PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dear PCK Families,

Last week, we had the pleasure of running into many past students at fall events in our community. A trend among the former students we had the pleasure of talking to is that they are thriving in high school. We are so proud to see so many of our graduates serving in student government, competing in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), excelling in athletics, exploring careers in vocational professions, and leading both in and out of the classroom. Each of their stories reminds us that the work happening here, in our classrooms and hallways, matters deeply.

The dedication to excellence in education that guides our school isn't always the easiest path, but it is an intentional one. The rigor, cultural literacy, and character we help our students build today are the same qualities that help graduates to succeed in high school, college, and beyond. Through the partnership between parents and educators, we challenge students to rise above the status quo, to develop grit, determination, and a deep breadth of knowledge and skills. This collaboration results in students who stand out as confident, capable leaders in our community.

As we look through our building, from our 8th graders all the way to our youngest learners, we can see the same bright futures. Thank you for joining us in the commitment to this journey of excellence. A journey that starts right here at PCK and carries our students through whichever door in their future they choose to open.

With pride,

Dr. Leanne Weyman

Stephanie Harper

Breanna Warburton

For this week’s Spotlight, we wanted to share a look back at our Trunk-or-Treat event. Twelve families came together to create imaginative and festive trunk displays for our students to enjoy. This tradition is a key part of our annual Halloween celebration and a wonderful example of the strong parent involvement that defines our community.

This year, our staff had the fun task of voting for their favorite trunk display. After some tough decisions, the Best Trunk (by staff vote) award went to Shiloh and Dreyson Robertson for their jawdropping Jurassic Park trunk!

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, whether by decorating trunks, volunteering, or simply coming out to support your children. Be sure to check out our Volunteer Spotlight for more appreciation and recognition of the amazing volunteers who helped make this event possible.

This year we are once again inviting students to submit artwork for our Yearbook Cover Contest. This year's theme for the yearbook is "One Team. One Dream."

Students must submit their drawing on a standard 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of white paper. The artwork must be aligned vertical, and cannot be drawn horizontal. All entries must include a main image that references PCK. This could be anything from Cam the Cougar, the Spirit Rock, the PCK Logo, or even character traits. It is encouraged that winning entries include character traits as part of their design.

Entries must be submitted to the front office no later than Friday, November 14. Please note that all entries must be submitted with the form accessible through the button below.

This week, our 3rd and 6th grade science labs had the exciting opportunity to work with the Florissant Fossil Truck. The Florissant Fossil Quarry sits atop layers of shale formed millions of years ago by a volcanic eruption. When the ash settled, it trapped plants and animals within the shale, preserving them as fossils. Because the shale splits easily, it reveals these incredible ancient remains between its layers.

The Fossil Truck brings shale directly to PCK, allowing students to step into the role of amateur paleontologists. They get to search for their own fossils, keeping any they discover, and also enjoy viewing remarkable specimens previously unearthed at the quarry. The at home field trip supports the 3rd grade Life Science standard addressing how living organisms have changed over time (3.2.4), and the 6th grade Earth Science standard regarding how fossils are made and what they are made of (MS.2.9).

The PCK Spirit Rock is available for families to rent! All proceeds from Spirit Rock rentals go directly toward supporting the eighth-grade graduation, helping us create a memorable celebration for our students.

The Spirit Rock is located on the east side of our main parking lot and is available for families to decorate with their own messages. Celebrate a student’s birthday, recognize special milestones, share words of encouragement, or simply spread positivity throughout our community, the Spirit Rock is a fun way to make someone’s day.

You can reserve the Spirit Rock by clicking the button below.

Our Square 1 Art fundraiser is officially underway! Today, students in grades K-6 will be bringing home personalized catalogs featuring their unique artwork and the many custom keepsakes available to order. Families can choose from a variety of items including mugs, pillows, blankets, and more, all showcasing their student’s creative work.

Orders can be placed online and are due by November 25. To view your student’s artwork, click the button below to access Square 1’s Art Search. Select Colorado as the state, Core Knowledge Charter School as the school, and then enter your student’s name to see their art.

