PINE BOUGH
Pine Grove Middle School
9200 Old Harford Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21234
“Where being
410-887-5270
Performance-Driven and Goal-Oriented Moves us toward Success!”
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
TINA NELSON
Greetings Pine Grove Middle School Community,
Welcome to the 2015-16 school year! I am excited to be joining the Pine Grove Middle School family. I had the
opportunity to meet many of you at the August Meet and Greet and at Ready, Set, Succeed Night. I am looking
forward to meeting more of you and to getting to know your child.
Our vision at Pine Grove is to provide a quality education that develops the 21st century content knowledge,
skills, and attitudes that will enable all students to reach their maximum potential as responsible, life-long
learners and globally competitive citizens. We are focusing on instruction that centers on the students and on
providing the kind of feedback that allows each student to know where he or she is, and exactly what to do to
improve. Throughout the year, we welcome and encourage your involvement, input, and participation in making
Pine Grove Middle School the best educational experience possible for each of our students.
In addition to academics, there are many athletic opportunities, clubs, Cougar Activity Nights, and other school
activities for student participation. I strongly encourage all students to participate in extra-curricular
opportunities and contribute to the school. This is a special way to make a connection with classmates and
teachers and develop a great sense of pride for your school.
I am looking forward to another year of excellence!
Tina Nelson
GRADE REPORTING
Report cards will be distributed on Nov. 12th, so please be certain to look out for them. The
Academic Achievement Committee will reward the many students who will make the first
quarter Honor Roll this year. In addition, our Straight A’s Breakfast is on Friday, Dec 4th at
7:30 a.m. for the many students, and their families, who qualify for this distinguished honor. Second quarter
interims will be given to students the morning of December 3rd. It is our earnest desire that you are consistently
accessing BCPS One for up-to-date information about your child’s academic performance in their assorted
classes. Also, know that all teachers and counselors are available to address any needs and/or questions you
may have regarding your child’s progress and achievement.
National Junior Honor Society Induction - October 28, 2015
The National Junior Honor Society is an organization comprised of elite, 8th grade, academic leaders.
Character, citizenship, leadership, and service are the qualities that each student in the National Junior Honor
Society embodies. With the honor of being members of this organization comes responsibility; a responsibility
to share their wisdom, their talents, and to make positive contributions to society. We couldn’t be more proud
of this group of students. Pine Grove Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society induction will be held on
October 28, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
DRESS CODE REMINDER
Students are expected to wear appropriate attire. The following are not considered appropriate: hats, bandannas,
halters or bare midriffs, low-cut tops, short-shorts or short skirts, and flip-flops. Skirts/dresses/shorts must be
the length of the wearer’s arm (to bottom of middle finger-tip when arm is at side). Pants are to be worn
appropriately at waist; pants should not be excessively long as to pose a safety concern for self or others, nor
have slits/slashes that expose skin.
Clothing/accessories with references to sex, profanity, drugs, alcohol, violence, or tobacco are not permitted.
Clothing/accessories may not convey messages that express hate, racial slurs, or sexual harassment. All students
should wear shoes that allow for safe movement while in school. NO undergarments may be visible at any time.
The final say on inappropriate dress will be determined by the administration.
2016-2017 Magnet Program Opportunities
On September 3 and 4, magnet program brochures and applications were distributed to Grade 8 students. These
brochures include important information about magnet programs, admission criteria and transportation. Please
discuss this information with your child as you as plan for the next phase of your child’s education. New, this
year, magnet applications may be submitted online at www.bcps.org/offices.omp until 1:00 pm on
Monday, November 30, 2015. Paper applications can also be submitted to the BCPS Office of Magnet
Programs at 105 W. Chesapeake Ave., Jefferson Building, Towson, MD 21204. ALL paper applications must
be post marked (certified mail recommended) or hand-delivered by the deadline date of November 30, 2015.
Hand-delivered applications must be received by 3:30 pm on November 30. Applications delivered after this
deadline will not be processed.
Students will also be provided information about this year’s Magnet EXPO, and Magnet Showcase Events
during the months of October and November. Discuss this information with your child and plan to attend these
important events.
