Pershing Happenings e-Newsletter
Vol. 3, Issue 1
August 30, 2008

Welcome All New and 
Returning Pershing Families!

School Starts on September 2nd.

Website Spotlight

Welcome to the first edition of the Pershing Happenings e-newsletter for 2008-09! In order to better serve our readers, we have created a new and improved publication schedule. Instead of sending out two smaller newsletters each month, we have combined the information and will now publish a larger version of the newsletter once per month. This e-newsletter will be emailed to you at the end of each month (except in December when it will be sent out before the winter break begins). Each newsletter will still include all the same great campus news and information but it will cover four to five weeks of information instead of the old format of two weeks. 

• Parents provide volunteer support in any way we can in order to support the needs and vision of Pershing Middle School.

• Through fundraising, volunteers help maintain, strengthen, and expand our school's many programs.  

Our parental involvement group's name is the Pershing Parent Boosters. The fundraising arm of the Boosters is called the Pershing Foundation. The Foundation has its own set of officers who implement and oversee various fundraising projects. The Boosters and Foundation have recently combined their efforts to include joint meetings and parental collaboration in order to fully maximize parent involvement at Pershing.

Over the past several years, campus volunteerism has grown significantly. In fact, during 2007-08, nearly 200 families, or one in five Pershing families, volunteered. This is an impressive number that reflects the strong sense of community found at our school. 

Volunteering is an important way for parents to get plugged into Pershing. It gives you and your family a stronger connection to our dynamic campus, which, in turn, further assists your child as he or she transitions through these middle school years.

Pershing's parent volunteers are involved in many areas of school life. Each area helps support the Pershing Community. We have involvement opportunities for everyone. Whether you distribute flyers at the fall Open House or you chair a committee, each responsibility supports our children and Pershing Middle School.

It is easy to sign-up to be a Pershing volunteer. Here are a few of the ways to get your name on our list of volunteers.

• Email the Boosters at pershingvolunteers@yahoo.com. In your email, give us your name, child's grade, phone number, and whether or not you prefer to volunteer during the day or evening. If you would like to know more about our involvement programs, please be sure to ask in your email that the Booster Chairperson call you to discuss our parent volunteer opportunities.

• Call Mrs. Maria Kelly, Pershing's Community Assistant, at (619) 465-3234 or email her at mkelly2@sandi.net to inquire about volunteering. Mrs. Kelly is the staff coordinator for volunteers. 

• During the first week of school, a big packet of information is sent home for parents to complete and return. Included in this packet is the Pershing Parent Boosters and Foundation volunteer sign-up form, which provides details of this year's volunteer needs. Please fill out this form and return it with the other requested information. The Boosters/Foundation will review your form and contact you when your area of volunteer interest is available. We also periodically email our volunteers (via blind copy) about upcoming involvement opportunities so that we can keep our families current on school needs.

• Attend the Pershing Parent Boosters/Foundation meetings. Our meetings in 2008-09 will be held on the second Tuesday of each month (there will not be a meeting in November as that day is a school holiday). All meetings are in the library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Click here for our 2008-09 meeting schedule.

No matter what area you choose for volunteering, your input and energy are important to us. We look forward to working with you!  

We encourage all parents to attend our first meeting of the new school year. We need your opinions and we need your vision. You are important to the continued success of Pershing! Everyone is invited. Bring a friend!

For those who are available during the day, please consider volunteering at Pershing. We need you! Daytime volunteering is an important opportunity to make a positive impact on our students’ middle school years. Pershing’s staff, faculty, and administrators are a wonderful group of caring educators and they greatly appreciate any time you have to volunteer. Grandparents are welcome to volunteer too! Here is a listing of some of our ongoing daytime needs:

Parents At Lunch (PALS) - Volunteers are needed for extra adult supervision each day during lunch. Please consider signing up for this terrific parent involvement group. Information will be sent home in the first week packet or, if you would like to start right away, contact Mrs. Kelly at (619) 465-3234 or mkelly2@sandi.net.

Office and Library Volunteers – Perfect for those who have an extra hour to spare during the day, week, or month to assist the office & library staff with any clerical tasks. Library volunteers are especially needed to help dust or straighten books. For more information, please call Mrs. Maria Kelly at (619) 465-3234 or email her at mkelly2@sandi.net.

Book Fair Volunteers – The library staff needs parent assistance during the Scholastic Book Fair, which is scheduled for September 25-30, 2008. The volunteer hours are before and after school, the evening of the Open House, and in the morning on Shadow Your Student Day. Thank you in advance for any help you can give! Please call Mr. Fedder at (619) 465-3234 or email him at afedder@sandi.net. 

Join Pershing’s Reading Tutor Team! Principal Sullivan has created this rewarding volunteer opportunity for our parents, grandparents, or other members of our Pershing volunteer community. For details please contact Mrs. Sullivan directly at (619) 465-3234 or ssullivan@sandi.net

News and Announcements

Important Class Schedule Information for the 
First Day of School

On September 2nd, when the bell rings at 7:25 a.m., all students will report to a specific class in order to receive their schedules. These schedules will be distributed alphabetically by last name. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at (619) 465-3234.

To find out your child's room assignment to receive their class schedule, 
go to - http://www.sandi.net/pershing/firstday.htm  

Celebrating the First Day of School! - On September 2, 2008, after dropping off your children, please join us for our annual First Day of School Parent Coffee. Our welcome tables will be located in front of the administration building. 

During the first week of school, a big packet of forms will be sent home. Please complete the required forms and return them to your child’s first block teacher as soon as possible. It is very important that we have the requested information on file. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at (619) 465-3234.

Click here to view our Minimum Day schedule for 2008-09.

The 2008-09 Pershing School Calendar is now posted online. Please check the calendar page often as new dates are being added.

Pershing’s email list has been updated -  Visit our website's email page for a complete email listing of Pershing's 2008-09 faculty, staff, and administration.

Shadow Your Student Day is on September 26, 2008. At this popular annual event, parents get a first hand look at their children’s school experience by following them through a minimum day class schedule. Shadow Your Student Day is a tremendous opportunity to get to know Pershing, connect with your child’s teachers, and to see your child’s school day through his or her eyes. Over 300 parents participated at the 2007 Shadow Your Student Day! We look forward to sharing this day with you. Please note that this day is a minimum day schedule. Parent sign-in begins at 7:15 a.m. and school is dismissed at 11:30 a.m.

Pershing's Annual ASB Magazine and Cookie Drive Starts on October 6th!

Evening with the Principal – October 14, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You are invited to this important discussion led by Principal Sullivan. At this meeting, you will learn more about the 6th - 8th grade academic expectations for our students, hear about the latest Pershing news for 2008-09, receive information about various Pershing programs, and participate in a question and answer period following the meeting.   

Pershing's e-Newsletter is a once-per-month publication. For an archived listing of our e-Newsletters and/or to sign-up for the email version, please click here.