PCK Weekly Newsletter

Hello PCK Community,

It’s been a joy reconnecting with so many of you as we settle into the rhythm of the new school year. I’m truly looking forward to continuing these conversations and hearing your thoughts, questions, and feedback as we move forward together.

With that in mind, I’m excited to invite you to our first Coffee With the Director of the 2025–26 school year. This event is a chance for us to connect in a relaxed setting, enjoy some coffee and light pastries, and most importantly, engage in open dialogue. I want our community to feel heard and to have a clear window into how our school operates. Transparency and collaboration are at the heart of what we’re building together.

To help us plan accordingly, we kindly ask that you RSVP using the form below. Your response ensures we’re prepared to welcome everyone comfortably.

Warmly,

Dr. Weyman

You may have noticed that this week’s newsletter has a new look. We’ve updated the overall design and visual elements to better reflect our school, while also introducing new features that we hope will enhance your reading experience.

One of these noticeable changes is the addition of a table of contents for our desktop readers. This table of contents is interactive and allows you to jump from section to section of the newsletter. You can simply click on any section along our left margin, making it quicker and easier to find the information you’re looking for.

Our goal with these navigational updates and visual changes is to make the newsletter more user friendly and organized. We hope these changes help you get the most out of each issue and make your reading experience smoother from start to finish.

Hello PCK Families,

I wanted to take a minute to let you know about one of the roles I play in the school, which is getting into the classrooms and teaching. I have some fun classes I teach to get the kids thinking about things from different perspectives, but one of the biggest educational undertakings I take is to teach the Y.E.S.S. (Youth Education and Safety in Schools) program. This program is for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and it covers three topics: digital citizenship, healthy relationships, and substance use. This is the same curriculum that PCK has had in previous years.

I’m about halfway through the three grades teaching digital citizenship. This topic covers some of the realities that the kids face when they use digital devices as well as risks and benefits of social media. This subject is near and dear to me because I truly feel that if our kids know what sort of tactics can be used and what to look for, then they will be more likely to not fall victim to the circumstances which have unfortunately become a reality of social media. We also discuss some of the mental health considerations that arise from these devices such as self-image, lack of sleep, etc. The other topics will be taught during Health class at the end of the semester and at the beginning of next semester.

I encourage you to speak with your students about the classes as we progress through them. If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss or get a better understanding of any of the topics that we discuss in class, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Stay healthy, happy, and safe!

Deputy Sandifer

We are currently seeking two dedicated community members to serve on the PCK (CKCS) Building Corporation, an essential governing body that supports the long-term infrastructure and financial planning of our school.

The Building Corporation plays a critical role in the stewardship of PCK’s facilities. As a separate nonprofit entity affiliated with the school, the Building Corporation holds title to the school property and collaborates closely with the Board of Directors.

We especially encourage individuals with professional backgrounds in finance, deeds, permits, or project management to consider applying, though all interested community members are welcome.

If you are interested in being considered for appointment to the Building Corporation, please complete the interest form linked below.

The Late Testing Lab (LTL) is now open at PCK Monday-Friday from 3:05-3:45 in Student Services.

If a student is absent, they must make up any missed quizzes or tests in the LTL. Parents should coordinate with the teacher to schedule a time for the student to complete the makeup work

Parents need to pick up students in the South Loop at 3:45 p.m. Students who are not picked up by 3:45 p.m. will be taken to Champions.

We’d like to extend our thanks to all the families who joined us for lunch this past week and respectfully followed the guidelines we reiterated in last week’s newsletter.

As a final reminder, please refrain from sending any glass items in your child’s lunch. If dropped, these items can break and create a safety hazard in the lunchroom.

Thank you once again for helping us maintain a safe and supportive lunch environment that reflects the values we uphold at PCK.

Homework Club is back for the 2025-26 school year, with sign-ups now open. The club runs from Monday-Thursday each week, and is only on days that school is in session. Please note that this club is exclusively for students in grades 3-6.

At this club students will have the opportunity to work on their homework while a teacher is there to guide them through. Homework Club will meet from 3:20-4:15 p.m. in Room 115, next to the Art Room.

If you would like to sign-up your student for Homework Club, you may do so by clicking the button below.

7th and 8th grade families be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming High School Information Night on Wednesday, September 24. This annual event is part of our continued commitment to supporting students as they explore their high school options and find the best fit for their future.

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. By giving students a broad overview of their choices, we aim to help them make informed decisions and ensure a smooth, and confident transition to high school.

We’re once again using DirectorySpot for our school directory. It 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 out the form below. 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.

The next SAC meeting is set for Wednesday, September 10 at 8:15 a.m.

Our role is to continue supporting the school in an advisory capacity by promoting accountability, sharing information, and creating meaningful opportunities for parents and community members to get involved in shaping and evaluating PCK’s instructional programs and continuous improvement efforts.

As always, if you have any questions about the SAC or would like to raise any topics at the meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at SAC@ckcs.net.

We’re proud to shine this week’s Volunteer Spotlight on Jennifer and Ira Ling. Just before summer break, our theatre department put out a request for extra flooring material to help resurface the school’s stage, an essential upgrade to ensure our performance space remains safe, functional, and inspiring for our students.

Jennifer and Ira generously stepped up and donated all the material needed for the project. Thanks to their timely and thoughtful contribution, our facilities team was able to complete the resurfacing over the summer months.

Thank you, Jennifer and Ira, for your incredible generosity and for helping to create an environment where our students can truly shine. Your contribution has made a lasting impact on our school community, and we’re deeply grateful.