The Panther Pulse

Dear Pershing Families,

It's Teacher Appreciation Week and we are looking forward to spoiling our amazing staff. A big thank you to our Pershing Foundation and the ASB for the special activities they have planned daily to say thank you to our hard working educators. Below are a few ideas on ways you and your child(ren) can show your thanks to the fantastic staff here at Pershing:

• Tuesday, May 9: suprise your teacher(s) or a staff member with somthing special (ideas: flowers, candy, notes, letters, or pictures of appreciation)
• Thursday, May 11: bring a donation for the classroom (ideas: copy paper, highlighters, white board markers, pencils, colored card stock)
• Friday, May 12: end the week witha little treat that tells your teacher(s) or staff member how much you appreciate them (gift card, snack, soda, candy, treat)

I also want to remind families the Pershing Foundation's Challenge Course Fundraiser is happening right now. Please donate to the pledge drive and share the donation link with family and friends. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to support next year's programs.

If each student at Pershing donated or raised just $25 we would hit our goal. If every student donated or raised $100 we would raise nearly $80,000! This is money that goes directly back to our students to create great educational experiences for them. This money helps pay for end of the year activitie and field days, field trips, 6th Grade Camp, materials for our Engineering and SLIM Programs, and so much more.

Donation link: https://pershingmiddleschoolfoundation.rallyup.com/challengecourse2023/Campaign/Details

Sincerely,
Melanie Kray

CAASPP TESTING CONTINUES THIS WEEK

This week all students will be taking the CAASPP Math test with their math teachers and we have a few important reminders for you!

• This is our time to shine - although there are multiple measures schools can use to show they are great learning environments for students, state testing is one of the most public. We ask that you encourage your child(ren) to try their best on these exams.
• Your attendance matters - we need our students here every single day! Please do not schedule doctor's appontments or other appointments during the next few weeks. We are required to test a certain percentage of our students and it is important that all students arrive on time everyday.
• Please set your child up for success - ensure they get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school
• Please bring your laptop to school everyday and make sure it is fully charged
• If your child uses their laptop at home please make sure they clear their cookies every evening before they come to school the next day.
• This is the testing schedule for the next 3 weeks

May 1-5: ELA CAASPP Testing through English classes (ALL STUDENTS)

May 8-12: Math CAASPP Testing through Math classes (ALL STUDENTS)

May 15-19: CAST Testing through science classes (8TH GRADE ONLY)

PE LOANER UNIFORMS

Our PE Department has noticed a significant uptick in the number of loaner PE clothes being distributed daily. The idea behind our loaner program is to provide students with a loaner shirt or pair of shorts every once in a while in case they left their PE gear at home. We have many students who are asking for loaners every day. Please double check with your child and make sure the are bringing their PE uniform to school. If your child has lost or outgrown their PE gear please contact our financial secretary Ms. Grace Lopez at glopez2@sandi.net.

HEALTHY FOOD AND DRINK CHOICES IN THE MORNING

Lately we have been noticing students coming to school with large, highly caffinated and surgary beverages in the morning - red bull energy drinks, Venti size Starbucks frappacinos, and Arizona iced teas. These types of beverages are not the best choices for students to start off their day as that amount of caffeine and sugar can make them distractable in class and then experience a "crash" later in the day when the effects of the caffeine and sugar wear off. Please encourage your child to make healthy food and drink choices to start their day off on the right foot. Our school cafeteria has a variety of healthy breakfast options student can access for free 7:30-7:50 AM every day.

PERSHING FOUNDATION MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY @6:30 PM

We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday for our Foundation Meeting. We will be selecting a new executive board and discussing end of year activities, 8th grade promotion gifts, and our big Challenge Course Fundraiser. The meeting is at 6:30 PM in person in the Pershing library or you can join via zoom. Zoom meeting info is below:

Kray Melanie is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Pershing Foundation Meeting

Time: May 10, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Every month on the Second Wed, until Jun 14, 2023, 2 occurrence(s)

May 10, 2023 06:30 PM

Jun 14, 2023 06:30 PM

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/meeting/tZIof-qopjMuGtFwgClk06hBMw4gme9sEWzZ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqzMpGtydtBmCRpwAGYqgb_TxiFxbjbd7ixjGDysDNAvUG_UWNb96Scv1

Join Zoom Meeting

https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/86583088405

Meeting ID: 865 8308 8405

8th GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES

. CLICK HERE to see the 8th grade expectations that were shared with students to participate in end of the year activities.

PERSHING FOUNDATION UPDATE - STAY CONNECTED

There a lots of a ways to stay involved and support Pershing Middle School starting with our fabulous Pershing Parent Foundation. Be sure to check out their website: https://pershingmiddleschoolfoundation.org/ and visit them on facebook @parentsofpershingpanthers. On their facebook page they have information on how to sign up for Amazon Smile so that a portion of your amazon purchases support our school.

