October 25, 2024

We Want Your Input - PCR-3 Grading & Reporting

The District is reviewing its grading and reporting system to ensure alignment from Kindergarten through 12th grade, focusing on mastery of standards and skills at each grade level and course. The goal is to provide continuity in tracking student progress and make academic reporting more accessible to students and families. This fall, the Teaching & Learning Team is seeking feedback from parents, students, and staff on the strengths, concerns, and ideal characteristics of our grading system. This feedback, along with research related to grading and reporting, will inform a plan to refine the PreK-12 grading process, improving both the elementary Standards-Based Grading and the secondary 95/5 Grading approach. Please complete the short three-question survey linked below by November 5.

Teaching Positions at Pathfinder Elementary - Join our Team!

We are seeking an exceptional 3rd grade teacher and a special education teacher to join the team at Pathfinder Elementary for the second semester of the 2024-25 school year. As a Title I school, Pathfinder Elementary offers opportunities for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Join us and become a difference-maker in the lives of our exceptional Pirates! Be a part of our team, our family, our tradition. Click here to apply.

Chromebook Insurance - Register by November 22

For PCMS, PPMS, and PCHS families: If you haven’t registered for Chromebook Insurance yet, you have until November 22, 2024 to do so. For more information click here, and to register your Chromebook, click here. The cost for insurance is $30. If your student qualifies for free/reduced lunch, the $30 fee is waived, but you still need to register. Check out this video for a step-by-step guide, or call your school with any questions.

Winter Weather Planning

Please visit the Winter Weather Information page on the Parents Tab of the District website for information on recess and clothing considerations (there will be no outdoor recess when the wind chill is at 20 degrees or below), cancellations, two-hour delayed starts, how the District will notify families, and Y-Club info.

In the event of school cancellation or delayed start, PCR-3 will get that information out as early as possible through automated phone calls and text messages, the District website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the District Hotline (816-858-2752), and local media. Parents: To opt in to receive texts, please text the word "YES" to 67587.

For the 2024-25 school year, PCR-3 will implement Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days for the first five canceled school days. These days will not need to be made up. Any additional canceled school days may be waived, or may need to be made up (added to the academic calendar). Click here for details on our Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days.

November 5 Ballot Questions

We want to make our Platte County School District residents aware of two questions on the November 5 ballot which affect PCR-3.

• Metropolitan Community College (MCC) has placed a tax levy issue on the ballot to seek approval to annex our area into their "in-district" boundaries.
• The County of Platte has placed a sales tax issue on the ballot to establish a community children's services fund.

The ballot questions and additional information are shared below. Please note, Platte County R-3 School District had no role in placing either measure on the ballot, and takes no position on either question.

Metropolitan Community College Question/Additional Information

Question: “Shall the Platte County R-III School District become a part of and be annexed to the Metropolitan Community College District effective the 21st day of November 2024. If this proposition is approved, the overall tax levy in the school district will increase by the community college tax levy of $0.1780 per $100 of assessed valuation and all residents of the school district will be eligible for reduced community college tuition at the in-district rate for general education and workforce training.” Additional Information: Visit MCC’s website for additional information.

Children's Services Fund Question/Additional Information

Question: "Shall Platte County, solely for the purpose of establishing a community children’s services fund for the purpose of providing services to protect the well-being and safety of children and youth 19 years of age or less, and to strengthen families, be authorized to levy a countywide sales tax of 1/4 of one cent?" Additional Information: Missouri has a statute that allows counties to pass a retail sales tax to establish a Children’s Services Fund. The Children’s Services Fund of Platte County, if passed by voters in November, would be a sales tax of one-fourth cent per dollar. It is estimated that one penny out of every four dollars could generate approximately $5,000,000 annually in Platte County. If passed, an independent board of Platte County residents appointed by the commissioners would be created to disperse and oversee the funds.

Accepting Hall of Fame Nominations Until Dec. 1

Do you know of a special volunteer, former teacher/employee, or someone who has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the Platte County R-3 School District or has had outstanding accomplishments after graduating from PCHS? If so, now is the time to recognize those special individuals. The PCHS Booster Club is now taking applications for the 2024-25 Hall of Fame through December 1, 2024. The Hall of Fame will induct new members on January 29, 2025.

• Click here for a list of current Hall of Fame members
• Click here to complete an online nomination form

Pirate Pride: Military Appreciation

For the Pirate Pride portion of the October meeting, the Board of Education recognized the guardsmen responsible for the Military Appreciation Night flyover on September 20. The flyover was conducted by the 180th Airlift Squadron of the 139th Airlift Wing from Rosecrans Air National Guard Base. Special thanks to Colonel Eric Rawlings, Colonel Barrett Golden, and Captains Albert Selanders and Riley Coats for their efforts in executing the C-130 pregame flyover over Pirate Stadium. They mentioned that flyovers at high school football games are rare, but hope to continue this tradition as a recruitment tool for the Air National Guard.

