Park Center Pirate Newsletter

August 2025

Welcome to a new school year Pirate family!

We're excited to work together to create a positive, supportive, and fun learning environment for all our students. Let's make this year one of growth, success, and memorable experiences.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

We are so excited to welcome our 9th graders to PCSH! It is very important that 9th grade students attend their session in full from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. as our Link Leaders have designed an incredible morning of activities to welcome students into the Pirate Family. 9th Grade Orientation will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. in the PCSH Cafeteria and gives students a chance to:

• Take school pictures
• Receive a tentative schedule
• Learn their way around the building
• Learn about Park Center P.R.I.D.E. behavior and academic expectations
• Freshman students will be welcomed by our LINK Crew, which will “link”” them to high school and student leaders

We are excited to start a new school year! Students will begin their first day of school in their Advisory class and then move through their full schedule.

🔔Reminder: Classes begin at 7:30am. Students should be at school in time to be in their class and ready to learn at 7:30

• School supplies including folders, notebooks, pens/pencils, and planner
• Combination lock if you plan to use a locker
• A charged Chromebook (for 9th graders who picked up their devices during Orientation, all other students will get their Chromebooks the first week of school)

There is a more convenient way to sign up for athletics and activities. Online registration allows you to complete student’s high school activities/athletics registration online anytime of the day from the comfort of your home. All information about Activities & Athletics can be found at pcactivities.com

To register, you need to create an account in EduTrak

The following are step by step registration instructions for using either your phone or your computer.

Phone instructions - please visit https://osseo2072a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/

• Click on Menu, then More, then Registration Links, then EduTrak
• Click Activities (the red bar)
• Click on the Catalog at the top
• Then scroll down to PCSH xxxx (sport/activity)

Computer instructions - please visit https://osseo2072a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/

• Click Activities (the red bar with a house on it)
• Click on the Catalog at the top
• Then scroll down to PCSH xxxx (sport/activity)

Tips and Restrictions

Keep in mind, the student must not have any outstanding fines in order to complete the registration process and the student will need a current physical on file in the Activities’ Office for athletic registrations. If you have a fine, the Online Registration program will not allow you to complete registration until your fine is cleared. If you have a question regarding fines, please call or email Park Center Activities Office Attn: Samantha Zolnosky (email: ZolnoskyS@district279.org) at 763-569-7654 Office 763-569-7652 Activities’ Fax.

Park Center has a 7-period day schedule with advisory offered one day a week. This schedule accommodates the IB programme and offers more opportunities for students to take additional courses. Please note the adjusted first week schedule found above.

• If your child is absent, please be sure to call or email the Attendance Office on the day your child is absent. You can also enter absences through your ParentVue app. If your child must leave school for an appointment during the day, please send a note that day and have your student give it to the attendance personnel before 7:30am to obtain a pass to leave school.

• In the event a student must leave school due to illness, they must see the nurse to obtain a “Leave School Permit” approved by the nurse or an administrator before leaving. Failure to follow this procedure may result in an unexcused absence. Parents/Guardians, if you receive a call or text from your child due to illness, tell them they must first see the nurse. Once the nurse assesses an ill student and believes he/she would do better at home, a call is made to the parent/guardian. If your child has a fever over 100 degrees, home is the best place for the child until symptom-free for 24 hours.

Attendance Line for Grades 9 & 10

763-569-7612

pcshattendance@district279.org

Attendance Line for Grades 11 & 12

763-569-7611

pcshattendance@district279.org

• All Minnesota K-12 students attending school in person will have one free breakfast and lunch available to them each academic school day due to the state’s recently passed Free School Meals for Kids bill. A la carte items outside of a complete meal will still incur a cost (milk will incur a cost unless taken as a part of a school meal).
• Breakfast is served from 7:00am to 7:25am, students eat as they arrive before 1st hour
• Lunch is served between 10:53am and 12:47pm; the time is determined by each student's schedule
• Students will use their school issued student ID with a barcode for all meals and to purchase any additional ala carte items during meal service. Student ID barcodes can also be found on the StudentVue phone app.
• Ala carte purchase require a positive meal account balance. Funds can be deposited into meal accounts in person using a cash or check or online using in the Edutrak online system. Directions for setting up an account for payments are available on the District 279 website under the Nutrition Services section.
• Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Educational Benefits to receive additional benefits beyond free or reduced price meals. These benefits include reduced or free activities and sports fees, test fees, and home internet service. The application can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/3hWdk7Q.

