PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dress Down Day

Foundation Meeting (8:30 a.m.)

Teacher Inservice Day (No School)

Labor Day (No School)

SAC Meeting (8:15 a.m.)

Spirit Day

PTO Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

Board of Directors Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

Dear PCK Families,

We are less than a month away from our annual PCK Fund Run on Friday, September 18, hosted by the PCK Foundation! The Fund Run is more than just a fun event, it’s an opportunity for our families to come together, celebrate our school, and directly support the programs, improvements, and experiences that help us continue setting the standard of excellence for our students.

Tomorrow, families will receive notification that the fundraiser Boosterthon is officially open. Please be sure to register your student so they can participate in this year’s fundraising efforts and have the opportunity to earn some of the new and exciting prizes tied to specific fundraising tiers.

The funds raised through the Fund Run have made a meaningful difference at PCK over the years. Each year, proceeds have helped provide individual teacher grants, allowing our teachers to supplement classroom needs beyond what is covered by the school’s annual budget. Fund Run proceeds have also supported important safety upgrades designed to further protect and insulate our students.

Most recently, proceeds from the Fund Run helped our school purchase new book vending machines. This exciting initiative will reward students while also encouraging and fostering a lifelong love of reading.

As our school continues to evaluate potential capital improvement projects, having the financial flexibility to invest in these opportunities is critical. Your support allows us to maintain a facility that is at the forefront of education while continuing to make thoughtful improvements that enhance the experience of every student.

And if donating isn’t possible, there are still many meaningful ways to get involved! I encourage families to consider volunteering on Fund Run day. Whether you’re serving as a Safety Dad, helping with setup and teardown, or simply helping maintain a safe and structured environment for our students, your time and support make an incredible difference.

Every contribution, no matter the amount, is greatly appreciated. Your participation and generosity have a direct impact on what we are able to provide for our students. Together, we can continue making PCK an exceptional place to learn, grow, and thrive.

Thank you, as always, for showing up, getting involved, and supporting PCK in so many meaningful ways!

With gratitude,

Heather Newbrough, School Director

Congratulations to this year’s summer reading winners! Our annual Summer Reading Challenge encourages students of all ages to keep their love for reading alive, because we believe that the habit of reading is what shapes lifelong learners.

This year’s winners from grades K-6th are as follows:

Kindergarten: Shayla Wyche

1st Grade: Adit Jayakumar

2nd Grade: Kiara Malik

3rd Grade: Seth Sumpter

4th Grade: Colin Harper

5th Grade: Arhaan Areeb

6th Grade: Akshara Praveen

These students were the first to use our brand-new book vending machines, inspiring them to continue their love of reading by choosing a book of their own.

We would also like to celebrate all of our students on their summer reading. This work over the summer helps to preserve what's been developed throughout the school year, and helps student to hit the ground running when they return each August!

*7th and 8th grade winners will be announced in their ELA classes at a later time.

This week, our kindergarten students embarked on their very first technology lessons, beginning with foundational keyboard navigation and memorization skills.

While these skills may seem small, they represent a big step forward. Students are learning to engage with technology in a structured, purposeful, and engaging way that supports their learning and sets the stage for exciting opportunities ahead.

As they continue to build on this foundation, they’ll gradually progress to more advanced skills. From learning to code and designing objects for 3D printing to programming interactive games.

The foundation they’re building today will open the door to remarkable experiences tomorrow. We’re excited to see where their curiosity, creativity, and growing technology skills take them!

As we settle into our routine for the school year, we continue to work toward making our carpool as safe and efficient as possible. We truly appreciate your continued effort and cooperation in following the standards and procedures we have established.

Please take a moment to review the reminders and resources below. We hope these will help clarify any questions or confusion you may have regarding our carpool procedures.

The biggest obstacle to a safe and efficient carpool is cars arriving well before their assigned window. We should not see cars stacking around PCK before 3:05 p.m. Currently, early arrivals are creating safety concerns for our neighbors and disrupting normal traffic flow as early as 2:40 p.m.

Once carpool begins at 3:10 p.m., cars move steadily and wait times are short. If you have a 3:10 or 3:20 p.m. window, arriving toward the middle or end of your window will help you avoid unnecessary wait times.

• Do not arrive early.
• Do not block driveways or streets.
• Do not cut through Chuck Vogel Park to enter the carpool line.
• Do not park around the island in the north parking lot or cut into the line. North carpool begins on Centerpark Loop; a designated staff member will direct cars to prevent stacking on Centennial.
• Pull all the way forward in the loop. Students will come to your car, and we load six cars at a time to keep the line moving.

