We want to keep you updated on what the student council is doing throughout the year, and in the new year, those students have wasted no time getting to business this year. According to Ms. Pelletier who runs the student council along with Ms. Conger, at the last student council meeting, they finalized the spirit weeks and made posters and announcements to promote around the school. At their next meeting, they plan to begin working on something new: committees for students on the student council to participate in. Committee #1 is a Royals Care Closet committee  to help organize the care closet in the 7th grade hallway. Committee #2 is the School Experience committee where they would try to bring positivity to the school and make it a safe and happy place for all students. Committee #3 would start a food closet for all students. Committee #4 will be working on fundraisers for the student council so we can provide more experiences to the students. Ms. Pelletier also says that these committees must be approved by Mr. St. Jean before anything can occur, so some ideas or committees may not happen, but it is their goal to work to get these things to make our school a better place for all students. It seems the student council is hard at work and has great ideas to make PCMS a school that prioritizes student’s wellbeing. Remember, if you have any questions or suggestions for the student council, visit the Google Classroom (here is the code: 7ku5rbb) and fill out the Student Suggestion form available. I can’t wait to see what else the student council has in mind to make our school a better and safer place! 

The Winter Dance: Fun or Faux

By: Mary Stepalavich 

Small Actions, Full Plates

By: Pearl Collelo

“I was so happy to help them out,” Eighth grader, Mckenah Gluck says about Project Pin for NJHS. Due to the end of SNAP benefits from the federal government, many families have been left to fend for themselves. The help from our NJHS members has made a huge impact on many families who wish to have full stomachs during the holidays. According to the November Snap Benefits, “Due to the federal government shutdown, November SNAP benefits will not be issued at this time. This includes regular November benefits, and any other expedited or prior month SNAP benefits issued after November 1.” This raises anxiety for many families who rely on these benefits to eat during the expensive holiday season.

Ms. Rand collected the project pin donations from outside of each teacher's classroom. NJHS members got to leave their classes to spend the day giving back to their community. They took the bus to the food bank. Our NJHS members helped walk the goods to each person’s car and would fill the bags given to the people in need. After our NJHS members had a little celebration with hot cocoa, soda, chips, and munchkins. NJHS Advisor and Red Team Science teacher, Ms. Rand, shared the successful food drive on the morning announcements,”Our building did an amazing job with their donations…Between our school and memorial school we had the truck come back for a second run because we filled it up! So you all should be really pleased with yourselves for that, and I thank you for helping the community. The eighth grade NJHS helped serve around 220 families in two hours.” Hopefully, next year, and maybe in the spring, we get to help out the families in need through Project Pin. It made a big difference for some, so let's continue Project Pin!