[HSGuardian] Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year! A few items of importance.
'Rick Todd' via PCS Guardian
With the start of the school year just two weeks away (😬🫣😥😁😩🤬 - pick which applies to you!), we are looking forward to welcoming our students, staff and families back for another great year! For those who are new to PCS, welcome as we are so happy that you have chosen to be part of our Pirate Family! We understand that this time of year can be stressful for parents/guardians, and our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible. We are committed to providing you with the necessary information and support to navigate this process efficiently, without trying to make it overwhelming.
As students will begin coming into the HS & Pathfinder this week for registration/orientations, there are two important tasks we are asking parents to take care of as soon as possible:
1. MiStar Pre-Registration
This online process allows you to update essential information, including:
Contact information
Medical details
Email addresses
Text message preferences
Completing this process ensures we have the most accurate information on file for your student.
2. Education Benefits Application
We also ask that you complete the Education Benefits Application, formerly known as the Free & Reduced Lunch Application. This application is crucial for determining eligibility for various programs.
You can access the online application by clicking the link provided below or by printing the attached document. Please complete these tasks as soon as possible. If you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
While it is true that the State of Michigan has been providing free breakfast and lunch to all students, and the program is expected to continue, it is not a certainty as the state's budget for the upcoming year has not been finalized. The continued funding of this service is still a topic of discussion in Lansing.
Regardless of the status of the universal free meal program, it is strongly encouraged that all families complete the Education Benefits Application. This application is vital for securing various benefits for students and families beyond free or reduced-price meals. A significant portion of our intervention funds, such as Title I, is directly tied to the percentage of students who qualify for these benefits. These funds enable us to provide crucial services like tutoring, intervention programs, and college readiness support.
The income thresholds for qualifying have been consistently increasing, meaning more families than ever before are now eligible. Completing this application ensures that our school district receives the maximum possible funding to support all students.
Transportation Information
For all students who use our transportation system, updated bus route information will be available on Friday, August 15th. You can find the bus stop location, pickup and drop-off times, and bus number on your child's MiStar profile. If you have any questions regarding transportation, please contact Mike Breitenbecher at (810) 225-3960 or mbreite...@pinckneypirates.org.
New Communication System: Rooms
To streamline communication and provide a more secure and unified experience, Pinckney Community Schools is implementing a new system called Rooms that will be utilized K-12. We recognize that our previous reliance on multiple apps—like SeeSaw, Remind, GroupMe, BAND and ClassDojo—has made it difficult for parents to keep track of important information. This new, district-wide system will replace these fragmented methods.
Rooms is a secure messaging system that allows teachers, principals, club mentors, and coaches to communicate with parents directly via their phones. Unlike free third-party apps, Rooms protects all private information. For parents of students in grades 6-12, Rooms will also directly connect to Google Classroom, allowing you to stay informed about your child's academic experience.
To get started, we are asking all parents to please download the official PCS App from either the Google Play or Apple App Store if you haven't already. All communication through Rooms will be accessible via our app, eliminating the need for various other platforms. We will be providing more detailed information on how to get connected in the coming weeks.
I know there will be a lot of information coming your way in the upcoming weeks ahead from principals, teachers and me, but please know that we are here to help guide and support you through this process and we will get through this together as we've got you! I appreciate your commitment and partnership in helping make this a positive start to the school year for our entire Pirate community and please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions/concerns. Thanks for all your support and always, Go Pirates! 🏴☠️🏴☠️
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