PCHS Weekly Updates

It's been a beautiful, snowy, frigid week! We hope everyone had a good one. :)

Things are moving along with end-of-year event planning! Mrs. Woods and the Class of 2022 Council are meeting weekly, and their next step will be sending a survey out to the Junior and Senior classes to get input on outdoor venue preferences for prom, which is tentatively set for the weekend of May 15!

There will be plenty more to plan in the coming weeks and months. If any parent/guardian would like to get involved, we'd love for you to join our PTO! To do so, please contact Tricia Orr at orrphoto@charter.net.

Thank you to those of you who offered your input on upcoming events. If you have ideas that you'd like to share, and you didn't get a chance to last week, please fill out this short survey!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. McBride & Mrs. Woods

Here's what's on deck:

• March 8th & 9th: Students will receive the 2021-22 Course Selection Sheet and have access to the new digital Course Guide. Students' teachers will describe the next course options in each content area, provide guidance and sign off on student requests. PVA students will join in on this process via Zoom.
• March 8th @ 7pm: Virtual Curriculum Night - PCHS staff will present an overview of programming choices available to PCHS students and will field your questions.
• Week of March 15: Counselors will visit 9th-11th Grade ELA classes to support students in the input of their schedules in MiStar. PVA students will receive specific guidance for how to input their scheduling requests into MiStar!

CTE Programs Available in the County:

Link to Graphics Design- Brighton HS

Link to Early Childhood Ed- Brighton HS

Link to Health Occupations- Brighton HS

Link to Early CHildhood Ed- Howell HS

Link to Firefighter Program- Howell HS

Link to CAD- Howell HS with teacher message

Link to AgriScience- Fowlerville HS

Link to Aviation- Crosswinds Aviation

Link to Cosmetology- Brighton Institute of Cosmetology

Link to EMT- Livingston EMS

Link to the Energy Program- Hartland HS

Link to the Cyber Security/Computer Networking Program- Pinckney HS

Early College

LINK to Overview Video

Isabelle has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2021 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. She is 1 of 15,000 students across the United States now in the running for 7,500 Merit Scholarships, to be announced in March. Go Isabelle! You do us proud!!

Yesterday (Thursday), most of our academic medal earners received their medals during the last part of their 7th hour. Our PVA learners should expect their awards in the mail today if they have not received them already! For those students without a 7th hour here on campus, expect a visitor to one of your classes next week to properly celebrate you and to distribute your award. :) Keep up the great work, Pirates! We are so proud of your efforts!

We are excited to have some additional adult presence in the building, particularly during our lengthy lunch window this year. Both of these women are mothers of PCHS students as well as PCS bus drivers, and they fit our expectation that whoever joins us has to love kids! They've already proven to be a valuable addition to the presence in the Commons this week. Welcome, Stacy & Tracy! We are happy to be working in partnership with our Transportation Department in this lunch support endeavor.

Over the last 2 weekends, our Act2 Drama Club led by the amazing Mr. Roy pulled off the wonderful production of "She Kills Monsters" in our performing arts center, masks, safety protocols, and all. We want to recognize the efforts of this passionate group of performers. After many months of shows having to be shuttered, it is a beautiful thing to have them back in action and already planning for their next big show, the Spring Musical! Every year, this group shines as leaders in the building and on the stage. Learn more about Act2 and consider donating to the club here: http://pchsact2.weebly.com/

March 8th @ 7pm: Virtual Curriculum Night (Zoom link here!)

March 19: End of 3rd Marking Period

March 29-April 2: Spring Break!

May 25: Seniors' Last Day of School!

May 31: No School - Memorial Day

June 5 @ Noon: GRADUATION @ Pirate Stadium!! (Rain Date: Sunday, June 6)

June 11: Last Day of School

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 Michigan Department of Education did submit a waiver to the US Department of Education requesting flexibility for Spring assessments (i.e. for them not to be required of students). They have not yet received a response to the request, but if and when they do, we will 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.

Running late or just want to cut down your grocery budget? Encourage your student to get a free breakfast or lunch!

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

• PCHS is a closed campus. If a student is leaving the building, they should anticipate being asked where they're headed. If a student is approved to leave the building (i.e. for CTE or Dual Enrollment), they may exit the building through the North or South entrances or the Athletic doors. The swim exit is closed during school hours. This is in service of ensuring all students are safely where they should be!
• If students are arriving late to school, they 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. We've had a recent spike in students relying upon the back-up medical masks we have at school. We're running through them like hotcakes and could use your support to ensure your student comes prepared with one of their own. The COVID numbers around here are promising! Let's keep them headed in that downward direction!

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