PCHS Weekly Updates

Happy Friday! It's looking to be a beautiful weekend!

A quick note: We've noticed a spike in student cell phone distraction. We're trying to keep perspective here. In the days leading up to Spring Break, we are often more distractible and ready for a break. We're also living in a time where social distancing and masks make social connection that much harder, and phones become the alternative. We get it. We also want our students to engage fully in their learning experience here. Our cell phone policy is that they are used for educational purposes only and at the discretion of the teacher. Students should anticipate some adjustments to some classroom expectations on Monday, coinciding with the start of 4th quarter, intended to help students hold themselves accountable to responsible cell phone use in service of success in their classes.

On a lighter note, we've got one week until Spring Break! Let's make it a great one!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. McBride & Mrs. Woods

Keep apprised of all Senior celebration happenings here!

For those closely connected to the events below, dates and details may be feeling like a moving target and minor changes can feel like a loss. We want you to know that dates and plans are determined based upon a wide array of factors, most importantly safety and student access. The countywide approach to senior events such as prom and the senior all-nighter is to push them until after seniors' last day of school. Frankly, this is because if COVID contract tracing becomes necessary, it does not threaten our seniors with quarantines in their final days of school, during graduation, and most of the spring extracurriculars. Thank you for your understanding around this. We are very excited about plans coming together and are so thankful for the outpouring of community support for making them happen!

• Senior Scholar Update: This year, due to the unique circumstances and the SAT not being required, our Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be determined using the traditional Senior Scholar formula, but the overall Senior Scholar list will be determined based solely upon one's weighted GPA. This is what we believe to be the most equitable solution for all. Keep your eyes out for the list soon!
• Class of 2021 Yard Signs: Linked here is an order form for a PCHS Class of 2021 yard sign! Get your order into the PCHS Main Office no later than this Monday, March 22!
• Adopt a Senior: Join the PCHS Class of 2021 Facebook group (direct link here) or reach out to Micki Beckwith at mbeckwith@pinckneypirates.org if you'd like to "adopt" a Senior or to make sure your Senior is in the mix for adoption. ;)
• Senior Spotlights: The 2021 Class Council will be coordinating Senior Spotlights on Instagram, and they'd love to feature you! Seniors: Please contact Karsyn Carriveau with a picture of yourself and respond to this google form. https://forms.gle/LuKtjjoCJ1kMw2wX9 Keep an eye out on instagram for your shoutout, or your friends! Follow 2021 Class Council on Insta @phsclasscouncil2021 and Twitter @2021_pchs
• Senior Scholars, Scholarship, & Awards Night: Tuesday, May 25 @ 7pm
• Graduation Rehearsal & Senior Parade to K-8 Schools: Thursday, June 3
• Graduation: Sunday, June 6 at Noon - Many are wondering about guests and seating capacity for this event. We will continue to operate in line with the latest orders from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. The most recent order, which came out today, March 19 (fact sheet linked here) says we can have up to 1000 people in our stadium and up to 375 people in our gym. Both the outdoor and indoor scenarios require masks and social distancing. If this language still stands in June, this means that graduates will be limited to 3 guests in Pirate Stadium. If we have to move the graduation ceremony indoors due to weather (which we will decide on Saturday, June 5), then we're looking at 1 guest per graduate in the gym. No matter what, we plan to live stream the event so that all have access to view it from anywhere. We will keep you updated here.
• Senior All-Nighter: Thursday, June 10 (lots of fun movement here!)
• Prom: Friday, June 11 (shaping up to be a special outdoor event!)

• If you missed Virtual Curriculum Night, the recording is linked here and the presentation slides are linked here! The 2021-22 PCHS Course Guide & Course Selection Sheet can be found here.
• Counselors visited 9th-11th Grade ELA classes this week to support students in the input of their schedules in MiStar. If you were not present for this, follow the steps linked here to input your schedule on your own or reach out for an appointment with your counselor!
• Week of March 22: Counselors to present at St. Mary's and will visit Pathfinder to support our incoming Freshmen!

After soliciting student and staff input, the PCHS Building Leadership Team agreed that we will stick with the same plan as 1st semester when it comes to 2nd semester grades. There will be no final exams this year. Students' 2nd semester grades will be comprised of 50% 3rd Marking Period and 50% 4th Marking Period. The credit/no credit option will be available by class again as well. We will be providing further guidance to students and families soon about what to consider when making the credit/no credit decision, so you can be informed as possible when decision time comes.

Our focus is student success this year. While the vast majority of school systems around the country are seeing a severe spike in student failure, we are working tirelessly to be an exception. In fact, last semester, we achieved our best student success rate in 4 years. We believe consistency from 1st to 2nd semester in the area of exams and grades is what's most likely to set our students up for success during this unique year and to best allow our teachers to focus on preparing students for their next steps here at PCHS or in life beyond our walls.

Join the PTO! If interested, please contact Tricia Orr at orrphoto@charter.net.

