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!!

2/17 NO SCHOOL (Presidents Day)

2/19 - 7th Grade to attend SDSU Women's Basketball Game

2/19 - Spanish Club Field Trip (Old Town)

2/21 - Mega Prize Day (All Day)

2/24 - Middle School Sports Try Outs

2/26 - SGT Meeting @ 2:45PM

2/28 - Wonka Jr. 6:00pm

3/1 - Wonka Jr. 1:00pm & 5:00pm

3/2 - Wonka Jr. 12:00pm

3/4 - Foundation Meeting @ 4:00PM

3/5 - Kona Ice (During Lunch)

3/5 - SSC Meeting @ 2:45PM

3/7 - NO SCHOOL (Non-Instructional Day)

The pivot to a dance party was a great success. Jordan Waggoner, DP Foundation President emceed the day with enthusiasm and all the energy we needed to get the kids moving. Ms. Rachel from PrimeTime had all the kids dancing (candy bribes were also a factor). Ms. Flaska taught us all some new line dances. Mr. Lowry and I finally learned the Cotton Eye Joe by the end of the day. That's a fast and tricky one, but once you get it...so much fun.

As of Thursday, February 13th students have raised $25,078! We have surpassed our goal of $23,000. Thank you all for helping support our DP Foundation which provides our students with fun activities such as field trips, dances and 8th grade field day. We will celebrate this success this Friday, February 21st with a Mega Prize Day. This day will include 15 minutes of passing period, 10 minutes extra at lunch as well as phones during lunch. Students who made it to $50 will be receiving their popcorn on Friday and they will have the opportunity to pop their popcorn in one of their favorite teachers' classrooms. All students will also be receiving an ice cream sandwich during lunch. All students with registered allergies and food restrictions will be provided an alternate prize. Golf cart escorts will begin on Tuesday, February 18. Students who raised $500 will get to skip 4th period and go to lunch with Mrs. Jaramillo. We will begin scheduling this next week as well.

PLEDGESTAR is still open and active if you would like to contribute on behave of your student.

School Wide Prizes:

$10,000 - 10 Minute Extra at Lunch

$15,000 - 15 Minute Passing Period

$18,000 - Phones at Lunch

$20,000 - Ice Cream Sandwiches

Individual Prizes:

$50 - Popcorn

$100 - Wear your AirPods for a day

$250 - Golf Cart Escort

$500 - Lunch with Mrs. Jaramillo

$1000 - $100 Gift card of your choice

Time is running out to get your 8th Grade Ad purchased and created for the Yearbook. February 28 will be the very last day that we will be accepting ads, please do not wait until the last minute! You can purchase at www.yearbookforever.com, prices are listed on the website.

Also on March 3rd, the Yearbook price will go from $55 to $60, get your copy for the cheaper price!

Email Ms. McIntosh at smcintosh@sandi.net with any questions

Repeated information from previous weeks.

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.