PIRATES’ SPYGLASS

www.phillipsprep.com December 2014 through January 19, 2015

THIS MONTH’S CONTENTS: Important Dates Need to Know” Info from PTSA & from Teachers, Administration &

Staff In the NEWS - Students of the Week Sports Ad for Sale of PPS Volleyball & Homecoming Pictures

IMPORTANT DATES

November 21 (FRIDAY) – Extended Day WILL CLOSE at 5:00 PM November 22-30 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS December 1 @ 5:00 PM - PPS Soccer Meeting December 2 @ 6:00 PM – PPS Band Concert at Davidson High School Auditorium December 8-10 – Science Projects Due (see newsletter announcement for specific grades & dates) December 9 @ 7:00 PM – PPS Chorus Concert at Davidson High School Auditorium December 15-18 – 2nd quarter EQTs December 18 - (THURSDAY) – Extended Day WILL CLOSE at 4:00 PM December 19–January 5 - STUDENT WINTER HOLIDAYS (Teacher Work Day on 12/19 & Professional Development on 1/5)

January 6 – 1st day of 3rd quarter January 12 – 2nd quarter report cards will be sent home January 13 – 8th grade Parent Night (see newsletter announcement for more information) January 19 – MLK HOLIDAY

EXTENDED DAY CLOSING EARLY on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, and on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 PPS extended day after-school care will close at 5:00 PM on 11/21 for

the Thanksgiving holidays and at 4:00 PM on 12/18 for the winter break. Please be sure you are here to pick up your student on time.

“NEED TO KNOW” INFORMATION

From PTSA

HELP NEEDED for DECEMBER TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON The PTSA will be hosting a duty free holiday-themed Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, December 9th, beginning at 10:00 AM. It’s a great way to celebrate the season with our wonderful teachers, staff, and administration. Volunteers are needed to bring traditional sides/desserts to share with the faculty and staff and/or to assist with the luncheon itself. If you are able to help by sending in food, helping to serve, or helping with set-up or clean-up, please contact PTSA VP (Hospitality)

Angela Stauter (251-605-5272 or angelamstauter@yahoo.com) to sign-up or for more information.

From TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATION, & STAFF

SCIENCE PROJECTS ARE DUE SOON – ALL GRADES!!! The due dates for science projects are fast-approaching! Make sure you monitor any upcoming deadlines for your students in their science classes. Check your science teacher’s syllabus, handouts, website, emails, and/or REMIND notifications for pertinent

information related to science project requirements, deadlines, and due dates. Don’t lose points because you’re not “in the know.”

6th Grade Projects are due Tuesday, December 9 7th Grade Projects are due Wednesday, December 10

8th Grade Projects are due Monday, December 8 These projects are worth 300 points in the test category (60%). Therefore, we encourage you to stay in communication with your child and his/ her science teacher on their progress on this important project.

BRING YOUR ALUMINUM & PLASTIC to PPS for RECYCLING Please keep sending in your aluminum cans and #1 plastic (primarily beverage plastics) for recycling. Bins are located in the front of the school and on the side by the band room.

8th GRADE ACT EXPLORE RESULTS ARE IN Eighth graders took the ACT Explore on October 15th and the results are already in! Students received a score on English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and then an overall Composite score. The highest students could make on the ACT Explore is a 25, and three of our students made a 24. Great job Pirates!

Mrs. Eiland will review results with students on December 1st (Mrs. Herren’s language arts classes) and December 2nd (Ms. Goodson’s language arts classes). Students will bring home their “packet” of information with them that day. Included in the packet will be their original test book, a score report, and a booklet titled “Using Your ACT Explore Results”. Mrs. Eiland will review the information with students in detail. If you have any questions, or would like to set up an appointment with Mrs. Stacey Eiland to review your child’s test results, please call the school at 221-2286 to set up an appointment. 8th GRADE PARENT NIGHT on 1/13 with MCPSS High Schools! Mark your calendar!

On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, representatives from many of the Mobile County public high schools will be at Phillips for our annual 8th Grade Parent Night. With all the different special programs and academies the high schools offer, this is a great opportunity for our eighth grade parents to come and get the information all in one place. Also, Mrs. Hartzog and Mrs. Eiland will outline some of the events that will happen throughout the remainder of the school year to prepare our students for high school. Please mark your calendars for this important night for our eighth graders and parents. Don’t miss it!

