Panther Parent Update
August 11, 2024
Our School Vision
De Portola welcomes individuality by empowering and developing students’ communication, curiosity, and critical thinking skills through a growth mindset. We are Panthers! Rooooaaaarrrrrrrr!!
Important Dates
08/07 Office CLOSED for staff meeting
08/08 Panther Orientation 3:00-4:30
08/12 First day of school (FULL DAY)
08/15 MINIMUM DAY with a 1:00 Dismissal (EVERY THURSDAY)
09/03 DP Foundation Meeting 6:00pm
09/05 Back to School Night 5:00-7:00
SCHOOL STARTS AT 8:00am on Monday, August 12, 2024
Student Schedules
We have made a few last minute schedule changes so please be sure to double check the Parent Portal. Paper schedules will be distributed to all students. 6th grade schedules will be located at the west gate and 7th/8th grade schedules will be at the east walk in gate near the bike rack.
Please email your child's counselor for any concerns you may have. Lindsey Hudson lhudson@sandi.net for students with last names A-L and Amy Ericson aericson@sandi.net for students with last names M-Z.
Strict Cell Phone Policy
At our Back to School Staff meeting, all staff were in agreement to tighten up our cell phone policy as authentic connections and meaningful conversations are part of our core values at De Portola.
ALL CELL PHONES AND SMART WATCHES MUST STAY ZIPPED UP IN BACKPACKS.
Medical exemptions are permitted.
Students can:
- Ask permission from a staff member to use their device
- Ask staff to hold their device when they need to use the restroom during class
- Lock up their devices in assigned lockers while at PE
- Use their device after school
Students cannot:
- Listen to music from phones
- Place phone in back pocket of pants or shorts
- Place phone in side pocket of backpack
- Take phones to restroom
We also do not allow students to wear small, wireless headphones (air pods). Many students were hiding them under hoods and under long hair and completely disengaging from the world around them. They also get lost and stolen easily. Teachers may allow students to listen to music during independent work time, but students must used wired headphones. Students are encouraged to bring their own or they can borrow a pair from the classroom.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- Please DO NOT mark your child's name on the PE clothes. The PE staff will complete this for them so that the names are consistent and legible.
- We sold out of a lot of sizes for PE clothes. Students can wear alternate PE clothes until our stock is refilled in a few weeks. Ideally, students should wear a grey shirt and blue shorts. More importantly, they have to wear different clothes to PE than they wear the rest of the day. Please note that shorts cannot have pockets.
- We DO NOT sell locks for PE Lockers. We highly recommend purchasing an old school Master Lock. They are the most durable. Please have your student practice their combination prior to the first week of school.
Personal Items
Bike riders: All students must lock up their bike in the bike rack area. This gate is locked during school hours, but students should still lock up their bike. Skateboarders: Students are welcome to leave their skateboards in the office. They cannot carry their skateboards around school. Extra curricular: Students may also leave sports bags or large items in the front office.
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
When you enter the school parking lot, you must turn left and drive all the way down as the staff directs you. The staff will signal when it is time for your student to exit the vehicle. Please follow the directions of the staff to ensure the line moves and all can arrive on time.
Many families choose to drop their students off on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Please do not drop off along a red curb. Last year, we had several families receive citations for dropping off in the bus zone and no parking zone. There is a 3 minute loading zone on the west side of the De Portola intersection. Students can be dropped off there and walk in.
The parking lot is closed after school from 2:00 - 2:40. There are some parking spots available by accessing the far west driveway. Please make arrangements to meet your student on the street, the dirt lot on west side of campus, the rec center. Students are welcome to hang out in front of school until parking lot clears out around 2:45. Also, the library is open until 3:30pm.
Also, please DO NOT use the residential parking lot across the street from school. We try to be really good neighbors and not disturb them with our dismissal procedures.
Our enrollment has increased from 660 to 690 this year so adherence to these rules keep our students and staff safe and gets everyone on their way quickly.
Volunteers Needed
Library
Ms. Cindee in the Library would love some help to check out books.
Volunteers needed: Tuesday - Friday 8:00 -10:00am and 12:30 - 2:30pm
PE
The PE staff could use some help writing names on shirts.
Volunteers needed: Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 11:00 and 12:30 - 2:30pm
Please sign in at the front office and we will send you on your way. PE Volunteers get a free ride in the golf cart! How can you pass that up?
Appointments and Absences
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.
Repeated info from last week
School Supplies & Computers
All teachers provide students with basic supplies: pencils, paper, notebooks, & folders. All sixth graders will receive a small student planner. Also, all sixth graders will receive new computers during the first week of school. Students must clear/clean their computer of all stickers and bring in their charger in order to receive their replacement device. We highly recommend a neoprene sleeve for extra computer protection.
Sixth Grade Welcome
If you cannot attend Panther Orientation, please don't worry. All sixth graders attend a Welcome Event during the first two hours on the first day of school. This includes an assembly with the counseling and admin team, a tour of the school, and an introduction to 6th grade staff.
FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
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.
Student Policies
We will be reviewing all of our student policies with students during the first week of school. Here are some of the basics to get you started:
Dress Code:
Our expectation is that students understand the fine line between self-expression and being presentable. Please review some very basic rules about dress code.
The bottom of the shirt must touch the top of the shorts/pants
No hoods indoors
Hats are at the discretion of each teacher
No undergarments showing
No slippers or blankets
No clothing with foul language or adult behavior (drinking, smoking, etc).
Our school is a beautiful place for learning and we uphold the dress code for everyone who is on campus. We celebrate all styles as long as they adhere to the the above listed expectations.
Cell Phones:
Students cannot be on their phones until after school at 2:30pm. Phones will be confiscated and returned to students at the end of the day. Repeat offenders will result in phone calls home. Your child may ask any staff permission to text or call home. We value our instructional time and understand that middle schoolers are easily distracted by constant phone notifications.