PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dear PCK Families,

Welcome back! We are delighted to have all our students back to the building this week. We have enjoyed the stories of your travels, moments with family, and time to reset and rest.

As we kick off the second semester, we jump right back in with academics and a focus on character education. This month, our school is focusing on the character trait of perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to keep going when learning or progress feels challenging, progress is slow, or mistakes happen along the way. Perseverance is not just about pushing through difficulty; it is about learning to trust the process and believe that effort matters.

In a Core Knowledge classroom, learning builds intentionally over time. Students are asked to think deeply, revisit ideas, revise their work, and make connections across subjects. This kind of learning requires patience, resilience, and the willingness to stay engaged even when the work feels hard. Perseverance allows students to grow not just academically, but personally.

Tomorrow students will explore perseverance during our monthly character assembly. They examine how persistence shows up in many areas of life-from historical discoveries shaped by trial and error (Thomas Edison), to authors who revise their writing, artists (Vincent Van Gogh) who create without immediate recognition, and athletes who improve through practice and dedication (Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, and Simone Biles). These examples help students see that struggle is not a sign of failure, but a natural and necessary part of growth.

When students develop perseverance, they gain more than academic skills. They learn how to approach challenges with confidence, how to learn from mistakes rather than avoid them, and how to build habits that support long-term success. These are the skills that allow students to thrive-not only in school, but in life beyond the classroom.

Thank you for partnering with us as we help students build the character and resilience needed to do hard things well.

With appreciation,

Dr. Leanne Weyman

Breanna Warburton

Stephanie Harper

Four PCK middle school students have earned national recognition for their Python coding projects developed during their technology-integrated learning periods. Ethan Choe, Sonit Kumaravel, Rudra Jagtap, and Wyatt Halker each received awards for their innovative creations in a competition evaluated by Carnegie Mellon University.

This achievement marks the second consecutive year that PCK students have been honored in this global competition, which draws submissions from around the world, including countries such as Japan and Mongolia. The students will be formally recognized at the upcoming PCK Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, January 28.

Their accomplishment highlights not only their individual talents, but also the boundless potential of all PCK students and the high level of excellence they consistently demonstrate.

To view each student’s award-winning project, please click any of the buttons below.

National School Choice Week will be celebrated this year from Sunday, January 25, through Saturday, January 31. This annual event highlights the importance of educational options and raises awareness about empowering families to choose the educational path that best meets their children’s needs.

As a charter school, PCK proudly celebrates National School Choice Week because our founding reflects the very principles this week represents. What began as a vision shared by a group of parents has grown into a nationally recognized school of excellence. Today, PCK offers a unique educational experience through curriculum rooted in Core Knowledge, setting us apart from traditional public schools.

To mark this special week, we are inviting students to share testimonials about why they love their school. Testimonial sheets will be included in Thursday folder handouts. For older students who do not receive a weekly Thursday folder, the handout can be accessed and printed by clicking the button below. Students are asked to include their grade level at the top of the form; including their name is optional.

Students who return their completed testimonial to the front office will receive a dress down day coupon, which may be used on Friday, February 6. These sheets must be turned in by Friday, January 30 for students to receive a dress down day coupon.

Now that we have returned from break, we would like to take a moment to remind all families of PCK’s policy regarding sick students.

Students may not attend school if they have vomited or experienced diarrhea within the past 48 hours, or if they have had a fever of 100 degrees or higher within the past 24 hours. Please note that the full 48 or 24 hours must pass before a student is permitted to return to school. For example, if a student becomes ill at 9:00 a.m. during the school day and is sent home, they may not return until 9:00 a.m. the following day.

Students will be sent home if they experience any of the symptoms listed above, or if they have a contagious illness such as chickenpox, pink eye, strep, measles, an upper respiratory infection, impetigo, or any other condition that is disruptive to the learning environment.

During this time of year, we also want to emphasize the importance of practicing regular hand washing. In a school setting, germs can spread easily, and hand washing is the most effective defense. Teaching and reinforcing proper hand-washing techniques helps students develop lifelong habits and prevents germs from spreading from hands to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Time is ticking to submit 8th grade student yearbook portraits! The yearbook team is now accepting portraits for the 2025-26 yearbook. Please submit your student's portrait via Treering.com under PCK's 8th grade folder. If you haven't used Treering before, you'll need to create an account. Use PCK's school code 1015343699083637.

