PCHS Updates

This week we celebrate School Social Work Week and recognize the incredible impact of our three amazing social workers. Every day, they support our students’ emotional well-being, advocate for their needs, and help remove barriers so all students can learn and thrive. Their compassion, expertise, and dedication make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and staff. We are so grateful for the care and commitment they bring to our school community each and every day.

Today during Seminar, Mrs. McBride and Mr. McMurray met with the Class of 2026 to ensure they are equipped with all of the dates and info to set them up to finish high school strong and to have fun while doing it! See the agenda below.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As student and staff mental health concerns continue to increase, it is critical that we develop resources and strategies to ensure we are reaching those individuals who need it most. To further the discussion surrounding mental health awareness, on Thursday, March 19, we will host a documentary and presentation entitled Do it for Daniel for students in all grades. This assembly falls during Student Government's annual "UMatter" Week.

The program is designed to educate individuals about the impact anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses have on people and their families, and to create meaningful, positive, and hopeful dialogue.

The Do it for Daniel program will be delivered by nationally recognized speaker Jeff Olson, whose son lost his battle with severe anxiety and depression at age 19. Jeff has been a public school teacher and hall of fame high school football coach in the State of Michigan for over thirty years. He has presented this program in hundreds of schools and community settings across the country and the program has been viewed by tens of thousands of students, school staff, and community members.

Over the past few years, we have observed the profound impact mental health has had on our students. Our goal is that by educating our school community and talking openly about these concerns, we will help reduce the stigma of talking about and understanding mental illness, thereby helping individuals to get the help they need.

Some students may find this presentation to be emotional. If you have a concern for your child’s participation, please email me at jmcbride@pinckneypirates.org or call me at 810.225.5515. Below are some resources to view prior to the schoolwide presentation.

Sincerely,

Julia McBride, Principal

Parent/Staff Resources

Link to Do it for Daniel Facebook Page

Planning is underway, and this event is shaping up to be uniquely awesome! More details to come.

Be the Change's Take Care Tuesday was so well-received in early February that they are doing it again! They've learned some things from Round 1 to maximize this short time during lunch to the fullest.

Please see the information from LACASA about the upcoming opening of Cinderella's Closet with plenty of time to get ready for Prom:

Prom season is almost here, and LACASA’s Cinderella’s Closet is back! From March 19–22, high school students are invited to shop a pop-up prom boutique featuring $25 gowns, dresses, and suits, along with affordable shoes and accessories.

Cinderella’s Closet offers students a chance to find the perfect prom look at a price families can manage. A limited number of scholarships are available for students who need additional assistance. All proceeds support LACASA’s services for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence.

The boutique will be located at Kensington Valley Outlets (near LACASA Collection, next to Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet). Students must present a valid school ID to shop.

The pop-up boutique will be open weekdays 3 - 7 pm and weekends 10 am-6 pm. For more information, visit lacasacenter.org.

This information meeting helps students and parents understand how the program works, explore career and college pathways, and see if Early College is the right fit. Come learn how students can save thousands in college costs while planning their next step with confidence.

In January, our Counselors gave this presentation to students interested in taking college courses during high school. If your student is interested in dual enrollment (taking a college course while in high school) for the fall of 2026, the deadline to register is MAY 1, 2026. Follow the steps in the presentation, or the email sent by Amy Robinson, which includes links to all applicable resources and paperwork.

Check out all of the scheduling resources HERE!

Questions? Email your student's Counselor! See contact info in the Counseling section of this newsletter.

We have about 20 students signed up for this, which means about 20 of our current students have signed up to have a student shadow them next Friday. Thank you to our students for their leadership during this annual opportunity!

We’re excited to share upcoming Parent Engagement Sessions hosted by LESA, in partnership with Community Bible Church and FlexTech Brighton—and they’re open to all school-age families in our county!

Each session focuses on a timely topic to support families and students, and dinner is provided at every event. We’re also thrilled to welcome back Katey McPherson, who many of you may remember as a keynote speaker from last year’s inaugural Parent Summit.

📅 Upcoming Session:

• Thursday, March 12, 2026 – Childhood 2.0
  📍 FlexTech High School, Brighton

We hope you’ll join us for these meaningful conversations and opportunities to connect. Please help spread the word—we’d love to see our families there!

Next Meeting: March 17 at 6pm in the Pirate Union.

Previous Meeting Minutes: 2/17/26

Recent Activity:

• Coordination of Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast across K-12 PTOs
• February 12 during lunches: Provided treats for students who grew on the NWEA Math and/or Reading from fall to winter
• February 9-20: Change War PTO fundraiser! (Seminar competition)

Upcoming Activities:

• Feb 22: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day recognition
• Feb 26: PTO presence at Course Exploration Night

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!!

Our Leadership Class highlights a different freshman each week on the building TVs, and we want to start sharing them with you too! This has been a great way to meet our 9th graders and learn about how awesome they are.

Across the month of March, we will capitalize on opportunities to put the character strength of KINDNESS 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/kindness/ You’ll find a quote, video, and questions to help you and your children discuss The Positivity Project’s character strength of kindness.

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

• March 7th (2pm), March 13th & 14th (7:30pm), and March 15th (2pm): Act2 Musical - Little Shop of Horrors
• March 12: NHS Blood Drive
• March 13: Progress Report 5
• March 19: Do it for Daniel Assembly (Suicide & Mental Health Awareness)
• 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 & WIN Work Readiness Assessment (no school 9th, virtual day 12th)
• April 14-15: 11th Grade M-STEP Science & Social Studies
• 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, & 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!

Overwhelmed by the college-search process? U.S. News & World Report has given our school community access to a free resource – the digital edition of its Best Colleges 2026 Guidebook. This book features profiles of more than 1,600 colleges, a variety of college rankings, and advice articles for every step of the process, from entrance exams to financial aid. Just click here to access the entire book, free of charge.

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

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 along for all the latest news, written by PCHS students! https://www.pchsmedia.org/

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