Pistor Paw Prints

Greetings Panthers and Families,

"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans."

- John Lennon

I have always loved this quote. It reminds me to slow down when I get too focused on the road and forget to enjoy the journey. And middle school is quite a journey!

No matter what road you are on, you are about to move out of the driver's seat when it comes to the growth and development of your child. Middle school is an important time for students to develop self-responsibility, make decisions, and learn to handle their independence. As they adjust to new academic and social expectations, the role of parents shifts from direct oversight to more of a coaching role. You still have a very important role in helping them to create their roadmaps. Here are some strategies you can use to support your child’s growth in self-responsibility, positive behavior, and independence.

1. Fostering Self-Responsibility

• Set Clear Expectations: Have open conversations with your child about responsibilities, such as completing homework, preparing for school, and managing their time. Clear expectations give them a framework to follow.
• Encourage Ownership: Let your child take charge of organizing their tasks and schedules. Resist the urge to remind them of every due date—if they occasionally forget, they learn valuable lessons about time management.
• Celebrate Effort and Progress: Acknowledge when they take responsibility, even if it’s just in small ways. Praise their effort rather than only focusing on outcomes, like grades, to help build their confidence and intrinsic motivation.

2. Supporting Positive Behavior

• Model and Discuss Positive Choices: Kids this age still look to parents as role models. Show and talk about positive ways to handle stress, disagreements, and social pressures. Ask open-ended questions to prompt your child to think about how their behavior affects others.
• Establish Clear Boundaries: Setting boundaries around acceptable behavior at home, school, and with friends provides consistency and helps them understand expectations. Be consistent with these boundaries and explain the “why” behind them.
• Practice Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Help your child understand different perspectives by discussing how their words and actions impact others. Role-playing scenarios can help them consider positive ways to resolve conflicts and build social skills.

3. Encouraging Growing Independence

• Allow Safe Decision-Making Opportunities: Giving your child opportunities to make age-appropriate decisions, such as choosing an extracurricular activity or deciding how to spend their weekend, empowers them to build independence. Let them experience both the rewards and consequences of their choices.
• Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Encourage your child to solve problems independently rather than solving everything for them. When they face challenges, ask guiding questions like, “What do you think would help?” or “What could you try next time?”
• Create a Safe Environment for Failure: Middle school is a safe time to make mistakes and learn from them. Rather than intervening every time they struggle, allow them to experience the natural consequences of their actions. Use these moments to discuss what they learned and how they might approach things differently in the future.

4. Balancing Support and Independence

• Communicate Openly and Regularly: Keep the lines of communication open so your child feels comfortable coming to you when they need guidance. Use neutral, open-ended questions to encourage them to share.
• Support with Patience and Understanding: Learning responsibility and independence is a process with ups and downs. Be patient with them as they navigate this stage and remind them that learning these skills takes time.
• Know When to Step Back: As hard as it may be, avoid micromanaging. Giving them space to manage their responsibilities fosters confidence and independence.

5. Creating Consistency Across School and Home

• Coordinate with Teachers: Communication with teachers can help you stay informed about how your child is managing responsibilities and behavior at school. Regular updates will provide insight into areas where they may need more support or independence.
• Encourage Extracurricular Activities: Involvement in sports, arts, or clubs teaches teamwork, commitment, and resilience. These activities build independence as your child learns to handle different responsibilities and social situations outside of the home.

By balancing support with opportunities for independence, you’re helping your child develop essential life skills. These strategies not only help them succeed in middle school but also set the foundation for their high school years and beyond. Encourage them, guide them, and give them space to grow—each small step builds their confidence and prepares them for the challenges of growing up.

I hope you enjoy the ride!

Thank you,

Mrs. Gunnels, Principal

11/4/2024 - Boy's Volleyball and Girl's Basketball @ Roskruge @ 4:30 PM

11/4 to 11/8/2024 - National School Psychologist Week

11/6/2024 - National Nacho Day

11/7/2024 - Boy's Volleyball and Girl's Basketball vs. Wakefield (home) @ 4:30 PM

11/8/2024 - Lockdown Drill

11/8/2024 - Principal's Lunch During Both Lunches

11/8/2024 - Panther Buck Store Open During Both Lunches

11/11/2024 - Veteran's Day - No School

11/12/2024 - PBIS Penny Wars Begin! - Grade Level Competition - more information to follow

11/12/2024 - Boy's Volleyball and Girl's Basketball vs. McCorkle (home) @ 4:30 PM

11/12/2024 - Family Engagement Meeting @ 3:30 PM (We need parents to join our PTO!)

