Grizzly Gazette
November 2018
Grizzly Den
Dear Piney Grove Families and Business Partners,
Excellence is our expectation and standard at Piney Grove Middle School. We have high expectations for our students, staff, parents, and community. We believe all stakeholders must be an active participant in educating our students, as we all strive to positively impact their academic progress now and in the future.
As one of the top middle schools in the state of Georgia, Piney Grove Middle School has maintained a tradition of high achievement coupled with a dedication to community service. Annual events such as G3, Grizzly Great Day of Giving, highlight our commitment to actively engaging our students in giving back to our community. Our Family Partners and Business Partners in Education play a vital role in ensuring Piney Grove continues to provide great educational and personal growth experiences for our students. Our big project this year is to update the PGMS Media Center, including furniture, an engineering station, and the purchase of additional technology for student use. We want to invite you to support our school enhancement projects and support our Partner in Education initiative.
Please review the attached information on becoming a Family Partner and/or a Business Partner in Education with Piney Grove Middle School. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me or my assistant, Tammie Kelly. We look forward to continued partnerships with the many businesses that make up our local community. Your consideration and support of our school is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Pam Pajerski
Principal
Veterans Day Celebration
Veterans Day Celebration
PGMS has a long standing tradition of honoring veterans with a school-wide assembly on or around Veteran’s Day. This year the ceremony will take place on Friday, October 9th.
Overview-
9:00-9:45- PTSA Breakfast for Veterans and their families in the Media Center. There is still time to add your Veterans to the Google Slide.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZnT_wc87h_vGZ399O8ELlxibI19Ku29DCVvV15wmDdE/edit?usp=sharing
10:00-10:45- School-wide ceremony in the gym
8th Grade Savannah Trip Information
Attention 8th Grade Parents:
The second payment for the 8th grade Savannah trip in May 2019 is due this Friday, November 9th. The amount due is $150, and checks should be made out to PGMS. Students can turn them in to Ms. Gibson in the 8th grade hallway, or they can be left at the front office.
Contact Ms. Gibson for more information or to check your balance. sgibson@forsyth.k12.ga.us
The Technology Fair Is Coming!!!
The 2019 Forsyth Regional Technology Competition (Fair) web site is up and running and can be accessed at https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/50113
We are fortunate to have a full sponsor again this year so there will be no registration fee and all participants will get free t-shirts!
So will volunteers and judges!!
Important Tech Fair Dates:
Tech Competition Date: December 1, 2018
Registration opens: October 8, 2018
Registration closes: November 15, 2018
FCS SOAR School Bus Safety Reminder
This is a reminder for students on how important it is to be S.O.A.R. safe when waiting at bus stops, getting on/off the school bus, or when crossing a road to load/unload the school bus.
SOAR Student Safety Brochure:
https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/cms/lib3/GA01000373/Centricity/Domain/34/FCST%20Brochure.pdf
The Community Holiday House at The Place of Forsyth
The holiday season will soon be upon us! If you are in need or know of anyone who may be in need this holiday season please reach out to The Community Holiday House at The Place of Forsyth to sign up.
If you have any questions or need any assistance please reach out to Kris Johnson in the counseling office at 678.965.5010 ext. 381007 or email: kljohnson@forsyth.k12.ga.us
G3 T-Shirt Design Contest
Artists of Piney Grove! Don’t Delay, Enter Today! This is your chance to have your design worn by the entire Piney Grove Middle School! We need YOU to create the logo for our Grizzly Great Day of Giving t-shirt! Please visit the front office or school website for further details and entry form.
October 15th - November 12th
Makeup Picture Day
Wednesday, November 14th
Box Tops for Education
Kids remember to bring your box tops and drop them off in packs of 25 at the front office to visit the treat box. The treat box contains squishies, full-size candy bars, and other fun items.
Thanksgiving Break
November 19th - November 23rd
No School!
Yearbooks Are Now On Sale!
Visit Balfour.com and search: Piney Grove, to order your yearbook today for $55.
If you have any questions, please email Kimberly Zimmerman at kzimmerman@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Notes From PE
PE students are required to wear a Piney Grove PE shirt and either athletic shorts/athletic pants in order to be considered properly dressed out for class. Please have your student talk to their PE teacher if they need to purchase a shirt.
From The School Nurse
If Medications can be given at home or after school hours, please do so. All medication will be taken directly to the office by parent or guardian. Students MAY NOT have medication in their possession except with a physicians’s request or a physicians order on a Forsyth County care plan.
Judith Femia RN
PGMS Nurse
678-965-5010 ext 381527
Important Arrival And Departure Information
PGMS Arrival and Departure Information
Details regarding student arrival and dismissal, including car rider line expectations, permission to walk off campus and parking information, has been posted on the PGMS Website.
To navigate to that page from the PGMS Website (https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/pineygrove), hover over “Our School” in the menu bar, and select “Policies & Regulations”. From that page, click PGMS Arrival and Departure Information from the menu on the left hand side. You may also access that page by clicking the link provided below.
PGMS Arrival and Departure Information
As a school, we stress the importance of maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for our students from the time they enter campus until they head off for home. To that end, please note the following.
Piney Grove Middle School will open to receive students at 7:30am. Students may not be dropped off before that time.
Students must be picked up from school no later than 4:45pm, unless they are participating in a supervised school activity.
Grizzly Mentors Needed
Dear PGMS Family,
Please consider volunteering some of your time to serve as a Grizzly Mentor this year. Many of our students could benefit from a caring adult investing around 30 minutes a week into a one-on-one relationship. Studies show that having a mentor can drastically improve a student's attendance, motivation, achievement, and general outlook.
A list of training dates is attached.
Please feel free to call or email me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Randolph Thrower
Piney Grove Middle School
Counselor (A-K)
678.965.5010 ext. 381005
Parent Reminder Regarding Student Pickup
Parents....please remember to update your Parent Portal Demographics Section with anyone who has your permission to check out your child. Your child will not be able to leave with anyone not on the list.
My Payments Plus Info Below!
Are You Receiving Emails From Piney Grove?
This is just a reminder that at Piney Grove we communicate often and in various ways. Information is put on our Piney Grove Dashboard on itsLearning, on our Piney Grove web page, and on our Facebook / Twitter accounts. Information is also sent out in emails via Campus Messenger. We have sent quite a few already and hope that you have not missed them. If you are not receiving them for some reason there are a couple things you will need to check.