Plainwell Community Schools - Today's Learners Tomorrow's Leaders

Jacob Erdody is being honored for creating the class of 2024 mural. Inspired by our hometown, the mural captures the downtown and the rural farming communities. The farm field is meant to pay tribute to Mr. Meert, a beloved teacher and friend. This special mural will be displayed in the halls of Plainwell High School for many years to come. Outstanding work, Jacob - PLAINWELL PRIDE!

We are hiring! Are you looking for a new employment opportunity? Do you have a passion for education? If you answered yes, we currently have positions open that would provide a great opportunity for you! Plainwell Community Schools is currently hiring for the following positions: - Math Teacher (PHS) - Spanish Teacher (PHS) - Science Teacher (PHS) - ELA Teacher (PMS) - Foreign Language Teacher (PMS) - Mathematics Teacher (PMS) - Special Education Teacher (Starr) - 1st Grade Teacher (Gilkey) - Behavior Support (Gilkey) Interested in joining our amazing team? To learn more or to apply, please scan the QR code or visit plainwellschools.org/page/join-our-team.

Plainwell High Schools is hiring! Join our team as a mechanic aid to work with students 1-2 hours a day under a teacher to run an automotive basics course! Earn extra money while teaching automotive basics, including changing tires, changing oil, brakes, etc. Pay is negotiable. Now is the time to join our outstanding team where you will support Today's Learners & Tomorrow's Leaders! QUESTIONS? Please contact Jeremy Wright at 269-225-0840 or jeremy.wright@plainwellschools.org.

Students in Miss Wright's fifth grade class at Cooper Elementary received special recognition from State Representative, Matt Hall, for their accomplishment of reading over 100 books during the month of March. We are proud of these Cooper Koalas!

The Plainwell Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) induction ceremony was held on April 30th, 2024 at the PAC. The ceremony inducted fifty-one seventh and eighth grade students to become NJHS members and were sworn in. By doing this, they promised to carry on a legacy of scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. They look forward to being hardworking and selfless leaders whose main priority is to help the community in any way they can. These students have seen what the NJHS members before have accomplished with volunteering, fundraising, donating, etc. and are no doubt eager to show what they hope to contribute in the future. The new class of inductees is an exceptional one, and we’re all very excited to see what they will achieve in the new school year. Congratulations! 📝 Credit NJHS Publicist: Allyson

Earlier this week, Renaissance High School held a reality fair for their students. Students were given a career/salary and had to visit various stations (housing, entertainment, insurance, etc.) to create a balanced budget. A very special thank you to Arbor Financial Credit Union for hosting this special event for our RHS students!

Europe: Summer 2026! $200 discount if you sign up between 5/13-5/20. This trip is open to current 7th-10th graders. To sign up or see information on this 10 day trip, please visit www.eftours.com/2675712JD. The price covers all transportation, breakfasts, dinners, entrance fees and guided tours; you’ll just need money for lunches and souvenirs. Lower monthly payments if you enroll now. Please email julie.trahan@plainwellschools.org with any questions on this Summer 2026 trip.

Good luck to the PHS Varsity Girls Soccer team as they take on Wayland in the first round of MHSAA Districts next Wednesday, May 22. The game will begin at 6:00 PM at Wayland's Football Stadium. For tickets, please visit events.ticketspicket.com/agency/7f02c562-5577-47ef-9883-e52290ffede5/events/bcc0f45b-9aec-403f-b2c9-3473995844c8. GOOD LUCK & GO TROJANS! 💙⚽️💙

Congratulations to Niv, Kiki and Jonathan as they are Plainwell Middle Schools' "Book and a Bonus" winners for April. "Book and a Bonus" is a monthly reading incentive program for MS students that is supported by Ransom District Library. Their support allowed PMS to award THREE winners! Keep up the great reading PMS students! Special thanks to Ransom District Library for your ongoing support of PCS and the “Book and a Bonus" program! PLAINWELL PRIDE!