11/12/2024 - Site Council Meeting @ 4:30 PM

11/13/2024 - PBIS Games During Both Lunches - earn Panther Bucks!

11/14/2024 - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

11/15/2024 - Panther Buck Store Open During Both Lunches

11/15/2024 - Boy's Volleyball @ Valencia @ 4:30 PM

11/16/2024 - Co-Ed Flag Football Tournament - Location TBD

11/15/2024 - Friday Movie Night @ 5:00 PM

11/19/2024 - Boy's Volleyball and Girl's Basketball vs. Mansfeld (home) @ 4:30 PM

11/20/2024 - Q2 Progress Grades Posted

11/20/2024 - Pistor MS Spelling Bee @ 3:30 PM

11/20/2024 - National Education Support Professional's Day

11/22/2024 - Substitute Appreciation Day

11/22/2024 - Panther Buck Store Open During Both Lunches

11/22/2024 - Boy's Volleyball and Girl's Basketball @ Wakefield @ 4:30 PM

11/25/2024 - Girl's Basketball @ McCorkle @ 4:30 PM

11/27/2024 - PBIS Games During Both Lunches - earn Panther Bucks!

11/28 to 11/29/2024 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

Looking Forward to December 2024...

12/2 to 12/13/2024 - Q2 Benchmark Testing (Reading. Math, and Writing)

12/3/2024 - District Media Day at Pistor MS

12/20/2024 - Grading Day - No School for Students

12/23 - 1/3/2025 - Winter Break

We are going BANANAS!!!

Please talk to your child about the BANANAS form.

What is it? A form for students to easily (and anonymously, if they prefer) to report things they are concerned about that are happening on campus.

Why would you use it? When a student wants to let an adult know about something going on or they want to talk to someone about an issue they are having.

Have they tried it? The link to the BANANAS form is on each students Clever page. The Clever page is where all of the apps and programs we use are located for easy access and SSO.

This form has been a success for the two weeks we’ve been using it. Let’s keep it going and make Pistor a safer place to be.

Parent Pick-Up

Families…you spoke, we listened.

Please know every compliment and complaint you give is so valuable. We do listen and talk about suggestions you give to make Pistor a better and safer place to be. We are going to try something new for parent pick up after school. I know change is hard so I hope you will give this a little time to see if this is a better fit to accommodate getting over 500 kids picked up after school in the safest way possible.

Currently on Canada, the drop off in the morning is near the field. That is going well because there is a huge window of time to drop off your child, from 8:00 – 8:45 AM. The issue we are still having is the congestion in the afternoon. We are going to move after school pick up a little further up Canada. We realize this area of the street is wider and moves kids away from the ice cream trucks.

There will always be a concern for children crossing the street, so we ask that you follow the flow of traffic and don’t park where your kids must cross the street. We’ve put in a request through the city to get a crosswalk on Canada, but that could be denied or could be months before we see that happen.

Here is a picture of where we will begin doing dismissal starting on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024.

Dear Families,

Tis' the Season for Gratitude

Thank YOU for everything you're doing to support the students in our communities right now. We know it is such hard work and hope you'll all have time to unplug and rest this season.

During challenging times, what brings you hope? The research about practicing gratitude is solid and November seems like a fine time to try it out. Our world is not simple or easy - even in the best of times. How might gratitude and hope help bring a little light to your world?

In November Ms. Rivera will starting up small groups to focus on Healthy Relationships. Their will be one group for boys and one for girls. The classes will meet once a week. They will last generally about one quarter. The groups will be 15 students each.

Any boys and/or girls who could benefit from participating in a small focus group to work on developing healthy relationships with their peers (male and female), please send me names as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have or if we can do anything at all to support, you or your child(ren) as we move towards the end of the year. Please feel free to contact Ms. Rivera at mcristina.rivera@tusd1.org

CRISIS Response

• Text HOME to 741741
• Text, Call or Chat 988 available24/7
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

Text, Talk, Act

Text START to 89800

HOW IT WORKS

1. Youth gather in groups of 3-4.
2. Groups text into our platform and follow the text message prompts.
3. Together, the group discusses mental health and how to help others.
4. Youth become more comfortable talking about mental health and learn where to get help.

The Counseling Department is dedicated to ensuring that students are set up for success this school year. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. You may contact Ms. Rivera at mcristina.rivera@tusd1.org

Please check out the district bond information website. We want you to be aware of the specific projects that are slated for Pistor and to see bond dollars are at work!

