We can’t wait to see you at the upcoming Plainwell Community Tailgate! Join us on Friday, September 18, from 5:00-7:00 PM for an evening of community connection featuring food trucks, activities, games, and family fun for all ages! This is a free event to enter. We look forward to bringing our community together and showing our PLAINWELL PRIDE!
In the first two weeks of school, our classrooms have been filled with learning! In Mrs. Cole’s fourth-grade class at Starr, the Cole’s Crew has been engaged in science lessons, enjoyed creating warm fuzzies, and had a lesson focused on kindness inspired by the book Chrysanthemum. We 💙 seeing all the learning and fun that are happening in our classrooms.
We hope our students, staff and families had a great first week back to school! As a reminder, there is no school on Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7. We look forward to welcoming the PCS students back to school on Tuesday, September 8.
We are excited to welcome the PCS students back to school tomorrow (Monday, August 31) for a half day. We look forward to seeing the Trojans back in the buildings to begin a great 2026/27 school year which will be filled with lots of growth for Today’s Learners and Tomorrow’s Leaders! PCS Families - please check your email from 8/28 for additional back to school information and reminders. GO TROJANS!
Half Day Dismissal Times
📚 PHS - 10:45 AM
✏️ PMS - 10:45 AM
📖 RHS - 11:30 AM
🦎 Gilkey - 11:45 AM
🐨 Cooper - 11:50 AM
⭐️ Starr - 11:55 AM
🎨 Calling All Rock Detectives! 🕵️♀️🪨 Be on the lookout for some seriously rockin’ works of art! Our amazing Lifelong Learners have painted rocks to welcome back our K–5 students on August 31. 🎉
The rocks will be cleverly hidden on all three elementary playgrounds. 👀 Your mission: Find them!
So sharpen those detective skills, grab your crew, and let the Great Rock Hunt begin! 🪨🔎✨ Happy hunting—and remember… leave the rocks for the next person to find.😉
We are just one week away from welcoming the Trojans back to school on Monday, August 31. As students return to classrooms, they will be greeted by some new faces among the teaching staff. We are thrilled to introduce the new teachers joining PCS in 2026! Each of them is excited to meet their students and become a part of our school community. Let’s extend a warm welcome and some TROJAN PRIDE as they arrive at PCS!
Registration is open for our upcoming Fall Tae Kwon Do program. Join us to improve coordination, gain strength and increase your flexibility while learning self-defense techniques, taught by Mr. Mitch. Tae Kwon Do is open to participants 7 and up. Program will run on Monday evenings from August 31-November 26 from 5:30-7:00 PM at the Middle School Cafeteria. Cost is $60 per individual or $85 per family. To register, please scan the QR code or visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.
We are excited to announce that Mr. Theodore Simonelli has been appointed as the new principal at Starr Elementary. Originally from West Michigan, Mr. Simonelli returns to the area with a wealth of experience as both a teacher and school counselor, having worked in Honolulu, Tulsa, and Chicago. His extensive background includes serving students at various grade levels and collaborating closely with families, teachers, and school teams.
Mr. Simonelli joins PCS, along with his school therapy dog, Coco. Students, staff and families can look forward to seeing Coco at Starr throughout the school year, where she will work alongside Mr. Simonelli in supporting the Rock Starr students!
As principal, Mr. Simonelli's mission is clear: to provide strong instruction, establish clear expectations, ensure consistent support for students, and maintain open communication with families. Starr families can look forward to direct communications from Mr. Simonelli, which will include opportunities to meet him in person.
Congratulations to Mr. Simonelli, and welcome to PCS!
You're Invited to the Plainwell Community Tailgate!
Plainwell Community Schools invites families, community members, sports teams, student clubs, local businesses, community organizations, vendors, and other groups to join us for our annual Community Tailgate on Friday, September 18, from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Come enjoy an evening of community connection featuring food trucks, activities, games, and family fun for all ages! This is a free event to enter.
Want to be part of the event? We welcome groups that would like to set up a tent, table, or gathering space to showcase their organization, promote activities, connect with families, or simply participate in the celebration.
Reserve Your Tailgate Spot: If your team, club, business, organization, or group would like to host a tent or table, please scan the QR code or complete the following sign-up form so the organizers can plan accordingly: https://forms.gle/RrvH2zpm2DCegn8SA.
We are getting ready to begin another great year of learning and growing at Plainwell Community Schools. We look forward to welcoming our students back as we kick off the 2026/27 school year on Monday, August 31 (half day). Here are some upcoming important back to school dates.
For more back to school information, please scan the QR code or visit plainwellschools.org/page/back-to-school. We can’t wait to see you soon, Trojans!
Community Action of Allegan County currently has three job opportunities available for their classrooms at Starr Elementary.
➡️ Head Start Teacher
➡️ Head Start Teaching Assistant
➡️ Head Start Bus Assistant
Learn more about these opportunities by scanning the QR code!
Thank you to the Plainwell Community for your support of the 2026 Non-Homestead Operating Millage renewal! With this approval, the district will continue to receive the full per-pupil funding levels established by the State of Michigan which powers everyday operations. We greatly appreciate your support in providing consistent funding for teachers, curriculum, transportation, special education, and extracurriculars at PCS!
See you at the polls TODAY (8/4) for the 2026 Non-Homestead Operating Millage vote! Please take a moment to share a reminder with your friends and neighbors - this renewal affects all of us, even if it won’t affect your primary residence taxes.
EXTENDED THIS YEAR! We are excited to share that the Michigan School Meals program was signed into law, allowing all public school students, Pre-K through 12th grade, to eat breakfast and lunch FREE for the 2026/27 school year! Although this is free for all students, we highly encourage all families to complete the Education Benefits Form (EBF). For more information or to apply, please visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/food-program-details.
We are just a day away from the 2026 Non-Homestead Operating Millage vote on August 4, 2026. Take a moment to review this information and share the word with your friends and neighbors - this renewal affects all of us, even if it won’t affect your primary residence taxes.
Have you heard about the 2026 Non-Homestead Operating Millage? On August 4, 2026, you will be asked to consider the Non-Homestead Operating Millage, which is set to expire this year. Please check-out this Q & A to learn more about this upcoming vote and what it means to our district: https://aptg.co/Tqq04N
🏈 Reminder 🏈 Registration for the 5th-8th Grade Girls Flag Football program closes at midnight on 8/1! Join us this fall as we kick-off this new program. Practices will begin during the week of August 10 (location TBD), and six games will take place in Plainwell or Otsego starting the week of September 13. The participation fee is $50 per athlete, and we need a minimum of ten participants to run the program. To register, please visit plainwell.revtrak.net/community-ed-and-rec/RW-Community-Ed-Rec/ (under recreation).
On August 4, 2026, you will be asked to consider the Non-Homestead Operating Millage, which is set to expire this year. This renewal is not a new tax, but a continuation of the current authorization of 18 mills on non-homestead properties last voted on and approved by Plainwell Community Schools voters in 2014. The operating millage renewal ensures Plainwell Community Schools receives the full per-pupil funding levels established by the State of Michigan and sustains day to day school operations.
🏈 NEW PROGRAM 🏈 We are excited to share a NEW program that is open to 5th-8th graders - GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL! Join us this fall as we kick off this new program. Practices will begin during the week of August 10 (location TBD), and six games will take place in Plainwell or Otsego starting the week of September 13. The participation fee is $50 per athlete, and we need a minimum of ten participants to run the program. To register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs, registration closes at midnight on 8/1.
🏊♂️ TAC UPDATE 🏊♀️ The Trojan Aquatic Club (TAC) meet scheduled for tonight (Thursday, July 16) at Otsego has been canceled.