Pathfinder Press

It was wonderful seeing so many of you last night! The energy, excitement, and smiles throughout the building were a great reminder of what makes Pathfinder such a special place. I’m truly looking forward to getting to know our students and families and working with and alongside you throughout the school year.

Here’s to a fantastic year filled with learning, growth, new opportunities, and plenty of Pirate pride! We’re so glad you’re here, and we’re ready for a great year!

Dr. Reves
Principal

• August 25- 1st Day of School.
• September 1- Kindergarten Teacher Reveal
• September 7- NO SCHOOL. Labor Day.
• September 8- Fall Picture Day
• September 14- PTA meeting. 5:30 pm.
• September 15-30- Major Saver Fundraiser.
• September 21- NO SCHOOL. PLD.

We’re excited to welcome Girls on the Run back to Pathfinder! This 8-week program is a fun way for girls to build confidence, friendships, and healthy habits while working toward an exciting goal—the Girls on the Run 5K at Sporting KC!

📅 Tuesdays & Thursdays | 4:00–5:15 PM
📆 September 14–November 5
📝 Registration closes September 13

Spots are limited, so don’t miss out! Lace up and join the fun! 💜

Building on the success of last year's Kindergarten Academy, Pathfinder is excited to continue with the academy approach again this Fall! Kindergarten Academy is an innovative approach to starting Kindergarten that allows students and teachers to experience a variety of classroom combinations during the first few days of school before determining final class placements for the year.

What is Kindergarten Academy?

Kindergarten Academy is a new way of thinking about how to start kindergarten. This approach allows all educators to assess and sort students into balanced classes based on their individual needs, abilities, and learning styles. During the first few days of school, students will rotate amongst multiple classrooms throughout the day. By observing student needs, friendships, and interactions early on, "right fit" classrooms can be identified for all students!

Benefits of the Kindergarten Academy Approach:

• The right fit for every child
• Balanced classroom communities
• Allows all students to be assessed
• Smooth transition to school
• Creates a better understanding of each student's needs and abilities during the academy
• Classes can be divided both academically and socially

Upcoming Dates:

• August 20th: PreK-5 Meet the Teacher Night
• August 25th: First Day of School
• August 26th: First Day of Kindergarten Academy
• September 1st: Kindergarten Teacher Reveal Event @ 9:00 AM

The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year will be Tuesday, August 25th! Doors will open at 8:30 am.

School starts at 8:45 AM! Students who enter after this time will be considered tardy!

If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, please make sure that has been communicated to the front office (816-436-6670) and follow our dismissal process. We ask that parents stay in their cars and not walk up to the front of the building or get out of their car to buckle in their child. There is an area specifically designated for buckling up your child once they are loaded in the car.

If your child is a bus rider, please expect delays the first few days. Our bus drivers will be ensuring that every child is getting on and dismissing at the correct stop. This process will take some time, and on average our afternoon buses are typically delayed approximately 15 to 20 minutes during the first few days of the school year.

Thank you for your patience as we work through the first day processes!

To help ease the anxiety of the first day, we do allow parents to walk their child into school on the first day. 1-2 parents/guardians may park and walk their child to the classroom door on Tuesday, August 25th (the First Day of School) only! Doors will open at 8:30 AM! We do ask that parents park their cars in one of the parking spots or at Barry-Platte Park and walk over to Pathfinder. We need to make sure the front curb and south curbs are not blocked for our car rider and bus arrivals.

Staff members will be stationed all throughout the building to assist students in getting to their classrooms. In order to begin our school day in a timely fashion, we will ask that all parents exit the building by 8:45 AM.

Families who arrive after 8:45 will only be allowed to check their student in at the main office. They will not be allowed to go down to classrooms.

Pathfinder's doors will open at 8:30 AM on a daily basis, including on the First Day! If your student is a bus rider, they will be escorted into the building via the south doors. If your student is a car rider, please refer to the map below for our car rider drop off procedure. In order to keep all traffic off of 87th Terrace, we need your help in adhering to this traffic flow! Please stay in your car for both drop off and pick up. Staff members will assist your child out of the car and into the building each morning.

Each day, students will have a 25 minute lunch in the Pathfinder Cafeteria. Each morning students will be asked to select from the following:

• Home Lunch
• Cold Lunch
• Hot Lunch Choice 1
• Hot Lunch Choice 2

Please see the updated meal pricing below:

• Breakfast (K-12): $2.10
• Reduced Breakfast: $.30
• Lunch (K-5): $3.00
• Lunch (6-12): $3.10
• Reduced Lunch: $.40
• Lunch (Adult): $4.25
• Extra Milk: $0.60

Students are not permitted to bring breakfast food or drinks from home or outside vendors (QuikTrip, for example) into the building. Please talk with your student about whether or not they should be going to breakfast each day before heading to their classrooms!