SCHIVIR Me Timbers Staff Recognition

Each month, PCR-3 recognizes staff members who are living our "SCHIVIR Me Timbers" award. SCHIVIR is an acronym for our values: Student Focus, Collaboration, High Expectations, Integrity, Visionary Leadership, Innovation, and Results Orientation.

At the October board meeting, lunch monitors from Compass Elementary, Dona Clark, Khatera Wahidi, and Jennifer Henson, were recognized for their student focus, collaboration, and integrity in their efforts to create a welcoming, fun, efficient, and respectful lunchroom environment.

Board Approves Sale of 2.5 Acres

At the October meeting, the Board of Education approved the sale of approximately 2.5 acres of district property on Kentucky Avenue in Platte City, adjacent to Compass Elementary School. This property, located south of Kentucky Avenue and west of Bent Oak Court, was sold for $762,300. The buyers are pursuing this particular location for a medical office building. A total of 32.38 acres of District property near Compass Elementary has been on the market for several years.

Enrollment Update Shared with the Board

Dr. Devin Doll, Executive Director of Operations, provided the Board an enrollment summary by building, grade, and cohort for the 2024-25 school year. Kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment across PCR-3's schools is 4,351, an increase of 68 students, or 1.6% from last year's enrollment. The District's largest class is this year's freshman class with 398 students.

Strategic Plan Update

Dr. Drew White, Deputy Superintendent, shared the progress to date on the District Strategic Plan Update process. In late September, a group of 32 stakeholders (parents/community members, staff, and students) began the process of updating our Strategic Plan for 2025-30 and identified key strategies. Next up in the process is developing specific action plans under each strategy. Action Planning Teams kicked off their work this week. The intent is to present a draft plan to the Board of Education in February of 2025 after gathering additional feedback from our community.

Academic Achievement Results Summary

At the October meeting, Dr. Alicia Casey, Excecutive Director of Teaching & Learning, presented the 2024 Academic Achievement Results Summary. This update outlined the results from the assessments aligned to the Missouri Assessment Program administered in the Spring of 2024. All school districts in the state of Missouri are required to give specific assessments at the completion of various grade levels or secondary courses. Dr. Casey highlighted the following from PCR-3's state assessment results summary:

• Overall student performance results indicate that state assessments are at pre-pandemic levels with the exception of Science, but above the state average in all four core contents (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)
• 2024 performance results are similar to the results of 2022
• Results over the last 5 years show a positive trend in ELA, Math, and Social Studies. Science shows a linear trend over the last 5 years.
• Students with IEPs perform at or above the state average in ELA and Math
• 8th grade MAP students who did not take Algebra 1 performed above the state average for the fifth year in a row (averaging 14% above the state average)
• Algebra 2 students scoring above the state average
• Students scoring 3+ on the Advanced Placement Exam is up 20% in 4 years, with an increase of 5% each year
• Student performance ranges from 8-16% above the state across grade levels in ELA
• MAP Index scores consistent with performance in 2022 - nearly mirrored data

YMCA Trunk N Treat - Oct. 25

Join the community for a "haunted good time" at Platte City YMCA's Trunk N Treat - October 25 from 4:30-6:30pm. See flier for details.

Yuletide Market - Nov. 9

The 10th annual Yuletide Market is scheduled for 9am to 3pm on Saturday, November 9 at Platte City Middle School to benefit the PCHS Music Parents Association. The Yuletide Market features local crafters, artisans, and direct sales consultants. See flier for details.

PCHS Fall Musical - Mamma Mia - Nov. 13, 14, 16

Mark your calendars for the PCHS Fall Musical: Mamma Mia! November 13 & 14 at 7pm; November 16 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are on sale for $10 per ticket - only sold online at pchstheatre.com. See flier for details.

Platte City Firehouse Market - Nov. 16

The Platte City Downtown Association sponsors the Firehouse Market from 10am-2pm inside the Central Platte Fire Department in Platte City on the third Saturday, monthly. In November, the market is hosting a toiletries drive to benefit the Treasure Chest. See flier for details.

October 25: Report Cards Go Home

October 30: Elementaries Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8pm

October 31: No School, All Schools Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 1: No School

November 21: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm) - HELD AT PLATTE PURCHASE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Thank you to our Pirates ROCK Stars!

Thank you to all our Pirates ROCK Star business partners who support character education in our schools including our District-wide Pirates ROCK Star business partner for 2024-25: Farmers Insurance - Weaver Hamman Agency.