Hello Pine Hollow Middle School community. This is your principal, Andrew Livengood, with the weekly message for September 18.

• This Week: This week is a five-day week for students on Track 3 & 4. Track 1 is tracked-out and returns on Monday, Oct. 3.
• Battle of the Books: We will meet again on Tuesday from 3:10 - 4:00 in Mr. Hutchinson's room... and maybe spill over in the LLC if we have the same numbers as before. If you are tracked out and can get a ride back to school in the afternoon, you are welcome to join us after school.  If you have not shared your contact information with Mr. Hutchinson, please fill out the attached form, so he can communicate with you easier. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Hutchinson at jhutchinson@wcpss.net.
• Buses: We continue to have some delays with bus routes and some routes without a driver due to the shortage. When there is a delay or a route does not run, that information is posted here: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/22038. Parents are encouraged to check that site each morning and also 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
• Carpool Procedures and Student Safety: After the PTSA meeting last week a parent asked me some good questions regarding carpool in the morning and I need to clarify something so everyone is on the same page. Because we do not have any adult supervision until 7:45, the cars that park along the curb and wait until the bell rings to let their students out are not doing anything wrong. Technically, they are simply following our morning arrival procedures. I recognize some parents need to drop their students off before 7:45 so they can get to work, but we do not have any adults to supervise students until the 7:45 bell rings. So please be patient with the drivers who park and wait until the 7:45 bell to let their riders out of the vehicle. As always, please continue to 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. Only students who live in the walk zone and have been issued a “walker pass” are allowed to walk off campus in the afternoon. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.
• Social Media Presentation for Parents: Thanks to everyone who attended last week’s presentation. The counselors will do this presentation again on Oct. 27 at 6PM. All parents, at any school, are invited to attend.
• 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
• Volunteer to help sell concessions! This is a fun opportunity to get involved at PHMS. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4facaf22a02-phms
• 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 
• 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!!