PCH Community Update

2024-2025: The Weeks of January 6 & January 13

Happy New Year! I hope each of you enjoyed the winter break, the time away from the routine of school, and time with family and friends. As we anticipate our return to school (we have now received the call that school is canceled tomorrow...more on that below), please take several moments to review this two week edition of PCH Community Update, which includes...

Calendar Reminders
Inclement Weather Information
Context of School: January
Parkway Holiday Cup: Thank You!
Cocoa & Cram: Sponsored by Link Crew
Final Exam Schedule for Semester 1
Student Parking for 2024-2025
Spur Yearbook: Senior Pictures
PAA: Granting Dreams
PCH Athletics & Activities Winter Newsletter
The Coral Newspaper & PCHTV
Colts Corner Store
Student Absences: Reminders for Parents
Free & Reduced Meals
Parkway Food Pantry
Find Your Bus Stop
Morning Arrival Procedures
Daily Building Procedures
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
Parents: Update Your Family Profile
Parents: From the PTO
General Resources
Links to Nutrition, Technology, Staff Directory.
Central High Administrators

As a reminder, PCH Community Update is the school newsletter shared with students and parents throughout the school year. For much of the content, students are the primary audience. Parents, please encourage your student to regularly check their Parkway email account to review new updates. The next Update will be sent on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 4 pm. Thank you for your support and, as always, Go Colts!

Sincerely,

Tim McCarthy

Principal, PCH

Calendar Reminders

The daily schedule for the week of January 6 is:

Monday, January 6: ODD (Red) Day
Tuesday, January 7: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Ac Lab: Modules 1 & 2
Wednesday, January 8: ODD (Red) Day
Thursday, January 9: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Ac Lab: Modules 1 & 2
Friday, January 10: ODD (Red) Day

The daily schedule for the week of January 13 is:

Monday, January 13: E-FE Day (Light Blue) Day --- Block 1 Exam, then Blocks 2, 6, 8
Tuesday, January 14: Final Exam Half Day --- Blocks 2 & 3, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Wednesday, January 15: Final Exam Half Day --- Blocks 5 & 7, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Thursday, January 16: Final Exam Half Day --- Blocks 6 & 8, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Friday, January 17: No School for Students (Records Day for Staff)

Additional minutes of Study Time are built into 6th Block on ALL (Purple) Days, which are scheduled on the following dates in the next few weeks:

None

In addition, please note the following IMPORTANT dates / events on your calendar:

Monday, January 6: School Resumes --- ODD Day
Thursday, January 9: Expo Night, 6:30 pm
Monday, January 13: E-FE Day, Block 1 Exam, Blocks 2, 6, 6, No Ac Lab, Regular Dismissal
Tuesday, January 14: Final Exam Half Day --- Block 2 & 3 Exams, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Wednesday, January 15: Final Exam Half Day --- Block 5 & 7 Exams, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Thursday, January 16: Final Exam Half Day --- Block 6 & 8 Exams, Dismissal at 11:35 am
Friday, January 17: No School for Students (Records Day for Staff)

Monday, January 20: No School, District Closed --- MLK, Jr Day
Tuesday, January 21: Semester 2 Begins --- ALL Day
Monday, January 27: Senior Pictures during Ac Lab
Wednesday, January 29: E-ER (Light Blue) Day, No Ac Lab, Dismissal at 12:30 pm
Friday, January 31: Class of 2025 --- Senior Panoramic at 9:15 am (start of Ac Lab)

To download the newest final version of the calendar (dated 07-29-24), click on the attached PDF.

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PCH - 2024-2025 - Calendar - 07-29-24 - Final.pdf

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Inclement Weather Information

Update from the Original: School is canceled for tomorrow, Monday, January 6. Enjoy the extra day. I will send an email tomorrow with more information about our return.

As I'm typing this section this morning, the sleet, freezing rain and snow are already accumulating. Students, I'm sure you are anticipating another day to sleep in and extend your winter break! As most folks are aware, the decision to cancel school is made by the superintendent. Dr. Marty and other district officials will be monitoring the weather, the forecast and road conditions throughout the day. When school is canceled due to weather, I usually receive word shortly before the message is sent to the community.

A canceled day of school usually causes an adjustment to the A-O-E sequence. We do this to ensure students and teachers are as prepared as possible when we return to school, while maintaing balanced minutes between odd and even day classes. My usual practice is to send an email to students and parents the morning of the canceled day of school sharing the type of day (All, Odd, Even) we will have when we return to school.

As for extra-curricular activiites, that will vary based on weather conditions. When conditions are signficant, you can expect all activities to be canceled. This is St. Louis, however, and there are days when the weather is bad in the morning, but by the afternoon the sun is out and the streets are clear. If you are involved in a winter activiity, look for communication from your head coach or lead sponsor.

For today and tomorrow, stay warm and safe; we'll see what the day and evening bring!

Context of School: January

This section is offered simply to provide a bit more information about what is happening at PCH in a particular month often in the background of our daily routine. January in schools is not only the beginning of a new calendar year, but is also the beginning of multiple transitions. For the current school year, students will transition from first to second semester; classes, teachers and lunch shifts may be different for second half of the year . In addition, current junior, sophomore, and freshmen students will begin their transition to the 2025-2026 school year by registering for courses later this month with counselors. Current 8th graders will also begin their transition to high school. To kick that off, all PCMS 8th graders and their families are invited to attend Central High's annual Expo Night on Thursday, January 9 at 6:30 pm to learn more about the academic and extra-curriular programs offered at PCH. So as we start a new calendar year this January, we also begin a new semester, welcome the soon to be newest members of the PCH members and lay the foundation for the next school year.

Parkway Holiday Cup: Thank You!

The results are in, and we’re excited to announce that Central High has claimed victory as this year’s Parkway Holiday Cup champions! This victory is a testament to the incredible school spirit, dedication, and generosity of our entire community.

A huge thank you to all the students who participated in our spirit days—your creative outfits and enthusiasm brought a wave of excitement to our school. Your spirit was felt throughout the halls and in our classrooms.

But the Parkway Holiday Cup wasn’t just about school pride—it was about giving back. The most exciting part of this event was how our community came together to support FamilyForward, an organization that helps children and families in need. The school supplies we collected will directly benefit children in our community who are facing challenging circumstances. These supplies are more than just pencils and notebooks; they are tools for success, providing students with the resources they need to succeed in school and feel supported. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our students, staff, and families, we have donated over 100 backpacks, more than 400 books, and nearly 500 markers, pencils, and folders.

Cocoa & Cram: Sponsored by Link Crew

Link Crew is hosting a Cocoa & Cram event for freshmen on Wednesday, January 8th from 2:45-4 pm in the PCH Library & Social Studies Commons. Link Leaders will be there to help freshmen study and prepare for final exams. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there! Please reach out to the Link Crew sponsor, Mrs. Byrd, at jbyrd@parkwayschools.net with any questions.

PCH Library Hosts Teddy

The Central High Library will now host sessions with a Duo Dog named Teddy! Duo Dogs are therapy dogs certified to work in hospitals, schools, libraries and other locations throughout the St. Louis area and must meet guidelines for temperament and training. Students will be able to sign up for the library during Mods 1 and 2 of Ac Lab on dates that will be shared in announcements, and they will be able to work in the library after they finish their visit with Teddy. The first visit will be on January 9, our last AcLab before finals, and will be limited to 36 students per Mod. We are grateful to Teddy and his owner Susan for volunteering to visit our community twice a month starting in January!

Art Show for Semester 1

Please join us for the PCH Art Department Art Show on Monday, January 13, 2025. PCH staff and students will be able to attend during the school day, while family and friends are invited to tour the show between 6-8pm that night. The show will be in the PCH art galleries.

The art show will include art from every student who had an art class during the first semester. Students spend countless hours learning new skills and then practicing to master them. Featured art will include paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, photography, 2-D designs, and digital designs. We hope you are able to join us for this inspiring event.

Please contact Cara Deffenbaugh with any questions: cdeffenbaugh@parkwayschools.net

Final Exam Schedule for Semester 1

The high school final exam schedule for first semester is HERE.

Student Parking for 2024-2025

UPDATE: Sophomores will NOT be eligible to park on campus for the second semester during school hours. This year, Central High's student parking lots are at capacity due to the number of parking passes issued to senior and junior drivers.

Background Info: In previous years, space was available in the student parking lots to allow some sophomores to park at school during the school day beginning in the second semester. Availability varies year to year based on the size of the senior and junior classes and the number of seniors and juniors wanting to drive to school. This year, we simply have more seniors and juniors who have been issued school parking passes.

Expectations: Therefore, only seniors and juniors who purchased a school issued parking pass are eligible to park on campus during school hours. In addition, student drivers are expected to display their school issued parking pass on their rearview mirror. Student drivers are expected to park in the school's main lot or the east lot (closest to Woods Mill Rd). Failure to follow expectations for student drivers is a violation of the school's discipline policy and may result in fines and / or other consequences.

Sophomore and freshmen students are NOT eligible to park on campus during the school day --- no exceptions! Doing so is a violation of the school's discipline policy and may result in disciplinary consequences.

Spur Yearbook: Senior Pictures

The Winter Session (and very last session!) for Senior Pictures will be Monday, January 27 (Even Day) from 9-11 a.m. in the Gym A Lobby. If you are a senior who has not had their picture taken by Wagner, please plan to attend. More info to come. Again, this will be the last opportunity to have your senior picture taken at school. If you do not want to wait until January, you can contact Wagner to schedule an appointment in their studio by phone 314-567-5900 or on their website.

PAA: Granting Dreams

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Granting Dreams Applications Open Flyer PAA2024.pdf

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PCH Athletics & Activities Winter Newsletter

The Corral Newspaper & PCHTV

The first digital edition of the student newspaper, The Corral, is out online! Go to pchcorral.com for the latest in student news, sports and more. You can also follow them on social media at pch_publications on Facebook and Instagram.

Additionally, the first episode of our student broadcast program, PCHTV, came out this week. Visit youtube.com/pchtv-stl to watch full episodes and individual stories.

