Holiday Spirit Week This Week

 

Did someone say HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK!?! That's right—this week we are ringing in the holidays with school spirit every day. We hope everyone will join in on the fun!

 

• Monday, Dec. 15 - Holiday Character Day (Dress up as a character from a popular holiday movie or a holiday-themed book)
  
  

• Tuesday, Dec. 16 - Winter Wonderland/Snow Day (Dress in white, silver, or light blue.)
  
  

• Wednesday, Dec. 17 - Flannel & Fuzzy Day (Dress in your coziest flannel shirts, fleece, or other warm, fuzzy materials.)
  
  

• Thursday, Dec. 18 - Holiday Head to Toe (Wear as much holiday-inspired attire, colors, etc. as possible, mixing and matching to be as festive as possible.)
  
  

• Friday, Dec. 19 - Polar Pajama Day (Wear your favorite school-appropriate pajamas (extra points if they’re winter/holiday-themed)

Holiday Gift Card Drive for Families in Need

 

As we prepare for the holiday season, our counseling and student services team is collecting gift cards and essential items to support students and families in our school community who may need a little extra help during the holiday season. If you are able and wish to assist with this, please consider donating a gift card to a local grocery store, Target, Walmart, or another general retailer ($10, $20, or $25 are preferred). All gift card donations can be dropped off in the main office by December 15th. When donating, we ask that you label the value clearly

 

Pre-Ordered Spirit Wear Has Arrived

 

If you ordered any of the new pre-order spirit wear in the past few weeks, we are excited to share that everything has arrived and will be delivered to teachers’ mailboxes on Monday (12/15) to get to students (unless you marked otherwise…in case your gift was a surprise). Parents who requested to pick up the items in-person can do so in the front office starting on Tuesday (12/16).

WCPSS Partnership with Daybreak Health’s Teletherapy Program for Students

 

We’re excited to share that WCPSS has continued its partnership with Daybreak Health to provide school-based teletherapy for students ages 5–19.  After the referral, students are matched with a therapist based on their needs, language, culture, and interests.  They’ll meet weekly for 50-minute sessions over 12–24 weeks, held virtually before, during, or after school—even on Saturdays.  Younger students (ages 5-12) join with a parent or guardian, while older students (10+) meet 1:1.  These evidence-based programs help students manage emotions, anxiety, stress, and more—leading to improved focus, behavior, and academic outcomes.  To refer a student, click here or contact a member of our school counseling team.

For Rising 9th Graders – Application for Game Design Academy at Leesville Road HS Now Open

 

Applications for Leesville Road High School’s Game Design Academy are now open — and they only have 50 spots available for next year’s freshman class. If you are interested in attending a virtual information session, mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m.

 

For those of you who may not know, the Game Design Academy is a small, career-focused learning community where students explore game design and earn Adobe industry certifications while taking core high school classes with a supportive cohort of peers. Students also participate in job shadowing, career fairs, industry tours, and much more — all designed to help them explore future careers in digital arts and game design. Families can learn all the details at the January information meeting!

PTSA Stocking the Teacher’s Lounge

 

Our PTSA  is restocking the staff lounge for the holidays between December 8th-16th. As a part of the restock, they are looking for sweet and salty snacks, drinks, and small amount gift cards. Items can be dropped off in the front office  December 8-16 or during morning carpool on Tuesday, December 16. Click here to access the SignUpGenius.

Assistance Needed with Concessions

 

Our PTSA Concessions Team needs your assistance! Please consider volunteering your time and signing up for a shift to help with concessions during basketball season. There are two shifts (3:45-5:00 pm and 5:00-6:30 pm). We really appreciate your help and so do the hungry middle schoolers!  Don't forget—students can help as well to earn volunteer hours. Sign-up available 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.

 

 

 

Sankofa Cultural Arts Assembly a Huge Success

 

This past Friday, we had the opportunity to host a local performer (The Beast) as a part of our PTSA cultural arts program. Our students had an outstanding time and really seemed to enjoy our special guests and the learning they provided through their presentation “Sankofa: The History of African-American Music.” This program was supported by a grant from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. We are so thankful for the generosity of our PTSA in coordinating this event for our students and school community.

