Pistor Paw Prints - October 2024

Greetings Panthers and Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. As we continue to support our students in their journey through education and personal growth, I want to take a moment to address the unique challenges of supporting young adolescents. This developmental stage can be both rewarding and complex, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Understanding Young Adolescents

The transition from childhood to adolescence is marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. During this time, young adolescents often seek independence, explore their identities, and experience a range of emotions. You may encounter various challenges, including:

• Communication Barriers: Adolescents may become more withdrawn or resistant to open dialogue. They might express themselves in ways that can be frustrating or confusing for parents.

• Peer Influence: Friends become increasingly important during this stage, and peer pressure can impact decision-making and behavior. Balancing guidance with the desire for independence can be challenging.

• Emotional Turmoil: Hormonal changes and the quest for identity can lead to mood swings and heightened sensitivity. Understanding and supporting your child's emotional needs is crucial during this time.

• Academic Pressure: As students face increased academic expectations, they may experience stress and anxiety. Supporting them in managing their workload while encouraging a healthy work-life balance is essential.

Our School Mission and Vision

At Pistor Middle School, our mission is to nurture integrity, perseverance, and collaboration to empower students as compassionate, responsible citizens through rigorous academics, character education, and community engagement. As we navigate the challenges of supporting young adolescents, it is essential to align our efforts. By working together, we can:

• Encourage Open Communication: As part of our commitment to nurturing integrity and collaboration, we encourage families to engage in open dialogues with our staff. This collaboration ensures that we are all on the same page regarding student needs and aspirations.

• Support Academic Success: Our mission emphasizes rigorous academics. We invite you to partner with us by staying involved in your child's academic journey and utilizing the resources we offer to help them succeed.

• Promote Character Education: We prioritize character education as a cornerstone of our approach. Our programs are designed to equip students with the skills they need to be compassionate and responsible citizens. We encourage you to reinforce these lessons at home.

Conclusion

Raising young adolescents can be challenging, but it is also a time of tremendous growth and opportunity. By working together as a community, we can provide the support and understanding that our children need during this critical period of their lives.

Thank you for your continued involvement and dedication to your child’s education. If you have any questions or would like to discuss parenting strategies further, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you and be safe!

Mrs. Gunnels, Principal

One of the most important keys to preventing bullying is understanding the distinction between bullying and being mean. It is crucial for identifying and addressing these behaviors effectively. While both involve negative interactions, they differ in key aspects:

1. Intent

• Bullying: Bullying is characterized by a deliberate intent to harm, intimidate, or control another person. The bully seeks to exert power over the victim, often repeatedly.
• Being Mean: Being mean may not always involve an intent to harm. It can stem from frustration, anger, or misunderstanding and may not be consistent or targeted.

2. Repetition

• Bullying: Bullying typically involves repetitive behavior. It is not a one-time incident but rather a pattern of harmful actions directed at the same individual over time.
• Being Mean: Mean behavior can be occasional and may happen in isolated instances. Someone might act mean under certain circumstances but does not consistently target the same person.

3. Power Dynamics

• Bullying: Bullying often involves a power imbalance, where the bully has more social power, physical strength, or influence than the victim. This power dynamic can contribute to the victim's feelings of helplessness.
• Being Mean: Mean behavior may not involve a clear power imbalance. It can occur between peers or individuals of equal status without an intention to dominate or control.

4. Impact on Victims

• Bullying: The impact of bullying can be severe, leading to long-term psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Victims may feel isolated and fearful, which can affect their overall well-being.
• Being Mean: While being mean can hurt someone’s feelings, the consequences may not be as profound or lasting as those of bullying. The victim may feel upset or annoyed but may not experience the same level of distress.

5. Response and Resolution

• Bullying: Addressing bullying often requires intervention from adults, school authorities, or mental health professionals. It typically involves implementing anti-bullying policies and support systems to protect victims.
• Being Mean: Mean behavior can often be resolved through communication and conflict resolution between peers. Encouraging dialogue may help address misunderstandings and promote positive interactions.

