This past weekend two elementary school robotics teams competed in the 2025 VEX IQ Tournament of Champions in Grandville, Michigan. Highlights from the weekend include:
Girls with Gears (Bridget, Lyla and Riley) from Starr Elementary won the Inspire Award. This award is giving to a team that exhibits passion and a positive attitude at the event.
Koala Bots (Pearl, Grayson and Carter) from Cooper Elementary finished in 19th place after qualifying rounds and 12th place in skills overall. After some bad luck in the elimination rounds, they finished the day in 12th place.
👏🏼 Congratulations to both teams on an outstanding competition - PLAINWELL PRIDE! 👏🏼
🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀 A sneaky little leprechaun snuck into Mrs. Mudget’s Young Fives Classroom today at Cooper Elementary. He left chocolate, gold coins and Magic Lucky Charms that turned the milk green. The students had so much fun!
ART HOP 2025 - A number of students showcased their artwork during the 2025 Art Hop. Ransom District Library displayed many impressive pieces created by students from K-12. The talent of our incredible Trojan artists shines through all these outstanding pieces of art. Their artwork will remain on display for the next two weeks.
Join us this summer at Camp Invention for PCS K-6th grade students (based on grade level for 2025/26 school year). “Give your young innovator an inspiring action-packed summer adventure! Exciting, hands-on challenges will spark curiosity and build their confidence as they jump into limitless STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fun with opportunities to imagine, experiment and create.”
Camp will be held Monday-Friday from July 28-August 1 from 8:30 AM-3:00 PM at Gilkey Elementary. Cost is $275 per student (enter FUN25 for $25 off until March 20). Sibling Discount (up to $40 off per child) and payment plans available. For more information or to register, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. We look forward to a great summer at Camp Invention!
Guest readers! To celebrating Reading Month, Mr. Manting (Middle School Principal) and Mr. Hattendorf (Middle School Assistant Principal) stopped by Cooper Elementary to read to their 5th grade students. They also spent time sharing information about Middle School and answered questions from the incoming fall 2025 6th graders. It was a great experience for the Koalas!
Guest readers! To celebrating Reading Month, Mr. Manting (Middle School Principal) and Mr. Hattendorf (Middle School Assistant Principal) stopped by Cooper Elementary to read to their 5th grade students. They also spent time sharing information about Middle School and answered questions from the incoming fall 2025 6th graders. It was a great experience for the Koalas!
👏🏼 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! 👏🏼 This past weekend two Plainwell Robotics Club teams participated in the 34-team VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship. Both teams from Cooper Elementary gave an impressive showing.
🏆 Koala Bots were 22nd after qualifiers and ended in 9th place after Finals.
🏆 Gear Slayerz were 25th after qualifiers and ended in 10th place after Finals.
Congratulations to both teams for making it to the State Championship and for representing PCS with PLAINWELL PRIDE!
Registration is now open for the 2025 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! Camp will be held at the PHS Tennis Courts from May 19-22 (rain date is May 27) from 4:00-5:00 PM. Cost is $50 per athlete. Register today by visiting plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. We look forward to welcoming your athlete to Trojan Tennis!
Attention Trojan Families! Have you heard about Michigan’s Summer EBT program: SUN Bucks? SUN Bucks is the new name for their Summer EBT grocery benefit. Eligible families will receive $120 per child to purchase groceries over the summer. Applications are due by April 15, 2025. To learn more, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/food-program-details.
Attention PCS Families! You are invited to join a webinar from the Parents Against Vaping (PAVe) organization. Scan the QR code to register today to learn the essentials to help kids avoid or quit vaping.
Students from Cooper, Starr and Gilkey upper elementary had the opportunity to see the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra this week at Miller Auditorium. It was a great performance and the elementary students showed amazing Plainwell Pride! 🎶
LAST CHANCE FOR TICKETS! Reminder - tickets are on sale for the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night until March 10 at midnight! Once the ticket link closes on March 10 at 11:59 PM, group tickets will no longer be available for the event.
Join us as the Kalamazoo Wings take on the Toledo Walleye in the Annual Green Ice Game on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 PM. Mothers and sons will enjoy the game, a $5 concession voucher, a free knit hat, a green foam LED stick and a voucher for a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center! Tickets are available for $17/adults, $14/kids (12 and under). PLEASE NOTE: Children's tickets ($14) will show up once you are on the screen to select your seat. Transportation is not available and parking is $5 per car at the event.
Interested in tickets? Tickets are purchased through K-Wings and will be picked-up at Wings Event Center. To purchase tickets, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. Tickets are assigned seats, so if you are going with friends or a group, please plan accordingly.
We look forward to a wonderful evening at the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night!
Did you know that Plainwell Community Schools has an app? You can find the latest news, events, alerts, food service menus and more - all in an easy to use and convenient app. Visit your app store and search Plainwell Community Schools to download it today - it’s everything Plainwell...in your pocket.
🗓️ As a reminder we have two upcoming half days of school: Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 (end of second trimester).
ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO PURCHASE TICKETS! Reminder - tickets are on sale for the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night until March 10 at midnight! Once the ticket link closes on March 10 at 11:59 PM, group tickets will no longer be available for the event.
Join us as the Kalamazoo Wings take on the Toledo Walleye in the Annual Green Ice Game on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 PM. Mothers and sons will enjoy the game, a $5 concession voucher, a free knit hat, a green foam LED stick and a voucher for a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center! Tickets are available for $17/adults, $14/kids (12 and under). PLEASE NOTE: Children's tickets ($14) will show up once you are on the screen to select your seat. Transportation is not available and parking is $5 per car at the event.
Interested in tickets? Tickets are purchased through K-Wings and will be picked-up at Wings Event Center. To purchase tickets, please visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. Tickets are assigned seats, so if you are going with friends or a group, please plan accordingly.
We look forward to a wonderful evening at the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night!
Do you know someone who has made a difference in our district? We are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Outstanding People for Education Award.
About Outstanding People for Education: The purpose of the Outstanding People for Education award is to honor and recognize people in public education who are excelling in their field and/or making an impact in the quality of education in Allegan County.
Examples of whom you might nominate: A teacher or classroom aide; an administrator, secretary or board of education member; a bus driver, custodian, food service or other school support staff; a social worker, therapist, or consultant; a volunteer or community member who supports education.
To submit a nomination for the 2025 Outstanding People for Education award, please scan the QR code or visit forms.gle/LN4VPMmPGZJBRE2Q9. PCS will accept nominations through Friday, March 14.
Thank you and GO TROJANS!
Reminder - tickets are on sale for the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night until March 10! Once the ticket link closes on March 10 at 11:59 PM, group tickets will no longer be available for the event.
Join us as the Kalamazoo Wings take on the Toledo Walleye in the Annual Green Ice Game on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 PM. Mothers and sons will enjoy the game, a $5 concession voucher, a free knit hat, a green foam LED stick and a voucher for a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center! Tickets are available for $17/adults, $14/kids (12 and under). PLEASE NOTE: Children's tickets ($14) will show up once you are on the screen to select your seat. Transportation is not available and parking is $5 per car at the event.
Interested in tickets? Tickets are purchased through K-Wings and will be picked-up at Wings Event Center. To purchase tickets, please scan the QR code or visit plainwellschools.org/page/youth-programs. Tickets are assigned seats, so if you are going with friends or a group, please plan accordingly.
We look forward to a wonderful evening at the 2025 Mother and Son Hockey Night!
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).
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.
