Panther Parent Update
March 24, 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
03/29 FRIDAY MINIMUM DAY 2:00pm DISMISSAL
04/01 - 04/05 SPRING BREAK
04/26 Panther Bowling Night (save the date)
MINIMUM DAY THIS FRIDAY 2:00PM DISMISSAL
Cell Phones & Smart Watches
We got a bit of resistance from students about placing phones in the backpacks this week. Students are afraid that someone will steal their phone. When students leave the classroom to use restroom, they are always welcome to put it on the teacher's desk. We have some teachers who already mandate this. Also, we have many students who share their passwords with friends. We strongly discourage this to prevent unwanted access. Lastly, we would guess that only about 30% of students lock up their belongings while they are in PE. Students have a small basket that fits their clothes, shoes, and cell phone. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items during PE as lockers are provided for all students.
Smartwatches have proven to be very problematic. One mom tracked that her daughter sent 25 messages during the school day. We heard another student asking Siri for the answer to a math problem on their watch. Smart watches must also be placed in the backpack while at school. There are clocks in every classroom, even digital ones so that there are no difficulties reading an analog clock. During passing period, lunch, and PE, students will have to resort to asking a staff member for the time. Otherwise, our kiddos are going to have to go "old school" and wear regular watches.
Again, students are permitted to use their phone when they ask an adult as long as it is not in the middle of instruction. If students are calling parents to come pick them up for any reason, students must check in to Health Office first to avoid unexcused absences. Additionally, you are always welcome to send a message to your student by emailing Charisma Johnson at cjohnson7@sandi.net. She is happy to print message and get it delivered to your student.
Thank you for supporting student engagement and time away from devices.
Builders Club is hosting a toiletry drive for our unhoused teenagers in San Diego. Starting after spring break bring small toiletry items - shampoo, soaps, lotions, toothpaste and other items to your first period class. Items will be distributed through Stand Up for Kids. Class with the most donations wins a prize.
YEARBOOK
Buy the yearbook for $60 at www.yearbookforever.com. There are limited quantities, so get yours today!
A message from our Health Office
First Day of 2024-25 School Year is AUGUST 12, 2024
Attendance
We welcome Charisma Johnson to our front office as our new attendance clerk. Her email is cjohnson7@sandi.net. Please be sure to state your students full name, grade level, date of birth, and specific reason for absence. You can also email them if you need to pick up your student early. Please provide at least a two hour notice to ensure that we can write and deliver a pass for your student. You can also call the school at 619-605-4800 and press 3 for attendance.