Students that bring a home lunch may bring items that contain peanuts or tree nuts. We will have a separate allergy table for each classroom grouping to avoid any issues. If you are sending your child with a home lunch, please help us ensure an efficient and positive experience by double checking that the items included are largely items that your student can open independently.

Please note a new application is required each year for Free and Reduced Lunch.

Parents can deposit money for meal transactions via you PowerSchool Parent Portal with no additional fees. You can also send cash or checks to school with your child. We are unable to process debit/credit card payments in the office.

In order for our staff to establish lunchroom processes with our students, the first day parents can attend lunch with students is September 8, 2026. There will be a sign up capping the number of adult visitors each day per grade level. Keep your eye out for that Sign Up, coming soon in an upcoming edition of the Pathfinder Press!

Please defer to your teacher's communication regarding snacks in the classroom. All snacks must be peanut/tree nut free (as they will be eaten in classrooms). Please pack your child something that is minimally disruptive to the learning environment and (ideally) something they can open themselves.

Students may always have a water bottle with them in the classroom. Pathfinder is equipped with several bottle refill stations throughout the building. Please note that sodas, juices, sports drinks, etc. are not permitted. Just water, please!

If your student is a car rider, please refer to the information map below for our car rider pick up procedure.

• No checkouts after 3:15 PM.
• Please do not arrive to Pathfinder prior to 3:30 for car rider pick up. We anticipate the line to begin moving around 3:43 pm.
• Enter the car rider line by the marquee (green smiley on map below) and follow the orange line
• Car Rider tags will be distributed at Meet the Teacher Night, August 20th. Please display this tag clearly to help ensure a smooth and safe pick up process.

We ask that parents stay in their cars and do not walk up to the front of the building or get out of their car to buckle in their child. There is an area specifically designated for buckling up your child once they are loaded in the car just past the red cone. A visual of our dismissal process for car riders is shown below.

If you have any questions regarding our car rider dismissal call the Pathfinder Elementary office (816) 436-6670.

All transportation changes need to be made by calling the office (816-436-6670). We will not take your child's word for any transportation change. All changes need to be made prior to 3:00 pm each day.

The Platte County R-3 School District has established best practices regarding extremely high or low temperatures as these relate to outdoor and indoor recess. The guidelines are:

• Indoor Recess will be held when the temperature or heat index is above 95 degrees Fahrenheit
• Indoor Recess will be held when the temperature or wind chill is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit

We believe birthdays are an important time in a child’s life, and Pathfinder is excited to celebrate each student’s special day with a Birthday Book.

Per district policy, students may not bring treats from home or a store, or have flowers, balloons, gifts, or other items delivered to the classroom for birthdays, going-away parties, or other personal celebrations. These guidelines help us address food allergies, protect instructional time, and ensure an equitable experience for all students.

If an item is delivered to school, the student will be notified and may view it in the office. Parents/guardians are responsible for taking the item home.

Birthday party invitations may be distributed at school only if every student in the class is invited.

Wednesday, September 8th will be Fall Picture Day at Pathfinder Elementary! Stay tuned for more communication on how to order your student's photos!

At Platte County School District, we’re proud to be a Cell Phone Free environment (in alignment with Missouri Senate Bill 68) to support focused learning, respectful interactions, and a safe, welcoming school climate. This means students will keep their personal devices put away during the school day so they can fully engage in learning and social connections

Learn more about what this means, what devices are included, and how we’ll support students in adapting to this change by clicking here.

• If you haven't already, please sign up for the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Parent Portal allows parents access to class schedules, attendance, homework, grades, and will have links to meal payments and fees.
  
• Parents should receive their initial Parent Portal Access ID and Password (for each student) during registration or by calling your child's school.
  
• Click here to create an account and login.
  
• Students will be able to login to Student Portal using their school email address and password.
  
• Click here for a Guide to Parent Portal.

The Before and After School Program available to families at PCR-3 is Y Club. Children in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade benefit from homework enrichment, physical activity, and small and large group activities with a focus on building community and youth voice and leadership. Full-time and part-time Y Club is available at each of our elementary buildings, and two pre-K sites, along with Y Club on days when school is out of session for inclement weather, seasonal breaks, and other days off (enrollment permitting). Operating hours are each weekday from 6:30am until school begins, and again after school until 6pm. Registration is now open.

If you have any questions about the Y Club program, please contact YMCA at (816) 360-3390.

Planning a family getaway? Please consider traveling during one of our multi-day breaks!

Every school day provides valuable learning, friendships, and experiences. Missing just two days each month adds up to chronic absenteeism and can impact long-term academic success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, stay on track through middle school, and graduate from high school. Whenever possible, schedule vacations and appointments during school breaks. Check out our vacation planner here!

