PCHS Weekly Updates

Happy Friday!

We are looking forward to having everyone back in the building next week and to closing out the final 8 weeks of this school year as smoothly and joyfully as possible. To do this, we need everyone to stay committed to safety protocols, including staying home if you feel sick or have been exposed to someone who is. This, in addition to proper mask-wearing, is our best protection against fellow Pirates and their families facing the very challenging consequences of 10-day quarantines from school and extracurriculars. Let's close out this year strong!

Important Testing Information!

Please read below for important specifics about the coming 2 weeks' testing schedule. Please note: Any PVA student who plans to test will need to come into school to do so. Schools are required to administer the tests this spring but will not be held accountable for the 95% student participation threshold as in other years, due to Covid. If you do not feel comfortable coming in to test, you do not have to do so.

What to Bring on the Day of Testing:

Test takers need to bring in their student ID or driver's license, No. 2 pencils, a calculator, and a snack! Upon arrival to school, check the easels in the Commons for your testing room assignment. (If you are testing with accommodations, your room assignment has been emailed to you.) Phones will be turned in to proctors during testing time. You are encouraged to leave phones in your vehicles, if applicable.

Once Testing Concludes:

Lunch will be provided after testing. Students may depart school after testing or lunch on April 27 or 28 if they have transportation. Outdoor activities (weather-permitting) and remote learning space will be provided post-test for students who require 2:30pm bus transportation.

Tuesday, April 20

• 11th Grade M-STEP Science & Social Studies, 7:30am - Approximately 11am (11th graders will follow the rest of their school day schedule after testing. This is a DIGITAL test. Make sure to bring your school Chromebook, fully charged!)

• Regular School Day for 9th, 10th, and 12th Grades

Tuesday, April 27

• 11th Grade SAT with Essay, 7:30am-1:10pm

• 9th Grade PSAT 9, 7:30am-11:30am

• Remote Learning Day for 10th & 12th Grades (Students will have tasks to complete in Xello to make progress on their Educational Development Plan (EDP). Seniors will be expected to complete a Senior Exit Survey. Instructions and links for both of these tasks will be posted in teachers' weekly agendas in Brightspace or Google Classroom.)

Wednesday, April 28

• 11th Grade ACT WorkKeys, 7:30am-11:30am

• 10th Grade PSAT 10, 7:30am-11:30am

• Remote Learning Day for 9th & 12th Grades (Students will have tasks to complete in Xello to make progress on their Educational Development Plan (EDP). Seniors will be expected to complete a Senior Exit Survey. Instructions and links for both of these tasks will be posted in teachers' weekly agendas in Brightspace or Google Classroom.)

Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. McBride & Mrs. Woods

Juniors and Seniors, Come join us for an Enchanted Evening!

PCHS Prom 2021

June 11, 2021

Schell Family Farm

8-11PM

We will have Prom rain or shine! Tickets will go on sale soon. We will let you know exact dates once tickets arrive.

A couple things to know when thinking and planning for prom:

• Prom is for PCHS Juniors and Seniors and their guests.

• If it is a guest from another school, you will need to get a guest pass from the Main Office.

• This is an outdoor venue. We will have Prom rain or shine!

• Masks are required.

• All ticket sales are FINAL. No refunds.

• There will be:

• Dancing!

• Nice toilets - not portapotties!

• Snacks!

• Tons of fun!

Keep apprised of all Senior celebration happenings here!

• Senior Tiles! Want to leave your mark on PCHS? Now's your chance! Student Government is selling ceiling tiles to Seniors to decorate and place outside the senior hallway. Applications are due by the end of April to Mrs. Maurer. Applications can be found in the main office or linked here. Stugo will approve sketches the first week of May and tiles will be distributed. We hope to have ceiling tiles returned and placed in the senior hallway before the seniors' last day of school!
• Senior Yard Signs Update: They arrived this week and distribution is underway!
• 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. ;) This has been such a beautiful thing to see unfold so far!
• Senior Spotlights: The 2021 Class Council is creating 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. Keep an eye out on Instagram for your shoutout, or your friends'! Follow 2021 Class Council on Insta @phsclasscouncil2021 and Twitter @2021_pchs
• Cap & Gown Pick-Up: May 24, 2021
• Seniors' Last Day of School: Tuesday, May 25
• 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 - Unless there is a torrential downpour, we plan to have graduation outside rain or shine. We do not wish upon anyone a 1-guest maximum indoors! Students will be able to have 3 guests in attendance at Pirate Stadium. Tickets will be available soon. Graduation will be live-streamed so that all have access to view it from anywhere. We will continue to keep you updated here.
• Senior All-Nighter: Thursday, June 10, Outside @ PCHS
• Prom: Friday, June 11 from 8-11pm at Schell Family Farm!

