Middle School News & Information

Middle School summer reading lists are now available:
5th & 6th Grades
7th & 8th Grades
Upper School (9th Grade)
Be sure to check next year's grade level.

The final concert of the year is Thursday, May 23, 7:00 pm at Camelback Bible Church, across the street from PCDS. All students (band and strings) are to arrive at the church between 6:30-6:45 pm with instruments and music. Concert dress for girls: white top, black bottom, dress shoes (heels are not to be taller than two inches), no short skirts. Boys: button down dress shirt, black pants, belt, tie if possible. Dress shoes with black socks. Strings meet behind stage; band meets in sanctuary.

Please visit the 8th grade commencement page for information and updates on commencement.

Attention returning families of students in grades 5 to 8 next year. We are currently seeking student-volunteers to participate in New Student Orientation this fall. Interested students will be paired with incoming students new to PCDS and assist them at orientation and during the first weeks of school. Please fill out the New Student Orientation form and return it to Jill Scott or Jackie Lee at your earliest convenience. Please contact Mrs. Scott with any questions at jill.scott@pcds.org.

If your books are in demand and in good condition, MBS Direct will pay you for them. Buyback dates for Middle School: May 29 & May 30, 7:30 am-3:30 pm; May 31, 7:30 am-noon in the MS library. A printed buyback quote is required: To create a quote visit http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/pcds.htm. Any family interested in donating used textbooks to the financial aid program, please bring them to Kristie Berg's office in the Administration building.

Note: The current 7th-grade U.S. History text will be used again in 8th grade. Please check with teachers if you are unsure whether some books may be used by your younger children in coming years.


PCDS will honor all Middle School student-athletes at the 5th Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15. Come to the gym at 3 pm for social time; ceremony runs 3:30-5:30 pm. Join us for awards, raffles, and fun for all. Please click here to RSVP by Friday, April 26.

Please visit the grade level pages for end of year schedules.

We still have many items of clothing, although many items were picked up on conference day.  Parents and students can check the lost and found bins located in the MS workroom at anytime. Please take a look and help us reduce our pile of clothing.

From Mort Dukehart, Head of Middle School: I highly recommend for your reading an article from the January issue of The Atlantic, written by Jessica Lahey, an English, Latin, and writing teacher in Lyme, New Hampshire. She writes about education and parenting for The New York Times and on her website, Coming of Age in the Middle. I recommend this article for all parents, but especially those with middle school children. Click here to read it.

Coach Newland and Mrs. Pierson would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back. This year in P.E. we have a combined syllabus, which we require both student and parent to read and then return the last page, signed by August 31. In the syllabus you will find student expectations and the grading rubric for the school year. We are excited about the new school year and we are looking forward to working with your child.

Please visit MS Forms and Documents to access the MS Rotation Calendar for 2012-13.

Please remember that the School Zone speed limit on Stanford Drive is 15 mph and we ask that you continue to drive slowly through the parking lot. Parents are asked to stay in their vehicles and use curbside pick-up outside the Administration building. MS students may use the crosswalks on their own, so you may use the pick-up lane closest to the parking lot. Please do not leave your car while waiting in the pick-up lane (a fire lane). If you park in the lot and walk over to meet your child, please use the crosswalks for safety. We appreciate everyone's help in making dismissals run smoothly!

Please visit the Back-To-School page at www.pcds.org/backtoschool for schedule access instructions, important documents, required forms, textbook and PE uniform purchasing details, important events/dates, and more.