The Pirate’s Spyglass

Parenting Day a Success!

A Newsletter for Phillips Preparatory School—November 2011

Principal

Brenda Hartzog

Vice Principals

Marie Sweeney

Michael Hendrich

Special thanks to all parents who attended our Parenting Day on October 24th. We hope the information provided by each department was very useful. Special thanks to our chorus and band students for providing entertainment for our parents.

Partner In Education Spotlight

Dr. Todd M. Bennett

Dr Todd Bennett began his partnership with PPS in 2003 and has supported many facets of our school. Dr. Bennett has sponsored homecoming, spring fling, athletic banquets, pizza parties, honor roll and perfect attendance celebrations. Dr. Bennett is a platinum sponsor of the PPS band pro-gram, and provides ongoing maintenance of the PPS mound. Dr. Bennett was recognized as Mobile County’s Partner in Education of the Year! Dr. Ben-nett’s orthodontist office is conveniently located across from Phillips at 3210 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36607. Dr. Bennett gives all PPS students a ten percent (10%) discount, so please check him out!

Announcements

The Veterans Day Assembly will be held on Thursday, Nov. 10th.

6th grade: 7:45 – 8:30am

7th & 8th grade: 9:00 - 9:45am

**If you are bringing a veteran to the assembly please make sure to turn in your form and/or picture

to your Social Studies teacher NO LATER than Tuesday, Nov. 7th.

Congratulations to 8th Grader—Morgan Hardegree who has been selected to be recognized at the Sunrise Rotary breakfast at the Mobile County Club on Wednesday, November 16

th. Way to Go!

Last year, our school was awarded a $5,600.00 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant. Our grant application was based on the

goal of updating and improving the Library Media Center at Phillips Preparatory School. We look forward to sharing our new ―Library Commons‖ with the Phillips Preparatory School community.

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PPS LIBRARY GETS A FACE LIFT

I would like to personally say, “THANK YOU,” to those who helped and continue to help with this project:

Deborah Fry who wrote and submitted the grant application to Lowes, helped organize volunteers, painted, unpacked, re-

shelved books and for her unwavering support.

PPS students Samantha Fry, John-Henry Caponis, Ariel Odom and McKenzie Bowman who helped unpack and re-shelf

library books and materials.

Former PPS Students LaTara Lofton, Alandria Marshall and Hope McCovey who helped unpack and re-shelf library books

and materials.

PPS parents Deborah Fry, Don Fry, Danea Bowman, Andrea Odom, Cecily Odom and Megan McCovey who helped un-

pack and re-shelf library books and materials.

Former PPS parent Robert Stanley who helped paint bookshelves.

Michael Latona, manager of Lowe’s on I-65 Service Road and the entire Lowe’s team (Victor Lewis, Sandra Zamora,

Tammy Ford, Matt Hamma, Jackie Chambers, Shannon Collins, Taylor Odom, Jeff Odom, Maemoe Jones, Mike

Parker, Stan Johansen and Brad McCullough)

Parrish Davis who gave invaluable advice, helped with prep work, painted and helped build a privacy lattice fence for our

outdoor reading and garden area.

New PPS parent Dennis McDaniel who helped build a private lattice fence for our outdoor reading and garden area.

Michelle Dickens (PTSA Vice President) for her ongoing support and help to complete this project and organize volunteers.

Those students from Mrs. Brightman’s 2010-11 classes, who, at the end of the school year, help box books and remove

shelves and brackets.

Mrs. Hartzog and the (MCPSS) IT department for our new interactive Smart Board and Distance Learning Equipment.

Again, THANK YOU!

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Film Literature

Jermaine Walker Samantha Fry

Daniel Habib Nandita Dey

Hanifah Abdulah Joy Massey

Dance Music

Kayleigh Habeck Deijah Williams

Photography Visual Arts

Jacob Galanopolous Samantha Fry

Abrianna Wright Courtni Carter

Chase Balmes Cameron Robinson

Thank you to all students that entered

PPS is a Blue Ribbon School

NOVEMBER 2011

EVENTS CALENDAR

2nd

Perfect attendance celebration (2:00-2:30pm)

7th Progress Reports

10th Veterans’ Day Assembly

11th Veterans Day Holiday

12th Campus Beautification Day

15th Chill Fundraiser

Present flyer for Phillips to receive 20% of your sale

17th Blue Ribbon Reception

3:00-5:30

21st-25

th Thanksgiving Holidays

Phillips Prep has been named a ―Blue Ribbon‖ school in 2011 (the sec-ond time PPS has been so designated). Phillips is one of only five schools in the state of Alabama, the only middle school, and the only school from Mobile County to earn this honor in 2011.

To be a ―Blue Ribbon‖ school at the middle school level requires that foreign language be included in the learning core. Also, the school’s students must score at the top 10% or better in the state on standard-ized tests in reading and mathematics. This standard is regardless of demographics and is a source of pride at PPS as it is also a ―Title I‖ school which means 40% or more students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch at the school.

The 2011 Reflection

contest results are in and

the winners are . . .

PHILLIPS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

VOLLEYBALL

Page 4 The Pirate’s Spyglass

The Lady Pirates volleyball team wrapped up their season on September 30

th with a 9-2 record. This

fantastic record led us into the playoffs against the Cau-sey Tigers and the Burns Trailblazers. Our ladies put up a fight, but unfortunately, the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect the tremendous effort and the competition that we brought to each match. We walked away with third place in the 3A Division. So our ladies should feel very proud of their season and the effort they put forth. We

look forward to an even better season next year. Our final endeavor as a team will be to take on the teachers in the student/teacher volleyball game. Time and details to be announced!!!!! Go Lady Pirates!!! We are proud of you!!!!!

2011-2012 Yearbook Staff:

Morgan Hardegree

Emily Jordan

Hannah Reid

Thomaneka Redd

Katherine Large

Ivy Singthong

Sabrina Betties

Delaney Luse

Mikhaela Pruitt

Ryleigh Smithson

Mary Fromdahl

Eva Curran

Online Meal Application

1) Go to www.mcpss.com.

2) Click on the green oval down the right side of the screen.

3) Check that you have read the info,

begin filling out the online application.

It takes about 3 minutes and often will be approved the same day. You may file any time during the year.

Page 5

PHILLIPS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

SWAT TEAM

Westlawn third and fourth graders enjoyed a visit from the PPS SWAT team on Wednesday, October 26

th.

Our SWAT members talked to the students about the dangers of using tobacco and presented a lively program, both fun and informative.

Presenting members were: Courtney Cooper, Millie Davis, Kennedy MacDonald, Sarah Eiland, Jonathan Odom, Maria Reed, Cameron Robinson, Maggie Robinson, Eli Singthong, David Syl-vester, and Carlos Wilson. Great job Pirates!

We are proud of our SWAT team and their community service. SWAT members have also been collecting signatures for the Tobacco Free Coalition in Alabama. This grass roots effort seeks to make our restaurants, offices, and public areas smoke free. SWAT members are also writing letters to our Mobile community leaders encouraging them to pass laws for a smoke free environment for our city.

Mrs. Hartley Winter is the new SWAT coordinator working with Ms. Marta DeWitt.

Welcome Mrs. Winter!

Page 6

6th grade

Science, Science ―Help Sessions‖ for 6th Grade will begin on Thursday, November 10th, from 2:30-3:30, in Room 612 (Prewitt). Permission slips were sent home Monday, Oct. 31. The first 30 students to return their permission slips were accepted. Miss Herren will also hold ―Help Sessions‖ every Tuesday, beginning Nov. 1, from 7-7:20a.m. and the morning of the test.

IMPORTANT SCIENCE DATES:

November 8- Results and Conclusions will be completed in class. Students must have data tables to complete the assignment.

November 17-Test 2

November 30- Abstract Due

Social Studies, will be studying World War I this quarter and will be spending days in the library learning how to research this war using online databases.

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY CLUB

History Club:

All BOGO fundraising money orders MUST be turned in NO LATER than Tuesday, Nov. 8th. The History Club will also be traveling to the Museum of Mobile to view the ―Sept. 11th‖ exhibit and the ―Working White House‖ exhibit on Friday, Dec. 2nd. If you are a parent of a History Club member, please be looking out for the permission slip form that will be sent home on Thursday, Nov. 10th.

