PCK Weekly Newsletter

Dear PCK Families,

As we come to the close of the first half of our school year and prepare for winter break, we would like to take a moment to reflect and express our heartfelt gratitude to our entire PCK community for the support and dedication shown throughout the year thus far.

At PCK, we believe that student success is built on a strong partnership between school and home. While our staff works diligently each day to support our students, parental involvement plays an equally vital role in ensuring every child receives the encouragement, guidance, and care they need to thrive. Your engagement—whether through communication, reinforcement at home, or active participation in our school—makes a meaningful difference in your student’s journey.

This partnership not only supports students in reaching their academic goals, but also sends a powerful message. This message is that their education matters, and that they are supported by a community that believes in their potential. When students know their families are invested in their learning, they feel empowered, motivated, and confident to continue giving their best effort in and out of the classroom.

We are truly grateful for the time, trust, and commitment you share with us. Thank you for being such an essential part of the PCK community and for helping us create an environment where students can grow, learn, and succeed. We look forward to continuing this important partnership in the months ahead.

Warmly,

Dr. Leanne Weyman

Breanna Warburton

Stephanie Harper

Earlier this week, our kindergarten students took the stage and performed winter holiday plays for their classmates!

These performances give students the chance to practice public speaking and memorization, while strengthening their reading fluency. Building reading fluency at a young age increases automaticity which allows cognitive energy to move from decoding to understanding text.

The plays are practiced during reading group times and help to build confidence, spark a love of reading, and celebrate learning in a joyful way.

This week, our 3rd grade students participated in their annual grade level performance, Rome Day. Students performed in a Roman play and dressed in traditional Roman attire, bringing history to life for all who attended. This performance marks the culmination of an in-depth study of ancient Rome, during which students developed an understanding of one of the largest and most influential empires in human history.

Core Knowledge emphasizes the study of Roman culture for several important reasons. Through this unit, students gain insight into the foundations of governmental systems, including those that influenced our own. They also learn how Roman architecture continues to shape architecture we see today. In addition, elements of Roman literature and language remain part of our everyday lives, highlighting the lasting impact of Roman civilization.

This week, a small group of middle school students enjoyed a special hands-on experience during their Animals elective, meeting a few friendly farm animals up close. Introduced to PCK for the first time this past year, the elective gives students the opportunity to explore animal welfare, farming, and a wide range of related topics.

Through this interactive experience, students learned firsthand what it takes to care for farm animals and the important roles these animals play. This unique opportunity offered students a fresh perspective on animals in their environments and a deeper understanding of how to get involved with agriculture, and the role it plays in our society.

Thank you to the Buck family for sharing their alpacas with our students and giving them a unique, hands-on glimpse into farm life.

During the second half of the year, we will have several designated $1 Dress Down Days to help support our 8th grade graduation. On these days, students may donate $1 to dress down during the school day. Student volunteers will be stationed at all school entrances to collect donations.

The $1 Dress Down Days will take place on Friday, January 23, Thursday, March 5, and Thursday, April 30. Please note that all students must continue to follow the PCK dress code on Dress Down Days.

As the first half of the school year comes to an end, we are already preparing for the next one. The return from Winter Break will bring new classes, and more homework! To help students stay on track, we are pleased to bring back NJHS Homework Help.

This program provides students with a dedicated space to work on their homework after school, supported by PCK’s National Junior Honor Society students who are available to assist with their studies. NJHS Homework Help will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10–3:45 p.m. More details can be found by clicking the button below.

Our K–5 boys and girls basketball camps are back for the school year! In addition to these two camps, we are excited to host our second Spirit Camp of the year. Please review the descriptions below, and note that registration for all camps closes on Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, January 13 from 3:15-4:35 p.m.

Participants will learn alongside members of our basketball team while engaging in fun drills and games that focus on skill development and teamwork. Campers will work on essential fundamentals, including ball handling and shooting, while gaining an understanding of what it means to be part of a team. This camp is suitable for all skill levels.

Date: Monday, January 12 from 3:15-4:35 p.m.

This camp offers students the opportunity to learn alongside members of our basketball team through a variety of drills and games. Designed to build fundamental skills and teamwork, campers will receive instruction in areas such as ball handling, shooting, and overall game fundamentals. Whether students are new to basketball or looking to improve their skills, this camp has something for everyone.

Dates: Monday, January 12 & Tuesday, January 13 from 3:30-5:00 p.m.

This Spirit Camp will be a unique experience compared to our first camp of the year. On the first day, campers will work with a member of the Spirit Team to create and rehearse a routine. On the second day, campers will perform their routine in front of fellow participants as part of a spirited competition.

PCK is pleased to offer a variety of after-school clubs to suit a wide range of interests and activities following Winter Break. All clubs listed below will meet from 3:20 to 4:15 p.m. on their designated days. Meeting locations and additional details will be shared with families once their student is registered. This round of clubs begins in early January, and all clubs will run for approximately five weeks.

