October is here!! Halloween is only a few weeks away and then Thanksgiving and Christmas. 2025 will be here before you know it!! October represents a very important month. Our first nine weeks grading period ends marking the completion of 1/4 of the school year. October also means that we kick off the first round of CBAs (more on that below). Be talking with your student each day about the great things they are doing in class. There are so many wonderful things going on each day. Take the time to celebrate their successes, no matter how big or small they may be.

Pine Tree Middle School will use Remind to help facilitate messages in a timely fashion. To join text @7bch982 to 81010. This is a school wide account and is not tied to any specific teacher.

This is updated for the next school year.

https://www.remind.com/join/7bch982

Pine Tree Middle School will also communicate regularly through our Facebook page. Please "Like" our page @PTMiddleSchool.

Principal: Mickey White, mwhite1@ptisd.org

Assistant Principal: Sarah Beth Sage, ssage@ptisd.org

Assistant Principal: Kenneth Morris, kmorris1@ptisd.org

Counselor: Elizabeth Banta, ebanta@ptisd.org

Principal's Secretary: Jojean Arnett, jarnett@ptisd.org

PIEMS and Attendance: Norma Nix, nnix@ptisd.org

Receptionist: Dulce Barron, dchavarria@ptisd.org

I am proud to be a Pine Tree Pirate

I will work hard and be relentless in all my pursuits.

I accept responsibility for my actions.

I will respect myself and others.

I see my future and it is bright.

We are stronger together.

We are ONE!!

That's right, PTISD has it's own APP. Stay up to date with all the latest news and events by downloading the APP to your smart phone. You can download the APP through your APP store or by visiting:

https://www.ptisd.org/

Our first round of CBAs are upon us. CBAs are kind of like practice STAAR tests. We use these exams to see how well our students are retaining information and then develop plans, as needed, to help them in areas where we see gaps. Here are the key points you need to know to help your student be successful:

1. Be present. Our reading CBA is on Thursday, October 10, 5th grade science is on Thursday, October 17, and math is on Wednesday, October 23. Please try to avoid any appointments on these days.

2. Work Hard. Each student has a goal for each of these exams. Ask your student his or her goal. Cheer them on to success and encourage them to do their best.

3. Schedule Change: the day is going to be different on testing days and we will not be in our normal routines. Because of this, we will not be able to accommodate any lunch visitors on testing days.

4. Morning Tutorials: due to testing restrictions, we will not have morning tutorials on testing mornings.

The first nine weeks ends on Friday, October 11. Since our students are taking their Reading CBA on October 10, the last day for students to be able to turn things in for the grading period will be Wednesday, October 9. Please check on student grades and encourage them to attend tutorials or make up work as needed.

As a reminder, students must pass all core classes to be promoted to the next grade level. If a student does not pass a core class for the year, he or she will be required to attend summer learning in June 2025. Let's start strong!!

Live School is an app that allows teachers to reward students with House points for positive behaviors and actions. Students then have the option to redeem House points for various prizes throughout the school year. Each student (and each teacher!!) have been sorted into one of six Houses:

Perseverance

Integrity

Resilience

Adaptability

Tenacity

Excellence

Students were sent home with information during the first couple of weeks of school on how to log in to Live School to view their points. If you need that information, please contact the office and we will send another sheet home.

To redeem their points, student need to log in to their Google Classroom and complete the Google form. Our goal is to get them their rewards within 48 hours of completing the form.

All students to PTISD are required to have documentation that they live in district. This is the proof of residency. Examples of acceptable forms of proof of residency are an electric bill, water bill, gas bill or internet bill. The items cannot be over 30 days old. Thank you for getting this taken care of.

Please know that we are working diligently to ensure all of our students have the right classes. When it comes to schedule changes, we will do our best to accommodate any reasonable request. Please note that we do not accept schedule change requests for specific teachers or so that students can be in classes with friends.

At this time we are planning to be fully open for campus visitors during the 24-25 school year. If you wish to eat lunch with your student, you are welcome to check in at the office and come to the cafeteria during their lunch time. Please do not drop off fast food for your student. If you have fast food, please come in and enjoy it with your student.

