PCK Weekly Newsletter

Each month, our students participate in Character Assemblies that focus on an important character trait. Recently, students explored the concept of perseverance by learning about historical figures who demonstrated this quality in powerful ways. One notable example was Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, who created more than 1,000 prototypes before achieving a successful design.

During the assembly, students reflected on meaningful “I Will” statements that can be applied both inside and outside of the classroom. These discussions helped students understand that failure is a natural part of life and that our responses to challenges are what ultimately shape our character.

The character trait for the month of January is perseverance. By emphasizing perseverance, we empower students to face obstacles with confidence and determination, reminding them that success can be achieved through resilience and sustained effort.

The reason we share these lessons at school with our families is because we believe it is equally important to reinforce these lessons at home. Throughout the month of January, we encourage you to notice moments when your student demonstrates perseverance and to celebrate those efforts with them.

Don’t forget to purchase your student's yearbook for the 2025–26 school year! Only 10% of our families have purchased a yearbook for their student at this time. We want to ensure that every family has the opportunity to do so and to preserve this year as a special lasting time capsule of memories.

If you already have a Treering account, simply log in and select the yearbook through the product selection tool. If you’re new to Treering, you’ll need to create an account using PCK’s unique school code: 1015343699083637.

While the deadline to purchase a yearbook isn’t until April 28, we encourage you to take care of it today if you plan to order one. The process only takes a few minutes, and completing your purchase now means one less thing to worry about later.

Although the CMAS testing window does not open until April, we are already preparing for this important time by collecting snacks for our students. Having snacks available during testing is essential. Research consistently shows that when students are hungry at school, they struggle more with focus and self-regulation, which can negatively impact both their learning experience and performance.

On testing days, we want to do everything possible to ensure our students feel nourished, supported, and ready to do their best. To help us achieve this goal, we are asking families to consider donating snacks that will be distributed to students throughout the testing day.

We are requesting boxes of 24 individually wrapped snacks, and families are welcome to sign up for as many boxes as they would like to donate. In total, we need 125 boxes to ensure all students testing are well supported.

If you would like to contribute by donating a box of snacks for CMAS testing, we would greatly appreciate your support.

One of PCK’s primary uniform providers, Tommy Hilfiger, is offering up to 20% off uniform orders that meet a minimum purchase amount. This promotion is a great opportunity for families whose students have outgrown last year’s cold-weather items or who need to refresh their uniform essentials.

The sale runs from today through Monday, January 19. To receive the discount, families should enter promo code JN26BMSMEM at checkout. Please refer to the flyer below for details on the discount percentages by order total.

Please note that this promo code will only be valid through January 19. Families can access the Tommy Hilfiger school uniform ordering platform by clicking the button below.

Our annual Art Show is returning this February! Throughout the year, students have been working hard on a variety of art projects, which will soon be proudly displayed throughout the school.

To help bring this show to life, we are looking for a handful of parent volunteers to assist with preparing bulletin boards, labeling artwork with name tags, and hanging student art. Volunteer shifts are a few hours at a time on 1/27, 1/29, 2/3, and 2/5, and volunteers are welcome to sign up for as many days as they’d like.

Thank you for helping make this event possible and for supporting our students’ creativity!

Thank you to all of our students who participated in our Girls and Boys Basketball Camps, as well as our Spirit Camp. These camps are invaluable to our coaches and players, providing meaningful opportunities to mentor and inspire the next generation of PCK athletes.

Many of the athletes currently competing on our teams first experienced PCK athletics through these camps, gaining valuable insight and foundational skills that helped set them up for success as they transitioned into competitive play.

Our Athletic Department will host its annual Dodgeball Tournament on Friday, February 6, from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

If your student would like to participate, please note that two separate registrations are required. First, each student must complete an individual registration through MySchoolBucks. This registration is for one player only and must be completed before joining a team. Once a player and their teammates have all completed the individual registration, they may then submit the team registration form.

The tournament is open exclusively to students in grades 5-8. Teams may include up to five players, though teams are welcome to participate with fewer players if they choose.

All registrations will remain open until Wednesday, February 4, at 6:00 p.m.

This week, and every week, we are honored to be your school of choice. We recognize that families have many excellent options when selecting the best educational environment for their children. Whether you choose our school for strong alignment with the Core Knowledge curriculum, our emphasis on character development, our commitment to a balanced and well-rounded education, or our close-knit and highly engaged parent community, we remain dedicated to unlocking the unlimited potential of every learner.

At PCK, our shared vision for education is central to student success. After all, PCK was first imagined by parents, which is why your role in our community is so vital. We want you to know how deeply your involvement matters to everything we do. Each and every one of our families is a valued and essential part of PCK. Whether this is your first year or your tenth as a member of our community, we sincerely thank you for your continued trust and support.

We are inviting students to share testimonials about why they love their school for National School Choice Week. The handout for testimonials can be accessed and printed by clicking the button below. Students are asked to include their grade level at the top of the form; including their name is optional.

Students who return their completed testimonial to the front office will receive a dress down day coupon, which may be used on Friday, February 6. These sheets must be turned in by Friday, January 30 for students to receive a dress down day coupon.

To help students stay on track during the second half of the year, we are pleased to bring back National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Homework Help.

Homework Help provides students with a dedicated space to work on their homework after school, supported by PCK’s NJHS 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.

If your student is currently registered in one of our clubs, we would like to remind you that while waiting for pick-up, you are welcome to remain in your vehicle at the club's designated pick-up location. However, we kindly ask that you refrain from entering the building during this time. Unmonitored visitors inside the building present a significant security concern. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a secure environment and ensure the safety of all our students.

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

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.

We need your creative touch to coordinate and assemble grade level auction baskets for our gala and auction in April. If you can spare a little time to help gather items or put baskets together, we'd love your support. We are looking for one or two coordinators per grade and would like all grade level parents to participate.

As a Grade Level Basket Coordinator you will be expected to:

• Select a theme for your basket: Choose a fun and engaging theme for the grade level basket that will attract bidders.
• Collect basket items: Coordinate with parents and the school community to gather donations for the basket. This may involve reaching out for specific items or suggestions based on the theme.
• Track donations: Keep an organized list of items donated for the basket to ensure all contributions are accounted for and nothing is duplicated or used.
• Assemble and decorate the basket: Organize and assemble the donated items into a visually appealing display, ensuring everything fits neatly and is well-presented.
• Communicate with volunteers: Coordinate with other volunteers to ensure the basket is assembled on time and to make sure all necessary tasks are completed.
• Submit basket: Make sure the completed basket is ready and delivered at the designated drop-off on time, adhering to all deadlines.

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 are excited to recognize our dedicated Battle of the Books volunteers. Battle of the Books is an academic competition in which students go head-to-head using their knowledge and understanding of selected books. Participation in this program not only fosters a love of reading, but also promotes teamwork, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Our Battle of the Books parent volunteers, Brittany Haslage and Julie Garcia, have worked diligently to support our teams and help set them up for success. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Haslage read each book alongside the students and assist in creating thoughtful questions for faculty to use during competitions, ensuring students are both challenged and prepared.

Throughout the school year, many events rely on hands-on parent involvement to provide students with meaningful extracurricular academic opportunities. Time and again, our parents rise to the occasion. We are grateful to Ms. Garcia and Ms. Haslage for their commitment to our school community and for exemplifying what it means to volunteer: supporting students and enriching their educational experience.