community newsletter
November
Piney Point of View: A Season of Gratitude at the Grove
As we move into this season of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of how grateful I am to be part of the Piney Grove community. This semester is flying by, and we are so proud of all that our students have accomplished so far!
This year, all middle school students across the county will take common midterm and final exams. Please take a moment to carefully review the information below, as these assessments will impact your student’s grades.
We are also looking ahead to one of our favorite Piney Grove traditions—G3: The Grizzlies Great Day of Giving. Beginning in January, we will share our volunteer and donation needs through Partner Connect. Please be sure you are registered (register HERE) so you can receive updates and participate in this meaningful day of service. Links to pay your student’s G3 fees can be found below—thank you for taking a moment to complete that step.
In the spirit of gratitude, I want to say thank you for welcoming me and my family so warmly into the Piney Grove community and for the privilege of working with your children each day. They truly embody our school motto: We work hard. We are family.
With #pineypride,
Lori
Important Dates to Remember
November 11 - Veterans Day Celebration
November 17 - Pep Rally Schedule for Midterm Practice
November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break
December 15-18 - Midterms
May 18 - 22 - Finals
Midterms: December 16-18
Midterm exams will be held Tuesday, December 16th through Thursday, December 18th. Attendance during this time is very important, as these exams will be counted as a single test grade in your student’s semester average. Students must bring their charged Chromebook to school on each of these days in order to take the exams.
Students who need to make up an exam will have two opportunities: Friday, December 19th, or Monday, January 5th. Please note that the January 5th make-up session will take place in the Media Center from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
If a student anticipates being absent for more than 10 consecutive days, we ask that they reach out to their grade-level administrator and counselor in advance. Extended absences may affect enrollment status, so early communication is essential to ensure your student stays on track.
Additionally, all FCS middle school students will participate in a system-wide practice test on Monday, November 17. Piney Grove will follow a Pep Rally schedule, and students will take the test at 2:00 PM. The purpose of this practice test is to give students the opportunity to become familiar with the testing platform and to allow FCS to check system and network capacity before the December testing window. These practice tests will not count toward a grade.
Thank you for your support as we work to provide your student with the best academic experience.
Save the Date for G3 - March 20th!
Please see below for the partnership levels, which can be paid through SchoolPay:
-
$20 – Individual student dues
-
$75 – Grizzly Partnership: Family price includes multiple students + supply donation
-
$150 – Green Partnership: Multiple students + sponsor a student + supply donation
-
$250 – Gold Partnership: Green sponsorship package plus your family name/business logo on the back of the G3 t-shirt
Thank you for helping us make G3 a powerful experience for our students and our community!
JOSELINE CAPRE
Joseline has made an incredible difference for our school this year! She has expertly navigated the new registration legislation, completed FTE, and stepped in to assist with countless other tasks—including managing our social media. We are so thankful for her hard work, flexibility, and the positive impact she makes each day!
HEATHER KARSCHNER
Heather is an incredible asset to our 7th grade team—her enthusiasm and energy light up the social studies classroom. She brings a deep knowledge of Piney Grove and is always ready to lend a hand or share her expertise with colleagues.
GRIT at The Grove
Piney Grove students have been working hard and showing their Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, and Teamwork all year long—and it shows! Our teachers and staff have given out an incredible 90,413 GRIT Coins to acknowledge positive behavior so far this year!
The biggest area of success has been Responsibility—our students continue to impress us with their positive choices, effort, and leadership across the school. We love celebrating them and finding fun, creative ways for students to spend their GRIT Coins. At the end of the quarter, students had the chance to use their coins on tasty snacks and exciting Thrive opportunities that make Piney Grove such a special place to learn and grow.
Our GRIT program is powered by teamwork—both from our staff and our amazing parent community. We are always looking for enthusiastic parents to join our GRIT Team and help plan and run these student celebrations. If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to Karen Crossen. Together, we can keep the spirit of GRIT going strong at Piney Grove!
Join the Glow Run and Light the Way for Learning!
Get your glow gear ready and join us for a fun-filled Glow Run to support scholarships for educators pursuing advanced degrees and professional growth. Every step you take helps provide teachers with opportunities to continue their education and bring even more inspiration back to their classrooms.
When: 11/16/25
Where: Forsyth Central High School
Why: To empower educators through scholarship support
For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.
Let’s make a difference together—sign up today and help our teachers keep shining bright!
Join PTSO
We can’t do any of this without YOU! We have a few open positions on our PTSO board including Co-President, Vice President, VP of Fundraising, and VP of Programs. We also welcome parents who want to get involved in any capacity, big or small. If you have any questions, please email us at pineygroveptso@gmail.com.
To join the PTSO, click HERE.
Staff Shout Outs
Want to celebrate one of our AMAZING Piney Grove Staff Members? Please use THIS FORM to shout out our staff and celebrate the incredible ways they support our students!
Partner with Piney Grove!
We are excited to launch Partner Connect, a special opportunity for parents, families, and community members to get involved and support our students. Whether it’s volunteering at events, sharing your expertise, or lending a helping hand, your partnership makes a difference in the success of Piney Grove Middle School.