• LABOR DAY: 3 days - Sept. 5-7
• PLD WEEKEND: 3 days - Sept. 19-21
• LONG WEEKEND: 4 days - Oct. 30-Nov. 2
• THANKSGIVING BREAK: 5 days - Nov. 25-29
• WINTER BREAK: 17 days - Dec. 19-Jan. 4
• MLK WEEKEND: 3 days - Jan. 16-18
• PLD + PRESIDENTS DAY : 4 days - Feb. 12-15
• SPRING BREAK + PLD: 10 days - Mar. 27-Apr. 5

A district communication medium is our School Messenger system that we use for phone calls and text notifications. As with any school district, PCR-3 must often contact hundreds of parents quickly for sudden changes in schedules due to emergencies, cancellation, or just important announcements.

If you have provided a cell phone number, parents can opt in to receive text alerts and messages. Simply text "YES" to 67587 (standard text messaging fees apply). New families should have received an opt-in text this week.

Join us from 5-6:30pm for a Community Tailgate at Platte City's Price Chopper before we cheer on the Platte County Pirates for their first home football game. The game starts at 7pm at Pirate Stadium.

• Show your Pirate Pride: Wear orange and black on Friday, August 28
• Enjoy the entertainment and have some fun! From 5-6 p.m., the PCHS drumline, dance team, cheerleaders, and PCC youth cheerleaders will perform. Get your photo taken with the PC the Parrot Mascot, get your facepainted, get a fun balloon animal, and get some Pirate swag!
• Grab some food before heading to the stadium! Free hot dogs, chips, and water courtesy of Price Chopper, free popcorn courtesy of Nodaway Valley Bank, free temporary tattoos courtesy of Central Bank, and Kona Ice and PTA spirit wear available for purchase.
• Visit the Pirates ROCK Table at the Football Game: Get your free megaphone full of popcorn
• Congratulate our Got Character Seniors: During pregame, our 120! 2026-27 Got Character Seniors will be recognized; these seniors will connect with our elementary and middle schools throughout the year to promote good character and healthy choices.

Pirates ROCK (Raising Outstanding Character Kids) is a program designed to surround our families with examples of strong character traits through school experiences, at home, and reinforced in their community. On Friday, August 28, we kick off our 21st year of Pirates ROCK!

Device insurance for student devices has moved to a new system for the 2026-27 school year. Families who wish to participate must enroll by October 1 through your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.

• Enrollment Cost: $30 per student device
• Free/Reduced Meal Students: $0 enrollment cost
• How to Enroll: Log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and complete the Insurance Form under "Forms." Via the PowerSchool app, go to "More," then "Forms." The $30 enrollment fee will be collected within the form.

Insurance can significantly reduce the cost of repairs or replacement. With insurance, the cost for a standard repair is $40, while lost or stolen devices have a $100 replacement fee. Without insurance, families are responsible for the increased repair or replacement costs. Visit the One-to-One Learning page of our website for additional Student Device FAQs and responsibilities.

Replacement costs without insurance:

• K-2: $400
• Grades 3-8: $475
• Grades 9-12: $500

Additional fees apply: Case replacement ($40 with insurance/$110 without), Apple-certified charger replacement ($40 with or without insurance), and cleaning fee for sticker removal ($20 with or without insurance).

Questions? Please contact us at the school for assistance.

If you haven't yet completed your student's re-enrollment, simply log on to your PowerSchool ParentPortal (from a browser) and select "Returning Student Registration." from the navigation menu. Completing this process each year ensures your student's contact, health, and transportation information is accurate so we can prepare for a successful start to the school year. If your student will not be returning to PCR-3 for the upcoming school year, please contact the District office (816-858-5420) to let us know.

Re-enrollment is required for ALL returning students.

Platte County School District values community input in shaping the future of our schools. We’re kicking off another year of the PCR-3 Community Advisory, a group that reviews progress on our strategic plan and provides input on District operations and educational programs.

All residents, employees, and students are welcome to join. Current members will be contacted about continuing. If interested, new members should apply by September 1. The first general membership meeting is October 6.

Join the Pathfinder PTA as we kick off an exciting 2026–2027 school year! PTA supports our students and staff in so many ways, including school events, classroom and student activities, celebrations, and special experiences throughout the year. Your membership helps make these opportunities possible!

Stay connected by visiting pathfinderpta.com and following us on Facebook for the latest updates. Join the PTA by scanning the QR code below, and don’t forget to check out our PTA Spirit Wear! Orders are due September 9, and a portion of each purchase goes directly back to support Pathfinder.

YOU BELONG IN PTA!!

The PC Quarterback Club is hosting its 30th annual Golf Tournament at Shiloh Springs on Saturday, August 15!

The PCR-3 Treasure Chest is a stocked resource center providing food, milk, and toiletries for PCR-3 students and families in need. Qualifying families will receive a weekly form via email to sign up or can call 816-858-7001 for assistance.

Families will receive an email with approval to come to the Treasure Chest on Wednesdays from 4-6pm at the new Treasure Chest site (south side of Paxton building).

We want families to stay connected to all Pathfinder information. In addition, we invite you to visit our social media and platforms below.

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Visit our Website

Location: 1951 NW 87th Terrace, KCMO, MO, United States
Phone: 816-436-6670

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