Joann Hooper

August and September 2008

Welcome back to school!  We are excited as we begin the 2008-2009 school year.  There are many wonderful things that are happening at Pine Mountain Middle School. Please look over the dates below and see all the many ways you and your child can be involved. I look forward to working with you and your student this year.  If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to call me.

Joann Hooper

August 28- PTSA Open House- Learn about Splost III and Follow your child's schedule

September 1- Labor Day Student Holiday

September 5- Fall picture day- All students will have their pictures made. Students wanting to buy pictures must pre-pay. Information will be coming home soon.

September 8-12 Spirit Week-

September 12- Kennesaw Mountain High School Pep Rally at PMMS

September 16- Early Release Day- Students dismissed at 2:15

September 17-19- CoGat testing for Eighth Graders

September 22- 26- ITBS testing for Eighth Graders

CRCT Testing

Spring break is over and we have a few more weeks of school before the summer.  There are several things happening and you need to be sure and mark your calendar.  On Friday the 18th we will have the citation free celebration for all students.  This is a time to recognize students who have not received behavior or academic citations during the last nine-week period.  Next Wednesday we begin CRCT testing.  Your student will bring home a letter with details.  It is important students are present and on time.  They should have a plenty of rest, a good breakfast, and come ready to try their best.  Testing will continue through Tuesday of the following week. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to call the school office.

March, 2008

March brings many things continuing to happen at Pine Mountain Middle School.  March 10-14 is Spirit Week.  Listen to the announcements to hear what spirit day each day is.  Each Wednesday student forum is selling chick-fil-a biscuits to benefit different events in the school.  Buy them as you enter the building to help benefit our school.  There are several musical concerts this month.  Check with the band and chorus to see when they are.  Congratulations to Seventh and Eighth grade orchestras on their performances this past week at Lovinggood at their Large Group Performance Evaluations.  Report cards go home on March 20th. This will be the Third Nine week Report Card.

 

March, 2008

March brings many things continuing to happen at Pine Mountain Middle School.  March 10-14 is Spirit Week.  Listen to the announcements to hear what spirit day each day is.  Each Wednesday student forum is selling chick-fil-a biscuits to benefit different events in the school.  Buy them as you enter the building to help benefit our school.  There are several musical concerts this month.  Check with the band and chorus to see when they are.  Congratulations to Seventh and Eighth grade orchestras on their performances this past week at Lovinggood at their Large Group Performance Evaluations.  Report cards go home on March 20th. This will be the Third Nine week Report Card.

 

February 2008

Thank you for a great conference week.  We appreciate all the parents who took the time to come and meet with the teachers. Your involvement in your student's education is important and makes a difference. Many things will happen in February at Pine Mountain.  On February 5th we will have Spring Picture Day. Flyers will come home next week. It will also be our Blood Drive and Election Day.  February 6th is Early Release. February 7th is 6th Grade Honors Assemble at 2:30. February 12th, 7th grade has their Honors Assemble at 9:30am.  On Wednesday, February 13th, 8th Grade Honors Assemble is at 2:30. Also, Kennesaw Mountain High School will be presenting a program during their connections time on that day.  February 18th is a holiday and the 19th is a Teacher's workday.  Your student will receive their third grading period progress report on February 13th.  As you can see it is a busy month. As always, please let us know how we can help you or your child. Don't forget: The computer lab is open each morning at 8:15 until 8:55 for Skills Tutor

Fall 2007

There are many things happening at Pine Mountain Middle School. Please look at the list below to see what exciting events are happening.

