Hello Pine Hollow Middle School community. This is your principal, Andrew Livengood, with the weekly message for October 30.

• This Week: This week is a five-day week for students on Track 1&4. Track 3 returns on Nov. 14.
• Halloween: Please help us maintain an environment that is conducive for learning by not allowing your student to wear a costume or anything else that might be a distraction. Similarly, we ask that candy stay at home.
• Raleigh’s Best: Pine Hollow is a bronze medal winner in this year’s Raleigh’s Best for middle schools!! The magazine was included in today’s edition of the News & Observer. Thanks to everyone who voted for our school. And kudos to Leesville Road High School who also won a bronze medal for the high school division.
• Second Step: Starting this week Pine Hollow will begin implementing the Second Step program. Second Step is a research-based program which teaches students the skills necessary to effectively manage their emotions, control impulses, solve problems, and have empathy for others. There are four main areas within the program: Mindsets and Goals; Recognizing Bullying and Harassment; Thoughts, Emotions and Decisions; and Managing Relationships and Social Conflicts. Each week I will include a brief statement regarding that week’s focus for each grade level so that parents are aware and can discuss with their child. Second Step is currently being used with great success at many other schools in our district and we are excited to bring it to Pine Hollow!
• This week 6-1 and 6-4 will take a look at common types of bullying.
• 7-1 and 7-4 will learn how practicing something difficult helps your brain grow near neural pathways.
• 8-1 and 8-4 will learn how this program can help them navigate physical, social and emotional changes in adolescence.
• From Our Counselors: If you were unable to attend Thursday night’s session “My Child, Your Child & Social Media” but would like to learn more on how to keep your student safe online, please visit this website. It can also be reached by going to our school website, then clicking “Our School” followed by “Student Services Department” then “Social Media Information”. You will find the presentation from Thursday along with a wealth of information and helpful resources. Questions? Contact your student’s counselor.
• Track 4 Report Cards: Went home on Thursday.
• School Tours: If you know a family who might be interested in sending their child(ren) to Pine Hollow next year, please encourage them to sign up for a tour using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4ea9a62da13-phms.
• Attention 8^th Grade Families: There are many high school options in Wake County. Please encourage your child to join us in the LLC during flight school to learn more about specific Early College & Magnet School Programs. Please click here for the school names & visit dates to PHMS. Please visit wcpss.net/magnet for more information. Application Window: Early College Oct 14-Dec 14, Magnet Schools Oct 14-Jan 25
• Community Reads: As part of our PHMS Community Reads book, Front Desk by Kelly Yang, the planning committee is hoping to find a guest speaker to come talk with our students, their families, and teachers on November 15^th after school in the PHMS Library (3:15-4:15pm). We are open to ideas, but Chinese Calligraphy was an initial idea as a connection for students and would be a great tie in with the culture of the book. We expect 20-30 students to be in attendance. If you or someone you know would be open to helping us with this event, please email Kristen Ziller at kziller@wcpss.net. 

• From Our Athletic Director, Mr. Adams: Parents, a good week for the Pilots as we took 2 out of 3 from the Wakefield Wolves.  Congrats to our volleyball and girls’ soccer teams for getting the w’s this week.  The football team fell to Wakefield however they played well despite all our injuries. 

• This week the Pilots travel to Carroll on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Nov 10 – Deadline to be COMPLETELY registered in DragonFly. Students need to check the bulletin board outside the gym, to see if they are good to go for tryouts. Track 3 parents can email me if your student did not check before track-out.

• • Nov 17 – Tryouts Begin.  Full details are on the athletic website:  

 https://wakecountyathleticzone.com/pine-hollow/tryout-information/ 

• I will be away from school Oct 28 - Nov 6 and will respond to email ASAP after I return. 
• 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
• Here is a fun opportunity to volunteer with and support the PTSA: help sell concessions at the home athletic events! Sign up here--there are a lot of flexible times and dates: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4facaf22a02-phms A quick note from the concessions committee: due to a lack of demand, pizza will not be sold at the remaining volleyball/soccer games this season. However, there will be plenty of snacks and drinks to keep your kids happy! 
• Our teachers need snacks! Help us restock the teachers lounge with snacks and drinks. It's easy--order from this Amazon wish list, and items will be shipped directly to us. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/102Q2ZACU3U1?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR1XB56SOfOR8Yn22Q7nNwt4SUgalJ6od2TJ3RfoIDU4kVEGeVm5nQ2Q3mg
• 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!!