More information about the programs is available at www.bcps.org/offices.omp or by calling the Office of
Magnet Programs at 410-887-4127.
From the PBIS Committee
Welcome back to a new school year at PGMS. Our PBIS sponsored school store opened for business on
September 8th! Many of our returning students are looking forward to shopping the variety of items that can be
purchased using the green TRACS that they earn for demonstrating RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY. In
order to keep our TRACS store stocked, we would appreciate donations of school supplies as well as gently
used stuffed animals, games, books, or other kid friendly items. Also, don’t forget to ask your child how
they demonstrated RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY today in school.
From the Student-Service Learning Coordinator
Anne Casale, Grade 8 School Counselor
What is Student Service Learning?
Service-Learning is a state graduation requirement which engages students in organized service projects that
meet real needs in the community. Students need to complete 75 hours before graduation.
Service-Learning begins in grade six. Students may earn hours through projects completed in the classroom
(curriculum infusion) and through independent service projects in the community. While hours may be earned
in the classroom through curriculum projects all students may participate in independent projects that meet
community needs. Projects can be:
– Direct service - working directly with people in need
– Indirect service – working indirectly to help people in need (such as fundraisers)
– Advocacy - vocally supporting a cause in person or in writing
Students Interested in Independent Projects Need to Follow these Steps:
1. Go to the Service-Learning Coordinator, Mrs. Casale, to find an approved organization in which to serve
or to get an organization pre-approved. It is very important to get a project pre-approved to make
sure the project meets BCPS requirements!!
2. After turning in the Pre-Approval Form, the student will be given the Verification of Hours Form and
Reflection Form. These forms must be signed by the person supervising the project.
3. Turn in the Verification of Hours and Reflection form to receive credit for hours.
Call or email Mrs.Casale at 410-887-5270 or [email protected].
Check out these links!
http://www.bcps.org/offices/service_learning/
http://www.bcps.org/offices/service_learning/pdf/Resource-Directory.pdf
BAND NEWS
We are up and running! Ms. Gerow is thrilled to continue work with returning
musicians and is really enjoying getting to know the 6th grade band students!
Remember to be sure your child has reeds (I sell them here), valve oil, mouthpiece
brushes, etc. as applicable.
Ms. Gerow reminds students that instruments are to go home for practice. A few students still need to turn in
book money – 6th and 7th graders who play woodwind or brass instruments turn in $9, 6th and 7th grade
percussion students turn in $14.
We can’t wait to perform for you December 16!
Email me with questions/concerns at: [email protected]
Ms. Emily Gerow
Director of Bands/ Music Content Leader
PTSA News
Hello, Pine Grove Families! I hope the start of the school year has been relatively smooth for you and your
family!
The first General Membership Meeting was held on September 16. Thank you to everyone who helped at the
6th Grade Ready, Set Succeed Night on August 20 and to those who helped at the 7th & 8th Grade Back to
School Night on September 16. Would you like to help sometime this year? Make sure to fill out your
Volunteer Application and receive your Volunteer Training – either in person or online – and then watch for
email blasts with opportunities to help. Speaking of eBlasts…
Constant Contact eBlasts: If you are not receiving our PGMS PTSA emails, please send an email to
[email protected] asking to join our mailing list. Make sure to include your name and your child’s grade.
Membership: Are you one of the over 241 parents, students and faculty/staff who have already joined our
PGMS PTSA this year? Thank you! An extra “Thank You!” to the business that has joined so far: Club Z! In
Home Tutoring run by Oral Levy, a former PGMS parent. Remember that by joining PGMS PTSA, you also
become a member of the Maryland PTA and the National PTA. Take advantage of the offers and information
available only to PTA members by visiting www.pta.org. Your student will receive a TRAC & a Chick-fil-A
coupon for each member of the family that joins. And your student will be eligible for a PGMS PTSA
Scholarship when graduating from high school!
