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Email Newsletter )
Your Guide to News & Events at PTISD March 2007
In This Issue
  • A Giver
  • Superintendent's Desk
  • Outstanding Students
  • Campus News
  • Grants
  • Community Outreach
  • Upcoming Events

  • Welcome to Pine Tree ISD’s electronic publication for parents and school patrons. We are always 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].


    A Giver

    David Crowson's Legacy Will Be Long-Lived
    taken from an editorial~Longview News Journal

    It was evident from the comments that poured forth from David Crowson's friends and colleagues, that the Longview attorney who died earlier this month was both loved and respected in many circles. Although the people closest to Crowson might remember him best as a loving husband and father, as a fellow fan of the Pine Tree Pirates or as a skilled lawyer, there are many more people whose lives he has touched and will continue to touch for decades to come. That's because, as one of his Pine Tree School Board colleagues said, he had a "desire to do the right thing."

    Superintendent's Desk

    Updates from Mr. Lynn Whitaker, Superintendent of Schools

    Building Construction Projects
    Phase 1 of the multi-purpose facility is underway. The demolition of the site for a new parking lot on Fairmont Drive at the high school campus began on February 22nd and was completed on the north side on February 26th. They next stripped and stock piled the topsoil and began their undercut. This was completed on March 2nd. The next operation will be the compaction of the existing sub-grade material. The drive approach is scheduled for demolition and replacement the week of spring break. Once the drive approach is complete we will begin the demolition of the existing drive and prepare to install the base material and concrete curbs/gutters. Read more

    Scheduling Decisions
    The administration would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to all of those parents who took the time to come to the meetings and share their concerns about the scheduling decision for secondary schools. Your input is valued, so please feel free to contact any administrator individually and we will gladly set up a time to visit with you. The administrative team is evaluating all of the input from small group meetings and individual visits. A decision will be made after a comprehensive evaluation has been completed. Read more

    Board Elections
    Elections for school board are conducted annually in May. While candidates run for specific places, they do not represent specific geographical areas; rather, each represents PTISD at large. Following the annual election, the Board elects a president, vice-president and secretary to serve for one-year terms. March 12, 2007 is the last day to apply for place on ballot. Although we the district offices will be closed for Spring Break next week, I will be in office on Monday, 3/12 from 2:00-5:00pm in case any one wants to pick up information.

    Outstanding Students

    Outstanding Students Make PT Proud

    Pine Tree JH Wins UIL Meet
    Pine Tree 6th, 7th, and 8th grader UIL academic teams recently garnered numerous awards during their Pine Tree Junior High meet. Pine Tree took home four big #1 trophies again this year for first place in overall scores for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. More

    Community Problem Solving Team Wins Grand Championship Award
    "Walk to the Power of 2" won 1st place in the Junior Division which represents 4th-6th grade. Also, it won 1st place Grand Champion, which means the students’ project won overall 4th through 12th grade in the entire state of Texas. Five sixth graders from PT and five from Carthage will represent the state of Texas in May at the Future Problem Solving International Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado.

    Partners in Prevention Finalists at Middle 5/6 Announced
    Rachel Allen and Mackenzie Richardson, art students of Ms. Covington at the Middle 5/6 campus were selected by Partners in Prevention as finalists in the Alcohol Awareness Month Art Contest. More

    People to People Student Ambassador Program
    Dylan Bailey, Mackenzie Dunn and Joshua Schulik, students at Pine Tree Junior High, have been accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum. These students will join a select group of students in Washington D.C., March 12-18, 2007 to earn high school credit while studying leadership and exploring some of the United States' most prominent monuments and institutions.
    The program is coordinated by People to People Student Ambassador Programs to fulfill the vision Dwight D. Eisenhower had for fostering world citizenship when he founded People to People during his presidency in 1956.

