HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to Pine Tree ISD’s electronic publication for
parents and school patrons. We are still gathering
email addresses and invite you to forward this
publication to those interested in school news.
If your email was included, and you do not wish to
receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe below.
Direct your comments and questions to the Pine Tree
ISD Public Information Office, P.O. Box 5878,
Longview, TX 75608 or e-mail [email protected].
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PT School Board |
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January is School Board Appreciation Month
All year long, seven community-minded individuals are
working to ensure that the children of Pine Tree ISD
have the best education possible. School board
members deserve our thanks for assuming a major
role in the success of our public schools. They are
elected to serve by local citizens and receive no
compensation for their tireless efforts. Their service
ensures that decisions about local public schools are
made by those most familiar with the needs of the
community’s children and families.
We are proud to take this opportunity to salute
the seven who serve in Pine Tree ISD:
DAVID CROWSON, President
HARRY (GIL) GILLAM, Vice President
MELINDA BURNS, Secretary
ED MERRITT, BOB METZLER, PAT NOON, and FRANK
RICHARDS
The board of trustees participated in a team
building session on Monday, January 8, and will
conduct the regular monthly meeting on Monday,
January 22nd at 5:30pm.
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Scheduling |
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Scheduling under Construction
Pine Tree High School and Junior High School
currently use block scheduling and are considering a
change for the next school year. The following steps
have been taken or are planned:
- The Pine Tree ISD Board of Trustees directed the
Superintendent to address the scheduling needs of
the secondary campuses. In August, 2006, the
Superintendent charged the principals to submit a
proposal from their campus regarding scheduling for
the 07-08 school year.
- HS and JH personnel have worked in designated
committees to research and discuss options,
advantages and disadvantages for changing the
schedule next school year.
- HS and JH Site Based Decision Making committees
have discussed the research and options for
scheduling, and have voted on a proposal concerning
their campus. SBDM committees include teachers,
parents, community representatives and the principal
of the campus.
- The HS and JH principals have discussed the
issues with district leadership, and have presented a
formal proposal from their school staff to the
superintendent this month (January) to change to an
innovative traditional schedule next school year.
- The superintendent has scheduled a public forum
to discuss the issues with parents and patrons of
Pine Tree ISD on Monday, January 22, 2007. 7:00pm
at the High School Library. The Public Information
Office is taking questions to discuss at the meeting;
please email questions to the following address:
[email protected], by January 18th. .
- A final decision about scheduling will be made by
the district leadership team after the public meeting,
and plans will move forward.
Public Meeting Information:
Please send questions you would like
answered to
the
Public
Information Office by Jan. 18th
Date - Monday, Jan. 22nd
Time - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location - PT High School Library
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Resources to Bookmark |
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Links for Learning
Students' homes and classrooms are the focal points
of their learning experiences—from kindergarten
through high school. Parents who work with teachers
and students are critical partners in helping their
child achieve success.
Pine Tree Librarians have created excellent resource
pages at each campus website:
Authors online created
by Jan Riley, PTJH.
Research
websites
created by Inga Davis, PTM5/6.
Book award
websites created by Rhonda McKinney, PT
Intermediate.
For those of you who use World Book Online,
we now have a new, easier password for PT families.
Students are encouraged to use the link from the
library page of their campus website (online
resources). The district pays for all students to have
access to this resource at school and at home.
www.worldbookonline.com
Username:pinetree
Password:library
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Campus News |
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Pine Tree HS Dance Team Goes National
The Pirate Precision Dance Team from Pine Tree High
School were recognized last month. The Longview
drill team was invited to perform in the AT&T Cotton
Bowl Parade on New Year's Eve and during pregame
and halftime activities at the nationally televised
Cotton Bowl game between Nebraska and Auburn.
Read more
View pictures at the
Precision Dance Team website.
All State Choir
Congratulations to Sarah Gillette for placing in the
Texas All-State Choir.
Congratulations also to Brady Weldon for placing as
1st Alternate to the All-State Choir.
More choir news
Math/Science Meet
The Pine Tree 9th grade math/science team recently
won the Spring Hill invitational TMSCA meet with an
accumulation of more points than their area
competitors.
The Pine Tree Invitational Meet will be held Saturday,
January 13 from 8:00 -5:00. PTHS will be hosting 22
schools and have 473 students registered with a
total of 838 entries in 16 events: computer
applications, feature writing, number sense, ready
writing, current issues and events, calculator,
accounting, math, news writing, science, spelling and
vocabulary, editorial writing, literary criticism,
headline writing, computer science, and social
studies. The schools are divided into two divisions:
Division I, 4A and 5A schools, of which there are 6
including PT, and Division II, 3A-1A schools
numbering 16.
The PTHS leadership class is providing a concession
stand and student lounge in the lobby of the little
theatre and the Z-Club will be hosting the sponsors
in the foods lab. "We are very excited about this
year's meet and welcome all participants," states
Faye Gode, PTHS.
Primary School Celebrates the 100th Day of
School
The 100th Day of School is Thursday, January 25th,
and a grand celebration is planned for the Pre-K and
Kindergarten students at the Primary campus.
Teachers are planning a variety of learning
experiences that will reinforce math concepts on that
day. The event will include the release of 100
balloons! For ideas to use as learning opportunities
at home, simply google "100th day of school"
and see what you get!
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Congratulations! |
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Awards Announced for Exemplary Employees
from the Maintenance & Transportation Depts.
According to Tony Hollins, Director of the Building
Maintenance and Operations Department, the
purpose
of the new Employee Recognition Program is to
recognize quality service and excellence wherever it
occurs. The recognition
program is to encourage employee
excellence as well as to improve customer service.
