming Food Drive in partnership with Bin Blessed, a wonderful organization dedicated to supporting families with children facing medical crises across the United States. From November 18 through November 22, we invite our students to participate in this meaningful initiative by donating specific items based on their grade level.

Each grade has been assigned a particular item to collect, and donations will be collected in the classrooms. This is a great opportunity to come together as a school community and show our support for families in need during difficult times.

To add some extra fun and excitement, the classroom with the most donations will win a root beer float party. We encourage all of our families to get involved and help make a difference. Your generosity will have a direct impact on families who truly need our support, and we are grateful for your contributions.

PCK will host a special presentation by Johnny's Ambassadors on Thursday, November 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School Commons.

Johnny's Ambassadors is a Castle Rock-based organization dedicated to educating communities about the harmful effects of THC on young people. This event is specifically for parents of students in grades 5-8. We also encourage students in grades 6-8 to attend with their parents. Please note that students younger than sixth grade are not permitted to attend.

If you plan to attend or would like more information on Johnny's Ambassadors and their mission, please click the buttons below.

Ticket sales for our Theatre Department's production of Disney's Aladdin Jr. are still open!

The show will take place on November 23, with two showings: one at 11:30 a.m. and another at 2:30 p.m. We truly encourage you to come out and support our talented students who have worked tirelessly to bring this magical story to life.

We are just one week away from our Square 1 Art custom keepsakes order deadline on Thursday, November 21. All families of K-6 students have received order forms featuring their child's artwork, which can be purchased on a variety of items like mugs, magnets, t-shirts and more.

If you're interested in previewing your student's artwork online, simply click the button below to access the Square 1 Art Search. In order to view a student's artwork enter their state, school, and name to find their unique designs.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the program, 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 would like to shine our volunteer spotlight on some incredible members of our community who helped make our Veterans Day breakfast a success.

Amber Gandolph, Amy McCluskie, Geetha Sudha, Jasmine Crawford, Jennifer Sorenson, Lanette Cardoso, Mona Mishra, and Premnath Murravani generously donated breakfast items to feed our veterans before our assembly. Their willingness to give their time and energy to support this important event truly reflects the spirit of giving back to our community.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to these volunteers for their dedication. Your contributions helped make our Veterans Day celebration memorable, and we are so grateful for your continued support.