February 21, 2025

Make Up Day Plans To Be Determined

So far during the 2024-25 school year, PCR-3 has had 10 inclement weather days (see list below). We will be working with the Board of Education during the March 4 Board Work Session to determine a plan for makeup days. We will communicate any updates about the academic calendar as soon as decisions are made.

• January 7, 8, 9, and 10, and February 5, 2025 - Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Days (do not need to be made up)
• February 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20, 2025 - No School/No Virtual Learning (may need to be made up)

Mark Your Calendars - Kindergarten Kickoffs on April 15

Children who have turned five years of age before August 1, 2025, are eligible for kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year and are invited to our Kindergarten Kickoffs in our elementaries on April 15.

Families are encouraged to view the attendance area boundary map linked here on the District website, or call the District office at 816-858-5420 for confirmation of attendance area. If you know of a family with a child entering kindergarten, please pass this information along. New Student Enrollment forms for the 2025-26 school year will be available online soon.

Summer School 2025 - K-8th Grade Enrollment Now Open

Hard to believe now, but summer will be here before we know it! K-12 Summer School will be scheduled for May 30-June 27 at the following locations:

• Barry Elementary: For all K-5th grade southern attendance area students (Pathfinder and Barry Elementaries)
• Compass Elementary: For all K-5th grade northern attendance area students (Compass and Siegrist Elementaries)
• PCMS: For all 6th-8th students, and 9th-12 grade students

Parents of existing students currently in grades PreK-7 interested in K-8 Summer School: You can now enroll for 2025 Summer School via the Forms on PowerSchool Parent Portal (via a browser or the app). Please complete by May 9, 2025. 

*Incoming Kindergarten students can complete summer school enrollment after completing their regular school year enrollment (Kindergarten Kickoffs will be held April 15). New Student Enrollment for 2025-26 school year will be available soon.

**Information about enrolling in the High School summer school program will be available in April.

Dr. Harris Announces Retirement Following 2025-26 School Year

Superintendent Dr. Jay Harris has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2026. Upon his retirement, he will have served ten years in the Platte County School District, four years as superintendent, and 35 years in public education. The Board of Education will immediately begin the search process for Dr. Harris's successor. Click here to read the announcement.

Zero Rate Change Bond Issue, Informational Meetings

This question will be placed on the April 8, 2025 ballot. If approved by voters, the approximately $62 million bond issue would fund the following projects identified in the District’s Long-Range Facility Plan:

• Completing Phase 2 of rebuilding Platte County High School, creating a consolidated high school building with all classrooms and programs under one roof
• Constructing site amenities at Platte Purchase Middle School activities complex
• Constructing playground facilities at Pathfinder Elementary
• Expanding parking and improving traffic flow and safety at Compass Elementary

For more information, click here, or attend an Informational Meeting:

• Monday, March 3, 2025, 6pm, Platte Purchase Middle School
• Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 6pm, Platte County High School

Pirate Pride: Strategic Plan Leadership Team

For the Pirate Pride portion of the February meeting, the Board of Education recognized members of the Strategic Plan Leadership Team (made up of parents/community members, staff, and students) as well as our Action Plan Facilitators, key members who shaped and developed the draft 2025-30 Strategic Plan which was presented to the Board of Education at tonight's meeting.

SCHIVIR Me Timbers Staff Recognition

Each month, PCR-3 recognizes staff members who are living our vision, mission, and values, by presenting the "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 February board meeting, we recognized Arian Huhmann and Jerri Spores, Platte County High School teachers, for their Student Focus, Collaboration, and Innovation, in leading two of PCHS’s real-world learning experiences—Ms. Huhmann with Common Grounds and Ms. Spores with the Pirate Store. They have created engaging, student-led business environments that not only provide valuable hands-on learning but have also achieved impressive success, with Pirate Commons grossing $43,756 in 2024.

Strategic Plan Update 2025-30 Draft Shared with Board

Platte County School District engaged parents/community members, students, and staff to gather input, information, and perspectives to help shape the District’s new strategic plan for 2025-30. This fall, the Strategic Plan Leadership Team, a group of 30 stakeholders (parents/community members, staff, and students) met for three days to begin the process of updating our District’s Strategic Plan by refining our District’s beliefs and mission, setting our parameters, and identifying our strategic anchors and strategies for the next five years.

From these strategies, Action Planning Teams were formed to develop specific desired results and action steps that are shared on the following pages. A Draft Strategic Plan 2025-30 Overview was presented to the Board of Education at the February meeting and will be recommended for approval in March 2025. This plan will serve as a framework both for the long-term direction of the District and the specific plans for each school year. Click here for a complete draft including action plan steps under each strategy.

Facilities and Operations Key Process Update

At the February meeting, Dr. Devin Doll provided an update on the District's Facilities and Operations, which encompass areas such as transportation, custodial and maintenance services, safety and security, energy management, and food service. As part of the District’s ongoing commitment to effectively manage growth, finances, and support services to boost student achievement, while ensuring a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students, Dr. Doll shared key strategies, outcomes, and outlined the following improvement priorities:

• Implement the Long-Range Facility Master Plan for District facilities, capital improvements, safety, security, and technology.
• Develop professional growth opportunities for support staff to strengthen their expertise, customer service, and alignment with District goals.

PCHS Theatre Final Performance of "Our Town" - Feb. 21

Join us for PCHS Theatre’s Winter Play Production of Our Town! This timeless classic play invites us into the small town of Grover’s Corners, where life’s simple moments become profound. The final performance is tonight, February 21 at 7pm. Tickets are $8 and available at PCHSTHEATRE.com. See flier for details.

PCHS Career Fair - Feb. 27

PCHS is hosing a career fair specifically geared towards senior and junior students looking for employment opportunities. The fair will be February 27 from 9-10:30am in PCHS's North Gym. Interested businesses should sign up to attend using this link, or by emailing Mikyla Murphy at murphy.mikyla@pcr3schools.org. 

See flier for details.

PCHS Cheer Stunt Clinic - Feb. 27

PCHS Cheerleaders are inviting K-8th graders to learn stunting skills with them at their stunt clinic on February 27. Sign up here: tinyurl.com/pccheerclinic. See flier for details.

Character Warms the Heart Donation Drive Extended to Feb. 28

Our donation drive for Happy Disciples gift baskets is extended through February 28, giving you more time to bring joy to childhood cancer patients. We’re collecting toys, art supplies, stuffed animals, books, games, and more. The class in each school that donates the most will win a DONUT PARTY!

Community Band Concert - Mar. 2

Platte City Parks and Recreation's Spring Youth Soccer registration is open until February 7 for students PreK-8th. Visit www.plattecity.org to register and See flier for details.

PC Parks & Rec Spring Ball - Register by Mar. 20

Register for Platte City Parks and Recreation youth t-ball, softball, and baseball for PreK through 8th grade. Registration opens Feb. 3 and closes March 20. See flier for details and visit www.plattecity.org to register.

March 3: Ballot Issue Informational Meeting, 6pm, Platte Purchase Middle School

March 7: End of 3rd Quarter

March 11: Ballot Issue Informational Meeting, 6pm, Platte County High School

March 14: Report Cards Go Home

March 20: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm)

March 24-28: No School, Spring Break

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.