Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Welcome to Portola Middle School! 

I am so excited to share the 2025-2026 school year with you here at Portola Middle School! I know what it is like to come into a new school; don’t worry, just breathe! We’re going to fill this year with so much information, but I promise I am going to try my best to make it fun and engaging. I know this is going to be an interesting and crazy year, but just know that we are in this together!

This year, I want to make sure we are really hitting the learning targets while staying engaged. While I want the students to know the content, ultimately I want them to master critical thinking skills to solve any problem that is thrown at them. By the end of the year, they should apply those skills to real-life situations and be prepared to move on to the next grade level!

I want to make it clear that it is in my best interest to help students succeed. If you, students, ever need ANY help at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can message me via Schoology or schedule a meeting with me. Communication is what I value and appreciate the most, so let me know how I can help you. I am not a mind reader, so tell me what’s on your mind and we can work it out together!

Schoology is the place where students go for all their assignments and to message their teacher. Students log in with their LAUSD email and password. Click here to access Schoology.  Parents are able to check Schoology from their own accounts to monitor their child's progress. Parent accounts are available by signing up through the LAUSD Parent Portal. Parents, please reach out to the school if you have any issues with getting onto Schoology. 

Like every school year, each new one is different! Students will be feeling probably the same emotions of anxiety, nervousness, etc. that I am experiencing. I am here to support the students in any way I can. We are in this together! I am excited to meet all of the students and get this year started! Please take the time to read through the syllabus; especially the grading scale. Middle school is an adjustment to everyone, so please do not hesitate to reach out. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

P.S. Please fill out the Google Form at the end of the syllabus. Thank you!

Best,

Ms. Brooke Sasaki