Holiday Spirit Week Coming Up Soon (December 15-19)

 

Did someone say HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK!?! That's right—as we prepare for the last week of school before the holiday break, we wanted to share the spirit day themes for that week.

 

• Monday, Dec. 15 - Holiday Character Day (Dress up as a character from a popular holiday movie or a holiday-themed book)
  
  

• Tuesday, Dec. 16 - Winter Wonderland/Snow Day (Dress in white, silver, or light blue.)
  
  

• Wednesday, Dec. 17 - Flannel & Fuzzy Day (Dress in your coziest flannel shirts, fleece, or other warm, fuzzy materials.)
  
  

• Thursday, Dec. 18 - Holiday Head to Toe (Wear as much holiday-inspired attire, colors, etc. as possible, mixing and matching to be as festive as possible.)
  
  

• Friday, Dec. 19 - Polar Pajama Day (Wear your favorite school-appropriate pajamas (extra points if they’re winter/holiday-themed)

Holiday Gift Card Drive for Families in Need

 

As we prepare for the holiday season, our counseling and student services team is collecting gift cards and essential items to support students and families in our school community who may need a little extra help during the holiday season. If you are able and wish to assist with this, please consider donating a gift card to a local grocery store, Target, Walmart, or another general retailer ($10, $20, or $25 are preferred). All gift card donations can be dropped off in the main office by December 15th. If you have questions, please connect with Mr. Brown (gbrown5@wcpss.net).

 

NJHS Winter Donation Drive Running December 1-12

 

The PHMS National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is excited to announce their upcoming winter donation drive in which they will be collecting items for care packages supporting Oak City Cares from December 1-12. For those who wish to contribute, please drop off donated items in the library, office, or Ms. West's classroom (room 3705). As a part of the donation drive, they  will be collecting new hats, new socks, and travel size hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and body wash bars. Thank you for helping Pine Hollow support those in need this winter season!

Holiday Candy-Grams on Sale December 8-12

 

Want to spread some holiday cheer to your pilot or a deserving staff member? You can purchase a candy-gram on Givebacks or through the PTSA website which will be delivered on Friday December 19. Orders will close at the end of day December 12 so act fast. Click here to purchase!

PTSA Stocking the Teacher’s Lounge

 

Our PTSA  is restocking the staff lounge for the holidays between December 8th-16th. As a part of the restock, they are looking for sweet and salty snacks, drinks, and small amount gift cards. Items can be dropped off in the front office  December 8-16 or during morning carpool on Tuesday, December 16. Click here to access the SignUpGenius.

Assistance Needed with Concessions

 

Our PTSA Concessions Team needs your assistance! Please consider volunteering your time and signing up for a shift to help with concessions during basketball season. There are two shifts (3:45-5:00 pm and 5:00-6:30 pm). We really appreciate your help and so do the hungry middle schoolers!  Don't forget—students can help as well to earn volunteer hours. Sign-up available here.

Flash Sale on PTSA Spiritwear Merchandise

 

Still looking for last minute holiday gift ideas? The PTSA is running a flash spirit wear sale this week only on select items. Delivery guaranteed before Winter Break. Click here to purchase. 

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.

 

 

New Administrator Joining PHMS

 

We are excited to share that we will be welcoming a new administrator to the mix effective December 1 when Mrs. Corder joins our team as an assistant principal intern. Mrs. Corder previously taught at Olive Chapel Elementary School and  is currently pursuing her Master of School Administration at UNC Chapel Hill. Please join us in welcoming her to the PHMS community!

Crew Applications Available for Spring Musical (Xanadu Jr.!)

 

Crew applications are now open for Xanadu Jr.! If your student is interested in working behind the scenes for the musical as part of our set, tech, or stage crews, they will need to fill out our crew application. The application can be accessed at bit.ly/xanaducrew. All crew applications are due by Wednesday, December 3.

PTSA Stocking the Teacher’s Lounge

 

Our PTSA  is restocking the staff lounge for the holidays between December 8th-16th. As a part of the restock, they are looking for sweet and salty snacks, drinks, and small amount gift cards. Items can be dropped off in the front office  December 8-16 or during morning carpool on Tuesday, December 16. Click here to access the SignUpGenius.

