PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dear PCK Families,

It has been wonderful to see how smoothly our students have settled into the second half of the school year. Each day, we are reminded of how much they enjoy coming to school and engaging in meaningful learning alongside their teachers and peers.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the importance of maintaining a dedicated learning environment at home. When students move between home and school, their learning is most successful when that transition feels seamless. Maintaining consistent expectations helps students understand that learning is a shared priority and an ongoing process, not something that begins and ends when they enter and exit our building. When routines and expectations are aligned, students are better able to stay focused and manage their responsibilities.

At school, we are intentional about creating a calm, structured, and focused setting where students can concentrate, ask questions, and engage deeply with their learning. Whenever possible, having a consistent space at home that is free from distractions, such as excessive noise, screens, or interruptions, helps students approach their work with the same mindset used at school. Even small efforts, like setting up a regular workspace or establishing quiet times for learning, can make a meaningful difference.

Protecting time and space for learning at home plays a vital role in reinforcing the lessons taught at school. It allows students the opportunity to reflect on new concepts, complete tasks thoughtfully, and fully absorb what they have learned without feeling rushed or distracted. This protected time sends a message to students that their learning is valued by both their school and family.

We recognize that every household is different, and we truly appreciate the efforts families make to support their child’s learning. By working together to provide consistent, supportive learning environments at both school and home, we help set students up for confidence, limitless growth, and success.

Thank you for your time,

PCK Leadership Team

Hello PCK Families,

I wanted to share a brief message to let you all know that, due to an unforeseen medical issue, I will be on medical leave for the remainder of the school year.

In my absence, Deputy Isaac Castillo will be stepping in as the SRO at PCK. Prior to assuming this role, Deputy Castillo toured and has spent time at PCK on multiple occasions. He is pleased to support the school in this capacity, and your students will be in excellent hands.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this transition, please feel free to reach out to Deputy Castillo directly moving forward.

Until next time, stay health, happy, and safe!

Deputy Sandifer

If you would like to express well-wishes for Deputy Sandifer, cards can be delivered to our front office which will be accepted until Friday, February 6.

Our 5th and 6th grade students are preparing for an exciting and educational experience at Young AmeriTowne and International Towne. During their visit, students will take on a variety of roles, including mayor, news reporter, shop clerk, and more.

To support their preparation, we will be conducting student job interviews on Friday, February 20, and we would greatly appreciate your involvement. We invite community members from all grade levels to participate, as our goal is to give students the opportunity to practice interviewing with adults who have real-world professional experience.

Your participation will significantly enhance this experience and help students develop important skills as they prepare for this upcoming adventure.

If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please contact Ms. Sitzmann via email at lsitzmann@ckcs.net. Please note that not all community members who express interest will be selected to participate.

Our Valentine’s Day class parties are just around the corner! The celebrations will take place on Thursday, February 12, from 2:00-2:45 p.m. In addition, this will be a Valentine’s-themed dress down day for all students. Children are encouraged to wear attire that reflects the spirit of the day.

We truly value parent involvement and appreciate your continued support of our classroom activities. However, due to limited parking and classroom space, we are unable to accommodate additional guests who are not volunteering for the party. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us ensure these events run smoothly.

Please be on the lookout for additional communication from your child’s classroom coordinator with details about party needs and volunteer opportunities.

Our spring sports season is just around the corner, kicking off with boys volleyball tryouts next week. Tryouts will be held on Monday, February 2, and Tuesday, February 3, from 3:15-4:35 p.m. in the gym, with student pickup afterward on Centerpark Loop. Team rosters will be announced on Friday, February 6.

If your student plans to try out for the boys volleyball team, please be sure to complete the Volleyball Form in advance to allow your student's participation. The form can be accessed by clicking the button below.

Please remember that our athletics are offered exclusively for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.

Our tech department is offering students an additional opportunity to explore the world of technology through a Tech Camp on Tuesday, February 10, from 12:05-3:10 p.m. This camp is open to students in grades 3-5 and will give participants hands-on experience with block coding in Scratch, 3D design projects in Tinkercad, and programming Dash robots. Lunch will be provided.

Our tech department is hosting a Minecraft Camp on Wednesday, February 11, from 12:05-3:10 p.m. The camp is open to students in grades 3-5, and lunch will be provided as part of the experience.

During Minecraft Camp, students will connect with peers through creative builds, exciting adventures, and friendly competition, all within a collaborative and engaging gaming environment.

For this week’s spotlight, we are proud to recognize one of our outstanding 3rd grade students, Sam Mooneyham, who was selected to serve as Bernie the St. Bernard during a recent Colorado Avalanche game, an honor that speaks volumes about his character and commitment to others.

Sam was chosen for this special distinction based on the exceptional community service he completed over the past year as a member of Boy Scout Troop 369. Among more than 200 local Boy Scouts, Sam’s dedication, leadership, and willingness to give back truly stood out. His service reflects a strong sense of responsibility and compassion for his community, qualities we strive to instill in all PCK students. We are proud of Sam’s accomplishment and honored to highlight the positive example he sets for our school community.

