Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, October 24th, 2021
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope this week's newsletter finds you and your family well as we arrive at the last week of October! Please remember that tomorrow, Monday 10/25 is a non-Student day. Our school offices will be closed for teacher professional learning tomorrow, and will resume classes on Tuesday, 10/26 at our regular starting time.
Red Ribbon Week is this week, and there are dress-up Spirit Days Tuesday thru Friday to celebrate! Red Ribbon Week is our yearly focus on encouraging students to remain drug-free; check out the website LINKED HERE high-lighting this year's theme "Drug Free Looks Like Me". Here's the lineup for our spirit days this week:
- Tuesday, 10/26: Red Ribbon Week "Red Day"
- Wednesday, 10/27: Team up against drugs "Sports Jersey Day"
Thursday, 10/28: Lei off drugs "Hawaiian Day"
- Friday,10/29: Say Boo to drugs "Halloween Costume Day"
Halloween Costume Guidelines: Celebrating Halloween in today's social climate must be done with a sensitivity toward the subjects of violence, death, race, ethnicity, religious preference, physical and mental conditions, and sexual orientation. Please remember that costumes may not suggest racial attitudes that reinforce stereotypes about, mock or mischaracterize a culture, group of persons, an individual person or a religion. More specific guidelines include:
- Costumes may not include full face masks or cover the entire face.
- Costumes may not be violent or suggestive in nature.
- Costumes may not have anything simulating a weapon.
- Costumes must not be so distracting as to disrupt the learning environment
Students are encouraged to dress-up as their favorite character from history or literature, sports figure, heroes, or sheroes! Our costume contest on Friday, 10/29 will include prizes for students in categories like Best Group Costume, Funniest Costume, and Most Creative Costume. Show your RAM PRIDE and participate in this year's Halloween fun!
Parents and members of our school community are cordially invited to my first Principal Walk & Talk event on 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!
Finally this week, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our Cross Country Team and Coach Dimino for their near-sweep at the Mt. Sac Cross Country Tournament. The team blew the field away, winning 5 out of 6 Team awards! Also, CONGRATULATIONS to our Flag Football Team and Coach Holm for their win over Bernardo Heights. Check out the pictures and the stories below - way to GO RAMS!!
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
October 25th: TPMS Professional Growth Day - No Students
October 26th: Red Ribbon Week "Red Day"
October 27th: Team up against drugs "Sports Jersey Day"
October 28th: Lei off drugs "Hawaiian Day"
October 28th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
October 29th: Say boo to drugs "Halloween Costume Day"
November 3rd: Report Cards distributed to students during RAM.
November 4th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
November 4th: Principal Walk & Talk, 4:30pm - TPMS main quad
November 11th: Veteran's Day Holiday (No School for Students)
November 18th: PUSD School Board Meeting, 6pm @Zoom
November 22-26: Thanksgiving Break
TPMS Cross Country Mt. Sac Results
Words can't express how happy I am for the TPMS Cross Country team! They walked onto the Mt.SAC campus with true team spirit and determination. The results say it all. I'm so proud of every single teammate. It's not easy to get awards at Mt. SAC. Schools from all over SoCal arrive with well-trained athletes. For our students to walk away with 13 individual awards and 5 overall team awards, HELLO...truly remarkable.
A huge thank you to the parents, school administration, Margo Selensky, Matti Miller and Ken Jackson! You helped make this happen for these kids and it's an experience they will never forget.
We received 7 team plaques that will be displayed in the office showcase. Click here for complete team results
.
Thank you for your support!
Coach Tracy
TPMS Sports Update
On Thursday, October 21st, our Flag Football team competed in their first game against Bernardo Heights. They came away victorious with a long catch for a touchdown with 30 seconds left to win 18-15!!!!!! Way to go RAMS!
Some player stand outs were Camden Altman who had a great offensive game and caught the game winning touchdown pass! Both Jacob and Brandon Sawyer had great games including a touchdown and knocking down the final pass by Bernardo Heights. Henry Kraft ran in a touchdown and Kyle Sosnowski made some big plays on defense! It was a great team win and you might want to watch their next home game against Black Mountain on November 4th!
Cross Country is coming off their dominating performance at Mt. Sac last week and they ran Friday against Bernardo Heights! Go Rams!
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/
Hey you! Yes, EWE!
“Empowering Ewe” is coming to Twin Peaks after school starting Tuesday, October 26th. We will meet each Tuesday from 3:15-4:45pm. This program will give girls the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, and learn important life skills. To learn more, please come to the informational meeting in Room 406 next Wednesday October 20th during either lunch. Mrs. Baskin and Mrs. Bernsen will be there to answer any questions you may have. We hope to see as many of EWE there as possible! If you are interested, please register at https://bit.ly/tpewe21
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