Hi Presidio Family!

We have not had any April showers, but I am hopeful to see May cactus flowers, nonetheless! What we have had a lot of over the past few months are soft lockdown/shelter-in-place requirements, so I thought I would take this opportunity to provide clarification and information about Presidio’s procedures for both soft and hard lockdowns.

Key Terms

• Incident Command/Incident Commander - responsible for the implementation of the incident management procedures. Typically the Incident Commander is the Principal and the location of Incident Command is the Principal’s Office; however, all members of Presidio’s Leadership Team can step into the Incident Command role if the Principal is unavailable

• Logistics Personnel - supports the decisions made by the Incident Commander and work to ensure campus safety (including verifying all people on campus are safe and accounted for during a lockdown)

• Communications Personnel - coordinates and facilitates the release of information to the staff, students, families, and community members.

• Go Buckets - contain items necessary to ensure classroom safety (e.g. first aid kit, duct tape, hand sanitizer, scissors, toilet paper, etc.) and are located in each room.

• Emergency clipboard - contains all resources and materials necessary to provide quick and accurate execution of various procedures (e.g. fire drills, lockdowns)

Procedures and Explanations

• Evacuation - used in the event of fire, building collapse, bomb threat, fire alarm, etc.

  • Staff follow primary evacuation routes, account for all students, report to Evacuation Captain, and wait for all clear before returning to the building.

• Hard Lockdown - used for hostile intruders, hostage situations, weapons on campus, etc.

  • Move all students indoors, lock/secure and barricade doors, turn off lights, cover windows, spread students around the classroom and ensure all cell phones are off, account for all students and report on Lockdown spreadsheet

  • Prepare to defend or evacuate as directed

• Shelter-in-Place/Soft Lockdown - used for inclimate weather conditions, hazardous materials release, threats outside of Presidio, medical emergencies

  • Move all students indoors, lock/secure doors, cover windows, continue with instruction as able, account for all students and report on Lockdown spreadsheet

  • Ensure all outside communications go through the Communications Personnel

Please note that Presidio Communications Personnel will communicate with staff, students, families, and community members via School Messenger, social media, email, and phone (as is appropriate). As difficult as it is, please await communication from Presidio and refrain from communicating directly with your child, as it poses a potential safety risk.

It is unfortunate that we need to have these procedures in place, albeit necessary, and Presidio is continually working to improve procedures to ensure maximum safety and transparency. We appreciate the trust you place in Presidio’s staff!

Happy May!

Jessica Montierth, Principal

PRESIDIO SCHOOL SPRING SHOWCASE

The Presidio Spring Showcase is coming up! Please add this information to your calendars and keep an eye out for additional ticket information as it is released. Here are the details:

• DATE: The Spring Showcase will be held on Friday, May 13th
• SHOWTIMES: Dance & Kung Fu - 9:30 AM and Music & Art - 1:00 PM
• TICKETS: Tickets will be $1 and will go on sale soon - We will let you know as soon as they are available! Please note that tickets will be limited and sold on a first come first served basis. We will be practicing social distancing with seating placed in 3 ft intervals.
• SHOWCASE RECORDING: For those unable to make it due to time or limited seating, both showcases will be recorded!

PLEASE NOTE: Students will not be allowed in the audience. Parents are not allowed to pull students/siblings from class to watch the show (due to limited seating). Music students must wear their uniform shirts for the showcase. For those in attendance, you will be expected to stay for the entirety of the showcase, please be respectful and do not leave once your student's performance has ended.

PRESIDIO 2022 GRADUATION

All Presidio graduation ceremonies will be held at the Leo Rich Theater - 260 S. Church Ave.

9:00 AM Red Caterpillar Kindergarten Graduation 

11:00 AM Blue Caterpillar Kindergarten Graduation

3:00 PM Eighth Grade Promotion

6:00 PM High School Graduation

Congratulations to the following students for their acceptance to their University of choice and to those who also earned awards & scholarships - Way to go!!

