Pershing Happenings E-Newsletter
Vol. 2, Issue 8
January 31, 2008
Website Spotlight
“Pershing
stresses the interconnections between science, mathematics,
history and
English and has become known for its focus on science and
technology,
thanks in large part to Qualcomm, the San Diego State University
math and
engineering departments, and a technology grant from the district.”
Excerpt
from the January 17, 2008 Union Tribune article on Pershing.
www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080117/news_lz1cz17school.html
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On
January 17, 2008, the San Diego Union Tribune wrote a very positive and
uplifting article about Pershing Middle School. Thank you to everyone in
the Pershing community for making our school so spectacular. As one
parent recently said, “Pershing is a magical place!” We proudly agree!
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8th
Grade News and Announcements
Upcoming
Events -
We
had a huge turnout for the January 17th 8th grade parent meeting with
Pershing’s Head Counselor, Marci Blodgett. Thank you to everyone who
participated!
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WOW!
Congratulations to all our 8th grade students for their outstanding
presentations at Pershing’s 7th Annual 8th Grade Science Fair Exhibition
on January 29, 2008. Our 8th graders presented their final projects to
a panel of judges. These panelists
included students, faculty, staff, parents, and district and
community leaders.
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The following letter from Principal Sullivan perfectly
describes this year’s exhibition…
January 30, 2008
Dear
Pershing Community,
The
Pershing team caused the best science fair exhibition ever on January 29,
2008!
It
was so gratifying to witness the incredible quality of projects, the
confidence in presenting, the mathematical modeling of ideas, the research
writing and the emotional support the eighth graders gave to each other.
We are so fortunate to be under the influence of MS. Science Fair (A.K.A.
Kellie Marcarelli), Susan Benson, Jackie Montague and now Lance
Justice and
so fortunate to have the dedicated support of Norm Negus. Leadership
makes a difference and their vision that children, with instruction, are
capable of significant thought, distinguishes our science department
and influences all the rest of us.
Our
students showed their beautiful and vulnerable sides yesterday. The growth
and achievement of our eighth grade students as they presented shone
through. Reflecting back to September 2005 and the subsequent
history of our class of 2008, the contributions of our total Pershing
team over these two and a half years shows. I was touched by the obvious
self-identification of our students with the qualities we have worked so
hard to develop in them - intellect, effort, contribution and support of
classmates. Our students have been well cared for and it shows in their
work and interactions.
We
are also so lucky to have Linda Lotze, Maria Kelly,
the office
team, custodial team and our amazing parents who are all so willing to go
beyond the expected and do so much work to organize and support
the exhibition.
It
takes the teamwork of many extraordinary individuals to make a
Science Fair. Thank you all for all you do for our students!
Sarah
Sullivan
Principal
School
News and Announcements
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It
is Open House Time!
February
7th
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Celebrate with
the entire Pershing community! Everyone is invited to Pershing’s Open
House on February 7, 2008 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Please tour the 6th
grade classrooms and visit the auditorium where all our Science Fair
exhibits are on display. 6th and 7th grade students and their
families will especially enjoy viewing our Science Fair projects as this
will help you better prepare for your own future projects. Also, in Room
1001, our talented drama students will be performing in our annual
Dramathon (continuous dramatic performances). This
is a wonderful celebration of our students’ academic and creative
achievements and is a great time for everyone!
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Important
Information for 5th Grade Families
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The
Choice/VEEP Enrollment Options Priority Application deadline is
January 31, 2008.
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You
are invited to Pershing’s February 7th Open House! At this festive
event, you will see why we are so proud of our campus and the
wonderful accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff, and
administration. Please stop by our volunteer table near the 6th grade
classrooms. Our parent volunteers will be distributing school maps as
well as other informative flyers.
News
from Ms. Spicer and the Library – “New
Online Resource: San Diego City Schools now has a subscription to the
World Book Online Reference Center, an online reference source-containing
every article from the 22-volume print set plus thousands more. With
state-of-the-art multimedia, maps, editor-reviewed Web sites, and more.
