PCK Weekly Newsletter

This week, we want to take a special moment to spotlight and warmly welcome the newest members of our school community, our kindergarteners, who officially began their educational journey with us late last week.

The first days of school are always filled with joy, anticipation, and a sense of wonder, and it’s been truly heartwarming to see the bright smiles, curious minds, and boundless energy our youngest students have brought through our doors. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and it reminds us of the incredible journey that lies ahead, not just for them, but for all of us who have the privilege of guiding and supporting them.

We are thrilled to welcome these eager learners into the PCK family. Over the next nine years, we are deeply committed to nurturing their growth, celebrating their achievements, and helping them build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success. It’s an exciting road ahead, and we are honored to walk it alongside each and every one of them.

Welcome, kindergarteners, we’re so glad you’re here!

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 (or back in) 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.

This fall, our theatre department is excited to present a production of Matilda Jr. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., leading up to our final performances on November 22.

Students interested in a speaking role or solo singing part must audition by submitting a video no later than August 18. Audition videos should be emailed to kmyers@ckcs.net. Materials to help prepare for auditions are available on the Matilda Jr. Google Classroom.

All students who wish to participate in the production, regardless of role, must complete their registration through MySchoolBucks using the link below.

Don’t forget that our Back to School Nights are coming up next week on August 27 and 28. Please see the schedule below to find the presentation time for your child’s grade level.

Each grade will have two sessions to attend: one led by the classroom teacher and another presented by our administration team.

6th grade parents will have a brief presentation about Science Camp given during their session, and have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.

Parents, we truly enjoy having you join us in the lunchroom to share a meal with your student. These visits offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child during the school day while supporting the academic environment we strive to maintain at PCK.

As a friendly reminder, please note that soda is not permitted in the lunchroom for any student, at any grade level, even when brought from home. This rule helps us uphold our nutritional standards and ensures consistency in our lunch procedures.

A few additional lunchroom reminders:

• Parents visiting may only have lunch at the visitor table outside of the lunchroom.
• Students may only have lunch with their own parent, and are not permitted to bring a friend during lunch if visiting with a parent.
• Please kindly refrain from any type of photography during lunch.
• Students may not buy multiple snacks at lunch and distribute them to other students.

This year, we are introducing updated guidelines regarding student photography to help protect student media rights and maintain a considerate, inclusive school environment. While we understand and appreciate that families want to capture special moments, we ask that all photography be conducted in a respectful and thoughtful manner that upholds the dignity and privacy of all students.

The reason for this change is simple but important: we want to ensure that all families retain the right to make their own choices about how and when their child's image is shared, particularly on social media. Not all families are comfortable with their children appearing online, and we believe it's essential to respect those preferences.

These guidelines apply to in-school events and classroom celebrations:

• At School Events: We kindly request that parents take photos of only their own child. In group settings, please make every effort to frame photos so that only your student appears in the image.
• During Classroom Parties: As a classroom volunteer, your primary role is to support the learning environment. If you choose to take a photo of your child, please do so discreetly and without disrupting the classroom or other students.
• Social Media Sharing: To protect student privacy, we ask that any photos containing other students not be posted on social media.

By following these guidelines, we can work together to maintain a focused and respectful academic environment while still allowing families to celebrate their students’ experiences.

We’re excited to announce the return of Homework Club for the 2025–26 school year. This program is open exclusively to students in grades 3rd–6th and will kick off on Tuesday, September 2. Homework Club will run Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter, where we’ll share details on how to register and the daily meeting locations.

Students have been diving back into Spanish during these first two weeks of school, reengaging with the language in meaningful and exciting ways. In 8th grade Spanish, they’ve been exploring the different pronunciations of the Spanish alphabet through commonly used words and phrases, helping to build both confidence and fluency.

At PCK, we believe world language instruction is a vital part of the Core Knowledge Curriculum. We remain committed to equipping our students with a strong foundation in Spanish and fostering a lifelong appreciation for language learning.

Our first week of athletics tryouts has officially wrapped up, and we couldn’t be prouder of the effort, enthusiasm, and commitment shown by our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Thank you to all who stepped up to represent our school through athletics.

Looking ahead to next week, Spirit Team tryouts will take place in the MS Commons. Please note: as with all PCK athletics, Spirit Team is open exclusively to students in grades 6th–8th.

There has been an update to the tryout schedule since last week’s newsletter, so please review the revised times carefully:

Monday, August 25 – 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 26 – 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 27 – 3:30–4:45 p.m.

Parents, if your student plans to try out, please ensure they complete the tryout packet linked below. This packet is required for all participants.

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.

This week, we’re excited to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on our amazing PTO and the incredible support they've provided during these first few weeks of school.

As we welcomed staff back for the start of the year, the PTO surprised everyone with a beautiful charcuterie breakfast display, creating a warm, thoughtful atmosphere that reminded our staff just how valued they are.

They also extended that same spirit of care to our Kindergarten families by hosting our annual Tea & Tissues event on the first day of school. It was a heartfelt way to help ease first-day jitters and foster a welcoming environment for all.

A huge thank you to each of our PTO members for their dedication, kindness, and continued support of our staff and families during this important start to the school year.