Mission Bay High – Mission Bay High School’s ACES after-school tutoring program (see photo) has served 60,000 students since opening in 2013. After receiving a federal grant that funded the program for five years, ACES is now supported by FOPBSS (Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools) and principal Ernie Remillard and relies on a collaboration between MBHS tutors, University of California-San Diego EducationCorps volunteers, peer tutors, and a parent volunteer. ACES is designed to address the needs of the whole student, develop campus community, provide assistance in all subject areas, and offer opportunities for one-on-one support. Pacific Beach Middle – On Oct. 15, Pacific Beach Middle School students in the yearbook/media class went on a field trip to the iTV/channel 16 studios at the San Diego County Office of Education (see photo). Students toured the TV production facilities, wrote, filmed, acted in, and produced their own videos under the supervision of professionals at iTV. The students had a fun time, picked up great new skills, and immediately put those skills into practice back in class at the PBMS studios.
– The PB Middle School Surf Team competed in the (surfsss.org) Scholastic Surf Series
contest in Mission Beach on Oct. 6 and finished third out of 12 teams. Lucia Meza earned second place in girls’ shortboard; Bobby Meza got third bodyboard, and Graham Allen placed fourth in boys’ shortboard. Crown Point Junior Music Academy
– Friday, Nov. 8 is Family Movie Night with “Toy Story 4.” Doors open at 5:30 p.m., movie starts at 6 p.m. Barnard Magnet Mandarin Elementary School
– Families from Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School visited the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 10, in support Barnard third grade teacher Kathy Liu’s nonprofit organization, Joey’s Wings. Joey’s Wings hosted a special public viewing of “Cranes for a Cure,” an exhibit of more than 2,000 paper cranes designed to promote awareness of childhood cancer. 
Ms. Liu founded Joey’s Wings after her 9-year-old son, Joey, died of cancer in 2014. Its mission is to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer, which only receives 4 percent of federal cancer research funding. “Cranes for Cure” is inspired by Joey’s love of origami and symbolizes the hope for a cure to childhood cancer. In China and Japan, cranes are considered to be mystical creatures, and paper cranes are traditionally given as lucky and benevolent charms. Every year, more than 2,000 lives are lost to childhood cancer. The more than 2,000 paper cranes in the display are meant to honor each of those lives.
“I loved seeing my teacher’s cranes on display at the convention center,” said Barnard third grade student India Z. “It is amazing that she is making so many cranes to help all the kids out there who have cancer.” For more information about Joey’s Wings, visit joeywings.org. For information on Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School, or to find out about the District’s School Choice program, visit sandiegounified.org/barnard. The choice application window for the 2020-2021 school year will open until Nov. 20. Pacific Beach Elementary – The Pacific Beach Elementary School garden had several volunteer pumpkin plants sprout in spring, which students moved to straw bales and nurtured for several months. Over 20 pumpkins were harvested and cured in late summer for each classroom to decorate and display at their second annual PBE Halloween Carnival on Oct. 26.
– Come and meet the new principal Jennifer Grondek at the Principal’s Chat at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1 in the auditorium. Kate Sessions Elementary – The Kate Sessions community is fortunate to have a Child and Youth Behavioral Program on campus that is available to all military branches at no cost. The many military students have access to direct intervention assistance in the classroom and group support to help them deal with new school adjustment, deployment and separation, fear, grief and loss, and daily life issues. The help, friendship, and compassion the students receive from the counselor at Sessions is invaluable. Mission Bay Cluster
– The next Mission Bay Cluster meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at Mission Bay High School library. A presentation on Emotional Wellness by Nami Villegos, Ed.D. is part of the agenda. Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools
– FOPBSS Mom’s Night Out will take place 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Meet new PBMS and MBHS moms and mingle with old friends while enjoying food served up by chef Bernadette Chaplin. Email mmikus1@yahoo for details.