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.
🪄🎩 Learning is magic! 🎩🪄 The students and staff at Starr Elementary were thrilled to welcome a special guest, Magician Alan Kazam, who presented his Buddies Not Bullies show. Throughout the performance, he surprised them with entertaining magic tricks while emphasizing the significance of kindness, encouragement, and including others. It was a wonderful learning opportunity and a truly magical experience for our ⭐ Rock Starr ⭐ students!
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!
This year, Starr Elementary brought back their Halloween Parade! 🎃 The morning buzzed with excitement for the Rock Starrs as they had an outdoor parade for family, friends, and the school community. It was magical seeing all the unique ways the Rock Starrs showed their Halloween style. What a great way to celebrate together before the exciting Halloween weekend arrives!
Everyone enjoyed a fantastic time at 🍁 Starr Elementary's Fall Fest! 🍁 The event featured exciting games, prizes, a petting zoo, auctions, raffles, and endless fun! A heartfelt thank you to the staff and the Starr Parents Association for their hard work in creating such a wonderful experience for our students, families, and community! ⭐️
📸 Courtesy of PHS Photography Student: Joshua P
Starr Elementary welcomed some special guests when members of the 🎶 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra 🎶 stopped by for a special performance. During their visit, they shared about the various instruments in the symphony and played a selection of songs. It was a wonderful experience, thank you to the KSO for sharing your talents with the Rock Starr students! ⭐️
📚 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.
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).
Join us for Starr Elementary’s Fall Fest on Saturday, October 24, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and enjoy a fun day filled with fall festivities. Highlights of the event include:
🍁 Delicious food options
🍁 Fun games and prizes
🍁 A petting zoo
🍁 A silent auction
🍁 Raffles
🍁 And so much more!
Everyone is welcome! Tickets are available for just $0.50 each. Please remember that all parking will be located at the back by the Bus Loop. We can't wait to see you at Starr on Saturday for a day of family fun!
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.
The second-grade students from Starr Elementary recently went on a field trip to Charlton Park, where they had the opportunity to experience life as children did in the late 1800s. They explored a one-room schoolhouse, prepared and cooked soup, churned butter, made candles, and discovered the town! It was an incredible learning adventure for our Rock Starr students!
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.