Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, October 31st, 2021
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope everyone is gearing up for a fun and frightful Halloween tonight! Please make sure to stay safe out there by sticking to known neighborhoods and streets, carrying a flashlight or glowstick so others can see you, and sticking together and trick-or-treating as a group. Please remember that tomorrow is a regular school day with an 8:27am start, so make sure to get out there to trick-or-treat early so you can still get a full night of sleep!
Our Ram Spirit and Ram Pride were on full display this past week as students and staff dressed up for our Red Ribbon Week spirit days and for our Halloween Costume Contest on Friday. Thank you to all of our students for making the Red Ribbon Week pledge to stay drug-free, and congratulations to our costume contest winners from Friday! Please check out some of the great costumes and winners on my Instagram page (@principalmills_twinpeaks) and our TPMS ASB Instagram page (@twinpeaksasb).
This week we have a regular school week - no days off and no special schedules other than our Thursday late-start at 9:15am. As we begin November, we are entering the time of the school year with quite a few days off and breaks - please make sure to check out the "Upcoming Events" section below for a list of the vacation days. Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, November 7th at 2:00am (that means next Sat-Sun we fall back an hour!). For those who like a countdown, we have 8 school days until Veteran's Day, 14 school days until Thanksgiving Break, and 29 school days until the Winter Break!
One of the fun things I get to do this week is honor our ten students who were nominated by their teachers, and were ultimately chosen and will be awarded a Character Counts Award. Each quarter, teachers and staff can nominate students they feel reflect the Six Pillars of Character - Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. This Wednesday afternoon, we will have an opportunity to gather with the ten students, their parents, and the teachers who nominated them in a special Zoom celebration to hear all about the wonderful things our Rams of Character have been doing to be role models for other students. Please check out the list of our First Quarter Character Counts Award winners in the announcement below!
Please make sure your students are coming to school with a comfortable facemask that they can wear when they are indoors on campus, preferably a cloth mask that can be washed and reused. We are having to handout an increased number of facemasks each day to students who forget theirs and our supply is dwindling quickly. Additionally, students are now using the paper cords on these masks to "saw" through desks, Chromebook covers and other items around the school. Please review with your students the expectation that masks are to be worn whenever they are indoors on campus (classroom, offices, library, gym, locker room, etc.), and also remind your students that any damage caused to school property is the student's responsibility.
Finally this week, I'm looking forward to my first Principal Walk & Talk event this Thursday, November 4th from 4:30-5:30pm on the TPMS campus. The idea behind the event is to walk the campus with parents, answer questions you may have, and provide an overview of our current facilities and potential needs for the future. Please submit your questions HERE in advance so I can be prepared with an answer! Because we will be outdoors, there are no mask or vaccination requirements to attend this event. Plan on meeting at the picnic tables in the main quad by the stage at 4:30pm to begin our Walk & Talk!
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - bit.ly/tpmsevents
November 3rd: Report Cards available on Student Vue
November 3rd: Character Counts Awards, 4:30pm @Zoom
November 4th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
November 4th: Principal Walk & Talk, 4:30pm - TPMS main quad
November 7th: Daylight Savings Time ends (Fall Back!)
November 11th: Veteran's Day Holiday (No School for Students)
November 16th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Library
November 18th: School site Council Meeting, 3:30pm Library
November 18th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm Library
November 18th: PUSD School Board Meeting, 6pm @Zoom
November 22nd-26th: Thanksgiving Break
December 14th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Zoom
December 16th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm Library
December 19th-31st: Winter Break
Checking Student Grades
Step it Up Kids Fundraiser Update
Hey Rams! Thank you SO MUCH for all of your hard work fundraising for our school. We have raised enough money to be able to plan lots of exciting and fun events for you this school year and we can't wait for you to see what we have in store! In the interest of safety, we will be hosting the Day of Awesome Event in the Spring Semester on March 17th, in hopes that by springtime we will be able to have as much fun as possible with minimal restrictions. Don't you worry though -- we're not going to make you wait until March to get your prizes! Prizes will be distributed on November 4th during lunch, so we get TWO days of celebration!
TPMS Sports Update
Cross Country had their last race of the season on Friday at Mesa Verde! Cross Country kids have continued to do extremely well in all their races for this season!!!
Lacrosse has their game tomorrow starting at 3:45pm on the back field! Come out and support!
Football has their first home game on Thursday at 4:20 against Black Mountain on our back field! Come out and support Football!
Golf had their first round of team play against Bernardo Heights this week! The kids played extremely well and these golf scores are pretty impressive! They will continue to play next week individually!
Team Results:
- Troy Gabriel & JT Santos: 69 / BHMS Team #1: 82
- Dylan Krekeler & Gibson Gunderson: 83 / BHMS Team 3: 83
- Trever Cox & Johnny Edmonston: 84 / BHMS Team # 2: 93
- Ella LaRose & Leila Prairie: 85 / BHMS Team 4: 104
Basketball Registration
National PTSA Reflections Art Contest - Latest Information!