Colts Corner Store

Colts Corner Store is Central High's school store and is located in the lower commons. Ms. Pam Foutch runs the Colts Corner Store and serves as Central High's school accounts specialist. Throughout the school year, students and parents will use the school store in two primary ways:

To purchase parking passes, dance tickets, school supplies, and various other items.
To pay course fees and school / district related fines.

In addition, Ms. Foutch monitors all payments made by families via Infinite Campus and provides updated spreadsheets to the coaches and sponsors. She also assists families via telephone or in person with questions regarding their students’ account information, payments, etc.

If you have questions about your school account (or that of your student's), Ms. Pam Foutch can be reached at (314) 415-7927 or pfoutch@parkwayschools.net.

The Parkway School District participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This allows families the opportunity to apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility.To apply, click on the button below.

Student Absences: Reminders for Parents

As a reminder to parents and guardians, please contact the appropriate grade level office when your student is absent from school. Missouri law and Parkway policy requires the school to keep accurate daily attendance records. To that end, a phone call or email from a parent or guardian on the day of a student absence is essential. At Central High, please call our dedicated attendance line at 314-415-7926. From there you will be prompted to choose one of four options:

Option 1 - 9th grade
Option 2 - 10th grade
Option 3 - 11th grade

Option 4 - 12th grade

Free & Reduced Meals

Click the button above to submit your confidential application.

Parkway Food Pantry

Parkway families and employees are now able to sign up for food pantry distributions this year by completing this form. Families don't have to sign up to come, but it helps us anticipate the number of patrons we will be serving, as well as enabling us to email those who register with updates and reminders before the day of distribution. Click on this link Parkway Food Pantry for additional information.

Find Your Bus Stop

To find your bus stop, click on the picture to the left.

Morning Arrival Procedures

Students and Parents: Please review this section whether you are riding the bus to school, dropping off your student, or driving yourself.

Officer Chris Kaatmann, Central High's new school resource officer, and Mr. DePriest Ammons, Central High's daytime custodian, will be directing traffic in the morning to assist with dropoff. Please follow their directions.

Buses will dropoff students in the North Parking Lot. Students will exit the bus and enter through Door 40, the back entrance to the athletic wing.
Parent Drivers may enter campus through the main entrance or via Stadium Drive. You will then be directed to the front of school via the main driveway (do not enter the North Lot). Use the lane to the far RIGHT of the median and along the curb. Pull forward as much as possible, then let your student out. Please go slow and yield to students crossing from the main lot. Student should enter through Door #1 - Main Entrance.
Student Drivers may arrive on campus through the main entrance or via Stadium Drive. You will then be directed to the front of school via the main driveway (do not enter the North Lot). Use the lane to the far LEFT of the median, then proceed to either the Main Lot or the East Lot. Please go slow and yield to students crossing from the main lot. Student should enter school through Door #1 - Main Entrance.

Daily Building Procedures

Students and parents, please review the daily building procedures below.

The building opens to students at 07:00 am.
In the morning, students are expected to enter through Door #1 - Main Entrance (student drivers and students being dropped off) or Door #40 - Back Athletic Entrance (bus riders).
Breakfast is available from 07:00 am - 07:30 am.
Classes begin at 07:35 am. Students are expected to be in their assigned room by 07:35 am. For the first few days of school, we will work with students as some adjust to a new building and all to a new schedule.
The internal set of doors at the main entrance will be locked at 07:35 am. Students tardy to school will check in inside the new vestibule. Students will be issued a pass, then report to class.
All visitors, includng parents, are expected to enter through the main entrance and check in using vestibule.
Visitors cleared to enter the main building are expected to wear their school issued visitor badge for the duration of their visit to PCH.
Students dismissed during the school day (e.g. for an appointment with a parent) are expected to exit the building through the main entrance.
During school hours (07:00 am - 02:30 am), deliveries for students from outside entities, including, but not limited to, food delivery services are not allowed. Parents may continue to drop off items for students (e.g. lunch), when necessary.

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

Students and Parents: Please review this section whether you are riding the bus home, picking up your student, or driving yourself.

Buses will line up on the front driveway using lanes to the RIGHT of the median for dismissal. Students riding the bus home should exit school through the main entrance or the theater entrance, then board their bus. School staff will be available to help students find their bus, especially for the first two weeks of the school year. Buses release at 02:37 pm, seven minutes after the dismissal bell.
Parent Drivers picking up students at dismissal may wait on the front, main driveway in the near lane to the LEFT of the median or on the SOUTH bound lane of Stadium Drive. Please do not park and wait in the North Lot. Go slow and yield to students.
Student Drivers should exit school through the main entrance or the theater entrance, then walk cautiously to their vehicle. As you exit the Main Lot or the East Lot, please be patient and follow the directives of the adult releasing buses and vehicles. Go slow and yield to students.

Parents: Update Your Family Profile

It is important to have accurate contact information for each family. Parents can update their Family Profile online using Infinite Campus or in the Infinite Campus Parent app. Please complete the update before the first day of school. Update your family profile HERE.