Cooper Elementary -

Join us for Otis Outdoors' 8th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive! Each year, Otis Outdoors proudly supports our community by providing Thanksgiving dinner to 30+ local families. This year, you can help too! Participate in their food drive by donating traditional Thanksgiving food items on Saturday, November 21 from 12:00-4:00 PM at Gun Plain Fire Department (381 8th Street, Plainwell).

🏀 Registration is still open until midnight on November 20 for our upcoming Hoopsters Basketball program for 3rd-5th graders. 🏀 Hoopsters Basketball is the official developmental league for the Plainwell Trojans boys and girls basketball programs. Hoopsters is a 3 v 3 format, which is organized as a way to develop the skills necessary for youth basketball players to compete at the next level while keeping fun at the center of every player’s experience. 🗓️ Dates: Practice will be held during the week from December 7-February 20, with games held on Saturdays in Plainwell, Allegan, and Otsego (specific practice and game day schedules, times & locations TBD) 💲Cost: $60 per athlete 🌐 Register: Scan the QR code or visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs

It's beginning to look a lot like... the deadline! If you need holiday assistance, sign up for help from the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project ends this Friday 11/13. Make sure your paper form gets back to the school office by Friday, or sign up online at www.plainwellchristmas.org/get-help.

Tickets are still available for our upcoming Family Hockey Night at Wings Event Center (3600 Vanrick Drive, Kalamazoo). Join us as the Kalamazoo Wings face off against the Wheeling Nailers at their Lavender Ice Game. 🗓️ Saturday, November 28 🕖 7:00 PM ℹ️ Families can look forward to enjoying the game, a $5 concession voucher, a complimentary knit hat, and a voucher for a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center 🎟️ Ticket Information: Adults $17 and children $13, plus FEVO fees 🚘 Transportation is not available and parking is $10 per car at the event (cash only) or $8 in advance online 🏒 For additional information or to purchase tickets, please scan the QR code or visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. Please note, the deadline to purchase tickets is November 26 at midnight.

🎄🛍️ Looking to tackle your holiday shopping? 🛍️🎄 Join us for a Drop & Shop at our upcoming Winter Cheer Clinic for K-8th grade athletes! Hosted by PHS Cheer at the High School Gymnasium, this clinic provides participants the opportunity to learn a festive routine while enhancing their skills in stunting, tumbling, jumps, and crafts! Register now for the clinic on Saturday, December 5, from 9:00-11:00 AM. After the clinic, the athletes will present a showcase for family and friends at 11:00 AM. The cost is $40 per athlete. Participants are encouraged to embrace the holiday spirit by wearing ❤️💚 festive attire or red and green gear. 💚❤️ To register, please scan the QR code to visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.

🚒 Learning About Fire Safety 🚒 The Kindergarten and Young 5 students from Cooper, Gilkey, and Starr had an exciting trip to Plainwell Public Safety. During their visit, they enjoyed a tour of a fire truck, had the chance to spray a fire hose, and met firefighters who taught them about the significance of fire safety. A special shoutout and THANK YOU goes out to Plainwell Public Safety for providing such a fantastic visit and an incredible learning experience for the Koalas, Geckos, and Rock Starrs! We 💙 our community!

🌊 WINTER TAC REGISTRATION 🌊 We are excited to share that registration is open for our upcoming Winter Trojan Aquatic Club (TAC) program. TAC is a competitive swim team for PCS youth ages 6-18. The TAC program has three age groups that will run from December 1-February 22 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings from 5:30-6:30 PM. For more information or to register, please scan the QR code to visit plainwellschools.org/page/tac. We look forward to a great winter at the Field House Pool!

📚 BOTB INFORMATIONAL MEETING REMINDER! 📚 There is a Battle of the Books (BOTB) Informational Meeting tonight (10/27) from 6:30-7:30 PM. Join us in-person at Gilkey Elementary or virtually to learn more about the 2026/27 BOTB season. 📅 Tuesday, October 27 🕡 6:30-7:30 PM 📍 Attend In Person: Gilkey Elementary’s Media Center 💻 Attend Virtually: Link is available by visiting https://www.plainwellschools.org/article/3215367 We look forward to a wonderful BOTB season with the 🐨 Koalas, 🦎 Geckos, ⭐ Rock Starrs, and 🏫 surrounding elementary schools.

Last night, Cooper Elementary hosted their annual Monster Mash event. It was a fantastic evening for an outdoor costume party, where families enjoyed trick-or-treating, delicious food trucks, games, and plenty of Halloween fun! A big shoutout and thank you to everyone who organized, planned, and participated in the festivities at the 2026 Monster Mash! 🧡🎃🧡

We are excited to share that registration is now open for the 2026/27 Plainwell Wrestling Club for K-8th grade students. For more information about the program, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. For questions regarding the wrestling program, please contact plainwellwc@gmail.com. GO TROJANS!

