Pioneer News - 09/03/2018

Academic Olympics Update
Is your Pioneer's color team in the lead? Pledges are due the latest Wednesday, September 12th but if you turn them in by Friday, September 7th, you receive an extra prize.  More on our Academic Olympics fundraiser below

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Academic Olympics
We are in the middle of our Academic Olympics Fundraising Event!

Fliers have gone home today and all students were assigned a color team in this school-wide event.  Points will be earned for their team through donations (1 point for each dollar sponsored).  Each student that receives at least $10 in sponsorship will begin receiving prizes.  The more sponsorships a student receives, the more prizes they will receive (see prize list below).  Top prizes include a hand print on our ocean mural wall (for over $100 in sponsorship) and the student that brings in the most sponsorship will win a family four pack of tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain and the student that brings in the 2nd most sponsorship will win a pair of tickets.  Make sure to ask all your friends and family to help sponsor your Pioneer.  We'll even have a link on our website where out of state family and friends will be able to donate via credit/debit card. 

Points will also be awarded during the Academic Olympics event (taking place September 7th) which will be a Survivor-style obstacle course covering 5 academic topics, English, Math, Science, Current Events and Problem Solving.  The students will work in teams to complete each obstacle.  Students that complete the whole course earn points for their team! Points will be tallied throughout the 2 week event, and the winning color team will earn a special prize! 

Don't forget if you purchase a spirit bundle during the Academic Olympics, the amount donated will go to your Pioneer's team color and they'll receive the fun prizes listed below based on the tier purchased.  More information on Spirit Bundles below.

This event is ran in house by the Pinetree PTA to ensure all profits from this fundraiser go directly to our students!  Funds raised help us make our first payment for our Music, Art and Drama enrichment classes, pay for Brain Pop for all classrooms, the Reflections art competition, and countless other beginning of the year activities that give our Pinetree Pioneers a well rounded education.

All pledges are due by Wednesday, September 12th but turn them in by Friday, September 7th and your Pioneer will receive a bonus prize.

For more information on the event and the prize list, click HERE
If you lost your pledge sheet, you can download one HERE
If you would like to make a pledge to one of our great Pioneers online via Debit/Credit card, please click HERE

A great way to help your Pioneer get pledges is to post on Social Media so family and friends from afar can pledge too. 
Here is a sample posting:
Hey Friends and Family, _______ will be participating in the Academic Olympics on the ________ color team at their school Pinetree and you can help pledge to not only get them fun prizes but to also help raise money for their school's PTA which supports their enrichment classes.  Their teacher is ______.  Check out www.pinetreepta.org to pledge online via debit/credit card.  Thank you so much for your support!

Academic Olympics Volunteers Needed
Our Academic Olympics event will be this Friday, September 7th.  We can't put on this great event without the help of our Pinetree Family and Friends.  We keep this event in house to ensure of money raised is kept here at Pinetree.  This is a 'Survivor' style obstacle course that includes stops where they'll have to complete Academic events (Math, English, science, etc) and we need help setting up the event, running the stations and taking it down.  The event will be running from 8am to approx 11:30am with setup taking place before at 7:15am and dismantling after.  The best part of helping at the Academic Olympics event is you get to see your Pioneer run and enjoy the course.  
All volunteers must go through the office and check-in as a volunteer before meeting us out on the track (a valid id is required to check-in).

If you can just volunteer for 30 mins or the whole time, any time donated is greatly appreciated.
To sign-up to volunteer, and pick the time slots you're available, please CLICK HERE

Country Hoedown Family Dance
The Family Dance will be taking place on Friday September 14th from 5pm to 8pm in the MPR.  It will be themed to a Country Hoedown Dance so grab your blue denims, hats and boots.  Or, if you prefer, you can also dress up in your dresses and dancing clothes and join us for a fun night.  We'll have an awesome DJ playing a variety of today's big dance hits, delicious food and a photo booth.   Tickets will be 2 for $20 & $5.00 for each additional family member.

Please NOTE this will be a pre-order event only, there will be no tickets sold at the door.  Ticket orders are due by THIS Friday, September 7th

Flyers will be going home.  You can download the order form HERE or you can order online via Debit/Credit card HERE

Reflections - FREE Art Night - This Thursday at 6pm
Celebrating Excellence in the Arts - Free Art Night & Reflections Art Contest Information Meeting
Thursday, September 6 - 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m in the MPR
All ages and grades welcome
Come color, paint and draw with us!

The theme this year is "Heroes Around Me." It's the 50th Anniversary of the Reflections Art Program and they're looking for 50 entries from each school.

To learn more about the Reflections program, print out an interest form or entry form and see last year's winners - check out the Reflections page on our website here:
Reflections

Ice Cream Social
It's that time of the year for the great Ice Cream Social.  It will be taking place on Friday, September 21st from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the MPR.  It will be following a brief PTA Meeting at 5:30pm.  Every PTA member will receive one free sundae.  Not a member?  You still have time to join or you can join there at the Social to receive your ice cream sundae.    You can also bring in 10 boxtops to get a free sundae.  Or if you just want to come and socialize, we'll be selling ice cream sundaes for $1. 

Pinetree's Big 30th Birthday Celebration
As you all know, Pinetree Community School is turning the Big 3-0 this year and the Sulphur Springs School District wants to celebrate it in style.  Make sure to come out and celebrate on Friday, October 19th from 3:00-5:30pm.  We'll be having a school wide STEAM competition, performances, a Pinetree History Museum and so much more.  All past Pinetree Alumni, staff and families are invited so make sure to share with neighbors, family and friends who might be interested in attending.  It's going to be a major event and you definitely don't want to miss it.

Are you a past Pinetree Alumni, staff or family member?  Do you have some Pinetree History that we can borrow for our museum?  Perhaps old pictures, old spiritwear, flyers, etc?  Anything you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  All items borrowed will be treated like gold and returned to their rightful owners after the event is over.  Please reach out to [email protected] or drop them off by the office with your contact information.  Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Spirit Bundles
In celebration of Pinetree’s Big 30th Birthday year, the Pinetree PTA would like to introduce Spirit Bundles as a new way you can help the Pinetree PTA.  In return, you receive great goodies and recognition. We have multiple donation tiers to choose from, you can donate on behalf of your family or business name and one of the best parts - your donation is tax deductible.  This will help get Pinetree PTA on a great fundraising head start for the school year and depending on the tier, you will be able to get everything Pinetree PTA has to offer for the school year.  Pinetree PTA Fundraising provides complete funding for our enrichment classes including art and music instruction, as well as supporting classroom needs, field trips and school wide improvements.

To view the tiers and download the order form, CLICK HERE
To view the tiers and order online via debit/credit card, CLICK HERE
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Spiritwear
Thank you Pinetree Parents!  Because of your support for our school, we have sold out of nearly 250 shirts from our first order.  If you have not gotten the new spiritwear yet, don't worry, another order is being placed and will be here mid-September.  For more information on our Spiritwear collection, see the great women's shirts, see the new items added to the collection or to place an order online - Click HERE

Join the Pinetree PTA!
As you can see, we have kicked off our Membership drive with a cool "Rock & Roll" theme. 
Pinetree PTA Members Rock! 
Come join the Pinetree PTA and have a voice in your child's education.  Please note that joining the PTA doesn't require you to attend the meetings or volunteer although we and your students would LOVE if you did.  The Pinetree PTA was able to increase the membership count in the 2017-18 year by over 10% over the 2016-17 school year.  Let's show that we can do it again. 
Also, the classes with the most memberships will win some really cool prizes.  

To download the order form to pay via cash/check, CLICK HERE
To join the PTA online via debit/credit card, CLICK HERE

Important Upcoming Dates
September
09/03 (Mon) – Labor Day - No School
09/06 (Thur) – Reflections Art Night - 6:00-7:30pm
09/07 (Fri) – Academic Olympics Event
09/07 (Fri) -- Family Dance Ticket Orders Due
09/12 (Wed) -- Coffee with the Principal 2:30pm
09/12 (Wed) – Academic Olympics Final Donations Due
09/14 (Fri) – Minimum Day - 11:45am Dismissal
09/14 (Fri) – Family Dance
09/19 (Wed) – Lifetouch Fall Photos
09/21 (Fri) – PTA Meeting 5:30pm in the MPR
09/21 (Fri) – Ice Cream Social 6:00pm in the MPR
09/26 (Wed) – Goal Setting Meetings - Minimum Day
09/27 (Thurs) – Goal Setting Meetings - Minimum Day
09/28 (Fri) – Goal Setting Meetings - No School

October
10/01-10/02 (Mon-Tues) – Fall Break - No School
10/09 (Tues) – Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Topper's Pizza
10/12 (Fri) – Reflections Entries Due
10/18 (Thur) – PTA Meeting 5:30pm
10/19 (Fri) – Pinetree's 30th Birthday Celebration 3:00-5:30pm
10/25 (Thurs) – Fall Catalog Fundraiser Begins
10/26 (Fri) – Professional Development Day - No School
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Free Easy Ways to Help the Pinetree PTA
Keep checking out the “Easy Ways to Help” page on our website for free easy ways you can help the Pinetree PTA