Brandon Barcelo: University of Arizona -  Pre-Business Major received the Wildcat Recognition Scholarship worth $2,000 and the Deans Exemplary Award worth $1,000

Sara Ben Abdillah: Weslean University - Psychology/Sociology major received the Weslean University Award worth $79,208

Gina Buffa: University of Arizona -  Physiology and Medical Science major

Eduardo Duarte: University of Arizona - Marketing major received the Wildcat Recognition Scholarship worth $2,000, the Dean’s Exemplary Award worth $1,000, and the Arizona Assurance Scholarship worth $7,505

Alexa Lopez Lara: University of Arizona - Engineering major received the Wildcat Distinction Scholarship worth $10,000, and the DORRANCE Scholarship worth $12,000 per academic year

Vianey Mata Hernandez: University of Arizona - Undecided major received the Wildcat Excellence Scholarship worth $5,000

Toni McDaniel: University of Arizona - Physiology and Medical Science received the Wildcat Excellence Scholarship worth $5,000

Joshua Montano: University of Arizona - Biology major received the Wildcat Excellence Scholarship worth $5,000, the Dean’s Exemplary Award worth $1,000

Alexia Patino: University of Arizona - Physiology and Medical Science major received the Dean’s Exemplary Award worth $1,000, the Freshman Hispanic Award worth $4,000 and the Wildcat Distinction Scholarship worth $10,000

Radhika Paudel: University of Arizona - Engineering major received the Wildcat Distinction Scholarship worth $10.000

Diego Yepez: University of Arizona - Physiology and Medical Science major received the Wildcat Distinction Scholarship worth $10,000, and the Dean’s Exemplary Award worth $1,000

Presidio is offering summer enrichment activities to students in grades K-5 at not cost to families. Summer enrichment runs from June 6-30, 2022; Monday-Friday; 1:00-5:00 PM.While this is a first come, first serve program; students participating in Summer Remediation services will have priority.

Summer Enrichment will encompass fun activities while helping students with their social and emotional development, as well as reinforcing academic skills. The following activities will take place during enrichment:

Cooking - Students will learn to read and follow recipes. They will prepare the daily snack for all students that will be attending enrichment. Students will learn how to use utensils correctly to cut and chop ingredients with plastic knives. The students will also learn how to use measuring cups and spoons. Through this activity, students will learn how to work as a team, problem solve, communicate and try new things.

Art - Students will use art supplies to create process art projects that allow them to express their creativity, emotions, and become self aware of how emotions affect themselves and others. They will use a variety of mediums as they explore how art can be a reflection of themselves as well as what is happening around them.

Music - Students will use basic instruments to explore how different sounds are created. They will learn how to create different rhythmic patterns using different instruments and be able to create their very own instruments. Students will listen to different types of music and decide how different types of music can create different emotions in oneself and others. Students will become more socially aware and build stronger connections to others.

Drama - Students will be able to try on different roles and personalities as they dress up and explore drama using Reader’s Theater and other short plays. This will help students express feelings with words, learn to listen and pay attention, and to work with others. This will encourage students to have pride in their accomplishments and have a more positive self image.

Science - Students will explore different areas of science using inquiry-based science. They will explore the different stages of matter, electricity, rocks and minerals, climate change and much more. Students will learn how to work as part of a team and learn how to problem-solve, regulate themselves and learn impulse control.

Water Day - Each student will have a water day once a week. On this day, students will learn how to share and interact with others as they play and have fun. Please make sure your child brings a change of clothes this day as they might want to change into something dry. Please make sure your child wears sunblock as well.

April brings the Titanic back to life in 3rd Grade! Students will be learning all about the grand ship this month. They will be learning how the ship was constructed, when it sailed, and the tragedy that has made her so famous today. Through comprehension reading passages and videos, students will experience what the ship was like when she was above water, and what she looks like today, 2 1/2 miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. As a way to go more in depth with the topic, students will be completing an escape room, creating a writing craft, and taking a virtual field trip to where she now rests. Our final project will be a mock trial, where they will show their understanding of the tragedy, and immerse themselves in the characters. A link will be provided to parents who wish to observe the mock trial. We hope to see you there!

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

On Saturday, April 23rd a group of Presidio Gate students in middle school participated in Model UN. Each student represented a different United Nations country and had to choose between debating two integral topics to our world: alleviating world hunger or protecting endangered species. The students prepared for weeks leading up to the event. They gave speeches, debated at a national level, and came up with different proposals on how to solve these problems. The students were separated into two groups, each group had 20 students from all over the US. Once they gave their speeches and debated their ideas, they all wrote resolutions in break out groups. Maria Morente and Joanna Tommervick's resolution was voted in as the winning resolution! We are so proud of the hard work and dedication these students exhibited - Way to go!!

Peyton Montierth (6)
Desmond Sowerby (7)
Kayden Victor (7)
Joanna Tommervick (7)
Sajjad Al-Sinayyid (8)
Maria Morente (8)
Santiago Watson (8)

Mrs. Penazek is requesting donations of any of the following items for the dance program.

Dance is in need of many spools of Black sewing machine thread...Have any unused spools sitting around? We will use them up today! Please drop any you would be willing to donate at the office for Mrs. Penazek.

Karen Penazek
Sewing Queen aka Dance Teacher