Monday, July 24, 2017

Back to School Letter

Dear Cougar Parents and Students:

Welcome to a new school year at Pulaski County High School! We are making plans and setting goals for the 2017-2018 school year that focus on academic excellence.  Ultimately, the primary purpose of any high school is to assist young adults in setting their own goals and preparing them to achieve their dreams and aspirations.  Pulaski County High School is able to assist all students in reaching their goals by continuing our tradition of excellence and quality, yet we strive to improve and provide greater opportunities for our students. With an atmosphere of high expectations, mutual respect, and cooperation from everyone, we can become the best high school in the state.

The PCHS faculty and staff accept the challenge to continue to build on our past successes and provide all students with an education that prepares them for the future.  The task, simply stated, is to serve the educational needs of every student and the needs of our community.

In the student activities area, we were especially proud of the fact that more than 75% of our student body participated in one or more extracurricular activities.  In the athletic area, more than 39% of our students participated in one or more sports programs.  We strongly believe that the greatest outcome of each of the student activities programs is the fact that students learn valuable lessons in discipline, self-sacrifice, teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

Teaching and learning is our primary purpose, and we will continue to focus on that all-important task.  Students who are well-behaved and serious about learning have the best opportunity to achieve maximum success.  Therefore, there will also be added emphasis on proper student behavior.  When students fall short of acceptable behavior, they will receive necessary and proper guidance and correction.  Parents and students need to be aware that a chronic pattern of poor choices—choices that violate the rules and the order of the school will, not be tolerated.  Parents and students need to understand that a “preponderance of misconduct” and unexcused absences can result in the student being identified as being not-in-good-standing, which could limit the opportunities available to them at PCHS. Additionally, inappropriate behaviors may result in discipline.

To our upcoming senior class: We need your help to have a great year!  The senior class should be the heart of our school.  You should interact with others in a warm and friendly manner, value education, and recognize your teachers, peers, and family as valuable human beings.  We want your class to provide us with strong positive leadership. 

As the opening of school nears, we hope you are as excited as we are at PCHS.  Class schedules will be available during the “Schedule Pick-Up Nights” and may be obtained after paying the annual student fee and any other applicable financial obligations.

I would like to call special attention to the dates below for our Schedule Pick-Up Days, the Freshman Pool Party Social, and the Freshman Transition Day, and the Investments in Learning Assembly.  Please take note that the first day of school for Freshman is on Thursday, August 10, 2017 (first day of school for all 9th grade students) with a two hour early release 8:28 a.m. – 1:22 p.m.

  • 8/1, Tues: New Teacher work days
    • 12th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
    • 8/2, Wed: New Teacher work days
  • 11th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
    • 9th Grade Transition Pool Party, 6:30 – 8:00PM at Randolph Park (only rising 9th graders will be admitted with a parent)
  • 8/3, Thurs: Teachers return, Work Day
    • 0th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
  • 8/4, Fri: Teacher Work Day
  • 8/7, Mon: Professional Development Day; schedule TBD
  • 8/8, Tues: Teacher Work Day
    • Open House & 9th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 4:00 – 7:00, w/ all teachers present
  • 8/9, Wed: Teacher Work Day
  • 8/10, Thurs: Freshman Orientation Day
    • 2 hour early release
  • 8/11, Fri: First day of school;
    • 2 hour early release
  • 8/19, PCPS Back to School Night with the Pulaski Yankees, 6-9PM, @Calfee Park
  • 9/20, Investments in Learning Assembly, PCHS Gymnasium

Saturday, July 8, 2017

The Start of a New School Year

In many ways, July 1st is the beginning of the new school year.  While we are several weeks away from the official first day for teachers and students, July marks the transition for many school administrators from wrapping up the responsibilities of the previous year to finalizing plans for the school year to come.  It is the time to begin implementing those ideas first suggested by teachers, students, and my very our Personal Learning Network (PLN) into a clear plan for the coming year.

This blog represents a shift in my method of communication from a daily format which was only provided to faculty and staff to a more transparent form of communication for all our stakeholders.  I imagine this blog to have weekly posts which will share information about the coming week at PCHS, but I am certain that this format will evolve over time as my colleagues and PLN provide feedback on how best to meet the needs of our school.

New teacher orientation begins on August 1st and all teachers return on August 3rd.  Freshman Orientation day is August 10th and we will see all students on the first day of school on Friday August 11th.  Please have an enjoyable rest of your summer and I’ll see you in August.  

On the Horizon
·         7/2-7/8: VHSL Summer Dead Period – No access to student athletes by coaches
·         8/1, Tues: New Teacher work days
o   12th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
·         8/2, Wed: New Teacher work days
o   11th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
·         8/3, Thurs: Teachers return, Work Day
o   10th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 3:00 – 6:00PM in the Commons
·         8/4, Fri: Teacher Work Day
·         8/7, Mon: Professional Development Day; schedule TBD
·         8/8, Tues: Teacher Work Day
o   Open House & 9th Grade Schedule Pick-Up, 4:00 – 7:00, w/ all teachers present [edit]
·         8/9, Wed: Teacher Work Day
·         8/10, Thurs: Orientation Day for 9th Grade
o   2 hour early release
·         8/11, Fri: First day of school;
o   2 hour early release
·         8/19, PCPS Back to School Night with the Pulaski Yankees, 6-9PM, @Calfee Park


Transition

Greetings, Thank you for the kind words, prayers, and encouragement as we move forward in this transition.  This is not quite how I had en...