Panther Parent Update

Our School Vision

De Portola welcomes individuality by empowering and developing students’ communication, curiosity, and critical thinking skills through a growth mindset. We are Panthers! Rooooaaaarrrrrrrr!!

Important Dates

2/23 - First day of tryouts (Flag-Football, Cheer, Wrestling)

2/25 - 8th Grade Field Trip to USS Midway Museum

2/27 - Civil War Sim Day (7th Grade HSS Dept.)

2/27 - Wicked Theme Chill on the Hill

3/4 - KONA Ice at lunch

3/4 - NAEP Testing

3/5 - LOTE Testing

3/9 - Non-Instructional Day (NO SCHOOL)

3/10 - Shark Tank (6th Grade HSS)

3/10 - De Portola Foundation Meeting 4 PM

4/24 - De Portola Bowling Night (Adults Only)

MEGA PRIZE DAY

We had a great time celebrating with our students on MEGA PRIZE DAY! All students had an extended passing period, a longer lunch, and ice cream. Super shoutout to Mr. Steven for organizing all the prize distributions. We met our goal and will still make $25K after we clear expenses! YAHOO!! We are very grateful to our all our families for your donations and outreach to your very generous family and friends. Now that we met our goal, I will stop texting you everyday.

Lunar New Year

The Lucky Lion Dancers performed during lunch on Friday. A choy cheng (採青) is a special part of a lion dance where performers use the mouths of the lion to “eat” a head of lettuce, symbolizing good fortune, and spit it out to spread wealth to the audience. Mrs. Parinas was the lucky one who got "spit" on by the lions. The drummers were fantastic and one of the drummers was a De Portola alumni. This cultural event was again funded by the De Portola Foundation.

Staff vs. Student Basketball

Due to rain delays, we also had the Staff vs. Student Basketball game on Friday. The sixth grade students crushed our Staff B Team. The 8th grade students battled against our Staff A Team. It was a close game, but the students couldn't outshoot the staff. Many thanks to the PE Teachers for organizing this event and all the staff that participated and attended.

6th vs. Staff

6th grade Winners

8th grade action shot

First Day of Tryouts (Flag-Football and Cheer)

Monday, Feb. 23 is the first day of tryouts for flag-football and cheer. Students will meet at the lunch arbor for the first day of tryouts to check in with the respective coaches. Please make sure your student is signed up before Monday.

Writers' Corner

I’m so excited! Our “Open Mic Night” is ON!! That means we have 8 sessions to write and practice! If your child is interested in joining Writers’ Corner, please email me at esoto@sandi.net. We will meet every Tuesday, after school, from 2:50-3:50 PM starting March 3rd. (I don’t mind if the students come as soon as school ends). This is a free course!

On Wednesday, April 29th, beginning at 5:45 PM, at the Shelter Island fire pits in Point Loma, we will have our Writers’ Corner Finale “Open Mic!” The students will share written excerpts with family and friends in the twilight and glow of the bonfires! Please, do not miss this!

The bonfire readings will happen at the beach bonfire pits across the street from Humphrey’s by the Bay, on Shelter Island Drive. You will find my grey Jeep with a huge cardboard cut-out of my face taped to my back spare tire, as a landmark, in the parking lot. There will be music to enjoy while we get situated. We’ll start the first read at 6:15. The evening is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Dinner) affair. Bring pizza, deli sandwiches, burgers, and whatever you like to eat for dinner. There is a place close by that sells great-tasting lumpia! Families are responsible for bringing their own dinners. Dinner takes place before the kids take “the stage,” between 5:45-6:15. After the readings, S’more kits will be handed out to families. Don’t forget your beach chairs and blankets!

Thanks for supporting Writers’ Corner 2026, here at De Portola Middle School!

See you at the bonfire!!

Kindest Regards,

Mrs. Soto-Nauta

Device Free Lunches

The School Governance Team had a great discussion about the use of student devices during lunch. We probably have about 100 students who sit on their computers and play games at lunch. In the past month, we have been having Device Free Fridays and have noticed more kids being active during their 30 minute lunch period. The SGT voted to have Device Free Lunches on a bi-weekly basis. We will have our first Device Free Week on March 2. This will give us time to message to students on the Principal's Message.