This would be an excellent source to use in many research projects. Log
in at: http://worldbookonline.com
- Your remote ID is: sandi1 - Your remote Password is: library”
Welcome
to Dr. Terry Grier, the San Diego Unified School District’s new
Superintendent! On January 19th, the Board of Education announced the
hiring of Dr. Grier who was the Superintendent of the Year for North
Carolina.
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Congratulations
to Mr. Carroll
Team 7A - Humanities
Pershing’s 2008 Teacher of the Year!!!!!
In addition
to his busy teaching schedule, Mr. Carroll is also involved in many campus
activities including chairing the Governance Council and co-coordinating
the Pershing Spelling Bee. His hard work, dedication, and humor have
benefited the entire Pershing family.
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Mr. Erik Carroll
Pershing's
Teacher of the Year
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Speaking
of the Spelling Bee - February 1st will be a BEE-Utiful Day for several
of Pershing’s finest spellers who will be competing at our school wide
Spelling Bee. Mr. Carroll and Ms. Lehrer are the co-coordinators of this
annual event that showcases those students who have won their respective
classroom Spelling Bee’s. The 7th or 8th grade winner will advance to
the San Diego County Spelling Bee on March 11th. The winner of that
“Bee” will compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington,
DC at the end of May.
Announcements
from Mr. Myrick and the ASB -
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The
Valentine’s Day Dance is on February 13, 2008 from 2:10 to 3:40 p.m.
Cost is $2.00. Ticket
sales dates will be posted soon.
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Start
saving your extra coins! Pasta for Pennies begins on February 11th.
All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
From
Mrs. Rondestvedt (English/Team 6A)
– “All English Research Reports should be finished and turned in by
now! We had a wonderful time researching and writing reports on topics as
varied as endangered animals, steroids in sports, teen gangs, eating
disorders, and many more. Students have been very enthusiastic about their
self selected topics. The work they have done has been rigorous,
productive, and impressive. Your children's enthusiasm for learning never
ceases to amaze me and I value each of them for their unique personalities
and kindhearted qualities!
English students will now move into Persuasive writing, followed by
Response to Literature compositions, and then on to Poetry reading and
writing. We are looking forward to this upcoming variety of work in
the second semester.
Thank
you to all of the generous parents who have donated tissues, hand
sanitizer, tape, and other items to our class. We are so thankful
for all you do!”
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Yearbook
prices increase on February 1st!
Buy your yearbooks now!
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Attention
Students in the Sixth Grade Wheel – Please remember that your
Wheel/Elective classes change on Monday, February 4, 2008.
Don’t
forget!! Pershing has two Minimum Days in the month of February!
School will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on February 1st and February 14th.
Parent Involvement
Corner
The next
Pershing Boosters meeting is on March 26, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone
is invited!
Thank
you to all the Science Fair volunteers who have helped in so many ways,
from distributing supplies to assisting with the set-up of student
projects in the auditorium. Extra special thank you’s to Mrs. Spence
for her hard work and devotion to our Science Fair program.
Mark
Your Calendars!
Here is a listing of many of our upcoming events.
February
1, 2008
Semester Ends
Spelling Bee Finals
Minimum Day
February
7, 2008
East
Coast Trip Student Meeting
Open House
February
11-29, 2008
Pasta for Pennies
February 11
Site Governance Meeting
GSDSEF Regional Screening
February 12
GSDSEF Regional Screening
February
13, 2008
Valentine's
Dance
February
14, 2008
Library Essay Contest Deadline
Minimum Day
February
15
Lincoln Day Observance
February
18
Washington Day Observance
February
19
School Site Council Meeting
February
27, 2008
5th Grade Parent Orientation Night
If you have any Pershing
related story ideas, please email us at
pershingwebmaster@yahoo.com. We
are very proud of our Pershing family and would
like to share your proud moments with our web community.
