Pacific Grove Middle School
April 2019
Body and Mind
By Mr. Roach, Principal and Mr. Dorey, P.E. Teacher
When thinking about what my topic for this month’s newsletter would be, I was struck by a conversation I had with our fantastic PE teacher, Chip Dorey. Chip relayed that the PE department is discussing nutrition by having students monitor what they eat, learn about processed foods and how to read food labels to learn about the ingredients they are consuming. What he is finding is a bit of a mixed bag, with many students making healthy decisions on what they eat, and others who either eat what tastes good or, skip meals (notably breakfast) altogether! In speaking with Chip, we both re-lived our youth, which was filled with candy, chips and soda and struggled to remember when we began making our own healthy food choices. We also discussed some of our challenges as parents, and agreed that an ongoing conversation with our kids about the effects of a good diet and preaching “all things in moderation”. I thought this topic is important to share, and hopefully inspire some important conversations around your dinner table! Another great resource (linked below) that is worth watching is a TedEd talk on “How the food you eat affects your brain”. Our P.E. classes watched this on a raining day which sparked meaningful conversation about food, especially nutritious food that can help support students working to their fullest potential both mentally and physically. Below is an excerpt from a wonderful article posted on familydoctor.org that gives some pointers on how to have this critical conversation with your middle schooler, enjoy!
Make Mealtimes A Priority
Sitting down at the table as a family is an important part of establishing healthy eating habits. But it's more than just eating together. Mealtimes are also a chance to:
• Provide your kids comfort. Children thrive on routine. Knowing they have dinner or other meals with their family regularly helps them feel safe.
• Talk with your Kids. Show interest in what's going on in their lives. Tell them what's going on in yours. Build stronger connections among your family members.
• Monitor their eating habits. Older kids and teenagers spend more time eating at school or at friends' houses. Use this time to watch what and how they eat. See if there is anything you can do to encourage better habits.
• Set an example for your child. If you prepare and eat healthy foods yourself, your child will eat healthier, too. Avoid obsessive calorie-counting. Don't talk negatively about yourself. Your child could adopt the same attitudes. This could lead him or her to develop body image issues or negative associations with food.
TedEd- "How the Food you eat Affects your Brain."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQY8a-ng6g&list=PLkTy1Ni-vyhFzE_0QZaEyLQyVvZtCPWfv
Assitant Principal's Message
Fourth Quarter Eligibility Requirements
By Jason Tovani
This last quarter is crucial. Student eligibility to participate in the end of year activities relies heavily on student behavior. Discipline related to referrals, including suspensions, may make a student ineligible to attend these events. With exciting activities like the 6th grade Swim Party, 7th graders and 8th graders attending the Promotion Dance, 8th-grade Promotion Ceremony, Picnic and trip to Great America, keeping behavior under control means end-of-year fun!
A student's eligibility may be removed by the site administrator(s) as part of any disciplinary action. Students may lose eligibility to attend these activities if suspended or by earning two or more disciplinary referrals during the 4th quarter. Administrator's discretion will be used for recurring and/or serious behavioral or disciplinary problems and may result in a student's loss of the privilege of attending these events. Below are specific eligibility requirements for each event:
6th Grade Swim Party, May 17:
• No more than one N and no U on the third quarter grade report.
• No suspensions during 4th quarter.
• Present at school on the day of the event.
7th Graders: Attending the Promotion Dance on May 30:
• No more than one N and no U on the third quarter report.
• No suspensions during 4th quarter.
• Present at school on the day of the event.
8th Graders: Great America Trip Friday, May 24:
• Students must be on track to promote academically to attend.
• Community Service Hours must be completed.
• No suspensions during 4th quarter.
• No more than two referrals during 4th quarter.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony, May 30:
• Students must be on track to promote academically to attend.
• Community Service Hours must be completed.
8th Grade Promotion Dance, May 30:
• Students must be on track to promote academically to attend.
• Community Service Hours must by completed.• No suspensions during 4th quarter.
• No more than two referrals during 4th quarter.
8th grade Picnic, May 31:
• No suspensions during 4th quarter.
If you would like more information about Eligibility and Promotion and Retention, please check out the Parent Student Handbook. If you have any concerns about your child, academicallys or behaviorally, please contact Mr. Tovani or Mrs. Lawrence immediately.
Cafeteria News
By Dianne Hobson, PGUSD Nutrition Director
The school lunch program is supported by fees charged to parents for each meal served. If you have been receiving calls and emails from the School Messenger System, you have an outstanding balance that is due. Students are also reminded when they make purchases if their account is overdrawn.
Payment can be made in the form of cash or check, payable to PGUSD and can be given to the staff in the office at your school site. Or you can create an account on EZSchoolpay.com using your student's identity number (not lunch pin) and pay using a credit card.
The staff in the cafeteria appreciates your business and thanks you for your support. Questions, please call 646-6521.
PGMS Open House
5th Grade Parent & Student Orientation
SBAC Testing Schedule
April 29- May 3: SBAC Testing for ELA
May 6- 10: SBAC Testing for Math
The bell schedule will not be changed.
Forgotten Items & Messages
Please remind your students to always check the office when they realize they forgot their lunch, homework, binder, backpack, etc. Most of the time their lunch or various items are dropped off.
If your student calls you to bring something to the office, it is their responsibility to come up to the office to check if it is here, we will not send a pass to let your student know that it is in the office.
If you bring something to the office, that you think your student needs for a class, and your student does not come up to get it, we will place it in the teacher's box.
