PCHS Updates

We are incredibly grateful for our outstanding School Resource Officer, Deputy Jeremy Gwinn. Deputy Gwinn brings kindness, humor, and just the right amount of goofiness to brighten our days, while also remaining deeply observant and proactive in keeping our school safe. He has a remarkable ability to identify concerns early and work collaboratively to solve problems before they grow. A true teammate, he looks out for every member of our school community—students and staff alike—with genuine care and dedication. We are lucky to have someone who not only protects our building, but truly invests in the school community. Thank you, Deputy Gwinn!

Sign up via the QR code in the flyer or via this form: https://forms.gle/QqcQ2v79f4vr2g5Q6

In honor of the Counseling Office's new beta fish, we bring you Fish Talk Friday, a February campaign to raise awareness about the value of completing the FAFSA your Senior year. Have questions? Contact your Counselor! They will also be present at upcoming Senior night athletic events. Keep your eyes out for their table.

Interested in helping to coordinate the Senior All Nighter?

Please join us for our next planning meeting on Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the Counseling Office meeting room. If you are unable to attend but would still like to be involved in the planning, please contact Lori Maurer at lmaurer@pinckneypirates.org to get connected with the planning committee. This annual event is entirely parent-planned, with guidance provided by PCHS, and we will need many helping hands to make it a success. All are welcome to join! Thank you for considering being part of the fun—we hope to see you there!

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.

Last week, our Counselors gave the following 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 this week, which includes links to all applicable resources and paperwork.

Gather that spare change! The PCHS PTO momentum is growing, and so is our ability to support students and staff. Fundraisers like this turn coins into opportunities!

Are you a 9th or 10th grader with a passion for business, marketing, technology, or finance?

Join us for Discover Days: Business & IT— an exclusive event for Livingston County students who want to explore exciting careers in Business Management & Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, and Information Technology/Cybersecurity!

Friday, March 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

LakeTrust Credit Union | 4605 S. Old US Hwy 23, Brighton MI 48114

Get a behind-the-scenes look at real-world careers, connect with local professionals, and discover how your interests today can lead to a successful future in these fast-growing fields.

You can expect to experience:

• Presentations from business/IT professionals about their careers and training
• Interactive activities showcasing real-world job tasks.

Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait to secure your spot!

For more information, contact your high school counselor.

It's already that time of year again! See the flyers below for a calendar of events, including Course Exploration Night, designed to support students' awareness of their options and intentional decision making about a course plan for the '26-27 school year that best sets them up to meet their postsecondary goals.

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

Know a family with an 8th grader not currently in PCS who might be interested? Pass this along!

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: February 17 at 6pm in the Pirate Union.

Previous Meeting Minutes: 1/20/26

Recent Activity:

• Gift for Deputy Gwinn on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
• Approval of purchase of additional mints/gum for spring testing
• Approval of purchase of additional drinks for stocking the teachers' lounge
• Gift for Counselors during National School Counseling Week (2/2-2/6)

Upcoming Activities:

• February 12 during lunches: Providing 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)
• 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.

No Seminar due to the Mid-Winter Break.

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

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

• February 13-16: No School - Mid-Winter Break
• February 26: Course Exploration Night - 7-8pm
• February 28: PCS Music Program Spaghetti Dinner
• March 5th (7pm), March 7th (2pm), March 13th & 14th (7pm), and March 15th (2pm): Act2 Musical - Little Shop of Horrors
• March 12: NHS Blood Drive
• March 13: Progress Report 5
• 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 (Tentative: 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.

SENIORS: As the college admissions decisions roll in, here is some information regarding What To Do If You've Been Deferred.

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