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

Good luck to the Varsity Boys Basketball team as they travel to Otsego to take on South Haven in round 2 of MHSAA Districts tonight (2/26)! The game kicks off at 5:30 PM. Tickets are available online only through GoFan - gofan.co/app/school/MI10255. LET’S GO TR🏀JANS!

Middle School Athlete of the Week - Jackson Ford! Congratulations to Jackson, he was nominated by Coach Rizzo who stated: “After months of hard work and determination, Jackson has truly transformed. His dedication to improving his technique and stamina paid off in a big way as he decisively pinned his opponent, showcasing his newfound strength and skill. Not only has this wrestler improved tremendously, but he’s also become an invaluable teammate. Always putting the team first, he gives his best in every practice and match, never expecting anything in return.” Way to go, Jackson!

📣 STATE BOUND! 📣 The Varsity Competitive Cheer team is heading to the STATE FINALS! Join us to celebrate their accomplishments and send them off with PLAINWELL PRIDE at their Send Off Performance on Thursday (2/27) and State Finals Departure Parade on Friday (2/28) - additional information can be found on PCS Facebook or Instagram. Limited tickets are also on sale to attend the State Finals at CMU on Saturday, March 1 by visiting plainwellschools.org/o/phs/article/2050086. Let’s show TROJAN PRIDE and support this incredible team as they aim for continued success at the state level - GO TROJANS! 💙

The 2025 Battle of the Books competition is coming soon! Teams of 3rd-5th graders from Hopkins, Martin, Otsego and Plainwell Elementary Schools are set for Battle Day on Saturday, March 1. Teams have worked hard to read and study six different books and are now ready for the book battle at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center. Battles will be held at 8:00 AM, 9:15 AM, 10:30 AM and 11:45 AM and the top two teams from each battle advance to the Grand Battle at 1:30 PM. Unable to attend? All the Battles will be live streamed. Visit the Plainwell Performing Arts Center Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/PlainwellPAC) or YouTube - TrojanTV: @PHSTrojanTV (https://www.youtube.com/@phstrojantv) to view the competition. Good luck to all the teams - wishing you a great Battle Day!

We are excited to share two upcoming Summer Volleyball Camps! - PLAINWELL VOLLEYBALL CAMP: PHS students, as well as 1st-6th graders are invited to join us for a Summer Volleyball Camp. Camp will be held from June 9-12 at the Plainwell Field House with three times available: High School from 8:00-10:00 AM, 1st-3rd grade from 10:30-11:30 AM and 4th-6th grade from 12:00-1:30 PM. Cost is $50 per athlete. To register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs (register by May 16 to guarantee a t-shirt). - 7TH & 8TH GRADE SKILLS CAMP: 7th & 8th grade students are invited to join us for a Summer Volleyball Skills Camp. Camp will be held every Tuesday from July 8-August 5 from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Plainwell Field House. Cost is $50 per athlete. To register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs (register by June 6 to guarantee a t-shirt).

First round of districts = ✔️ The Boys Varsity Basketball team won 68-44 against Allegan tonight in the first round of districts. Chib Amaezechi led the team with 25 points. Next up, they will take on South Haven on Wednesday (2/26) beginning at 5:30 PM at Otsego. Go Trojans!

👏🏼 Plainwell Robotics Club Team Earns Invitation to VEX World Championship! 👏🏼 Four teams from the Plainwell Robotics Club participated in the VEX Robotics Michigan High School State Championship at Kettering University on February 21 and 22. Eighty high school teams from throughout the State of Michigan qualified for the event and were divided into two forty-team divisions for the qualifying rounds. Team highlights from the competition include: Team Siege was the big winner for the Plainwell Robotics Club. After finishing 4th in the Blue Division after the qualifiers, they selected Team RoboDawgs: Counter Srike from Grandville to be their alliance partner for the final rounds, and then lost in the Divisional Finals — earning them the Tournament Semifinalist Award. Team Siege also received the Build Award, which recognizes a well-constructed robot that is built with a high degree of attention to detail in order to hold up to the rigors of competition. The Build Award also includes an invitation to attend the VEX World Championship in Dallas in May. Team members are Walker, Owen and Isaiah. The team is coached by Matt Clippinger and Jason Ferris. Team Ring Kong finished in 21st place, also in the Blue Division, after the qualifiers, captained the 12h place alliance, and lost in the divisional final round. Team members are Luca, Parker, Blaine and Lucas. The team is coached by Sarah Orr and Curtis Orr. Team Up Dawg finished in 30th place in the Gold Division after the qualifiers, captained the fourth place alliance, and lost in the divisional final round. Team members are Aiden Mallory, Hiro, Clay and Bryce. The team is coached by Jim Mallory. Team Nuclear Reactors finished in 35h place, also in the Gold Division, after the qualifiers. Team members are Lauryn, Jack and Ayden. The team is coached by Shannon Fritz. Congratulations to all four teams!!

📣 Conference Champs 📣 District Champs 📣 REGIONAL CHAMPS Congratulations to the Trojan Competitive Cheer team who added Regional Champs to their list of accomplishments this season! Next up, the team will be heading to the STATE FINALS! Go Trojans - PLAINWELL PRIDE!