We understand that after school plans do change and exceptions can be made, but please do not call us every day or every week to relay the same message to your student. It will not be delivered.
Thank you for your understanding, in this matter, to decrease the number of classroom disruptions.
Emails
8th Grade Community Service Hours Due
8th Grade Field Trip to Great America
The 8th graders received their Great America Theme Park field trip permission packets this week. You can also download the packet below. The packet is due no later than Monday, April 15, 2019. If we do not have enough students signed up, the trip will be canceled.
All three of these items must be turned in together.
1) Parent Permission Slip
2) Medical Emergency Permission Slip
3) $85 cash or check payable to PGMS
Please have your student bring in their paperwork. If they do not know who their bus buddy is, they can still turn in their packets. Students are able to let the office know who their bus buddy is after their paperwork has been turned in. If you do not have a bus buddy; we can assign someone for you.
All eligible, promoting 8th grade students may attend California’s Great America on Friday, May 24, 2019.
Students who do not meet eligibility requirements (see handbook) or misbehave at school will not be invited on this trip. Administrators may use their discretion regarding who gets to go to California’s Great America Theme Park.
Promotion Schedule- 8th graders
Tuesday, May 28
Graduating 8th graders will rehearse their first Promotion Ceremony practice during periods 2 and 3. At that time they will each be given four tickets along with the picture order form for the Promotion Ceremony. Non-grads will report to school at 10:22, they must sign-in at the office.
Wednesday, May 29
Graduating 8th in Promotion practice during periods 4 and 5. Non-grads will report to the Library periods 4 and 5.
Thursday, May 30
Non-grads will be excused at 12:32, end of lunch.
8th graders will have promotion practice during periods 6 and 7.
Graduating students should arrive by 5:30 pm. Students with the last name that begins with A-L need to meet upstairs by Room 28 and M-Z need to meet downstairs by Room 13.
Friday, May 31
This is the last day of school. 8th graders get to sleep in and report to school at 9:30 am. They will meet in front of the school for roll call. The entire class will assemble and walk down to Caledonia Park for Breakfast in the Park. Students will be dismissed at 12:11 pm, as the last day of school, is a minimum day.
Non-graduating 8th grade Students
Non-graduating 8th-grade students may not participate in the Great America trip nor attend the Promotion Ceremony or Dance. Students will be notified by Ms. Lawrence if they are eligible.
On Tuesday, May 28, non-grad students will report to school at 10:22 am. Please remind your student to check-in at the office when they arrive at school.
On Wednesday, May 29, non-grads will report to the library for periods 4 and 5.
On Thursday, May 30, non-grads will be excused at 12:32, at the end of lunch.
Promotion Dress Code
• Dressy dresses or outfits, slacks and collared shirts.
• Ties and jackets are optional.
• Nice/Dress shoes.
• No hats or Sunglasses.
• No jeans are allowed.
You must bring a cover-up, sweater or shawl for the Promotion Ceremony if the dress is strapless. Please make sure the dress/skirts are of appropriate length especially, if you are sitting in the front row.
Promotion Tickets
Your students will receive four tickets for the Promotion Ceremony on Tuesday, May 28. If your family requires more tickets, please contact Apple in the office. If you don't need all four tickets, please return those to the office for redistribution. Lost tickets cannot be replaced. We can only issue a limited number of tickets to comply with the building occupancy fire code. There is no standing allowed in the auditorium for the ceremony.
For wheelchair accessibility and seating, please contact the office as soon as possible so we can make arrangements.
Promotion Ceremony Photographs
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Thursday, May 30, 2019, 06:30 PM
PGMS Auditorium
Promotion Dance
Thursday, May 30, 2019, 08:00 PM
PGMS Gym
Dear Parents of 8th grade Graduating Students,
The end of the school year is coming fast and it’s hard to believe our 8th graders will be in high school next year. With that said, we are asking for your support to help us prepare for celebrating the 8th Graders’ Promotion end of year activities. We hope to make it a memorable experience for your child. There are several events that the PTSA is funding for your student. We are asking for your financial contributions toward the following 8th grade special events:
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony ~ Decorations and supplies ~ May 30, 2019
• 8th Grade Promotion Dance Party ~ Food, DJ, photographer and favor ~ May 30, 2019
• 8th Grade “Breakfast in the Park” last day of school 9am – Breakfast for all students ~ May 31, 2019
Minimum Day, Friday, April 5, Students are released at 12:11 pm.
Spring Break, April 8 - April 12.
Gum is not allowed on campus.
Library Book Check-In
Students need to turn in all of their textbooks, library books, and/or pay any fines for lost or damaged books.
8th graders will turn in their textbooks/library books on Tuesday, May 14. 8th graders must have this completed by Monday, May 20, to go to Great America.
6th & 7th graders will turn in their textbooks and library books on Thursday, May 16. All textbooks and library books and/or fines must be turned in by Tuesday, May 21.
Locker Clean Out
Students will clean out their lockers on the following days:
6th Graders
Wednesday, May 29- during 2nd period.
7th Graders
Thursday, May 30- during 2nd period.
8th Graders
Thursday, May 30- during 3rd period.
Yearbook Distribution
All textbooks, library books, fines for library books and lunch account balances must be turned in or paid PRIOR to getting your yearbook. Yearbooks will be distributed on the following days DURING LUNCH in ROOM 26 ONLY.
8th Graders: Tuesday, May 21
6th & 7th graders: Wednesday, May 22