The Boys Swim and Dive team had an epic weekend at their State Meet at Eastern Michigan University! Highlights from the weekend include:
🏆 STATE CHAMP! Sam Harper came home the State Champion in the 500 free setting a 👏🏼 NEW SCHOOL RECORD! 👏🏼
🏆 Sam also finished second in the 200 free
🏆Aidan Ranger finished 9th in diving
🏆 Phil Mathis placed 20th in diving
🏆 The 200 free relay team of Ben Sparks, Austin Susens, Grady Nugent and Sam Harper placed 11th
🏆 The 400 free relay team of Alex Steele, Davis Nooney, Grady Nugent and Sam Harper finished 15th
🏆 The team placed 12th overall
Special thanks to all the Trojan fans who came to the meet to support this outstanding team! Congratulations on a fantastic season Trojan Swim and Dive - PLAINWELL PRIDE!
Congratulations to the JV Girls Soccer team on their first win of the season, 2-1, in a scrimmage against Loy Norrix. After trailing 0-1 against Loy Norrix, they battled back with two goals from Ana Vega, assisted by Brooke Lyons and Alison Edds. Great team effort! GO TR⚽️JANS!
"Did somebody say PIE? No, we said PI.” The 5th grade students at Gilkey Elementary celebrated Pi Day at their annual Pi(e) celebration. It was a perfect day outside to enjoy lots of delicious types of pie! What fun tradition for the 5th grade Geckos!
We are excited to share Starr Elementary’s Rock Starrs of the Month! Students were selected for being kind and including others. Way to go, Rock Starrs! 👏🏼
In addition, Starr celebrated four outstanding staff members: Caitlin Bunker, Kelly Carrier, Ashlee Mielke and Gail Chappell. We are thankful for your dedication and support of PCS! ⭐️
This year, Starr Elementary has proudly become a Unified School! The Unified Schools program, part of the Special Olympics, aims to include students with special needs alongside their peers, allowing them to compete in sports together. Starr is among 600 schools in Michigan participating in this initiative. Since December, nine Rock Starr students have been collaborating with their Unified Champion peers to form a basketball team. The Athletes were paired with Partners nominated by their teachers, and they have been practicing together since December. Their dedication came together earlier this week when the students took part in a basketball tournament. It was an amazing experience, encouraging all involved to "choose to include."
ART HOP 2025 - A number of students showcased their artwork during the 2025 Art Hop. Ransom District Library displayed many impressive pieces created by students from K-12. The talent of our incredible Trojan artists shines through all these outstanding pieces of art. Their artwork will remain on display for the next two weeks.
The second grade students from Starr Elementary participated in a mini biography project. In their Rock Starr Group, students explored the lives of famous individuals and documented their findings. Afterward, they memorized the information and acted as wax museum figures to present what they had discovered. This was a truly enriching learning experience for the Rock Starrs!
👏🏼 STATE BOUND! 👏🏼 Good luck to the Boys Swim and Dive state team who will be competing tomorrow and Saturday at the State Finals! This evening, they were sent off with PLAINWELL PRIDE by family and friends, while being escorted by Plainwell Public Safety! The team will compete at Eastern Michigan University over the next two days - GO TROJANS!
Special thanks to Plainwell Public Safety for your support of PCS and our athletes!
Join us this summer at Camp Invention for PCS K-6th grade students (based on grade level for 2025/26 school year). “Give your young innovator an inspiring action-packed summer adventure! Exciting, hands-on challenges will spark curiosity and build their confidence as they jump into limitless STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fun with opportunities to imagine, experiment and create.”
Camp will be held Monday-Friday from July 28-August 1 from 8:30 AM-3:00 PM at Gilkey Elementary. Cost is $275 per student (enter FUN25 for $25 off until March 20). Sibling Discount (up to $40 off per child) and payment plans available. For more information or to register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. We look forward to a great summer at Camp Invention!
We are excited to share the Plainwell Middle School Students of the Week for March 10-14. We are proud of your hard work and dedication. Way to go, Trojans!