Direct Giving Fundraiser: We are asking everyone to make a one-time tax-deductible donation. If we raise
$20 per student, then we will not need to have a traditional fundraiser. Are you wondering how much to
donate? Consider how much you would normally spend on the wrapping paper/cookie dough fundraiser, the
pizza fundraiser, and the Yankee Candle fundraiser. Then, realize that those fundraisers only net about 40% for
the PTSA. That means if you would normally spend a total of $150 on these 3 fundraisers, the PTSA would
only receive $60. So, with a direct donation, a little bit goes a much longer way. And don't forget to invite
family and friends to participate, just as you would with a traditional fundraiser. Every dollar helps fund those
little extras that make school more enjoyable! Thank you to everyone who has already participated, including
those who said “Keep the Change!” when paying for membership – we have already raised over $1400. Special
thanks to Club Z! In Home Tutoring and The Point for being our first business donors! A banner will be
going up in the lobby soon.
All are invited to our Board of Directors Meetings which are on the first Thursday of the month. We are
always looking for fresh faces and fresh ideas to make our PGMS PTSA even better. We are still looking for a
Vice President (you are NOT expected to become President), a Fundraising Chair, a Reflections chair, and help
with hospitality, membership, and spirit wear. Our next meeting is October 1 at 7 PM in the school library.
This is a fantastic way to get to know the school better, and your presence earns your student a MEGA TRAC!
Check out the PTSA tab (under the Parents tab) on the PGMS website for more information and copies of our
various forms.
Stop by the PTSA table at Conference Night on September 30 from 3-6 PM for a little snack before talking to
your child’s teachers. Watch for eBlasts (Constant Contact) for up-to-date information and opportunities to be
more involved in your student’s school life!
See you soon!
Erica O'Leary
[email protected]
Pine Grove Cross Country
We are happy to announce that Pine Grove Middle School will be having a cross country team this year.
Practices began on September 15, 2015 and will run Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 4:30
PM. The cross country team is a place to get in shape and learn proper form, technique, drills, and stretches for
running. We are aware that many students have come from elementary schools which hosted running events
and we are very excited for you to join our cross country team.
Mr. Andrew Parker will be coaching the cross country team this year with assistance from Ms. Six.
Information was distributed at a meeting that was held on September 4, 2015. In order for you to participate
you must pick up the information from Mr. Parker and you will need to have a current physical and permission
from your parent/guardian to stay after. The cross country team is for boys or girls in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.
Some qualities we look for are determination and motivation so you can make a goal that is attainable
throughout the cross country season. There will always be supervision with the students on campus as they
perform their workouts.
Our purpose in making this opportunity available is:
 To encourage running as a means of fun and fitness.
 To expose children from different communities to a healthy and challenging competition in a supportive
environment.
 To experience the joy of participating and completing a challenging activity.
Races will be held at other participating schools as well as at Pine Grove Middle School. The races consist of a
1-1.5 mile run. The races start promptly at 4:00 PM with registration held at 3:30 PM. Races are optional for
members of the cross country team, but we encourage you to try them in order to compete in a friendly
environment. Races will be held at the following schools on these dates:
October 14, 2015
October 21, 2015
**October 24, 2015
October 28, 2015
November 4, 2015
November 11, 2015
Pine Grove Middle Fall Open
Hereford Middle School (Baby Bull Run)
Dulaney High School Meet starting @ 10:00 AM
Parkville Middle School (Monster Dash)
Dumbarton Middle Open
Cockeysville Middle (Turkey Trot)
If you have any questions please contact Mr. Parker [email protected] or Ms. Six [email protected]. If you
want to start running now, don’t wait for us. The weather is beautiful for enjoying the outdoors. You can get a
head start. Have fun and be safe.
Box Tops for Education
A very big thank you goes out to all of our families that have saved and sent in Box Tops for Education, found
on many grocery items. Please continue to save and send them in and please ask friends and family members to
do the same. The funds have enabled us to do many of the special projects our students are involved in
throughout the year!