The website is intended to provide updates on our Bond projects with estimated timelines (may be subject to change). Here is the website link: Bond 2023 (tusd1.org)

On October 22, the Student Council hosted its first MOD Pizza fundraising event, and it was a fantastic success! Community members came out in full force to enjoy delicious pizza while supporting our school initiatives. Every pizza ordered contributed to raising funds that will directly benefit our students. The hard work of the Student Council members was evident as they promoted the event before and after school at the drop-off area and engaged with attendees and parents during the Honors Assembly.

On the same day, we held our Quarter 1 Honors Assembly, celebrating the achievements of our outstanding students, including John Gutierrez, and recognizing Mr. Stephen “Cole” Upton as the Teacher of the Month for September.

Additionally, on October 31, we hosted our first-ever Halloween dance, and it was an incredible event! The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as students and teachers arrived in their creative costumes, ready to celebrate the spooky season.

The Student Council set up a fantastic store, and one of the major attractions was the costume contest, showcasing the amazing creativity of our students. Another highlight of the night was the haunted house horror room, a thrilling experience for everyone who dared to enter. Decorated with eerie props and special effects, it provided just the right amount of fright and fun, with surprises lurking around every corner and staff members and students serving as our ghosts. Ms. Corcoran, our art teacher, did a fantastic job spearheading the creative direction, bringing the spooky theme to life.

Overall, the Halloween dance was a resounding success, uniting our school community for an afternoon of fun, laughter, and a little bit of fright. This event was a wonderful way to celebrate our students' dedication and hard work during Quarters 1 and 2. We can’t wait to make this an annual tradition, alongside our Valentine’s dance!

Friday Movie Night - We are going to try a little something different this year. First of all, we will be moving inside the cafeteria where the sound and lighting will be better (and warmer). In addition, we are going to open this up as a student event, meaning that parents/guardians do not have to attend. Families are more than welcome to attend if they want to but they are not required.

On Friday, November 15th we will be showing Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire. Doors will open at 4:45 PM amd the movie will start at 5:00 PM sharp. In order to "buy" a ticket, students must meet the following criteria. These are the same criteria to participate in any school sponsored event.

• No failing grades in any classes.
• No unexcused absences or excessive tardies.
• No behavior violations, Level 3 or higher.

Students will be able to pick up their ticket on the day of the movie during lunch time on the patio. They must have their ID to pick up a ticket. The ticket is only good for that student (and/or their family). Each student must have their own ticket.

Students who attend Friday Movie Night must be signed in and out by a parent/guardian. Students will be required to stay inside the cafeteria until they are picked up by a family member. Students will not be allowed to leave the building for any reason without parent permission.

Pistor MS Spelling Bee - The Bee is being sponsored this year by Mr. Cabanig and Ms. Ponteras. Each ELA teacher will have the opportunity to select two students from their classes to participate in the Bee. Teachers may select the students by having classroom competitions and/or volunteers.

The Pistor MS Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, November 20th at 3:30 PM in the cafeteria.

Dear Parents,

Our Pistor Panthers are coming off a great 1st season sports as the Girls Volleyball team made the 2nd round of the playoffs. Super excited that we are underway to start our 2nd Season sports with Girls Basketball coached by Coach Mateo and Boys Volleyball coached by Coach Madrid. Please see attached Sports schedule.

Please take a moment to register your child(ren) for the upcoming school year! With the holidays coming, it is very easy to let this get put on the back burner. Your confirmed registration for the upcoming school year helps us to keep funding for all the wonderful electives and programs we have when budget season comes around!

• If you are continuing at Pistor MS, please go to your ParentVUE account, confirm or update your student’s information.
• If choosing a different school, please visit tusd1.org/discover.

Please NOTE: Online registration is required for all students every school year.

If you need assistance, please call the front office at 520-908-5400. Ms. Alejandra, Ms. Diane, and/or Ms. Kristina will be more than happy to help!

Pistor Power Hour in the Library Tuesday - Fridays 7:45 to 8:45 AM

Homework Helper in the Library Monday, Tuesday, & Thursdays 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Mandatory Tutoring Monday - Thursdays 4:00 to 5:00 PM, Wednesdays 3:00 to 4:00 PM

• Mandatory Tutoring is assigned by teachers and coaches if a student is excessively absent, is in danger of being retained, or athletes ineligible to participate due to failing grades.

Middle School Interscholastic Sports Offerings and Dates

Second Season October 14 – December 19

• Girls Basketball - Coach Mateo
• Boys Volleyball - Coach Madrid
• Flag Football Tournament (1-Day) - Coach Holley

Third Season January 6 – March 5

• Boys and Girls Soccer

Fourth Season March 17 – May 4

• Boys and Girls Track & Field

Athlete Requirements

An athlete needs to have all paperwork and participation fees submitted before they can begin practices, tryouts, games.

