Welcome Back Poston Families!

We are excited to start up a new semester. As a reminder, first day for students will be Tuesday, January 7th. Please keep in mind that campus does not open till 8:45am. Students should not arrive to campus before that time as we do not have staff to supervise before that time.

Poston's offices are closed on Monday, January 6th. Office staff (including counselors) will return on Tuesday, January 7th.

Students should check their portal to remember their 1st hour class. Students will receive a new paper copy of their schedule and new planner for second semester on the first day in their 1st hour. At the end of last semester counselors had all students check their schedules for any mistakes. Please keep in mind that we cannot honor any "change of mind" requests in elective options.

Read through the rest of this week's newsletter for important information.

1/7 First Day of Second Semester

1/8-10 4:20pm 7th Grade Boys Flag Football Tryouts on the Football field.

1/7-9 4:15pm 8th Grade Boys Flag Football Tryouts on the Football field.

1/14 4:15pm Dance Placement Auditions for next year (in Auditorium)

1/16 4:15pm Dance Placement Auditions for next year (in Auditorium)

Want to recognize your student on their birthday? Sign up and pay for a birthday gram and the PPN will recognize your student during the month of their birthday. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rFqrLo8ojH-J4pVO2oSUnS_-1z7CNrBx3ttw2nJUZ_4/edit

Poston adheres to the clear bag policy for all afterschool events. Clear bags are required if they are larger than 4.5in by 6in. Diaper bags, fanny packs, and other bags are prohibited. Weapon detectors will be implemented at large crowd sports events as well.

All students who tryout or participate in athletics must have a Panther pass on file.

Panther Pass Q3 - English

Panther Pass Q3 - Spanish

• 7th Grade: Wednesday Jan 8th 2:20-3:20pm, Thursday and Friday Jan 9th-10th 4:20-5:20pm
• 8th Grade: Tuesday-Wednesday Jan 7th-9th 4:15-5:45pm

• For questions, please reach out to Mr. Olson haolson@mpsaz.org

Make sure that all interested athletes have completed an online Panther Pass before they tryout.

Girls Flag Football Practice Starts Soon!

• Practice will start Tuesday Jan 7th and Thursday Jan 9th this week 4:15-5:45pm. Please remember to bring water, mouth pieces, and cleats.

Howie Olson - Athletic Director - haolson@mpsaz.org

Marlene Lopez Duarte - Assistant Principal - mlopezduarte@mpsaz.org

As a reminder, parents who wish to drop off or pick up their student on campus must use the south parking lot. The north parking lot (off of Adobe St.) does not have the capacity to handle parent pick up and drop off. If your child is running late, please still drop them off in the south lot. Gates do not lock till 9:15. After 9:15, students may be dropped off in the front office. To excuse your student you will need to come sign them in.

Poston Student Council hosts Kona Ice during lunches. Students can purchase Kona Ice and consume it during lunch. We shut the line down 5 min before the end of lunch so that students have time to enjoy their Kona Ice before lunch ends. A portion of the proceeds goes to fund student events such as the PAWS Parties. The following upcoming dates when Kona Ice will be on campus.

Feb. 19, 11:00-12:30

Mar. 7, 10:30-1:00

Mar. 19, 11:00-12:30

Apr. 2, 11:00-12:30

April 16, 11:00-12:30

April 30, 11:00-12:30

May 16, 1:30-4:00

Yearbooks may be preordered for $30 through the bookstore or online. Make sure to put your order in early. The price will go up after January. Yearbooks will be distributed during the last PAWS party of the year in May.

Did you know that you check your student's grades, attendance, and other info through the ParentVUE portal? There is a link to an online version as well as an app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You will need user log in info. If you don't have that, you can contact our Attendance Secretary at 480-472-2101 or you can email her a crjoplin@mpsaz.org. She can help you get connected.

Poston is considered a closed campus. Campus is not opened for student entry until 8:45am. Students may only enter through two access points:

1. South Parking Lot for parent drop off.

2. The north west gate to access the bike rack.

Gates are locked at 9:15am at the start of school. All late arrivals must enter through the front office.

Classroom doors are locked during class time.

Starting this school year, all students are required to wear their school issued ID when they enter campus or a school bus. For ease to check compliance, we ask that all students wear their IDs around their necks so that we can quickly scan to ensure student compliance. If students forget their ID, they can receive a temporary ID from the office. Students may also purchase a replacement ID for 3 dollars at the Poston Bookstore. Students who forget their IDs will be assigned Think Tank detention starting Monday, August 12th.

Poston adheres to the clear bag policy for all afterschool events. Clear bags are required if they are larger than 4.5in by 6in. Diaper bags, fanny packs, and other bags are prohibited. Please see the attached graphic that will be posted at all events.

As part of their on-going security enhancements, MPS has installed vape sensors in all HS and JH bathrooms and locker rooms. This includes Poston JH. These sensors are triggered by nicotine and marijuana smoke/vape. When the sensors are activated, an alarm is sounded at the video monitoring station and the camera focused on the bathroom entry door is highlighted. As part of our follow up to this new device, we will review the camera, bring the student(s) that exit, when the notification is alerted, to the office, and initiate a student search. This part of our on going efforts to keep our campus safe.

Weapon detectors are in use every morning during student arrivals and full time in the front office. Students will enter through the North bike gate or the South student drop off gate. Bus riders will walk down the sidewalk to the South entrance.

Students are asked to remove their laptop, binder, spiral notebooks, and eyeglasses case before going through the detectors.

These units will also be utilized during afterschool events.

Student drop off and pick up is located in the South parking lot on 25th St. Drop off and pick up is accessible on the surrounding neighborhood streets. Please have students meet you at the car and not at the gate. Parents must stay outside of the secured perimeter gates.

Drop off/Pick up not allowed in the front office parking lot.

Beginning this year, all MPS students will need to wear an ID badge visibly on a lanyard around their neck while they are campus at all times. All students should have received their ID, if they did not receive their ID please advise them to report to the bookstore immediately for help.

If you would like to purchase specific lanyard for your student, you may do so. Students will need to use IDs for bus riding, library use, cafeteria, and other class time activities.

Keep in mind that if a student loses their ID, they will have to purchase a new one through the bookstore for $3.

If your student is going to be absent, please call the attendance office at 480-472-2101 and leave a message with your student's name, date of absence, and reason. Absences will be updated within 24-48 hours.

If your student will be tardy after the school day has begun, please check them in through the front office to excuse.

Doctor's notes or other documents please email to crjoplin@mpsaz.org

Poston Junior High School

Asst. Principal: Marlene Lopez Duarte

Main Office: 480-472-2100

Website: www.poston.mpsaz.org

Location: 2433 E. Adobe St., Mesa, AZ 85213