Exemplary Employees of the Quarter
October–December 2006
*Sandy Love
*Kathy McGlothlin
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Bus Drivers Needed |
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Pine Tree Bus Drivers Needed Now!
Want extra money added to your paycheck?
Want to build up your retirement fund?
Then step up and become a bus driver today!
Starting pay $12.50 per hour.
Pass the Word – Do
you know someone that could be interested?
Call 902-295-5106
Jack Davis, Transportation Manager
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Safety |
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PTHS plans Safety Summit January 29th
In light of trends of violence on school campuses,
Pine Tree ISD and the Longview Police Department
will host a 1 day training symposium to distribute
pertinent information to Teachers, School
Administrators, Law Enforcement Officers and
Community Leaders.
The objective of this summit is to increase
awareness of school safety and give schools and Law
Enforcement Agencies the tools to create a safe and
healthy learning environment for our students and
staff.
The training will consist of a general session by
Officers John Gately and Dan Waters of Spokane
Washington Police Department who will conduct a
debriefing of the 2003 Lewis and Clark High School
shooting in Spokane, Washington.
Internet Safety
Parents or caregivers, educators, government
officials, law enforcement, and youth organizations
that want to learn more about the Internet and the
possible dangers to children online should visit
www.NetSmartz.org.
To ensure a safe and positive experience for children,
NetSmartzKids.org
does not link to any outside
sources. You can trust that this site is safe for your
children.
Interactive Internet Safety Presentations from
NetSmartz:
Click here to access resources for children in
grades
K - 6th grade.
Click
here to access resources for teenagers in
grades 7th - 12th grade.
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Personnel Changes |
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New on the Job
Due to funding from the Texas Education Agency
High School Allotment this year, two new positions
have been created at the high school and junior
high.
Kara Collum: At Risk Teacher, PTJH and Faye Gode:
Instructional Specialist, PTHS are new on the job,
and will be working on their
campuses to ensure success for students. Duties
will include identifying students in need and
supporting them academically. Debbie Connor,
Academic Achievement director, Wendy Gray,
Testing Coordinator and campus administrators will
work closely with them to build a vertical alignment
of success for students 8-12 this year.
Kathy McGlothlin has served Pine Tree for 13 years,
and is leaving us this month. "I am looking forward to
working with my husband and my church
congregation in pursuit of spiritual goals," says
Kathy. "I have loved working with the folks at Pine
Tree, especially Mr. Hollins. He has added to the joy
I've felt here at Pine Tree." Melinda Tate, who has
served as Purchasing Coordinator for the district will
soon be new on the job, and the voice you hear
when you call the Maintenance Department of PTISD.
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Donations to PTISD |
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ELEVEN online grants have been awarded
through the DonorsChoose website.
Projects totaling over $6,000 dollars have been
awarded to Pine Tree ISD. www.donors
choose.org - is an online marketplace that
allows individuals and businesses to support specific
student projects proposed by teachers.
Visit the Pine Tree Challenge Page to view
these and other grants submitted by Pine Tree
teachers. More grant proposals are posted and
awaiting donors.
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Upcoming Events |
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January Character Trait: D I S C I P L I N E
- Jan. 6 - PT Invitational Debate Meet
- Jan. 6 - Area Band Tryouts
- Jan. 8 - School Board Team Bldg Mtg.
- Jan. 8 - Big Art Week - 4th Grade
- Jan. 9 - Middle 7 Writing Benchmark
- Jan. 12 - Music Classes for Kindergarten
- Jan. 13 - HS Thespian Formal
- Jan. 12-13 - UIL Practice Academic Meet at
HS
- Jan. 15 - Holiday for all
- Jan. 16 - Reading Benchmark testing, 3rd gr.
- Jan. 17-18 - Middle 5/6 TAKS practice testing
- Jan. 18 - PTA'S Arts in Education Awards
Ceremony, 7:00 in the Little Theatre
- Jan. 19 - Regional Academic Decathlon Meet
- Jan. 19-20 - Region Band Clinic/Concert
- Jan. 22 - School Board Regular Mtg., 5:30
- Jan. 22 - Public Meeting to Discuss Scheduling at
Secondary Schools, 7:00 HS Library
- Jan. 22 - Big Art Week - 3rd grade
- Jan. 23-24 - HS Talent Show Auditions, 4:00
- Jan. 24 - Middle 7 TAKS Writing Field Test
- Jan. 25 - The 100th Day of School!
- Jan. 25 - JH One Act Play performance
- Jan. 26 - Middle 7 - Read In
- Jan. 27 - Cheer/Buc Senior Football Formal
- Jan. 27 - SAT Testing
- Jan. 27 - 9th grade All Region Band
Clinic/Concert
- Jan. 29 - Student holiday / Staff
development; PTHS Safety Summit
- Jan. 30 - Middle 5/6 Vote for Bluebonnet Book
- Feb. 1 - PTHS Choir Pop Show
- Feb. 2 - UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest for
Band
- January Athletic
Weekly Schedule
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Fact or Fiction? |
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Have You Heard a Rumor?
It is understandable that in a large and dynamic
organization, there will be questions and concerns
that sometimes lead to suppositions. Rumors are no
laughing matter. They damage morale, waste time
and can make us less productive. We want to
provide
the Pine Tree community with accurate, factual
information.
Whenever you hear something that raises
a question in your mind or sounds like it may not be
true, we encourage you to check the FACT OR
FICTION web page to see if we have addressed the
topic. If it has not been addressed, let us know
what you are hearing.
Do you have a rumor to report? Click here to tell us
about it.
Go to the Fact or Fiction page...
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Join Now! |
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