PCH Community Update

PCH Community,

Welcome to the week of Homecoming 2025 and this two week edition of PCH Community Update, which includes information about this week's spirit days, game day guildelines for Friday night, as well as how to purchase tickets for Saturday night's dance. Reminder: dance ticket sales end on Friday, September 19th at 2:00pm --- no late ticket sales, no exceptions! Tickets will not be sold at the door! Backpacks and large bags are not allowed! Also of note, Friday will be an EVEN Day, but our block sequence will be 2 - 8 - 6 (Lunch) - 4 (Ac Lab), with our annual homecoming pep rally taking place during Ac Lab mods 1 & 2 at the end of the school day.

SAVE THE DATE: PCH Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025. Details below.

In addition, this is the final reminder for the dual credit program and PSAT sign up, both of which have deadlines this week. Also included in this week's Update is information on the following...

• Calendar Reminders
• Parent Teacher Conferences
• Spur Yearbook Info
• PCH Athletic Passes
• From Food Services
• Free & Reduced Meal Program
• Find Your Bus Stop
• Student Parking for 2025-2026
• Parkway Cell Phone & Device Policy
• FinalForms: A New System
• Parents: PTO Leadership Board
• Morning Arrival Procedures
• Daily Building Procedures
• Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
• Multiple Standing Items
• Central High Administrators

The next Update will be shared on Sunday, September 28, 2025. As a reminder, PCH Community Update is the school newsletter shared with students and parents throughout the school year. For much of the content, students are the primary audience. Parents, please encourage your student to regularly check their Parkway email account to review new updates. Thank you for your support and, as always, Go Colts!

Sincerely,

Tim McCarthy

Principal, PCH

Below are important dates for the weeks and months to come, as well as a PDF of Central High's 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.

The daily schedule for the week of September 15 is:

• Monday, September 15: ALL (Purple) Day
• Tuesday, September 16: ODD (Red) Day
• Wednesday, September 17: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Ac Lab: Modules 1 & 2
• Thursday, September 18: ODD (Red) Day
• Friday, September 19: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Block Sequence = 2 - 8 - 6 - 4 --- No Mods, Homecoming Pep Rally

The daily schedule for the week of September 22 is:

• Monday, September 22: ALL (Purple) Day
• Tuesday, September 23: ODD (Red) Day
• Wednesday, September 24: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Ac Lab: Modules 1 & 2
• Thursday, September 25: ODD (Red) Day
• Friday, September 26: EVEN (Blue) Day --- Ac Lab: Modules 1 & 2

Important Dates:

• Monday, September 15: Homecoming Week Begins
• Friday, September 19: Homecoming Football Game, 7 pm
• Saturday, September 20: Homecoming Dance, 7:30 pm
• Tuesday, September 30: PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 30: Choir Concert, 7:30 pm
• Saturday, October 4: Beautification Day sponsored by Project Help, 8:00 am
• Tuesday, October 7: Orchestra Concert, 7:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 8: Even - Half Day, Dismissal at 11:35 am (No Ac Lab or Lunch)
• Thursday, October 9: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Friday, October 17: Even - Half Day, Dismissal at 11:35 am (No Ac Lab or Lunch, End of T1)
• Monday, October 20: No School --- Fall Break
• Wednesday, October 22: PSAT Test
• Monday, October 27: PCH Day of Service
• Tuesdday, November 4: No School --- Professional Development Day for Staff

To download the academic calendar, click on the two month calendar above or the attached PDF.

Homecoming Week starts on Monday, September 15th and ends with the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 20th. The week will be filled with spirit days, school wide events, and is ultimately a class vs. class competition. Below is a schedule for the week…

Monday, September 15th - Class Colors

Go all out and wear the color that corresponds to your grade level!

Freshmen - White

Sophomores - Red

Juniors - Blue

Seniors - Black

We will also hold our annual class vs. class kickball game on the turf from 6-7pm. All PCH students are welcome! Wear your class color!

Tuesday, September 16th - Country vs. Country Club

You decide which side to dress up with: flannels and boots or pearls and polos?

Wednesday, September 17th - Class Theme

Show your class pride by dressing up with the movie genre your class decided upon!

Freshmen - Rom Com (Dress up in Valentine’s Day apparel and colors)

Sophomores - Action (Dress up in super hero or Star Wars gear)

Juniors - Childrens (Embrace your inner child and dress as your favorite Disney character)

Seniors - Horror (Happy Senior-ween! Remember)

Remember: No masks!

Thursday, September 18th - USA

Celebrate America by wearing your red, white, and blue!

Friday, September 19th - PCH Spirit

Let’s go, Colts! We will have our annual Homecoming Pep Assembly during the school day, which means we will not have Academic Lab this day. Keep the spirit going and join us for the Homecoming Football Game at 7pm on the turf!

Homecoming dance tickets are now on sale through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Look for the Homecoming icon. Tickets can be purchased through Friday, September 19th at 2:00pm. No late ticket sales, no exceptions! Tickets will not be sold at the door! Please see the attached flyer for more detailed ticket information and for guidance to bring a non-Central High student guest.