While you may have missed their first meeting, if you're interested in Key Club, reach out to Mrs. Trosin or Jaylynn Yang!

Any interested candidate unable to attend the 3/27 job fair can visit Clubcorpjobs.com to apply for any of the positions that are available.

Custodian / Student Worker: https://pinckneypirates.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=118

Auto, Manufacturing, and Robotics Technology Support Specialist:

https://pinckneypirates.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=117

This spring, you can get a jump on your college essays. They’re one of the most important and time-intensive parts of the application process. We’ve asked our friends at Prompt to help you. They’re college essay experts. They help thousands of students gain admission to top-50 colleges (and more) every year. They’ll be hosting a 30-minute virtual webinar for our families on “Secrets to Great College Essays.”

Our webinar is Wednesday, April 7 at 6 pm ET.

Click here to reserve your spot

(RSVP required)

Note: This webinar is in the spring because we encourage rising seniors to start working on their college essays during the summer. This will allow more time for them to focus on academics and activities during their senior year.

To learn more about Prompt: prompt.com/pinckney

If you have any questions please talk with your counselors Mrs. Perales or Ms. Robinson.

Our National Honor Society's tutoring services are up and running, and students are taking advantage of the opportunity! Tutoring is available in the PCHS media center every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:35 to 3:20 p.m. Students can sign up outside the media center by scanning the QR code on the flyer and completing a short, three-question form. The flyer has also been distributed to each classroom so that students can sign up in class, and it is pictured below!

March 19: End of 3rd Marking Period (Today!)

March 29-April 2: Spring Break!

April 13: SAT & PSAT 9 (Remote Learning Day for 10th and 12th Graders)

April 14: PSAT 10 and ACT WorkKeys (Remote Learning Day for 9th & 12th Graders)

April 20: MSTEP Science & Social Studies (11th graders only; regular school day for all others)

April 26: Livingston County Dept of Public Health 9th Grade Vision Screening

May 20-23: Act2 Spring Musical, "Spelling Bee"

May 25: Seniors' Last Day of School!

May 25: Senior Scholars, Scholarships, and Awards Night - 7pm

May 31: No School - Memorial Day

June 3: Senior Grad Rehearsal and Parade to K-8 Schools

June 6 @ Noon: GRADUATION @ Pirate Stadium!!

June 10: 1/2 Day of School & Senior All Nighter!

June 11: Last Day of School (Remote Learning Day) & Prom!

Preparations are underway for the upcoming state testing sessions. Please see specific dates below. Virtual students will need to come into school for these testing sessions (with some potential caveats for AP exams). The Department of Education announced earlier this week that standardized testing is still required this year but with some flexibilities. The Michigan Department of Education is currently revising its plans in accordance with the new federal guidance. We will continue to inform you of any updates here.

• Tuesday, April 13: 11th Grade SAT with Essay, 9th Grade PSAT 9 (Remote Learning Day for 10th & 12th Grades)
• Wednesday, April 14: 11th Grade ACT WorkKeys, 10th Grade PSAT 10 (Remote Learning Day for 9th & 12th Grades)
• Tuesday, April 20: 11th Grade M-STEP Science & Social Studies (Regular School Day for 9th, 10th, and 12th Grades)
• April 27 & 28: Make-Up Testing Days
• Weeks of May 3 and May 10: Advanced Placement (AP) Exams (Potential additional administrations with digital at-home options. More information soon.)

Near the end of 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended nationwide waivers for specific requirements to help schools continue to provide meals to children during the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Originally expiring on December 31, 2020, these USDA waivers allow for meals to be provided FREE to all students, regardless of how learning is planned (remote, hybrid, or in-person) under the extended summer food service program (E-SFSP). These program flexibilities are now available through June 30, 2021.

Did you know next week is National School Breakfast Week?! A well-nourished child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be at school, a better learner, and willing to participate in the classroom. Take advantage of breakfast at school! Served between 7:00-7:30am at PCHS.

Parents/Guardians, thank you for making a point of touching upon these items with your student(s)!

• PCHS is a closed campus. Only those approved to leave the building (i.e. for CTE, Dual Enrollment, Co-Op, sign-out) may exit the building during school hours through the North or South entrances or the Athletic doors. This is in service of ensuring all students are safely where they should be!
• If running late to school, or arriving to school mid-day due to dual enrollment or CTE, students need to park in the Main Entrance lot (South side) in order to sign in at the Main Office. The North doors will be locked after 7:45am.
• 4 students to a lunch table, maximum!
• Please send your student to school with their own mask, if possible, and thank you for continuing to encourage proper mask-wearing. The better we all do with this, the sooner we'll be able to remove them!

Email: jmcbride@pinckneypirates.org
Website: www.pinckneypirates.org
Location: 10255 Dexter-Pinckney Road, Pinckney, MI, USA
Phone: 8102255500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinckneyhigh
Twitter: @PinckneyHigh