• Active Sports Physical (must be dated March 1, 2024, or later) - You MUST have an active completed sports physical prior to try outs!
• Athlete Packet
• Emergency Information Card
• Parent/Guardian Permission
• Athletic Informed Consent
• Activity Specific Parent Permission
• Provisions of Transportation (FT1002)
• TUSD Interscholastic Athletic Transportation Guidelines (ISC1000)

Participation Fees

There is a $30 for middle school interscholastic fee per activity.

• Partial scholarships may be available, please contact Mr. Casillas for more information.

At the Tuesday, September 24th, Site Council meeting, the committee approved the purchase of new sports uniforms as well as a new mural.

Our next Site Council meeting will be Tuesday, November 12th at 4:30 PM in the Conference Room.

Please contact Mr. Gerald Acevedo, Site Council Facilitator, if you would like to add a topic for discussion to the agenda.

Here are some important reminders and updates to ensure access to a learning environment conducive to student success and to ensure safety while on campus for all students, faculty, staff, and families.

1. Attendance - If you child(ren) are absent or late, please be sure to notify the front office at 520-908-5414 within 48 business hours. Students with excessive unexcused absences (10+ per semester, will not receive credit for their class and may be subject to retention. Please see attached bell schedule.

2. Backpacks - Students will be expected to carry a clear or mesh backpack from class to class while on campus. Students who bring a backpack that is not see-through, will be provided the opportunity to check their bag and have it stored for the day.

3. Cell Phones - Students must have their cell phone (if they have one), turned off and out of sight from the time the first bell rings (8:50 AM) until the last bell rings (3:50 PM/2:50 PM on Wednesdays). This is a zero tolerance policy, no warnings will be given. Students who are observed with a cell phone (or other electronic devices such as ear buds, gaming devices, etc.) will have the device collected, and turned into the office for parent pick up.

4. Dress Code - We are a uniform school. Based on the feedback from students, families, and staff, the Pistor Middle School dress code for this year was revised during the summer to ensure clarity and safety yet still remain flexible for students and families. Here are the main highlights:

Top Garment

• Plain, solid colored shirt in red, black, white, or gray. No logos or print of any kind.
• Shoulders and midriff must be covered. No tank tops, spaghetti straps, crop tops, etc.

Bottom Garment

• Jeans, pants, shorts, or skirts in solid black, blue, or khaki. No rips, holes, tears, or fraying.
• Bottom garment must fit at the waist - no sagging.
• Sweatpants, pajama pants, leggings, bicycle shorts, athletic/basketball shorts, etc. are not allowed.

Shoes

• Athletic shoes, sneakers, or sandals in any color.
• Crocs, slides, slippers, flip flops, etc. are not allowed.

5. Supplies for Success - All students must bring the following items daily:

• Backpack – clear or mesh bags only
• Laptop, fully charged w/charging cord – checked out to student at the beginning of the year
• Refillable water bottle (no glass)
• Paper, Pens, and Pencils

Please be sure to see the attachment below for more details.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Per Arizona Minimum Standards, we are not allowed to have any vehicle in the bus bay except for buses when loading and unloading students. Our bus bay is located north of the campus on Alaska Street.

Parent Pick Up and Drop Off is on the south side of the campus on Canada Street.

If you need to park and come onto the campus with your student, you may use the parking lot off of Alaska Street.

Arizona Minimum Standards Statute: R13-13-104. Minimum Standards for School Bus Operation, section 9-11 states:

• During loading or unloading of passengers at a designated school bus loading area at a school, the school shall restrict the loading area to school buses, passengers, and school employees assisting in the loading or unloading of passengers.

Just a reminder that the campus opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM, except on Wednesday, which closes at 3:00 PM.

Please do not drop off students before 8:00 AM. We do not have any supervision before 8:00 AM.

Please be sure to pick up your child by 4:00 PM, 3:00 PM on Wednesdays. We do not have any supervision after these times.

The only students who should be on campus before 8:00 AM or after 4:00 PM (3:00 PM on Wednesdays) are students who are participating in a CCLC club or tutoring or students who are participating in athletics. They will be supervised by their coach, teacher, or club sponsor.

The office opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

We want to make sure that all students are safe.

1. Fully charged laptop with charging cord
2. Notebook and/or binder
3. Pen and pencil
4. Refillable water bottle (no glass)

Website: https://pistorms.tusd1.org/
Location: 5455 South Cardinal Avenue, Tucson, AZ, USA
Phone: 520-908-5400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063651666094