Preston Puma Newsletter
Every Student. Every Day.
September 4, 2026
Message from the Principal
How Is It Already Friday?!
Pumas, how is it already Friday?! I’m not sure about you, but this week seemed to fly by in a blur of learning, laughing, cheering, and a whole lot of activity!
There is truly never a dull moment at Preston Middle School. Between classrooms buzzing with learning, athletic teams practicing and competing, clubs meeting, and students finding new ways to get involved and connect, our building is full of energy. It has been so exciting to see our students discovering their interests, trying new things, supporting one another, and representing Preston with such pride.
We even threw a little safety into the mix this week with our first lockdown drill of the school year. I was incredibly proud of how our students handled the drill. They listened carefully, followed directions, and took the drill seriously. These practices are an important part of keeping our school community safe, and our students did a great job!
One of my favorite things about middle school is that learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings. Whether it’s on the court, field, stage, in a club meeting, or simply spending time with friends, our students are growing in so many ways every single day.
As we head into the weekend, I hope everyone takes a moment to catch their breath and recharge. Thank you to our students for bringing the energy, to our staff for making all of these opportunities possible, and to our families for cheering our Pumas on every step of the way.
What a week—and what a great time to be a Puma!
Have a wonderful 3-day weekend, and we’ll see you Tuesday ready for another great week!
Honored to be your Principal
Gwynne Johnson
PUMA Tracks & KPAW are BACK!
PUMA Tracks
What are they? PUMA Tracks are a way for teachers and staff to recognize the excellence in our students. We strive to let our students know when we see them doing the right thing!
Congratulations to the following PUMAS for earning a Track this week:
Clayton B.
Maceo B.
William B.
Fenix F.
Amarri H.
Stella J.
Maddox K.
Drew L.
Connor M.R.
Brandon N.
Oliver P.
Dharshini P.
Zay Q.
Maxwell Z.
KPAW
This is our student video broadcasting team that produces our morning announcements and keeps us in the know. Click on the button below to access our KPAW Youtube channel!
Upcoming Dates & Announcements
September 7th: Labor Day / No School
September 23rd: 7th Grade Field Museum Field Trip
September 25th: Moonlight Hike
October 2nd: Color Run - stay tuned for details
THANK YOU: We would like to thank the amazing parent volunteers who helped us get laptops ready for our students. We are so very grateful for you and could not have done it without you!
- Matt Way & Cheryl Soldati
COMPUTERS: Please remind your student to have a fully charged computer ready to go every day!
Preston Moonlight Hike!
The annual Hike to Horsetooth is on the calendar! Click on the button below to learn more about this opportunity with the Preston Outing Club!
Child Nutrition Advisory Committee Opportunity
Athletics
Congratulations to all of our Preston athletes who competed during the first week of fall sports competition! We are proud of the effort, sportsmanship, and school spirit our Pumas have shown.
A huge shout-out goes to Head Soccer Coach Julia Mendez and Assistant Coach Conager Mrozek for leading our boys soccer team in the first-ever Preston boys soccer game and celebrating a victory over Lincoln!
This coming week brings another full slate of games, meets, and matches. Good luck to all of our Pumas! Encourage our athletes to stay focused on their schoolwork, take care of themselves, and stay hydrated as they compete and represent Preston.
Go Pumas!
Bill Saint
Assistant Principal, Athletic Director
Student Playbook
What is the PUMA Student Playbook?
This is how we do business and students know how to be successful as a Preston PUMA! During the first few days of school, we cover what we like to call PUMA 101. During this time we outline for students what it looks like to be a PUMA and review all policies, expectations, and what learning looks like at Preston. We believe that clarity is kindness and that consistency builds our school community. In the next few newsletters, we will highlight everything that keeps our learning environment safe and ready to learn. Please never hesitate to reach out with any questions. We are your partners in your student's journey.
Attendance Matters!
Every School Day Matters and You Belong in PSD! Our school teams are ready from day one to work with you to build good attendance habits. We are here to partner with you to address any barriers that may keep you from coming to school every day.
Attending school every day is essential for learning and success and we are so glad you’re here. Each day or class period missed is a lost opportunity to engage with new material, meet new friends, or participate in classroom activities. Build good attendance habits from day one! Let your teachers know how to help you make it to school every day.
Attendance Definitions:
Absences will only be cleared up to 5 days after the occurrence per the district attendance policy.
A parent/guardian can excuse their students absences for the following reasons per PSD policy.
For a list of PSD-approved absence excuses click HERE.
Order a Yearbook!
Yearbook Baby Ads for 8th Grade Families
Club Corner
Lego Robotics
Tuesdays: The Preston Lego robotics club meets from 2:30 to 3:30 in room S115. The club is open to anyone. No previous robotic experience is needed. If you have any questions, ask Mr. Edler.
Game Club
Thursdays: Meets in Ms. Johnston's room (N116) from 2:30 to 3:30. Come and join the fun!
Preston Parent Association Corner
NEXT ZOOM MEETING: Wednesday, September 9th (7-8pm)
Preston Parent Association Zoom Meeting
All Preston parents are invited to our next Parent Association zoom Wednesday September 9th from 7-8pm. The link is below. During this meeting we will go over all of our events for the year. We will be looking for parents to volunteer as point people for various events such as Activity Nights, teacher lunches and 8th Grade Promotion. The works is easy and fun. If you can’t make it next week but would like to be involved, email PPA President Krista Dias at ppopreston@gmail.com
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87836157311
Meeting ID: 878 3615 7311
One tap mobile
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Teacher Snack Drive
We love to show our appreciation for teachers by feeding them. Our Preston Parents Association supplies teachers with snacks to keep on hand for meetings. Please bring in snacks over the next two weeks. Sodas, chocolates and individually wrapped snacks are all welcome. Just leave them with the office. Thank you!
Join the Preston Parent Association (PPA)
The Preston Parent Association is an easy way for parents to help our awesome school and build community with one another. Our meetings are all on zoom, on the second Wednesday of the month from 7-8pm. They are not required, but we would love to have many of you there.
Lots of our members are full time working parents and we make it as easy as possible to participate. In addition to the monthly meetings we have fun community events planned and several ways parents can volunteer with the school. To join, simply fill out the form at the link below and venmo a suggested donation of $10. Don't have venmo? Leave a check made out to Preston Parent Association in our mailbox at the school.
Questions? Email PPA President Krista Dias at ppopreston@gmail.com