Pine Tree ISD Newsletter
Your Guide to News & Events
February 2008
In This Issue
Sports
Parent Meetings
Campus News
PTA News
School Board
TAKS Testing
Spelling Bee
Important Dates
Join Our Mailing List
HS Initiatives Meeting
about 2008-2009
for families of 5th-12th
Rescheduled
Notice
The meeting originally scheduled for
Thursday, Feb. 21st
has been rescheduled.  The same information will be given twice, in English and in Spanish:
 
MARK THE NEW DATE:
Thursday,
April 3rd
6:30 (in English)
HS Theatre
 
Date - tba
(in Spanish)
St. Matthews
Catholic Church
 

 
SPRING SPORT
Webpages:

Track

Baseball

Boys Golf

Girls Golf

Softball

Swimming

 
Special Event:

View schedules, read updates and enjoy photos of students in grades 9th - 12th grade. Each page is maintained by the organized group.

Tennis

CHECK THE DATE
in the weekly schedule.
 
"Building Bridges
to the Future"
Advanced Placement
Information Meeting
for families with students
5th -12th grade
 
Monday, Feb. 25th
HS Cafeteria
6:30pm
graduation
 
The Feb. 21st meeting has been postponed. Information to be posted on the web:
 
Read All About it!
Campus News:
 
and
 
Welcome to Pine Tree ISD's electronic publication for parents and school patrons. 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].

PTA News:

Reflections Art Contest Winners Announced:
PTA Reflections, part of a nationwide 30-year-old program, encourages students to create works of visual art, music, literature, photography, dance choreography and film/video productions. Students from Pine Tree ISD who won Council Awards of Excellence will compete at the district level.
 
Meetings About New PTA Structure for 2008-2009
After many discussions, PTA leadership is proposing a new structure to better meet the needs of students.
 
PTA GRANT HIGHLIGHT: The Robotics Club

Funded by the Pine Tree Middle 5/6/7 PTA, a new robotics club has started this year.  The club required eight Legos Mindstorms kits, each worth about $300. The school provided the laptops. The club got underway in October, after its members were selected through an application process.

PT School Board Meeting Notes
 
ACTION ITEMS - Feb. 11th meeting
    • Approved the plans for New Primary School as presented by Jeff Potter, Architect.
    • Considered an Election for May 10, 2008 for Places 6 & 7 on the PTISD Board of Trustees
    • Approved the proposed calendar as presented with the first day of school for students on August 25th and the last day on May 28th.
    • Approved summer maintenance items with an approximated cost of $504,938.75.
    • Accepted Resignation: Beth Franklin, elementary teacher; Rita Mays, high school counselor; and Anna Scholl, JH teacher.
    • Accepted Extended Administrators' contracts as presented.
    • Gave Lynn Whitaker, Supt. the authority to negotiate a price on land the district is considering purchasing.
Changes to TAKS Testing Dates
Due to the Primary Elections on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the Texas State Commissioner of Education has revised the TAKS Testing Calendar.  Under the new TAKS testing calendar, tests will be administered on the following dates:

�March 3 - Exit level Social Studies

�March 4 - Election Day, no testing

�March 5 - Reading for grades 3, 5, 8 and 9, Writing for grades 4 and 7, English/Language Arts for grade 10 and exit level, Exit level writing.

�March 6 - Exit level Math,

�March 7 - Exit level Science, Exit level Reading, Make up grade 10 ELA

Read more

Students to Take Part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee:  
SpellersRepresentatives from grades 4th--8th competed in the PTISD District Spelling Bee. Overall winner - Kaitlyn Miller, sixth grade, and the first runner-up - Hannah Capshaw, sixth grade were the last two standing after many rounds of very difficult words. The top two winners will represent Pine Tree ISD at the Gregg County contest, to be held on February 22, 2008, at the Kilgore Intermediate School, Kilgore, TX.  
PT Staff in the News 
Pine Tree teacher Linda Miller recently placed second in the January/February 2008 lyric contest sponsored by American Songwriter Magazine. Ms. Miller, the TAKS at-risk coordinator for Pine Tree Junior High, won second place in the American Songwriter's recent lyrics competition for her
song called "Dear Abby."   More
 
Sandra Skoog was recently recognized for her involvement as one of Pine Tree ISD's 59 mentors who participate in one of the two mentoring programs at PTISD. Forever Friends, a mentoring organization for young women is sponsored by the Longview Partners in Prevention.  More
 

PineTree High School principal, Dr. Jason Mixon, has resigned to take a job in higher education. Mixon submitted his resignation to be effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year.  A search for a replacement is underway with interviews beginning in March.  Mixon has accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas at Tyler and plans to serve as a consultant in the field of education.

 
Congratulations to Paula McKinney, PTHS teacher and Curry Crowson, PT parent, for completing the Marine Corps marathon in October, 2007.  The Marine Corps Marathon, the annual race known as the "The People's Marathon" brings together runners from all walks of life to participate in a patriot race and a day of family-friendly activities. The traditional Marine Corps Marathon course is 26.2 miles and takes place in Washington DC.  More
 
IMPORTANT DATES

 

Feb. 19 - Taste of the Best, PTEF annual fundraiser,

                7:00 HS Theatre

Feb. 19 - Rep. Louie Gohmert visits Middle 5/6 campus
Feb. 20-21 Third Grade Music Programs
Feb. 21 - NO MEETING AT HS - Rescheduled for April 3rd

Feb. 22 - Winter Wonderland Dance, Middle 7 campus

Feb. 22 - Gregg County Spelling Bee competition

Feb. 24 - JH Choir Trip: Dallas Opera

Feb. 25 - Middle 5/6/7 PTA General Meeting,

                HS Cafeteria, 6:00pm

Feb. 25 - AP Meeting -"Bridge to the Future" at

                HS Cafeteria, 6:30-8:00

Feb. 26 - HS Spring Picture Day

Feb. 27 - Middle 7 Campus Read-In

Feb. 29 - Education Foundation grant applications

Feb. 29 - End of 4th Six-Weeks

March 3-14 Texas Public School Weeks

March 4-7 - TAKS Testing

March 6 - Primary / Elementary School

                 General PTA Meeting, 5:30pm, Elem. campus

March 6 - Elementary School Family Night, 6:00pm

March 7 - Report Cards for Grades 3-12

March 10 - School Board meeting, 6pm

March 10-11,13 - Music Program - Third Grade, 6:00pm

March 11 - Intermediate General PTA Meeting, 5:30pm

March 11 - 5th Grade Visits for Public School Week
March 12 - 6th Grade Visits for Public School Week

March 10-13 Middle 5/6 Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament

March 17-21 Spring Break / Holidays

 

MORE NEWS & DATES

Make a

Difference
If you are looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of PT students, visit the DonorsChoose page where teachers have written a description of what they need for their classroom.  Find out more about the exciting experiences waiting for our students and how you or your business can help.
 
View the PT Challenge Page