Conclusion

In summary, while both bullying and being mean involve negative behavior, the key differences lie in intent, repetition, power dynamics, impact, and resolution. Recognizing these differences is essential for effectively addressing and preventing harmful behaviors in schools and communities. Promoting kindness, empathy, and effective communication can help create a more supportive environment for everyone.

9/30 - 10/3/2024 - Quarter 1 Benchmark Make-Up Testing

9/30/2024 - Student Council Induction and Oath-Taking Ceremony @ 3:00 PM in the library

10/1 thru 11/4/2024 - CCLC Babysitting Class (full)

10/4/2024 - Grading Day - End of Quarter 1 - No School

10/4/2024 - National Taco Day

10/7 thru 10/11/2024 - Fall Break - No School

10/18/2024 - Fall Pictures and Retakes (see attached flyer for more info)

10/18/2024 - National Chocolate Cupcake Day

10/22/2024 - Quarter 1 Honor Awards (if you plan to take your scholar off campus after the assembly, please stop by the office BEFORE the ceremony begins to sign them out in advance)

• 6th grade - 10:00 AM
• 7th grade - 1:30 PM
• 8th grade - 3:00 PM

10/23/2024 - Professional Learning Day for Faculty & Staff - No School for Students

10/26/2024 - National Pumpkin Day

10/30/2024 - THMS Open House 5:30 to 7:30 PM (see attached flyer for more info)

10/31/2024 - Halloween - Students are allowed to wear costumes as long as they follow TUSD Dress Code and do not obscure their face.

11/1/2024 - El Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

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

Going Bananas.... Kids and parents you spoke, we listened. One of the biggest concerns in middle school is being afraid to “snitch” about a situation no matter how big or small it may be. Now on every student’s Clever page they should be able to find a bananas icon that allows them to report things anonymously or request support from one of the amazing student support team members on Pistor’s Campus.

Let’s meet some of them…

Meet Ms. Ashley: She is one of our Student Success Specialists which means she checks in with kids when grades start to decline and is a support system for kids. If you have a concern about your kids’ grades – have them do a check-in with Ashley. She loves Disney and is bilingual. You can’t help but smile when you talk to Ms. Ashley. She is one of the most positive people I have ever met.

Meet Mr. Cole: He is one of our Student Success Specialists which means he checks in with kids when grades start to decline and is a support system for kids. If you have a concern about your kids’ grades – have them do a check-in with Cole. He worked at Pueblo for many years before joining the Pistor team. He runs weight training and was our soccer and track coach last year.

Meet Mrs. Daniel: Mrs. Daniel is a southside girl. I was a student at Pistor and Pueblo and even met my husband at Pueblo. It is my second year at Pistor as an assistant principal which has been such a blessing for me. It’s amazing to work with my community and see many of your kids growing up as I’ve worked at many of the elementary schools around Pistor. I am a true Disney fan. I began collecting earrings during pandemic as a floating head so keep your eyes out for my different earrings. If I had all the money in the world, I would own a golf cart and have an entire room for makeup and purses.

Meet Ms. Pizano: She is our Restorative Practice Facilitator (RPF) and helps kids who are having concerns with a peer or anyone else on campus. Ms. Pizano loves red lipstick, is bilingual and a huge High School Musical fan. She joined the Pistor team last year and does an amazing job connecting with students. She is also in charge of our PBIS Panther Buck Store which is open every other Friday during both lunches.

Meet Mrs. Valencia: She often goes by school mom and jumps in to help kids with not just clothing, food or personal hygiene items but a listening ear too. She is a Pueblo High School alumni and a fan true and true of the warriors. All four of her kids have been Pistor students so the school isn’t just a place to work, but a true home for her.

Meet Mr. Howard: Mr. Howard is our Behavior Specialist. He has been an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Pistor for 28 years and is now stepping into a role where he gets to meet all the kids before they are eighth graders. He is an avid sports fan so don’t expect him to check his email on Sunday night. As you can tell by his selfie, he is an absolute FAMILY man. He has been married for 25 years, has 3 kids and 1 grandkid.

