Photo courtesy of Cathy Horton.
0614 Pizitz middle school flag
A new Pizitz Middle School flag was unveiled during a retirement reception given by the Pizitz PTO honoring Mr. David Miles, retiring school principal.
A new Pizitz Middle School flag was unveiled during a retirement reception given by the Pizitz PTO honoring Mr. David Miles, retiring school principal.
The student body and the entire Pizitz family learned of the new tradition the next day during the Citizenship Assembly, which honors students who exemplify the school creed.
Miles, who led the school for 23 years, developed the vision for a flag that would embody the character of the Pizitz family.
Pizitz art teacher Larry Gibson initially presented the idea for the flag to his advanced art students. Students Bradford Billingsley and Nathan Watson took the helm and began to sketch ideas. The design was to include the school’s name, establishment date of 1967 in Vestavia Hills, and the phrase “The Best Middle School in America.”
Nathan’s sketch included a circular design with a ship in its center to denote the school’s pirate mascot. Gibson searched images of pirate ships, which Bradford then further adapted resulting in the sailing ship that is the center of the flag. Gibson tweaked the design colors, wording, and the inclusion of a ship captain’s wheel to complete the design.
After the design was “camera ready,” it was taken to the flag company to make two complete flags to fly at the school and a vinyl copy that was presented to Miles with all staff and faculty signatures as a keepsake.
The words on the flag will be a lasting tribute to Miles, who will be remembered for his unfailing devotion to being a part of the “Best Middle School in America!”
-Submitted by Cathy Horton
