community newsletter

The coming weeks are packed with beloved traditions and unforgettable moments, so please encourage your student to check Canvas regularly and stay on top of upcoming assignments. Please also mark your calendars for Friday, October 16, which will be an Online Learning Day and Parent-Teacher Conference Day.

Because we are always striving to improve how we connect with our families, we ask that you please take a moment to complete our brief communication survey linked HERE to share what types of updates work best for you. Thank you for your unwavering partnership and for entrusting us with your amazing children—we couldn't ask for a better school community!

We Work Hard. We Are Family.

With #pineypride,

Lori

October 8 - 8th Graders at the Denmark Homecoming Parade

October 8 - Fall Chorus Concert

October 9-13 - 7th Grade SOS

October 15 - Powder Puff

October 16 - Online Learning & Conference Day

October 19 - Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning

October 20-21, 23 - 6th Grade SOS

October 27-29 - 8th Grade SOS

SAVE THE DATE:

December 15-17 - Midterms

May 24-26 Finals

All FCS middle school students will take common midterms in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies on December 15, 16, and 17. Additionally, 8th-grade students will take a midterm in Spanish. The midterm schedule will be released after Thanksgiving Break.

Attendance during this final week of the semester is critical to ensure student grades are complete and accurate before winter break. Any student absent during midterm week will complete their exams during the makeup window in January. Please help us set your student up for success by ensuring they are present and on time each day.

We are excited to continue one of our favorite traditions—the annual Powder Puff game—on Thursday, October 15!

• Schedule: Students will report to Grizzly Time at 2:00 PM to review GRIT expectations before heading to the field. The game kicks off at 2:30 PM.

• What to Bring: Students should bring cash for concessions, a water bottle, sunscreen, and dress appropriately for the weather.

• Check-Out Info: If you need to check out your student, we strongly advise doing so before 2:30 PM. Check-outs during the game will take longer than normal due to travel time back from the field.

We look forward to a fantastic, spirit-filled afternoon!

Friday, October 16 is an Online Learning Day for all students, as well as a dedicated day for Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Please note that middle school conferences operate differently than in elementary school—conferences are scheduled specifically for students who are experiencing academic or behavioral concerns, rather than for every student. If your child’s teachers have concerns, they will reach out to you directly to schedule a time. If you have concerns about your student’s progress, please feel free to initiate contact with their teachers directly.

Student Expectation for October 16: All students should log in to Canvas on Friday morning to access and complete their required class materials and assignments for the day.

In compliance with House Bill 268, Piney Grove Middle School will deliver the 1-hour SOS Signs of Suicide program to 6th–8th grade students during October.

SOS is an evidence-based, HB 268-approved program used nationwide for over 20 years. Through age-appropriate videos and guided discussions, students learn to recognize signs of depression, know who to turn to for support, and apply the ACT model (Acknowledge, Care, Tell a trusted adult).

Key Details:

• Screening: 7th graders will complete a brief, research-based screening questionnaire to help identify students who may benefit from extra support. Note: This tool does not diagnose mental health conditions.

• Support & Next Steps: At the end of class, all students submit an exit slip. School staff will meet briefly with any student who requests to speak with an adult or whose screening responses indicate potential concern.

• Parent Communication: Parents/guardians will be notified whenever a student meets with staff for follow-up support.

For warning signs, key lessons, and family resources, visit https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parents/. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s participation, please contact your school counselor.

This October, our students will complete Neptune Navigate’s Cyberbullying module, where they will learn to recognize online harm, act as Upstanders who speak up for others, and practice a 5-step response if targeted: Stop, Screenshot, Block, Tell, and Share.

You can help reinforce these habits at home by asking your child who their trusted adults are, discussing the difference between a bystander and an upstander, or talking through why saving evidence and stepping away from the screen are key first steps when facing online negativity.

Continuing the Conversation: Cyberbullying - English

Continuando la conversación: Ciberacoso - Español

During the month of September, students created their own passwords for accessing their student accounts. If a student does not remember their password they can follow the steps attached in this document to recover their password.

Forsyth County SS Fair Information: November 18th

• Have students check their Social Studies teacher’s Canvas page for more information

2026 Middle School Water Essay Contest: Deadline: October 23

• Students have the opportunity to participate in the 2026 Middle School Water Essay Contest.

• District-wide winner: $500 prize

• County-wide winner: $100 prize

• Students who are interested can find essay information, guidelines, and judging criteria posted by the water fountains at PGMS.

Thursday October 8 is the Denmark Homecoming Parade. Permissions slips due to 3rd Period teacher ASAP. Students will attend Pathway Motive8 at Denmark OR South on October 22, 2026. More information coming soon.

Attention 8th grade parents! Don’t forget to order your 8th grade ad for your student!

Attached in the form and directions on how to submit it. The deadline is Friday, October 23, 2026!

The Out of District Application window is October 5-November 13. This application is for families who are interested in:

• Attending a different high school when the desired pathway is not offered at their zoned school

• Applying to specialty programs

• Applying to Alliance

We strongly encourage you to attend the High School Pathway Night sessions for more detailed information about high school options and pathways. Here is the FCS Pathway Website and Information on Pathway Nights.

