Pine Hollow Featured as One of Raleigh’s Best for 2025

Today, the News & Observer announced their winners of the “Raleigh’s Best” competition, and our school finished in the top three of the “Best Middle School” category, taking home the bronze! This recognition is a testament to the work we are all doing together to build a stronger school culture and community for everyone. Congratulations to all of the schools who were recognized!

First Dance of the School Year a Huge Success

This past Friday, we had our first dance of the year for all grades. Judging by the reactions of students, it appears that everything was a HUGE HIT! A special thank you to our PTSA Dance Committee for all of their work to coordinate this event for our students. This is yet another example of the many ways that our PTSA supports so many things within our school community that quite frankly may not be possible without the support of all of you who support our PTSA. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to all of the other adults (parents, staff, community members) who assisted with chaperoning or assisting with snacks. It takes a village!

Morning Arrival Reminder

The past couple of weeks, we have noticed a significant uptick in the number of students who are arriving late. This week, the admin team will be connecting with chronic offenders to address this; however, we wanted to highlight to everyone the importance of having students at school and in class on time. We recognize that emergencies will come up occasionally; however, we cannot emphasize enough how the number of tardies we are dealing with first thing every day is beginning to put a SIGNIFICANT strain on our staff and our limited resources. Numerous times this past week, administrators and counselors have even had to be pulled away from supporting students to assist in the front office to handle waves of students coming in, which is not a practice that we will norm.

Spirit Week Next Week (November 3-7)

To wrap up the first quarter and fall sports season, we will have a full Spirit Week next week, November 3-7. Below are the dates.

• Monday (Nov. 3): Grade Level Color Day - Represent your grade level by wearing the following colors to help your grade level win the grade level color battle during the pep rally!

  • 6th Grade = White

  • 7th Grade = Gray

  • 8th Grade = Red

• Tuesday (Nov. 4): NO SCHOOL for Students

• Wednesday (Nov. 5): Team Day - Represent your favorite team by wearing your favorite gear—jerseys, t-shirts, uniforms, hats, scarves, whatever shows your best spirit!

• Thursday (Nov. 6): Pajama Day - Roll out of bed and go (remember to brush your teeth 

• Friday (Nov. 7): Twin/Triplet Day - Choose a friend or two (or more!) to dress alike with

Halloween Costumes Allowed on October 31

Students who wish to wear costumes on Halloween (Friday, October 31) are permitted to do so. As is the case with any other day, however, student attire must adhere to the WCPSS Dress Code Policy as adopted by our school. 

Furthermore, students must adhere to all other policies outlined in the Student Code of Conduct when considering what they may (or may not) wear as a part of a costume (or any attire for that matter). Below are a few things to remember:

• Full face coverings/masks are NOT permitted.

• Facsimiles of any weapons (e.g., toy weapons, plastic axes for costume prop, etc.) or other potentially dangerous instruments are NOT permitted.

• Anything that promotes use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs OR anything that depicts profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, or violence are NOT permitted

Again, to reiterate the earlier point—if students wouldn’t be able to wear something to school any other day of the year, they would not be permitted to wear it as a costume.

Dr. Carrington Makes Good on Blond Fundraising Promise

In keeping with my promise to dye my hair blond if we met our fundraising goal a few weeks ago, this weekend, I finally took the plunge with the assistance of a very talented master stylist—and member of our PHMS community—Mrs. Jenny Smith of the Samuel Cole Salon off of Strickland Road. She took great care of this anxious principal and made the process super easy!

ELA Check-In Tests on Monday, November 10

On Monday, November 10th, the students will be taking their first ELA Check-in to provide students and teachers with immediate in-depth data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. We need your help in two ways:

1. Making sure that your student(s) take these assessments seriously as they are invaluable in helping us to determine what additional supports we need to provide students.

2. Ensuring that students are at school on time (OR EARLY) so that we can get started as quickly as possible. We will be operating on a different schedule that morning to give the students time to take the Check-in without interruption.

Makeup Picture Day Also on Monday, November 10

Students who missed fall picture day and those who would like to retake their pictures will be able to do so on Monday, November 10. Click here to view package information. To receive updates about your child’s school portraits after picture day, sign up at this link. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Support our Band Program’s Donors Choose Project

Looking for a way to support our band program—and a growing jazz ensemble we hope to launch? If so, feel free to contribute to the band program’s Donors Choose project to purchase an electric keyboard for the band classroom. To learn more about the project or to donate, click here.

Thank You to Our 2025-26 PTSA School Sponsors

A special thank you to the generous local businesses who have signed on to be a sponsor for the 2025-26 school year. If your company—or one that you know—is interested in serving as a sponsor, please connect with our PTSA Fundraising Co-Chairs at phmsptsafundraising@gmail.com.

