Pride With Purpose Preparing For The Future

Frequently Asked Questions

The 80-minute class is an important structure for young adolescent students. This expansive time frame allows students to receive a traditional 50-minute lesson and then ensures that all students have the opportunity to apply immediately the learning through an activity or project. The time also gives teachers the space to use interdisciplinary techniques and thereby strengthen mathematical and literary fluency. Finally, teachers use the additional time to individualize instruction for the particular students in their classes. 

On the first day of school, students are given a map that shows where they can pick up their schedule. Students are assigned rooms by last name. Once the bell rings, students go to their assigned room where they receive their class schedule. When the next bell rings, students are dismissed to go to the FIRST class on their schedule. On the second day of school, your child is to follow their class schedule and go to their first period class.

During the first week of school, teachers and other school staff will be available, assisting your child if they should have any questions or need directions. On the first day, parents are welcome to accompany their children to the lunch arbor and their first class. Parents are also welcome to enjoy coffee and pastries in front of the office from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of school.

What school supplies will my child need for school?

We ask that families wait to buy school supplies until the first week of school. Teachers have different preferences for their students and will give your child a list of supplies they will need the first week of school. For your child to be prepared for the first day of school, please bring a backpack, notebook, paper, pens and pencils (no markers please). 

Students get their PE clothes and locks during their second PE class. Parents can send $25 (cash or check made out to Pershing Middle School) with their child to purchase PE shorts and shirts ($8 each), locks ($5), and planner ($4).

Textbooks are distributed according to grade level during the school day. Parent help is needed during textbook distribution. 

Pershing communicates to parents/guardians through several avenues. 

• Once per month, during the school year, Pershing publishes an informative parent 
  e-newsletter. This e-newsletter contains current campus news and information. If you are not receiving this publication and would like to subscribe, click here.  If you would like to read past issues, please go to the archive page.

• Another communication tool Pershing uses is the monthly calendar. At the beginning of each month, Pershing sends home, through the students, a monthly calendar highlighting upcoming Pershing events.

• During the first week of school, parents receive information from each teacher, their classroom expectations, and email address. Please contact them by email so you can be in their address book for classroom updates. Our teachers, administrators, and staff regularly check their emails. Emailing them is a great way to share any news, questions, or concerns.

• The Pershing Parent Boosters email periodic reminders about Pershing requests and events to those on our e-newsletter list.

• Many of our teachers use ParentConnect to interact with parents. For details, click here.

• If you wish to schedule a meeting with a member of our faculty, staff, or administration, please contact them by phone or email.

• Pershing uses the Connect-ED^® telephone message service in order to contact our families more efficiently. Learn about this innovative system by reading our website's Connect-ED^® section.

• The school website communicates pertinent information that is updated on a regular basis. You will find the e-newsletter, monthly calendar, and other important Pershing related information on our website. We encourage our families to read it often.

• If you have any questions at all, please call Pershing at (619) 465-3234 during school and office hours. Your call will be directed to the proper person or department. 

No!  Most parents come to experience their child’s day first hand and find the day to be very helpful.  Parents can discreetly “shadow” their child avoiding the possibility of any embarrassment.

At the beginning of school you will receive a syllabus from each teacher outlining the expectations for the class and ways to contact the teacher. Parents may also contact teachers through email, a call to the school office, or by sending a note through their child to the teacher.

For the list of teacher teams, click here.

Can I visit the school? 

Parents are welcome on the campus at any time to observe passing periods and lunch period. Simply sign in at the office and get a visitor's badge. You are also welcome to visit a classroom provided you give the teacher advance notice. Contact the school office.

Students usually exercise good judgment in their choice of what to wear to school. Clothing appropriate for the beach, a picnic or recreation is not appropriate for school.

The following is a brief list of inappropriate dress:

1. Clothing printed with suggestive or vulgar words, or advertising drugs, tobacco products, or alcohol is inappropriate. All gang clothing, signs or writing is forbidden.

