Charting the Course
with Dr. TJ Farler

November 2014
  

Greetings to Faculty and Staff -


 

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of the year to reflect upon our many blessings, and I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful I am for each one of you. In today's world, we do not say thank you enough. 


On behalf of Pine Tree ISD, I would like to thank our Board of Trustees for all of the time they devote to our schools. I would like to thank the administrators, teachers, secretaries, instructional aides, nurses, custodians, maintenance workers, bus drivers and child nutrition staff for all they do each and every day for our students. I would like to thank our community members who demonstrate the desire to help us accomplish our mission. I would like to thank our students who come to school each day to discover and learn something new. 

 

Finally, I would like to thank our parents and guardians who trust us with their most precious gifts, their children.
 

As you gather with family and friends next week, take some extra time to enjoy them. This Thanksgiving, let's appreciate and celebrate the special people in our lives.
 

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
 

PIRATE PROUD - PTISD FACILITY SERVICES  

Darrin Brinkley, a long time PTISD employee, passed away unexpectedly a few months ago. His granddaughter had received a playground set just weeks before his passing.  Members of the PTISD Facility Services department put the playground set together so his granddaughter could enjoy it.  

Below is a thank you from Darrin's wife: 

I want to thank all of you for everyone's prayers, kind words, gifts of food, financial gifts and fellowship. The Pine Tree Family  will always have a special place 
in the Brinkley Family's heart.

Love, Anita Brinkley


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PTISD HONORS OUR VETERANS

Wayne Bell - United States Army
Jody Berryhill -United States Marine Corps
Lucinda Bunt - United States Navy
Christi Burks - United States Air Force
Billy Coby - United States Navy
Janet Francisco - United States Navy
William Harris - United States Army
Jorge Hernandez - United States Navy
Tony Hollins - United States Air Force
Harold Jackson -United States Marine Corps
Jon McBride -United States Marine Corps
Jerry Owens - United States Navy
Walter Peterson - United States Navy
Jonathan Roche - United States Army
Nikita West - United States Army
Wesley Whitton - United States Air Force
Tammy Williams - United States Army

Thanks to their sacrifices, the American Dream is a reality.

CHOOSE2MATTER - PTISD District Event

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 4, 2015. As a District and a community, we will spend time on February 4, 2015, choosing to make a difference in our schools and community. Every campus and district team (Facility Services, Child Nutrition, Transportation, and Central Administration) has representatives on the planning event team. 

Our next planning meeting is Thursday, December 4, 2014, as part of the Faculty Staff Communications meeting. Start the conversations now for your part in the CHOOSE2MATTER event.

The link below shows how the Esterville School District (Esterville, Iowa) celebrated school and community pride through a Choose2Matter event.


Remember the words of Angela Maiers as we continue to impact our students and
coworkers 
Together we are stronger.
Together we are smarter.
You have a gift to give and others need your gift.
You are a genius.
You matter!

       
Alfred and Arthur Dixon in Washington, D.C.
 
PTHS Seniors Make an Impact in Washington, D.C.

Twins Arthur and Alfred Dixon and their mom, Ester Donald traveled to Washington, D. C. for college visits as well as a meeting with Arne Duncan, Secretary of the Department of Education. In addition to the students, Ms. Gabehart, PTHS Principal, Kathy Phillips, PTHS teacher, and Allen Morris, PTHS teacher, experienced many historical sites in Washington, D.C. including a tour of the White House.

Alfred is a varsity athlete, member of the band, and volunteers as a youth soccer referee. His brother, Arthur, is Senior Class President and was elected Governor for Boys State of Texas last June. 


Hollins and Torres Recognized 

Recently, two PTISD employees were recognized at the Board of Trustees meeting. Tony Hollins, Director of Facility Services, was awarded an honorary colonel award from the State of Kentucky.

Tammy Torres, Purchasing/Procurement Coordinator, was recognized for earning the Certified Texas School Business Specialist with a specialty in purchasing and supply management. Ms. Torres completed courses through TASBO (Texas Association of School Business Officials) to earn her certification.

Congratulations to both PTISD employees!

Tony Hollins receiving Honorary Colonel Award 

Tammy Torres receiving TASBO Certification 
  


If you are looking for something unique to do on Sunday evenings, check out Bluebeard Radio. Bluebeard Radio, produced and directed by students at Pine Tree High School, is a student-produced musical radio program. The show is heard on several area radio stations across East Texas, chief among them KZQX FM 100.3 based in Lake Cherokee and owned by Chuck Conrad. The startup funds for Bluebeard Radio were provided by a PT Education Foundation Grant.

The show is themed and features music and information from the decades of the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s in chronological order - decade by decade. The decade specific radio show can be heard on Sunday evenings, and Pine Tree Audio Visual instructor Allen Morris is working with Conrad and others to make it where the show can be streamed on demand as well.
The members of the team are learning to evaluate their work and look for ways to improve it. "They are learning how to 'ReadSearch' meaningful content," Mr. Morris added. "That is, the students select topics of interest to them, read about it and then write about it from a listener's point of view."

Mr. Morris also said the short historical essays are then either read by the student or a voice actor. Following that production students do all of the engineering work with the music and vocals.

"The current format of the show is to present the best music from different decades and sweeten it with historical essays," Morris said.

And, even the students are enjoying the experience, even if it means producing a show that includes music from an era before their parents were born.

"I enjoy being part of an audio production class, for being heard creates a sense of being important in others lives," Senior Jake Norrell said. "It is also beneficial to 'broaden my horizons' in all areas, which include audio production." Others had a similar but slightly different point of view.

"I love it! Being able to explore music deeper and show people the pure joy of sound at its finest is exhilarating," Daniel Henson, sophomore, said. "Plus sharing that feeling with thousands of other people is amazing. Music isn't just a sound-its emotion, talent, ideas, and creativity all wrapped up in one big candy bar that you just have to enjoy eating rather than stuff it in your face and move onto the next one."

 


Community U provides parents and community members a personalized, first-hand look at how PTISD operates.  Below is our 2014-2015 Class:


Stephen Ball 
Karen Beakley
Dan Belzung
Tracy Blalack
                                  Celia Bush
                                 Janet Davis
                            Michelle Dickeson
                               Adam Graves
                               Shelly Joseph
                                  Kelly Neff
                                Teresa Rau
                              Dr. Ann Rhodes
                      Dr. Melanie Roudkovski
                             Missy Saunders
                               Laticia Smith 
                           Dr. June Strohsahl
 



Are you looking for funding for creative ideas to support student learning? PT Education Foundation Director Hannah Creacy has announced the next grant cycle for early spring 2015. Ms. Creacy will provide a short workshop at each campus which will help teachers/staff in the grant writing process and provide tips for creating a successful grant application. Look for details in early January 2015.

 PTISD Supports United Way 


 
Thank you to each of you who contributed $3,700 to this year's United Way drive. Because of your generosity, many Longview individuals and families will be helped. 

 

Thank you for Choosing2Matter in our community.


     
Contact
Dr. TJ Farler, Superintendent
Pine Tree ISD
1701 Pine Tree Road
P O Box 5878
Longview, TX  75608
903.295.5000
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"Instruction ends in the school-room, but education ends only with life."

- Frederick W. Robertson