• October 4th- Math Curriculum Night for Parents
• October 9th- Picture Retake Day
• October 15th- Fall Orientation for Eighth Graders at Kennesaw Mountain
• October 17th- Early Release- Students released at 2:15
• October 22-26 Red Ribbon Week and Bus Driver Appreciation Week
• November 5th and Novemeber 6th- Student Holidays
• November 14th- Friends Picture Day
• November 21-23- Thanksgiving Holidays
• November 30th- Club Pictures

Wonderful Beginning

We are off to a wonderful beginning of the year.  The students in sixth grade now have their lockers and connection classes.  Friday as they left I saw many with their new band or orchestra instruments.  Thank you to all the parents who came to open house.  We appreciate your support.  I know you enjoyed meeting your student's teachers and following their class schedule.  As you can see, they stay very busy and have a full day of learning. 

Please be sure you get your I-parent log in so you can keep up with your child's grades.  Teachers post grades weekly.  Also, I know Mr. Micklow, our graduation coach, is meeting many students and being sure they are off on the right track getting assignments completed and turned in.  This will help our sixth grade students stay ahead of the game and not allow them to fall behind with their classes.  Thank you, Mr. Micklow. 

This week I will be having "Team Talks" with all the sixth grade students.  This gives me the opportunity to remind students of the expectations of middle school.  We will go over the behavior policies and the consequences for not following them.  It is a good reminder to your students that middle school is different from elementary and we expect mature behavior from all of the students in class and on the bus. Monday September 3rd is Labor day.  Please enjoy this long weekend with your family. On Wednesday, September 5th we will have fall picture day.  Students will bring home picture envelopes this week.  They must have their envelope and money in order to purchase pictures.  All students will have their pictures made for the yearbook. 

Please remember to check your child's agenda nightly for homework reminders and notes from the teachers!!

Welcome to Pine Mountain

I would like to welcome all of the sixth grade students and their parents to Pine Mountain Middle School.  I had the pleasure of meeting many of you at "Meet and Greet".  We will have the PTSA open house on Thursday, August 23rd.  I hope you will be able to attend.  We are excited about the wonderful renovations that have happened at Pine Mountain during the summer.  Our new Fine Arts wing was completed and now our students have state of the art music and practice rooms.  We have a new roof and air conditioning in the gym plus our computers have been refreshed.  Teachers are excited about the instructional opportunities available with our new computers and Activboards.

Let me encourage you to allow your students to ride the bus to and from school.  Our buses arrive before homeroom begins and are off campus soon after dismissal.  Allowing your student the opportunity to ride the bus helps them transition into middle school.  The different teachers for each subject, lockers, and the longer days in middle school are sometimes frustrating for sixth graders.  Remember to encourage your student to be patient- students usually begin to feel more comfortable after one-two weeks.  If you have concerns please feel free to call me or our sixth grade counselor, Mrs. Martin, so we may help your student during this transition. I am excited about the wonderful year ahead.  There are many things ahead which will be great instructional experiences for your students.  Please talk with the teachers to see how you may help. 

Again, please call me if I can help you.

Joann Hooper

Sixth Grade Administrator   

March 15, 2007

     Spring is in the air! With spring we begin to think about the end of the school year and summer.  I want to stress we have several important things that will take place before school ends.  Spring break is the first week in April.  When students return from Spring Break it will be time for CRCT testing.  The test week is April 16-20.  During this week it is very important that students: get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, come to school without unneeded stress, and take the test serious. Students also need to remember that their behavior needs to stay focused on school and the importance of doing their best in class and on the bus. 

     It has been a wonderful year at Pine Mountain Middle School and we certainly want to end the year in a positive and productive manner.

End of Second Nine Weeks

The end of the second nine week grading period will soon be here.  It is hard to believe the year is almost half over.  Report cards will be issued in January.  How is your student doing?  Are they making the grades they are capable of making?  Is your student doing homework and studying for tests? Now is a good time to evaluate your student's study habits.

1. Does your students have a set time and place to study?
2. Are there limited distractions and interruptions?
3. Are there adequate supplies and materials such as paper, dictionary, computer, etc?
4. Is someone available to help, if needed?
5. Does your student understand that "study for a test" is homework?

Remember homework helps reinforce the information covered in class-