No School for Students on Monday, October 20

This is a reminder that there is no school for students on Monday, October 20 as it is a Teacher Workday. We look forward to seeing students on Tuesday, October 21. 

Fall Dance Tickets on Sale This Week

Our first school-wide dance of the year will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm for all PHMS students, grades 6-8 (students from other schools are not permitted to attend). The theme for the dance is Glow in the Dark. Click here to view the flyer.

Tickets will be $7 per person and will be sold before school and during lunch at the following times:

• Before school Tuesday, October 21 - Friday, October 24 from 7:45 am until 8:10 am

• During lunch on the following days for each grade level

  • Tuesday, October 21 for 6th Graders During Their Lunch

  • Wednesday, October 22 for 8th Graders During Their Lunch

  • Thursday, October 23 for 7th Graders During Their Lunch

Tickets will NOT be sold at the dance on Friday.

As a reminder, the dance will conclude promptly at 6:30 pm, at which point all students will need to be picked up. Students who are not picked up within a reasonable amount of time may not be able to participate in future after-school activities.

Volunteer to Assist with Fall Dance on Friday, October 24

We will have our first school dance on Friday, October 24 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. This dance will be open to all Pine Hollow Middle School students who meet behavior expectations. Additional details about ticket sales will be available in the coming week or so. If you would like to sign up to chaperone and/or donate snacks, please sign up here. 

Halloween Costumes Allowed on October 31

Students who wish to wear costumes on Halloween (Friday, October 31) are permitted to do so. As is the case with any other day, however, student attire must adhere to the WCPSS Dress Code Policy as adopted by our school. 

Furthermore, students must adhere to all other policies outlined in the Student Code of Conduct when considering what they may (or may not) wear as a part of a costume (or any attire for that matter). Below are a few things to remember:

• Full face coverings/masks are NOT permitted.

• Facsimiles of any weapons (e.g., toy weapons, plastic axes for costume prop, etc.) or other potentially dangerous instruments are NOT permitted.

• Anything that promotes use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs OR anything that depicts profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, or violence are NOT permitted

Again, to reiterate the earlier point—if students wouldn’t be able to wear something to school any other day of the year, they would not be permitted to wear it as a costume.

Makeup Picture Day on Monday, November 10

Students who missed fall picture day and those who would like to retake their pictures will be able to do so on Monday, November 10. Click here to view package information. To receive updates about your child’s school portraits after picture day, sign up at this link. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Check-In Tests Coming Up Soon

On Monday, November 10th, the students will be taking their first ELA Check-in. We will be operating on a different schedule that morning to give the students time to take the Check-in without interruption. Please try to make sure your student comes to school by 8:15 am on Monday, November 10th.

The NC Check-Ins 2.0 are formative assessments developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Annual Testing Program and are aligned to North Carolina grade-level content standards. The main purpose of the interims is to provide students and teachers with immediate in-depth data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. The end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of course (EOC) tests share a common question bank with the NC Check-Ins 2.0, which then exposes students to similar question types and rigor found on the EOGs and EOCs. 

Support our Band Program’s Donors Choose Project

Looking for a way to support our band program—and a growing jazz ensemble we hope to launch? If so, feel free to contribute to the band program’s Donors Choose project to purchase an electric keyboard for the band classroom. To learn more about the project or to donate, click here.

Trunk-or-Treat from One of Our School Partners on October 25

Our friends from New City Church have invited our families to enjoy an afternoon of candy, costumes, and family fun on Saturday, October 25, from 4–6 PM at Pine Hollow Middle School! This free community event will feature decorated car trunks for safe trick-or-treating, plus games, inflatables, complimentary snacks, and more.

Students are welcome to wear kid-friendly costumes and bring a bag or tote to collect candy. They’d love for you to invite friends and neighbors to come enjoy the fun!

Reminders from Previous Week(s)

Behavioral Expectations and Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities: In an effort to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we have been meeting with students recently to reiterate behavioral expectations at our school. As such, effective September 29, students who are assigned three (3) or more full days of ISS or OSS during the respective quarter will not be permitted to participate in after-school activities during that quarter. Furthermore, students who receive excessive partial-day assignments to ISS will also not be able to participate in these after-school activities.

Thank You to Our 2025-26 PTSA School Sponsors

A special thank you to the generous local businesses who have signed on to be a sponsor for the 2025-26 school year. If your company—or one that you know—is interested in serving as a sponsor, please connect with our PTSA Fundraising Co-Chairs at phmsptsafundraising@gmail.com.

No School for Students on Monday, October 13

This is a reminder that there is no school for students on Monday, October 13 as it is a Teacher Workday. We look forward to seeing students on Tuesday, October 14. We will also have another Teacher Workday next Monday, October 20, 2025.

