Dear Families,

Welcome Back! We hope you had a great Spring Break and were able to enjoy your time with loved ones. I can't believe we are in our final quarter of the 2023-24 school year, time is flying by and the end of the school year will be here before we know it. For our 8th grade families we are looking forward to sharing the crtieria for the upcoming end of the year activities our 8th grade students will have an opportunity to participate in!

This week, our first group of sixth graders heads off to sixth grade camp. If your child is going to camp this week please be sure to review the last minute reminders in the 6th Grade Camp section. Camp is going to be a great experience and for those students staying back we are looking forward to a fun Camp on Campus week where students will participate in a mix of academics, arts & crafts, and teambuilding activiies.

And finally we want to celebrate that April is Austism Awareness Month!

Sincerely,

Melanie Kray

WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS

During Spring Break, the District began work on replacing all the drinking fountains at Pershing with new drinking fountains that will include water bottle refilling stations. Over the break, most of the old drinking fountains were removed to make room for the new refilling stations. Bottled water will be provided to the students while the construction around the upgrade takes place. We anticipate that the work will be completed by the end of the school year.

PERSHING FOUNDATION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

We hope you will be able to join us in-person in the library or via Microsoft Teams at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 10 for our Foundation Meeting. Microsoft Teams Link Below:

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 272 129 242 252

Passcode: fGdpdo

Tdap VACCINATION NEEDED FOR ALL FUTURE 7th GRADERS

A friendly reminder that before students can enter 7th grade they need a Tdap booster. We know how challenging it can be to get appointments so if your child is currently in 6th grade don't forget to ask your physician about scheduling their Tdap booster.

SPORTS PHOTOS FOR THE YEARBOOK

Yearbook needs your help. We are including the Pershing sports teams in the yearbook but we need pictures. If you happen to have any pictures that we can use, please sent them our way. We have plenty of track pictures. We are still in need of both girls and boys basketball as well as the new sports that are starting, soccer and volleyball. You can email your photos to sruckle@sandi.net. Any photos you have will be helpful. Thanks in advance for your help and support.

Would you like to see your art design on the Challenge Course Event T-shirts this year?

The Pershing Panther Challenge Course is coming soon! This will be an all-school fundraiser for the Pershing Foundation and fun field event held on Friday, May 24th. Event T-shirts will be earned by all students who raise at least $40 in donations. In keeping with a new tradition, the Pershing Foundation would like the featured artwork to be designed by one of our students!

Please submit your artwork to your first period teacher or via email to PershingFoundation@outlook.com by 8:00 AM on Monday, April 8th (the Monday we return from Spring Break).

To be considered, art must be:

• The student’s original artwork

• May be done on paper or computer graphically generated

• Include: Either the name "Pershing" and/or a depiction of the mascot (a panther)

• Be tasteful and respectful

Please email the Foundation with any questions: PershingFoundation@outlook.com

Winners will be chosen at the Foundation meeting on April 10th.

1st place winning design will go on the front of our 2024 Challenge Course T-shirts as well as next year’s Foundation Thank You cards

2nd place winning design will be our 2024 Challenge Course Water Bottle Stickers

FINAL REMINDERS

Luggage Drop Off on Monday, April 8:

West parking lot (in front of the 100 building). Please drop off luggage before 8:00 AM and then have your child enter the campus and report to their first period classroom. Parents are welcome to wait outside the campus for the student send-off on Monday.

Parent Postcards/Letters for Students:

Parents may drop off letters/postcards to students in the main office by 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 9 and staff will bring them to camp to deliver to students on Wednesday, April 10.

Student Return on Friday, April 12:

• Buses should return between 11:00-11:30 AM on Friday, April 12. A phone message and text will go out to families when the buses are near Parkway Plaza.

• Luggage will be unloaded in the 6th grade turnaround on the west side of the school.

• Families cannot park on San Carlos Drive in front of the campus. Please park across the street.

• Parents will pick up their children and the luggage in the 6th grade turnaround area.

• Students who are not able to be picked up will remain on campus until the end of the school day and will retrieve their own luggage, store it in the auditorium, and go to lunch. After lunch students will remain in the auditorium until they are picked up or the school day ends.

If someone other than the parent/legal guardian is taking a student home early, please click on the link below and return the portion of the paper with the pick up information of the adult coming to get your student no later than Tuesday, April 9.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LAWKPmgEaA439nd9bF-YKORVvozzgMk6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103909300740116201889&rtpof=true&sd=true

STUDENTS STAYING ON CAMPUS APRIL 8-12

Student not going to camp the Week of April 8 will participate in Pershing's Camp on Campus Week. Students will report to school on Monday, April 8 at the normal time and when the bell rings they will go to their first period classes. All students will walk with their first period teacher to the auditorium. Once in the auditorium they will receive their student group and schedule for the week. Then a teacher will walk them to their first class for Camp on Campus. During the week, students will be rotating to different teachers so they can participate in a mix of fun activities and academics. Students should bring their backpacks and school materials every day that week.

PARENTS ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP WITH DEPARTURE AND RETURN LOGISTICS FOR CAMP?

Monday, April 8 Volunteers Needed

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080448AAAE2EAAFC1-48659553-6thgrade

Friday, April 12 Volunteers Needed

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080448AAAE2EAAFC1-48659487-friday

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to:

6th Grade Camp Coordinator | Erika Ohnesorgen | erikarenae28@gmail.com

We are fortunate to have a very active parent community and an engaged foundation that works tirelessly to ensure our school has the funds it needs to allow our students to have enriching academic experiences beyond the typical program.

Email: pershingfoundation@outlook.com

Website: https://pershingmiddleschoolfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/pershingpanthers

• April 8-12: Sixth Grade Camp (Group 1)
• April 19: P4 Grading Window Closes
• April 22-25: Shrek Jr. Performances
• April 30: Spring Fest: Exhibition of Learning
• May 6-17: School-wide Testings CAASPP English & Math
• May 31: 8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance
• June 6: 8th Grade Promotion @8:30 AM

Follow Pershing Middle on Instagram & Threads

@Pershing_sdusd

Interested in volunteering on campus?

Contact our Community Assistant Ms. Johana Moreno at jmorenoperez@sandi.net

Email: mkray@sandi.net
Website: https://pershing.sandiegounified.org/
Location: 8204 San Carlos Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (619) 352-3550
Twitter: @melanie_kray