PCK Weekly Newsletter

Hello PCK Community,

On Tuesday, veterans, students, staff, and parents gathered at Parker Core Knowledge to celebrate Veterans Day, the annual U.S. commemoration that honors all veterans who have served to protect our country. We want to take a moment to sincerely thank all veterans for their service.

During our assembly, we invited students to stand if they have a family member who has served in the armed forces. It was truly moving to see how many families have sacrificed to protect our country. Veterans Day connects directly to our mission to build cultural literacy, citizenship, and respect. Here are a few of the lessons our students learn by honoring this important day:

Honoring Service and Sacrifice - Veterans Day provides an opportunity for students to learn about and honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Recognizing their service teaches gratitude, respect, and civic responsibility.

Building Cultural Literacy - Understanding history and the meaning of Veterans Day is part of being culturally literate. Students can understand our armed forces, learn about important historical events, and the values that shape our country.

Connecting Knowledge to Character - Celebrating Veterans Day allows students to reflect on courage, perseverance, dedication, and many other character traits.

We encourage you to continue using this opportunity at home to teach your children about respect, honor, and gratitude, and to join us in our shared mission of providing a rich academic and character education while honoring the veterans in our community.

Warm regards

Dr. Leanne Weyman, School Director

Breanna Warburton, Academic Director (P-4)

Stephanie Harper, Academic Director (4-8)

Last week, our 4th grade students had the wonderful opportunity to showcase their learning during the annual Castle Day performance. This special event is the culmination of their Core Knowledge studies on the Middle Ages in Western Europe, where students explore the historical and geographical context of the era. Throughout this unit, they learn about the feudal system, chivalry, manors, the growth of towns, the influence of the Christian Church, the Magna Carta, the plague, and the lasting legacy of the Middle Ages.

The unit concludes with a lively performance in which every student participates, whether through musical numbers or by portraying members of a medieval kingdom. Archers, poets, wizards, musicians, jesters, and more come together to bring this fascinating period to life.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us to celebrate the students’ creativity, effort, and hard work!

With winter approaching, we want to remind all families how you’ll be notified about school delays and cancellations, and what those situations involve.

In the event of a winter weather delay or cancellation, families will receive a text and email notification either the night before or the morning of, no later than 6:00 a.m. To ensure you receive these messages, please verify that your contact information is current in Infinite Campus.

Updates will also be posted on the PCK website, with a notice displayed on the home page.

When a weather delay occurs, the school will operate on a 90-minute delay. The carpool line will open at 9:00 a.m., and classes will begin at 9:30 a.m.

All carpool procedures for drop-off and pick-up will remain exactly the same, including pick-up time with carpool beginning at 3:10 p.m.

If school is cancelled, there will be no classes, clubs, practices, games, or after-school activities that day. All events will be cancelled or rescheduled as needed.

Please also remember that while students may wear boots to school during winter weather, they must bring a pair of dress code compliant shoes to change into while inside the building. Students may switch back into boots for outdoor recess or afternoon carpool.

Our staff continue to work closely with Deputy Sandifer and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to ensure families have the information they need for a safe and efficient carpool process. This week, we’re sharing a helpful resource specifically for families who pick up in the West Loop, check out the video below.

To view all of our carpool procedure videos and learn more about how to navigate carpool safely and correctly, simply click the button below.

As we approach the halfway point of November, it’s time to start thinking about auditions for the spring musical, Tuck Everlasting. Auditions will be held on Monday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 2.

Auditions are open to 7th and 8th grade students. While they may not audition, 6th graders are welcome to open enroll to participate in the chorus. Registration is not yet open for open enrollment.

If your student is interested in auditioning, please have them join the Google Classroom for more details and updates about the process. The class code is ofc2avyz.

Tickets for our theatre department's fall musical are still available for purchase. If you'd like to purchase tickets, you can do so by clicking the button below.

Next week, we’ll be holding tryouts for both our girls and boys basketball teams for the upcoming winter season. You can find the practice dates and times for each team listed below.

If your student plans to attend tryouts, please make sure they bring a water bottle, a change of clothes, and appropriate basketball shoes. Students should report directly to tryouts after their final class on their designated day. Pick-up will take place off of Centerpark Loop, at the 5th and 6th grade pickup location.

