The Panther Pulse
Pershing Middle School Community Newsletter: Vol. 2, Issue 1
Traducir? Giải thích? Перевести!
Principal's Message
We are two weeks away from the start of the 2023-24 school year and I am looking forward to seeing you when the new school year begins.
First, a big thank you to our families. Multiple families reached out expressing interested in volunteering as coaches for our robotics program. One of the things I am most appreciative of working in this community is the strong family support we have. It truly does take a village to create great learning experiences for our students, so thank you to the families that are willing to devote their time and energy to help keep this robotics program thriving.
I also wanted to share that the district's Middle School Athletics Department has opened up the sign-up window for fall sports. Students can sign up to try out for basketball or track and field. Last year, Pershing was named Overall Middle School Sports Champions because of how well our students competed. A Pershing team competed in 7 of the 10 league championship games and our teams won 4 league championships. We are excited to see our teams continue this tradition of excellence in 2023-24. Information about sign-ups is available below and on our school website.
It's going to be another great school year for our Panther Community. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer and remember the first day of school is Monday, August 21!
Sincerely,
Melanie Kray
Important Announcements for the Week of August 7
MAIN OFFICE RE-OPENING AUG. 10
Our office staff returns from summer break this week. Beginning Thursday, August 10th, the office will be open 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Teachers and counselors will return the following week.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
As a public school, Pershing will provide any school supplies that are required for a student's academic program (i.e. paper, pencil, etc.). Teachers will also typically provide a suggested supply list for their specific course in the class syllabus they distribute during the first week of school.
That being said, many families prefer to purchase their own personalized supplies. Below is a list of SUGGESTED school supplies that will work for all grade levels and aligns with our AVID program:
- Backpack
- 1 1/2" 3-ring binder with subject dividers
- pencil pouch
- pencils
- pens (blue & black ink preferred)
- highlighter
- scissors
- calculator
- glue stick
- colored pencils
- lined paper
- college-rule single subject spiral notebooks (one for each core subject)
FIRST 3 DAYS OF SCHOOL ARE MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE
A friendly reminder that Monday, August 21 - Wednesday, August 23 we will be on a minimum day schedule. Student will be released at 12:44 PM. A copy of the daily bell schedule is available on our school website.
FREE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM CONTINUES FOR 2023-24
All students, regardless of their family's income or school of attendance, have the option to eat school meals free of charge in the 2023-24 school year. Breakfast is also available daily in the cafeteria free of charge.
There is no denying the many benefits and conveniences that cell phones have brought and we hear frequently from parents that they enjoy the convenience of communicating with their child by cell phone, especially if there is an emergency.
The research, however, is increasingly clear that for adolescents in particular, there are many negative side effects that come with cell phone and social media use . These negative side effects include: distractibility in the classroom, anxiety, negative self-image, feelings of isolation, loss of sleep and cyberbullying just to name a few. In fact, concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on adolescents has become so great the U.S. Surgeon General has even issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health.
That is why we want Pershing to be a place where students "unplug" from their cell phones and social media and focus on reconnecting with their peers and avoid the distractions that make learning more challenging. Cell phones must be silenced and in students' backpacks during school hours. Phone may only be used before and after school.
We hope families will speak with their middle schoolers not just about the cell phone policy but also the reasoning behind it. Below are some articles about the impact of cell phones and social media on adolescents and their learning:
How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers
Negative Health Review of Cell Phones and Social Media
Please consider joining and supporting the Pershing Foundation. Their first meeting is Wednesday, September 13 @6:30 PM in the library. For your convenience the meeting will also be accessible on zoom so families who cannot attend in person will be able to participate (zoom link will be shared in later newsletters).
Email: pershingfoundation@outlook.com
Website: https://pershingmiddleschoolfoundation.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/pershingpanthers
Calendar Heads-Up 🗓
August Dates for Your Calendar
Aug 17: 6th Grade and New Student Orientation @8:30 AM 👩👦
Aug 21: First Day of School for students! 📆
Aug 21-23: Minimum Day Schedule, school ends at 12:44 PM ⚽️
Sept 5: Picture Day for Pershing Students
Sept 7: Back to School Night @5:30 PM
Sep 13: Pershing Foundation Meeting @6:30 in the library & on zoom
Be in touch!
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