Portrait Guidelines

• Pose: Waist-up only. Head-and-shoulder or full-body poses will not be accepted.
• Framing: Centered, facing the camera, with both eyes visible.
• Dress Code: Adhere to school dress code guidelines. Avoid revealing clothing or spaghetti straps.
• Props: No props allowed (animals, costumes, hats, sunglasses, etc.).
• Background: Simple and uncluttered (avoid solid colors). Natural outdoor settings work well.
• Photo Type: Color photos only. No black and white, vignette, or sepia.
• Size/Quality: Approximately 2"x2" with a resolution of 300 dpi.

Please submit your student's portrait by January 21 to ensure inclusion in the yearbook.

Help support our graduating 8th grade class! There are still many opportunities to reserve the PCK Spirit Rock during the second half of the school year.

The Spirit Rock can be reserved for occasions like student birthdays, congratulatory messages, good luck wishes, milestone celebrations, and more. It’s a fun and creative way to share positive messages with our school community.

All donations from Spirit Rock rentals during the 2025-26 school year will go to the 8th Grade Graduation Committee and will be used to help fund the post-graduation celebration for our 8th grade students.

If you'd like to reserve the Spirit Rock, you can do so by clicking the button below.

Now that we’ve returned from Winter Break, it’s time to settle back into our regular class routines, which also means homework is back in full swing. To help students stay on track during the second half of the year, we are pleased to bring back National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Homework Help.

Homework Help provides students with a dedicated space to work on their homework after school, supported by PCK’s NJHS students who are available to assist with their studies. NJHS Homework Help will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10-3:45 p.m. More details can be found by clicking the button below.

Registration is still open for our Girls and Boys Basketball Camps, as well as our Spirit Camp! Descriptions of what each camp entails, as well as registrations can be found below. Camp registration closes this Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, January 13 from 3:15-4:35 p.m.

Participants will learn alongside members of our basketball team while engaging in fun drills and games that focus on skill development and teamwork. Campers will work on essential fundamentals, including ball handling and shooting, while gaining an understanding of what it means to be part of a team. This camp is suitable for all skill levels.

Date: Monday, January 12 from 3:15-4:35 p.m.

Due to an influx of registrations, we’ve expanded our camp to offer additional spots! If you previously attempted to register your student and found the camp sold out, please check back, there may now be openings available at the time you view this registration.

This camp offers students the opportunity to learn alongside members of our basketball team through a variety of drills and games. Designed to build fundamental skills and teamwork, campers will receive instruction in areas such as ball handling, shooting, and overall game fundamentals. Whether students are new to basketball or looking to improve their skills, this camp has something for everyone.

Dates: Monday, January 12 & Tuesday, January 13 from 3:30-5:00 p.m.

This Spirit Camp will be a unique experience compared to our first camp of the year. On the first day, campers will work with a member of the Spirit Team to create and rehearse a routine. On the second day, campers will perform their routine in front of fellow participants as part of a spirited competition.

At the moment our only club open for registration is our Homework Club, which meets from 3:20 to 4:15 p.m. You can find more information about the club and registration below.

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays

Meeting Location: Room 115

Grades: 3-6

Homework Club is different from our other clubs, as it will take place all school year. At this club students will have the opportunity to work on their homework while a teacher is there to guide them through their work.

The Foundation at PCK is proud to announce a brand-new fundraising event coming this spring: PCK Palooza & Auction! This event will be an informal, upbeat, interactive celebration that aims to bring our community together for a night of fun and philanthropy. Guests will enjoy games like pickleball, corn hole, life-size pong, and pool, along with music from a live DJ, great food and drinks, and plenty of opportunities to connect.

Stay tuned to the PCK Newsletter for more information about PCK Palooza & Auction in the upcoming months. Save the Date for this much-anticipated event!

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11 at 8:15 a.m. in the MS Commons. This meeting will have a virtual option, which can be found in the newsletter the week before this meeting.

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 Parker Core Knowledge.

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.

For this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, we are proud to recognize all of the individuals who helped make our classroom holiday parties such a success before winter break. These celebrations give students a special opportunity to enjoy the holiday season with their classmates and serve as a well-earned reward for their hard work throughout the first half of the school year.

Our parent volunteers played a vital role in making these parties run smoothly. Their presence not only ensured everything stayed organized and fun, but also reminded students that they are supported both at home and in the classroom.

We would also like to extend a special thank-you to our Safety Dads, Daniel Sharpe, Cord Rotondo, and James Jenkins for assisting our front office staff on this especially busy day. Your help made a tremendous difference, and the day would not have gone nearly as smoothly without you.

Thank you to everyone who helped fill the day with holiday cheer and create lasting memories for our students. Your time, effort, and support truly do not go unnoticed.