For the 2024-2025 school year, all students in 5th and 6th grade will receive a free breakfast and a free lunch each day. There is no paperwork to complete for your child to receive their free meals. Please make sure your child knows his or her student number to take advantage of this incredible deal.

Please be aware that our final bell rings at 4:00 PM. While we understand that sometimes doctor's appointments have to be scheduled late in the day or emergencies may come up, we would ask that all changes to transportation be made before 3:15 PM. Our primary goal is to ensure that students get home safely each day. Late changes to transportation can cause confusion and may create an unsafe situation. The front office staff at PTMS thanks you for your attention to this matter.

Attendance is a key component to student success. By law, students are required to have at least 90% attendance in a course to receive credit. In reality, we need them here as much as possible. However, must also take certain precautions when students exhibit symptoms of not feeling well. If you feel like your child is sick, please take them to the doctor and get a note to return to school.

**We will only accept 3 parent notes per semester. All other absences not covered by a doctor's note may require attendance at Saturday School.

The front doors open for car riders at 7:00 am. Please do not leave children unattended prior to 7:00 as this presents an unsafe environment.

Bus doors will open at 7:45 am.

The school day ends at 4:00 pm.

Tuesday, October 1: National Night Out (See above for Locations)

Tuesday, October 1: Begin National Principal's Month

Tuesday, October 1: Begin Canned Food Drive

Tuesday, October 1: HS Volleyball v Spring Hill, 4:30 PM

Wednesday, October 2: JH Cross Country @Lufkin

Wednesday, October 2: HS Golf @Wood Hollow

Thursday, October 3: JV Football v Mabank, 5:00 PM

Thursday, October 3: 7/8 Football @Mabank, 4:30 PM

Friday, October 4: HS Volleyball @Kilgore, 4:00 PM

Friday, October 4: PT @ Mabank, 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 10: Reading CBA 1

Friday, October 11: Staff Development Day, No School for Students

Friday, October 11: End of the First Nine Weeks

Monday, October 14: Begin National School Lunches Week

Monday, October 14: Columbus Day, No School for Students and Staff

Tuesday, October 15: Beginning of the 2nd Nine Weeks

Wednesday, October 16: National Boss's Day

Thursday, October 17: Science CBA 1

Friday, October 18: PT v Henderson (Pink Out), 7:30, Pirate Stadium

Monday, October 21: End of the Canned Food Drive

Monday, October 21: Begin National School Bus Safety Week

Monday, October 21: School Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Central Office

Wednesday, October 23: Math CBA 1

Thursday, October 24: Kona Ice, All Lunches

Friday, October 25: PT @ Chapel Hill, 7:30

Saturday, October 26: Fall Fest, 3:00-6:00, Pirate Stadium

Thursday, October 31: Halloween

Friday, November 1: Start of American Indian Heritage Month

Friday, November 1: PT v Lindale (Senior Night), 7:30 PM, Pirate Stadium

Saturday, November 2: TMSCA White Oak Meet

Sunday, November 3: Daylight Savings Time Ends

Monday, November 4: Begin National School Psychology Week

Monday, November 4: Begin STUCO Fundraiser

Monday, November 4: Begin Book Fair

Tuesday, November 5: Election Day

Thursday, November 7: Special Olympics Bowling, 9:00 AM

Thursday, November 7: Book Fair Family Night

Friday, November 8: 5th Grade Trip to Tyler State Park

Friday, November 8: PT @ Palestine, 7:30 PM

Monday, November 11: Veterans' Day, School Holiday for Students and Staff

Wednesday, November 13: Kona Ice, All Lunches

Thursday, November 14: School Picture Make Up Day

Saturday, November 16: TMSCA Hallsville Meet

Saturday, November 16: Tamale Fest, 5:00 PM, Pirate Stadium

Monday, November 18: School Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Central Office

Monday, November 25: Begin Thanksgiving Break

Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving

PTMS proudly serves the 5th and 6th grade students of the Pine Tree Independent School District!! Go PIRATES!!

Email: mwhite1@ptisd.org
Website: www.ptisd.org
Location: 600 Pine Tree Parkway, Longview, TX, USA
Phone: 903-295-5160
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PTMiddleSchool/