PERSHING SCHOOL WEBSITE

https://pershing.sandiegounified.org/

Do you have suggestions for our school website? CLICK HERE to complete our website feedback survey.

The donation site for this year's Foundation Challenge Course is now live!

CLICK HERE to access the donation website.

The donation website can also be reached by texting Challengecourse2023 to 33100. Select "students" under the navigate tab and then just search for the student's name to get their individual donation page.

We need your help! If you are able to help on May 19th at the Challenge Course or can help by supplying some needed items, please click on the Sign Up Genius link.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F44AFAA29A7FE3-pershing1

The Pershing Foundation is promoting The Challenge Course as its main fundraiser for the year. Funds raised will support teacher stipends, teacher appreciation and wellness throughout the year, campus beautification projects, educational classroom and teaching enhancements, supplemental supplies for engineering, physical education and the library, and so much more!

We need your help!

1. We are in need of prize donations. As students earn donations via the donation website, they will earn a raffle ticket for each $10 raised. Those tickets will then be used as a chance to win prizes. If you are able to donate items, tickets to events, gift cards, or anything a middle schooler might like as a prize, please contact Diana Smith at pershingmiddleschoolfoundation@gmail.com to coordinate.
2. We need business sponsors!
1. Business sponsors will have their business name and logo printed on the event T shirts, displayed on the donation website, and printed in the 8th grade promotion program! There are several different levels available for sponsorship.

Platinum $1000

Gold $500

Silver $250

Partner $100

We thank you in advance for any donation to this worthy organization. Your donation would be tax deductible, as the Foundation is a 501c3 Checks can be mailed to:

Shawna McCarthy

C/O Pershing Middle School

8204 San Carlos Drive

San Diego, CA 92119

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions to the event organizer, Diana Smith at (702) 286-9107 or pershingmiddleschoolfoundation@gmail.com

Important Challenge Course Dates:

Donation website launch - April 24th (more details to come)

Cutoff for donations to count toward prizes - May 14th

Raffle ticket distribution - May 17th

Raffle winners drawn - May 19th

Stay tuned for a list of available prizes!

I was able to go to Patrick Henry High School this weekend and cheer on our Boys and Girls Flag Football teams. What an incredible group of talented kids! Both teams remain undefeated and ranked as the number 1 seed out of all the middle schools in San Diego Unified. Congrats and Great work Panthers!

SPANISH TUTORING AVAILABLE

Does your child need help with Spanish? Mr. Barry is offering tutoring support on Tuesdays in Rm. 104 afterschool.

8TH GRADE HENRY HIGH SLIM PARENT NIGHT

If you were not able to attend the meeting CLICK HERE to see the slide deck the Henry team presented.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in our area, with San Diego County recently entering the Medium COVID-19 Community Level. Other illnesses such as the influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the common cold also remain highly prevalent and easily transmissible. Practicing good health hygiene habits – washing hands, staying home when sick, and considering wearing a mask indoors and in crowded areas – can help prevent the spread of illness and is especially important during this time when many will be traveling or gathering with family and friends.

The district is providing all students and staff with at-home COVID-19 test kits to help our school communities have greater peace of mind about returning to school safely on Tuesday, Jan. 3 after the winter break.

The California Department of Public Health now recommends self testing for COVID-19 the day before coming back to school and two or three days after returning. We encourage students and staff to test on Monday, Jan. 2 and again on either Wednesday, Jan 4 or Thursday, Jan 5.

Testing before returning to school is recommended but not required. Additional test kits for students and staff are available at the Ed Center COVID-19 testing facility. If you test positive for COVID-19, please do not attend school and report your illness here.

Please do not send your child to school if they are feeling sick or experiencing symptoms of any cold-like virus, until those symptoms start to improve and there is no fever for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medication). Keeping your sick child home will be a great benefit for the health and wellness of our students and staff.

What Symptoms to Look For

• The flu and COVID-19 are both spread from person-to-person, especially indoors and in crowded places. Symptoms for both viruses can include nasal congestion, fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain, as well as a sore throat and coughing.
• RSV is a respiratory virus that has been detected in previous cold and flu seasons. Symptoms of RSV include cough, runny nose, and fever. Treatment consists of managing symptoms.

Tips to Avoid Getting Sick [English | Español)
Public health officials offer these tips to prevent getting sick:

• Consider wearing a well-fitting, good-quality mask, especially indoors or in crowded spaces
• Wash hands thoroughly and often
• Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands
• Stay away from sick people
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean commonly touched surfaces and/or wash/sanitize your hands after using them.
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccines

Apr 27: Spring Fest @5:30-7:00 PM

May 1-18: CAASPP School-wide testing

May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 19: Pershing Foundation Challenge Course

Jun 8: 8th Grade Evening Awards Assembly

Jun 9: 8th Grade Dance

Jun 12: 8th Grade Promotion Practice

June 13: 8th Grade Promotion Practice & Dave & Buster's Trip

Jun 14: 8th Grade Promotion