The Panther Pulse

Dear Families,

A reminder that the Pershing campus will be closed on Monday, January 15 in observancer of the MLK Jr. holiday. School will resume on Tuesday, January 16.

The quote above from Martin Luther King Jr. is one that has always resonated with me as an educator. At Pershing Middle School we not only want our Panthers to be engaged scholars, we want them to be kind and caring individuals who support a safe learning community.

Recently San Diego Unified shared information about student discipline data for schools across the district and I am happy to report that Pershing Middle was a standout with the lowest number of negative behavior incidents of any middle school in the entire district! I also wanted to share with you some of the comments students provided when they were asked to take a survey and provide feedback on their experience at Pershing Middle School:

• " Its doing well overall so i dont think it needs changes."
• "I really love being a Pershing Panther, l love this school and i feel really safe here. Thank you"
  
• " I think Pershing is doing a really great job making sure there is no one bullying at this school and making everyone feel safe. I don ´ t think Pershing has to improve on anything, it is an amazing school that I love."
• " Hi Ms Kray and Mr Hawthorne. I think that there has been minimal instances of bullying and you guys should keep up the correct rules and instruction."
• " I feel safe at Pershing and I have not seen any bullying so far."
• " As this is my first year, I think Pershing is doing exceptionally well. Even if you don't know some teachers the will still wave hi and ask how you are doing. The counselors are always checking in on students in the hallways, which I think is nice. I feel Pershing is a safe space to learn. The teachers, even if they might be strict, always have your best interest in growing, improving, and trying your best. Pershing is not only educational, but a fun place to learn and grow."

Middle School can be a tough age and we were pleasantly surprised with the amount of positive feedback we received from students. We also fully appreciate our positive school climate starts at home and we are so thankful to have an incredibly supportive parent community who works in partnership with our school so when issues arise we work together to address them and keep our campus safe!

Sincerely,

Melanie Kray

WINTER WONDERLAND DANCE THIS WEDNESDAY, JAN 17 1-3 PM

Our first dance will be this Wednesday after school in our auditorium. Students who purchased tickets last week will receive their wristbands in class on Wednesday. Students must be wearing a wristband to enter the dance. Unfortunately tickets WILL NOT be sold at the door. Students will be able to purchase light refreshments inside the dance (most items will be $1).

COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL ON WED. JAN 17 @8:30 AM

You are cordially invited to attend our first Coffee with the Principal zoom meeting of 2024.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/87389894176

Meeting ID: 873 8989 4176

SEMESTER 1 ENDS FRIDAY, JAN 19

A reminder that our first semester ends this Friday. Parent portal will be closed while these final grades are processed. Families will be able to view their child(ren)'s grades in PowerSchool by Friday, Jan 26. The new semester begins on Monday, Jan 22. A remind that when Semester 2 begins all grades reset and students start with a clean slate.

SPORTS PHOTOS FOR THE YEARBOOK

Yearbook needs your help. We are including the Pershing sports teams in the yearbook but we need pictures. If you happen to have any pictures that we can use, please sent them our way. We have plenty of track pictures. We are still in need of both girls and boys basketball as well as the new sports that are starting, soccer and volleyball. You can email your photos to sruckle@sandi.net. Any photos you have will be helpful. Thanks in advance for your help and support.

SEM 1 HONOR ROLL AND PRINCIPAL'S HONOR ROLL RECOGNITION EVENTS

We will be inviting families to attend grade level recognition events to honor students who qualify for Honor Roll (GPA 3.50-3.79 or higher) or Princpal's Honor Roll (3.8 GPA or higher) based on their semester 1 final grades. Families who's child(ren) meet the critieria to attend these recognition events will receive an email with more detailed information.

• 8th Grade Recognition Night: Feb 1 @6:00 PM in the auditorium
• 7th Grade Recognition Assembly: Feb 2 @8:00 AM in the auditorium
• 6th Grade Recognition Assembly: Feb 2 @2:00 PM in the auditorium

Pay for Camp via PayPal (preferred option)

Please be sure to also register your 6th Grader first using the 'Register for Camp' button above. When asked for +Important please add student here, please be sure to include your student's name. Please see below for additional payment options

PAY WITH PAYPAL

Payment by Check

Make check payable to "Pershing Middle School Foundation" for $350. Include Student Name and ID # or English teacher in check memo. Please have student return to English teacher or Main Office by October 20, 2024. Send check in envelope with:

1. Student Name

2. English Teacher Name

3. Student ID

4. Parent Phone # and/or email address

Payment by Cash

Include $350. Please have PARENT bring to the Main Office by October 20, 2024. Bring cash in envelope with:

1. Student Name

2. English Teacher Name

3. Student ID

4. Parent Phone # and/or email address

Multiple Payments

You can also make MULTIPLE payments by cash, check or PayPal. When you register, please include planned payment dates, amounts, and mode of payment (as long as the total amount is $350, you can pay in 2 or 3 or more payments)! Note: In order to pay monthly between now and payment due date (Feb 1), you would need to pay 4 payments of $87.50 (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan).

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to:

6th Grade Camp Coordinator | Erika Ohnesorgen | erikarenae28@gmail.com

Congrats to our Boys and Girls Soccer and Volleyball teams for their performance during Week 1. The Girls Soccer team starts the season 1-1 with a tough loss to Muirlands but they bounced back with a decisive win over Montgomery. Our Boys Soccer tam also starts the season 1-1 defeating Mann Middle in their first game and then falling to Montgomery 3-1.

Our Girls Volleyball team starts the season undefeated with victories over Golden Hill and Montgomery. Our Boys Volleyball team also came away 2-0 defeating Farb and Language Academy in two sets each.

Great job this week Panthers. Looking forward to seeing you in action in Week 2!

Also, families the yearbook is in need of photos for our Fall (Track & Basketball) and Winter (Soccer & Volleyball) athletes competing. If you have any photos you'd be willing to share please email them to our yearbook advisor Ms. Siri Ruckle at sruckle@sandi.net

We are fortunate to have a very active parent community and an engaged foundation that works tirelessly to ensure our school has the funds it needs to allow our students to have enriching academic experiences beyond the typical program.

Email: pershingfoundation@outlook.com

Website: https://pershingmiddleschoolfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/pershingpanthers

• Jan 15: Holiday: MLK Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Jan 17: Coffee with the Principal 8:30 AM
• Jan 19: Semester 1 ends
• Jan 22: Grades due at 8 AM
• Mon Jan 22 - 5th Grade Tours 9:30-11:00 AM: Dailard Green and Benchley-Weinberger
• Jan 22: Governance 3PM
• Tue Jan 23 - 5th Grade Tours 9:30-11:00 AM: Gage
• Jan 23: SSC 3PM
• Jan 29: ILT & Committees 3PM

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