Personal Digital Learning Devices and Electronics

Students are expected to bring their district issued Chromebooks to school to utilize in cooperation with their teachers to enhance their educational experience. It is the responsibility of each teacher to establish procedures and expectations for use of digital learning devices in their classroom, and it is the responsibility of each student to follow those procedures and expectations. Students are advised to secure their personal digital learning and electronic devices at all times as we are unable to provide staff time to investigate lost or stolen items.

• 📵New This Year: the district cell phone policy has been updated. High school students will still be allowed to use their personal cell phones, smart watches, and headphones during lunch and passing times. These devices will not be allowed during instructional time. More details will be sent out to all families before the start of the school year.

Dress Code

The school has the authority to determine whether student attire is inappropriate for school. Examples of inappropriate clothing include, but are not limited to:

• clothing advertising substances illegal for children and adolescents;
• clothing containing obscene and/or profane language, slogans, emblems or pictures;
• clothing containing language, slogans, emblems or pictures that promote or depict violence, hate, discrimination, harassment toward other students or staff;
• clothing that reveals or does not adequately cover intimate body parts of the student;
• ski masks/ninja masks/balaclavas (or similar masks or face coverings) that cover the entire face except when worn in observance of a legitimate religious observance.

Fines

All fines must be paid in order to purchase a parking permit, attend prom or other school dances, participate in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, and participate in the commencement ceremony.

Parking

Students must purchase a parking permit to park on school grounds. To be eligible for a parking permit students must have a valid MN driver’s license and have all fines and fees paid. You can purchase a parking permit on SmartSchool-K12. Once you have purchased your permit you can stop by the front office to pick up your permit for trimester 1. Parking at school is a privilege, not a right. Our expectation is that students eligible to earn a parking permit will follow the student parking terms and conditions to maintain a safe, orderly, and clean parking lot.

Visitors

Students will not be permitted to bring visitors to school. Absolutely no small children or pets will be allowed in school unless it is a part of a class assignment - then only if care has been arranged for a day in advance. Students from out of town who wish to visit the school for the purpose of exploring enrollment should contact the counseling office for an appointment before coming to school.

Getting Sick at School

If a student becomes ill during the school day or an emergency arises, they should see the nurse before calling or texting a family member to pick them up at school. Before deciding to send a student home, often 20-30 minute rest, heating pad, or something to eat may be all that is needed to help them through the day. Once the nurse assesses a student and believes they would do better at home, a call is made to the parent/guardian. If the student has a fever over 100 degrees, home is the best place for the child until symptom-free for 24 hours.

Medication at School

Over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Tylenol and prescribed medications can be kept in the health office for headaches, pain, and other conditions. Having medication at school can often mean the difference between a student finishing out the school day comfortably or missing valuable academic time. In order for medication to be taken at school, a Medication Form must be on file with the nurse. Forms are available in the Health Services Office.

MN Immunization Laws for High School Students

As of September 2014, Minnesota’s Immunization Law now requires that students be vaccinated with the Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV4) by grade 7. This new law has implications for our students and especially for seniors who will be attending a college after graduation. Most colleges will require a MCV4 for enrollment. Medical and conscientious exemptions are still allowed under the law. All students in grades 7 through 12 should get this vaccine. Please contact your clinic for an appointment. If you have questions, please contact Melissa Sennes RN, PHN, LSN, District Nurse Osseo Area Schools at (763)-391-7126.

At Park Center we expect every student to demonstrate P.R.I.D.E.

• Participate in your education
• Respect yourself and others
• Inspire others
• Do the right thing
• Excel in all you do

For all Park Center rules and expectations, refer to our Student and Family Handbook