Hello Pine Hollow Middle School community. This is your principal, Andrew Livengood, with the weekly message for October 27.

• All-County Band: Kudos to the four amazing musicians listed below who recently auditioned and were selected for the All-County Band. Way to go Pilots!!
  • Jack Martin (8-3) - 6th Chair Trombone, Symphonic Band
  • CJ Carson (8-3) - 11th Chair Trumpet, Symphonic Band
  • Alex Bruner (8-3) - 5th Chair Trombone, Concert Band
  • Benjamin Pappas (8-1) - 11th Chair Clarinet, Concert Band
• Spirit Week: Is this week!
  • Monday: Favorite Sports Team Day
  • Tuesday: Wacky Tacky Day
  • Wednesday: School Spirit Day
  • Thursday: Tie Dye Day
  • Friday: Disney Day 
• Student Council Fun Run: We have almost 200 runners signed up for the Fun Run and we're so excited for Saturday. Please visit ly/phfunrun2019to see the map of the course. We'll be handing out race bibs and t-shirts (for orders placed before October 1) beginning at 9:15. Please meet on the track for the start of the race at 10am. If you'd like to sign up, please sign up by Friday! We will not be taking onsite registrations.  
• Food Drive: Last year, PHMS raised the equivalentof 3,225 meals in the Students Against Hunger Food Drive Competition, and we're looking to do even better this year. If you're unable to participate in the Fun Run, but would like to support the PHMS Food Drive for the NC Food Bank please consider donating online at:  http://www.foodorg/goto/PHMS19  Students can also bring canned food items in to their homeroom teacher. Thanks for helping Student Council and PHMS in the Food Drive Competition.  
• Athletics:
  • Premium Spirit Wear is now available through Oct. 29 at 11:59PM. See “Winter Spirit Wear” on the left side of our webpage underneath Pilot News.
  • This week we have our final home games of the fall athletic season.
  • Soccer and Volleyball are home on Tuesday versus Wakefield.
  • Football is home on Wednesday versus Wakefield.
  • Game time is 4:00 and admission for all games is $5. Please come out and support the teams!
  • Basketball tryouts begin Nov. 12. All forms and online registration must be completed by Nov 4. We will NOT accept registrations and forms after Nov 4, unless you have cleared it with the Athletic Director, Mr. Adams There is an informational powerpoint on the main page of the Athletic Website.
  • Athletic passes are now available. They are for HOME games only. Parents are reminded to please bring your passes with you to the games. There are no lists at the gate any longer as all passes have been distributed. Click here for more info regarding athletic passes.
• School Tours: Our Student Services team is now offering tours for families interested in PH as their calendar option or for base families who want to learn more about our awesome school. Click here to schedule a tour or visit our webpage and find “PHMS Tours” under the PILOT NEWS heading on the left side of the page.  
• Power Play: For the third consecutive year, WCPSS is partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes to bring Power Play to all middle schools. This exciting partnership will support a community-wide healthful living campaign around daily physical activity outside of school, plus allow students the chance to attend a Hurricanes game. For more information please see the attachments in the weekly message.
• Egg Cartons: The art classes are in need of Styrofoam egg cartons. They can be dropped off in the main office or students may take them to Ms. Hyatt.
• 8^th Grade Field Trip: DC Commitment forms were due for Tracks 2 and 3 on October 9. Track 1 was due on October 16 and Track 4 was due on October 24.  The first payments are due November 7 (Tracks 1, 2, and 4) and November 14 (Track 3) via online payments.  
• Community Reads: Our Fall 2019 PHMS Community Reads program began this month with the launch of local Raleigh author Kwame Mbalia’s debut novel, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. An imprint of Disney Hyperion and part of the ‘Rick Riordan presents’ collection, this fantasy adventure novel explores African mythology and African American legends. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll have special events and activities related to the book, culminating in early 2020 with a visit from the author. We encourage YOU, yes you and your family to read the book. PHMS students, staff, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors . . . we want everyone in our Pine Hollow community included in this shared reading journey. Kwame Mbalia speaks of the importance of the individual, their name, and their family story. Each individual is an important part of our Community Reads story this fall. You can purchase the book from your favorite book seller or borrow it from your local public library. We look forward to continuing the conversation. Happy reading! --Mike Hutchinson, Social Studies teacher (jhutchinson@wcpss.net) and Kristen Ziller, School Librarian (kziller@wcpss.net)
• Signs of Suicide Prevention Program: Over the next three months, Pine Hollow is offering depression awareness and suicide prevention training to all 7^thgrade students as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide^® Prevention Program. This topic is part of the Healthful Living Standard Course of Study and will be delivered by the counseling team during Healthful Living classes. The goal is to educate your child and to give them guidance on how to get help for themselves or a friend.  Please review the detailed letter sent home with your child, which also includes dates for the program. If you have any questions, concerns, or if your child is sensitive to this topic, please contact your child's counselor.
• Saturday Make-up Days: November 16 and December 7 from 8:15 until 11:45. Lunch is NOT served on Saturdays.
• Yearbooks: A Pine Hollow yearbook is a keepsake, a jewel, the treasure trove of youth. Reserve your yearbook now while they are discounted for $40 from September 1- November 30! It’s one of the best books you’ll purchase this year. All yearbooks are ordered online http://www.strawbridge.net/Our school code is YB112059.
• From the PTSA:
  • We are super excited about our fall sports soccer, football and volleyball games! Will you please take a moment to go to the sign up genius link below and pick a slot that works for you? Two time slots to choose from and trust me, no experience needed! Please meet at the indoor concession booth unless you are second shift for football. Those volunteers can come straight out to the field. Great way to watch the game while making money for our school! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E48AEA72BA75-pine
  • Visit our websiteto find out all the ways you can support your Pilots!
  • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @PHMSPTSA
• Have a great week and remember, at Pine Hollow Middle School the sky is the limit!