PCMS Weekly Update

Good Afternoon PCMS Families!

As we head into these next months welcoming the holiday season, things get busy for all of us, and our Pirates are no exception! Over the next few weeks, winter sports will be in full swing, our music groups are gearing up for winter concerts, and PACE is buzzing with after-school activities. There are so many ways for students to get involved and make new friends. Students who are involved in school activities tend to have stronger connections to their school, which supports both academic and social success. It’s a busy time! But it’s a good busy!

Please join us on Wednesday morning for our annual Veterans Day Assembly, which begins at 7:45am. All Veterans, active duty and reserve service personnel - family, friend, or neighbor - are warmly invited to celebrate our local veterans with us!

Have a great weekend and GO PIRATES!!

~Your principals,

Dr. Chris Miller, principal

Dr. Emily Miller, assistant principal

👷 Check Out What We Did This Week!

After learning about earthquakes and the Engineering Design Process, 6th grade students in Mrs. Keighley's class put their knowledge to the test by designing and building earthquake-resistant homes! They created detailed blueprints with measurements and labels, worked within a budget using materials from the Science Construction Shop, and brought their designs to life. On Friday, we put their homes to the test to see if they could withstand a 4-minute earthquake!

🧡 This Week's Character Dare

This Week's CharacterDare is: Support Seeker (see below).

Ask your students how they’re doing with their CharacterDare each week, and consider joining them in taking on these CharacterDares yourself! Modeling these character-building challenges can make them even more meaningful for our students.

📝 Homework Harbor Sign-up

Our after-school tutoring program, Homework Harbor, takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3–4pm! Homework Harbor gives our Pirates a place after school to work on homework, get extra help, or retake a test if needed. If you’d like your child to attend, please sign them up each week using the form below.

November Homework Harbor Sign Up

💫 New Student ID Badges

Your student received a new student ID badge, complete with a lanyard and badge sleeve, this week.

Please remind your student that these ID badges need to be brought to school every day! Students will use their ID badges to purchase lunch in the cafeteria and in the library for book checkout.

If a student forgets their ID badge, they will still be able to purchase lunch; however, they will need to go to the end of the lunch line and will not be able to purchase any à la carte items.

Please also be aware that if a student loses their ID badge and needs a replacement, a $5 replacement fee will be added to their PowerSchool account.

Thank you for helping us reinforce the importance of bringing their ID badge to school each day!

🪖 Veterans Day Assembly

We cordially invite all family members and friends who are veterans to join us as we honor their service, dedication, and sacrifice.

Date: Wednesday, November 11th
Refreshments: 7:00 AM – Enjoy donuts, coffee, and juice before the program.
Assembly: 7:45 AM

To help us prepare for your visit, please RSVP to let us know you'll be joining us. We ask that everyone planning to attend complete the RSVP, not just our veterans.

A quick note about visitor check-in:

Already in our Hall Pass Visitor system? If you have previously checked in at one of our district buildings, your information is already on file. You’ll be able to quickly pick up your visitor badge when you arrive.
New to our visitor system? If you have not previously checked in through Hall Pass, you will need to bring your photo ID to the office. Please allow time for your ID to be scanned and a visitor badge to be printed before proceeding into the building.

Our goal is to make it easy to welcome as many guests as possible while maintaining the safe, secure visitor check-in procedures that protect our students and staff.

Veterans Day Assembly RSVP

🔊 Upcoming MOCSA Training for 8th Grade

8th Grade Parents: Please review the letter below regarding upcoming training provided by the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). If you do NOT want your child to attend this presentation, please complete the MOCSA Presentation Opt Out Form by Friday, November 13th.

MOCSA’s sexual harassment presentation defines sexual harassment as unwanted behavior of a sexual nature. The program is conversation based and discusses that each person gets to decide if something is “wanted’ or “unwanted” for themselves. This programming discusses that “sexual in nature” means harming someone based on one’s body, gender, or sexual orientation. Students will learn the types of sexual harassment (physical, verbal, non-verbal, and internet) and what to do if someone is being sexually harassed. Students will lead the conversation based on what they are already seeing and experiencing and the MOCSA educator will help facilitate conversation in a safe and structured way. Finally, students will work to identify safe peers and adults that they could talk to if they or someone they know needs help.

MOCSA Presentation Opt Out

📸 Picture Retakes

Picture retakes are scheduled for November 19th. If students have already had their Fall Picture taken, please bring your original picture packages back to get a retake replacement. Any student who did not get their picture taken on the original picture day can order with cash or check on or before picture day in the office using the form below. All checks MUST be made out to Reed Portrait Group. Orders may also be placed with a credit card by calling RPG @ 816-436-5550.

🎀 PCHS Phase 2 Ribbon Cutting & Open House - Dec. 3

Along with Newkirk Novak Construction Partners and Incite Design Studio, the District will be hosting a ribbon cutting and open house of Phase 2 of the PCHS Rebuild project on Thursday, December 3 from 5:30-7:30pm. Please enter through the new main entrance! This event is open to the community and tours and refreshments will be provided following the ribbon cutting at 5:30pm. Come tour our new completed high school which will be open for second semester!

📱 Text Notifications

The District uses text messaging and automated phone calls to notify parents of upcoming events and days off, school closings due to weather, and during emergency situations. Newly enrolled families will automatically receive an opt-in message from 67587. If you missed it, simply text “Yes” to 67587 to receive text messages.

📆 Upcoming Events

Nov 7

All-District 7/8 Gr Band Auditions @ Central High School, 7 am

Nov 11

Veteran's Day Assembly, 7 am
PTO Meeting, 5:30 pm

Nov 14

NWMCDA Middle School Honor Choirs @ Smithville High School

Nov 18

All-District Jazz Band Rehearsal @ Central High School

Nov 19

Fall Picture Retakes

Nov 20

FCA Meeting, 7:10 am

Nov 21

All-District Jazz Clinic/Concert @ Northwest Missouri State University

Mark Your Calendar

(Click the button above to view the full PCMS calendar on our website.)

🏴 Pirates ROCK - Alignment to Portrait of a Graduate

Since 2005, Pirates ROCK (Raising Outstanding Character Kids) has helped shape a strong culture of character across Platte County School District. More than 20 years later and beginning with the 2026-27 school year, we're building on that tradition by aligning Pirates ROCK with our Portrait of a Graduate essential skills.

This evolution creates a more consistent, student-centered approach to character development by focusing on the six essential skills that prepare learners to thrive in school, careers, and life. Students will continue to be recognized for demonstrating outstanding character while developing the competencies that support our mission of ensuring every learner thrives in an ever-changing world with confidence and resilience, all through a consistent framework and shared language as they grow from kindergarten through graduation.

Throughout the year, we'll focus on these essential skills: