PCHS Community,

It was so great to have over a dozen 8th graders from Light of the World and St. Mary attend our 2nd Annual Prospective Student Shadow Day today! A huge shout-out to our NHS members who welcomed families this morning and partnered up with an 8th grader for the day. We are excited about this annual event for connecting our local charter and private school middle schoolers with all that PCHS has to offer so they can make an informed decision about whether to dive into their local public system for high school.

2nd Semester Progress Report 2 is now viewable in MiStar. Please review this with your student(s). Celebrate successes! Discuss areas needing improvement to ensure a successful semester by June 6 (or May 16 for Seniors!).

Come on out for Act2's final weekend of Mean Girls, starting tonight at 7:30pm!

Have a great weekend, Pirates!

Mrs. McBride & Mr. McMurray

At this point, the majority of our 8th-11th graders have entered their course requests into MiStar for the 2025-26 school year and have met 1:1 with their counselor to ensure the requests line up with graduation requirements and postsecondary interests. Counselors will wrap up these 1:1s by this coming Wednesday, March 19.

Below are the remaining deadlines for any Pirate pursuing a Livingston CTE program or Dual Enrollment. These deadlines MUST be met! Enrollment in LivCo CTE and Dual Enrollment influence a school's staffing and master schedule. These deadlines ensure we have a clear picture of our course offering and staffing needs with enough time to schedule and staff accordingly for the coming school year.

Key Deadlines:

• March 21: Livingston CTE applications due to PCHS Counseling Office
• May 1: Dual Enrollment application process must be completed for fall 2025 enrollment (view the Dual Enrollment presentation for additional information)

All relevant forms can be found in the Counseling Office!

Student Guides to Support Standardized Test Preparation

• SAT Student Guide
• PSAT 10 Student Guide
• PSAT 8/9 Student Guide

State Testing Dates

• April 9: SAT & PSAT 9 (No School for 10th & 12th Graders)
• April 10: PSAT 10 & WorkKeys (No School for 9th Graders; Virtual Day for 12th - Senior Exit Survey Completion = attendance)
• April 16: MSTEP (11th Grade only, regular school day for everyone else)

This week's Positivity Project foci is HUMILITY. Check out the P2 weekly family letter on humility which includes tools to practice and encourage this character trait at home.

Thank you to every family who contributed during the PTO sponsored "Donuts for Essentials" donation drive over the last 2 weeks. We'll be tallying up the number of donations received by each Seminar early next week to determine our Donut party winners!

On deck: Preparing for May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week activities!

Review the February PTO meeting minutes here, and consider joining us for the next meeting on Tuesday, March 18 at 6pm in the Pirate Union.

We recognize a student and staff member each week, nominated by the school community based on how fellow Pirates are exemplifying Positivity Project traits and identified by our Leadership & Link Crew class. Our Student of the Week is also recognized as a part of the Livingston Daily's new spotlight, published digitally on Fridays and in print on Sundays.

On Fridays, students spend an hour in what we call Seminar. The purpose of Seminar is to ensure every student has at least one go-to adult mentor at PCHS focused on their well-being, academic success, and connection to a healthy school climate.

• 5/14: 5th & 6th Hour Exams (regular schedule for all students)
• 5/15: 3rd & 4th Hour Exams (regular schedule for 9th-11th, seniors leave after 4th/lunch)
• 5/16: 1st & 2nd Hour Exams (adjusted bell schedule w/ no Seminar, seniors pick up cap & gown in Commons after 2nd hour, and head out!)

Pick up a form in the Main Office or order online.

Updated event calendar

Agenda from 3/8/25 Senior Meeting

Contact Tennille Sharp at tsharp@pinckneypirates.org to get connected with the planning committee or message the "2025 PCHS Senior All Nighter" Facebook page! This annual event is an entirely parent-planned event with guidance provided by PCHS. Thank you for considering joining the fun!

For those college-bound students anxiously awaiting the BIG news...see the link below for information about what it means to be "Deferred" or "Waitlisted" by your university of choice in the event this is the news you receive in the coming weeks.

Many Seniors have not yet ordered their cap & gown for graduation. This is a requirement for graduation. To order one, go to Jostens.com. You and your student should be receiving reminder emails from our Josten's rep, Janice Traub, which includes additional information. If you have questions, please reach out to Poppy Elliott in our Main Office. Thanks!

Members of the PCHS National Honor Society are available to provide tutoring support for interested Pirates. If your student is interested in tutoring, please fill out the form below.

