Panther Parent Update

De Portola is a welcoming diverse learning community. We foster individuality by empowering and developing students’ communication, curiosity, and critical thinking skills through a growth mindset. We are Panthers! Rooooaaaarrrrrrrr!!

3/10 - 3/11 - SAY Presentations (8th Grade Science)

3/10 - SGT Meeting @ 2:45PM

3/11 - Shark Tank (Weiner Hall)

3/12 - SSC Meeting @ 2:45PM 2025-26 Budget approval

3/14 - Pi/PIE Day (Lunchtime Activity)

3/21 - Military Fitness Day

3/27 - VAPA Gala Night

3/28 - Extra Minimum Day

3/31 - 4/3 SPRING BREAK

4/6 - School Resumes

4/30 - Open Mic @ 5:45 PM, Shelter Island fire pits in Point Loma

5/2 - Panther Parent Bowling Night

Please review the below Promotion Requirements with your 8th grade students.

• You can only have one “D” or one “F” (no combinations) on final report card in S2 column.
• No “U’s” for citizenship, period!
• Beginning Grading Period 4 (March 17th), no more than 9 tardies.
• Beginning Grading Period 4 (March 17th), no suspensions.
• Deadline for raising grades: May 16th!

If you have any questions/concerns, please contact your student's counselor;

Students with the last name that begins with A-L - Mrs. Hudson Lhudson@sandi.net

Students with the last name that begins with M-Z - Mrs. Ericson - Aericson@sandi.net

Homework Help List 24/25

Any student who memorizes the first 10 digits of Pi gets a candy.

The top 3 students who memorize the most digits of Pi get an actual pie!

Students can go to the ASB website, Canvas, or see their math teacher for a sheet that has the first 1,000 digits of Pi!

Link to Pi

Our first annual De Portola Middle School VAPA Gala night will be held on March 27th for 5:30-7:30 in Weiner Hall. This fundraiser will support our Visual and Performing Arts. Tickets are $30, which include dinner and show. Please use QR code to purchase tickets.

On March 10th-11th SAY San Diego will present during 8th grade Science Classes.

A summary of topics discussed:

- The impact drugs have on the developing brain
- Prescribed opioids vs illicit fentanyl
- The impact fentanyl has on the body
- How fentanyl is being disguised in a form of a pill
- Who it is safe to take medication from

- Signs of an overdose
- What to do if you suspect someone is overdosing
- Naloxone and how to administer
- The Good Samaritan law
- Perception of harm

If you have any questions/concerns, please contact Amy Ericson at Aericson@sandi.net.

We are reaching out to kindly request donations of gift cards in any amount and from any retailer. These donations will help support the De Portola Middle School Foundation’s fundraising efforts, which directly benefit our school and students. The gift cards will be used as prizes in our upcoming raffle at the DP Bowling Night. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for supporting our school community! Donations can be given to the office.

We are currently working on the next year's schedule. To make this schedule as accurate as possible please fill out this google form if you student is not attending De Portola next school year.

Repeated information from previous weeks.

Our “Open Mic Night” is ON!! That means we have 8 sessions to write and practice! If your child is interested in joining Writers’ Corner, please email Mrs. Soto-Nauta at esoto@sandi.net. The club meets every Tuesday, after school, from 2:50-3:50 PM starting March 4th. Students can wait outside room 714 from 2:30 - 2:50. This is a free course, thanks to De Portola’s Foundation. Thank you, Foundation!

On Wednesday, April 30th, beginning at 5:45 PM, at the Shelter Island fire pits in Point Loma, we will have our Writers’ Corner Finale “Open Mic!” The students will share written excerpts with family and friends in the twilight and glow of the bonfires! Please, do not miss this!

Monday, March 3rd, the yearbook price will jump from $55 to $60. Get yours now before price increases! They can be purchased at www.yearbookforever.com

Please email Ms. McIntosh at smcintosh@sandi.net with any questions.

We will be hosting our annual De Portola Bowling Night on Friday, May 2nd, 2025. This event is adults only and will be held at Aztec Lanes Bowling Alley. This event is sponsored by De Portola Foundation and benefits De Portola. Please mark your calendars! More information to follow.

School dismisses at 2:30. We only allow early release at 2:00pm or earlier. If you child has an appointment and needs to leave, please email Ms. Charisma at cjohnson7@sandi.net or leave her a message her at 619-605-4800 and press 3. She will send a pass and have your student waiting in the office at the expected departure time. This is not a perfect system, but we do our best to accommodate everyone. If your child has PE at your time of departure and you have not given us prior notice, it can take up to 20 minutes to locate your child, send them to locker room, and head up to office. Planning ahead makes this a very easy process.

Full day absences need to be reported to Charisma Johnson at cjohnson7@sandi.net. Please include your student's full name, DOB, reason for illness and the day or dates they are absent.

We do not accept food deliveries for students. Additionally, parents cannot drop off fast food for their student (Subway Included). If a student forgets their lunch, we offer free lunch every day. If a parent drops off a student's lunch bag, we will have the student come up to office at 12:00pm. If a parent brings lunch from Cotijas (or anywhere else), we ask that you stay and enjoy it with your student.

All sports practice throughout the year will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45 - 4:30 with games on Saturdays. Students can only participate in one sport per season. Please review the Middle School Athletics page for more information. Also, email Mr. Steven at sfong@sandi.net for any questions.

Fall Sports: Basketball and Track & Field

Winter: Soccer and Volleyball

Spring: Flag Football, Cheer, and Wrestling

For the 2024-25 school year, De Portola Middle School will provide both BREAKFAST and LUNCH for all students. Breakfast will be served in the lunch arbor from 7:30 - 7:50 AM. Students just need to input their six digit student ID number and make their food selection.