FITNESSGRAM INFORMATION FROM PHYSICAL EDUCATION
 Students in grades 6th -8th will be administered the FITNESSGRAM at least once this year possibly
more. Results from this fitness test will be shared with students to allow goal setting and planning of an
individualized fitness program. The results can be compared to last years’ scores and can be used to
determine progress made toward their individual fitness goals.
 Fitness data will be collected from all schools and be compared throughout the county.
 The following are required test areas and BCPS recommended test items.
Test Area
Aerobic capacity
Abdominal strength and endurance
Trunk extensor and flexibility
Upper body strength and endurance
Hamstring flexibility
Upper body flexibility
Test Item
The Pacer
Curl-Up
Trunk Lift
Push-Up
Back-Saver Sit and Reach
Shoulder Stretch
Upon completion of the testing, the students will receive a score sheet to see their scores and be able to
do a comparison with last year’s scores. The purpose of the fitness screening is to point out areas of strengths
and areas that might need improvement in physical fitness. It is not intended to compare one student with
another, but rather with national averages for each age. Body size and build will certainly affect scores as will
motivation.
Take a positive approach toward improving any exceptionally weak areas. Children should be
encouraged to be more physical active for fun and fitness. During physical education class’s students will be
shown ways to improve scores and how to practice at home. Any encouragement or assistance from parents
will further the likelihood of each child achieving and maintaining physical fitness.
FITNESS REPORT
If you have any questions about this program please feel free to contact your child’s physical education
instructor via e-mail. Once again thank you for your support in helping keep your children physically active
throughout the entire year.
Have a fit school year.
Health News from the Nurse
Vision and Hearing screening is coming soon! Just a reminder that all 8th graders will have their hearing and
vision tested the week of October 5th – 8th. If you have a student in the 6th or 7th grade that you are concerned
about please let me know and I will put them on the list
Betsy Rudolf, RN
[email protected]
News in the Library
Ms. Bunch
In elementary school, children learn how to use libraries in a broad
sense. But in middle school, students are better equipped to
understand how to research and find resources in the library
(traditional or virtual). I hope to spark interest in literacy and
research by creating a space where our students can thrive. This
year, during 6th grade Reading, all students will be brought to
the library approximately once a month to learn necessary
library skills, listen to book talks, and check out books! 7th and
8th grade Reading and World Languages classes will visit once
a month to browse and exchange books.
Read! Students will keep track of all the books they read
this year. Everytime they begin a new book, they should write
down the title and author. When the book is finished, students
will write down the date finished and a short reflection. As
students meet the mile-markers, they will turn the log into Mrs.
Bunch to receive a prize. The deadline for 25 books will be
June 1, 2016. Students who read 25 books are invited to a special breakfast.
STUDENTS NEED THEIR BCPS ID CARDS TO VISIT THE LIBRARY AND TO
CHECK OUT BOOKS!
Pine Grove is hosting its annual Can food Drive,
Please have your child bring in canned goods and non-perishable items to his or hers homeroom teacher. The
collected items will go to the “Helping Hands” benefiting families in the Pine Grove area. On a fun note: The
homeroom with the most items will win a prize from the SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions).
Donations are accepted all year; however, the homeroom challenge starts Nov. 1st thru Nov. 20th (for families at
Thanksgiving) and a second drive Dec. 1st thru Dec. 18th (for families during the winter break).
HALLOWEEN TIPS
Always remember …
1) Never, ever go into someone’s home or car.
2) Walk with an adult and in a group.
3) Don’t eat candy without an adult checking it first.
4) Wear bright clothes or reflective material and carry a flashlight.
5) Be very careful when crossing the street.
6) Carry a phone in case of an emergency.
7) Call 911 to report any suspicious activities.
Also, remember …
Be respectful of other people’s property.
Don’t do anything, you would not want done to you.
BE SAFE and HAVE FUN!!
_____________________________________________________________
October will be very busy for SADD Club members! We have begun to recruit
strong, independent students to be leaders. SADD will be kicking off our year with
Bullying Prevention and Anti-Drug (RED RIBBON WEEK) campaigns designed
for students, parents, and educators! Our theme is BULLY-FREE & DRUG FREE
BEGINS WITH ME! We are asking all to sign pledges during lunch shifts and
raise awareness of drug and alcohol abuse and all forms of bullying with our annual
and RED RIBBON WEEK
Pine Grove Middle School
ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE
I pledge to …
Think about what I am saying.