History Club meetings are held in the library on Thursday afternoons and/or Friday mornings.

Grade Level News

Grade Level News

7th grade

Language Arts will be reading Shakespeare’s famous A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Yes, here at Phillips Prep, we read Shakespeare in the 7th grade! Our students are sure to discover the intricate beauty and humor of his masterful writing. To aid our students in appreciating and understanding ―The Bard‖, we will be using the paperback, ―Shakespeare Made Easy‖ which gives side-by-side versions of the original text, as well as the modern text. Students will read the modern text for homework, and then will read the original Shakespearean text in class the next day, as their teachers guide them through the interpretations. Because of this ―mirrored text,‖ it is important that the students all have the same edition of the novel. These are currently available for $7.00 from the 7th Grade language arts teachers.

CIVICS, Second quarter has started out great. So far, we’ve discussed and taken quizzes on the three branches of government and their responsibilities. This month, students will focus on legal proceedings. Students will discuss types of crimes and the impact of those crimes upon society. Criminal trial proce-dures and challenges facing the criminal justice system will also be covered. We will end the month with civil justice, during which time we will examine various types of civil cases and procedures.

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8th grade In World History, students just finished studying the unique culture of India. The students were

fascinated to learn about Hinduism and Buddhism and the impact of these religions on the world then and now. They examined ancient India and its customs, traditions and caste system. They were amazed to find that many aspects of India’s culture have not changed since this civilization began. We will move on to our study of China. We will examine China’s social structure and customs with particular emphasis on the Chinese philosophies (Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism). The students will also study the history of the various Chinese dynasties (Han, Zhou, Shang, Qin, Ming). We will also look at the military exploits of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan and the Mon-gols. We will finish by analyzing the impact China has on the world today. The quarter will end with the study of life in Medieval Japan. This will include a close look at Shoguns and Samurai. A lot of interesting and fascinating things have happened in our world and a lot is going on in the world today. We encourage parents to ask their children about what is going on in world history class!!!!

Science: Students in eighth grade science are working on their science projects. Hypothesis research papers were due on Sept. 23. Dr. Judy Stout, school board member, presented an afternoon help session for students growing plants in connection with their science project. Approximately 50 students were in attendance. Dr. Stout, a Master Gardener, has presented a help session on how to grow plants the past three years.

Please note that show boards and labels have been ordered and a very limited amount of extras will be available after all pre-orders are filled. We will announce the date when available in class. We expect deliv-ery of these sometime in November. Upcoming deadlines for 7th and 8th grade science projects are as fol-lows: November 14th: procedures and data tables are due in logbooks; November 18th: rough drafts of graphs in logbook, November 28th: conclusions written in class, November 29th: 20 pictures due in an en-velope; November 30th: final graphs and results paragraphs due. This is different than the published time-lines because there is a mistake on them and we are adjusting the schedule to reflect the mistake.

Science “Help Sessions” by grade level have started . Letters were sent home soon about this. An addi-tional day may be added as science fair project due dates draw nearer.

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PTSA fundraiser orders need to be placed by December 1st to guarantee Christmas delivery.

Breast Cancer Awareness

PPS supported Breast Cancer Awareness. (Pictures emailed from Erin Wainright.) Phillips will donate $466.50 to Mitchell Cancer Center. Thanks to Virginia College for their help.

Mobile Symphony

Did you know? The Mobile Symphony wants your student to learn more about the arts. With an adult ticket purchase, the symphony offers one free student ticket to its 2:30 Sun-day performances. Selections include: Beethoven and Blue Jeans Sunday, November 13, 2011. New World Symphony Sunday, January 22, 2012. Symphonie Fantastique, Sunday, February 26, 2012, Car-mina Burana, Sunday, April 15, 2012, Musica de las Americas May 6, 2012. Call 432-2010 for more infor-mation about this great program.

