Future Freshman and High School Expo Night - January 21

PCHS is hosting an Expo for 8-11th grade families in conjunction with their 8th grade student/parent night on January 21.  

• 8th Grade Student/Parent Information Session: 6-7pm, in the auditorium
• Clubs, Activities, and Electives Expo: 7-8pm, in the cafeteria

The purpose of this night is to meet teachers and learn about academics and curriculum offerings at the high school as well as attend our electives expo where families can learn more about elective courses, clubs, and activities.

FUTURE FRESHMEN: We encourage both the student (current 8th graders) and parent(s) to attend, so that all can receive the information about courses offered at Platte County High School. This will greatly assist you and your student in the planning process and in course selection for the 2026-27 school year. If you would like more information, please contact your student's counselor: Kim Schank or Whitney Edman, Platte City Middle School Counselors, or Ashley Koenigsfeld, Platte Purchase Middle School Counselor.

2026-27 Academic Calendar Draft

Teachers, support staff, and parents on the calendar committee developed a proposed academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year. The draft was formulated based on required student hours, adherence to state provisions, teacher contract days, historical parent and staff survey data, parent and staff feedback, as well as consideration of the alignment with other Northland districts. Based on feedback, the draft calendar is fairly similar to this year’s calendar, but pushed back by a week due to state requirements to start school no earlier than 2 weeks before Labor Day.

The draft calendar has the first day of school on August 25, the last day of school on May 28, and has again included fall parent/teacher conferences to include one separate evening for PreK-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th grade, and one full day for all grades. Public review of the draft calendar occurs from December 19, 2025 to January 5, 2026. Comments may be emailed to Danielle Nickell. Final revisions will be made, and the Board will vote on approval of the final proposed calendar at the January board meeting.

Board of Education Member Filing

Persons wishing to file as candidates for election to the Board of Education of the Platte County R-3 School District must file (in accordance with Board Policy BBB) at the District Education Center located at 998 Platte Falls Road, Platte City, Missouri, 64079.

Filing opened on December 9, 2025, and will continue via the schedule below until its conclusion on December 30, 2025 at 5:00 pm. To make an appointment, contact Danielle Nickell at nickell.danielle@pcr3schools.org or 816-858-5420.

• December 9, 2025, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• December 10-12, 2025, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• December 15-19, 2025, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• December 30, 2025, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

There are three, 3-year terms to be elected at the General Municipal Election on April 7, 2026. Seats currently held by the following board members (in alphabetical order) are up for election: Tyler Fadler, Amy MacCuish, and Sharon Sherwood.

Click here for more information about serving on the board.

Winter Weather Planning

Visit the Winter Weather Information page on the Parents Tab of the District website for information on school cancellations/modifications due to inclement weather, how the District will notify parents, as well as recess, Y Club information, and information on Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days. 

For the 2025-26 school year, PCR-3 will implement the following Inclement Weather Plan:

• First 3 Inclement Weather Days: These will be traditional inclement weather days with no school and no virtual learning. 
• Inclement Weather Days 4-9: These will be designated as Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days, where virtual learning will take place. 
• Inclement Weather Days Beyond 9: These will either be traditional snow days with no school or virtual learning. If necessary, additional school days may be added after Memorial Day.

PCHS Seniors: Apply for Foundation Scholarships by March 2

The Platte County Education Foundation will award multiple, $1,000 college and trade school scholarships to PCHS seniors. Applications are due no later than March 2, 2026. When completing an application through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, students may become eligible for other local scholarships.

View additional scholarship opportunities via PCHS's Counseling Center webpages.

Director of Elementary Education Announced

Dr. Leah Roesgen will serve as Director of Elementary Education starting with the 2026-27 school year, following Dr. Jennifer McClure's retirement. She brings experience as a teacher, assistant principal, adjunct instructor, and most recently as an elementary principal in the North Kansas City School District. Leah received her Bachelor of Science in Education from University of Missouri-St. Louis, Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Central Missouri, Education Specialist in Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University. Leah’s blend of classroom and building leadership positions her to lead with collaboration, instructional focus, and measurable impact. Leah is passionate about ensuring every student receives high-quality, authentic learning experiences.

Pirate Pride: Football State Champions

For the Pirate Pride portion of the December meeting, the Board recognized the PCHS Football Team for their incredible, undefeated season, culminating with 34-28 win over Carthage at MWSU on December 6, to earn back-to-back Class 5 State Championship trophies. Platte City Mayor Steve Hoeger also delivered a proclamation to the team tonight, celebrating the team's achievement and the community's pride in supporting the Pirates.