Congratulations to our JV and Varsity Girls Basketball teams for their impressive wins against Niles last night! The Boys Varsity team fell short but look to bounce back on Monday when they start their post season run against Allegan. Game will be held at Otsego starting at 5:30 PM. GO TR🏀JANS!

Throughout the year, buildings in the district have partnered with NexTrex to recycle plastic. For each 1,000 lbs. that are collected, buildings earn a new NexTrex bench and we are excited to share that Plainwell Middle School has earned a new bench! THANK YOU to our community for your support in achieving this goal! Donations will still be accepted! Please bring plastic grocery bags that are clean, dry and free of food residue to bins at the front vestibule of the High School, Middle School, Plainwell Corners, PCS Administration Building, Renaissance High School, Cooper, Gilkey & Starr to help support the recycling challenge.

Prior to break, PHS' French II students embraced Belgian and Congolese cultures by bringing in and preparing traditional dishes from both regions. They enjoyed delicious Congolese rice pie, beignets and Belgian waffles. The celebration also included dark chocolate éclairs, crepes adorned with fresh fruit and Nutella, and cake pops designed in the colors of the respective flags. Exploring languages and their cultures broadens students' perspectives and enhances their understanding of the world - what a fantastic experience for the Trojans!

The Unified Champions team from Plainwell Middle School had their first basketball game yesterday. Despite only having four practices, Plainwell was able to play tough against their crosstown rival Otsego. The game was close, ending with a final score of 24-21! 🏀

The PHS Multicultural Club students had the honor of welcoming a special guest speaker, Buddy Hannah, who shared his experiences and insights in honor of Black History Month. During the presentation, students engaged in thoughtful discussions, enhancing their understanding of history and culture. To enrich the experience further, they celebrated with a delicious soul food lunch, embracing the rich traditions and flavors. It was yet another wonderful and impactful event for the PHS Multicultural Club.

We 💙 our community! To help with the frigid winter temperatures, Mall City Mechanical generously donated mittens to our elementary buildings. This thoughtful donation helps ensure that students can keep their hands warm, even as winter continues to make its presence felt. ❄️

The Boys Swim and Dive team wrapped up their dual meet season with an UNDEFEATED record! They triumphed over Harper Creek tonight at home with a score of 95-72. This marks the first time since the early 2000s that the boys team has achieved an undefeated season! Outstanding job by the entire team for their outstanding swim and dive performances tonight! A big congratulations to our senior captains, Henry Cox and Austin Susens, for their fantastic four years on the PHS team! Next up, good luck to the team as they prepare for the Conference Championship at Otsego next weekend!

Congratulations to Peyton, Lennox and Annabell as they are Plainwell Middle Schools' "Book and a Bonus" winners for January. "Book and a Bonus" is a monthly reading incentive program for MS students that is supported by Ransom District Library. 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!

We are excited to share the Plainwell Middle School Students of the Week for February 17-21. We are proud of your hard work and dedication. Way to go, Trojans! - Aubrey (8th Grade) - Peyton (7th Grade) - Mia (6th Grade) Throughout the year, we look forward to continuing to share our outstanding Middle School Students of the Week! Special thanks to our Student of the Week sponsors: Fly Inn, Barbed Wire Cafe and Taqueria San Francisco. We greatly appreciate your support of PCS and our students - Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders.

Middle School Athlete of the Week - Nya Hoffman! Nya has been a great leader on and off the basketball court. She comes to practice everyday and is willing to learn as well as help her teammates improve. Nya excels on the court, always has a positive attitude, and never gives up. Against Paw Paw last week, Nya lead the team to a win with 15 points. She played exceptionally well and her defense was incredible. Way to go, Nya!

Two teams from the Plainwell Robotics Club have qualified for the Michigan State Elementary School IQ Championship to be held in Monroe, Michigan on March 8. The teams, from Cooper Elementary School, competed in a 48-team elementary school tournament at Jenison High School this past Saturday, here are highlights from the competition: The Gear Slayerz (pictured) finished the qualifying matches in 30th place; placed 6th in the final round; and were presented with the Create Award, which recognizes a creative engineering design solution to one or more of the challenges of the competition. The Create Award also earned the team an invitation to the State Championship. Team members are Aiden, Alex, Noah and Carter. They are coached by Bryan Gruizenga and Justin Palme. The Koala Bots finished the qualifying matches in 22th place, and placed 13th in the final round. Team members are Adelyn, Aiden, Grayson and Pearl. Team coaches are John Morse. Craig Davies and Adam Cornelius. The Koala Bots qualified for the State Championship earlier this year.

REMINDER! We welcome you to join us for the PCS Field House Ribbon Cutting Ceremony tonight (Monday, February 17) at 6:00 PM. We are thrilled to celebrate the official opening of this facility and welcome our students, families and community to the new Trojan gymnasium and pool. Superintendent Montange, members of the Board of Education and Building Administrators will be present to commemorate this special occasion and address any questions you may have about the new facility. We look forward to seeing you tonight - GO TROJANS!