Hello Pine Hollow Middle School community. This is your principal, Andrew Livengood, with the weekly message for September 4.

• This Week: This week is a four-day week for all students. Tomorrow is Labor Day so there is no school. Track 1 tracks out on Friday, Sept. 9.

• Buses: With the start of traditional calendar schools last week, we had some delays with bus routes and some routes without a driver due to the shortage. Hopefully bus routes will smooth out this week. Parents are encouraged to download the Here Comes the Bus app if your student rides the bus to/from school. Click this link for more info: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/35380

• Premium Spirit Wear: Premium Spirit Wear is available now until September 8: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/CUZSqgUpP1
• From Our Athletic Director, Mr. Adams: Parents, It is finally time for tryouts, seems like 77 days ago when I started the countdown. Tryout Notes:
• Students trying out must be approved in Dragonfly as well as being eligible with grades and attendance.
• Tryouts are closed to spectators.
• Girls’ Soccer – Tryouts will be Tuesday – Thursday, 3:15-4:45.  Please be appropriately dressed and have a water bottle. Tryouts are on the field 
• Volleyball – Tryouts will be Tuesday – Thursday 3:15 – 4:30. Please be appropriately dressed and have your water bottle (Tryouts are in the gym)
• Cheer – Tryouts will be Tuesday-Thursday 3:30-5:00.  Please be appropriately dressed and have a water bottle (Tryouts are in the auditorium) 
• Football – Tryouts will be Tuesday – Friday 3:15-5:15 Please be appropriately dressed and have a water bottle.  Please talk to your sons about being hydrated before they get to practice. (Tryouts are on the field).   
• We have a new athletic website platform.  Most of the information from the old one migrated to the new with the exception of a few pages, so as I learn the new platform the Athletic page will begin to look better than it does. 
• Crowded Carpool and Student Safety: With all our students in the building for one more week, carpool will continue to be crowded. Please be patient and pull all the way up before stopping to let your student in/out of your vehicle. Please do NOT tell your student to meet you somewhere else in order to avoid having to wait in carpool. It is dangerous for students to attempt to cross Leesville Road or Leesville Church Road. A concerned parent contacted me last week after she saw two students narrowly miss getting hit as they crossed from the daycare to the drugstore. It is for this reason that we only allow students in the walk zone to walk off campus in the afternoon. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.

• Social Media Presentation for Parents: Our counselors will be doing a couple of presentations for parents regarding the latest social media trends and how to keep students safe. The dates are Sept. 15 at 6PM and Oct. 27 at 6PM. All parents are invited. See the flier in the weekly message.

• Teacher Recognition Program:  Is there a teacher or staff member you would like to celebrate for doing a terrific job? Has someone been consistently outstanding or maybe gone above-and-beyond recently for your student/family? If so, I encourage you to nominate that person for our Top Gun Staff Member of the Month award. There aren’t any firm rules or requirements to nominate someone for recognition. The point of this is to recognize a teacher or two each month who was nominated by a student or parent. The teacher(s) would be recognized in front of their peers at the next staff meeting. In order to nominate someone, just fill out this form and make sure to clearly explain why you think they are deserving of this recognition.
• From the PTSA:
• Support the PHMS PTSA by becoming a member! We encourage all parents, guardians, teachers, and students to join. https://pinehollow.memberhub.com/store?category=Memberships
• Support Pine Hollow Middle School by donating to the PTSA's annual Invest In Your Child campaign! Details are in the attached document. The PTSA collects donations only once a year through this no-fuss giving/fundraising campaign: https://pinehollow.memberhub.com/store/items/61043
• Please join us for our first general PTSA meeting on September 15 at 7pm in the PHMS auditorium, immediately following the social media presentation. 
• The PTSA (and PHMS teachers) would appreciate donations from this Amazon wish list. Click on this link to purchase supplies to stock the teachers’ lounge for our amazing teachers! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/102Q2ZACU3U1?ref_=wl_share 
• September 8 is Papa John's Pizza Day! Order a pizza and support PHMS. See the attached flyer for details. 
• If you have any questions about the PTSA, please reach us at phmsptsa16@gmail.com

• Have a great week and remember, at Pine Hollow Middle School the sky is the limit!!