Welcome back, Pond Cove families! We are starting the school year with a transition in PCPA leadership. We are grateful to have Claire Joyce and Elli Carter back to serve another year; Katie Swayze and Jenn Grymek are new to the Board. If you have questions about what we do, want to share your ideas, learn about volunteer opportunities, or just say hi, don’t hesitate to seek us out or email us at hello@capepcpa.org. Our monthly PCPA meetings are open to all.

We’re excited to get to work and look forward to seeing you all throughout the year!

As many of our members are aware, Cape families recently received an unsolicited “mass” text message from a community member and school board candidate, using contact information provided in the district’s School Directory. The School Directory is a joint initiative and fundraiser organized by the three Cape parent associations. Upon learning about this event the PCPA, along with our counterpart parent associations and the school superintendent Dr. Record, contacted the individual responsible and requested that this unintended use of parent information be immediately discontinued.

The PCPA has worked quickly with Dr. Record to ensure all directory data has been removed from the text messaging program that was used for this campaign. We have also received assurances from the responsible party that they will no longer use directory information in this manner.

We want you to know that we take your privacy seriously and that this is not, and never was, the intended use for the directory. In response, the PCPA has initiated a review of our data collection practices and policies, as well as our communications regarding the directory, to ensure that there is no future ambiguity regarding permitted uses.

The PCPA board now considers this matter resolved and does not plan to make any further public comment. It is our hope that our wonderful school community can now move on from this incident constructively and respectfully. If families have any questions or concerns, we encourage you reach out to either the PCPA President or Dr. Record.

Here we are! We’re back for the 2021/2022 school year – whatever that may bring. This year feels a little different and a little the same. I can only speak for myself but I’m feeling a little less like a fish out of water. My kindergartener is so excited and my second grader was basically running onto the bus on the first day. I also know whatever comes down the line, we can handle it. I hope you’re all feeling a little bit of relief as well.

The PCPA wants to extend a warm welcome to our newest community members! Whether this is your first student starting kindergarten or you are new to town, please know we’re here to help you navigate all the newness! Feel free to reach out to any board member if you have any questions. You might want to read this page next to get acquainted with the PCPA!

The PCPA is already off and running for 2021-22. We’ve had two kindergarten play dates at Pond Cove where we connected many first time Pond Covers and their families. It was absolutely a balm for the soul to see these sweet kids running around, asking each other’s names, and climbing all around Little Adventureland. If you couldn’t make the play dates (or if you did and want more) then be sure to join us on Tuesday, September 14 for our Kindergarten Picnic at Fort Williams!

We also hosted our annual Welcome Back Breakfast for teachers and staff. As you do every year, our families showed up and provided them with some food and caffeine to start their last prep day. We got to see smiling faces/eyes, hear their laughter as they reconnected, and get the sense that yes – this year will be a good year. Thank you to the families who mobilized around that effort.

As we head into another uncertain school year, together we’ll support each other, our students, and our wonderful faculty and staff. Please get in touch if there’s anything we can do to help, we’d love to hear from you.

Here are a few things you might want to pay attention to as school gets back underway, as well as some easy ways to help the PCPA as we work to enrich the school experience and our community.

Back to School To-Dos

• Log into Powerschool to complete your child’s forms. If you’re new to Pond Cove and don’t have your Powerschool login yet, contact the Pond Cove office.

• School lunches are fully subsidized for all until the end of 2022. Get the Nutrislice app or visit cape.nutrislice.com to create an account and/or learn how to order.

• Update your family’s school directory listing using this online form or by downloading this PDF. You don’t need to do this if the only thing that’s changed is your child(ren)’s grade.

• Order your directory copy for this year using this form.

• Get some Clynk bags to help us raise funds for outdoor programs. You can find them in the Pond Cove lobby or contact Dana Schauf.

• If you haven’t already, sign up for PCPA email updates and subscribe to our Google Calendar

• Join our Facebook group

Get involved with the PCPA

The first PCPA meeting of the 2021-22 school year is on Wednesday, September 22. Join us (via Google Meet) and see what it’s all about. You can find the dial-in information on our Google Calendar.

In the meantime you can explore volunteer opportunities (we have plenty!) and easy ways to help us fundraise right here on our website. You can help the PCPA simply by shopping at Amazon or Hannaford, by using CLYNK to return cans and bottles, and even when purchasing labels to stick on all your kids’ gear and school supplies – very helpful!

Simply put, nothing happens without volunteers. We aim to keep this gig manageable and fun. Maybe you have some time? Maybe you have some funds? Maybe you aren’t sure but want to hear more? Whatever you can do, your contribution will be truly valued.

If you’re looking for a simple but impactful way to help, consider being a Classroom Connector for your child’s classroom. Classroom Connectors help the teacher and the PCPA communicate with the families in their class. Contact us for more info.