PUMA PRESS
Every Student. Every Day.
Even though it was a short week, it was certainly a busy one at Preston! With the beautiful fall weather all around us, it has been a wonderful time to enjoy the season while celebrating so many of the things that make our school special.
From our student-athletes giving their best on the field and court, to our music students taking the stage for the first music department concert of the season, to the learning happening in classrooms and the connections being built through clubs, there is so much to celebrate!
One of my favorite things about Preston is that there is a place for every student to find their people, discover new interests, build confidence, and shine. Whether a student is tackling a challenging assignment, performing on stage, competing with teammates, or trying something new in a club, these experiences make middle school such an exciting time.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a community where students have so many opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we create a school where every student feels they belong and has the opportunity to thrive.
As always, be sure to check out the rest of this newsletter for updates and celebrations from across Preston. There is so much happening, and it is a wonderful reminder of what it means to be a PUMA!
Enjoy the beautiful fall weekend, and remember—it’s always a great week to be a Preston PUMA!
Honored to be your Principal,
Gwynne Johnson
Friday 10/16: No School
Monday 10/19: Jason's Deli Fundraiser 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Tuesday 10/20: Football @ Boltz
Wednesday 10/21: SAC Meeting 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Thursday 10/22: Curriculum Night 5:00pm to 7:00pm @ Future's Center in the Mall (take a look at the new Language Arts curriculums that are being piloted)
Friday 10:30: 1st Activity Night of the Year! 4:30 to 6:00pm
What does the SAC do?
In general, the SAC is a representative advisory team that reviews school budgets, drives school improvements and supports parent engagement.
Wednesday, October 21st
5:30pm in the Media Center
Topcis Will Include:
* Address any questions I can around school closure/consolidation
* Take a look at Data Driving our Decisions this Year & SUIP (school unified improvement plan)
Looking at having some snacks and refreshments, please let us know if you are hoping to make it.
Puma Athletics Weekly Update
Two more sports seasons wrapped up this week, highlighted by our second district championship!
On Wednesday, our Puma volleyball team played Kinard for third place but came up short, 2–0, after a strong rally in the second set. Coaches Pitner and Hebert couldn’t be prouder of the effort, and competitiveness our girls showed this season. Great job, Pumas!
Preston boys soccer team made history, winning consecutive games against Kinard and Webber to capture the first-ever PSD boys soccer championship! The championship game against Webber at PSD Stadium went into overtime and was ultimately decided by penalty kicks. Our Pumas battled back from two deficits and scored late to force overtime before securing the title. Coaches Mendez and Mrozek are proud of what this team accomplished and excited to continue building a strong soccer program at Preston. Congratulations on an outstanding season!
Football has one regular-season game remaining, and our Pumas are working hard to finish strong against Boltz next Tuesday, October 20.
With football season still underway, Coach Lowndes will offer basketball camp on Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23.
We are proud of our PUMAS!
Winter sports are right around the corner starting with Boys Basketball. A camp will be held for all 7th and 8th grade boys interested in playing basketball the week of October 19th. Try-outs will start the following week on October 26th. Those wanting to try-out will need to register on A Better Way platform at https://app.abw.io/site/psd-athletics-registration, have a current sports physical on file with the office, and pay the athletic winter sports fee on https://psdschools.schoolpay.com/. If you have any questions, please call Ms. Hernandez Llamas at 970-488-7303.
Bill Saint
Assistant Principal, Athletic Director
SRO Corner – Firearms Safety
Youth gun safety begins at home with open, age-appropriate conversations. Parents and caregivers should talk with children about what to do if they ever encounter a firearm, whether at home, at a friend’s house, or elsewhere. A simple message is often the most effective: Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell a trusted adult.
It is also important for adults to model safe firearm practices. Firearms should always be treated as if they are loaded, kept pointed in a safe direction, and handled with fingers off the trigger until ready to fire. Anyone handling a firearm should also be aware of their target and what is beyond it.
Safe storage is another critical part of preventing accidental injuries. Firearms that are not in use should be secured in a locked safe or other appropriate storage device and kept inaccessible to children and unauthorized individuals. Ammunition should also be stored securely.
Parents are encouraged to revisit these conversations regularly. Clear expectations, responsible storage, and consistent adult modeling can help children understand that firearms are not toys and give them the tools to respond safely if they ever encounter one.
Visit the Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition website for additional resources including age-appropriate educational material such as the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program for elementary-aged children and the Choices video for older students.
SRO Meg Savage
Sign Up to Help
Sign-Up to Help with Spirit Cart
Wednesdays During Both Lunches Beginning September 16th
One of the fun and easy ways parents can help at Preston is through our Spirit Cart. The Preston Parent Association (PPA) sponsors the cart. We sell little toys, gum, squishies, etc. The kids love it. This year the PPA is going to try something new and have the cart open every wednesday. We hope that consistency will make it easier for kids to remember that it's open. That means we need more volunteers! Please reach out to PPA President Krista if you have any questions at ppopreston@gmail.com.
Click on the link to sign up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4CA8AE28A7FB6-65784387-preston
Teacher Coffee Drive
We love to show our appreciation for teachers by providing them with warmth and coffee! Please bring in K-Cups to get the Kuerig machines in the Staff Lounge going! Just leave them with the front office. Thank you!