PDCMS Panther Update
Message from Principal Dolan...
End of First Quarter
As we conclude the first quarter, I want to commend our students, staff, and community for their hard work and dedication. Together, we are building a strong foundation for academic and personal success.
This week, we participated in the "Great California Shakeout", ensuring our students and staff are prepared for emergencies. Thank you to everyone for making the drill run smoothly and safely.
Our 7th Grade Writer's Workshop was a great success, as students honed their writing skills with enthusiasm and creativity. We look forward to seeing their growth in literacy throughout the year.
Volleyball and Football season is underway, and our student-athletes have shown great sportsmanship and teamwork in their first week of games. Letβs continue to support our Panthers as they compete with pride!
Finally, Mindfulness Training has begun in our 6th grade Humanities classes, teaching students valuable strategies for managing stress and enhancing focus. This initiative is an important step in fostering the well-being of our students.
Thank you all for your continued commitment to Panther PRIDE!
Yours in Education,
Mrs. Dolan
Principal
After School New Pick Up Location
Starting Monday, October 21st, all after school activity pickups will no longer be at the Forum Gate. We are moving to the bus loop between our guest parking lot and Lincoln Elementary's playground. The new pickup routine will apply to all after school activities.
We will be redirecting traffic at the Forum Gate for the first few days next week as we transition to the new pickup routine. Please note that all traffic and parking laws still apply.
Dates to Remember
October Dates π
- October 23rd - Color Dash
- October 23rd - NO BRIDGES
- October 25th - PSAT/CAASPP Interim Testing
- October 27th - Golf Cart Parade
- October 28-11/1/24 - Red Ribbon Week
- October 31st - HALLOWEEN! ππ»
Sports Calendar πβ½βΎππ
Flag Football and Volleyball
Our first games against Indio Middle School ended in wins for both Volleyball and Flag Football!
October 22nd - PDCMS @ Thomas Jefferson Middle School 3:15PM
October 23rd - La Quinta Middle School @ PDCMS 3:15 PM
October 29th - PDCMS @ Desert Ridge Academy 3:15 PM
PDCMS Flag Football Team
PDCMS Volleyball Team
Parent Resources
DSUSD and RCOE is proud to be working with the State of California in promoting the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). CalKIDS gives children in California a jump start on saving for college or career training by providing free student savings accounts. The RCOE Financial Literacy team will continue to focus on signing up students and families since Riverside County has at least 274,664 eligible students which represents a potential of $137,332,000 in savings accounts. To be eligible for CalKIDS, participants must be:
- Born in California on or after July 1, 2022; or
- An eligible low-income public school student in grades 1-12* in California
ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUTβ
Do I need to sign anything for your classes?
What is your favorite thing about your day?
Is your Chromebook charged?
Is your ID in your backpack?
Please remind your student to keep their IDs in their backpacks when they get home from school. If they can't find their ID, replacement IDs are available in the library for a $5.00 fee. By being proactive and taking care of this before school starts, they can avoid any dress code violations.
PSAT
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are writing to inform you about an upcoming opportunity for your child to participate in the PSAT exam on October 25th. The PSAT is a valuable assessment that can provide insights into your child's academic strengths and areas for growth.
Please note that standard testing accommodations will not be offered for the PSAT at this time. This means that the exam will be administered in the same manner as it is for students without 504 plans or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Please have your student come to school well-rested and ontime. Any students arriving after 8:30 AM will not have the opportuntity to test. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Renee McDaniel at renee.mcdaniel@desertsands.us.
Bridges After School Program
Next Wednesday, October 23rd, is our annual Color Dash! There will be no Bridges or Bridges Plus offered on this day. Students will not be allowed back inside the building due to the easily transferable color powder. Please make alternative arrangements for pickup next Wednesday. If you're interested in more information on the Color Dash, please reach out to our wonderful PTO!
Additionally, we've made some changes to the permission levels on our sign-in software that hopefully will address students outside of Bridges signing in without an application on file. We're hoping that this change and some other options that we're looking into will help ease our adult to student ratio and allow us to reopen applications soon.
Thank you all for your understanding, and we hope you have a great weekend!
KARE
Introducing Mr. Sean Gartlan
Hello everyone!
My name is Sean Gartlan and I am joining the team here at PDCMS to assist Dr. Shefa with the Attention Masters Program. I've been a guest teacher with Desert Sands Unified School District since January, and I am currently working towards obtaining a teaching credential. I have many years of experience teaching mindfulness practices, and I'm honored to be involved in such a forward-thinking Social and Emotional Learning program.
I'm very happy to be here and I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!
PDCMS PTO Info
A very big THANK YOU to the following for their sponsorship!
COLOR SPONSORS
Atkins Family~Escrow Plus, Inc.~Keeran Family~Parimi Family~Dewell Family~Holmann Family~OptimalHealth Center~The Construction Zone~Palm Desert Grocery Outlet~Southwest Dental~Frizzante Fine Jewlers
FAMILY SPONSORS
Kazmonz Family~Gaxiola Family~Enders Family~Hicks-Richter Family~Roberts Family~Kirks Subway
#warriors
Ms. Gutierrez and Mrs. Foster sporting their pink tennis shoes!
#survivors
Mrs. Desai and Ms. Cabe giving their peace signs!