PPS Uniform Committee – PARENTS of ALL GRADE LEVELS

Any parent interested in being a part of the new PPS uniform committee, please contact Mrs. Prewitt or Mrs. Morris. We are working on updates to our current uniforms and would appreciate parent input. We will be meeting soon to discuss the changes. cprewitt@mcpss.com or vmorris@mcpss.com

MIDDLE YEARS COUNSELING NEWSLETTER – PARENTS of ALL GRADE LEVELS The December issue of Middle Years, from PPS counselors, Madonna Burden (6th grade) and Stacey Eiland (7th & 8th grades), is attached to this newsletter email and has been posted on the PPS website. The purpose of each newsletter is to promote ways for home and school to work together for school success

In THE NEWS

PPS Scholars’ Bowl Teams WIN! The Pirates Scholars’ Bowl teams hosted Booker T. Washington and Calloway Smith on October 22 and came out victorious in all of their matches. The Pirates’ “A” team made up of Stephen Wood, Alexis Reeves, Logan Phelps, Faith McGoogan and Faith Wheeler completely outsmarted Booker T. Washington with a score of 165 – 50. Our “A” team went on to beat Calloway Smith with a score of 220- 105. The Scholars’ Bowl “B” team made up of Thomas Frisch, Caroline Burbank, Isabella Elortegui and Allan Zhu won both of their matches as well, beating Washington 145-50 and Calloway 135-70. “A” team’s top scorers, Alexis Reeves and Stephen Wood, had more than 100 points each! Thomas Frisch brought in 70 points as top scorer for the “B” team. Congratulations Pirates! Stay tuned for results of the November 19th match against St. Pius.

PPS STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

Each week, teachers at PPS try to recognize students who go “above and beyond” in their demonstration of the qualities of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and/or citizenship. Their names are announced on Pirates Unplugged and their pictures are posted in the front lobby hall in honor of this recognition. Students of the Week for November 2014

Chloe Duren, 7th grader, was nominated for STUDENT OF THE WEEK by Mrs. Kollegger. Chloe is helpful to her classmates, as well as to Mrs. Kollegger. She is a high achiever and is performing exceptionally well, academically, in life science. Mrs. Kollegger wants to thank her for her dedication to her work and for being an overachiever in all situations.

Jessianna Gregory, 6th grader, was nominated for STUDENT OF THE WEEK by Ms. H. Jones. Jessianna strives to always be her best and show her best work at school. Ms. Jones appreciates her for all of her help and her commitment to PPS, but especially for being an extremely amazing student.

MOBILE-CRICHTON OPTIMIST CLUB’s Pirate of the Month The Mobile-Crichton Optimist Club is one of our PPS Partners in Education. They honor a PPS student each month, nominated and selected by the teachers, who demonstrates the positive characteristics of the Optimist Creed.

The PPS Student of the Month for November is 7th grader, Abigail Armbruster. Abigail plays on the PPS volleyball team while still maintaining good grades in school. She volunteers in the community almost on a weekly basis – her family started the Ransom Café that serves very nice meals at minimal cost to people in the community who cannot afford to go out to restaurants. They also have a truck that is equipped with laundry equipment, and they go and wash laundry for homeless people. Abigail explained that many times she spends her Friday nights helping others at the Ransom Café. She is a motivated young lady that has dreamed about winning this award. Abigail was recognized with a plaque at the Mobile Crichton Optimist Club luncheon held at Heron Lakes Country Club on Wednesday, November 19th.

PPS SPORTS BASKETBALL 2014-2015 Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Site 12/2 (Tues) Hankins @Hankins 12/4 Causey PPS 12/8 Clark @Clark 12/11 N. Mobile @N. Mobile 12/15 Off Off 1/8 Semmes PPS 1/12 Burns @Burns 1/15 Hankins PPS

The first game begins at 3:30 p.m. The second game will follow. Admission to all games is $2.00 for students and $3.00 for adults.

Girls play first in all games between November 3 & December 2 and the boys will play first in all games between December 4 & January 15.

2014-2015 Girls Basketball Team Addie Allred Chelsie Burnett Lauren Chestang Avery Howell Kenya McQuirter Alandria Williams

Cordelia Martin Sanaz Tafazoli Jenna Powe Dejah Sumrall Patricia Barber Abigail Foster Brianna Harden

Coach: Jonah Shenesey-Girls

2014-2015 Boys Basketball Team 8th grade 7th grade Jalen Scott Kris Abrams Stephon Welch Pedro Nelson Cory Alexander Garrett Colvin Mitchell Dorsey Treyvion Pines Marquez Tatum Harriston Turk Jordan Powe Stephen Wood Brandon Hurd

Coach: Calvin Turnipseed-Boys