If the Homecoming icon does not appear in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal, then you have an outstanding fee or fine that must be paid. If you have questions, please reach out to Pam Foutch at pfoutch@parkwayschools.net.

The dance is from 7:30-10pm in Gym A. Doors close at 8:30 pm; no entry after that time and no re-entry. In addition, backpacks and large bags are not permitted.

Any questions about Homecoming? Please feel free to reach out to Sarah Reeves at sreeves1@parkwayschools.net.

As we settle into the new school year, many students at PCH are enrolled in courses with dual credit programs, which offer students the opportunity to earn college credit through high school coursework. Central High, through partnerships with the University of Missouri - St. Louis and Missouri State University, offers students a robust dual credit program. Registration processes and deadlines vary by university. Please note: eligibility criteria, registration processes and registration fees are set by the university. Click HERE for more information about eligible Central High courses.

University of Missouri - St. Louis

Registration: http://www.umsl.edu/acp/

Deadline: Monday, September 15, 2025

*Parent consent through UMSL is due Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm CST.

Students need to enroll online, which must include an up-to-date parent/guardian email. The parent/guardian will then be sent an email with a link to sign off on the registration. UMSL will send a bill to the parents.

Missouri State University

Registration: https://missouristate.dualenroll.com

Deadline: This deadline has passed.

*Parent consent through MSU is due Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm CST.

On Thursday of last week, current 11th and 10th grade students, and their parents, received an email from Nana Prange regarding the 2025 PSAT national exam. Registration is now open for this exam, which will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at Central High. Please click HERE for additional details, including guidance on which students should take this option exam. Important dates to know are...

• September 19th: Test registration deadline @ 12 pm
• October 3rd: Attend a mandatory "Digital Readiness Check" in the PCH Library during Ac Lab
• October 22nd: Test date @ PCH (Details shared closer to test date with those who register)

On Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM, Central High will host fall parent-teacher conferences. The evening will be divided into two sessions:

Session 1: 03:00 PM - 05:30 PM — Online Conferences via Google Meet

Session 2: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM — In-Person Conferences at PCH

Both online and in-person conferences will require parents to sign up for specific time slots. The link to sign up will be sent Sunday, October 5 at 5:00 pm. Individual conferences are five minutes; some teachers will have limited availability. All teachers will have a scheduled break for dinner from 05:30 PM - 06:00 PM. Sign ups will end on Thursday, October 9 at 07:00 AM.

Student grades will be updated (as much as possible) by teachers in Infinite Campus by the end of the school day on Monday, October 6. Conferences are a great opportunity to check in with teachers about the progress your student is making in class. The week of conferences will be the eighth of the semester; over half of the semester will still be in front of us!

If you haven't picked up your 24-25 PCH yearbook, stop by room 950 to do so.

Order today at yearbookordercenter.com

Purchase a Senior Yearbook Ad to honor your graduating senior! Ads for seniors are due Friday, Oct. 24. See the attached Senior Ad Flyer to see prices and details. Gather your pictures and craft your message, then go to yearbookordercenter.com and to place your order. Don't forget to order your yearbook while you are there. The cost of the ad does not include the cost of the yearbook.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Stricker at cstricker@parkwayschools.net

PCH athletic passes are now on sale for the 2025-2026 school year. Passes, both individual and family, are good only at home events fo the following events:

• varsity football
• varsity soccer (boys & girls)
• volleyball (boys & girls, all levels)
• basketball (boys & girls, all levels)

PCH athletic passes are NOT validy for away events, tournaments, or postseason play. Scan the QR code below for pricing information and to purchase a pass.

The Parkway School District participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This allows families the opportunity to apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility.To apply, click on the picture to the left.

To find your bus stop, click on the picture to the right.

Class of 2026 (Seniors) and Class of 2027 (Juniors)

PCH student parking passes are now available to purchase for eligible senior and junior student. Please refer to the email the email sent on August 5, 2025 at 3 pm. The cost is $85. All students parking on campus are expected to have their school issued parking pass displayed in their vehicle by Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the third day of school. Failure to do so is a violation of the school's discipline policy and may result in fines and / or other consequences. Purchase details will be shared in August. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

Class of 2028 (Sophomores)

Due to space limitations, sophomore students are NOT eligible to park on campus during the school day --- no exceptions! Doing so is a violation of the school's discipline policy and may result in disciplinary consequences. As you plan for the school year, please make appropriate transportation arrangements. Sophomore students may have the opportunity to purchase a parking pass for the second semester if space is available.

Class of 2029 (Freshmen)

Freshmen students are not eligible to park on campus during the school day --- no exceptions! Doing so is a violation of the school's discipline policy and may result in disciplinary consequences. As you plan for the school year, please make appropriate transportation arrangements.

The first official practice day for fall athletics is Monday, August 11, 2025. Any student wanting to join a sport or activity (band, choir, orchestra) must complete the registration process for the 2025-2026 school year. This process is online as we are switching to a new system called FinalForms (previously PRIVIT). This system will house all your important documents. It is a new process for Central High, but we are extremely excited about this new platform. Attached is some information on FinalForms.

These forms must be completed prior to participating in a sport or activity.

