08/27/2021 11:30 AM
Pioneer Update
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
8/27/21
Pioneer parents,
Find out what's happening in Plymouth-Cantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It was great seeing so many students and families on our schedule pick up days.
If your student wasn’t able to attend one of the schedule pick up days, we will have a make up session on Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 10:00-12:00. If you are attending this session, please park in the parking lot and walk to Door 1 (Main Office) and the office staff will buzz you in. During the make up session, you can turn in forms and get your student’s schedule, but they will not get their picture taken. Picture makeup day will be on September 10, 2021.
Normally, I limit my Friday Pioneer Updates to one page, but there is a lot of information to share at the beginning of the year. Please take the time to read through the following sections for important information and updates.
Important Dates:
Thursday, September 2, 2021, Make up schedule pick up day, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 First Day of School, ½ day schedule, 8:15-11:30 AM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 First Full Day of School, 8:15-3:09 PM
Transportation:
If your student is riding the bus this school year, their bus route & times will be shared with you in MiStar. Routes & times are updated continuously, so please make sure to review the Transportation section a few days before school begins.
Positivity Project:
This school year all P-CCS middle school students will be participating in the Positivity Project during our Homeroom period. The Positivity Project supports social-emotional learning and character development. The main goal of this program is to help students build positive relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. We are very excited to have the opportunity to participate in this program, and I will be sharing updates with you throughout the school year. Attached to this email is a letter that provides additional information on the program.
Masks & Mitigation Strategies:
Masks are required to be worn by all students, staff, and visitors in P-CCS each school day and on the bus. Students will be allowed to remove their masks while they are outside (recess, mask breaks, outside class activities, etc.). If your student does not have a mask, we will provide them with one. Please encourage your student(s) to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer throughout the school day. Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any illness symptoms.
Backpacks & Water bottles:
We will not be assigning students lockers at this time to help keep our hallways as wide as possible and improve traffic flow in the building. Your student will need to have a backpack to hold their belongings and a refillable water bottle to use throughout the day. We have three water bottle filling stations in the building that students can use.
Cell phones: Away for the Day:
All P-CCS students are allowed to have cell phones, but they need to be powered off and put away from 8:15-3:09 each day. If you need to get a message to your student, please contact the Main Office rather than texting them.
Student Code of Conduct:
Each year we review the Student Code of Conduct with our students. If you would like to view it as well, please click on this link: Student Handbook
Dress Code:
Research indicates that students learn most effectively in a school environment which is safe and orderly and free from excessive distractions. Dress and grooming which distracts from or disrupts the educational process is prohibited. Standards of dress and grooming at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools will be based on appropriateness, common sense and good judgment. The purpose of the following dress code is to keep the focus of the classroom on learning.
Standards of Dress for All Students:
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Garments may not expose underclothing.
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Back, midriff, buttocks and cleavage must be covered. No bare midriffs.
No clothing with sexual content or inferences, drug, alcohol, or tobacco references.
Clothing with references to or that advocates the use of illegal substances or activities, that advocates violence or that contains offensive language/material or inferences is strictly prohibited.
No dark tinted glasses or sunglasses indoors except for prescription transition lenses.
Clothing which contains messages that are defamatory or discriminating toward another group or individual is prohibited.
Students may not wear items considered potentially dangerous. This includes but is not limited to, chains of any kind, pointed rings or pendants, metal spikes.
Clothing or jewelry promoting or indicating any kind or gang symbols, or gang activity etc.
Students may not wear hoods up over their heads while inside the school buildings.
Elementary students must wear closed toe shoes during gym and/or if they are playing on the playground. If a student wears open toe shoes to school, they must change shoes for gym or recess activities.
Teachers retain the right to ask students to remove head wear during class time. (See Board Policy 8800 for exceptions) Additionally, administrators may prohibit the wearing of hats.
The administration reserves the right to prohibit clothing not specifically listed above that creates a material disruption of the learning process.
Students will be provided with the following options if their attire for school is inappropriate:
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Students will be permitted to wear clothing provided by the office; or
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Parents may bring a change of clothing for the student.