Don't miss out on buying your yearbook! Click HERE to purchase and use school code #25647!

Our Grizzly Packs are officially sold out, but we still have a limited number of individual class t-shirts available for $12!

These shirts are a great way for students to show their school spirit throughout the year. We encourage all students to wear their class t-shirt on designated Class Shirt Days, during school pep rallies, and on upcoming field trips. Grab yours while supplies last!

The FCS District Improvement Survey is open through October 8. We want to hear from our families about what is working well and where we have room to grow.

FCS Family Survey - click here!

We need our families, students, running clubs, athletic teams, and community to come out and support Piney Grove at the Dr. Jim & Peggie Morrow Glow Run!

November 1 | 5:00 PM | Forsyth Central High School

Run the 5K, bring the kids for the Fun Run, or participate as a Virtual Runner. Gather your family, teammates, friends, or running club and join us!

Here's the goal: the more Piney Grove participants we have, the better our chance of winning $1,000 for our PBIS program!

Registration is open now, but prices increase October 10.

Share this with your teams, clubs, families, and friends. Let's show everyone what Piney Grove can do!

Sign up. Show up. Glow for Piney Grove!

Any questions please email Mrs. Daise adaise@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Please remember that all car riders must be picked up by 4:35 PM daily.

Specific Reminder for Band Families: On Fridays, band students who take home their instruments and are car riders must be picked up by 4:35 PM. Students picked up after 4:35 PM will not be allowed to take their instruments home for the remainder of the semester. All band students (including 8th graders) must be picked up in the main car line—not the 8th grade line. If you need to assist with a large instrument, please pull all the way to the front of the line and turn on your flashers so driver traffic behind you can pass easily.

It's almost time for our South Community Annual Food Fight! Our food drive officially kicks off October 1, and this year we are excited to join our South Community schools as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary with the theme United WE CAN: Fighting Hunger Together!

This is a wonderful opportunity for our PGMS Grizzly community to come together to support families in our community and make a difference for those experiencing food insecurity. All donations will benefit The Place of Forsyth County, Inc.

How You Can Help

Bring your non-perishable food donations to Piney Grove Middle School October 1-30 OR make a monetary donations October 1-31.

Donations can be made through SchoolPay.
$1 = 1 pound of food toward our school's total!

Make a Monetary Donation Through SchoolPay

Every can, box, bag, and dollar donated helps us work together to fight hunger in our community.

Let's show what the Grizzlies and our South Community can accomplish when we work together!

Thank you for your support!

Click HERE to sign up & volunteer for DUTY FREE LUNCH!

Want to send supplies into the Second Cup Cafe? Click HERE to order and ship straight to the school.

If you have any questions, please email us at pineygroveptso@gmail.com.

Please do not send your child to school and/or school activities if they are exhibiting symptoms of common illnesses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, strep throat, stomach virus or other contagious viruses and/or infections.

Symptoms of common illnesses may include fever (100.4 or greater), persistent cough/wheeze, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, eye drainage, rash, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Children with an unknown rash need to be seen by a healthcare provider to ensure it is not contagious to others. Children with a persistent cough should stay home until symptoms improve.

Please note your child must meet the following criteria before returning to school and/or school activities:

• Your child must be fever free for a full 24-hour period without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Your child must be free of vomiting and/or diarrhea for a full 24-hour period.
• Your child should also have an overall improvement in their symptoms and be able to tolerate their school day.
• If an antibiotic has been prescribed, then the antibiotic must be administered for a full 24-hour period.

To report a student absent from school, the parent/guardian must submit a handwritten note, or email to PGMattendance@forsyth.k12.ga.us to the school’s attendance clerk within five (5) school days for an absence to be considered excused.

As a reminder, we do not allow checkouts after 3:30 PM daily.

Only essential items like eyeglasses or medications will be allowed to be dropped off to students during the school day. Parents may leave forgotten items on a small table in the office, but students will not be called out of class; instead, they can stop by the office on their way to lunch to check if anything has been dropped off.

No outside food or drinks from restaurants are allowed to be dropped off. You may drop off a lunchbox.

The weather is changing - make sure your student has SPIRIT WEAR for the winter!

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!

As we enter the second quarter, we are so grateful for our community’s continued support in keeping our classrooms healthy and running smoothly! Our general supply levels are running low, and if you are able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate donations of any of the following items:

• Paper towels

• Clorox wipes

• Facial tissues

• Hand sanitizer

• Individually wrapped snacks (Goldfish, chips, crackers, granola bars, etc.)

Donations can be dropped off with Ms. Lisa at the front desk. Thank you for helping us keep our students energized and classrooms clean!

We are incredibly grateful for the support of our business partners, whose generosity helps enrich the educational experience for all Piney Grove students. If you or your business would like to join our Partner Connect program and make a difference in our community, please reach out to Dr. Missy Marsh, f44895@forsyth.k12.ga.us, for more information.