The Pizitz Post
for Students, Parents & Families - January 8, 2024
Teamwork in Action
Based on feedback from teachers and students, the core value of teamwork is seen most often at Pizitz. This weekend was a perfect example of a great team in action. Many gathered on Saturday for the inaugural Malcolm Prewitt Wrestling Tournament at Pizitz. You might think that wrestling is an individualized sport, but it was evident this weekend that our student-athletes have learned to work as a team. They rely on each other and their team both in their victories and their losses.
Our coaches emphasize the importance of every person on the team adding a valuable contribution, and it showed. In addition to seeing our athletes compete, it was encouraging to see them cheer for one another- in wins and losses, and work together to run the tournament. Students were running the clock and scoreboards, assisting in coaching, taking tickets (thank you, ambassadors), and helping with clean-up at the end of the tournament. A big shoutout to our parents, too. They showed up to support our students and provided a wonderful hospitality experience for all of the coaches, officials, and administrators.
This week, we will have the opportunity to cheer on our other student-athletes on the track and basketball court. And, on Friday, we plan to celebrate our students through our pep-rally called The Red, White, and Blue Bash. Students are encouraged to dress with their grade-level (6th grade- blue; 7th grade- white; 8th grade- red).We look forward to hearing from different student groups and hearing how their teams are working together across the school. Parents, you are welcome to join us via livestream on Friday at 2:00. We will send out the link via email prior to the pep-rally on Friday.
Help the Hills THIS Wednesday
Attention, parents! THIS Wednesday is a great opportunity for you to attend the Help the Hills seminar at the new Vestavia Civic Center (Dogwood Room). Our VHHS college guidance counselors, Aisha Ward and Oliver Aaron, will be there to discuss college preparation.
Eighth grade parents, we will be having conversations with our eighth graders this spring to help them develop their four-year plans for high school. It is never too early to start thinking about your child's next steps beyond their K-12 experience.
Join the Help the Hills team at noon on Wednesday, January 10.
Attention: 8th Grade Parents
We are happy to have many partnerships in Vestavia Hills to assist us in educating our students. One of our partnerships, provided through our police department, is called Compact. Compact is an arm of our police department that serves to provide prevention, intervention, and education for substance misuse. This week, our 8th graders will have the opporutnity to hear from Officer Alli Miller. Officer Miller plans to review the dangers of vaping with our students. She will cover the physical dangers of using e-cigarettes, the risk of addiction and the impact on a teen's mental health. Eighth grade students will attend during one of their academic strategies classes this week.
You can learn more about Compact on their website here.
iReady
Overall, our scores indicate that most students have made great gains and are right on track with grade-level content this year. Following everyone's completion, we will share individual student results with you.
School Attendance
As we begin second semester, it is improtant to prioritze school attendance. Please note that every student has up to ten parent or administrator approved absences for the school year. Any other absences (outside of these ten) require a doctor's note or the absence is considered unexcused. When there is a planned absence, please complete the pre-excuse request form on our website here, and have the students touch base with their teachers about missing work.
Please note that students need to be in good standing with their absences to attend field trips. We encourage regular attendance for all students. Please contact an administrator if you have questions or concerns about your child's attendance.
Please join us for our PTO meeting TODAY in the Pizitz library at noon.
Indoor Track & Field
Indoor Track & Field team competed at the CrossPlex on January 4 and Wolffie Brown placed 2nd in the Pole Vault! Your Track & Field team will compete again at the CrossPlex on Monday, January 8 at 4:00p.m. Go Pirates!
Tennis Team Parent Meeting
The boys' and girls' tennis team parent meeting will be Thursday, January 25th at 6 p.m. in the Pizitz library. All parents of current tennis team players must attend. Athletes do not have to attend. Any questions for girls' tennis please email Audra Tice ticead@vhcs.us, and boys' tennis please email Linda Spain at spainlg@vhcs.us
First Priority
Join us for our first First Priority meeting of 2024! This Wednesday, January 10th, we will meet at 7:25 in the choir room. First Priority is a student-led club at Pizitz. This is a Christian organization that meets before school once a week on Wednesdays. Contact Mr. Sutter suttermc@vhcs.us or Mrs. Windle windleh@vhcs.us if you have questions.
Rebel Volleyball Academy
Any sixth grader interested in learning more about volleyball and working on basic skills such as passing, setting, serving, and hitting should consider the Rebel Volleyball Academy. Sign-ups are going on now.
The academy will take place January-April from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Freshman Campus.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/eeC2h62nb7CCtoEM7
Please contact RVA at rebelvba@gmail.com for more information.
Volunteers Needed for January 27
On January 27, VHCS Robotics teams will be hosting a tournament at the Freshman Campus. We desperately need judges and score-keeping volunteers.
The judge's day will start at 7:30 AM and end around 2:00 PM. The score-keeping referee's day will start at 7:30 AM and end around 3:30. I would like to avoid using parents (from the team) for judging since their children will be competing that day. If you know anyone willing to judge or be a score-keeping referee, please send them this sign-up genius link. NO EXPERIENCE is necessary. The kind people from Auburn University will walk these volunteers through the judging process. The head referee will walk all scoring referees through the scoring process. Thank you all for your support! Here is the link to Sign-up Genius. Have questions? Feel free to email Melissa Rice (ricem@vhcs.us).