Dear Parents and Families of Pizitz,

As we have been celebrating the Thanksgiving season, I wanted to take a moment to say “thank you.” Our community is exceptional, and we are grateful for your on-going support of our school.

Living History Day is one example of our community coming together to celebrate and educate our students. In partnership with PTO, we were able to honor our veterans in the community. This opportunity gives students a connection to the past. It is our hope through this event that we would help create an appreciation for our country’s history, individual sacrifice, and collective freedoms. Our choir and band did a lovely job of performing (virtually) for our school body following the parade. The kids were able to make connections with parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, and staff members in our community who have served our country through the military. These experiences give us a greater appreciation for all we have. Our students were proud to cheer for the veterans throughout the parade. I heard students shout, “Thank you for your service!” While others chanted, “U-S-A!” It was a fun-filled event that brought honor to our country and community.

In addition to events like Living History Day, PTO helped provide grant requests for many of our teachers this fall. From a sound system in the lunchroom to building classroom libraries, teachers greatly appreciate the generous giving of our PTO community. 

Thank you, PTO, for helping to support the school in order to help us carry out our mission. Thanksgiving reminds us to pause and say thank you. As the principal of this fine school, I am thankful for our partnership with families and organizations like PTO.

If there are ways that we can better support the students and/or families in our community, please let us know. We are here to help.

Respectfully,

Alicia Hunsberger

Principal

We have had a busy fall and I’m happy to update you on several programs that PTO has recently run on behalf of our school community.

I hope you have seen the news that we are raising money to purchase tables for the courtyard spaces at Pizitz. Currently the courtyards are open spaces, but with new tables, they can be used as classroom space for multiple classes and even for lunch visits. Visit our PTO website and please consider giving to help us deck the courtyards!

The courtyard table fundraiser will cover this special need that’s come up during the school year, but our annual PTO budget also funded more than $25,000 in grants to the school this fall. See the article further below for more details on the grants we sponsored this fall.

We were honored to host more than 30 veterans on November 4 for a parade and tour through the Pizitz Hall of Heroes. Thank you to the families who shared your veteran with us for the special day, and thank you to the Pizitz families who submitted pictures and a short history of your relatives who have served in our armed forces. What a beautiful tribute to these men and women the Hall of Heroes display is each year! Please also see below for more pictures from our Living History Day.

Last, but very important, THANK YOU to the families who have signed up to be room parents for our 4th-period classrooms. We are so thankful for you, and we appreciate the work you’re doing now to help plan the Dec 15 classroom holiday parties. Check your email this week for updates from our room parents.

We are thankful for the many ways you support our PTO and help us in giving back to the Pizitz family.  

Hollye Stigler
PTO President

This year, we collected a few “favorites” from Pizitz faculty and staff. You’ll be hearing from room parents about your student’s 4th period teacher’s favorites. 

Is there a classroom or elective teacher, a coach, another staff member at Pizitz who you’d like to thank for their contribution at the school? If you’d like to hear a favorite snack, restaurant or gift card for any of our amazing faculty and staff, email pizitzpto@gmail.com and we’ll let you know! We look forward to showing holiday appreciation to Pirate teachers and staff. 

The Pizitz PTO was pleased to fulfill grant requests from Pizitz teachers and staff for over $25,000 this year!  Among the approved items were:

• Sound System for the Lunchroom which will allow it to be used for presentations and announcements
• Collection of eBooks available to all students covering many mental health and social issues
• High-altitude Balloon kits for all of 6^th grade Science
• The Raptor Trek program for all of 7^th grade Science
• A series of books for 6^th and 7^th grade Social Studies Curriculum
• Pocket Constitutions for 7^th grade Civics
• Lab equipment for 7^th and 8^th grade Science Labs
• Glockenspiel and rolling cart for Band
• Materials for 8^th grade Engineering Elective Design Project

Thank you for your participation in our Supply Sale Fundraiser and PTO Donations. Because of your generosity, we were able to grant many wonderful items to our school!!

The yearbook staff would love to have you contribute your photos from sporting events for possible use in this year's yearbook. You can go to this link: https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/#!/?code=Pirates22189 or go to hjeshare.com and use our school code Pirates22189.

We had a wonderful day honoring our Veterans!

The day started with the Parade of Patriots. Students welcomed over 30 Veterans on campus through a sea of flag waving Pizitz Pirates as the Veterans drove around campus. The parade was led by our SRO, Darcy Champion who served in the US Army.  After the parade, the Veterans visited the Hall of Heroes outside the school. The Hall of Heroes is a showcase of posters including photos and service information from the Veterans representing our Pizitz students and faculty. Our Pizitz students further honored our Veterans with a choral performance, slide show of Veterans they submitted to the Hall of Heroes and other student artistic and intellectual contributions.  This program was live streamed to everyone on campus.

Help the Hills Coalition is a community partnership among stakeholders in Vestavia Hills. Its mission is to reduce the use and abuse of harmful substances among youth in Vestavia Hills and to promote healthy living.

Parent Awareness meetings are held monthly at noon at Vestavia Hills City Hall in the Council Chamber.  All VHCS parents are invited. Visit their website to learn more and register to attend the meetings.  

December- No Meeting

January 12- Anxiety when Transitioning to New Schools

February 9- Preparing for College - Oliver Aaron, VHHS Counselor

March 9- Self Image – Connie Hill, Girls Inc.

April 13- Social Media Parent/Child Workshop

The Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation is a non-profit organization created to  provide ongoing and dependable funding for Vestavia Hills City Schools. Our school  system is among the best in the country; the Foundation provides grants to help keep  our school system at its best. These grants benefit every grade level, every academic  subject area and every student in every Vestavia school. Making an investment in the  Foundation helps fill in funding gaps that can make the difference between a good  school system and a great one. 

Today, the Foundation funds grants with the investment proceeds from its $3.5 million  endowment. Our goal is to increase the endowment to the 5-million mark, which will  increase the amount of grants the Foundation can contribute to Vestavia Hills schools. 

We hope that every family in Vestavia Hills will make a pledge to the Foundation.  Your pledge can be paid over a period of five years and is 100% tax deductible. 

Please help us fund our schools TODAY, to ensure a better TOMORROW. 

You may visit our website www.vestaviafoundation.org for more information about  pledges and donations.