NJHS Winter Donation Drive Running December 1-12

 

The PHMS National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is excited to announce their upcoming winter donation drive in which they will be collecting items for care packages supporting Oak City Cares from December 1-12. For those who wish to contribute, please drop off donated items in the library, office, or Ms. West's classroom (room 3705). As a part of the donation drive, they  will be collecting new hats, new socks, and travel size hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and body wash bars. Thank you for helping Pine Hollow support those in need this winter season!

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.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to Our PHMS Community

 

As we head into the Thanksgiving break this week, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for our entire school family—our amazing students, dedicated staff, and supportive parents/guardians. Whether you celebrate this holiday or any other, we wish you a time filled with peace, joy, and connection with loved ones. As a reminder, school will be closed beginning on Wednesday, November 26, until we return to school on Monday, December 1.

Thank You for Your Notes of Gratitude

 

Thanks so much to everyone who filled out one of our special “Thankful for You” notes that we were able to share with staff. We had almost 250 personalized notes that we were able to share with staff, which was a great way to spread a little joy and gratitude.

New Spiritwear Now Available for Pre-Sale Until November 30

 

New PHMS spiritwear available online! Pre-order new hoodies and sweatpants by clicking here! Orders close Sunday, November 30th at 10:00 pm. Delivery set for the week of December 8. These make great student/family gift ideas!

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.

 

 

PHMS Takes on Bullying Through Second Step® Lessons 

 

Over the next several weeks, your child will be discussing bullying and harassment as part of Second Step® Middle School. As we know, bullying is at its peak in middle and high school. Research indicates that taking proactive steps to address bullying will help reduce occurrences of it in our school. Furthermore, addressing bullying and harassment will benefit students in high school and beyond. Research also indicates that bullying in middle school is associated with sexual harassment and gender-based harassment in high school and beyond. We are taking proactive steps to reduce occurrences of bullying and harassment at our school.

 

Second Step® Middle School is designed to support your child in developing the knowledge and skills to help stop bullying and harassment. Each grade level will complete their own lessons on bullying and harassment. Below is a list of topics that will be covered as a part of lessons that students across the school will complete:

 

• How to recognize bullying in various contexts

• How to recognize the similarities and differences between bullying and harassment

• How to use strategies to stand up safely to bullying

• How to safely challenge social and environmental factors that can enable bullying and harassment

• How to recognize sexual harassment and gender-based harassment

• Their rights and responsibilities at school when it comes to bullying and harassment

• How to seek help if they or someone they know is being bullied or harassed

Staff Celebrations in November

 

Did you know that this Thursday, November 19, is Intervention Coordinator & Coach Day? At Pine Hollow Middle School, we are so grateful for all the work that our intervention coordinator (Ms. Stern) does each day along with our math department chair and math intervention teacher/coach (Ms. King). Their dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts make such a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you!

 

This past week, we also had the chance to celebrate our school psychologist, Dr. Sulzbach, for School Psychology Awareness Week. A very special thank you to her for everything she does for our Pine Hollow community as a part of the Student Support Services team. Her expertise, support and experience is very much appreciated by our students and our staff.

Help Us Show Our Appreciation for Staff with Notes of Gratitude

 

Help us celebrate our amazing staff this season by sharing a message of gratitude for a staff member who has positively impacted your child or family. To do this, fill out this quick Google Form, which will allow administrators to generate special gratitude notes that we will provide to staff with your special words. To see an example of what staff will receive with your words, click here. 

PTSA General Meeting on Wednesday, November 19

 

All individuals who have joined the PTSA are invited to attend the General PTSA Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30 pm in the media center. We will be voting on the budget and reviewing our plans for the year. We look forward to a great turnout!

New Spiritwear Now Available for Pre-Sale Until November 30

 

New PHMS spiritwear available online! Pre-order new hoodies and sweatpants by clicking here! Orders close Sunday, November 30th at 10:00 pm. Delivery set for the week of December 8. These make great student/family gift ideas!

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.