We are excited to share that registration is open for our upcoming Hoopsters Basketball program for 3rd-5th graders. Hoopsters Basketball is the official developmental league for the Plainwell Trojans boys and girls basketball programs. Hoopsters is a 3 v 3 format, which is organized as a way to develop the skills necessary for youth basketball players to compete at the next level while keeping fun at the center of every player’s experience. The program will run from December 7-February 20 Practice will be held during the week, with games held on Saturdays in Plainwell, Allegan, and Otsego (specific practice and game day schedules, times & locations TBD). Cost is $60 per athlete. To register, please scan the QR code or visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs (registration closes at midnight on November 20).

As the November 3, 2026 election approaches, we invite you to meet and learn about the Board of Education candidates to prepare for voting. The PCS Board of Education has four openings and five candidates that will be on the November 3 ballot, each opening is for a four (4) year term. Please feel free to reach out to the candidates to learn more, contact information can be found at plainwellschools.org/article/3199575. ☑️ Andrea Barrows (Incumbent) ☑️ Julli Bennett (Incumbent) ☑️ William A. Geresy ☑️ Rex Hall Jr. (Incumbent) ☑️ Kyle Lyke We look forward to seeing you at the polls on November 3, 2026. Thank you for your support of Plainwell Community Schools and the PCS Board of Education.

Cooper highlighted Literacy during their three nights of parent teacher conferences. Families stopped by and created a packet with fun games and learning activities that were tailored to each child's individual learning goals. Mrs. Smith, Cooper's Interventionist/Instructional coach, managed the tables and was there to greet families and encourage learning. Students walked away with their packets filled with games and free books. Thanks to everyone that stopped by to take advantage of this great learning opportunity for students and families. 🐨📚

Registration has been extended until midnight on October 22 for the ⚽️ 2026 Kickers Soccer Program ⚽️ for K-5th graders. The goal of the Kickers program is to experience the sport, understand the rules, and have fun! The program runs from October 31-December 19. Cost is $60 per athlete. For more information, first day practice schedules, or to register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.

We are excited to announce that tickets are now available for our upcoming Family Hockey Night at Wings Event Center (3600 Vanrick Drive, Kalamazoo). Join us as the Kalamazoo Wings face off against the Wheeling Nailers at their Lavender Ice Game. 🗓️ Saturday, November 28 🕖 7:00 PM ℹ️ Families can look forward to enjoying the game, a $5 concession voucher, a complimentary knit hat, and a voucher for a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center 🎟️ Ticket Information: Adults $17 and children $13, plus FEVO fees 🚘 Transportation is not available and parking is $10 per car at the event (cash only) or $8 in advance online 🏒 For additional information or to purchase tickets, please scan the QR code or visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. Please note, the deadline to purchase tickets is November 26 at midnight.

Dinner tonight = ☑️! Join us from 5:00-8:00 PM this evening (10/12) for a Dine to Donate fundraiser at Culver’s to support the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project.

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, October 12. We look forward to welcoming the PCS students back to school on Tuesday, October 13. Have a great weekend - GO TROJANS!

📣 Homecoming Parade! 📣 Join us today (10/9) to support PHS and cheer on the Trojans at their 2026 Homecoming Parade. Parade leaves PHS at 1:20 PM - students, staff, PCS families, and the community are welcome to join us along the parade route to celebrate Homecoming Spirit Week and to cheer on the Trojans prior to their football game against Stugis at 7 PM. 💙💙 GO TROJANS! 💙💙

We are excited to share information on the 2026/27 Battle of the Books Program! This exciting quiz competition is designed for 3rd-5th grade students at Plainwell and nearby elementary schools. Participants will read six amazing books together, meet as a team from November-February to review and study the materials and then compete in a quiz bowl-style event on February 27, 2027. The goal of BOTB is to encourage reading, grow student's teamwork skills, and HAVE FUN! More information and sign-up details will be shared through building communications soon. In the meantime, if your student is interested in participating or you are interested in becoming a coach, we invite you to attend the 2026/27 BOTB Informational Meeting. 🗓️ Tuesday, October 27 🕡 6:30-7:30 PM 📍Gilkey Elementary’s Media Center We look forward to a wonderful BOTB season with the 🐨 Koalas, 🦎 Geckos, ⭐️ Rock Starrs, and surrounding elementary schools!

🎄 Trojan Families! 🎄 Are you interested in applying for holiday assistance through the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project? Online enrollment is open now through November 13. Interested in supporting the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project? Mark your calendar for these upcoming important dates: 🗓️ October 12: Culvers Dine to Donate from 5:00-8:00 PM 🗓️ December 1-17: School Food Drives (more information will be shared through building communications) You can also learn more about this incredible program that supports Plainwell families by visiting: https://www.plainwellchristmas.org/get-involved.