FOPBSS
– Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools Auction and Fundraiser, will take place 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 18 at the Soledad Club. – The next FOPBSS meeting will be 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 23 at the PBMS media center. Mission Bay High – Mission Bay High School AP Environmental Science students representing the Mission Bay Eco Club traveled up the California coast to spend  two days volunteering and studying at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and presenting their project at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Led by IB Marine Science and APES teacher, Steve Walters, students presented their year-long project, which focused on the reduction of plastic straws in restaurants on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, at the Ocean Plastic Pollution Summit at Monterey Bay Aquarium. During the after-hours event, they had the aquarium to themselves and stayed the night sleeping in front of the giant tanks.  
– The nationally-renowned Mission Bay High School Music Program will hold their eighth annual Jazz on the Green 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 17 at MBHS. This outdoor music festival is open to the public and will feature the school’s award-winning jazz ensembles with some incredible guest musicians including Leonard Patton on vocals, Derek Cannon on trumpet, and Charlie Chavez on congas and percussion. The schedule includes the MBHS Swing Choir (with Leonard Patton) at 6 p.m., Preservationists (with Derek Cannon) at 6:30 p.m., and the Mambo Orchestra (with Charlie Chavez) at 7:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and families are encouraged to bring seating and blankets. Enjoy food from Tacos El Unico, dancing, and of course music. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students/children or $20 for a seat at a VIP table. All ticket sales support the music program at Mission Bay High.  Tickets can be purchased at the front gate the day of the concert or missionbaymusic.com/eve Pacific Beach Middle – Music is in the air at PBMS with two concerts from the PBMS music department led by music director John O’Donnell. On Tuesday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m., enjoy the sounds of the PBMS Strings Ensemble, and on Thursday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m., listen to the PBMS Band. The concerts are free and open to the public.
– On May 9, Mission Bay Cluster schools participated in “Walk and Roll to School Day” where students, teachers, and parents walked, biked, scooted and skated to school. Community sponsors included beautifulPB, Surf Monkey Bicycles, Mr. Frostie, Woodstocks Pizza, Movin’ Shoes, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts. PBMS student coordinators Jayden H., Julian C., and Tristen W. worked with parent volunteer Mrs. Higman, and teachers Mrs. Gantz, Mr. Wood, and Mr. Bauer to make the day a success with groups of walkers, and 67 bikes, three scooters, and 17 skateboards in the bike rack. Congratulations to Sandra Kaster for winning the raffle and a beautiful turquoise cruiser from Surf Monkey Bicycles. Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary
– Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School earned the 2018 California Distinguished School award, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced in April. Only 287 of the nearly 6,000 elementary schools in California received this honor. Of the 166 elementary and charter schools in San Diego Unified School District, 16 traditional elementary schools and one charter school were awarded this distinction.
The California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes elementary schools within the state that have made exceptional gains in implementing academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. While Barnard students in grades kindergarten through fifth are taught 50-80 percent of their day in Mandarin, their competency in math and English language arts have soared in recent years.
Principal Aida Hernandez highlighted the strength of the school’s faculty and the strong partnership between the administration and parents as key factors in receiving the award. “We have a lot of amazing programs at our school, extending beyond the Mandarin immersion,” said Hernandez. “We couldn’t make it happen without the incredible efforts of our teaching staff, who go above and beyond for all learners at every level. We also have our PTA to thank for supporting and funding many of the supplementary programs we offer to our students – from science to art to athletics to campus beautification.”
For more information on Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School or to find out about the District’s School Choice program, visit sandiegounified.org/barn. Pacific Beach Elementary – On Wednesday, May 30, PBE’s Open House and Celebration of Art is open to PBE families and anyone interested in checking out the school.  Classrooms will be open from 5 to 6 p.m. with student work and projects on display, and art from every student in the school will be shown in the auditorium from 5 to 7 p.m. Chip’s Beach Eatz will be on site with their food truck. The event is free and open to the public. Kate Sessions Elementary – Sessions Elementary celebrated teachers and staff with Teacher Appreciation Week. Each day had a color theme and students showered their teachers with flowers, school supplies, treats or handwritten notes. The Friends of Kate Sessions (PTO) provided breakfast for them, a rolling cart visited classrooms with complimentary drinks, snacks and requested school supplies, they enjoyed a catered lunch and the week ended with dessert day. Thank you to 7-11 (2275 Garnet and 1906 Balboa) for their generosity.
as everyone enjoyed the special treats they provided.