Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, August 29th, 2021
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
Congratulations on completing the first full week of school for the 2021-2022 school year! It was a long and WARM week at TPMS as students continued to find their way to new classrooms, establish their home-base at lunchtime, settle into their classroom routines, and connect with old and new friends. I was able to see students strategize and execute their plans to "Save Fred" in 8th grade science, 6th graders learn to use their planner to stay organized in Social Studies, and ELA students learning about inferences in 7th grade English. It certainly was a great week to be a RAM!
As we reset back to the school setting and start to work with our students on being PREPARED (the "P" in P.R.I.D.E.), it's important to make sure that students learn to become more independent and find solutions with the resources available to them on campus. For this reason, Twin Peaks does not allow drop-offs of the following items in the front office:
- Lunches – Brown bag lunches from home, all deliveries such as but not limited to: Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, pizza or any restaurant or food chain deliveries. If your student forgets a lunch, free lunches are available in the cafeteria to all students.
- Books
- Cell phones
- Chrome books (one day check-outs are available in our library)
- Clothes/including PE clothes. (we have loaner sets they can borrow)
- Homework
- Money
- Sports Equipment
- Water bottles
If your students need something to access their learning during the school day, we will certainly provide it to them. If your student is hungry or thirsty, we will be happy to provide them with a lunch and water. Thank you for honoring this policy and for partnering with us to teach our students to be more prepared, resilient and how to problem-solve and advocate for themselves.
Our annual Back to School Night will be a "Live-Virtual" event this year - please set aside a few hours on Wednesday, September 8th from 5:30-7:30pm to visit your student's classrooms and meet their teachers via Zoom. The evening will start with a welcome video shown in your student's Ram class, followed by 5 minute passing periods and ten minute class periods. We're excited for you to get to meet our amazing teachers and for them to share all of the wonderful things they are doing for our students. Please make sure to have your student's login information for their Student Vue accounts as this will be your only way to access the teacher-led Zoom meetings.
Traffic congestion continues to be a concern on Tierra Bonita Road before and after school. If you haven't already, please consider setting up a drop-off or pick-up location with your student that doesn't involve using Tierra Bonita Road; dropping students off on Twin Peaks Road past the bus stop and having your student walk around to the front of school would reduce traffic in our parking lot and save your family time in the car. We also have many students meet their rides on Budwin Lane near St. Gabriel's Church or in the Trinity Church parking lot on Twin Peaks Road. Please remember to not block the intersections and crosswalks, and please be respectful of our neighbors in the community by leaving them access to their driveways at all times.
Our school community continues to be impacted by COVID-19. I hope you all had a chance to read the email sent by Mrs. Christine Paik, the Chief Communications Officer for PUSD titled "COVID Screening and Testing Updates". In it she gives an overview and explanation of symptom screening, quarantine protocols, and close-contact tracing. Please make sure to continue screening your student daily for any symptoms related to the virus before they arrive to school. Please keep your student at home if they exhibit any symptoms of Covid-19 and get them tested at your earliest convenience. (CLICK HERE for testing options in SD County) People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Please remember that symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, so please keep your student home if they exhibit any symptoms. If your child does test positive, please notify us immediately.
We are working on a Covid-19 Health and Safety Protocols video with explanations of the quarantine options available to families if your student should test positive or is identified as a close contact. Look for an email with a link to our website with information on how to access this important resource later this week. Updated information about the current guidelines and COVID-19 requirements can be accessed HERE on the PUSD main webpage.
Looking to get involved at TPMS? Interested in reviewing our school plan and provide feedback on how TPMS is doing from the parent perspective? If yes, then see the section below for information on how to submit your name to be considered for the one open position we will have on the School Site Council this year. A description of what the SSC does, its membership, and the time commitment involved can be found below. The deadline to submit your name is Monday, September 6th.
Finally this week, creating a school culture focused on student safety, mutual respect, and equity for all is my #1 priority. To this end, we have created an anonymous reporting form for students and parents that is linked to the QR code below. We call this reporting system, "See Something, Say Something", and it is directly linked to our administrative team so that we can quickly respond to situations involving bullying, intimidation, or any form of harassment. Simply point your smart phone's camera at the QR code below or click on the graphic and complete the linked Google form to report an incident or to share information with us. Thank you for your continued partnership!
With gratitude,
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
September 2nd: Late Start Schedule
September 6th: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
September 7th & 8th: Minimum Day Schedule
September 8th: Back to School Night, Virtual. (5:30-7:30pm)
September 9th: Late Start Schedule
September 16th: PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm. (TPMS Library)
September 22nd: Picture Make-up Day, during PE or RAM
September 24th: TPMS Foundation Fall Event (location and time TBA)
TPMS Lacrosse
Lacrosse registration info will be available in the front office from 8/30-9/7. Registration forms need to be returned to front office or Room 201 before students can begin practice. Lacrosse practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays starting September 13th. All info about Lacrosse season will be on the registration packet.