To that end, we are asking the parents/guardians and the students planning to play sports or participate in activities to create accounts in FinalForms and register your student(s). Please see the attached document for links and assistance in registering.

Central High's PTO leadership board for the 2025-2026 school year is:

Kia Davis - President

Steven Shane - Vice President

Sonya Land - Treasurer

Stephanie Harvey - Secretary

Thank you to these individuals for their service to the PCH community! For more PTO information, click HERE.

Students and Parents: Please review this section whether you are riding the bus to school, dropping off your student, or driving yourself.

Officer Chris Kaatmann, Central High's new school resource officer, and Mr. DePriest Ammons, Central High's daytime custodian, will be directing traffic in the morning to assist with dropoff. Please follow their directions.

• Buses will dropoff students in the North Parking Lot. Students will exit the bus and enter through Door 40, the back entrance to the athletic wing.
• Parent Drivers may enter campus through the main entrance or via Stadium Drive. You will then be directed to the front of school via the main driveway (do not enter the North Lot). Use the lane to the far RIGHT of the median and along the curb. Pull forward as much as possible, then let your student out. Please go slow and yield to students crossing from the main lot. Student should enter through Door #1 - Main Entrance.
• Student Drivers may arrive on campus through the main entrance or via Stadium Drive. You will then be directed to the front of school via the main driveway (do not enter the North Lot). Use the lane to the far LEFT of the median, then proceed to either the Main Lot or the East Lot. Please go slow and yield to students crossing from the main lot. Student should enter school through Door #1 - Main Entrance.

Students and parents, please review the daily building procedures below.

• The building opens to students at 07:00 am.
• In the morning, students are expected to enter through Door #1 - Main Entrance (student drivers and students being dropped off) or Door #40 - Back Athletic Entrance (bus riders).
• Breakfast is available from 07:00 am - 07:30 am.
• Classes begin at 07:35 am. Students are expected to be in their assigned room by 07:35 am. For the first few days of school, we will work with students as some adjust to a new building and all to a new schedule.
• The internal set of doors at the main entrance will be locked at 07:35 am. Students tardy to school will check in inside the vestibule. Students will be issued a pass, then report to class.
• All visitors, includng parents, are expected to enter through the main entrance and check in using vestibule.
• Visitors cleared to enter the main building are expected to wear their school issued visitor badge for the duration of their visit to PCH.
• Students dismissed during the school day (e.g. for an appointment with a parent) are expected to exit the building through the main entrance.
• During school hours (07:00 am - 02:30 am), deliveries for students from outside entities, including, but not limited to food delivery services, are not allowed. Parents may continue to drop off items for students (e.g. lunch), when necessary.

Students and Parents: Please review this section whether you are riding the bus home, picking up your student, or driving yourself.

• Buses will line up on the front driveway using lanes to the RIGHT of the median for dismissal. Students riding the bus home should exit school through the main entrance or the theater entrance, then board their bus. School staff will be available to help students find their bus, especially for the first two weeks of the school year. Buses release at 02:37 pm, seven minutes after the dismissal bell.
• Parent Drivers picking up students at dismissal may wait on the front, main driveway in the near lane to the LEFT of the median or on the SOUTH bound lane of Stadium Drive. Please do not park and wait in the North Lot. Go slow and yield to students.
• Student Drivers should exit school through the main entrance or the theater entrance, then walk cautiously to their vehicle. As you exit the Main Lot or the East Lot, please be patient and follow the directives of the adult releasing buses and vehicles. Go slow and yield to students.

Dr. Tim McCarthy

Principal

Email: tmccarthy@parkwayschools.net
Website: https://www.parkwayschools.net/Domain/31
Location: 369 N Woods Mill Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone: (314)415-7900
Instagram: pchprincipal

Pictured from left to right: Matt Belding, Patrick Ward, Amy Grich, Tim McCarthy, Shruti Upadhyay, Brian Guilfoyle and Casey Holland.

Tim McCarthy, Principal

• Email: tmccarthy@parkwayschools.net
• Administrative Assistant: Kim Orf
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7902

Casey Holland, Assistant Principal - Class of 2026

• Email: cholland1@parkwayschools.net
• Administrative Assistant: Karena Gantner (kgantner@parkwayschools.net)
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7904

Shruti Upadhyay, Assistant Principal - Class of 2027

• Email: supadhyay@parkwayschools.net

• Administrative Assistant: Christine Schmitt
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7906

Patrick Ward, Assistant Principal - Class of 2028

• Email: pward2@parkwayschools.net
• Administrative Assistant: TBD
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7910

Amy Grich, Assistant Principal - Class of 2029

• Email: agrich@parkwayschools.net
• Administrative Assistant: Jordan Berry (jberry1@parkwayschools.net)
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7908

Matthew Belding, Special Education Coordinator

• Email: mbelding@parkwayschools.net
• Office Telephone: 314-415-5972

Brian Guilfoyle, Director of Athletics & Activities

• Email: bguilfoyle@parkwayschools.net
• Administrative Assistant: Tina Uihlein (tuihlein@parkwayschools.net)
• Office Telephone: 314-415-7936