COUNSELOR CONNECTION
PINE TREE JUNIOR HIGH
SEPTEMBER 2008
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Sandra Skoog – 8th Grade Counselor (sskoog@ptisd.org)
Valerie Ogle – 7th Grade Counselor (vogle@ptisd.org)
Sherri Kirchhoff –Registrar (skirchhoff@ptisd.org)


A Smooth Start! – Students have done extremely well in adjusting to life at Junior High! After a few days of trying to open lockers and trying to find the right classes, students are getting to class on time and getting to work. An eight-class schedule makes the day go fast! We have heard many positive comments from teachers, however, about the benefits of seeing their students every day as opposed to the block schedule used here for many years before. (And we LOVE having 7th and 8th graders on our campus!)

Early Release October 13 – Students will be dismissed at 12:30 on Monday, October 13. Lunch will be served and buses will run. Parents are invited to pick up report cards between 2 and 6 p.m., and teachers will be available in their classrooms for consultation. Teacher and parent communication is essential to a student’s educational success, so please take advantage of this opportunity. If you are unable to attend, your child’s report card will be sent home with him or her the next day.

Library Open/ Computers Available – The High School library is open and computers are available to any PTISD student or parent on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:30 – 5 p.m. and also on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Online Math Help Available – PTJH has recently purchased ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), an online math program to help your child achieve mathematical success. Your student can use his/her password to log on at home or at school, and the more time students spend on this program, the more improvement will be seen. Math teachers emphasize that students need to extend their learning outside the classroom. Please contact your student’s math teacher for more information.

View Student Information (VSI) – Please remember that you may access your student’s grades via VSI at anytime. If you need a password or have forgotten yours, please call Student Services at 903-295-5039.

Be Informed – Our campus information and news website is ptisd.org. Each principal, teacher, and staff member has a website where you can access test schedules, weekly assignments, announcements, and other important information.

For the Class of 2013 -- Graduation Plan Meetings for 8th grade students and their parents will begin later in the year. As state graduation requirements have increased over the past few years, it is vital that parents and students are familiar with the guidelines. The dates and times will be announced at a later date.

The Discovery Education Streaming website is now available to parents and students. Discovery Education has over 4500 videos that can be viewed over the Internet or down loaded to a computer. These videos cover a wide range of subject areas and offer an exciting format for learning. To access these resources, go to streaming.discoveryeducation.com. Enter the Parent Passcode 6CA4-9234 which will allow you to set up your own account.

Busy Writers -- Ms. Pat Wylie, 7th grade English teacher, reminds us that 7th grade students are busy writing essays at this time. She asks that parents take the time to enjoy these essays!

National Honor Society will be inducting new 8th grade members in the spring. Students must have a 93 or above average for the 7th grade year and the first semester of the 8th grade year and a record of good citizenship and attendance to be invited to be inducted.

Pine Tree Junior High School News began September 17 and will be broadcast on Longview Cable Channel 23 on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. These programs are productions of the PTJH Broadcast classes and their teacher, Mrs. Cory Whyte.

Copy Pool Volunteers Needed – Please call the counselors’ office if you have a few hours each week to help our teachers with their copying needs.

Pep Rallies are held in the gym each Thursday during football season at 2:55 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend on September 25, October 8 and 30.

Yearbooks are currently on sale for $40. Checks should be made out to PTJH and brought to room 405. Yearbooks will be on sale in the cafeteria at lunch during the week of October 13 – 17.

Student Council has been busy making plans for the Junior High, so students should listen to the announcements so they won’t miss any exciting activities! Officers are: Leslie Stroud, president; Chloe Hendon, vice president; Nhi Lam, secretary; Spencer Evans, treasurer; Caleb Chappell, historian. Representatives are: O’Keillon Allen, Eddie Calico, Amber Hutchinson, Meredith Jones, Madison Meek, Marissa Noll, Jake Oden, Emily Shelton, Catherine Shore, Makenzie Smith.


DATES TO REMEMBER

October 3 -- End of 1st six weeks
October 13 -- Early Release/Report Card Pickup
October 29 -- Early Release