Additionally, we have a "Zip it Up" policy for cell phones. Students who carry their phones in their pockets will have their phones confiscated and can pick them up from the office at 2:35pm. Please help us by discussing these policies as a family. Maybe the next time you send your student a text during the school day, you can remind them to zip up their phones after they read your message. Ha! Just a little joke for those who actually read this really long Panther Parent Update. I appreciate you 🤗.

SAVE THE DATE - APRIL 24TH

Our annual bowling night will be held on Friday, April 24th from 6-9PM. This is an adults only event benefiting De Portola and sponsored by Foundation. Tickets are $60 per person which includes Oggies dinner, Bowling, Games and 1 beer or wine ticket.

Yearbooks On Sale Now

8th Grade Yearbook Ads are now on sale at www.yearbookforever.com. These ads will be available for purchase until March 19th. There is limited ad space, so buy yours today! It is highly recommended that you do not wait until the last day to create your ad, as the website may experience issues that are beyond our control. We will not be able to accept any ads after March 19th.

Don't forget to purchase your yearbook for $55 before the price increases to $60 on March 1st!

Please email Ms. McIntosh at smcintosh@sandi.net with any questions.

Here is the flyer that your 8th grader received in their English class.

Here is a video that goes over specifics of the 8th Grade Ads

No Food Deliveries

We do not accept food deliveries for students from outside vendors. Outside food is very stimulating for our students. I took a pizza out to the custodial staff and I had about 15 students approach me and beg me for a slice. I call it the seagull effect. Students with outside food get pressured by friends and foes to share. Additionally, all schools K-12 in the Canyon Hills Cluster do not allow food deliveries. Thank you for understanding and supporting this policy.

If a student forgets their lunch, we offer free lunch every day. If a parent drops off a student's lunch bag, we will have the student come up to office at 12:00pm. If a family member brings lunch from a local eatery, we ask that you stay and enjoy it with your student. I mean...who doesn't enjoy 15 twelve year olds circling you when you are dipping your fries in ketchup. It's super fun, I promise.

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

When you enter the school parking lot, you must turn left and drive all the way down as the staff directs you. The staff will signal when it is time for your student to exit the vehicle. Please follow the directions of the staff to ensure the line moves and all can arrive on time.

Many families choose to drop their students off on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Please do not drop off along a red curb. Last year, we had several families receive citations for dropping off in the bus zone and no parking zone. There is a 3-minute loading zone on the west side of the De Portola intersection. Students can be dropped off there and walk in.

The parking lot is closed after school from 2:00 - 2:40. There are some parking spots available by accessing the far west driveway. Please make arrangements to meet your student on the street, the dirt lot on west side of campus, the rec center. Students are welcome to hang out in front of school until parking lot clears out around 2:40. Also, the library is open until 3:30pm.

Also, please DO NOT use the residential parking lot across the street from school. We try to be really good neighbors and not disturb them with our dismissal procedures.

If you need special parking accommodation for your student, please have the handicap placard visible. Click here for more details on special parking accommodations.

Parking Lot Safety

As a friendly reminder, we close the main access to De Portola during dismissal. This is for student safety and traffic flow. PLEASE DO NOT ILLEGALLY ENTER USING THE EXIT AT THE MAIN INTERSECTION. If we have the access blocked off, simply make a u-turn and enter the parking lot at the west entrance. This will take approximately one minute or less of your time, which we can all agree is worth it to ensure everyone's safety. Please prioritize safety over convenience.

Also, when leaving the campus parking lot from drop off line (West end exit) please yield to all pedestrians as well as vehicles entering the lot from the west entrance. We've seen a lot of close calls from vehicles not yielding/stopping at the end of the drop off line. Thank you.

The speed limit is 25 mph within 500 feet from a school when children are present. Please be mindful.

Walk Your Wheels - SGT Approved Policy

Please make sure to read and review with your students our new "Walk your Wheels" policy reviewed and approved by SGT on September 18th. This policy will go in effect on Tuesday, September 23rd. This policy is located on our website under student policy's.