Please note that all athletic programs are open only to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.

Tryout Dates - November 17, 19

Tryout Times - 3:15-4:35 p.m. on both tryout days

Tryout Times - 3:15-4:35 p.m. on both tryout days

Our National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students are bringing back Homework Help for the 2025-26 school year. This is a great opportunity for your student to receive one-on-one support from a member of NJHS. Whether your child needs extra guidance or just a helping hand with daily homework, our NJHS students are ready to assist.

Please keep an eye out in future newsletters for information on Homework Help's meeting location, dates, and cost.

We’re extending the deadline for our Yearbook Cover Contest to Monday, November 17.

This extension gives students a little extra time over the weekend to finalize and submit their creative designs. All yearbook cover entries must be turned in to the front office by 4:00 p.m. along with the submission form, which can be accessed using the button below.

This year’s theme is “One Team. One Dream.” Each design should feature a central image that represents PCK. This could include Cam the Cougar, the Spirit Rock, the PCK Logo, and character traits.

A complete list of submission guidelines and criteria can be found in the form linked below.

We are searching for a new team member to join our preschool as a Preschool Floater. This role supports classroom activities by preparing materials for daily lessons and assisting with supervision of children both in the classroom and on the playground as needed.

In the past, your referrals and recommendations have been key in helping us find individuals who share our school’s values and commitment to supporting our students.

If you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity, please click the button below to view the full job posting and submit an application.

Orders through Square 1 Art are now open. Families of students in grades K-6 have the opportunity to order a variety of household keepsakes showcasing their student's artwork.

Orders can be placed online until November 25. To view your student’s artwork, click the button below to access Square 1’s Art Search. Select Colorado as the state, Core Knowledge Charter School as the school, and then enter your student’s name to see their art.

Don't forget that the donation window for our Bin Blessed Food Drive is open until November 19! Each grade level has a specific food item to contribute. A full list of these items and corresponding grade levels can be found below.

Bins for donations can be found in each classroom. Please remind your student to drop their donation in the donation bin for their classroom. The grade level that collects the most food items will win a root beer float party provided by Bin Blessed.

At the moment our only club open for registration is our Homework Club, which meets from 3:20 to 4:15 p.m. You can find more information about the club and registration below.

Please note that all PCK clubs do not meet on early dismissal days.

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays

Meeting Location: Room 115

Grades: 3-6

Homework Club is different from our other clubs, as it will take place all school year. At this club students will have the opportunity to work on their homework while a teacher is there to guide them through their work.

The School Accountability Committee (SAC) held a highly productive meeting yesterday, focusing on ways to educate, inform, and support parents on the features of our beloved school. The SAC is proud to support PCK's rigorous academic program, a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, and a warm, family-like culture. Our shared goal is to ensure that parents are well informed about how to access important school resources and understand that their involvement is an essential part of their child’s educational experience.

In support of this goal, the SAC is excited to work with PCK on a new initiative: Parent University. This program will feature a series of short, informative videos designed to help parents engage more deeply with our school community. While the list of potential topics is extensive, we have recommended several key priorities that include volunteerism, sources of communication with the school, and how to navigate Infinite Campus and grade level websites.

We hope that Parent University will strengthen the connection between home and school, ensuring that every parent feels informed, empowered, and actively involved in their child’s journey at PCK.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, December 10 at 8:15 a.m. in the MS Commons.

For this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, we are proud to recognize the incredible contributions of those who supported our Veterans Day Breakfast. Each year, PCK celebrates the veterans in our community with a special breakfast before our Veterans Day Assembly. This cherished event brings our community together and provides veterans with the opportunity to connect and share stories with one another. The breakfast is made possible entirely through the generosity of our community members, who graciously donate their time, energy, and food to ensure our veterans feel honored and appreciated.

We would like to give special recognition to the Simmons family, who went above and beyond by stepping in at the last minute to fill three remaining volunteer spots. Your willingness to help made a tremendous difference, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity and commitment.

Thank you to all the families who contributed to making this year’s Veterans Day Breakfast a success. Your support helps keep this meaningful tradition alive for our veterans and our community.