Spring parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for February 8. Students will be released 2 hours early on this day. This is a very important time for parents to discuss or see their student's progress, as research has shown that parental involvement is one of the most important factors in a student's success in school. Additional details regarding each building's conferences will come directly from your child's school or classroom teacher.

Join us as the Platte County R-3 School District Hall of Fame inducts three new members following the PCHS winter athletic signing ceremony, on January 31, 6 p.m., in the new Pirate Fieldhouse at Platte County High School.

This year's inductees are: Phil Dorman (26 years at PCR-3 as teacher, wrestling coach, and athletic director), Joyce Hisel (20 years at PCR-3 as choral director, musical director, and Sound Express show choir creator), and Dr. Jay Jones (23 years at PCR-3 as director of bands, growing the number of bands at PCHS from one to four).

Five candidates have filed for three positions on the Platte County R-3 School District’s Board of Education. Filing closed for Board of Election candidates on December 27, 2022. Candidates (listed in ballot order) are as follows:

The seats up for election are currently held by Sharon Sherwood, Buffy Smith, and Bobby Vann. The annual municipal election will be held on April 4, 2023. For more information about the PCR-3 Board of Education, visit the Leadership channel of the District's website. Board of Education members are elected to three-year terms during at-large elections. Elected board members must complete 18.5 hours of board member training within the first year.

The last day to register to vote in the April 4, 2023 Election is March 8, 2023. Patrons may register to vote in any of the Platte County R-3 School facilities or at the Board of Elections offices. Persons can also register by mail by visiting this website.

Children who have turned five years of age before August 1, 2023, are eligible for kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year and are invited to our Kindergarten Kickoffs in our elementaries on Thursday, March 30. 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, and if your family has an incoming kindergartner, please complete the following form. We will send you additional information about Kindergarten Kickoff and an enrollment packet.

The Platte County Education Foundation will award multiple, $1,000 college and trade school scholarships to PCHS seniors, based on the following categories: Academic, Financial Need, Community Service, and Entering Education. Applications (linked here) are due no later than March 10, 2023. When completing an application through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, students may become eligible for other local scholarships. Additional scholarship opportunities can be found via PCHS's Counseling Center here.

For the Pirate Pride portion of the January meeting, PCR-3's custodial, maintenance, and technology staff members were recognized for the outstanding work put forth during the recent transition to the new addition at Platte County High School. These staff members were instrumental in creating an efficient, safe, and smooth transition to the new addition. They took on their respective tasks with positive, proactive, and collaborative approaches to ensure that our learning processes were not interrupted. Check out this thank you video, put together by our PCHS Broadcasting students!

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 January board meeting, Josh Milne and Austin Shanks, Barry's PE teachers, were recognized for their student focus and collaboration in organizing two days of learning about adaptive sports before Thanksgiving break. During PE classes, Midwest Adaptive Sports, a local non-profit organization providing therapeutic recreational and competitive sports programs for individuals with disabilities, including Barry's own Mac Summerfield, taught Barry students the "ins and outs" of wheelchair basketball and blind kickball. The learning culminated with a staff versus students wheelchair basketball game, where Mac, his Kansas City Kings coach, and Midwest Adaptive Sports volunteers got to show off their skills!

Each month, project managers for our 2021 Bond Program projects, provide an update on construction projects taking place throughout the District. At the January meeting, Darren Lee with McCown Gordon, reviewed construction progress on Platte Purchase Middle School project.

At the Platte Purchase Middle School Project, construction progress is continuing in the gym, locker room and commons area, and repair work is 100% complete. Work on site is taking shape with completion of the right-of-way work including striping and crosswalk lights. The football field is ready for turf to be installed in 2 to 3 weeks with the asphalt track to follow this spring. Roofing is installed in the gym, locker rooms, band/vocal, and commons, and moving into the administration area. Interior finishes including paint and equipment are happening in the gym, locker rooms, flex performance and commons areas. Drywall is being installed in the commons area and the classroom areas are being fitted with metal studs and in-wall electrical/plumbing. 

The Board approved the academic calendar for the 2023-24 school year, as suggested by teachers, support staff, parents and board members on the calendar committee, and taking into consideration feedback during public review. The first day of school on August 22, the last day of school on May 22, and potential makeup days are planned for May 23, 24, and 28-31. It is important to note this calendar makes a shift from 2-hour early release days for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to full-day Professional Learning Days. The change in approach will provide teachers with more efficient and focused time for professional development, while reducing the number of days parents have to find day care alternatives for their children.

At the January meeting, David Dixon, and Curtis Nower presented an key process update on the District's Information Management and Technology services. In the department’s efforts to better meet the needs of all users, and empower all users to be safe and capable in the use of technology, they highlighted three areas of emphasis:

Each year, an outside auditor reviews the District's finances to review internal controls and ensure compliance with regulation. Clark Hanner, Marr and Company, P.C. reported that his team found Platte County School District's financial records to be in order. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion and found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. View the audit report here.

February 8: PLC Day, 2-hour early dismissal

February 16: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm, (reconvene from closed session which begins at 5:30pm)

February 17: No School, District Inservice

February 19: No School, Presidents' Day **Potential Makeup Day

Thank you to all our Pirates ROCK Star business partners who support character education in our schools! And thank you to our District-wide Pirates ROCK Star partner, Tradition Home Group.

Vision: Building Learners of Tomorrow...

Mission: To prepare individual learners for success in life, 

Values: Student Focus, Collaboration, High Expectations, Integrity, Visionary Leadership, Innovation, Results Orientation