- Alejandro (8th Grade)
- Violet (7th Grade)
- Chidera (6th Grade)
Throughout the year, we look forward to continuing to share our outstanding Middle School Students of the Week! Special thanks to our Student of the Week sponsors: Fly Inn, Barbed Wire Cafe and Taqueria San Francisco. We greatly appreciate your support of PCS and our students - Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders.
Guest readers! To celebrating Reading Month, Mr. Manting (Middle School Principal) and Mr. Hattendorf (Middle School Assistant Principal) stopped by Cooper Elementary to read to their 5th grade students. They also spent time sharing information about Middle School and answered questions from the incoming fall 2025 6th graders. It was a great experience for the Koalas!
Gilkey Elementary held their February Student and Staff of the Month ceremony. Each month, Gilkey teachers select students and staff who they felt did an outstanding job throughout the month and the recipients are celebrated at a special award ceremony with their families. In February, students and staff were selected for their helpfulness and kindness. Way to go, Geckos!
Attention MIddle School Families! Registration is now open for an upcoming Middle School Springboard Diving Clinic for 6-8th grade novice divers. The goal of this clinic is to concentrate on the mechanics of diving. The sessions will focus on step by step instruction to create better technique. Participants must be able to swim in 12 feet of water and one length of the pool. The clinic is coached by Taylor Seibert and will be held on March 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and April 2 from 3:00-4:00 PM. Cost is $50 per athlete.
Sign-up today (limited to 12 participants) by completing the registration form at visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs or scan the QR code.
Recently students in Mrs. Amaezechi’s fourth grade class at Starr learned about sound vibrations and how they travel through the air. Can sound travel in space? Through this Mystery Science experiment, these Rock Starrs learned NO!! These types of experiments provide such a fun way for students to learn about the world around us!
👏🏼 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! 👏🏼 This past weekend two Plainwell Robotics Club teams participated in the 34-team VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship. Both teams from Cooper Elementary gave an impressive showing.
🏆 Koala Bots were 22nd after qualifiers and ended in 9th place after Finals.
🏆 Gear Slayerz were 25th after qualifiers and ended in 10th place after Finals.
Congratulations to both teams for making it to the State Championship and for representing PCS with PLAINWELL PRIDE!
Registration is now open for the 2025 Spring Elementary Tennis Camp for students in K-5 grade. All skill levels welcome! Join us to improve your game while learning from the Varsity High School Tennis Coaches and Players! Camp will be held at the PHS Tennis Courts from May 19-22 (rain date is May 27) from 4:00-5:00 PM. Cost is $50 per athlete. Register today by visiting plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. We look forward to welcoming your athlete to Trojan Tennis!
Congratulations to PHS Senior, Brayden Riley, on signing his letter of intent to play football at Kalamazoo College! We are incredibly proud of Brayden’s athletic achievements while at PHS and wish him all the best next year. From all of us at PCS, congratulations and best wishes!
Attention Trojan Families! Have you heard about Michigan’s Summer EBT program: SUN Bucks? SUN Bucks is the new name for their Summer EBT grocery benefit. Eligible families will receive $120 per child to purchase groceries over the summer. Applications are due by April 15, 2025. To learn more, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/food-program-details.
Tickets are still available for the 2025 PHS Musical: Tuck Everlasting! There are three upcoming shows at the Performing Arts Center:
- Friday, March 28 at 7 PM
- Saturday, March 29 at 7 PM
- Sunday, March 30 at 2 PM
Online tickets are available by visiting plainwellschools.ludus.com. Get your tickets today for this amazing show!
On February 26 and 27, the 7th and 8th grade bands performed at theMSBOA District 11 Band and Orchestra Festival at Portage Central HS.
The students played wonderfully and both groups earned overall Division II “Excellent” ratings and Division I “Superior” rating in sight reading!
These students work hard and represented Plainwell with PRIDE! A job well done to our young musicians as well as to the band team (Mrs. Wicklund, Mr. Rushford and Mr. Hepinstall), as well as their student teachers (Mr. Pflieger and Mr. Falk)!
📸 Credit: Mrs. Wicklund and David Stoll