Celebrate National School Lunch Week (October 13-17)

October 13th-17th is National School Lunch Week. Let us celebrate Ms. Diaz and her team who play such an important role in our kids’ daily nutrition routine. From the early mornings spent preparing meals to the warm smiles they share in the cafeteria, their dedication does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do every day!

Pink Out Spirit Day on Thursday, October 16

As you may know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To show our support for this important cause, we invite all students, staff, and families to participate in a school-wide Pink Out on Thursday, October 16th. Our home football game that day will also have a Pink Out theme. We hope you will consider wearing pink this Thursday as a simple, yet powerful way to show that we stand together as a community in the fight against breast cancer. 

Join us for Family Glow BINGO Night on Friday, October 17

We're hosting a fun-filled evening of Bingo for the whole family on Friday, October 17. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with games running from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The cost to participate is $10 per person. This fee includes entry into the event and one Bingo board per person for the games (additional Bingo cards will be available for purchase at the event). Pizza and concessions will also be available for purchase to fuel your winning streak. As a reminder, all students must be accompanied by an adult for this event. Don't miss out—click here to purchase your ticket online.

Volunteer to Assist with Fall Dance on Friday, October 24

We will have our first school dance on Friday, October 24 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. This dance will be open to all Pine Hollow Middle School students who meet behavior expectations. Additional details about ticket sales will be available in the coming week or so. If you would like to sign up to chaperone and/or donate snacks, please sign up here. 

Support our Band Program’s Donors Choose Project

Looking for a way to support our band program—and a growing jazz ensemble we hope to launch? If so, feel free to contribute to the band program’s Donors Choose project to purchase an electric keyboard for the band classroom. To learn more about the project or to donate, click here.

Reminders from Previous Week(s)

Behavioral Expectations and Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities: In an effort to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we have been meeting with students recently to reiterate behavioral expectations at our school. As such, effective September 29, students who are assigned three (3) or more full days of ISS or OSS during the respective quarter will not be permitted to participate in after-school activities during that quarter. Furthermore, students who receive excessive partial-day assignments to ISS will also not be able to participate in these after-school activities.

Volunteers Needed to Assist with Concessions: WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Please consider volunteering your time and signing up for a shift to help with concessions during Football and Volleyball Season.  There are two shifts for each game.  We really appreciate your help and so do the hungry middle schoolers!  Don't forget, students can help too to earn volunteer hours.  Click here to sign up.

Rent the Spirit Rock through PTSA: Looking for a fun way to wish your special Pilot a happy birthday, to offer congratulations, or to promote a school event? If so, you may want to consider renting one (or both) of our PHMS Spirit Rocks as a part of our PTSA fundraising initiatives. To learn more about renting the rock, click here.

Become a Member of Our PTSA: With the start of the new school year, we would like to invite everyone to consider joining and supporting our PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), which plays a vital role in building and sustaining a strong, vibrant school community.  By purchasing a PTSA membership, you help fund important programs, celebrate our students and staff, and so much more. To purchase a membership for the 2025-26 school year, click here to go to our online MemberHub store where you can purchase memberships—whether for students, parents/guardians, or the entire family—and other things!

Thank You to Our 2025-26 PTSA School Sponsors

A special thank you to the generous local businesses who have signed on to be a sponsor for the 2025-26 school year. If your company—or one that you know—is interested in serving as a sponsor, please connect with our PTSA Fundraising Co-Chairs at phmsptsafundraising@gmail.com.

Wear Blue on Monday, October 6 for World Day of Bullying Prevention

On Monday, October 6, let’s all come together to stand against bullying by wearing blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention. This simple act is a powerful way to show our commitment to kindness, respect, and creating a safe and supportive school community. Students and staff alike are encouraged to join in—let’s fill our halls with blue as a symbol of unity and care for one another!

Join us for Family Glow BINGO Night on Friday, October 17

We're hosting a fun-filled evening of Bingo for the whole family on Friday, October 17. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with games running from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The cost to participate is $10 per person. This fee includes entry into the event and one Bingo board per person for the games (additional Bingo cards will be available for purchase at the event). Pizza and concessions will also be available for purchase to fuel your winning streak. As a reminder, all students must be accompanied by an adult for this event. Don't miss out—click here to purchase your ticket online.

Volunteer to Assist with Fall Dance on Friday, October 24

We will have our first school dance on Friday, October 24 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. This dance will be open to all Pine Hollow Middle School students who meet behavior expectations. Additional details about ticket sales will be available in the coming week or so. If you would like to sign up to chaperone and/or donate snacks, please sign up here. 

