Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, January 9, 2022
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope this message finds you all well and finding some time to relax from what was a very hectic first week back to school. The recent surge in Covid-19 cases certainly hit Twin Peaks this week, forcing many of our students and staff into quarantine. Our faculty have been AMAZING in covering for each other, subbing classes on their prep periods and making sure our students are still receiving the high level of quality instruction we have all come to expect at TPMS.
Maintaining student and staff safety amidst the current rise in cases of Covid-19 is first and foremost in our planning. If you didn't have a chance to read the email update sent out to PUSD families yesterday, I have included it in the section titled "Covid-19 Email from PUSD" below. Please take a moment to read it and review the Covid-19 quarantine guidelines and protocols linked below with updates from the CDPH and the CDC.
The wearing of face masks remains a primary method for us to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on campus for our students and staff; please make sure your student continues to come to school with an approved comfortable mask that they can wear whenever they are indoors on campus. Masking guidelines are LINKED HERE.
The end of the 2nd Quarter is this Friday, January 14th. Please make sure your students are checking their StudentVue and Canvas accounts to verify all of their assignments that are due have been turned in and have been counted towards their grade. Please make sure to have your students communicate with their teachers through email or in person with any questions or concerns they might have about their classwork early in the week so they have time to resolve any missing work.
Finally this week, PUSD will be hosting our next Community Conversation on Racial Equity and Inclusion on Thursday, January 20th from 6-7:30pm via Zoom. If you are interested in attending, please click on the flyer below to register and be sent the Zoom link to attend. These virtual community conversations are open to all PUSD families in the Poway HS feeder pattern; please consider attending to be a part of the conversation and to support the inclusive work PUSD is leading in our community.
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
January 13th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
January 13th: PUSD School Board Meeting, 6pm @Zoom
January 17th: MLK Day, NO SCHOOL
January 18th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm @library
January 20th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
January 20th: Community Conversation, 6-7:30pm via Zoom
January 20th: PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm @library
January 26th: TPMS Spelling Bee, 4:30pm @Zoom
January 27th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
January 31st: Professional Development Day, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
COVID-19 Email from PUSD
The following communication was emailed to all PUSD families on Saturday afternoon:
Dear PUSD Families,
As we continue to get inquiries about some of the following topics, we wanted to keep you updated with the latest information.
Prioritizing In-Person Learning:
Some families have questioned why we are not switching back to virtual learning following the winter break due to the increase in COVID cases. Overwhelmingly, our staff, students, and parent community have expressed a strong need and desire for our schools to remain open in spite of the current situation. In addition, what we do know is that school is the best and safest place for children. Keeping schools open allows us to meet the rigorous academic and crucial social-emotional needs of our children. Additionally, data shows that when students and staff are back in school, wearing masks and following protocols, COVID numbers decrease.
The ability for school districts to return to virtual learning is NOT an option available to districts in California. State legislation requires school districts to prioritize in-person learning and limits our ability to offer distance learning. The only options we have available to us are in-person learning or independent study. The CDPH also says school closure is an extreme last resort to be considered only if public health officials recommend closure due to in-school COVID transmission or insufficient staff to safely provide in-person instruction.
Case Reporting and Notification:
With increasing case rates, staffing shortages, and the large number of close contacts, our ability for contact tracing and reporting will be very limited. You will no longer be receiving daily case count updates from your schools. We will continue to do our best in notifying known close contacts and updating case notifications on the PUSD COVID dashboard on a regular basis. The dashboard will now include self-reported test results in addition to results from clinics and labs. If your child exhibits any symptoms, has a positive result, or is notified that they are a close contact, we ask that you follow these guidelines. We appreciate our families adhering to the guidelines, closely monitoring for symptoms, and keeping sick children home, as our partners in ensuring everyone’s health and safety.
We are doing everything possible to address the unusually high number of absences due to illnesses, isolation, and quarantine among our staff and students. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we all work through this together, and share the common goal and desire of keeping our schools open and safe for all students and staff.
