PCMS Weekly Update

This week marked our first Block Week, which also meant our first Out 2 C session. Out 2 C is a weekly opportunity for students to get extra time and support with academics, or to dive into enrichment activities if they’ve already mastered their current class standards.

We also spoke with all three grade levels of students regarding handbook expectations. We reinforced the expectations in the handbook and what those look like here, specifically at PCMS. There is additional information outlined below about dress code specifically. We have such great students here at PCMS and are so proud of our pirates as they do a great job Taking Care of Themselves, Each Other, and This Place!

Have a great weekend and GO PIRATES 🧡🖤!!

~Your principals,

Dr. Chris Miller, principal

Dr. Emily Miller, assistant principal

This week we discussed the handbook expectations with all grade levels. There have been a lot of questions about dress code that have come up. We broke down the handbook language and shared this message with students:

Girls: All shirts must cover private parts / undergarments, no sheer or mesh, or mid-drifts. All bottoms must cover private parts / undergarments, no sheer or mesh. Also, no shorts that resemble undergarments (volleyball shorts, or rolled shorts).

Boys: All shirts must cover private parts / undergarments, no sheer or mesh, or mid-drifts / stomach. All bottoms must cover private parts / undergarments, no sheer or mesh. Also, no cut off shirts showing sides or extremely sagging pants.

Additionally, we are seeing a lot of drawing on skin with markers, students will be asked to clean the markings off.

Thank you for helping us reinforce these expectations with your student. Our goal is to make sure everyone understands the guidelines and comes to school ready to focus on learning.

To encourage strong attendance, we’re excited to introduce a new weekly incentive! Each Friday, we will randomly draw two students from each team who are "Crushin' It" by maintaining 100% attendance for the entire week.

Selected students will receive a soda as a reward for their commitment to being at school every day! Below are our winners for this week.

We appreciate your support in helping students build positive attendance habits—every day counts!

At PCMS, we have a long-standing tradition of welcoming our extended Pirate families to enjoy breakfast with their middle school students. We are happy to announce we will be again hosting our 6th Grade Pastries with Pirates breakfast on Wed, September 23rd at 7am. 6th-grade students are encouraged to invite special family member(s) to join them. This could be grandparents, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or any other significant person in the student's life. We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 23rd!

Enrollment is open for an amazing educational travel opportunity in Summer 2028 to Ireland, Scotland, and England! There are limited spots available for Middle School students and parents! Please, use the link to see the itinerary and enrollment information. If you have any questions, contact the Group Leader, Daria Opanasenko-Davydova opanasenko.daria@pcr3schools.org

Enrollment closes Today, September 11th!

Platte County School District's Homecoming festivities run September 28-October 3. This year's theme is "The Magic Lives On," - a Disney theme. Visit this event page for information on Homecoming activities, including spirit week information, the Homecoming Victory Supper, parade, and football game

Safety is our District's top priority. PCR-3 has a system of safety and security measures in place, including trained security staff, secure entryways, ongoing monitoring, and partnership with local law enforcement.

We remind parents, staff, and students that school safety is the responsibility of the entire school community. Please follow the principle of "see something, say something." If anyone (student, parent, staff member, community member) sees or hears anything of concern, please contact the District office at (816) 858-5420 so that those concerns can be investigated. You and your child can also easily report tips on bullying, harassment, or any safety issue you're concerned about through our online Safe Schools Alert system. Every tip is immediately logged in the system and our administration is notified so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. Each building's website has the Safe Schools icon located within the “quick links” bar on the homepage.

We’re excited for another amazing year of sports, friendships, inclusion, and FUN! To participate as a Special Olympics athlete, students must:

• Be enrolled in the Platte County R-3 School District
• Be 8 years or older
• Meet Special Olympics Missouri eligibility requirements by having an intellectual disability or closely related developmental disability that impacts general learning and adaptive skills such as self-care, independent living, recreation, work, or self-direction.

