PCMS WEEKLY UPDATE
November 19, 2020
Good Afternoon PCMS Families,
Some big and important news came out yesterday from the District. We’ll be going full virtual next Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24 and then returning on Monday, November 30 to our current hybrid model. As the number of positive COVID-19 cases increase in our area and the number of staff and students who have tested positive or have had to quarantine due to exposure increases, it’s been challenging for us to provide the high level of instruction that our students need. Thus the changes to our plans for next week and on November 30. Below are more details about how next week will look and work for students.
This week we worked with our kids on making a specific plan to consistently perform an act of KINDNESS. They had to identify a need and come up with the who, what, where, when and why behind their act of KINDNESS - be sure to ask them what it was!
Have a great weekend and GO PIRATES!!
Virtual Learning Details for November 23 & 24
Your child’s teachers will conduct classes on these days via Google Meet video conferencing, and the learning will generally follow the same schedule as a regular in-person day (see schedule below for class times). We will be following our current A/B Hybrid Schedule (just from home) - Monday is an A Day, Tuesday a B Day.
On Monday, if your child is an A Day student, they will check in to Google Meet at the start of each class following the schedule below, where teachers will be either providing instruction or directing students on what they are to do in Google Classroom. If your student is a B Day student, they will treat this as a regular at-home day where they will be doing their assignments from Google Classroom.
On Tuesday, if your child is a B Day student, they will check in to Google Meet at the start of each class following the schedule below, where teachers will be either providing instruction or directing students on what they are to do in Google Classroom. If your student is an A Day student, they will treat this as a regular at-home day where they will be doing their assignments from Google Classroom.
Teachers will be taking attendance for each period, so kids need to be sure to log on following the schedule below. Teachers will have their Google Meet open and live for the entire class period in case students have questions as they work on their classwork.
8th Grade Course Selection for High School
It's crazy that it is already time to start thinking about your student's high school course choices! To assist the Class of 2025 with course planning, students viewed a video today that the various high school departments put together, explaining the courses they have the opportunity to take as 9th graders. The 8th graders completed a google form as they watched the video and were able to keep notes on which classes they are interested in. This video is provided below for parents to view. (You can also get to the video by clicking the following link: https://youtu.be/IRcZxJQsyiw.)
In addition, please ask your student to show you the form they completed (in the Class of 2025 Google Classroom) and discuss which courses they are interested in. We strongly encourage parents/guardians to watch the video to familiarize yourself with the courses offered at PCHS.
In December, students will begin filling out their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP), a four-year plan that helps guide students in their course selection based on their future plans. See below for an image of what the ICAP looks like. The ICAP is exactly what it says it is -- a plan. Our main focus will be selecting courses for 9th grade, but we will discuss courses they might want to take in grades 10-12. The video they watched today and the form they completed will assist students in filling out the ICAP.
If you have questions as we go through this process of selecting courses for 9th grade, please do not hesitate to contact Kim Schank, the 8th-grade counselor at PCMS (schankk@platteco.k12.mo.us).
ICAP -- The attachment below shows you what the ICAP form looks like. Students will use this form to indicate which courses they want to take in 9th grade. We will be working on this over the next couple of months.
Please Complete the PCR-3 Parent Survey by December 4
The Platte County School District is conducting its annual parent survey to gather feedback on strengths of the district, as well as areas to consider for growth. We want to make sure every parent is heard so we can make meaningful improvements in our District and schools.
If you have not already, we ask that you complete the survey by clicking on the link below. If you have more than one student, please be sure to answer those questions for each building. The survey should take approximately fifteen minutes or less to complete. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
Picture Retake/Make-Up Days
PCMS In-Person Learners who wish to get their school picture retaken, as well as those who have not yet gotten their picture taken, will have that opportunity based on the following schedule.
- December 3 - B Day Students @ PCMS
- December 4 - A Day Students @ PCMS
(You can still place orders on mylifetouch.com with the Picture Day ID: EVTHKKHK8.)
PCMS Remote Learners who wish to get their school picture retaken, as well as those who have not yet gotten their picture taken, will have the following "Remote Only" opportunity.
- November 30 at the District Education Center- 998 Platte Falls Rd in Platte City from 11:00-11:45am.
Now Hiring Substitutes & Bus Drivers!
Substitutes:
If you know of someone who is interested in becoming a permanent substitute teacher, substitute teacher, substitute custodian, or substitute nurse, please direct them to apply on the Platte County School District website: www.plattecountyschooldistrict.com/currentopenings. You pick your schedule - short and long term positions, as well as pre-scheduled and on-call positions, are available.
Permanent Substitute Teacher: Support Staff Salary Schedule-Range 13, full-time, district-provided benefits package
Substitute Teacher: $13.33 per hour.
On-Call Substitute Teachers: $15.33 per hour (If used day of - agreement terms required)
Long-Term Substitute Teacher: $18.67 per hour (after completion of 5 consecutive days on same job assignment)
Substitute Custodian: $13.33 per hour
Substitute Nurse: $17.00 per hour
Bus Drivers:
If driving is your thing, you're in luck! We are also hiring bus drivers!
Transportation Salary Schedule - Driver pay starts at $15.64 per hour and increases with experience and District-provided benefits package is available
Thanksgiving Break
Monday, Nov 23
Boys Basketball vs Plaza MS @ Barry School, 4pm
Nov 25 - Nov 27
Thanksgiving Break - No School
Monday, Nov 30
Wrestling @ PCMS, 4pm
Tuesday, Dec 1
Boys Basketball @ Heritage MS, 4pm
Girls Basketball vs Heritage MS, 4pm
Wednesday, Dec 2
Wrestling @ Nowlin MS, 4pm
Thursday, Dec 3
Picture Re-take Day
Boys Basketball vs Kearney, 4pm
Girls Basketball @ Kearney MS, 4pm
Friday, Dec 4
Picture Re-take Day
Upcoming Community Events / Flyers
Make sure you check out the “Community” tab on the Platte County RIII School District webpage. There you will find an option called “Community Event/Activity Flyers” where you can access flyers with information regarding various events and opportunities within our community!
Platte City Middle School
Email: snowb@platteco.k12.mo.us
Website: http://www.plattecountyschooldistrict.com/site/Default.aspx?PageID=21
Location: 900 Pirate Drive, Platte City, MO, 64079
Phone: (816)858-2036
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plattecitymiddleschool/