Poway Unified School District
COVID-19 Updates
For students who have tested positive for Covid-19, per the California Department of Public Health updated guidance on isolation and quarantine as of December 30, 2021, PUSD staff may return to work when:
- 5 days from symptom onset (or if no symptoms then 5 days from positive PCR COVID-19 test date) AND
- Symptoms are not present or are resolving AND a negative COVID test (antigen test is preferred) taken on day 5 or later. (If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10)
- Fever free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medication) AND
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings
Please continue to self-screen and take your student's temperature each morning before they come to school. If your student feels sick or shows any symptoms of being sick, please have them stay home. If you need to schedule a Covid test, you can do so for you and your family members at Pharmatech LINKED HERE.
MASKING GUIDELINES: 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. 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 must cover their mouth and nose.
- Indoors with Students: Face 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 currently MANDATORY for fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated adults through January 15th.
- Outdoors: Masks are optional for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
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. 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.
Please click HERE to access the updated Covid Guidelines and Protocols on the PUSD website.
SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE
Students who are interested in participating can sign-up by CLICKING HERE to access the Google sign-up form. Once you sign-up, a practice packet and pledge form will be emailed to the email address provided. If you have questions or concerns, please
YOUNG MEN OF HONOR PROGRAM
If you are interested in applying to be a part of this year's program, please complete the form LINKED HERE before Friday, January 14th. If you have questions, please email Principal Mills at stmills@powayusd.com.
Poway Adult School
Parents, A new year is a great time to head back to school! Poway Adult School offers low-cost career training classes for you to upskill. Just need some help tuning up your resume or someone to discuss a career change idea? The Poway (Unified) Adult School provides free career guidance, high school diploma classes for adults and GED prep as well. Call Jon at (858) 668-4022 or go online at www.powayadultschool.com and check out our catalog pages 5-11 for career training and free workshops. Make an appointment for free career support at https://calendly.com/help4careers/30min
Apoyo a Nuestras Familias de Habla Hispana
Help Your Children Manage Stress & Anxiety
Our children have experienced a great deal of change and uncertainty over the past year. You may have noticed that they have felt overwhelmed or exhibited symptoms of anxiety. The good news is that there is a solution! We can teach our kids concrete tools to reduce anxiety and manage stress by strengthening their emotional intelligence (EQ). Research has showed that children with high emotional intelligence do better in school and get along well with others.
In-Person Thursday, 1/27/22 at Abraxas School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting and Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Teens Part I
PART I: The Basics
Our children have experienced a great deal of change and uncertainty over the past year. You may have noticed that they have felt overwhelmed or exhibited symptoms of anxiety. The good news is that there is a solution! We can teach our kids concrete tools to reduce anxiety and manage stress by strengthening their emotional intelligence (EQ). Research has showed that children with high emotional intelligence do better in school and get along well with others.
In-Person Thursday, 1/27/22 at Abraxas School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting and Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Teens Part II
PART II: Conscious Parenting New Course
Join Angelle Maua to continue the discussions from the LGBTQIA+ Part I: The Basics Workshop. Learn how to:
1. Become a more conscious parent of a gender-expansive or questioning child.
2. Look beyond the binary and unpack years of cultural beliefs, traditional roles, and expectations.
3. Improve the odds for your child to embrace the complexity of their journey.
4. Nurture and enjoy the journey with your child.
This is all-inclusive for parents of children who have identified as LGBTQIA+.
In-Person Saturday, 2/12/22 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at Poway Adult School
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Effective Strategies to Advocate for Your Child in Special Education
Whether you suspect your child would benefit from special education services or are already in the process, come discover and practice tools to improve communication with teachers, administrators, and case managers. Spend time with Laurie Magulac to discuss how to increase collaboration and create your child's education plan as well as develop tools to process meetings and diagnoses.
In-Person Tuesday, 2/1/22 at Poway Adult School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting Well Through Life Changes
Change is a part of life that comes in many forms which can include divorce, moving, and loss. How do we manage our own response to change while parenting our children effectively?
Spend time with Laurie Magulac to learn strategies to:
1. Understand and recognize stress in your child during change.
2. Help your child cope in healthy ways.
3. Manage and diffuse tough behaviors that may arise.
4. Not burn out while you are helping your child through the process.
In-Person Tuesday, 2/8/22 at Poway Adult School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
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/
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