Speak out when I see bullying.
Lend a hand to those who need help.
Stick with it and refuse to bully others.
I will choose to stand up, be a friend and
remember that the end of bullying begins with me.
I will say ‘NO’ to bullying and ‘YES’ to PEACE!
My name is ___________________________.
Club is…
Collecting Halloween candy to be donated to the homeless shelter.
Throughout the school year, students will make small candy gifts to be
given to the families at local homeless shelters. If your student wants to
share his or her candy have them see Mr. Fains or any SADD member in
the commons before going to lockers.
Gifted and Talented Art Applications 2015-2016
Please note the following date:
April 7- Portfolio Due to Art Teacher
Requirements:
Please see information inside packet for further explanation.
1. Drawing of an object from observation
Pick an object like a shoe, a plant, or a chair. Place it in a brightly lit area. Draw the object so that it fills the
page and creates a good composition. Make your drawing as realistic as possible. Show the highlights and
shadows using a pencil, charcoal, or other art materials.
2. Drawing of a person from observation.
Ask someone to pose for you. They can be sitting in a chair watching TV or reading. Draw their entire
body and their surroundings. Use shading and try to draw as accurately as possible.
3. Drawing from your imagination
This drawing is totally up to you. You can make up something like an imaginary creature or scene. Make an
interesting and complete composition. Use whatever art materials you would like.
4. Sketchbook
Your sketchbook should show practice drawings that you have done for the above assignments along with
any free drawing you do on your own. You may use your art classroom sketchbook; just remember to take
it back and forth from school to home. Please avoid too many drawings of cartoons, especially ones that are
copied.
5. Other Artwork
Select 2 other art pieces of any media that shows your strengths in art. They may be from your art class, but
it is your responsibility to get these together.
Keep everything in a bag to bring in to give to your art teacher. Please ask your parent to help you keep this
organized and write the dates on the calendar. You may show your drawings to your art teacher and ask for
suggestions. If your parents have any questions they can call Mr. Fains at 410-887-5270 or email
[email protected].
English/Language Arts and Reading
Math and Reading Night at PGMS
In order to support reading and the love of it, Pine Grove Middle School will be hosting a Math and Reading
Night on Wednesday, November 18th at 6PM. Come explore reading with your child. We hope to see you
there.
Reading is so very important for your child’s success in life. Here are our Top Ten Reasons students should read:
1. To Develop Verbal Abilities
Although it doesn’t always make you a better communicator, those who read tend to have a more varied range
of words to express how they feel and to get their point across. This increases exponentially with the more
volumes you consume, giving you a higher level of vocabulary to use in everyday life.
2. To Improve Focus and Concentration
Unlike blog posts and news articles, sitting down with a book takes long periods of focus and concentration,
which at first is hard to do. Being fully engaged in a book involves closing off the outside world and immersing
yourself into the text, which over time will strengthen your attention span.
3. To Enjoy the Arts and Improve the World
A study done by the NEA explains that people who read for pleasure are many times more likely than those
who do not to visit museums and attend concerts, and almost three times as likely to perform volunteer and
charity work. Readers are active participants in the world around them, and that engagement is critical to
individual and social well-being.
4. To Improve Imagination
You are only limited by what you can imagine, and the worlds described in books, as well as other people’s
views and opinions, will help you expand your understanding of what is possible. By reading a written
description of an event or a place, your mind is responsible for creating that image in your head, instead of
having the image placed in front of you when you watch television.
5. To Become Smarter
Books offer an outstanding wealth of learning and at a much cheaper price than taking a course. Reading gives
you a chance to consume huge amount of research in a relatively short amount of time. Books at home have
been strongly linked to academic achievement.