The PTSA is now accepting online entries for the National PTA's annual Reflections Art Contest! This year's contest will be held virtually and the theme this year is: "I Will Change the World By..." and students are encouraged to get creative and paint, draw, write, video, dance, and compose their interpretation of this year's theme through their art by entering in one or more of the following categories:
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature (writing)
- Photography
- Music Composition
- Visual Arts (drawing, painting, mixed media)
To enter the National PTA Reflections Art Contest, go to the link below and submit your entry by Oct. 27 or, this year our PTSA is holding a Twin Peaks only Reflections competition, with a little more time to enter. TPMS only contest entries are due by Dec. 1. Please note: only the National entries will be competing against other schools in our district and the state of California. All entries received after October 27th will still compete schoolwide against their TPMS peers - and the bragging rights will just as awesome!
To enter, go to: https://forms.gle/vqFFNGuVUEmQXptp6
For more on category-specific rules, visit: https://capta.org/resource/participant-forms/
For more info, contact the PTSA Reflections Chair, Krista Mertz at: kristalynnmertz@gmail.com
FREE Webinars for Parents & Caregivers
San Diego County Office of Education is offering two free webinars for free that focus on providing parents and caregivers tool and strategies on supporting their children and managing stress and anxiety.
Click here to view information on a free webinar titled Supporting Your Children During an Uncertain School Year: Tips for Managing Anxiety
Click here to view information on a free webinar titled Cultivating Emotional Resilience & Mental Fitness While Parenting.
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $45 until January and then they go up to $50. So get yours now!
Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code
Pay by cash/check: Download the order form from our webpage
http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/ or pick up a form in the office. Return the form and cash or check to the school office.
Calling all proud families of 8th graders here at Twin Peaks! 8th Grade Recognition Ads are open and ready for purchase. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Recognition Ads to start the process of celebrating your 8th grader in this year’s yearbook! Deadline is January 31st so don’t delay!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
Parenting & Supporting LGBTQ+ Children & Teens - All Grades
Join Angelle Maua to gain greater understanding of the complexity of Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and the Gender Spectrum.
1. Discuss the use of pronouns
2. How to advocate for gender equity for your child
3. Know your student’s rights and how to be a good ally
4. Learn and understand the nuances of navigating support and difficult conversation, not only with your child but with family and friends.
Session either Via Zoom or In-Person:
Live via Zoom Saturday, 11/6 from 9:00am – 11:00am Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple OR In-Person Wednesday, 11/17 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Poway Adult School Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple
DAR Middle School Essay Contest
K-12 Annual Calendar Contest
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District’s (APCD) Annual Kids Calendar Contest has begun! We invite students in grades K-12 to enter the contest. We are accepting submissions from now until Friday, November 19, 2021.
Entries may be submitted by mail and this year we have added the option of submitting entries via email. Emailed entries must not exceed 10 mb in size. To enter the contest, submit original artwork along with the entry form available on our website: bit.ly/sdapcdoutreach Additional contest information is also available on our website including the contest rules and how to submit your entry.
At the APCD, our mission is to improve air quality to protect public health and the environment. While we are working hard every day to reduce air pollution in San Diego County, we realize we cannot do this alone and need the help of students. We want to encourage you to think about the importance of clean, breathable air and help spread the word about what the average person can do to help us all breathe a little easier. As such, with your help, we will be creating a 2022 calendar where each month will showcase your air quality artwork. The calendar art will be chosen in a contest where the 13 most creative designs (1 for the cover and 1 for each month) are selected from student entries for grades K through 12.
The artwork must demonstrate ways to reduce air pollution and may include a clean air message. Also, the APCD website will have a gallery of all the submissions. The contest begins immediately, and all submissions must be postmarked by Friday, November 19, 2021.
The entry form can be found on our website here: bit.ly/sdapcdoutreach
PUSD IS HIRING!
After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program is currently recruiting and accepting applications for program aides.
- Plan and lead organized games, crafts, and activities for middle school students
- Be a positive role model
- Share your interests & hobbies with youth
- Morning and Afternoon shifts available
Click here for information on how to apply!
COVID-19 Updates
On October 1, 2021 Governor Newsom announced the COVID-19 vaccination would be added to the list of required vaccines for school. There is no immediate impact to staff or students: the mandate does not take effect until either January 1 or July 1, 2022 depending on full FDA approval for children ages 12 and over. All staff and 7th through 12th grade will be phased in first, then K-6 later, pending full FDA approval. PUSD will need time to assess and determine how to proceed with the requirement and how take into account any exemptions.
The PUSD School Board met on 10/18 and provided new protocols to allow a limited number of visitors and volunteers back on campus. PUSD is slowly expanding volunteers on campus – effective October 18, 2021, we may now have a limited number of volunteers present in learning spaces with students during the school day. All volunteers must be vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID test; this process is currently being reviewed and will be updated shortly. Outdoor celebrations will have designated visitor areas (i.e. Friday Flag, Jog-a-thons). Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we calibrate with the district and CDPH to make the necessary adjustments.
Shop Amazon through TPMS Foundation
Twin Peaks Middle School
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams