Dr. Merritt End of the Year Message

Dear P-CCS Parents, Families and Students:

As we wrap up another school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an exciting and successful year for our students, families, educators, and staff.

Our students continue to excel both in and beyond the classroom. Their accomplishments are a testament not only to their dedication but also to the hard work and commitment of our teachers, staff, and administrators. Every day, I witness the extraordinary efforts made across our district to educate, support, and inspire. We are also making great strides in modernizing our facilities to provide learning environments that empower all students to thrive. Our community remains a vital partner in our mission to deliver a world-class education that prepares students for college, careers, and lifelong success.

This school year brought many noteworthy achievements, including:

Shourik Das, Hannah Thomas, Dhruv V. Hegde, and Rohit Mahesh—seniors from Canton, Plymouth, and Salem high schools—earned prestigious National Merit Scholarships. These students were among 22 district-wide finalists, representing the top 1% of students nationwide.

At East Middle School, Mario Wu earned a gold medal at the national Mathcon competition, where students from across the U.S. and Canada test their math and critical thinking skills. East students Vishnu Pakiru and Claire Bao received honorable mentions, placing the school among the top 10 nationally.

Our P-CCS culinary team took top honors at the Michigan ProStart Invitational, winning the state championship through skill, creativity, and teamwork. The team went on to finish second at the national competition against more than 400 other high schools, representing 47 states and the District of Columbia, at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Lightning Robotics team made district history by winning the highest possible award at the regional robotics competition. The award recognized not only their technical success as regional champions but also their exceptional leadership in promoting science and technology.

Sarah Moore and Dana Sassine were recognized among the top 20 finalists in the New York Times international short memoir contest, selected from over 12,000 submissions worldwide. Three additional P-CCS students were also named finalists—an incredible accomplishment that showcases our students’ talent in writing and storytelling.

Jena Scott, a dedicated teacher at Starkweather Academy, was named the 2025 Michigan Adult Educator of the Year in recognition of her positive impact on students’ lives.

Chris Moore, Assistant Principal at Pioneer Middle School, was honored as Assistant Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. His leadership and commitment to students and staff make a difference every day.

Through our partnership with Bosch, engineers and professionals brought STEM to life in our elementary classrooms, helping students engage in hands-on projects and collaborative experiments that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and teamwork.

We continue to make exciting progress on facility improvements across the district. At the P-CEP campus, we are building a new Innovation Hub, a dedicated center for science, technology, engineering, and math, which will also serve as a permanent home for our robotics program. Additionally, we are completing work on a third stadium at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, featuring a new track, field, and seating for 1,800 spectators.

As we conclude this remarkable school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our students, families, and staff for your continued support and commitment to excellence. Whether through academic achievement, creative expression, community leadership, or innovation in and out of the classroom, you have each contributed to making P-CCS a district of pride and possibility.

To our graduates—congratulations! We are proud of all you’ve accomplished and look forward to seeing the incredible impact you will make in the world.

To all P-CCS students and families, thank you for being valued partners in our mission. I wish you a joyful, restful, and safe summer break. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall for another year of learning, growth, and opportunity.

Yours in Learning,

Dr. Monica L.Merritt
Superintendent
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools