San Diego Unified School District officials and Pacific Beach Middle School staff, students, and alumni recently marked a major milestone: the dedication of a new two-story building featuring collaborative workspaces and 26 classrooms with state-of-the-art technology and innovative furniture.

The occasion was celebrated with speeches, including one by Dr. Lamont A. Jackson, SDUSD superintendent. Remarks were accompanied by PBMS’ band and a student zither player, Siyun Li. Musicians performed in a new courtyard with lunch tables and sun umbrellas dramatically updating outdoor gathering areas at the school’s new facility at the corner of Ingraham and Diamond streets.

As part of the Whole Site Modernization project, the two-story classroom facility replaced two aging buildings and created a new and safer entrance to the school campus from Felspar Street. The project follows a subsequent “Synthetic Turf Athletic Field and Parking Lot” project that replaced a decomposed granite field with a synthetic turf athletic field and a new parking lot with a bike rack, pick-up, and drop-off area, light poles, landscaping, and ornamental permeable pavers. Secure perimeter fencing has also been installed around the campus.

On Friday, Sept. 23, Pacific Beach Middle School leaders welcomed SDUSD officials and two generations of alumni to celebrate the recently completed modern classroom facility.

PBMS principal Kimberly Meng kicked off festivities by thanking those turning out for “this ribbon-cutting ceremony for this brand new amazing classroom and outdoor facility. It’s hard to believe our school has been in the Pacific Beach community for 91 years. In that time, it’s been a junior high school, a middle school, and, since 2007, an International Baccalaureate world school.”

Added Meng: “Our prestigious IB designation is the reason why we were able to immerse our students in Mandarin Chinese language classes, art, and design. And it’s successful. In our 15 years as an IB school, we’ve won multiple awards. Schools like ours deserve facilities like the one that we have right here.”

Meng pointed out that students and staff “will now have the classrooms that will help them thrive and collaborate in new ways. It’s night and day from our old facility.”

“Your vision and your leadership helped develop this incredible space,” said Jackson of PBMS principal Meng. “This is a beautiful building with modernized classrooms,” he noted adding, “This is one of 10 IB schools in five clusters in the district. It is the vision of communities like Pacific Beach that give us guidance for the future of our schools.”

Added Jackson: “Better understanding of one another’s cultures leads to equity and inclusiveness, which are two of our biggest priorities at San Diego Unified. Through understanding and learning, we can build a better tomorrow.”

“It’s fascinating to see how PBMS has changed over the years,” said Amy Griffiths, a 1986 alumni of PBMS. “My mom went here, I went here, and now my son goes here. We all have different experiences in different facilities over the years – it’s really special.”

“It’s surreal to be here and see these projects all completed,” said Dr. Mike McQuary, Board of Education trustee for San Diego Unified. “This is a testament to the many meetings Principal Meng and former principal Julie Martel and I had with the community. Our hard work has paid off. Pacific Beach Middle has been transformed.”

PACIFIC BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL

A community staple for 91 years and counting, Pacific Beach Middle opened its doors in 1931 as a junior high school in North Pacific Beach. It stayed at its Tourmaline Street location for 19 years before moving to its current Ingraham Street location in 1950. Pacific Beach Elementary School currently sits at the former junior high site. In 1984, Pacific Beach Junior High transitioned to Pacific Beach Middle School.

In 2007, Pacific Beach Middle became an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. With this prestigious designation, the campus offers Mandarin Chinese language classes and one-of-a-kind partnerships with the University of Zurich in Switzerland and the University of San Diego.

Now 15 years into serving as an IB school, Pacific Beach Middle has won multiple awards, including three “IB Educator of the Year” awards for California, one “IB Student of the Year” award, and a “Spotlight School” title by the California IB Association. Through the IB program, PBMS students learn how to recognize their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet to create a better and more peaceful world.

In addition to its academically rigorous curriculum, Pacific Beach Middle offers students enrichment opportunities, including award-winning athletics, jazz, video production, choir, sportfishing, and a variety of other lunch and after-school activities.