• Do not arrive early, especially on Pine Drive.
• Cars traveling south on Pine Drive may not stop in the right-turn lane at Centennial. Driving straight through the turn lane may result in a traffic citation.
• Pull all the way forward to the dumpster to maximize the loading/unloading area.
• During a Modified Release due to lightning or weather, West Loop cars will join the South Loop near the main entrance, so expect increased traffic.

Looking good, West Loop!

• Do not arrive early
• Pull all the way forward to maximize the loading zone.
• During a Modified Release, we will not release students from the West Loop. West Loop families should join the South Loop at the main PCK entrance off Pine Drive. You do not need to drive around Centerpark Loop.

If you have another individual who assists with pick-up or drop-off and is not authorized to receive PCK communications, please be especially vigilant about communicating any changes to our carpool procedures with them.

We have encountered several instances where individuals who are not authorized to receive PCK communications have arrived to pick up students and were unaware that our pick-up procedure had been adjusted to a modified release.

Please take a moment to view these useful video resources regarding our carpool pick-up and drop-offs. These resources help to visualize the reminders included in this message.

A great opportunity for hands-on science learning is coming back to Parker! After a two year break, the PACE Center will once again host Science Night on Sunday, November 8.

Families can choose between two free sessions, with sessions taking place from 2:00-3:30 p.m., and 3:30-5:00 p.m. Both of these sessions are completely free to attend, and will have speakers from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Wings Over the Rockies, and many other organizations.

While this is a free event, registration is required for attendance. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 15 with limited availability.

Don't forget that our annual High School Information Night is back for the 2026-27 school year, taking place on Wednesday, September 30 from 5:00-6:30 p.m.!

Families will have the chance to connect with representatives from various schools and learn about the unique programs, extracurricular activities, and educational opportunities each one offers.

Please note this event is offered exclusively to our 7th and 8th grade families. This is done to provide these students with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth and hands-on evaluation of their options for their student, in preparation for their transition to the next step in their educational journey.

Tomorrow is the final day to opt out of our school directory for the 2026-27 school year!

The school directory is hosted on DirectorySpot. This includes student names, grades, homeroom teachers, class lists, and parent contact info. Access is secure and limited to PCK parents and staff. Users log-in with their authorized email and set their own password. For details on app security, click the button below.

Families who opted out during Express Check-In have already been excluded. If you’d like to opt out at any time, just fill our Directory Spot Opt-out form. Updates can be made throughout the year.

The app works on both iPhone and Android, and allows you to call, text, or email other parents.

Families who would like to now opt-out of being included in this year's directory, must do so by Friday, August 28 at 4:00 p.m.

Last night, the Board of Directors met and received Heather Newbrough's first Director’s Report since stepping into her role as School Director.

Heather updated the Board on onboarding efforts for new PCK staff members during their first month at the school, provided a preliminary timeline for the school’s charter renewal process, and shared updates on upcoming bond projects. These projects include replacing some of the school’s existing HVAC units and fire alarm system, along with other upgrades requested by the school.

The Board also received a financial update from Foundation President Pam Whitehorn, as well as an update on ongoing preparations for the upcoming Fund Run.

Additional topics discussed included onboarding for new Board members, scheduling annual training with PCK’s legal team, and planning a future opportunity to recognize and appreciate PCK staff during Teacher Appreciation Week.

The next Board of Directors meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. All members of the PCK community are encouraged to attend.

Warmly,

PCK Board of Directors

This year’s Fund Run is less than a month away! Please keep an eye on your messages tomorrow afternoon for important information on how to register your students for the Boosterthon.

We have lots of new and exciting prizes in store this year, and we can’t wait to share them with you soon! As soon as the Boosterthon opens, students can start fundraising, so get ready to kick things off!

We’re looking forward to an amazing Fund Run!

This year's Fund Run Headline Sponsor is SNR Contractors & Associates. Thank you for being such a big part of this year's Fund Run and a vital part of our community!

Back to School Movie Night is tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m.!

Bring your favorite snacks and join us for a fun-filled picnic-style evening with our PCK family! Bring your picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and cozy pillows as we gather on the field for a relaxing movie night under the stars.

This is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends, make new memories, and celebrate the start of what is sure to be another incredible year together. We can't wait to spend this special evening with you and your family!

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:15 a.m.

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 our school.

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.