    Campus News

    Where Were You in 42?
    Congratulations to the cast of Where Were You in 42? for their outstanding performance this month! The group raised $3,000 to donate to the Heritage House Senior Citizen Center. Read more about Leadership Class events

    Students See GLOBE Of Careers In Program
    High school seniors who want a chance to check out potential careers got their chance at the first Greater Longview Organization for Business and Education Career Expo at the Longview Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. About 1,300 Texas scholars got to interview with representatives from more than 30 organizations and companies, said Julie Fowler, dean of Kilgore College — Longview. The Texas Scholars program is designed to motivate students to complete the rigorous course work required to earn the state Recommended Program Seal. More

    MADD visits PTHS
    Ron Clarke asked a half-packed gymnasium of about 350 Pine Tree High School sophomores to hold up their car keys and jingle them in unison Thursday morning. "The sound you are making is the sound of freedom," he told them. "But it's also the sound of 2,000 pounds of responsibility." Clarke works in the national offices of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Dallas. Pine Tree was one of seven presentations on his schedule this week, in an effort to curb drinking and driving among teens. More

    Junior Achievement Volunteer at Middle 7
    Jim King, with Longview Harley Davidson, has been a Junior Achievement volunteer for the past six weeks in Mrs. Laster's classroom on the seventh grade campus. Upon the completion of the course, he presented all of the students with certificates and t- shirts. More

    Kids Get a Taste of the Fine Arts
    Students in Kindergarten through fifth grade traveled to see the annual student show produced by ArtsView Children's Theatre and Junior League of Longview this month. "Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," opened in L.L. Williamson Auditorium at Spring Hill Junior High. Fourth graders traveled to TG Auditorium to hear the Longview Symphony Orchestra on Friday, March 9th. More

    Art Students Display Creativity At LMFA Invitational Art Show
    Pine Tree HS art students will display their work among Longview area's most expressive young artists in the 47th annual Student Invitational at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, March 10 through April 28. Plan to attend the 47th Annual Student Invitational from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, March 9th. More

    Grants

    Humanites Texas Grant
    Thanks to funding from Humanities Texas, Mrs. Celeste Walker, a nationally known playwright, visited Pine Tree schools in March. A partnership with ArtsView Children’s Theatre and the Longview Public Library provided the experience for students to see how history and literature can come alive through the art of theatre. Celeste Bedford Walker is an award-winning playwright whose works have been performed in major venues across the country including, the Kennedy Center, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as well as in France and Iraq. More

    Donors Choose
    DonorsChoose is a not-for-profit web site where teachers from our district, and all over the nation submit project proposals. These ideas become a classroom reality when concerned individuals choose projects to fund. More

    8th Grade English Teacher Wins Grant for Books from SWEPCO
    Shana Bellatti, Pine Tree Junior High 8th grade reading teacher, was notified recently by AEP- SWEPCO that her grant application "Read to Learn, Learn to Read" was approved. The letter included a check in the amount of $401. More

    Community Outreach

    Adult Secondary Education Classes

    Beginning March 1, 2007 and continuing through June 30, 2007, Kilgore College will be conducting adult secondary education classes at Pine Tree High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. There is no cost for this educational opportunity. Candidates must be 18 years or older and not enrolled in any public school. Report to room 102 with proof of age to take advantage of this opportunity. For more information, contact Faye Gode, PTHS 903-295-5031.

    The High School Library is open to the public for extended hours. Hours of operation:
    Monday 7:45 am to 7:00 pm
    Tuesday 7:00 am to 3:45 pm
    Wednesday 7:45 am to 5:00 pm
    Thursday 7:00 am to 3:45 pm
    Friday 7:45 am to 5:00 pm.

    Click here to read more about the high school library resources.

    Upcoming Events

    March Character Trait: H O N E S T Y

    • March 5 School Board meeting 6pm
    • March 5-9 Texas Public School Week
    • March 8-9 Elementary School music program
    • March 10 – April 28 HS Art Exhibit at Longview Museum of Fine Art
    • March 11 SPRING FORWARD – Clocks change
    • March 12-16 Spring Break Holiday
    • March 16-17 HS Debate State Competition
    • March 19 Student Holiday / Staff Development
    • March 22 Intermediate School Spring pictures
    • March 26 Middle 7 Book Fair starts; March 30 Read In
    • March 27-28 HS One Act Play Zone competition, Whitehouse
    • March 28 Middle 5/6 Spring Pictures
    • March 29 HS Band Concert, Little Theatre
    • March 30 HS One Act Play District competition, Whitehouse
    • March 31 HS Academic UIL District meet, Hallsville
    • April 3-4 Math TAKS testing for 5th grade
    • April 6 Student Holiday
    • April 9 School Board meeting, 6pm
    • April 14 Spring Show for Precision Drill Team
    • April 13 Primary campus Field Day

    Athletic Weekly Schedule

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