Pine Tree ISD E~News
Your Guide to News & Events 
March 2009
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News
Bob Metzler to Leave PTISD Board 
Bob Metzler announced Monday that he would not be running for re-election in May because he is moving out of the district. He was elected to his three-year term in 2006. His exit will leave an opening for the Place 2 position, and only one candidate, Kerri Allen Daugbjerg, filed to be on the ballot. Read more.  View School Board Webpage.
 
SPRING BREAK:  March 16-20
Pine Tree campuses and district offices will be closed during Spring Break which runs Monday-Friday, March 16-20.  ALSO, the PTHS Main Parking Lot will be closed for resurfacing.  View calendars.
 
Students Help Foster Children Get Ready for Prom
Along with Texas Department of Family Protective Services, the Pine Tree Middle School fifth graders were very thankful for the opportunity to take part in creating and organizing an "Extreme Makeover - Prom Edition".  Read more.
 
Black History Exhibit Displayed at PTJH
Art I classes at Pine Tree Junior High campus displayed the "Great Migration" series of paintings during Black History month. These paintings tell the story of the migration of Black Americans from the south to the north after the Civil War.  Read more.
 
Elementary Travels to see "Hank the Cowdog"
HankTeachers and students at the Pine Tree Elementary campus enjoyed watching, "Hank the Cowdog", during a recent field trip in February. The free event sponsored by the Junior League of Longview and Artsview Children's Theatre is an annual treat for students in the greater Longview area. A new character joined this Longview theater tradition when LeTourneau University students,"Stage Right," volunteered this year. Read more.
 
New Construction & Renovation PTISD
  
The third phase of renovations to Pine Tree Independent School District's new administrative building began recently. The district's board of trustees approved spending about $1.8 million to perform the final work on the future administrative hub. Superintendent Lynn Whitaker said administrative employees could move to the new offices during the summer. Read more.  
 
PIRATE PLAZA
The PT Education Foundation has established a plaza in front of the new Multi-Purpose Gymnasium.  The brick plaza, named "Pirate Plaza", consists of red brick pavers available for engraving to honor or remember the names of Pine Tree students, teachers, alumni, and community supporters.  The plaza features a new seal, designed by PT Alumni, Lee Littlefield.  Read more: Bricks
Awards
HS Academic Team Earns Top Awards
Pine Tree High School competed with 37 schools at the Sulphur Springs UIL meet on Saturday, February 28. Awards were given within the grade level and for the top six places overall in all grade levels in an event.  The Calculator and Science teams won first place and the Number Sense and Math teams won 2nd.  The 10 members of the PT team, under the direction of Bonnie Edmond, accomplished significant recognition.  Read more.
 
Middle & JH Students Earn Gold at Academic Meet
Pine Tree 6th, 7th, and 8th grader UIL academic teams recently garnered numerous awards during their Pine Tree Junior High meet in Mt Pleasant, Texas. Pine Tree took home four big #1 trophies again this year for first place in overall scores. Read more.
 
TAKS Success Leads to Statewide Recognition
Several East Texas schools have been ranked among the top in the state according to testing scores from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The nonprofit National Center for Education Achievement rated Texas schools based on college and career readiness by measuring improvements in TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) scores. Read more
 
PTHS Student Earns National Merit Finalist Award 
G. WallaceGreg Wallace, Pine Tree HS senior, is among the finalists for the National Merit scholarship program. Greg is ranked third in his class of 313 seniors. He has been admitted to the Business Honors program at Texas A & M University in the fall.  Read more.
 
Students Honored as Blood Donors
Blood donations increased in East Texas during 2008, and Carter BloodCare honored some of the people who helped make it possible. The awards dinner focused on what executive director Joe Ridley called quiet heroes. Jennifer Little and Kylen Perry collected the award for Pine Tree High School. The school collected 225 units in 2008.  Read more. 
 
Secondary PTA Grants to JH / HS Teachers
Pine Tree Secondary PTA, who support the Junior High and Senior High school campuses recently announced their grant recipients for the 2008-2009 school year. The volunteer organization uses funds from membership and the Campus Planner sales to provide all teachers grades 7-12, with an opportunity to receive new equipment or supplies for their classroom.
Read more
 
PTHS Students Earn State Awards in DECA 
Caleb Duck, PTHS student recently received 3rd place at the Distributive Education Club of America state competition in Galveston in the MET Branding Strategy, Food Marketing event. Other state competitors include Larissa May, LaRoyce Johnson and Jasmine Barnes. "They did a good job of representing Pine Tree at state competition and we are very proud of them," exclaimed their instructor Kelly Thomas.  Read more.  Visit the DECA Webpage.
 
Calendar Dates
UPCOMING EVENTS  -
 
  
March 16-20 SCHOOL HOLIDAY: Spring Break
March 16-21 PTHS Main Parking Lot - closed
March 17 Military Support Network
March 20 First Day of Spring
March 20 TMSCA State High School Meet
March 20-21 HS Debate Team, CX Debate UIL State Meet, Austin, TX
March 23-28 Weekly Athletics Schedule
March 23 Elem. Reading Contest Begins
March 24 HS Cosmetology Info meeting, HS Library, 10:15
March 27 Congressman Louie Gohmert visits PT Junior High
March 27-28 PTHS Lady's Golf Challenge
March 27 Primary / Elementary campus report cards distributed
March 27 Staff TAKS Training, Support Services, 2pm
March 27 HS Debate Team, UIL District Speech / Debate Meet
March 30-April 4 Weekly Athletics Schedule
March 30-31 PTHS Theatre One Act Play Contest
March 30 HS Choir Pre-UIL Concert
 
April 1-4 Skills USA State contest, Corpus Christi
April 2 Band Pre-UIL Concert, HS Theatre
April 4 ACT Testing Date
April 4 Dancing with the Stars Event
April 4 District Spring UIL Academic Meet
April 6-11 Weekly Athletics Schedule
April 6 Sixth 6-weeks begins
April 6 Band and Drill Team Booster Club mtgs.
April 7 TAKS Test - 8th Grade Math
April 7 HS Choir Booster Club mtg., 7pm
April 7 "Chili's Night" for PTHS Relay for Life
April 8 HS Choir Concert and Sight Reading contest, Canton, TX
April 8 Varsity Boys Golf District Tournament
April 9-11 Drill Team Precision Spring Show: 7pm
April 9-23 Fifth Graders visit Camp Gilmont
April 10 STUDENT HOLIDAY  / Staff comp day
April 13 -18 Weekly Athletics Schedule
April 13 School Holiday 
April 13 Boys Golf Tournament
April 13 School Board meeting, 6pm
April 14 Blood Drive, HS Theatre lobby
April 14 PTHS Drill Team Tryout mtg., 6pm
April 14 PTHS Theatre Booster Club mtg., 6pm
April 16 Staff TAKS Training, Community Center, 8:30am
April 16 Band UIL concert and sight reading contest, Mt. Pleasant
April 17 Relay for Life, Spring Hill ISD Stadium

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More Important Dates - Updated Weekly
Thank you for taking time to learn more about Pine Tree ISD. Please contact the Public Information Office if you have additional questions about these announcements.  
 
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