At PCHS, if a student exceeds 10 absences in a semester in a course, they must make up the time missed in order to earn the credit for that course on their transcript - a must for graduation from high school! It is very important to be at school consistently to be successful academically. Please pay close attention to your student's attendance detail in MiStar and proactively support them to stay within that 10 absence maximum per semester. If a student has a hold on their credit due to absences, it will read as an "H" on their transcript.

Mr. McMurray, our Assistant Principal, offers "Mr. Mac's Academy" on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:30-4:30pm. This is a consistent opportunity to make-up hours due to excessive absences. To attend Mr. Mac's Academy, a student must sign up in advance at the front desk of the Main Office with Mrs. Lasure.

• March 14: 2nd Semester Progress Report 2
• March 21: Half Day
• March 24-28: Spring Break
• April 9: SAT & PSAT 9 (No School for 10th & 12th Graders)
• April 10: PSAT 10 & WorkKeys (No School for 9th; Virtual Day for 12th - Senior Exit Survey Completion = attendance)
• April 16: MSTEP (11th only, regular school day for everyone else)
• April 18: No School - Good Friday
• May 2: 2nd Semester Progress Report 3
• May 3: Prom
• Weeks of May 5 and May 12: AP Testing
• May 16: Seniors' Last Day of School
• May 26: No School - Memorial Day
• May 29: Senior Graduation Rehearsal, Clap-Out & BBQ
• June 1: PCHS Graduation @ Pirate Stadium
• June 4-5: 2nd Semester Final Assessments
• June 6: Half Day - Last Day of the 2024-25 School Year

District-Wide Calendars: https://www.pinckneypirates.org/page/calendars

Get your tickets to any and all games here!

https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10053

Follow along for all athletic tryouts, registration, schedules, and updates at https://pinckneyathletics.bigteams.com/

Looking for Pirate Athletics gear?

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/michigan/pinckney/pinckney-high-school

Looking for Pinckney Community Education programs?

https://pinckney.ce.eleyo.com/

Counseling Office: (810) 225.5603

Counseling Website: https://www.pinckneypirates.org/o/pchs (Select the Counseling drop-down menu.)

Counseling Secretary

Mrs. Jennifer Duncan

jduncan@pinckneypirates.org
810.225.5603, fax 810.225.5610

School Counselors

Ms. Amy Robinson MA, LLPC, SCL
School Counselor (A-Le)
arobinson@pinckneypirates.org

Ms. Nicole Braun MA, SCL
School Counselor (Lf-Z)
nbraun@pinckneypirates.org

PCHS Mental Health Specialists

Ms. Lynn Watkins, MA, LPC, SCL, NCC
Social/Emotional Mental Health Specialist
lwatkins@pinckneypirates.org
810.225.5607

Learn more about Ms. Watkins and 31n mental health services provided through LESA here.

Mrs. Sandra Parker
Social Worker Project SUCCESS Counselor, Youth-Led Prevention Facilitator, and Community Outreach Coordinator
sparker@pinckneypirates.org
810.225.6534

Advise MI College Adviser

Ms. Clarice Farina
cfarina@pinckneypirates.org

Happy AmeriCorps Week! We are thrilled to be joining the rest of the country in thanking our AmeriCorps members and alums for their service and celebrating all that AmeriCorps accomplishes across the country every year.

Annually, AmeriCorps Week is a time to recognize the commitment of the millions of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers who have contributed billions of hours of service across all 50 states and U.S. territories, creating lasting impact in communities nationwide.

This year's theme is AmeriCorps Works For America. And we know it does. We are thankful to MCAN who partners with us through AdviseMI, allowing us to have the wonderful Clarice Farina provide college advising to all of our Seniors. AmeriCorps demonstrates that America’s greatness comes from the extraordinary acts of ordinary citizens.

https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/next-steps-after-submitting-fafsa?fbclid=IwY2xjawGz5oNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRKka6i0n9aFLMyihglbBo-37k7BpSXh1zj9IIoxjUtLcSRXCwzW-Dgh0w_aem_lWOVH_9pVbYxw0CBaFY4vw&sfnsn=mo

Seniors and Families,

Here are some especially helpful resources as you navigate your next steps during College Application season (some of these are also linked within the Senior Presentation that was shared via email with Class of 2025 students and families on Friday, September 20th):

Common App

• Common App (the primary college application platform; apply to MANY colleges through this single application)
• Common App: 1st year student resources
• Common App: Essay Prompts (& Tips!)

