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PCS Community | New PCS Families | | Get Connected & Get Involved | Community Connection | Purple Pages
NEW PCS FAMILIES
Welcome to the PCS family! This page was designed especially for you, to help you get acquainted with our community. You've already made a great start getting to know PCS by checking out our website. As you navigate the site, you'll find LOADS of useful information. Be sure to sign up for a Log-in to the secure PCS Family website, which is accessible only by PCS families. You can sign up here: http://family.pcschools.org (click on signup link). Information on the PCS website which you will want to refer to often includes:
The Master Calendar - You will find general school scheduling as well as athletics and other events for both campuses. Check it often to stay abreast of possible changes.
The Admin / Staff Directory - Contact information, including phone extensions and e-mail addresses for all teachers, staff, and administrators at both campuses, is listed here.
Forms Central - Look here for any form you think you might possibly need!
Weather Closures & Emergency Information - This is where you want to go if snow is in the forecast.
Lunch Menus - Both the Elementary and the Secondary campuses offer hot lunch programs. You can access the current month's menu via the website. Contact the School Office at your campus to purchase lunch tickets.
PCS Family Website -- Once you get your log-in for the secure PCS Family website, you will also have access to your students' PASS to stay abreast of their academic progress, PCS family announcements, and an on-line all-school directory.
Below is some additional information for parents of Elementary students.
PORTLAND CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PARENT INFORMATION
GENERAL COMMUNICATION
Classroom information: Classroom information: A weekly newsletter … remember to check the PCS family website master calendar. Parent Committee information: See the "News & Notes" for information specific to Parent Committee community events, fundraisers, prayer times, and other Parent Committee projects.
General School information: The school office sends out a weekly "News & Notes" e-mail to parents informing them of news and events taking place at school. If you are not receiving your copy, please e-mail bill.dowd@pcschools.org. Please also remember to check the PCS website master calendar (link) often for all PCS events.
COMMUNICATING WITH TEACHERS
You are always welcome to contact your children's teachers with questions about your child or classroom time. Please call your child's teacher's room before or after school hours or e-mail them directly to make an appointment.
VISITING THE CAMPUS
You are welcome to visit the campus during school hours. Please enter through the main front doors and report directly to the office to sign in before going to any other part of the school -- and remember to sign out when you leave. This policy is for the protection of our children; thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
SICK OR ABSENT CHILD
Pre-arranged absence: Please fill out a blue prearranged absence slip if your child is going to leave school early, will be away from school for an extended time, or will be absent on a future day. Turn the completed form in at the School Office, preferably a few days prior to your child's absence. If there is more than one child in your family to whom this applies, please fill out a separate slip for each. If you are picking up your child early, please stop in the School Office to sign them out prior to picking them up.
Sick child: If your child is sick and will be absent, please call the School Office at 503-256-5455 x303 or e-mail to cindy.mcelmurry@pcschools.org by 8:00 am to let us know they will not be attending school that day and to request their homework. Homework will be available after 3:00pm in the School Office. If homework is not requested, it will not be available at the end of the day.
CLASS PARTIES
Each class holds three parties a year: a Harvest Party in October, a Christmas Party in December, and a Valentine's Party in February. They are usually held in the afternoon. If you are interested in attending your child's party, please contact their teacher. The Room Parent for your child's classroom may e-mail you a week or two before the party to request needed items (food, paper products, etc.).
VOLUNTEERING
Every PCS family is required to perform 30 hours of service block each year as part of the Heart of a Servant program. Volunteer hours may be fulfilled by working in the classroom, chaperoning field trips, helping specialist teachers, working on the grounds, serving at a community or fundraising event, or in many other ways. Please speak with your child's teacher or log-in to the PCS Family Website to find the contact information for the person in charge of the program in which you would like help. You may also speak with the School Office or Business Office for additional opportunities. Service block vouchers and other information about the program can be found on the school website at http://www.pcschools.org/Portland_Christian_School_Service_Block.html.
HELPING IN THE CLASSROOM
Parent involvement in the classroom is welcome and encouraged! Parents must complete adult / child contact training and a background check before helping in the classroom, going on field trips, coaching a sport, or otherwise volunteering with students. Contact the School Office to complete this half hour class. Thank you for your understanding.
SPORTS
Portland Christian offers a variety of sports in which your child may participate. If you would like to sign your child up for sports, please watch for information in their Friday Folder. Coaching assistants are often also needed - please contact the School Office if you are interested in helping out!
ROYAL CASH
Royal Cash is a scrip service; a dollar for dollar gift card exchange that does not have any additional cost for you. In the process Portland Christian receives funding. It is a great way to help raise funds for the school while doing your everyday shopping or gift-giving! You may download an order form at http://www.pcschools.org/PDFS/Inter-Active_PDFs/Royal_Cash_Order_Form.pdf. Please submit your order, along with cash or check made out to "PCS," to the School Office at the elementary campus or the Business Office at the secondary campus. A few of the more popular vendors are in stock and available for immediate fulfillment through the business office. Special orders received by Tuesday morning will be available in the business office after 12:00 on Friday.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parent Committee: The Parent Committee is Portland Christian Elementary School's parent group (like a PTA). We organize and promote all of the elementary school fundraisers and many of the community events and prayer groups. Look for the Parent Connection, the monthly newsletter from the PCES Parent Committee, in your child's Friday Folder early each month. We always need help with various events. Log-in to the PCS Family Website to find the contact information for the person in charge of the program in which you are interested.
Community Lounge: All parents are invited to use the Community Lounge for school projects. If you have small children, you are welcome to bring them into the Community Lounge with you, as long as they are supervised, while you work on classroom projects for a teacher.
Spiritwear: Do you want to show your purple pride? The Spiritwear store is open every Friday from 8:00 - 9:00 am. You may also order Royals Spiritwear by filling out a form from the box by the School Office. Place the form, along with your check made out to "PCS," in the locked box, and your order will be filled on Fridays. Special Order items will take approximately three weeks to receive.
HANDBOOK
For more detailed information about these topics and much more, please see the Elementary Parent Handbook at http://www.pcschools.org/PDFS/Inter-Active_PDFs/2010_11_ElemHandbook.pdf. |