Valerie Ogle has been appointed new 7th grade level counselor at Pine Tree Junior High! Valerie moves to the Junior High from the PT Primary School, where she served as a super kindergarten teacher! Welcome, Valerie.

Sandra Skoog, veteran Pine Tree counselor, will serve as 8th grade counselor for the 08-09 school year. Sandra has worked with Pine Tree Junior High students for the past four years, following her work at Pine Tree Elementary School. She served as 9th grade counselor during this past school year.

COUNSELOR’S CONNECTION
From the Pine Tree Junior High Counselor’s Office
Ellen Gordon, 8th Grade Counselor 07-08
903-295-5081 ext 1270 email: egordon@ptisd.org





VIEW YOUR STUDENT’S COURSE SELECTIONS ONLINE!
Student course selections for the next school year have been completed and entered into the computer system.



SUMMER TAKS CAMP
Students who do not pass the 2nd TAKS administration in reading and math will be attending mandatory summer classes from June 9 – 30 from 8:30 to 11:30 noon Monday through Thursday at the junior high. The 3rd TAKS administration will be Tuesday and Wednesday, July 1 & 2.

Summer school information is available in the counselors’ office. Forms and payment must be turned in to the high school office. Only keyboarding and health are available to our current 8th graders.

AP SUMMER BRIDGE
August 5-7, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pine Tree High School

AP SUMMER BRIDGE signups are underway for current 8th graders who are planning to take Pre-AP and AP courses at the high school. Deadline for registration is Friday, May 16, 2008. Applications are in our counselor’s office.


Applications are available in the counselors’ office for the STEP Camp (Science Technology Engineering Preview) at Texas State Technical College in Marshall. “Tech Trek Summer Camp” will host 80 students who will be in grades 9-12 next fall and will be held at the TSTC campus in Marshall on June 10 – 12. There is no charge or fee for the camp. For additional information, please visit the website at marshall.tstc.edu/event2676.shtml. The application deadline is May 16.


DATES TO REMEMBER

June 9 – 26, Mon. – Thurs. TAKS Camp, PTJH

July 1,2 TAKS Re-tests in Reading & Math

August 5-7, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AP Summer Bridge, PTHS

ANNOUNCING A NEW SECURITY SYSTEM AT PTJH –
As reported in the Longview News Journal, we have a new security system on campus! All visitors, volunteers, and parents who are in the building during school hours will be required to present a valid government-issued photo ID (such as driver’s license) as they enter the front office. The computer software logs the name of the visitor, date and time of the visit, and scans their information against the national database of sexual offenders. Once the system clears the visitor, the software prints a temporary visitor’s pass.
In addition, parents or guardians who come to sign out a student for an appointment will also show their photo ID to verify they are the parent or an assigned emergency contact. Please remember that if someone other than the parent/guardian or emergency contact comes to sign out a student, we must receive verbal verification from the parent to the front office. Hand-written notes are not acceptable. The entire new process will take an additional minute or two of your time, but we believe the safety of our students is well worth the extra time.

PTJH MATH DEPARTMENT GOES HIGH-TECH! Live camera? Bluetooth??? WOW!
New this fall at PTJH in every math classroom is a “live” digital camera which allows teachers to place worksheets, textbooks, and calculators under the lens and project them onto the screen. The projectors are also connected to the computer, allowing the instructor to pull up onscreen calculators, the internet, and an “interactive” whiteboard program which the instructor uses with a mini-whiteboard and pen-mouse. The teacher can use the pen and board to control his/her computer from anywhere in the classroom because it’s Bluetooth wireless. The math department is also using an online program called Agile Mind, which has animations and interactive questions for all of the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). Each student has an account which can be accessed from anywhere with the internet. This creates an online learning environment that really engages the student’s attention – both during direct instruction and independent work time. Now I recommend you ask your own student to explain all this COOL new technology to you!!!


COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS (CIS) -- CIS is about helping young people in Texas stay in school and prepare for success in life, by bringing the resources of the community into the school. Special programs include PECAT (People Educating the Community against Tobacco), Virginity Rules Abstinence Coalition, Leadership Group for At-Risk Males, SMART Girls, summer programs, etc. To refer your student, please call Miranda Chism at 903-295-5086.

East Texas Abstinence Coalition – www.virginityrules (866-WAITNOW):
-- accepting members the last Thurs. each month at the Longview
Wellness Center (food, games, giveaways).

“Parents: the Anti-Drug”:
For e-monitoring tips and information on how to use technology to keep your teenager
safe in cyber-space and drug-free, visit www.TheAntiDrug.com, or call 1-800-788-2800.

PARENTS, PLEASE MONITOR YOUR STUDENTS ON THE INTERNET!

A recent ABC News report indicated that at any given time, as many as 50,000 predators are trolling online for children to victimize. Kids who have personal websites (blogs) and those using instant message are at
particular risk. There are no filters to protect your kids from adults pretending to be your student’s peers in this world. Please become aware of the dangers and discuss with your children, just as you discuss the dangers of substance abuse and early sexual activity.

To download a directory of filtering systems which can be configured by parents to filter out inappropriate content, go to this web address: www.getnetwise.org/tools.

JUST A NOTE TO PARENTS:
Parents, always remember that YOU are the NUMBER 1 influence on your student. We school personnel do our best to educate, lead, and inspire, but ultimately YOU hold the key: by the example you set, by the way you value education, and by your support of your student’s school! We look forward to partnering with you in the new school year!