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!!

10/14 - 10/18 All Star Flag Football (7th Grade)

10/14 Parent Night at De Portola for current 5th grade families @ 6:00pm

10/15 Willy Wonka Jr. Auditions 2:45 Weiner Hall

10/16 Picture Day

10/16 SGT Meeting at 2:45PM (October 2024 Agenda)

10/17 The California Great Shake Out @ 10:17am

10/21 - 10/25 All Star Flag Football (6th Grade)

10/21 Hancock 5th graders visit DPMS @ 10:30am

10/22 Call Backs for Willy Wonka Jr. @ 2:45 Weiner Hall

10/23 Kumeyaay 5th graders visit DPMS @ 10:30

10/24 Tierrasanta Elementary 5th graders visit DPMS @ 9:30

10/24 San Diego Youth Services Parent Meeting @ 5:30

10/25 School Dance during school hours

10/25 PrimeTime Octoberfest @ 4:00pm

10/29 Vista Grande 5th graders visit DPMS @ 10:30

10/29 Final Call Backs Willy Wonka Jr. @ 2:45 Weiner Hall

10/30 Make Up Picture Day

10/31 Halloween Costume Contest (During Lunch)

(Students can dress up. No masks. No Weapons. Follow dress code.)

*De Portola will not have a Haunted House this year*

Our sixth graders spent some time outside on Friday participating in a soap carving as a culminating project after reading Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan. Such a great opportunity to deepen our understanding of texts and engage in some outdoor learning.

We installed a new vending machine on campus last week. The machine accepts cash, card, and Apple Pay. Students are only allowed to use the vending machine before and after school and during lunch. They are not allowed to make purchases during class time. Purchases made during instructional time will result in loss of item and lunch detention. The vending machine offers a variety of healthy snacks and drinks. All proceeds go directly to our ASB account used for school activities such as Chill on the Hill, Spirit Days, and Boo Buckets (class prizes).

The grading period ended last Friday, October 11. Progress reports will be handed out on Friday, October 18th during period 4. Please be sure to check your student's grades in Parent Portal often to ensure your student is on track. For assistance with Parent Portal, please email Mr. Steven at sfong@sandi.net. Our teachers are available for tutoring after school. Click here to see their after school tutoring schedule.

Students will have school pictures taken this Wednesday, October 16th during their PE class. Make up picture day will be Wednesday, October 30th.

Our site will be participating in the Great California Shakeout, Thursday 10/17 at 10:17AM.

Expectations:

• Perform the Drop, Cover, and Hold Earthquake Procedure. This involves directing all students, staff, and visitors to take cover under a desk or table for 60 seconds by dropping to their knees with backs toward windows and protecting their heads using one arm, while using the other arm to hold onto the desk or table.
• We will not evacuate for this drill.

On 10/24/24 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm as San Diego Youth Services will facilitate an informative Parent Meeting discussing the SOS Signs Suicide® Prevention Program as well as a discussion about Bullying Prevention. San Diego Youth Services will also present the SOS Signs Suicide® Prevention Program in 7th grade classrooms for 50-minute periods starting on 11/5/24. Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 225 951 983 768 Passcode: zzkvLd

Permission Slip will go out to Families for signature in order to participate.

All families have been notified of acceptance/waitlist to this class. This class is scheduled to begin this Monday, October 13. We will evaluate the class after nine weeks to determine an extension or re-formatting the class. This class is funded by the federal government with priority for 6th grade military students. PrimeTime students must sign in to PrimeTime before attending class and stay in class until 3:45pm. Mr. Hess in B6 will be the assigned teacher. We will notify waitlisted families if/when students drop and there is availability.

Students currently enrolled in Spanish elective are not eligible to take this course. Also, students selected for the the Intro to Spanish class cannot participate in Middle School Sports.

Repeated information from previous weeks.

If you are interested in being part of our after school theater program this year, auditions continue this week Tuesday, Oct 15th after school from 2:45-4pm in Weiner Hall. The show this year is Willy Wonka Jr. This is only for those who would like to be on stage. If you would prefer to work backstage we will have more information coming at a later date.

Winter Season for Soccer and Volleyball starts the week of November 4th with tryouts. You can click the image below or scan QR code to register your student. Registration closes Friday, 11/2 at 8:00PM.

All Families are welcome to join Primetime's Octoberfest. This event will be on campus starting at 4pm, October 25th. Donations are welcome, please e-mail deportolapt@ymcasd.org with any questions.

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.