community newsletter

October is here, and we’re excited for a month full of energy, celebration, and new beginnings! As the fall sports season comes to a close, we cheer on our student-athletes for their hard work and dedication, while looking forward to the start of winter sports. We’re also gearing up for exciting performances from our Chorus and Band, showcasing the talent and creativity of our students. Plus, we’re approaching the end of Quarter 1 — a great time to reflect on our progress and celebrate achievements. Congratulations to our students who were inducted into our Jr. Beta Club a few weeks ago.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Piney Grove community — I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know our families and students, and I’m excited for all we will share together this school year!

At Piney Grove, we live by our motto: We work hard. We are family.

With #pineypride,

Lori

October 1 - PEP RALLY

October 16 - Powder Puff

October 17 - Online Learning Day & Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 20 - Student Holiday

December 15-18 - Midterms

May 18 - 22 - Finals

On Friday, October 17th, we will hold teacher-scheduled conferences on an as-needed basis. Teachers will contact families when they feel a conference would be helpful to support your child’s learning journey. This will be an online learning day for students, so not every student will have a scheduled conference. Students will learn from home and access their lessons on Canvas for the day. These conferences are designed to support open communication and collaboration between families and teachers. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress, please reach out directly to their teacher.

Thank you for sharing your child with us here at Piney Grove — we appreciate the opportunity to partner with you in their learning.

On Friday, March 20th, our entire school will take part in G3 – Grizzlies Great Day of Giving, a hands-on day of learning through service. Each grade level will give back in meaningful ways:

• 6th grade: On-campus service projects and guest speakers

• 7th grade: Volunteering at local elementary schools

• 8th grade: Partnering with off-campus charities, followed by a lunch and high school club fair off campus

After their morning service, 6th and 7th graders will enjoy a picnic lunch and games at PGMS before moving into choice sessions for the afternoon.

To make this day possible, we ask every family to support this project by paying their G3 Dues – $20 per student (price increases January 1st). These dues help cover lunch, t-shirts, and supplies.

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

We’ll also need chaperones and volunteers—more details will come soon. Thank you for helping us make G3 a powerful experience for our students and our community!

Get ready for one of the most exciting events of the year! Our Powder Puff game will take place on Thursday, October 16th at 2:00 PM — and all students are invited to attend.

Admission is free, but students should bring cash for concessions. This is a fun, spirited event where all grades come together to cheer, support, and enjoy the excitement. Don’t miss it!

Families are encouraged to explore Qustodio, a tool provided by the county to help monitor and guide students’ use of their school-issued Chromebooks at home. Please note that this platform is managed solely by Qustodio support, not by Piney Grove. For more information on how Qustodio can support you in keeping your child safe online, visit their website HERE.

BPI emailed all September school photos to parent email addresses. Only students who were absent will be photographed. If your child did not like his/her picture email arice@forsythk12.org to be added to the retake list. If you pre-purchased photos, please bring those with you to the retake.

Piney Grove will present the SOS Signs of Suicide program to all 7th grade students on October 7-9 during 1st period Connections.

This nationally recognized program teaches students how to:

· Recognize signs of depression and suicide risk in themselves or others

· Understand that depression is treatable and help is available

· Use the ACT steps (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) to seek support from a trusted adult

Students will view age-appropriate videos, participate in guided discussion, and complete a brief screening tool. The screener is not a diagnosis but helps identify students who may benefit from talking with a counselor.

More information and resources for parents are available at www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent.

If you do not wish for your child to participate, please complete and return the attached form by October 3. If we do not receive the form by that date, your child will be included in the program.

Piney Grove is proud to honor our veterans at a special Veterans Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 11th from 9:00–10:00 a.m. in the PGMS Media Center. The morning will begin with veterans helping greet students at car rider and bus arrival, followed by a breakfast and ceremony featuring performances by our Chorus and Assistant Band Director, along with a slideshow tribute.

We would love to recognize the veterans in our community! If you or a family member are a veteran and would like to be honored and participate in this special event, please fill out THIS LINK.

8th Grade Dues are now available to be paid on School Pay. Our 8th grade dues help offset the cost of our 8th grade events and include a ticket to the 8th Grade Dance in May. We look forward to celebrating our 8th graders this year!

Questions? Please reach out to Dr. Missy Marsh, 8th Grade Administrator.

This recognition celebrates the hard work and dedication of our entire school community—students, teachers, and staff—who have embraced the PBIS framework to build a positive and successful school culture. By living out our values of Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, and Teamwork, the Piney Grove community has shown what it truly means to be a Grizzly!

This award is not just about what happens in the classroom—it’s about the spirit of our whole school. From daily celebrations of positive choices to the teamwork we see every day, Piney Grove is shining bright!

Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to make Piney Grove a place where success is celebrated and school pride runs strong! Thank you all so much for being a part of our community!

How can you keep the GRIT momentum going at home ?

Generosity: Encourage your student to look for small ways to help others at home and in the community.

Responsibility: Support good habits like completing homework on time and taking care of personal belongings.

Integrity: Talk about the importance of honesty and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Teamwork: Highlight ways your family works together and celebrate successes as a team.

Book Fair is November 3-7! Click the link below to view Piney Grove’s book fair details and to set up your child’s eWallet.

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.

The FoCAL Center is excited to announce the next production in the 2025-26 season: Bright Star!

This heartfelt and sweeping musical, inspired by a true story, features a vibrant bluegrass score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina during the 1920s and 1940s, Bright Star tells a deeply moving story of love, loss, and the redemptive power of forgiveness. With soaring melodies and richly developed characters, the show takes audiences on an emotional journey filled with hope, heartache, and the promise of second chances. It’s a truly touching and soul-stirring experience you won’t want to miss.

Performances will be held in the FoCAL Center’s intimate blackbox theatre, in the round.

Tickets are on sale now and selling fast — so be sure to secure your seat soon!

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!

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.

Interested in joining? Click here to learn more and sign up