Meeting Dates: Mondays

Grades: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

PCK Debate Club gives students an exciting opportunity to build confidence, think critically, and practice respectful communication, all while having fun! Students will learn the basics of debate, including how to form an argument, support ideas with evidence, listen thoughtfully, and respond respectfully to different viewpoints.

Throughout the session, students will practice speaking skills and teamwork in a supportive environment. In the fifth week, students will participate in a formal debate, and families are warmly invited to come watch and celebrate their growth as confident communicators.

Meeting Dates: Thursdays

Grades: Kindergarten, 1st

Calling all readers in kindergarten or 1st grade! Join Ms. Donovan for an exciting exploration of fiction and nonfiction texts. We will dive into a different book each week, explore topics, vocabulary, and complete an activity related to the book. We will cover topics like friendship, community helpers, animals, and more!

Meeting Dates: Mondays

Grades: 3rd, 4th

Join the 3rd & 4th Grade Book Club for a reading adventure where we bring the stories to life! Our first book is Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, an exciting read about solving riddles in a high-tech library. We will follow the book's themes by playing book-themed Escape Rooms and Scavenger Hunts to test our critical thinking skills.

Meeting Dates: Mondays

Grades: 5th, 6th

Do you love solving mysteries, imagining new worlds, or trying out fun projects? Join our grades 5–6 Book Club, where every book comes with a creative twist! From puzzles and experiments to themed crafts and mini challenges, each meeting brings the story to life.

Meeting Dates: Tuesdays

Grades: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd

Crafty Kids Club will focus on a new winter themed craft each week where K-2 students can express themselves creatively while working on step-by-step instructions, fine motor skills and socializing with other students around their age in the art room. Look forward to your home being decorated with fun crafts using a variety of materials and subject matter. Let's craft together!

Meeting Dates: Thursdays

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th

Calling all creative hands in grades 3–5! Join our Friendship Bracelet Club to learn fun patterns, mix colorful threads and beads, and make bracelets for friends (or yourself!). No experience needed, just bring your imagination and get ready to knot, loop, and create. It’s a great way to relax, be creative, and meet new people while having fun!

Meeting Dates: Tuesdays

Grades: 2nd, 3rd, 4th

Ever wonder how a business works? Entrepreneur Club is about learning who buys, who sells, what makes a good business, and even coming up with your own business ideas!

Meeting Dates: Thursdays

Grades: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Have you ever wanted to create your own business or have an idea you want to develop? Entrepreneur Club explores what makes a business successful (customers, pricing, budgeting) and helps students come up with their own business ideas.

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.

Don't forget that this is the final week for students to retrieve misplaced items from our lost and found! Please ensure your student looks through the lost and found, as any unclaimed items will be donated when break begins.

Earlier this week, the PCK Board of Directors received several important updates from Dr. Weyman.

The Board first celebrated PCK’s strong performance in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings. Out of nearly 1,000 elementary schools and 500 middle schools nationwide, PCK earned the #1 ranking in several categories. Dr. Weyman also shared updates on progress toward the strategic plan, highlighting efforts to strengthen staff retention through a new talent management system and enhanced employee benefits.

Following the presentation, the Board unanimously approved a motion allowing PCK to engage with a financial advisor in order to pursue a refinancing, along with a revised 2025–2026 budget and an appropriations resolution based on that revised budget. All items had been reviewed in advance and recommended for approval by the Board’s Finance Committee.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will take place on Wednesday, January 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Events Center. All community members are welcome to attend.

Our Annual Giving Campaign is still open! donations will be accepted all the way until Wednesday, December 31. If you’d like to contribute to the Annual Giving Campaign, please click the button below.

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11 at 8:15 a.m. in the MS Commons. This meeting will have a virtual option, which can be found in the newsletter the week before this meeting.

We warmly invite the PCK community to join us for an opportunity to engage with our team and learn more about the vital role we play within Parker Core Knowledge.

The SAC serves an essential function by providing accountability in an advisory capacity. Our purpose is to inform, encourage, and create opportunities for parents or guardians to engage meaningfully with the school's performance, budget and improvement plans.

For this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, we wanted to recognize the incredible contributions of our PTO and community members. Our PTO organized a mystery book swap for all staff, collecting more than 80 books to ensure every staff member received a thoughtful token of appreciation from our community this holiday season.

Each book was carefully wrapped, turning it into a fun mystery, with clues to the genre and theme on the front of the wrapping paper. This creative touch sparked excitement and lively conversations throughout the day as staff gathered to compare clues and decide which surprise intrigued them most.

Thank you to our PTO and generous book donors for your kindness and support during the holiday season. Your efforts are truly appreciated and made this experience especially meaningful.