The Pirate Treasure
APRIL 20, 2023
PRIMARY
In Music, Pre-K has been hopping with counting songs about frogs. We are keeping a steady beat on the gathering drum. We are learning how to use our singing voices quietly and loudly.
In art we recently learned how to paint with marbles. The kids really enjoyed doing this.
I love introducing fun ways for them to paint!
Staff and students had a blast during blue ribbon week. On dress like a twin day, we had a set of quadruplets in the office!!
PTP Events
April 25-May 1
Spring Book Fair
April 25
Primary Information Fair
5:00-6:30pm
Come meet our 1st grade teachers from Birch and Parkway, find out about registration, talk to community partners and so much more!
April 27
Pirate of the Month Announcement
2:15-2:45 pm
April 28
Spring Nature Walk
8:30-12:00 pm
May 4
Field Day
PT Auxiliary Stadium
9-11:30 am
BIRCH ELEMENTARY
Our 3rd and 4th Grade students who were taking the STAAR test this week were celebrated with a pep rally and school-wide parade the morning of their test.
Thursday was a Pajama Day and Blue Slide Passes were given to All Birch First students for their stellar attendance and hard work this week! Each grade level will also enjoy an Ice Cream Day in the cafeteria as well!
1st Grade took a field trip to the Tyler Caldwell Zoo this week to learn about a variety of animals. This was a wonderful experience for all who participated.
PARKWAY ELEMENTARY
Jam Band
Our Jolly Roger Jam band was very busy last week. On April 14, they headed to downtown Longview to perform at Heritage Plaza for “Give Child Abuse the Boot.” The month of April is Child Abuse Prevention Month to celebrate Go Blue Day.
On Saturday, April 15, Parkway students participated in the Chautauqua Festival at the Longview Public Library. The event was free. The event celebrated the rich, diverse culture that Longview and East Texas has to offer. Parkway's own Jolly Roger Jam Band performed with ukuleles and kazoos. Great job, Jammers!
Parkway’s Art Show
Mrs. Scaggs Annual Art Show is set for May 11. She and our students have put in so much work to show off their art pieces at this year's art show. Mrs. Scaggs has also made a special piece for the silent auction.
The 9th Annual Art Show will be from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Parkway Elementary on May 11. There will be food trucks, performances, and tons of art work to be shown off. Come one, come all for a good time!
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pine Tree Middle School’s Student Council attended the district Student Council conference at Pine Tree High School. Students began the day with team building, moved into an earth day project, and finished up with a tour of the high school. Before returning to campus, students enjoyed a little playtime at the park. We are building leaders!
Annaleigh Herbert is leading her 6th grade classmates when it comes to poetry. She was recognized in Region 7’s Sixth grade division poetry contest. Congratulations to Annaleigh! Her poem will be included in an anthology of poetry by students.
Mrs. Kyle’s 5th Grade class congratulates the following poetry winners: Zy’Kemyion Taylor, 1st place; Audrey Foster, 2nd place and Kahlan Martinez, 3rd place. These selections will be included in the anthology of poems by students. Great job, students who can now call themselves authors!
Middle School hosted a come and go family night to make encouraging signs to decorate our school with positive and encouraging words before our season of testing begins next Thursday. We love all the artwork displayed throughout our hallways.
Teachers and students enjoyed a fun day at PTMS on April 14 with a spirit day of Hats & Shades, while the teacher’s dressed like a Middle Schooler! Making Memories and shaping smiles is always happening around this campus. Yes, that is Mr. Horne, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Gwen, Mrs.Sage, Ms. Newman & Ms. Williams, blending right into all our lunchroom patrons.
JUNIOR HIGH
Saturday, April 15th was the Area 7 Special Olympics event at Pirate Stadium. Our Junior High students worked hard and brought home medals in multiple events! Way to go Pirates!
Many of our PTJH students submitted poems for the Northeast Texas Poetry in Schools yearly poetry contest. Out of over 1000 poems submitted this year, our very own Mackenzie Finch earned 2nd place honors! Way to go Mackenzie!
On Friday, April 14th, 250 junior high students were treated to a movie at AMC Theaters for our second Excellent Attendance Celebration this school year. These students earned this privilege by two days or less as well as well as having two days or less of tardies during the 3rd grading period! They enjoyed free popcorn and drinks and the new Super Mario Bros movie! Great job Pirates!
Thursday, April 13th, PTJH held our annual Boys Night Party on the Junior High campus. This event was an amazing evening of fun and games for our students. Students enjoyed pizza, cookies, and drinks. Multiple games were set up throughout the campus and enjoyed by all! It was great and our students loved it!
In preparation for our STAAR testing this year, our campus held a STAAR focused Pep Rally on Thursday, April 13th. Our students enjoyed performances from cheerleaders and
Color Guard, a game of blindfolded cup stacking, Masters of Ceremonies for the event were Coach Rockwell and Coach Denkins.
HIGH SCHOOL
STAAR testing is occurring now and classwork on all fronts is being wrapped up across the campus. Seniors will tell you there are four more Fridays until graduation, and they are excited.
Over 200 seniors enjoyed a great prom and after prom at Flying Feathers Ranch on April 15. There was dancing, food and some great fellowship as these seniors had one of their last times together.
STAAR testing began this week with English I and English II with Biology and Algebra scheduled in the coming weeks. Students are busy getting work done so they can be ready for these exams. Students all over the campus are busy finishing work and projects that will allow them to glide into summer vacation with huge successes on their resumes.
Sports are wrapping up for the season at Pine Tree. Baseball and softball are completing regular seasons and track will be sending athletes to area very soon.
Drill team is preparing for its end of the year spring show, and yearbook will be holding a car wash on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Drug Emporium to raise money to pay for the shipping of the yearbook back to campus.
Senior graduation activities are on the horizon, including the breakfast, walk and senior picnic on May 19. Choir will host their annual Pop Show on May 12.
The end of the school year is fast approaching, and students and faculty and administration are ready for a fun summer ahead.
EXCEL
In this week's newsletter, ExCEL would like to acknowledge the Pirate of the Month chosen by staff for the month of March. This Pirate of the Month has had a complete transformation since coming to ExCEL as a sophomore. We proudly acknowledge Jhizah Hayes.
When Jhizah first came to ExCEL, she was very timid and extremely anxious about being in a classroom. Her anxiety was at the point where she often worked alone in an office within the classroom that isolated her from the rest of the class. To say her first year at ExCEL was a bit of a challenge is putting it mildly.
Sometime during her second year at ExCEL, she gradually began to open up and become more social. There was also a change in her work ethic. Fast forward to her senior year and she is now a "social butterfly" and a productive student, despite being "talkative" as she now describes herself.
She is on track to graduate in May. Jhizah says that she appreciates how even from the beginning when things were a bit challenging she appreciates how the staff at ExCEL always tried to help her see her potential. She has had an interest in crime shows for a while with "Law & Order" being one of her personal favorites. She plans to attend college and major in forensic anthropology.
We wish her the best and are so proud to have witnessed such a positive transformation in her over the years.
PACE
Throughout the school year, our community has donated craft supplies for our ABU students. Because of their contributions, the students are able to continue learning in creative ways. The kindness of our community is greatly appreciated and we hope they will continue to support the academic success and growth of our students.
As a teacher, providing the correct tools for the classroom, helps ensure a student's success. This week, Ms. Taylor is teaching one of her students how to read by using phonics. She’s passionate about teaching students how to read through various learning styles depending on their reading level. We’re so proud of the progress this student has made!