Feel free to join us for Coffee With the Director on Thursday, February 26 at 9:00 a.m. This is a time for open, respectful, and constructive conversation with Dr. Weyman, where participants can ask questions, share feedback, and learn more about how we support the diverse needs of our students.

To attend, please complete the RSVP below by Tuesday, February 24 at 4:00 p.m.

8th grade portrait submissions have been extended until Saturday, February 21. Please remember the portrait guidelines for these photos:

Pose: Waist-up only. Head-and-shoulder or full-body poses will not be accepted.

Framing: Centered, facing the camera, with both eyes visible.

Dress Code: Adhere to school dress code guidelines. Avoid revealing clothing or spaghetti straps.

Props: No props allowed (animals, costumes, hats, sunglasses, etc.).

Background: Simple and uncluttered (avoid solid colors). Natural outdoor settings work well.

Photo Type: Color photos only. No black and white, vignette, or sepia.

Size and Quality: Approximately 2"x2" with a resolution of 300 dpi.

You can submit your 8th grade student’s portrait through Treering, which is accessible through the button below.

Our Dodgeball Tournament is back for the 2025-26 school year! This tournament will take place on Friday, February 6 from 3:45-5:45 p.m.

Signups for our annual Dodgeball Tournament are still open at this time! The tournament will take place on Friday, February 6 from 3:45-5:45 p.m.

If your student would like to participate in this tournament please ensure that both registration forms below are filled out. This tournament is open exclusively to students in grades 5-8. Be sure these registrations are completed prior to Wednesday, February 4 at 6:00 p.m. to ensure your student's participation.

To help students stay on track during the second half of the year, we are pleased to bring back National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Homework Help.

Homework Help provides students with a dedicated space to work on their homework after school, supported by PCK’s NJHS students who are available to assist with their studies. NJHS Homework Help will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10–3:45 p.m. More details can be found by clicking the button below.

If your student needs to leave a club early, please have them report to their regular carpool location on the day they will be picked up early. Our staff are unable to accommodate early student pick-ups outside of normal school hours. Our goal is always to ensure all of our students get home safely and on time, and we appreciate your cooperation and support in helping us achieve this standard.

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

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.

Please note that Homework Club will be cancelled for the week of Parent Teacher Conferences.

At last night’s meeting, the Board of Directors recognized four middle school students for their outstanding achievements in Carnegie Mellon University’s 2026 international coding competitions. Wyatt Halker, Rudra Jagtap, Sonit Kumaravel, and Ethan Choe each placed third or higher in their respective competitions.

The Board then heard an update from DCSD’s Executive Director of Schools for Choice Programming, Gordon Mosher, who shared several procedural and policy developments within the district. Among these was an update on HB25-1135, which will require all Colorado schools to establish a policy governing student use of communication devices during the school day.

Dr. Weyman also addressed HB25-1135 in her Director’s Report, referencing PCK’s existing technology policy. The policy currently being drafted by DCSD closely mirrors PCK’s current student expectations regarding communication devices, meaning that if adopted, there would be minimal change to student access to communication devices during the school day. DCSD's policy is currently in first draft, and the Board will choose whether or not to adopt this policy when it is finalized.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included a financial update, National School Choice Week, MAPS assessment data, a spotlight on the Technology Department, and upcoming Board elections which will take place in April.

The next Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the PCK Events Center.

Our spring Gala & Auction is coming up in April, and we need your magic to make it shine! We’re looking for one or two Grade-Level Basket Coordinators per grade to help design and assemble our much-anticipated auction baskets. If you can spare a little time to gather items or pull a basket together, we’d love your support-and we encourage all grade-level parents to participate in the fun!

As a Grade-Level Basket Volunteer, you’ll:

• Pick a fun, crowd-pleasing basket theme
• Coordinate donations from parents and the school community
• Track items so nothing is missed or duplicated
• Assemble and decorate a beautiful, eye-catching basket
• Communicate with helpers to keep things on track
• Submit the finished basket by the designated deadline

It’s a great way to get involved, connect with other families, and make a big impact for our school-one fabulous basket at a time!

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11 at 8:15 a.m. in the MS Commons. This meeting will have a virtual option, which can be found in the newsletter the week before this meeting.

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 are excited to recognize the incredible work our Classroom Coordinators have done throughout the school year. From organizing classroom parties and coordinating teacher appreciation efforts to managing donations, Classroom Coordinators play a vital role in supporting our classrooms and enhancing student experiences. Much of their work happens behind the scenes, yet it makes a meaningful impact every day.

If you see your Classroom Coordinator, please take a moment to thank them for the time, dedication, and care they give to supporting every aspect of the classroom. Their commitment to volunteering is a big part of what makes our community so special. On behalf of everyone at PCK, we sincerely thank our Classroom Coordinators for all that they do.