Pizitz Middle School

Pizitz Middle School is a middle school, part of the Vestavia Hills City Schools located in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The enrollment is 1,173 students.Web Site - www.vestavia.k12.al.us/pizitz

History

In the early 1930s, Louis Pizitz, founder and owner of Pizitz Department Stores, built his home "Happy Dale" off of Montgomery Highway. After his death, his son and heir deeded the city several acres from the large land estate. Responding to school needs, the city offered part of this property to the Jefferson County School Board, and in 1968 a school was built for 7th and 8th graders - today known as Louis Pizitz Middle School.

Achivements

Accredited by the Alabama State Department of EducationAccredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsTwo IBM networked computer labs; Wireless Computer Lab; additional computers in classroomsSchoolwide network in placeComputers provide access to on-line data bases and InternetClassroom access to a Pentium computer on the school networkFull semester of computer instruction for 6th gradersAdvanced Computer Applications class for 8th gradersForeign language programs - German, Spanish and FrenchOutstanding band and choral programsNationally recognized Math teamScholar's Bowl teams for all gradesVariety of athletic programs for both boys and girlsVariety of electives and co-curricular activities offeredLiterature Plus (Language Arts Expansion) program for 7th and 8th gradesSemester of ULYSSES - literature enrichment - for 6th gradersFull range of special education, academic support, and Gifted programsFull-time guidance counselorsNominated in 1995 by State Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon SchoolAwarded in 1996 by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon SchoolAccess for cable TV in all classroomsParent Information Center available to parents in the Media CenterFall 2003 Pizitz noted as having the highest middle school S.A.T. scores for the state of Alabama.Eleven National Board Certified teachers on staff.

Co-Curricular

Pizitz Middle School consists of many electives, including Band, Art, Chior, Technology, FACS, French, German, Spanish, Speech, and Drama.For more info, go to [http://www.vestavia.k12.al.us/pizitz/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=56]

Pizitz Band

Pizitz consists of four bands; Beginning, Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz Band. The bands are under direction of Kim Bain and Marc Sosnowchik. In beginning Band (mostly 6th Grade), students choose their instruments and learn the fundamentals. In Concert Band (mostly 7th Grade), students play music at a mid/low level and compete at district competitions. Symphonic Band (mostly 8th Grade) is the highest ranking ensemble at Pizitz Middle School, and competes with district statewide and out of state. Jazz band consists of a small number of people from the Concert and Symphonic Bands, and is the highest instructed band at Pizitz.

External links

Vestavia Hills
* [http://www.vestavia.k12.al.us/pizitz/ Pizitz Middle School Website]