Warm Thanksgiving Wishes from Superintendent Merritt

Dear P-CCS Families, Students, and Staff,

Each year at this time, I share a message of gratitude for the many reasons I am thankful to serve as superintendent of this wonderful school district. During this season of gratitude and reflection, I am especially mindful of the families in our community, and across our state and nation, who may be struggling to meet basic needs this Thanksgiving. More than ever, what’s most important is that we care for one another. If you have the means, I encourage you to help those who could use extra support. And if you find yourself in need, please reach out to our Student and Family Engagement Department, we are here to help.

Even as we recognize the challenges some are facing, this season also offers an opportunity to reflect on the many reasons we have to be grateful. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to our students, teachers, staff, and families, whose hard work and dedication make Plymouth-Canton Community Schools such an extraordinary place to learn and grow. Together, we continue to achieve remarkable things, and I’m delighted to highlight a few of our recent accomplishments.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Gallimore Elementary School, named Michigan’s top elementary school for the third consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition reflects the exceptional effort, talent, and collaboration of our students, staff, and families, and it stands as a shining example of what’s possible when our community works together.

Our excellence extends across the district. All three of our high schools at P-CEP (Canton, Plymouth, and Salem) earned places among the top 36 public high schools in Michigan and within the top five percent nationwide in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best High Schools rankings. This honor underscores our ongoing commitment to preparing every student for college, careers, and lifelong success.

We also applaud the 25 P-CEP seniors who were named Semifinalists in the 71st Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  This achievement places them among the top one percent of high school students in the nation and their dedication to academic excellence continues to make us proud.

Additionally, we celebrate Casey Swanson, International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher at P-CEP, who recently received the Jean Ramseyer Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning from the International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan. Mr. Swanson’s inclusive teaching practices and steadfast commitment to students embody the very best of P-CCS.

As we approach the end of the calendar year and the holiday season, I encourage all of us to take a moment to reflect on our first few months of learning and the many accomplishments we’ve achieved together. I am deeply grateful for your partnership and look forward to an even stronger finish to the school year ahead.

I wish you and your families a joyful, restful, and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Yours in Learning,

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