PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dear PCK Families,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I introduce myself as the new School Director at PCK. Having been part of this community for more than a decade, I am honored to step into this role and continue serving a school that I deeply respect, believe in, and am incredibly proud to call home.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand the care, dedication, and commitment that make PCK so special. Our school has built a strong foundation of excellence through years of thoughtfully refining our curriculum, practices, and approach to education. I look forward to building on that foundation alongside our exceptional teachers, staff, and academic team.

PCK is truly a school of choice–a place families intentionally choose because they believe in what we are doing and in what we believe is possible for children. I have seen the impact of that choice firsthand, including through my own children. Their experiences at PCK have reinforced for me how meaningful and transformative the PCK experience can be for both students and families.

What makes PCK particularly special is the combination of high expectations and a strong sense of community. Our families care deeply about their children, our teachers, and our school. I believe we have an exciting opportunity to build on that connection and find new and meaningful ways for families to engage in and contribute to our community.

As I step into this role, I am eager to listen, collaborate, and learn from our families, teachers, staff, and students. Together, we will honor what makes PCK exceptional while continuing to grow, improve, and pursue excellence. Most importantly, I look forward to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive, flourish, and discover their own unlimited potential.

I will see you all at our Back to School Nights on August 26, and 27 but am always happy to answer questions from community members before that time. I am incredibly excited about this next chapter for PCK and grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside all of you. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together!

Respectfully,

Heather Newbrough, School Director

Over the summer, PCK was recognized by Education Insider Magazine as a Top Charter Schools for 2026. Featured in the magazine’s July publication, PCK was honored for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, exceptional educators, and a strong, supportive school community.

We are proud to receive this distinguished recognition, which reflects our dedication to providing a well-rounded, high-quality education. PCK is one of just 12 schools nationwide selected to receive this award from Education Insider this year.

The magazine recognized PCK for its outstanding character education, strong academic program, close alignment with the Core Knowledge curriculum, and its commitment to preparing students for success beyond the classroom.

If you would like to read the full feature article from Education Insider, you can do so below.

Voting for this year’s Colorado Family Favorites closes this Saturday, August 15! Be sure to vote each day between now and the deadline to help show your support for our school.

Colorado Family Favorites gives families across the state an opportunity to recognize schools that are not only successful, but also foster strong, supportive communities. The awards offer a perspective beyond traditional rankings and benchmarks, one that highlights the pride families have in the impact their school makes on students.

If you’re proud to be part of PCK, we invite you to take a few minutes to cast your vote today. Voting is quick and easy, and your support could help us earn our first-ever community-based recognition!

PCK is nominated in three categories:

• Charter Elementary School Principal
• Charter Middle School Principal
• Charter Middle School

Thank you for being part of our PCK community and for taking the time to show your support. Every vote makes a difference!

We’ve updated our K-8 Student Handbook for the 2026-27 school year. This updated handbook was approved by the Board of Directors at their August 7 meeting.

We invite all families to take a moment to review the major updates outlined below:

• New procedures have been added for students who walk home independently, as well as students who walk home with a guardian.
• Clarifying language has been added regarding PCK’s alignment with DCSD’s JICJA-R policy for student communication devices (CDs). Communication devices must be stored and silenced for the entirety of the school day. During the school day, the same expectations apply: CDs must be stored and silenced in students’ backpacks.
• Food or other deliveries for students cannot be accepted by the main office. This includes DoorDash and Uber Eats.
• The handbook also includes updated descriptions and information related to Tier Two Intervention, PCK’s AI Philosophy, parent-teacher conferences, and other areas.

With these updates, all PCK families are required to complete a Handbook Acknowledgement Form. Families only need to complete the form once per family, rather than once for each student.

You can review the updated handbook and complete the acknowledgement form using the buttons below.

We look forward to helping get our year off on the right foot with our Back to School Nights on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27. Please refer to the schedule below to find your child’s grade level presentation.

Each grade level will have two sessions for their Back to School Night. One will be from their classroom teacher, and the other will be from our administration team.

Wednesday, August 26

• 4:30 p.m. - 1st and 2nd - Class Presentations (Your student’s classroom)
• 5:00 p.m. - 1st, 2nd, and Middle School - Administration Presentation (Gym)
• 5:30 p.m. - Middle School - Grade Level Presentations (MS Commons)

Thursday, August 27

• 4:30 p.m. - 3rd and 4th - Class Presentations (Your student’s classroom)
• 5:00 p.m. - 3rd-6th - Administration Presentations (Gym)
• 5:30 p.m. - 5th and 6th - Class Presentations (5th in student's classroom, 6th in MS Commons)

Picture Day is coming up next week for our K-5 students on Monday, August 17.

We would like to kindly remind all K-5 families that students must wear their school uniform for Picture Day, or dress up. However, they may not dress down or wear non-uniform attire.

If your student is absent from school on August 17, or would like to take a different photo, they will have another opportunity to have their picture taken during our Picture Day retakes on Tuesday, October 27.

We greatly appreciate all of our community members for helping keep carpool running smoothly and, most importantly, ensuring that every student is treated with care throughout the process.

Please take a moment to review the reminders below, as we’ve noticed a few common mistakes occurring during carpool throughout the week:

• If your student has not been dropped off by 7:55 a.m., please park and enter through the front office to sign your child in.
• Please arrive only during your pick-up window. Arriving at PCK before your assigned pick-up time can cause the carpool line to back up, as our students are not yet outside and ready to be picked up until their designated time.
• Our West Loop is not used for morning drop-off. This area is only active during afternoon pick-up.
• Please do not cut in our carpool line. We ask that everyone practice patience, courtesy, and kindness while in the carpool line. One of the most important ways we reinforce character development with our students is by modeling those same behaviors ourselves and setting the example for how we expect our students to treat one another.
• We have an updated modified release procedure moving forward. Please refer to your email, as well as the resources provided below, and review them when you have a moment.

Champions is now actively serving our K-8 students for the remainder of the school year, providing a safe, caring, and attentive After Care program.

If you are unable to pick up your student at their designated dismissal time, they will be placed in Champions’ care until you are able to pick them up. The Champions After Care program runs from 3:00-6:00 p.m., with occasional schedule adjustments as needed.

If you have not yet registered your student, please complete their registration using the button below. A separate registration must be completed for each student attending PCK.

When registering, use the code FREEREGISTRATION to waive the initial registration fee. Please note that a registration fee will be applied the first time your student attends Champions.

Details about pricing and FAQs can be also be found below.

The PCK Spirit Rock is now taking reservations for the 2026-27 school year! The rock is a great way to capture special messages celebrating students, families, or graduating classes.

The Spirit Rock helps fund our 8th Grade Graduation in May, with all proceeds directly benefiting the students and celebrations during their final year at PCK.

Reservations can be made throughout the entirety of the school year through the SignUpGenius below.

We’ve updated our tryouts for sports to provide students with additional time to settle into their routines for the school year. Please review the updated tryout schedules below:

Boys Soccer

Monday, August 17 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Field)

Tuesday, August 18 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Field)

Girls Volleyball

Monday, August 17 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Gym)

Tuesday, August 18 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Gym)

Cross Country

Monday, August 17 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Field)

Tuesday, August 18 - 3:15-4:35 p.m. (PCK Field)

Spirit Team

Monday, August 24 - 3:30-5:00 p.m. (MS Commons)

Tuesday, August 25 - 3:30-5:00 p.m. (MS Commons)

Wednesday, August 26 - 3:30-5:00 p.m. (MS Commons)

For our tryouts families will be notified if their student has made the team their student tried out for the Friday after tryouts have been completed. Students who are invited to join the team will need to have a completed MySchoolBucks registration, and an up-to-date physical on file with the Athletic Department to ensure they can participate in team activities.

You can view the full athletic calendar for the upcoming fall season through the button below.

Dear PCK Families,

When Dr. Weyman shared her plans to step down from her role as School Director, the Board began thoughtful transition planning immediately. In partnership with Dr. Weyman and a multidisciplinary team representing both longstanding and newly engaged members of our school community, we worked carefully to ensure a strong and seamless transition. We are deeply grateful for Dr. Weyman’s partnership throughout this process, as well as for her many contributions and dedicated service to PCK. We wish her every success and fulfillment in the next chapter of her journey.

As we look ahead, we could not be more excited to welcome Heather Newbrough as our next School Director. Heather brings extensive experience, a deep understanding of educational leadership, and a genuine belief in the mission, educational model, and high standards that define PCK. Just as importantly, she understands what makes our school community special and shares our commitment to preserving what is working while thoughtfully building for the future.

The Board was especially impressed by Heather’s ability to bring together experience, vision, and a strong sense of purpose. She understands that great schools are built not only on strong academics and high expectations, but also on meaningful relationships, a shared sense of community, and a commitment to helping every student thrive.

We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead and confident that Heather’s leadership, experience, and commitment to PCK will serve our community well.

Thank you for your time,

PCK Board of Directors

Bring your favorite snacks and join us for a fun-filled picnic-style evening with our PCK family! Bring your picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and cozy pillows as we gather on the field for a relaxing movie night under the stars.

This is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends, make new memories, and celebrate the start of what is sure to be another incredible year together. We can't wait to spend this special evening with you and your family!

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:15 a.m.

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 our school.

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.