Pacific Grove Middle School

Dear PGMS Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. As we continue to nurture a positive and inclusive learning environment at PGMS, we wanted to highlight a couple of items that have come to our attention recently: instances of students saying mean things and ensuring the safety of our students after school hours.

Addressing Instances of Students Saying Mean Things

We take the emotional well-being and psychological safety of our students very seriously. In recent weeks, we have observed instances where students have said unkind or hurtful things to their peers. It is crucial that we work together as a school community to address this issue effectively.

We believe that open communication between parents, teachers, and students is essential. We encourage you to talk to your child about the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect for their fellow students. Remind them of the impact their words can have on others and the value of fostering positive relationships.

At PGMS, we are committed to creating a safe space for every student. Our teachers and counselors will be engaging in discussions and activities that promote empathy, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills in the coming weeks. We would like to enlist your support in reinforcing these values at home.

If you become aware of any incidents involving your child or others that concern you, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We believe that early intervention, open dialogue and educating students on the power of words can help prevent further issues and promote a culture of respect and kindness.

Ensuring the Safety of Our Students After School Hours

The safety of our students extends beyond the school day. It is essential that we all work together to ensure that our students are accounted for and safe after school hours. Please take note of the following guidelines:

• If your child has an after-school activity, make sure they are aware of the schedule and know how to contact you or another trusted adult in case of any changes or emergencies.

• Encourage your child to travel to and from school as expediently as possible.

• If your child has permission to go to a friend's house or any other location after school, please ensure that you are aware of their whereabouts and the contact information of the responsible adult.

• Please remember that other campuses are off limits unless site administrators have given express permission to your student.

We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for our students, but we need your partnership to make this a reality. Please do not hesitate to contact our school office if you have any concerns about your child's safety or any suggestions on how we can enhance our safety measures.

Let us work together to foster an environment of kindness, respect, and safety at PGMS. We believe that with our collective efforts, we can address these issues effectively and provide the best possible educational experience for our students.

Thank you for your commitment to our school community. Your involvement is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to working together for the benefit of our students.

Sincerely, Sean Roach

Calling All Bakers!

Let your baking skills shine at the Butterfly Bazaar! We need cakes and other baked goods for musical cakes and bake sale. Click link below to sign up!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4FABAD28AAF94-44354636

School picture day will be held on Wednesday, October 11, during P.E. Class. You may order online using the QR code at the bottom of the page. We will also be sending home paper copies of the order form.

Fall sports pictures will be taken on Wednesday, October 11, starting at 3:15 p.m. See below for individual team times. Please have your student change into their uniforms at lunch, if possible, this will expedite the process. Make sure your athlete has their order form, or that you have ordered photos online beforehand. See order form below for QR code. Order forms will also be available at the office.

6th grade girls volleyball ~ 3:45 p.m.

7th grade girls volleyball ~ 3:15 p.m.

8th grade girls volleyball ~ 3:25 p.m.

Boys volleyball ~ 3:35 p.m.

Girls Soccer ~ 3:55 p.m.

Boys Soccer ~ 4:05 p.m.

Cross Country ~ 4:15 p.m.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for students who are not meeting their potential in their classes. Ms. Gibson will contact the parents to schedule a conference. The conferences are the week of Monday, October 23 - Friday, October 27. The conference times are Monday, Wednesday - Friday, 1:00- 3:00 p.m., 15-minute conferences. The ONLY evening conferences available are on Tuesday, October 24, 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

** Conference Week is a Minimum Day Schedule. **

Students are released at 12:11p.m. EVERY day this week.

PGMS values community service and the concept that students should volunteer their time to improve the quality of life for their community. As part of our curriculum and as per board policy, all students are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of community service hours by the end of their 8th-grade year.

If you are a new student to PGMS, please stop by the office to see how many hours you must complete prior to the end of your 8th-grade year.

8th grade Community Service Hours are due by Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Hours may be earned by volunteering for non-profit organizations. All hours must be completed outside of the regular school day. Pre-Approval of projects is highly recommended. Questions or concerns about community service can be addressed by Michelle Cadigan, our Counselor, at mcadigan@pgusd.org or 831-646-6568 ext. 304.

Current lists by grades are posted outside the office for students to check their status. These lists will be updated monthly.

If your student wishes to dress up on Tuesday, October 31, they can come to school in their costumes.

Please remind your students the following:

• Appropriate Dress (even for costumes)

• All weapons, pirate swords, knives, bow and arrows, knives, guns, for example, need to be left at home.

• No fake blood or excess gore.

• No masks and excessive face paint are allowed. We need to be able to identify you.

• Reminder, candy is not allowed on campus, please leave all candy at home.

If you have any questions about your costume, please check with Mr.Tovani.