Meet Mr. Casillas: Mr. Casillas is on his third year as an assistant principal at Pistor. He goes by DJ Casssssilasssss. You can hear him every morning giving the announcements at the beginning of second period. He is bilingual. A true Homies fan and a dad at his core. He has two Masters degrees, he was a track star and he’s a California Homie at heart.

I want to congratulate our Lady Panthers and Coach Monica Madrid as she led the girls' volleyball team to the second round of playoffs in her first year of coaching. The teams were tied going into the last set and our Lady Panthers fell to Alice Vail MS with a score of 15-`13. Unfortunately, our boys' basketball season was cut short, but we are looking forward to the next school year.

In addition, I’m very excited to announce our upcoming 2nd season sports with Boys Volleyball and Girls' basketball. The Fall season sports start Oct.14th. Please make sure your child has completed and submitted their sports physical to Ms. Alejandra in the front office to try out. Tryouts will be held the week back from Fall Break.

Student Council Campaign and Election: Celebrating Our Newly Elected Leaders

The excitement was palpable at Pistor Middle School last September 3 to 6 during our annual Student Council campaign and election day last September 9! Student leaders displayed their public speaking, leadership skills, creativity, and enthusiasm for making a positive impact in our school community during the room-to-room campaign.

Student leaders launched their campaigns with enthusiasm, using posters, and speeches, to share their visions. Each candidate presented ideas for improving the school community and planning exciting events. Students eagerly asked questions, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere. The camaraderie and school spirit were clear as classmates supported their favorite candidates, highlighting the importance of student engagement in the democratic process.

As we welcome our new Student Council officers and members, we encourage all students to stay involved and share their ideas. The Student Council will be hosting events to boost school spirit, promote inclusivity, and give students a platform to voice their opinions. We are excited to share that we are planning to organize the first ever Halloween Dance Party this coming October 30th.

Congratulations to all candidates for their hard work, and a special thank you to our outgoing Student Council members for their service. Being honored as 1 of the 30 winners of the Student Council School of Excellence Award by the National Association of Elementary School Principals last school year was a poignant acknowledgment of our school’s transformative student council program. We look forward to an exciting year ahead with our newly elected leaders!

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)

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.

Dear Families,

As we near the end of quarter 1, the counseling team will be implementing bully awareness to all students using curriculum from the Bully prevention program. October is anti-bully prevention month.

Studies have shown that supporting youth mental health has several benefits including higher academic success, improved resiliency skills, and the ability to communicate and self-advocate more successfully.

Most bullying, including adult-to-adult bullying, can be stopped or prevented when everyone involved learns and uses core social-emotional safety skills. Our solutions include:

· Social-emotional safety skills to be safe from bullying and cyberbullying at all ages

· Safety leadership strategies for adults to ensure that everyone in their homes, schools, and workplaces is safe from bullying and harassment

· Positive intervention and coaching skills to guide those using bullying behaviors to replace them with pro-social behaviors.

Bullying takes many different forms including social aggression, cyberbullying, prejudice-based bullying and harm, and more. By recognizing and addressing the various forms of bullying, we can create a more inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for everyone, everywhere.

Since three-fourths of mental health problems begin between the ages of 14 and 24, we recognize the importance of teaching students about mental wellness, so that they have an understanding of mental wellness and how to take care of it.

As middle school students start to look towards their future in high school, we want to ensure we are supporting all their needs to help them prepare for this transition. You can continue the conversation at home by using these suggested conversation starters: What is bullying? What is the difference between bullying and normal conflict between peers? What about cyber-bullying?

To learn more about bullying, visit the StopBullying.gov website for additional resources. We want to thank all families for talking to our students about bullying. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Rivera School Counselor

CRISIS Response

• Text HOME to 741741
• Text, Call or Chat 988 available 24/7
• 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 by email.

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