Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, November 14th, 2021
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope everyone has enjoyed our November heat wave this past week and had an opportunity to take advantage of the weather and spend some time outside!
Even though we had this past Thursday off from school to celebrate the Veteran's Day holiday, we were just as busy as any other week at TPMS! On Tuesday we celebrated our TIP students - students who received all "Outstanding" citizenship marks on the quarter 1 report card - with goodie bag giveaways at lunch courtesy of our PTSA. On Wednesday, we invited our active duty and retired military parents and their students to Pride Park for a Military Appreciation lunch, sponsored by ASB. Our military families had a chance to eat some lunch, play some games, and spend some time with other TPMS military families - thank you to all who attended and for your service and sacrifice! Friday was a warm one, but students still found ways to show their spirit and support for the American Childhood Cancer Association by wearing their pajamas to school. Thanks to our ASB for planning and sponsoring many of this week's events!
Please make sure to check out the ""Upcoming Events" section below for information on parent meetings happening this week including our English Learner Advisory Council and the TPMS Foundation on Tuesday and our PTSA on Thursday.
An area where we continue to need parental support is in making sure students bring the essential items they need for school each day. Many students are missing valuable class time to go and check out a Chromebook from the library, go to the nurse's office for another mask, or to get a drink of water form the water fountain during class. These learning disruptions can be avoided if students bring their charged Chromebook, their own cloth mask, and a refillable water bottle with them to school each day! Please help us to build these good habits for our middle schoolers now so that they are prepared for these expectations in high school.
As we GEAR UP for our final week of school before Thanksgiving Break, please make sure your students are bringing the following essential items with them to school each day:
- Charged Chromebook and charger
- Refillable Water bottle
- Face mask (CLICK HERE for the CDC Guide to Masks)
Thank you in advance for your help in making sure your students are coming to school prepared and ready for the school day!
This Monday we will be shifting our Ram/lunch splits from 8th grade Ram classes being split to 7th grade Ram classes being split. The reason we have to split lunches is that we cannot accommodate serving 1,150 students during one 35 minute lunch period; TPMS practice for many years has been to rotate which grade splits the lunch so that no one grade is adversely impacted. Our 8th graders split for the first third of the year, our 7th graders will split now through the beginning of March, and then our 6th graders will split for the last third of the year. Because of the large number of students involved with these Ram class splits, our counselors are not able to accommodate requests to switch Ram classes.
Finally this week, on behalf of our entire Twin Peaks faculty and staff, I want to wish all of our Ram families a safe and restful Thanksgiving. Because of the Thanksgiving break, the next TPMS Newsletter will not come out until the weekend after Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for the opportunity to work with such amazing students and families, and wish you and yours all the best this Thanksgiving.
With Gratitude,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
Military Appreciation Lunch
Thank you to all of our military service families for your service and sacrifice!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - bit.ly/tpmsevents
November 16th: ELAC Meeting, 5:30pm Pride Park/Library Lab
November 16th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Main Library
November 18th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
November 18th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm Main Library
November 18th: PUSD School Board Meeting, 6pm @Zoom
November 22nd-26th: Thanksgiving Break
December 2nd: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 9th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 14th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Zoom
December 16th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 16th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm Zoom
December 19th-31st: Winter Break
January 3rd: First Day Back to school
NEXT ELAC MEETING - 11/16/21
TPMS Sports Update
Football played last Tuesday against Mesa Verde! The game was slightly delayed but the students were still able to get a 30 min game in! TPMS brought home the victory again with a score of 22-6. This was a huge team win that pushes the Rams to 3-0 in the district! They will take on Meadowbrook next Thursday at 4 PM! Listed below are some standouts from the game! Special thank you to Coach Niko for running such a great team and to Mr.Jiu for officiating last nights game!
Henry Kraft - Two amazing touchdown passes
Jose Garcia - Over 100 yards rushing, touchdown, and two-point conversion catch.
Michael Andrade - All over the field making great catches and threw a two 2-point conversion pass.
Ethan Porter - Running touchdown
Kamden Altman - Great offensive game
Sawyer - Two interceptions on defense leading to offensive points
Sevon Negron - Offense and defensive standout plays
No Place For Hate
We had an exciting start to our No Place For Hate work last week. On Tuesday students received an introduction to Amanda Gorman, a young poet, and activist. On Wednesday students viewed the ADL No Place for Hate Back-to-School Kickoff with Amanda Gorman participating in a question and answer with students across the country. On Thursday students completed a Nearpod lesson as a class, signed the Resolution of Respect, and received a yellow bracelet to show solidarity with other students and staff in making Twin Peaks Middle School a No Place for Hate. We encourage TPMS Parents/Guardians to sign the Resolution of Respect HERE.
Checking Student Grades
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/
PTSA Reflections Art Contest - Calling All Artists!
Don't forget! PTSA is still accepting online entries for our first ever Twin Peaks Reflections Art Contest! In order to allow students more time to enter something they are really proud of, the PTSA is holding our very own TPMS Reflections Art Competition, with the same theme and categories allowing more time for student's to enter. This year's theme is: "I Will Change the World By...". If your student loves art, photography, dancing, music, or film, we encourage you to let them know about this opportunity to enter their work in our own Reflections Art Competition here at Twin Peaks. Students are encouraged to get create their own interpretation of this year's theme through 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 TPMS Reflections Art Contest, go to the link below and submit your student's entry by December 1st!
Entry Form: https://forms.gle/vqFFNGuVUEmQXptp6
For more information, Krista Mertz at: kristalynnmertz@gmail.com or (858) 602-9262.
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.
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.
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