• In order to walk in graduation, seniors must have earned 24 credits.

• To receive their diploma, seniors must complete all graduation requirements and have 26 credits.

• All fines must be paid in order to get your cap and gown on May 24th and 25th.

Brooke Wilcox and Sterling Pifer competed in mechatronics in the SkillsUSA contest, which is a state-level trade competition, and they are in the top 2!! We will know what place they earned by the end of the month. Stay tuned. A huge shout-out to our Robotics program and teacher, Sean Martin for preparing students to compete at this level!

Further detail about this competition: The contest requires contestants to understand the new industrial discipline of “mechatronics,” the ability to understand complex systems that integrate various elements in the mechanical, fluid power, and controls domain, combined with the ability to work in a team environment with people of different areas of expertise. Mechatronic specialists must have well-developed skills in pneumatic technology, electrical and electronics systems, mechanical systems, and general automation techniques and practices, including systematic troubleshooting methods. This competition consists of three events designed to measure the skills required in the modern automated manufacturing environment. Contestants are required to assemble, adjust and test an automated machine system, troubleshoot and repair a faulty machine system, and take a comprehensive written test. The contest elements have been designed to be as realistic as possible, closely resembling the tasks and activities of modern automation professionals. High school teams of two compete in a construction phase and a troubleshooting phase. In addition, there is an individual oral interview.

Way to go, Brooke and Sterling!!

Rebecca Black, Senior New Tech Student, created this beautiful phoenix in Metal Arts III. Not only is she producing beautiful work, but she has also taken on the clean-up and reorganization of the entire Metal Arts space at PCHS as her Senior Capstone project, bringing order to the area so that her peers can maximize the use of available materials and equipment. When you clear the path for students to lead, they almost always exceed your expectations! Thank you, Rebecca!

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.

What should influence your decision to opt for credit/no credit versus a letter grade?

• If planning to pursue a competitive university, stick with the letter grade. We don't know how universities will view credit/no credit on transcripts yet. If in doubt, go with the letter grade.
• Credit/No Credit marks are not factored into a student's GPA. Sitting at a D or D-? Consider the credit option. Failing a class? Consider the no credit option.

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

Student Government will be holding its Leukemia and Lymphoma change war fundraiser over the next couple of weeks. Read below for more! All donations are to be turned into your 1st hour teacher.

Our National Honor Society's tutoring services now include a quiet space to do homework. Come take advantage of the opportunity! The NHS Homework Center is open in the PCHS Media Center every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (when we're not fully remote, of course).

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

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

April 27: SAT & PSAT 9 (Remote Learning Day for 10th and 12th Graders)

April 28: PSAT 10 and ACT WorkKeys (Remote Learning Day for 9th & 12th Graders)

May 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 7:30pm; May 23 at 2:00pm: Act2 Spring Musical, "Spelling Bee"

May 24: Senior Cap & Gown Pick-Up

May 25: Seniors' Last Day of School! & 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 @ Schell Family Farm!

A musical comedy featuring a colorful cast of kids and adults trying to survive a spelling bee. 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the story of several socially awkward students finding joy, heartache and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee while the hosts try to push through and provide comfort.

Dates:
May 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd @ 7:30 PM
May 23 @ 2:00 PM

Purchase Tickets Here!

Our second round of weekly rapid COVID testing took place in the PCHS Commons from 10am-2pm today. If a student is positive, these will be reported via MDHHS's portal and local contact tracing procedures will be followed.

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.

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