Penalties for inappropriate dress will range from a verbal warning up to suspension from school for repeated offenses. Please be advised that a student’s refusal to comply may result in additional discipline.
Food Service Update:
The USDA has extended the universal free meals through June 30, 2022. All children can receive breakfast and lunch daily at no charge.
Although meals are free, it is still important to complete the free and reduced application. The application supports other funding in areas of education, including discounts for pay-to- play, access for computer WIFI, college application fees and standardized testing fees.
Free and Reduced Lunch Online application(direct URL is http://frapps.horizonsolana.com/PLYC01)
Please note: a new application must be submitted each school year.
Bell Schedule & Lunch Periods:
P-CCS Middle Schools are returning to a six-period day bell schedule.
Here is Pioneer’s bell schedule for this school year. This year, 7th grade students will eat lunch after 2nd Hour, 8th grade students after 3rd hour, and 6th grade students after 4th hour. We will be separating each grade level into two groups so that the cafeteria is at reduced capacity. We will be making announcements, and reviewing the schedule with students, so they know our new bell schedule and lunch periods/procedures.
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures:
If you are planning on dropping off and/or picking up your student from school each day please be prepared for some traffic congestion each day. All students who are being dropped off need to enter the building at the Event Entrance (Door 5) each morning. Please do not drop off your student at the Main Office (Door 1) because we need to keep the front driveway clear for the buses. The bus loop on the west side of the building is for buses only, so please do not enter that area. Lastly, please be patient and careful in the driveway and parking lot. I know we are all in a rush but we need to make sure these areas are safe for our students.
6th Grade Athletics:
Athletic Physicals are required to be turned in before a student may try out/practice. These must be dated April 15, 2021, or later. A physical form can be found in the school’s main office or on the school website.
ATHLETIC PHYSICAL FORMS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT: ATHLETIC PHYSICAL FORM
Cost: 6th Grade Students: $125 for first sport, second sport free.
Payment options:
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It is preferable that payments are made online; click on the following link: PAY TO PARTICIPATE. Select your middle school pay to participate page and follow log-in instructions.
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A check may be written to “PCCS Middle School Athletics” and turned into the coach.
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Payments need to be submitted by the first contest.
When What Who
Sept 8 - Oct 19 Cross Country 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(XC is a no-cut sport)
Mar. 7 - Apr. 21 Wrestling 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(Wrestling is a no-cut sport)
7th & 8th Grade Athletics:
Cost: 7th & 8th Grade Students: $200 for the first sport, all other seasons are free.
Payment options:
It is preferable that payments are made online; click on the following link: PAY TO PARTICIPATE. Select your middle school pay to participate page and follow log-in instructions.
A check may be written to “PCCS Middle School Athletics” and turned into the coach.
Payments need to be submitted by the first contest.
When What Who
Sept 8 - Oct 19 Cross Country 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(CC is a no-cut sport)
Oct 20 - Dec 9 Girls’ Volleyball* 7th & 8th Grade
Dec. 13- Feb. 3 Boys’ Basketball* 7th & 8th Grade
Jan. 24 - Mar. 15 Girls’ Basketball* 7th & 8th Grade
Mar. 7 - Apr. 26 Swimming* 7th & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(Swimming is a no-cut sport)
Mar. 7 - Apr. 21 Wrestling* 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(Wrestling is a no-cut sport)
Apr. 25 - June 2 Track** 7th & 8th Grade Boys and Girls
(Track is a no-cut sport)
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*Gate admission will be collected for these sports.
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Adults-$2.00, Students $1.00
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** Money will be collected only at the final district meet
District Updates:
The 2021 Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Summer Communication is available on the P-CCS website. This communication from the district carries all of the latest information about the 2021/22 school year, including back to school details. Parents of high school students also should have received the P-CEP Communicator by the middle of July. This is a live document and will be updated as needed, so check back regularly. You can view this important document by clicking on this link: https://www.pccsk12.com/Home/Components/News/News/23768/19?npage=2
This press release was produced by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