Campus Beautification

Campus Beautification Day- Saturday, November 12; 9 am- until. Put on your work clothes and roll up your sleeves to help get Phillips looking great. We want our school to be in tip top shape when the media,

elected officials, and public attend our Blue Ribbon Reception. We will edge grass, pull weeds, rake, bleach signs and more. Please bring any tools that may be helpful. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Phillips PTSA NEWS

Phillips Homecoming 2011

Phillips Preparatory School elected its 2011 Homecoming Court. They were recognized at the pep rally on Oct. 20

th, and escorted during

halftime of the football game that afternoon. The 8

th graders shown are as follows; (L to R) Kyla

Brooks, Football Sweetheart, Skylar Strong; Homecoming Queen, Cartasia Tyus; 1

st Lady in

Waiting, and Samantha Fry; Band Sweetheart. The Court included 8

th grade maids: Savannah

Craft, Brittany Gaston, Tyra Malisham, Kayla McCorvey, Hannah Reid and Polly Straughn. Representing the 7

th grade: Jkayla Atkinson,

Brande Coleman, Makayla Laduna, Salma Raouf, Sarway Sahwneh, Cassidy Smith and Ryleigh Smithson. The 6th grade maids are; Kyla Brown, Chrissy Davies, Marley Jordan, Anna Lane, Madi-son Plattenburg, and Grace Wichmann. Homecoming was sponsored by Mrs. Leisa Eiland and the PPS Cheerleading Squad.

Page 9 Newsletter Title

The Box Tops for Education program is very successful

at PPS! To participate in the program, simply save box

tops from participating products. Students will re-

ceive collection sheets during homeroom for exciting

bonus opportunities throughout the year. For more

information, see Dr. Kennedy.

Help PPS earn 5% in credit to use towards free

supplies. If you shop at Office Depot for

school supplies, be sure to provide our schools’

identification number each time you make a

purchase. Office Depot will award us 5% of

the qualifying purchases. Our school identifi-

cation number is: 70001655.

HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR SCHOOL

Cartridges for Kids is a recycling program that pays

PPS cash for empty laser and inkjet cartridges, used

cell phones, laptops, PDAs, GPS systems and iPods.

You can bring in your items and deposit them in the

library.

Help the Environment by recycling your aluminum

cans here at PPS! There is a drop box by the gym, and a

cage behind the gym. All cans must be bundled in bags!

The Campbell’s Labels for Educa-tion™ program is a great way to get FREE merchandise for our school. Participating in the pro-

gram is easy — simply save proofs of purchase from participat-ing Campbell products and drop them off in the box located in the

lobby or send them to

Mrs. Brightman.

HELP BUILD OUR

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

RECYCLE CLUB

During the month of October, the recycle club turned in $121.00 worth of cans. Keep Mobile Beautiful will match up to $100.00. Thanks PPS!!! Mrs. Dewitt’s homeroom won the contest for the chicken biscuits!!! Way to go!!! Keep sending in those cans. Keep Mobile Beautiful will also match receipts totaling $250.00. We are almost half way there. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

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Dear Fellow Parent:

My name is Nancy Alexander and I am a parent of a 7th grader here at Phillips Pre-

paratory. I’ve been asked to assist with the Partners in Education Program here at Phil-lips. If you are not familiar with Partners in Education, I wanted to take this opportunity to give you a little information. Partners in Education is a nationally validated program con-necting students, teachers and administrators with businesses, government, volunteer and civic leaders. The Partners program is a proven, effective method of increasing community awareness and input into the local education process.

Currently, the Partner in Education Program in Mobile County links over 1,000 busi-nesses, organizations, churches and individuals, who make an annual impact of over $2.3 million to our schools in Mobile County. The PIE Partnerships have one common theme, improving the quality of education in Mobile County for every child.

I’ve been asked to raise awareness of Phillips Prep to local businesses and enlist their support for our school. This is an area that I am going to need your help. If you own a business or know someone who does and is interested in helping our school, please contact Hartley Winter, ewinter@mcpss.com.

Another project I am starting is ―Friends of PPS.‖ I am asking friends and family to make a $50 donation to Phillips Prep. We will have a large plaque in the school lobby that will display the names of all those that contribute.

Phillips Prep is an amazing school with fantastic teachers and staff. Please help me to help them give our kids the best they can while they are attending Phillips. If you have any questions or would like to speak with me personally, please contact me at nancy1108@comcast.net.

Warm Regards, Nancy Alexander / Parent & Partners in Education Representative