2. Clothing which is immodest or disruptive to the educational process is inappropriate (i.e. low cut tops, shorts or skirts which are too short, skirts that are slit above the knee), including halter tops, muscle shirts (i.e. tank tops) and sheer blouses. Midriffs may not be exposed and straps on tops must be at least 2 inches wide. Please note: Spaghetti strap clothing may not be worn under cover ups. PE shirts will be provided for non-complying students.

3. Bandanas, scarves, hats or head coverings may not be worn on campus at any time. Sweatshirt hoods must be down as soon as the first bell rings.

4. Sweaters and coats must not extend below the knee. NO trench coats.

5. Shoes or sandals must be worn while on campus. No shower shoes (flip flops) or slippers.

6. NO chains are permitted

7. No "sagging" – pants are to be worn no lower than the hip bones. Non-complying students will change into P.E. shorts for the remainder of the school day.

8. Boys must wear shirts with sleeves (no tank tops).

9. No spiked jewelry, spiked clothing or safety pins.

Students who cannot change into appropriate clothing at school will be sent home to change. If you have to ask if something is appropriate or not – chances are, it's not!

"A" day and "B" day indicate which day your student has PE and which day they have their elective. The days will be designated on their class schedule handed out the first day of school. Though often confusing to parents, students figure the schedule out quickly. 

Each year, we schedule a 6th Grade Camp Orientation for our students. Parents may also attend this meeting. It is usually held during a school day. At the beginning of the year, we will advertise the time and date of the orientation. Pershing will also send home a complete package of camp information as well as forms that need to be completed and returned to school. 

Are the desks in classrooms individual or are they shared tables?

A few of our classrooms are equipped with single seat desks. However, most of our classrooms contain desks/tables that seat two students each. Often times, the teacher arranges the desks/tables into four student groupings. This type of seating nurtures the collaborative process necessary in many courses such as mathematics, English/humanities, and science. Students are able to work individually as well as in groups without disrupting the flow of class by rearranging desks.

What kind of "Family Life" curriculum is taught at Pershing?

Pershing Middle School and the San Diego Unified School District strongly believe that parents are their children’s main teachers when discussing “Family Life.” By working together, we are able to teach a delicate subject with dignity and respect for all involved. Our “Family Life” course, which is the same district course that all schools are required to teach, is taught to sixth and eighth grade students by their science teachers during the second semester. To teach this curriculum, all teachers must be trained and certificated. In order to preview the course materials, parents are encouraged to attend our parent “Family Life” meeting, which is held the evening of our fall Open House. For those families who choose to opt out of this course, their children will be given an alternate assignment that is usually completed in the library. Please note that there will not be any academic or citizenship grade penalties for those who do not participate in this curriculum. For more information, please contact your child’s science teacher or the school office.

What type of technology do you have?

We are very proud of the expansive technological resources that we have available on our campus. Much of our equipment has been received through our parent organization, the Pershing Foundation, other donations, and grants. Here is a listing of some of our current resources.  

• 120 laptops for our seventh and eighth grade science program.

• 108 laptops for all seventh grade Humanities teachers. (Special grant)  

• 300 laptops for all sixth grade classrooms. (Special grant)  

• 20 computers in our music classroom with the Smart Music practice software that can also be used at home.  

• 36 new computers for an upgrade in our pre-engineering lab.  

• 40 computers for our computer science elective program.

• 40+ computers in our computer lab. The lab is used by teachers who do not have classroom laptop carts.   

• Some classrooms have desktop computers.

• All teachers have document projectors that work with their computer.   

• Smart boards in 17 classrooms with plans to eventually expand this technology to other classrooms.

Does Pershing have Minimum Days?

This is an opportunity for parents to meet Pershing’s Principal, Sarah Sullivan, learn more about academics at our school, and ask questions about the school.   Mrs. Sullivan will address expectations for all grade levels.