Mission Bay High
– New student enrollment is 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 8.
– Student orientations: 12th graders: 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 15, 11th graders: noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 15, 10th graders: 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 16, ninth graders: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17. Pacific Beach Middle – New student meet and greet is 9 a.m. Aug. 21.
– Schedule distribution: sixth graders: 9:30 a.m., seventh graders: 10 a.m., eighth graders: 10:30 a.m. Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary – Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School has launched the fourth year of its parent mentor program, created to give incoming parents and students an extra resource to help them prepare for the upcoming school year. The mentor program, which is run by the Barnard PTA, matches new families with parents who have been at the school for one or more years, so that new parents have an experienced contact whom they can ask questions about school resources, general practices, and social happenings. Once two families are matched, they can meet at one of three school-wide summer play dates, at the back-to-school ice cream social, or simply communicate via email.
“The mentor program is designed to help acquaint new families with life at Barnard so they know what to expect in the fall,” explained Leslie Seymour, a parent at the school who is mentoring two new families this summer. “My goal as a mentor is for my new families to be confident and comfortable when entering our school. That makes a world of difference for new parents and their students. I know, because I once was in their shoes.”
While the mentor program is only in place for a few months before and after the start of school, the tight-knit community of parents, faculty, staff, and local partners continues to be a trusted resource to all parents throughout their tenure at the school. 
– For information on Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary, or to find out about the District’s School Choice program, visit sandiegounified.org/barnard. The Choice application window for the 2019-2020 school year will open between Oct. 1 and Nov. 13 of this year. Pacific Beach Elementary – Orientation for new Pacific Beach Elementary students will be on Friday, Aug. 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the school. This will be followed by a play date for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students – contact the school office at 858-488-8316 for details. 
– Pacific Beach Elementary is excited to partner with the new Beach and Bay YMCA, which will provide physical education and playground supervision during the upcoming school year. Friends of Pacific Beach Elementary and its generous donors are excited to work with the new local Y and supports its efforts to bring health and wellness to PB. 
– Back to School Night will take place on Sept. 6, and the Scholastic Book Fair the week of Sept. 4-7. Kate Sessions Elementary – Kate Sessions Elementary, an IB World School, is gearing up for another fun and educational year. Parents and community members came together to help get the school ready by assembling rolling whiteboards, tables and a basketball hoop set. Some items were prepped and painted such as friendship and outdoor benches and planter boxes. A huge thank you to all who participated in this project.
– Some dates to calendar: Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten orientation will be held 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24. There will be a play date, following the orientation, at Kate Sessions Park. Back to School Night is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 12, and the annual Day at the Bay is slated for Sunday, Sept. 23. FOPBSS – Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools is a joint Parent Teacher Organization nonprofit corporation for both Pacific Beach Middle and Mission Bay High schools. The mission of FOPBSS is to foster an environment of excellence in education and student activities for Mission Bay High School and Pacific Beach Middle School. Join in on the conversation at the first meeting of the 2018-19 school year 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at Woodstock’s Pizza, 1221 Garnet Ave.  Mission Bay Cluster – All Pacific Beach public schools begin classes on Monday, Aug. 27. Free college tuition – The San Diego Community College District recently announced a major expansion of its tuition-free program known as the San Diego Promise making all recent high school graduates who are first-time, full-time students eligible to receive two free years of college. Participating students may attend San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, and/or San Diego Miramar colleges.