Gilkey Elementary -

KINDERGARTEN EVENT REMINDER! The special launch event for the Plainwell My Future Fund program is this week and we are excited to see our kindergarten families there! The Family Fun Night will be held on Wednesday (January 14) from 6:00-7:30 PM in the High School Cafeteria. This new initiative is designed to support our youngest learners and their families, and we would love to have you with us to learn more and celebrate its start. We look forward to seeing our kindergarten families on Wednesday to kick-off the My Future Fund program! Please check your email for a link to RSVP for the event. If you have any questions, please contact your student's building.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are excited to welcome the PCS students and staff back to school tomorrow - Monday, January 5 to kick-off the new year. We look forward to many great learning opportunities in 2026 - GO TROJANS!

We can’t end the month of December without recognizing the Gilkey Elementary Students and Staff members of the Month. Each month, Gilkey selects students and staff members who they felt did an outstanding job throughout the month and the recipients are celebrated at a special award ceremony. Congratulations to these Geckos for receiving this recognition! 🦎

📣 Attention PCS Kindergarten Families! 📣 Have you heard about the “My Future Fund” program that will be available to all PCS kindergarten students starting in February 2026? Information has been sent home with your student sharing details about this program that is available to all 2025/26 PCS Kindergarten students through the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF). Save the Date - Join us on January 14 to discover more about the “My Future Fund” program and how it will benefit the Class of 2038 students. Have questions? Please contact your student's building after break for more information about this program. 

‼️ NEW PCS PARKING ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES ‼️ To ensure the safety and accessibility for our students, staff and visitors, please make note of these NEW Parking Enforcement Guidelines from Plainwell Community Schools. When visiting any PCS property, all visitors must comply with these parking rules and guidelines, which will be effective immediately. To review the PCS Parking Enforcement Guidelines, please scan the QR code or visit https://5il.co/3syfn.

OH WHAT FUN! The students at Gilkey Elementary were thrilled to welcome a special guest: "Buddy the Elf." "Buddy" greeted everyone in the morning, spreading smiles, laughter and an abundance of joy. Throughout the day, students spotted him strolling through the halls and caught him in the lunchroom (probably looking for maple syrup). “Buddy” brought lots of smiles to the Geckos' faces before sending them off to their Winter Holiday Break!

🎄Winter Holiday Break has arrived!🎄As a friendly reminder, our break will run from December 19-January 2. We wish the Trojan community a wonderful holiday break and look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Monday, January 5. From all of us at PCS, Happy Holidays!

🎄 Registration is still open, but limited - register today! 🎄 Are you looking for a great activity to kick-off the Winter Holiday Break? Register your student for a fun afternoon at the Field House pool on Friday, December 19 from 1:30-3:30 PM. Join the High School Swim Team's FUNdraiser to enjoy festive activities including: open swim, a Christmas movie on the big screen, a holiday craft, cornhole, spike ball, cookie decorating, snacks and games. This drop-off event is open to ages 8+. Cost is $25 per participant (if multiple members from the same family are attending, the price is reduced to $20 per person). Register today by scanning the QR code or by visiting https://plainwell.revtrak.net/high-school/hs-athletics/#/v/swim-mas-splash-bash.

🎄 Limited spots remaining! 🎄 Are you looking for a great activity to kick-off the Winter Holiday Break? Register your student today for a fun afternoon at the Field House pool on Friday, December 19 from 1:30-3:30 PM. Join the High School Swim Team's FUNdraiser to enjoy festive activities including: open swim, a Christmas movie on the big screen, a holiday craft, cornhole, spike ball, cookie decorating, snacks and games. This drop-off event is open to ages 8+. Cost is $25 per participant (if multiple members from the same family are attending, the price is reduced to $20 per person). Register today by scanning the QR code or by visiting https://plainwell.revtrak.net/high-school/hs-athletics/#/v/swim-mas-splash-bash. If you are unable to attend, but would like to support the Men's Swim & Dive team's fundraiser, please visit https://plainwell.revtrak.net/high-school/High-School-Donations/HS-Athletics-Donations/#/v/HS-Swim-and-Dive-Donation-10.

Until break, all PCS buildings are collecting shelf stable foods, hygiene items, and household supplies in support of the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project. Join us to support families in our community this holiday season by dropping off these items at any PCS building today.

Due to snow and ice continuing to create difficult travel conditions, all afternoon and evening activities are canceled today (Wednesday, December 10). This cancellation includes all events, games, concerts and practices district-wide, with the exception of optional varsity-level practices (coaches will communicate directly with varsity teams).

Due to snow and ice creating difficult travel conditions, Plainwell Community Schools will be closed today (Wednesday, December 10). An update regarding afternoon and evening activities will be communicated by noon today. We wish our students, staff and families a safe snow day! Have a great day and GO TROJANS!

Who doesn't love a great holiday tradition?! It was great fun at Gilkey, Cooper and Starr Elementary Schools as some of the Middle and High School choir members performed for the students at their annual holiday caroling tour throughout the district. This annual caroling event includes a number of holiday classic songs, as well as a few new favorites. It is always a favorite for all the students and staff involved, the smiles were priceless!

We are excited to share that registration for the 2026 Daughter Dance is now open! All PCS K-6th grade daughters are invited to join us on Saturday, February 14. The event will be held at Plainwell MIddle School from 4:00-6:00 PM (doors open at 3:30 PM for pictures only) and includes a formal digital photo, DJ, selfie station, refreshments, entry into a raffle and a flower. Bypass the registration line at the event and register today by scanning the QR code or by visiting plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs (cash and check only accepted at the door).

As a reminder, there is no school from Monday, November 24-Friday, November 28 for Thanksgiving Break. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Monday, December 1. We wish our students, staff and families a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!

Our Holiday Concert season begins this week at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for these exciting performances featuring our talented student musicians: https://5il.co/3scqb.

Final reminder to register for the 2025 Hoopsters Basketball program, registration closes November 17. 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 9-March 7. Practice will be held during the week, with games held on Saturdays in Plainwell, Allegan, Martin 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 17).

All Plainwell Young 5 classes took a field trip to Home Depot in Portage this week. They enjoyed a guided tour of the store, had the chance to meet the staff and learned how various equipment operates. Additionally, the students had the opportunity to create their very own wooden Home Depot bank. It was a fun learning experience for the youngest Trojans!

Enrollment for holiday assistance from Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project closes tomorrow (11/14). If you live in the PCS District and intend to apply, please do so soon! If you prefer, you can enroll online at https://forms.gle/UM2tMzd47VjfiNwGA.

🗓️ Calendar Reminder! 🗓️ As a reminder we have two upcoming half days of school: Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14 (end of first trimester). Half Day Dismissal Times: 📚 PHS - 10:45 AM ✏️ PMS - 10:45 AM 🚌 Gilkey - 11:45 AM 📓 Cooper - 11:50 AM 📝 Starr - 11:55 AM