PCHS Updates

Here is what students can expect on the last 3 days heading into Winter Break.

And here are some study tips to help them prepare!

If a student misses an exam, there will be an exam make-up window from 11:00am-2:30pm in the Pirate Union on Friday, December 19. Please work with your teacher to arrange!

If a student is enrolled in an out-of-district CTE program, they should coordinate with their CTE teacher to stay informed about the PCHS exam schedule and plan for any attendance conflicts. If attending CTE is required during an exam block, please have the student work with their PCHS teacher(s) to arrange an alternative exam time, which may include the Friday make-up window.

This year’s three-day first-semester exam schedule is new. We appreciate your patience as we navigate any challenges related to out-of-district CTE conflicts, and we will always prioritize what is best for students.

From the PCHS Counseling Office: As we approach the end of the 1st semester, we want to remind everyone that schedule changes for the 2nd semester can only be made through the first week of the new semester. After that first week, schedules are considered final, and no additional changes can be made.

To see which schedule change requests can be made and which cannot, please review the infographic below.

If you are considering any adjustments to your 2nd semester schedule, please reach out to your counselor, Ms Robinson (A-Le) or Ms.Braun (Lf-Z), as soon as possible so we can review your request within the allowed timeframe.

This semester, Mr. McMurray and Mrs. McBride have made 733 class visits to monitor the cell phone poliicy. Of those 733 visits, in 30 cases there were phones visible with a student. This equates to a 96% successful enforcement rate. We are proud of our efforts in this area this year, and look forward to continuing to support students and staff to ensure cell phones stay in the caddy from bell to bell in every class. KEEP IT UP, PIRATES!

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 16 at 6pm in the Pirate Union.

Recent Activity:

• $500 donation to Act2 Theatre Company for their in-school production of Little Women for PCHS ELA classes.
• 2 poinsettias purchased through the music boosters fundraiser to support the upcoming Academic Awards Night event.

Current Opportunities:

• Help us stock the teachers' lounge! Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ITKEWK60EF51?ref_=wl_share
• Support the PTO through Busch's "Cash for Education" program. Instructions below!

Add the Pinckney Community High School PTO to your Buschs "Cash for Education" Account!

1. On a desktop computer, go to www.buschs.com and log in or create an account.
2. Hover over “MyWay” on the top banner and select “MyWay Account.”
3. Choose “Cash for Education.”
4. Use the dropdown menu to select “PINCKNEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL PTO.”

Notes:

• You can still select the PCHS PTO for Quarter 4 of 2025 and all 4 quarters of 2026 by checking the “Add to Future Quarters” box.
• You may also split your contributions between multiple organizations.

Share with anyone you feel would benefit!

The Hunger Council has recently updated the following resources:

• 2025 Holiday Food and Gift Programs
• Food Programs and Pantry List

Both resources can be found on the Local Resources webpage on the HSCB website under the Food tab.

Every week, students and staff have the opportunity to nominate a peer and PCHS staff member for recognition in the school, and for the student, recognition in The Livingston Daily. Nominations are based on how fellow Pirates are demonstrating the character strengths we prioritize in Pinckney Community Schools. Our Leadership & Link Crew class reviews nominations and selects each week's honorees. Enjoy learning about our excellent Pirates!!

Across the month of December, we will capitalize on opportunities to put the character strength of OPEN-MINDEDNESS to work as a school community, during Seminar, class time, and in the day-to-day of our building. Take advantage of opportunities to touch upon this strength at home! In the image below, you can see the rationale for why the Leadership Class selected this strength to be the focus at this time in our school year.

Want to engage with this character strength at home? Check out this family resource page: https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/9-12/open-mindedness/ You’ll find 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to help you and your children discuss The Positivity Project’s character strength of open-mindedness.

This is the protocol we follow as we monitor student attendance and engage in targeted interventions.

• December 17-19: 1st Semester Exams (half day Friday)
• December 22-January 2: Winter Break
• January 19: No School - MLK Jr Day
• February 6: Progress Repot 4, Winterfest Basketball Games
• February 7: Winterfest Dance (8-10 in PCHS Commons)
• February 13-16: No School - Mid-Winter Break
• February 26: Course Exploration Night
• February 28: PCS Music Program Spaghetti Dinner
• March 12: NHS Blood Drive
• March 13: Progress Report 5
• March 27: Half Day
• March 30-April 6: Spring Break
• April 8: PSAT 9 & SAT (no school 10th or 12th grades)
• April 9: PSAT 10 & ACT WorkKeys (no school 9th, virtual day 12th)
• April 29: Senior Scholar Dinner
• May 1: Progress Report 6
• May 5: Choir Concert
• May 7: Orchestra Concert
• May 9: Prom (at The Reserve)
• May 13: Band Concert
• May 13-15: Senior Exams
• May 15: Seniors' Last Day of School
• May 25: No School - Memorial Day
• May 27: Senior Awards Night
• May 28: Graduation Rehearsal, Senior Clap-Out, & BBQ (Tentative: Senior All-Nighter)
• May 31: Graduation, 10AM Pirate Stadium
• June 3-5: 2nd Semester Exams
• June 5: Last Day of School - Half Day

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/

In this area, you will find relevant opportunities for building your college and career awareness and ensuring you have access to all of the information and PCHS team members necessary to make your post-secondary plans a reality!

Counseling Office: (810) 225.5603

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

Counseling Secretary

Mrs. Leah Barkoff

lbarkoff@pinckneypirates.org

810.225.5603, fax 810.225.5610

School Counselors

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

Ms. Nicole Braun MA, SCL
School Counselor (Last Names: 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

Explore relevant resources for planning career, college, and financial aid/scholarship next steps by checking our Pirate Path Calendar!

Put together by our counseling office, this resource includes links to practice tests, skills practices, and resources to set students up for success in the testing environment.

On Thursday, 9/18, our Counselors visited each Senior English class to give the presentation below. For our Seniors without an ELA class on campus, they had the opportunity to experience the presentation during Seminar on 9/19. Check it out!

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.

There are hundreds of jobs available right now in Livingston County (www.mitalent.org). Check them out by filtering the search at www.mitalent.org.

Michigan Works! Southeast is open to the public and Creating Connections to a Better Future!

What we offer our Employers:

• Qualified Talent – we help employers fill thousands of positions each year!
• Grant Opportunities – Offset the cost to expand and train your workforce; call us to learn how!
• Corporate Assistance Program – Navigate financial hardship with expert consulting.
• Free Job Posting – Share job opportunities for free with MiTalent. We can even post for you!

To learn more about Michigan Works! Southeast, please visit: https://www.mwse.org/

Another new resource put together by our counseling office, this document includes links to a wealth of information about grief and loss, including understanding common phases of grief and loss, and where to find support.

Pinckney Community High School is hiring!

https://pinckneypirates.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Right now: PCHS Special Education Aide & Science Teacher

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 we will place them here for future newsletters!

Follow us on:

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

We do our best to use these platforms for important announcements, newsworthy events, and fun things that keep parents and students connected to PCHS.

• Full-Day Schedule: 7:30am-2:30pm
• Half-Day Schedule: 7:30am-10:55am
• Friday Early Release Schedule: 7:30am-1:09pm
• Building Hours: 7:00am-3:00pm (Need to pick up your child's cell phone? Must arrive by 3pm!)
• 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!
• 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