Dear Elementary Families,

Happy October! October is a busy month for PCS. We kick off the fun this week with our fall break. This month also brings the end of quarter 1, parent teacher conferences, picture day and the start of math spirit week! We hope the month of October brings us some cooler weather so that we can enjoy being outside even more than we already are!

Staff Highlights

In this week’s newsletter we are highlighting our 2nd grade team!

Noticias de la biblioteca:

Fall Book Fair October 23-26th!

Location: Library Building C

Times: Monday and Tuesday 3:30-4:30

Wednesday 3:30-6:30

Thursday 12-5

Can't make it after school? Your child may visit the fair during the school day. Open an ewallet account or send cash in an envelope that has book fair, your child's name and the amount written on it!

Visit our Book Fair homepage at bit.ly/pcsfair to open an ewallet account, shop the online fair, view the digital flyer, and more!

We need volunteers! Sign up here to work the register, straighten shelves, reshelve books, help students and families locate books, set up, and break down. Thank you for your support!

Questions? contact Vera Ramsey at vramsey@premiercharterschool.org

Project Based Learning:

What is Project Based Learning (PBL)? PBL is an innovative approach to education, a teaching method that engages students in hands-on, real-world projects that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. Instead of traditional lectures, students actively explore and learn by working on meaningful projects that connect classroom concepts to their daily lives. PBL empowers students to take ownership of their learning, making it more engaging and memorable. Our goal with teaching through project based learning is to inspire curiosity and a lifelong love of learning for every student, and we look forward to sharing their exciting PBL experiences with you throughout the year.

So far this year we're off to a strong start with some great projects happening! See below for a snapshot on what projects are happening across the school.

2nd Grade: Voices of Change

Students are in the midst of their exploration of citizenship, and the roles and responsibilities that come with being a citizen. They are delving into the process of crafting and enforcing rules and laws within their communities. They are identifying and addressing various issues within the school community and formulating solutions through research and insightful interviews. All of this work will culminate in a "community town hall" event, where students will present their proposals to a PCS audience, including administrators and student committee groups. In the past, students have identified the need for additional recess games within the courtyard, suggesting creative additions like painted kickball bases and numbers, all of which the school promptly implemented. We eagerly anticipate the ideas our second graders will bring forth this year, reiterating the profound message that their voices truly matter!

3rd Grade: Breaking Stereotypes

In this project, students are combining their social studies and literacy skills to study Native American culture. Their goal is to educate the community about both historical and contemporary Native American culture to challenge and dispel stereotypes. Currently, students are delving into the history of Missouri and the United States, with a particular focus on the impact on Native Americans. They are working collaboratively in teams, conducting research to gain a deeper understanding of Native American culture. Individually, they are utilizing this knowledge to create persuasive pieces of writing aimed at countering negative stereotypes. As a team, they are actively using technology and presentation skills to develop a plan for sharing this information with the school community during the upcoming Multicultural Fair. We are excited to see this showcased for the entire PCS community to see in April!

4th Grade: Home is Where the Habitat Is

In this project, students have been exploring the school grounds and nearby natural areas to study existing ecosystems. They’ve been learning about balanced habitats, food webs, energy transfer, and Earth's changes. Classes have voted to choose a habitat they could create for our campus that will attract more animals, insects, and plants of their choosing. They have interviewed experts and are working to create a proposal for school administration of their plan. As an extension, students may write informative pieces about three ecosystem residents and their adaptations to share with other classes, educating them about the proposed new ecosystem. We are excited to see how 4th graders think we can beautify our campus to invite more insects/animals!

5th Grade: Within My Skin

This 5th grade project is just wrapping up! During this project, students explored various body systems and their functions, connecting science, research, and writing with an artistic approach. They delved into one body system of their choice, conducting in-depth research to understand its connections to other body systems and how it compares to plant and animal systems. Each student wrote a research piece and created mixed media artwork related to their chosen system, which is being displayed at PCS and will be shown again during our Math night as a PBL Showcase for families. Throughout the project, students developed strong self-management skills to contribute effectively to the culminating project. We are so proud of their hard work!

During our Math night each grade level will be highlighting the projects that have been happening as well. We can’t wait to invite you in to see all of the hard work students have been doing!

Drop Off Reminder:

Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, we wanted to reiterate that our morning drop off process does not begin until 8:00 am. Our morning duty staff are not outside to supervise drop off until 8:00 am. In the interest of student safety, please do not leave your child(ren) unsupervised before morning duty begins.

We recently revised our late pick up policy because of an increase in students being picked up after our dismissal ends at 3:35. We also have a significant number of unsupervised children in the morning and would like to avoid an additional revision of our drop off/pick up policy. We appreciate your support in this matter as we work to keep all of our students safe.

Fall Family Survey:

At PCS, we are all about growth. We love being a part of our students' growth as they go from kindergarteners just finding their way in the world to curious, empowered middle schoolers ready to take on whatever challenges life holds.

As a school, we constantly strive for growth as well. And the best resource we have to support our ongoing growth as a school is you and your children.

This week we are going to be asking our 3rd through 8th grade students for their input and feedback through our annual fall student surveys. We would also love to hear from you. This link will take you to our fall family survey. Please take a few minutes and give us your feedback. We will use what we learn from you as we continually strive to better meet the needs of our students and families. You can contact Dr. Schrimpf at mschrimpf@premiercharterschool.org with any questions.

Important Dates & Reminders: