Firebird Newsletter 2023-2024
Farb Middle School
Important Dates for Fall 2023
Middle School Sports Tryouts: 8/25 and 8/30 4:15-5:45
September 11: Clubs begin and Late bus starts
September 21: Back to School Night 5:30-7:00
September 23: AVID Academy 8-12
September 29: Middle School Band Night at CHHS
October 6: Indigenous People Day - No School
October 14: AVID Academy 8-12
October 20: End of First Quarter
October 25-31 ASB Spirit Week
October 31: Haunted House at Lunch
November 1: Parent/Teacher Conferences (Minimum Day)
November 2: Parent/Teacher Conferences (Minimum Day)
November 11: Veteran's Day - No School
November 20-24: Thanksgiving Break
December 2: AVID Academy 8-12
December 14: ASB Dance 2:45-4:00
December 18-January 2: Winter Break
January 3, 2024 : Students Return to School
January13: AVID Academy 8-12
January 15: Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday - No School
January 19: End of Fall Semester
Sunday Update September 3, 2023
Good evening Farb Families! Here is this week’s Sunday Update.
I hope everyone is enjoying this long weekend. As a reminder there is no school tomorrow, September 4 in honor of Labor Day. We will see everyone back on Tuesday September 5th.
Parent Volunteers
We are looking for 2 parents to join our School Governance Team (SGT). We meet the 2nd Monday of each month from 4-5 in person at school. If you are interested in being on our SGT, please email me this week. This year we will be focusing on changing the school end time and our schoolwide discipline policy.
Middle School Sports: Basketball and Track and Field
Tryouts for Basketball and Track and Field will continue this week. Tryouts and future practices this fall will be on Monday and Wednesdays from 4:15-5:45. (Please see link to schedule) If you do have any questions about the program please reach out to Mr. Hundley (jhundley@sandi.net) or the coach directly. Link to Middle School Sports Webpage
ASB Applications
Students who are interested in being part of this year’s ASB (Student Leadership) Class, may pick up an application in the office. ASB will meet this year after school on Monday’s from 4-5. This is a class and students will receive a grade, so students must be able to attend all meetings.
Textbooks
All students received their textbooks last week. If your students was absent and did not receive their history book. Please be sure they see Mr. G this week to get a book.
First Day Packets
Thank you to all the families who have returned the first day packet. If you have not done so, please return the first day packet information as soon as possible.
Purchasing PE Clothes and a Lock
Reminder, all 7th and 8th grade students will begin dressing for PE this Tuesday, September 5. Students’ citizenship grade in PE will be affected if students do not dress out for PE.
Save the Date
Back to School Night will be September 21 from 5:30-7:00 pm. This is an opportunity for families to meet all of the teachers and learn about the expectations for each class.
We thank you for your continued support. If you ever have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out. You can email myself (crizzo@sandi.net) or our Associate Principal, Mr. Grendziak (Mr. G) at dgrendziak@sandi.net).
Have a wonderful evening.
Courtney Rizzo
Principal
Farb's Clubs and Afterschool Support Schedule:
Please Note: Clubs will not begin until the week of September 11
Mondays
JS2S (6th and 7/8th grade) Lunch in the library
Martial Arts (On Zoom-See Flyer below)
ASB 4-5 room 56 4-5 pm
Art Club room 35 4-5 pm
Safe Club Library Conference Room 4-5 pm
Orchestra Club B9 4-5 pm
Tuesdays
Theater Club room 42 4-5
Wednesdays
Anime Club 6th and 7/8th grade lunch in the library
Yearbook 4-5 in Room 32
AVID Club 4-5 in Room 33
Tennis Club (Spring Semester)
Thursday's
Gardening Club 8:00-8:45 am
Military Kids Club 2:40-3:40 (Meeting in the lunch Court)
D and D Club 2:40-3:40 (Lunch Court)
Friday
Comic Book at lunch in the library
Neurodiversity Club TBD
Coding Club TBD
Other Clubs will be added through out the year. If a student is interested in starting a club, please see Mrs. Rizzo.
Farb's Martial Art's Club
School Office Contact Information
Farb Office Support: 858-397-6750
Attendance and General Questions (Spanish)
Melissa Cantua: mcantua@sandi.net
Enrollment, Moving, or Request for Records
Monica Cortez mcortez@sandi.net
Attendance or Contracts
TBD
Parent Portal/Powerschool Questions
Don Christianson dchristianson@sandi.net
Health Office
Health Tech: Liz Martinez (M-F)
Nurse: Halat Barwari (M and Th) hbarwari@sandi.net
Finance and PE Clothes
Kathryn Hahnlein khahnlein1@sandi.net
Associate Principal
Dan Grendziak (Mr. G) dgrendziak@sandi.net
Principal
Courtney Rizzo crizzo@sandi.net
To Receive the link to the Firebird Newsletter Weekly via Text
Counseling Corner
Message from our Counselors
Welcome to a new school year parents and guardians! As School Counselors, we want to make sure that you know we are here to support you and your child. The Counseling Corner will provide you with updates so that you can stay informed. We will post resources that will be available to help support your child throughout the year. At this time, we are still getting everything set up, so be sure to check back in the future for more information.
We will continue to use a google form called the SSR (Student Support Request Form) that students can fill out when they would like to make an appointment to see a Counselor or the Associate Principal for non emergencies. Of course, we are always here for students when they are experiencing an immediate need, however, we ask that students use this form if they would like to see a Counselor sometime within the school day. This will ensure students will be seen in a timely manner without missing more class time as they wait.
We would like to give a warm welcome to Ms. O’Brien. She is Farb’s new Counselor bringing a restorative justice approach to the team. Restorative justice techniques are used as a way to repair harm amongst students without placing blame or being punitive. All perspectives are heard on neutral ground and everyone takes responsibility for their actions. It is a way of connecting actions with consequences by developing strong relationships and problem solving skills.
We are looking forward to working with your students. Please contact us if you need anything.
Ms. O’Brien kobrien1@sandi.net
Mrs. Schad aschad@sandi.net
MFLC: On Site Military Counselor at Farb
Farb Middle School
Email: crizzo@sandi.net
Website: https://www.sandiegounified.org/schools/farb
Location: 4880 La Cuenta Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-397-6750