The Trojan Times

✔️ Prepared • ✔️ Accountable • ✔️ Respectful • ✔️ Responsible

Students – What to Bring

• 💻 Chromebook (fully charged)

• 🔌 Charger

Office Hours

• Regular Days (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri): 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

• Minimum Days (Wednesdays): 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Please mark your calendars! 🗓️

Below are important no-school days and key dates for the remainder of the school year and beyond

🚫 NO SCHOOL / HOLIDAY

• May 25
  🇺🇸 Memorial Day

🎓 END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

• Last Day of School: May 28

🚀 LOOKING AHEAD

• First Day of School (2026–2027):
  August 10, 2026

📌 Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Bell Middle School!
💙💛 We appreciate our students, families, and staff!

Please click on the Spring Testing Information link above for important details about our upcoming SBAC assessments in Math and English Language Arts (ELA).

The SBAC is a California state assessment that measures student progress toward grade-level standards and critical thinking skills. These results help guide instruction, support student growth, and contribute to our school’s performance on the California Dashboard.

Inside the link, you will find key information including testing dates, expectations, and helpful tips to ensure your student is prepared and confident on testing days.

If you have any questions regarding Spring Testing, please feel free to reach out via email at klewis@sandi.net. I’m happy to assist and provide any additional information you may need.

Would you like a yearbook?
Take a look at the flyer and order one before the deadine!

Stay Connected with PowerSchool Parent Portal

Your one-stop hub for staying on top of your child’s school progress

• 📊 Check Grades – monitor academic performance

• 🗓️ Track Attendance – stay informed about daily presence in class

• 📌 View Important Information – access other key updates about your student.

Need help logging in?

Email: mgalindovazquez@sandi.net

👉 Core Academy Staff Schedule

Thank you for your teamwork, flexibility, and all you do to support your children!

Upholding student privacy rights is important to the San Diego Unified School District. All district-approved digital tools undergo a review process and are supported by data-sharing agreements designed to protect student information and ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws.

We have been assured by the vendor that they do not sell any of our student data to third parties and do not use our student data for targeted advertising or marketing. At this time, we have no reason to believe otherwise, but should that change, we will reevaluate our relationship with the vendor.

Dear Bell Families,

1️⃣ Parent Information – Learn more about Comprehensive Sexual Health Education by clicking here.

2️⃣ Curriculum Preview Options – If you would like to preview curriculum: email tmeckstroth@sandi.net

3️⃣ Online Preview Links – Please click here to view pre-recorded overviews available in English and Spanish.

4️⃣ Reminder Notification – A follow-up reminder will be sent approximately two weeks before the curriculum is taught in your child’s class.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s learning.

Warm regards,
Bell Middle School Administration

Cell phone policy info

Reminder, students! Our new district phone policy is in effect. Phones must be off and out of sight during the school day—like in your backpack.

You can use your phone before the first bell, after dismissal, on buses, and during extracurriculars. High school students may also use phones at lunch and between classes.

Let’s keep the focus on learning and make this a great year!

💲 Prices:

• Shirt – $10

• Shorts – $12

• Sweatpants – $18

Questions? Email cperez3@sandi.net

🛍️ Uniforms may also be bought at retail stores

• Solid grey shirt (student’s name only)

• Solid black shorts/sweats

Do you live near Paradise Hills Elementary?

If so, and your student needs to ride our school bus:

• 📝 Print the transportation application (linked below).

• ✍️ Sign the completed form.

• 📧 Scan & Email it to: klewis@sandi.net

In limited cases, an Independent Study Contract may be available.

Key Guidelines:

• Length of Absence: Contracts apply for absences longer than 5 days
• Eligibility: Independent Study Contracts are approved case by case. Examples include:

• Death in the family

• Significant health or medical issues

• Displacement due to an incident

• 🗓️ Advance Notice: Must request a contract at least one week in advance

• ✅ Completion Requirement: Contracts are only valid if all assigned work is completed. Students who do not complete their work are not eligible for another contract.

• ⚖️ Special Education: Students with an IEP will not receive services while on contract

Next Steps:
Please contact:

• cdean@sandi.net

• icastanedaestrella@sandi.net

🧑‍🏫 Counseling (Schedule questions, counseling services, check-ins)

• 6th Grade – Mr. Avila → ravila@sandi.net

• 7th Grade – Ms. Pham → mpham2@sandi.net

• 8th Grade – Ms. Garcia → rgarcia2@sandi.net

📘 English Language Support

• EL Coordinator (Room 404) – Ms. Castillo → ycastillo1@sandi.net

🩺 Nurse & Wellness (Health concerns, medication)

• Nurse Stella (Mon–Fri) → nstella@sandi.net

• Health Tech Josephina (Mon & Fri) → jmartinez@sandi.net

🏫 Main Office (Absences, illnesses, records)

• Cathy Dean → cdean@sandi.net

• Iliana Castaneda Estrella → icastanedaestrella@sandi.net

💻 Site Tech / Library (Chromebooks, PowerSchool, Textbooks)

• Miguel Galindo → mgalindovazquez@sandi.net

💵 Finance Office (PE clothes, unpaid items)

• Cynthia Perez → cperez3@sandi.net

🌟 Primetime Afterschool Program

• Hours, registration, questions → 858-229-2644

• Ivan Guadalupe → bellpt@ymcasd.org

🤝 Community Schools Coordinator

• Patricia Bácame → pbacame@sandi.net

🧘 Wellness Center Coordinator

• Nereida Rivera → nrivera@sandi.net

🎓 Administration

• Principal: Tamara Muhammad → tmuhammad@sandi.net

• Associate Principal: Ken Lewis → klewis@sandi.net