Reminders from Previous Week(s)

• Behavioral Expectations and Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities: In an effort to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we have been meeting with students recently to reiterate behavioral expectations at our school. As such, effective September 29, students who are assigned three (3) or more full days of ISS or OSS during the respective quarter will not be permitted to participate in after-school activities during that quarter. Furthermore, students who receive excessive partial-day assignments to ISS will also not be able to participate in these after-school activities.

• Volunteers Needed to Assist with Concessions: WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Please consider volunteering your time and signing up for a shift to help with concessions during Football and Volleyball Season.  There are two shifts for each game.  We really appreciate your help and so do the hungry middle schoolers!  Don't forget, students can help too to earn volunteer hours.  Click here to sign up.

• Rent the Spirit Rock through PTSA: Looking for a fun way to wish your special Pilot a happy birthday, to offer congratulations, or to promote a school event? If so, you may want to consider renting one (or both) of our PHMS Spirit Rocks as a part of our PTSA fundraising initiatives. To learn more about renting the rock, click here.

• Become a Member of Our PTSA: With the start of the new school year, we would like to invite everyone to consider joining and supporting our PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), which plays a vital role in building and sustaining a strong, vibrant school community.  By purchasing a PTSA membership, you help fund important programs, celebrate our students and staff, and so much more. To purchase a membership for the 2025-26 school year, click here to go to our online MemberHub store where you can purchase memberships—whether for students, parents/guardians, or the entire family—and other things!

Thank You to Our 2025-26 PTSA School Sponsors

A special thank you to the generous local businesses who have signed on to be a sponsor for the 2025-26 school year. If your company—or one that you know—is interested in serving as a sponsor, please connect with our PTSA Fundraising Co-Chairs at phmsptsafundraising@gmail.com.

Fall Picture Day on Monday, September 29

This is a reminder that Fall Picture Day is tomorrow (Monday, 9/29). Students will take pictures during the period in which they typically have health/PE. Click here to view the digital poster and to learn more about how to purchase pictures online. These are the pictures that will go in the yearbook!

Students received prepay school picture envelopes last week during their homeroom/advisory class. Parents who wish to pay via cash or check will be able to send in their cash or check with their student in the payment envelope on the day of pictures. You can also purchase picture packages online here. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Quarter 1 Progress Reports on Monday, September 29

Students will receive printed copies of their progress reports during their advisory/homeroom class on Monday (9/29). These progress reports will list out students current grades in each of their classes as of this past Friday (Sept. 26). Please be sure to ask your student about this and have some conversations about how things are going academically. As always, you can access information about grades in real time using the Infinite Campus platform, including specific details about assignments in each of the classes. If you have any questions about specific classes, please refer to your child's teacher as the initial point of contact.

Our PTSA Needs Your Help

Staff Appreciations

Stock the Teachers Lounge

Behavioral Expectations and Impact on Extra-Curricular Activities

In an effort to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, we have been meeting with students recently to reiterate behavioral expectations at our school. As such, effective September 29, students who are assigned three (3) or more full days of ISS or OSS during the respective quarter will not be permitted to participate in after-school activities during that quarter. Furthermore, students who receive excessive partial-day assignments to ISS will also not be able to participate in these after-school activities.

BIMAS Screener Window Coming Up

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all our students, we will be administering a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health in the next few weeks. To do this, we (along with other schools in WCPSS) will use the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System-2 (BIMAS-2) research-based screening tool. Click here to learn more about this screener in a letter that will be sent home to families.

Volunteers Needed to Assist with Concessions

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Please consider volunteering your time and signing up for a shift to help with concessions during Football and Volleyball Season.  There are two shifts for each game.  We really appreciate your help and so do the hungry middle schoolers!  Don't forget, students can help too to earn volunteer hours.  Click here to sign up.

Rent the Spirit Rock through PTSA

Looking for a fun way to wish your special Pilot a happy birthday, to offer congratulations, or to promote a school event? If so, you may want to consider renting one (or both) of our PHMS Spirit Rocks as a part of our PTSA fundraising initiatives. To learn more about renting the rock, click here.

Become a Member of Our PTSA!

With the start of the new school year, we would like to invite everyone to consider joining and supporting our PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), which plays a vital role in building and sustaining a strong, vibrant school community.  By purchasing a PTSA membership, you help fund important programs, celebrate our students and staff, and so much more. To purchase a membership for the 2025-26 school year, click here to go to our online MemberHub store where you can purchase memberships—whether for students, parents/guardians, or the entire family—and other things!

Thank You to Our 2025-26 PTSA School Sponsors

A special thank you to the generous local businesses who have signed on to be a sponsor for the 2025-26 school year. If your company—or one that you know—is interested in serving as a sponsor, please connect with our PTSA Fundraising Co-Chairs at phmsptsafundraising@gmail.com.