6. To Become More Interesting and Interested
This goes hand in hand with reading to become smarter. Having a library of information that you have picked
up from non-fiction reading will come in handy in any academic or scholarly conversation. You will be able to
hold your own and add to the conversation instead of having to make your excuses and leave. You will be able
to engage a wider variety of people in conversation and in turn improve your knowledge and conversation
skills.
7. To Reduce Stress
A study by consultancy firm Mindlab International at the University of Sussex showed that reading reduces
stress. Subjects only needed to read, silently, for six minutes to slow down the heart rate and ease tension in the
muscles. In fact it got subjects to stress levels lower than before they started.
8. To Improve Memory
Reading gives you a unique pause button for comprehension and insight. By and large, with oral language
“when you watch a film or listen to a tape, you don’t press pause.” The benefits of this increased activity keep
your memory sharp and your learning capacity nimble.
9. To Discover Yourself
Reading helps with your imagination and wit. With the endless amount of perspectives and lives about which
we can read, books can give us an opportunity to have experiences that we haven’t had, and still allow us to
learn the life skills they entail.
10. To Be Entertained
All the benefits of reading mentioned so far are a bonus result of the most important benefit of reading; Its
entertainment value. If it were not for the entertainment value, reading would be a chore but it needn’t be.
Reading is not only fun, but it has all the added benefits that we have discussed so far. Much more enthralling
than watching a movie or a TV show (although they have their many benefits as well), a good book can keep us
amused while developing our life skills.
Source:
http://whytoread.com/why-to-read-10-reasons-why-reading-books-will-save-your-life/hy read
Welcome 6th Grade Parents
Allow me to introduce myself, I am Alice Curtis the 6th grade counselor. I am very
excited to be working with your students this year. As we begin, the middle school
experience, some of your children may be experiencing feelings or anxiety or are
overwhelmed with the changes in routine and environment. The transition from
elementary to middle school is one of the most stressful changes in a child’s life.
You can help by being compassionate and patient as you support them during their
adjustment period, while still maintaining clear expectations for school attendance
and academic performance. Middle school is a journey of highs and lows through
which your children will grow and mature. Set your child up for success by making
time for homework each night. Please make a habit of checking their agenda to be
sure they have completed all assigned homework. If nothing was assigned, have
your child read for pleasure, practice math facts, or review vocabulary. The
research is clear that a successful 6th grade year is critical to your child’s academic
development. Failure is not an option. Together LET’S GET IT RIGHT. Please
call me if you have any questions or concerns.
Counselor Comments- Grade 7
Welcome back families and students! I hope the start of the 2015-2016 school year is a great one for everyone.
My name is Kara Roberts. I will be working with our 7th graders this year as their school counselor on A days.
Ms. Curtis (last names A-L) and Mrs. Casale (last names M-Z) will be co-counseling the 7th grade as well.
The school counseling program at Pine Grove Middle consists of individual counseling, group counseling and
classroom guidance. Throughout the year I will be working with our 7th grade students both in and out of the
classroom individually or in a small group. Students are referred to the counselor by teachers, staff, friends,
family or through self referral. Working with our students to build a healthy self concept is powerful in
developing healthy meaningful relationships now and in the future. So, thank you for allowing me this
opportunity.
Please know that I am available by appointment or via the phone or email to discuss any concerns you may have
regarding your child’s social, emotional or academic needs. I have many resources to support all areas of our
students’ growth. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Please remember that all information shared
with me will remain confidential.
In order to better help meet the needs of our students, please take a minute to contact me if any unforeseen
changes within your home or family have occurred this year, for example: death of a pet or family member,
separation, moving away of a family member or friend, deployment and/or illness of a loved one. This
information will not be shared with others but will be used to assist in developing a school counseling program
that meets your child’s needs.
Welcome back and I look forward to working with you and your family this school year.
Kara Roberts
School Counselor
[email protected]
410-887-5270
NEWS FROM SOCIAL STUDIES
“Boring names, facts, dates - this is history for a lot of people. But historians think about history differently.
They see themselves as detectives, often unsure about what happened, what it means, and rarely able to agree
amongst themselves. This process of trying to figure out things you don't already know is as different from
mindless memorization as you can get.”