CJSF
Attention 8th Graders! We are kicking off another great year with CJSF. The California Junior Scholarship Federation. CJSF is a leadership club for students who excel in school, like to give back to the community, and get a head start on the road to college. We'll be having an informational meeting about the club this Wednesday, September 1st, at 3:20pm in Room 306. Stop by and learn about all the benefits that membership can offer you!
You can also stop by Mr. Kaufman (306) or Mrs. Baskin's (Front Office) rooms to pick up an application. We hope to see you there!
Make-Up Picture Day!
School Site Council: 21-22
The Twin Peaks’ School Site Council (SSC) elections for the 2021-2022 school year are just around the corner! This year, we need to elect one new parent member to the SSC for the upcoming school year. Do you have an interest in leading and serving? This just may be the opportunity for you!
What is the Twin Peaks School Site Council (SSC)?
SSC is a committee of elected parents and staff members whose purpose is to make programmatic and budgetary decisions in support of educational goals set forth through the school's Strategic Plan.
Who serves on the SSC?
The SSC is made up of a composition of voting members that includes the principal, parents and staff members. The parent community elects the parent members, and the staff elects staff members.
What does the SSC do?
The SSC helps to develop and monitor the school's strategic plan. It evaluates program recommendations to ensure that they support the strategic plan and school goals. In addition, our Council votes on funding requests for programs supported by the school budget.
How many meetings do the SSC hold?
Our Council meets approximately 4 times during the school year. Members of the SSC serve a term of two years and may be re-elected to serve again. Here are the dates of this year's SSC meetings:
September 16, 2021 3:30-4:30
November 18, 2021 3:30-4:30
January 13, 2022 3:30-4:30
March 24, 2022 3:30-4:30
June 9, 2022 3:30- 4:30
If you are interested in serving, please email a brief biographical sketch to Shaylene Newman-Moritz (jnewman@powayusd.com) by Monday, September 6, 2021. Election ballots will be emailed to all Twin Peaks’ families during Back-to School Night, September 8, 2021. Voting will close on Friday, September 10, 2021. Results will be announced in our weekly newsletter. Thank you for your leadership!
Parenting & Supporting LGBTQ+
- Discuss the use of pronouns.
- How to advocate for gender equity for your child.
- Know your student's rights and how to be a good ally.
- Learn and understand the nuances of navigating support and difficult conversations, not only with your child but with family and friends.
Girls on the Run is coming to Twin Peaks!
Girls on the Run is a program which inspires 6th-8th graders to be healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The program will meet twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:45 beginning mid September. Girls will have fun, make friends, run, and learn important life skills through lessons led by trained coaches. The season ends with a celebratory 5k event on December 5 at Crown Point on Mission Bay.
To register: www.gotrsd.org/Register-Now.
For more details contact Melissa Baskin (mbaskin@powayusd.com)
Parent info night on 9/7 at 5:30 PM. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4d7phw55
Discover Your Personal Core Values
Food Services @TPMS
School meals will be handed out at NO COST this school year for ALL STUDENTS who would like one. Students are still welcome to bring their own lunch to school each day; lunches will be served at our lunch windows each day during your student's assigned lunch period. A la carte drinks will also be available for purchase - please know that our food services NO LONGER ACCEPT CASH at their windows. Students will need to add credit to their My School Bucks account in order to pay for a la carte items. Please CLICK HERE for a flyer with detailed information on the benefits of our free school lunch program and links to My School Bucks to set up or add credit to your student's meal account. For more information, including lunch menus for all PUSD schools, please CLICK HERE to access the PUSD Food Services webpage.
UPDATE! Our food service windows will be open during lunch and break time - they will have limited snacks and drinks available for students to purchase. Please make sure your student brings a refillable water bottle with them to school so that they can use one of our water bottle filling stations.
TPMS ALUMNI - PLEASE SIGN-UP!!
Parent/Guardian Health and Safety Agreement
All Twin Peaks students returning to campus will need to have a signed and completed Parent/Guardian Health and Safety Agreement turned-in before they begin attending classes. Please click on this link: The Parent/Guardian Health and Safety Agreement (Spanish Version HERE) and print/sign a copy for each student to turn-in during registration week. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Hamilton at chamilton@powayusd.com
Masking Update 8/22/21
Please read below for our current mask guidelines for students and staff:
- Indoors with Students: Masks are MANDATORY for all adults and students, except those with a documented medical excuse on file with our Heath Technician
- Indoors with Adults ONLY: Masks are OPTIONAL for fully vaccinated adults and MANDATORY for unvaccinated adults.
- Outdoors: Masks are optional for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
- The CDPH will reevaluate its masking guidelines by November 1, 2021.
Please make sure that your student brings a mask with them to school each day for when they are indoors; maybe even put an extra one in their backpack just in case! You can read a helpful FAQ on masking requirements from the San Diego County Office of Education here.
Become a Friend of the Library
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