Think your student might qualify or want to learn more? Check out the flier and join us for the parent/registration meeting on September 16th at 6:30pm in the PCHS Cafeteria. We can’t wait for another great year with our PCR-3 Unified family!

Join us for Military Appreciation Night at the September 18 home football game vs. Smithville! We have a variety of activities planned to recognize our community's current and former military members. Wear your red, white, and blue, or Pirate Orange, and don’t miss the 180th Airlift Squadron C-130 flyover during the National Anthem. Be in your seats before kickoff!

• Pirates vs. Smithville Warriors, September 18, Pirate Stadium, kickoff at 7pm
• Digital tickets to the game

Most families have already taken care of iPad Device Insurance—thank you! If you haven’t completed the process yet, there is still time. The deadline to register is October 1.

To take your student’s iPad home, you must complete the Device Insurance registration through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Until the registration is completed, your student will not be able to take their iPad home.

If you qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch, the $30 insurance fee is waived, but you still need to complete the registration form.

To register: PowerSchool Parent Portal → Forms → 2026–2027 Platte County Schools Device Insurance Payment

Please see the FAQ below for more information about device insurance and coverage.

• Select the More icon at the bottom of your Dashboard.
• Tap Forms.
• Choose Platte County School District Parent/Student Handbook.

• Sign in to PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• From the left menu, select Forms.
• Choose Platte County School District Parent/Student Handbook.

This summer, PCR-3 middle schoolers took part in a Make48 Summer School challenge. Make48 is now coming to Kansas City this month for their Season 10 National Finale and they want to pack the house for the final Pitch event! Seven teams that competed at their 2026 regional playoff events are coming back to compete one more time. They will have 48 hours to invent a solution for the Veterans Community Project, and on Sunday afternoon they pitch what they built to a panel of judges. The winning team takes home $10,000, a custom trophy, and national bragging rights. This is the loudest, most exciting part of the whole weekend, and Make48 wants to open its doors to the Platte County School District community to watch. Teachers, students, faculty, staff, and parents are all welcome.

Please note: Make48 can only take the first 100 responders. All Attendees must RSVP, sign an NDA, and sign a film release, as we'll be filming for a TV show! RSVP HERE!

Sunday, September 20 at 1:00 PM; doors open at 12:45 PM

Ignition Lab at Operation Breakthrough
3039 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109

Want a preview of what these events look like? Make48 Season 9 Nationals Sizzle

On Monday, September 21, school will not be in session for our first Professional Learning Community (PLC) day of the 2026-27 school year.

PLC days are designed to establish sustained and uninterrupted time for teachers to work together and collaborate to improve student learning and achievement. This time allows educators to examine and respond to the four basic fundamental questions of a Professional Learning Community:

• What is it we want students to learn?
• How will we know when each student has achieved the learning?
• How will we respond when a student is not learning?
• How will we respond when we know a child has mastered the learning?

For more information on PCR-3's Professional Learning Community, visit the PLC page on the District's website.

• Volleyball A/B/C Team Games @ New Mark Middle School, 4 pm

Sept 16

• Volleyball A/B Team Games @ Heritage Middle School, 4 pm

Sept 17

• Cross Country Meet @ Platte Ridge Park, 4 pm
• Football A Team Game @ Walden Middle School, 4 pm
• Football B Team Game @ Walden Middle School, 6:15 pm

Sept 18

• FCA Meeting, 7:10 am
• 8th Grade Band Step Off Night @ PCHS Home Game

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:

• August/September: Effective Communication
• October/November: Self-Awareness
• December/January: Personal Connections
• February: Personal Growth
• March: Problem-Solving
• April: Global Connections

Email: tomlinson.kristie@pcr3schools.org
Website: http://www.pcms.plattecountyschooldistrict.com
Location: 900 Pirate Drive, Platte City, MO, 64079
Phone: (816)858-2036
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plattecitymiddleschool/