Register by Friday, May 17 to guarantee a t-shirt! Registration is still open for the 2024 Summer Youth Volleyball Camp! PHS Volleyball invites students in 1st-12th grade to join them for a volleyball camp from June 10-13 at Plainwell High School. Cost is $50 per player. To register, please visit: https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.

The Varsity Boys Baseball team competed in a doubleheader against Otsego HS on Friday. The team lost the first game, but came back strong in the second with a 2-1 win. GO TROJANS - PLAINWELL PRIDE! 📸 Courtesy of Steve Filkins Jr.

This weekend, PHS sophomore, Avery Lynch, competed in the Freestyle Wrestling State Championship at Kellogg Arena, where she took first place in her weight class! Congratulations Avery on this outstanding achievement! PLAINWELL PRIDE!

Congratulations to PHS Senior, Evelyn Alward, on signing her letter of intent for Soccer at Kellogg Community College! We are incredibly proud of Evelyn's athletic achievements while at PHS and wish her all the best next year at KCC. From all of us at PCS, congratulations and best wishes to Evelyn!

FINAL DAY TO REGISTER - Registration is open through today (May 13) for our elementary athletes to join us for the upcoming Summer Youthball program for 5-8 year olds. There are three programs available: Girls & Boys T-Ball (age 5/6), Girls Coach Pitch (age 7/8) and Boys Coach Pitch (age 7/8). The focus of the Youthball program is recreation and to learn the fundamentals of the game. Cost is $55 per player. Please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs to register.

The Henry Pestka Art & Poetry Contest held their annual dinner & awards on Monday, May 6 at Frederik Meijer Gardens. This year’s theme, Hope, explores how, despite facing unimaginable tragedies like the Holocaust, hope can be found in our common humanity. Nine districts in the area competed and in the Top 10 finalists for poetry, three were PCS students. At the ceremony, the following students were recognized: - Audra Huberty was awarded 3rd in the 9th grade category for her poem, “The Journey of Hope” - Julia Bitely received 2nd place in the 8th grade category for her poem, “ Midnight Moon” - Josie Longcore placed first in the 10th grade category for her poem, “Red” They each received prizes, a gift bag of goodies and a book written by the speaker at the event, author Liza Weimer. Congratulations on these outstanding achievements, Trojans - PLAINWELL PRIDE!

Earlier this week, the Plainwell and Otsego Lifelong Learners enjoyed a special event at Ransom District Library - a Taco Tuesday Fiesta! They enjoyed an afternoon with food, bingo, fellowship and lots of fun!

On Thursday, the Gilkey Total Trek Quest (boys 3rd-5th grade running club) met at the high school track to challenge the previously set Gilkey mile record of 6:25. Three runners beat the old Gilkey record - Ben Stroup, CJ Stroup and Hunter Sopjes. Ben had the fastest time with a 5:51, smashing the old record by 34 seconds! Look out - their names will be hanging on the Gilkey record board in the gymnasium soon! More importantly, every single boy on the whole team improved from their first timed mile of the season. It was a great season for the Gilkey Total Trek Quest and their coaches, Ryan Knox and Ethan Oostdyk. Next up, on Saturday (May 18) the team will complete their 5k goal in Newaygo. Way to go, Geckos! 🦎

Registration is still open for the 2024 Spring Elementary Tennis Camp for students in K-5 grade. All skill levels welcome! Join us to improve your game while learning from the Varsity High School Tennis Coaches and Players from May 20-23. Camp will be held at the PHS Tennis Courts from 4:00-5:00 PM. Cost is $50 per athlete. To register, please scan the QR code or visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.

Registration is open for the Boys Basketball Kids Camp. Join us for a summer camp from July 15-18 at Plainwell High School taught by PHS coaches and athletes. Program is available for 1st-8th graders (grade in fall 2024). Cost is $35 per athlete. To register, please visit https://www.plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs.

Congratulations to PHS Senior, Raya Mergen-Henry, on signing her letter of intent for Cheerleading at Western Michigan University! We are incredibly proud of Raya's athletic achievements while at PHS and wish her all the best next year at WMU. From all of us at PCS, congratulations and best wishes to Raya!