Category: Uncategorized

On July 9th the WCCUSD School Board voted to change the name from Portola Middle School to Fred T. Korematsu Middle School, effective for the 2014-15 school year. The transition to the new name will allow students an opportunity to learn about Mr. Korematsu’s struggle against injustice and discrimination.

The Portola PTSA is separate from the school district, so we are working to align with the name change. The transition plan involves changing the name on our California State PTSA charter and bank accounts, securing and migrating all current information to a new internet domain, electronic communications/social media accounts. We do not have a firm time frame for completion, but all components are under way.

What does this mean to you? Official correspondence from the school and district will be from Korematsu Middle School. Correspondence from the PTSA will be from Portola PTSA. Information will still be available at Portolanews.com and you can still reach us at PortolaPTSA@gmail.com. We will notify you as we become Korematsu PTSA and how to access the corresponding communication portals.

Questions or concerns? Offers of assistance with the transition? Please contact us at PortolaPTSA@gmail.com. Need to talk to school staff? The number for the front office is still 524-0405.

The WCCUSD Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to rename Portola Middle School after Japanese American civil rights icon Fred T. Korematsu. The District has not yet clarified when the name change takes effect. When we have information regarding the transition plan and timeline we will post it here.

During World War II, Japanese-American citizens were ordered to internment camps despite the lack of cause for the detentions. Korematsu was arrested and convicted for defying the internment order. On appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld his conviction. In 1983, the case was overturned in U.S. District Court and President Bill Clinton later awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After 9/11, Korematsu spoke out to protect the civil rights of Muslim inmates and U.S. citizens.

Thank you to Marcus Hibser of HY Architects and district officials for providing a community update on the progress of the new campus build. The official “move in” date according to the district contract is March/April 2016, but so far the project is running ahead of schedule and the move in date could be as soon as Jan/Feb 2016. The timeline is depicted below. The presentation Marcus shared can be found here. Have a look — it will be a beautiful school. The second half of the presentation is an update and plans on the rebuilding of Fairmont Elementary School, which will commence as soon as Fairmont students are able to move in to the temporary campus currently occupied by our Portola students.

WCCSD Facilities Subcommittee will present a neighborhood update on Portola rebuilding Saturday, May 31^st, 11 a.m. at Castro Clubhouse, 1420 Norvell Street, El Cerrito (@ Donal). Marcus Hibser, Architect, will be there along with other WCCUSD notables involved in the new construction.

Please sign up at  http://vols.pt/EteFeS

The Portola Middle School students, teachers, and staff would like to invite you to the 1st annual “Portola Night”, which will be held on campus on Thursday, March 27th from 6 to 8pm. Instead of the usual Open House structure, the students and teachers have come together to organize a night of student projects and presentations, along with performances by the jazz band and drama class. Please join us in a fun-filled and informative evening to celebrate Portola Middle School!

1021 Navellier St., El Cerrito, CA 94530, (510) 524-0405