BIRCH ELEMENTARY
At Birch Elementary, we strive to encourage a love for reading. One morning, our stellar Assistant Principal, Mrs. Amy Clugston, requested that all students who had achieved their Accelerated Reading goal thus far to participate in an impromptu slide party.
Students cheered with joy and leaped with glee at this unexpected offer. Our Birch readers know that we value literacy and recognize their growth!
BIRCH ELEMENTARY
The grandparents of the Birch Elementary family packed the cafeteria in full force during the week of September 11-15. These grandparents and Birch First Pirates devoured a delicious breakfast that was prepared with love by the amazing Birch Elementary cafeteria staff.
Our beloved grandparents had the opportunity to view firsthand how our little Pirates are welcomed into our campus each and every day.
BIRCH ELEMENTARY
What is the best way to spend a Friday morning?
Why at the Pine Tree High School pep rally, of course! Several Birch First Pirates were chosen to attend last week’s pep rally due to their continual display of hard work and respect. After attending the pep rally, several Birch First students shared their plans to eventually be a PTHS football player, drill team member, band member, or cheerleader.
Thank you, Pine Tree High School students, for inspiring our little Pirates!
BIRCH ELEMENTARY
The Birch Elementary library has started a new weekly incentive of honoring students who are showing diligence in their Accelerated Reader pursuits. On Fridays, a child from each grade is given the tremendous opportunity to receive a book from our book vending machine.
This has become a treasured experience among the Birch First Family.
HIGH SCHOOL
Life is shifting into high gear at Pine Tree High School as fall has arrived and students are heavily involved in many academic and extracurricular events right now.
Band and choir are involved in competition season right now. Band took fourth in a very difficult competition this past weekend, while choir once again had numerous people qualify for regional choir after a long day of singing. Both Mark Perry and Danielle Warren are happy with their students thus far, saying they have worked very hard and are deserving of all of the accolades they have accumulated thus far. And, with both so early in competition season, Pine Tree is looking like it will garner a host of awards during this school year.
Other programs such as speech and debate are also doing well, and UIL Academics is getting ready to begin its season in the next few weeks. Pine Tree is noted for its strength in UIL Academics, and Lee Branson said the PT coaches have already been working very hard to make sure that reputation is upheld. Math Science, Ready Writing, Spelling, Computer Science, Journalism and Social Studies have strong teams this year, competitors who are returning after having a good year last year. Branson said Pine Tree should continue its upward climb this year.
In sports, football and volleyball and cross country are all in the middle of their schedules. Football dropped the district opener to Marshall but is hoping to rebound in the coming weeks to secure a playoff spot.
Volleyball also has five or six matches remaining to secure a playoff spot. Cross Country won both the boys and girls division of its latest meet, and Malachi Gray and Mackenzie Robinson were both in the top two of their races. Coach Kyle Burns said, with just a few weeks remaining until district, that the teams are looking strong and a return to regionals and state is a good possibility.
Basketball and soccer are on the horizon as is powerlifting. These should all be strong sports for Pine Tree this year, both on the girls side as well as the boys.
CTE programs are very strong at Pine Tree this year, with many of the programs already working on major projects early in the school year. Culinary has been extra busy with preparing meals for Friday Night Lights and special events for the campus.
Audiovisual has been working games on Thursday and Friday nights at the stadium as well as putting together special projects for the daily announcements. Welding and automotive and construction are always busy with different assignments as well as digital media.
Life is very busy at PTHS! Students are extremely engaged in their academic pursuits as well as projects which benefit the campus and community. Look for big things out of the Pine Tree High School student body this year!
EXCEL
Less than a month into the 2023-2024 school year, ExCEL High School is proud to announce its first graduate. Congratulations, Tesla Thompson!
Tesla was actually connected to the ExCEL program in a sense on three different occasions. She was a "come back" student during the Covid pandemic, she was in the learning lab at ExCEL last and for the 2023-2024 school year, she applied to become an ExCEL student.
When asked what she liked most about ExCEL she said, "I liked working at my own pace, not everyone else's." Tesla was determined to graduate early. ExCEL teacher, Jennifer Wilbur, was not surprised at how quickly Tesla finished her coursework. She describes Tesla as very hard working and dedicated. She also commented that Tesla has a very unique personality.
Tesla describes herself as shy and very self-conscious. Because of those traits, she found it difficult to ask for help when needed at ExCEL but she was still able to successfully get her coursework completed through the Edgenuity program. She enjoys cooking and doing hair and makeup in her spare time.
Tesla's boyfriend and her mom are who inspire her to be her best self. Although she has not decided what career she wants to pursue, she is confident she will have their love and support in her endeavors.
Tesla will be moving away prior to the ExCEL graduation ceremony in the fall and so upon completion of her coursework, we wish her the best in her future.
PACE
The ABU Elementary enjoys a music and movement session everyday. The students engage in different activities during this time. During their last session, they passed around a beanbag to the beat of the music which encouraged coordination and teamwork from the students. Ms. Taylor and Ms. Jones always do a great job in ensuring the students have fun while learning!
Ms. Taylor’s students also wrote spelling words in shaving cream. This is another example of how the ABU Elementary students are using varied strategies to support student learning.
The R³ sessions are a fundamental part of the PACE S.T.R.O.N.G. Program. Students share their growth processes with the transitional team.
Here is an excerpt from student Sergio Rubio:
“What part of the STRONG Talk is important to you?” A: ON-POINT because it helps me to achieve my goals and to make sure I’m always on-point in everything. I know it can help me go somewhere in life in the future” -Sergio Rubio, 11th