As temperatures begin to drop, we want to remind families to ensure students come to school dressed appropriately for the weather. Recess will take place when the temperature, including wind chill, is 22°F or higher, so it's important that students are prepared to stay warm outdoors.

With winter weather on the way, please make sure your child has a warm jacket, hat, gloves, and other outerwear to stay comfortable. If your child wears snow boots, hiking boots, or rain boots to school, we ask that you also send a pair of dress code complaint shoes for them to change into during the day. Students can switch back into their boots for recess as needed.

Thank you for helping us keep our students warm, safe, and ready to learn this winter!

Organized by our NJHS students, PCK is once again partnering with Bin Blessed for our schoolwide food drive! Bin Blessed serves as the biggest contributor of grocery items for the non-profit, There With Care. There With Care provides a wide range of meaningful services for families with a critically ill child, and families with a teen facing a mental health crisis.

Donations will be accepted from November 12–19. Each grade level has been assigned a specific food item to contribute. A full list of items and corresponding grade levels can be found below.

Bins for donations can be found in each classroom. Please remind your student to drop their donation in the donation bin for their classroom. The grade level that collects the most food items will win a root beer float party provided by Bin Blessed.

We’re honoring our heroes this Veterans Day, and we need your help to make this special celebration possible!

We are still seeking volunteers to donate breakfast items for the veterans who will be joining us for our Veterans Day celebration. Your contribution will help us show our deep gratitude and appreciation for their service and sacrifice.

Only nine more volunteers are needed to make this meaningful morning possible. If you’re able to contribute, please sign up and drop off your donated items by 7:45 a.m. on the morning of the breakfast.

Thank you for helping us come together as a community to celebrate and honor those who have bravely served our country.

Once upon a time, there was an extraordinary girl, sensitive and brilliant, named Matilda. This fall, our theatre department is proud to present Roald Dahl’s Matilda Jr. on Saturday, November 22. There will be two performances that day, the first at 11:30 a.m. and the second at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online using the button below.

is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by:

Music Theatre International

423 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 541-4684 Fax: (212) 397-4684

www.MTIShows.com

We are continuing our search for a qualified candidate to join our team as an Accounting and Human Resources Coordinator.

In the past, your referrals and recommendations have been key in helping us find individuals who share our school’s values and commitment to supporting our students.

If you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity, please click the button below to view the full job posting and submit an application.

At the moment our only club open for registration is our Homework Club, which meets from 3:20 to 4:15 p.m. You can find more information about the club and registration below.

Please note that all PCK clubs do not meet on early dismissal days.

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays

Meeting Location: Room 115

Grades: 3-6

Homework Club is different from our other clubs, as it will take place all school year. At this club students will have the opportunity to work on their homework while a teacher is there to guide them through their work.

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 12 at 8:15 am in the MS Commons. This meeting will have a virtual option, which can be found by clicking the button below.

We warmly invite the PCK community to join us for an opportunity to engage with our team and learn more about the vital role we play within Parker Core Knowledge.

The SAC serves an essential function by providing accountability in an advisory capacity. Our purpose is to inform, encourage, and create opportunities for parents or guardians to engage meaningfully with the school's performance, budget and improvement plans.

For this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, we’re shining a light on everyone who helped make our class parties and Trunk-or-Treat celebration such a success!

Thanks to your generosity, we collected over 15,000 pieces of candy this year, and by the end of the event, our supply was nearly gone. While our candy requests may have seemed ambitious, rest assured that every single piece found its way into the hands of our excited K–6 Trunk-or-Treaters!

But it wasn’t just about donations as our volunteers truly showed up. A huge thank you to our Safety Dads, Benjamin Plankis and Richard Downing, to everyone who decorated a trunk, and to all of our classroom volunteers who made class parties possible.

Days like these remind us what makes our community so special. We come together with one shared goal: to create joyful, memorable experiences for our students, surrounded by people who genuinely care for their happiness. It’s on days like this that we see our students, parents, and staff truly shine and we are so grateful to each and every one of you for making it happen.