MI College Access Network

• MCAN College Fee Waivers
• MCAN College Average GPA (& SAT) Requirements
• MCAN (Michigan College Access Network) offers a plethora of different resources for guiding students during the college application process!

And more

• Michigan's Public Universities Guide to Admissions 2023-24

• PCHS PIRATE PATH CALENDAR - lots of College Rep Visit options, Campus Open House dates, Financial Aid webinars, and more!
• Create your FSA ID to apply for FAFSA, which is now open for all high school Senior students! Get your FAFSA completed early and easily!

  
  

  Typically, the parent and the student will each have their own sections of the FAFSA to complete using their own FSA ID. Click here to see which parent(s) need to be involved in the FAFSA process.

  NOTE: Some students may be considered independent on the FAFSA and will not be asked to include parent information on the application. Determine dependency status here.

  
  

• Apply for scholarships. Please check out the scholarship list on the high school website as it is updated daily.

Best wishes for many "acceptance" notices ahead!

Find out more about discounted community college and register for a webinar!

Through school, family, and community connections, the PCHS Career Development Program empowers students to discover and develop meaningful career paths, ensuring they are prepared to step into the next chapter of their lives with confidence.

Every spring, Livingston ESA hosts the Youth Employment Fair for students ages 16–24. This event aims to introduce students to career ladders and opportunities they can access as entry-level employees, allowing them to grow with a company or career as they continue their education. Some businesses will be looking to hire, while others will showcase the diverse career paths available within the county.

This grief resources document includes a variety of links to support parents and students.

You’re not alone…Parenting is hard

Coaching and resources for Parents…

DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE OR PARENTING? CONSIDER MEETING WITH A PARENTING COACH…

FREE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:

• Weekly calls with a coach

• Ask a therapist

• Guided, step-by-step resources

• Access to on-demand videos on various topics

• Confidential help

• Find hope, connect today at parentguidance.org

…50% of parents worry their child is struggling, but don’t know what to do.

…32% of parents feel their child is unhappy.

…An estimated 10-20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions

See documents linked below.

You are invited to the First Annual Livingston County Parent Summit: "Tech, Talk, and Well-Being: Finding Balance in a Digital World" on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Parker Middle School in Howell, MI.

• Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 AM
• Main Event: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (TED-style Talks, Interactive Workshops, and Parent Resources)

We would love for you to attend and be part of this important conversation! These topics are critical for all of us as parents, equipping us with valuable knowledge and tools to better support our children.

Pinckney Community Schools is hiring!

https://pinckneypirates.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
Right now:
Special Education Teacher
Special Education Aide

Starting the 25-26 School Year:
Farley Elementary Principal (replacing Yvonne Taylor, a wonderful long-time leader who is retiring)
Multiple teaching positions starting the 25-26 school year will be posted soon.

If you are passionate about creating a learning and work environment where every student and adult feels connected to one another, empowered to lead, and prepared to do whatever they want to do next, join us!

Feel free to share employment opportunities with us and will place them here for future newsletters!

If you don't already, follow us on:

• Instagram at @pinckneyhighschool
• Facebook at Pinckney Community High School.

• Full-Day Schedule: 7:30am-2:30pm
• Half-Day Schedule: 7:30am-10:55am
• Friday Early Release Schedule: 7:30am-1:09pm
• PCHS is a closed campus. Only those approved to leave the building (i.e. for CTE, Dual Enrollment, Co-Op) may exit the building during school hours, and only through the South entrance. This is in service of ensuring all students are safely where they should be!
• If running late to school, students need to park in the Main Entrance lot (South side) in order to sign in at the Main Office. The North doors will be locked after 7:45am.
• Students are required to have a parking pass if parking in the PCHS lot during the school day. Make sure you've paid for your pass in the Main Office!
• PCHS Morning Announcement Request Form
• PCS Secondary Student Handbook
• PCS Transportation Code of Conduct
• Have a tech issue? Submit a helpdesk ticket at: helpdesk.pinckneypirates.org

• Attendance Hotline: 810-225-5510 / hs-attendance@pinckneypirates.org

Email: jmcbride@pinckneypirates.org
Website: www.pinckneypirates.org
Location: 10255 Dexter-Pinckney Road, Pinckney, MI, USA
Phone: 8102255500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinckneyhigh
Twitter: @PinckneyHigh