Historical Thinking Matters, George Mason University and Stanford University
Throughout middle school, student in social studies classes at Pine Grove Middle School will begin to think like
historians. The fundamental skills of thinking like historians will allow students to begin to question the past,
develop and defend claims and arguments, and cite evidence to support their claims. These skills are:
 Sourcing
o This skill requires students to:
 Identify the author’s position on the historical event
 Identify and evaluate the author’s purpose in producing the document
 Hypothesize what the author will say before reading the document
 Evaluate the sources trustworthiness by considering genre, audience, and purpose

Contextualization
o This skill requires students to:
 Understand how context/background information influences the content of the document
 Recognize that documents are products of particular points in time

Corroboration
o This skill requires students to:
 Establish what is probable by comparing documents to each other
 Recognize disparities between accounts

Close Reading
o This skill requires students to:
 Identify the author’s claims about an event
 Evaluate the evidence and reasoning the author uses to support claims
 Evaluate author’s word choice; understand that language is used deliberately
By focusing on these skills throughout the middle school experience, students will develop important critical
thinking and problem-solving skills that will be utilized in high school, college, and careers.
Throughout the year, students will continue to develop these skills by studying the following units:



Grade 6 World Cultures
o Latin America
o South Asia
o East Asia
Grade 7 World Cultures
o Africa
o Middle East
o Europe
o Central Eurasia
Grade 8 American History
o Colonial America
o Revolution
o The Early Nation
o Nationalism and Expansion
o Sectionalism and Slavery
o The Civil War
School Activities Corner
Welcome back! We hope everyone enjoyed their summer, and we are all very excited about the year ahead.
We are already working on events for our students this year. Hopefully, you received from your student an
informational letter regarding upcoming events for our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Please sign and return the tear
off to your student’s homeroom teacher. In order to provide these educational and exciting trips for our
students, we need your help. If you would like to be a chaperone on one of our trips, you must complete
Volunteer Training. This process must be completed yearly. Volunteer training can be completed online at
bcps.org. Once at the site, select the “Parents” tab, then select “BCPS Online Volunteer Orientation,” and
follow the instructions. Papers should then be submitted to the school. If you receive training at a different
school this year, please forward the necessary information to Mrs. Kelly, our administrative secretary, or you
may drop it off at the school.
Sixth graders have also received a permission slip for their field trip to the Washington D.C. Zoo on October
13th. Please send in your money and permission slip to be a part of this exciting experience. The final collection
date is Thursday, September 24th. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kemp.
Look for updates regarding school functions in the Pine Bough, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter! These
are all excellent resources to keep you informed on the latest events happening at PGMS! We look forward to
working with you and your students.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
OCTOBER
12
COLUMBUS DAY
16
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR STUDENTS
23
COUGAR ACTIVITY NIGHT 7-9 PM
30
FIRST M ARKING PERIOD ENDS- 3 HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL
NOVEMBER
11
VETERANS DAY
12
REPORTS CARDS DISTRIBUTED
16-20 AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
17
6TH GRADE VISITATION/VOLUNTEER TRAINING 10:50AM
18
7TH GRADE VISITATION/VOLUNTEER TRAINING 11:40AM
18
READING AND MATH NIGHT 6:00PM
19
8TH GRADE VISITATION/VOLUNTEER TRAINING 12:30PM
20
COUGAR ACTIVITY NIGHT 7-9 PM
26-27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY- SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED
DECEMBER
3
INTERIMS DISTRIBUTED
9
CONFERENCE NIGHT 3-5 PM
9
WINTER CHORAL CONCERTS 6:00PM
16
WINTER BAND CONCERTS 6:00PM
23
WINTER BREAK BEGINS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY
Pine Grove Middle School
9200 Old Harford Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21234
410-887-5270 phone
410-668-5237 fax
Website - https://pinegrovems.bcps.org
Tina Nelson, Principal [email protected]
John Bowman, Assistant Principal [email protected]
Judy Monk, Assistant Principal [email protected]
Nathan Davis, Assistant Principal [email protected]