Extraordinary Educators: Staff Recognition

Each month, PCR-3 will recognize staff members who are bringing our Strategic Plan to life by exemplifying one or more of the following strategies: providing meaningful experiences; creating safe, respectful environments; fostering a culture of innovation and excellence; and building collaborative community partnerships.

At the December meeting we recognized Whitney Edman and Kimberly Schank, school counselors from Platte City Middle School, for going above and beyond their daily work supporting students as they navigate everyday middle school challenges. In addition to that essential role, they lead impactful career exploration experiences including the middle school Career Fair, Reality Check financial literacy simulation, and DESE-aligned lessons to help students connect their interests and skills to real-world opportunities and career paths.

District Receives Clean Audit

Each year, an independent auditor is engaged to audit the Districts financial statements. Brad Steele, Westbrook and Co., P.C. reported that his team found Platte County School District's FY25 financial statements to be fairly presented in all material respects. The auditors issued unmodified opinion and no material weaknesses were identified. View the audit report. 

2025 Bond Issue Project Update

At the December meeting, Newkirk Novak project managers reviewed construction progress of our 2025 Bond Issue projects.

PCHS Phase 2: Steel erection is now complete for the two-story classroom wing and the media center, and structural steel work is underway on the new art wing. Inside the classroom wing, crews have poured the concrete slabs on the decks, and overhead rough-ins are already in progress. In the weeks ahead, exterior wall framing will begin, followed closely by roofing, air barrier installation, and the work needed to get the building dried in.

Compass Elementary Parking Expansion: The plans for this project have been submitted to the City of Platte City for approval, and bidding will begin once approval is received. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-May, with an anticipated completion date of August 2026, in time for the upcoming school year.

NWDC Project Update

JE Dunn project managers reviewed construction progress of the Northland Workforce Development Center.

Work has been focused within the building footprint, including completion of the west storm shelter concrete walls, the start of the east storm shelter walls, and progress on the slab-on-grade on the east half of the building. Underground mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is now complete on the west half. Outside the footprint, crews have continued installing site utilities and advancing earthwork for the southeast parking lot.

Teaching & Learning Strategic Plan Update: Special Services

At the December meeting, Dr. Alicia Casey, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning, along with Emily Brown, Director of Special Services, presented a progress update on student support services across all levels and early learning. Key highlights of the presentation include:

• Increased instructional time and staff efficiency with the shift to a gifted elementary center-based model.
• Strengthened District Liaison leadership to align support for English Language students, staff, and families.
• Transitioned Special Education software to SpedTrack to improve efficiency and access within the IEP process.
• Increased collaboration across classrooms to ensure equitable access to grade-level curriculum for all students.
• Expanded Parents as Teachers and Early Learning programs to strengthen district support before kindergarten entry.
• Continued districtwide focus on improving outcomes for all student groups.

Sound Express Featured on KSHB - Dec. 24, 25, 27, 28

Tune in over winter break to see PCHS's Sound Express sharing their talents with the Kansas City area! KSHB 41's Sounds of the Holiday will air on the following dates/times:

• December 24 at 1am on channel 41
• December 24 at 5pm on channel 38
• December 25 at 5am on channel 41
• December 27 at 8:30pm on channel 38
• December 28 at 11am on channel 41

MCPL Teen & Kid Events - Jan.-Feb.

Mid-Continent Public Library's Platte City Branch is hosting various teen and kids book groups and programs in January and February. Check them out!

• Teens Create Art: Art Journaling - Jan. 13, 2026, 5pm
• Kids Create Art: Lunar New Year - Feb. 13, 2026, 11am

Special Olympics Basketball Showcase - Feb. 5

Join us for a Basketball Showcase featuring the Platte County Special Olympics Team, during halftime of the boys varsity game on February 5! See flier for details.

Parents as Teachers Enrolling Families

Calling all parents of little Pirates (prenatal to school age)! Platte County’s Parents as Teachers program is still enrolling new families. Our certified parent educators provide personalized visits, developmental screenings, group connections, and family resources, all designed to help your child thrive from the very start. See flier for additional details and enroll here.

December 19: End of 1st Semester, 3-Hour Early Dismissal

December 22-January 5: No School, Winter Break

January 5: Staff Back to School Day, No School

January 6: Classes Resume, 2nd Semester Begins

January 15: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm)

January 16: Report Cards Go Home

January 19: No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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 2025-26: United Fiber.

The mission of the Platte County School District is to ensure our learners thrive in an ever-changing world with confidence and resilience, prepared to pursue their unique futures.