Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, November 26th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying your Veteran's Day Weekend! A huge THANK YOU to our TPMS active duty military families and our military veterans for your service and sacrifice to our country! We enjoyed getting to spend some time with our TPMS staff veterans and our TPMS active duty military personnel and their families who attended our annual Veteran's Day Luncheon this past Thursday. Check out some pictures of the event below!
Even though it was only 4 days long, there was a lot going on this week at TPMS... in addition to students finishing up assignments and assessments for trimester 1, we had drama students take a field trip to see the musical Annie, our Zoology students had a chance to visit Sea World, and we had new benches installed in front of the school and MPR thanks to our TPMS Foundation - check out the photos below!
Thank you to our TPMS parents who attended What I Wish My Parents Knew this past Wednesday night at Oak Valley Middle School. It was great to see so many parents at this informative event! If you missed it this past Wednesday, there is a high school version of the same workshops being presented at Poway HS this Wednesday, November 15th again at 6pm. If you have an 8th grader at Twin Peaks, this is an event you won't want to miss!! Please CLICK HERE to watch a video detailing the event.
The end of trimester 1 was this past Thursday, November 9th. The grading window for teachers officially closes this Thursday, November 16th, and 1st trimester grades will be available to students and parents online via StudentVue and ParentVue after the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday, November 27th.
For students who are taking classes that provide placement for high school courses (Spanish 1-2, Spanish 3-4, or Integrated Math 1a-1b) the end of the 1st trimester grade is really a 2nd progress notice grade. Because these classes are aligned with the high school pacing of the course, they are still counted as semester courses at the middle school level. To adjust for this on the trimester system, the final grade for these classes will be submitted at the midpoint of the school year - Friday, January 12th, which aligns with the progress report notices for our 2nd trimester. I know this might sound a little confusing, so please reach out to me or one of our counselors if you have any questions or concerns.
Two big events are finishing up this week - 6th Grade Butter Braid Sales will end on Tuesday, November 14th, and the CJSF Canned Food Drive ends on Wednesday, November 15th. Make sure to reach out to a 6th grader to place your Butter Braids order ASAP! Butter Braids will be delivered before the Winter Break in December. And this is the final week of the CJSF Canned Food Drive. This Homeroom competition is collecting donations of canned goods for those in our community who need a little help this holiday season. Please have your students bring in their canned goods to their Homeroom class by this Wedneday!
Finally this week, we have several meetings for parents to attend and get involved - the PUSD Parent Advisory Committee is meeting on Tuesday night at the district office and on Zoom (see sign-up information below), our TPMS Foundation meets Tuesday night at 6pm in our library, and our Twin Peaks PTSA meets on Thursday night at 6:15pm, also in our library. Our School Site Council is also meeting this Wednesday after school in the library starting at 3:45pm - these meetings are all public and open to any parent who has a student at TPMS. Please reach out with any questions!
I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and restful Thanksgiving break. School will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday the week of November 20th-24th. We will not have a TPMS newsletter next Sunday, but do expect one on Sunday, November 26th - we will return back to school with students on Monday, November 27th.
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - Click here for Calendar
November 28th: Late Start, 9:50am open
December 6th: AVID Fundraiser at Board & Brew
December 7th: Choir Concert, 7:30pm, TPMS
December 12th: Choir Concert @ PHS
December 18th: Jazz Band Concert @ PHS, 6pm
December 19th: 7/8 Orchestra Concert @ PHS, 6pm
December 20th: 6th Grade Band/Orchestra Concert, MPR, 6pm
December 21st: 7/8 Grade Winter Concert @ PHS, 6pm
December 25th - January 5th: Winter Break
Hope Squad is Coming to TPMS
TPMS is introducing a new program to our school, Hope Squad. This program will help provide additional social and emotional support for our students. The Hope Squad program functions as a peer support team. The goal is to increase inclusion and connectedness in schools by teaching students how to provide friendship, encouragement, and support for students who may be bullied or feel isolated. Students are nominated by their peers and selected by school officials as someone who cares about others, displays naturally good listening skills, and is trusted. For more information, please visit this google presentation.
Giving Tree Program
The district's Giving Tree program is looking for donors to support families in our district who have been identified as needing additional support this holiday season. If you would like to donate money for gift cards or request an assignment to support a family on your own, through your employment, as a neighborhood, a church, a team, a book club, etc..., please click HERE to access the Giving Tree website.
Join #TEAMPUSD!
ASES Sports Donations
Attendance Corner
Is your Student leaving early? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730 that morning. Leave a message and a note gets sent to the student that block. Bring in your ID, sign the student out, and away you go!
Is your Student running late? Absent? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730
Leave a message with the requested information and the Tardy or Absence will be excused.
Did your student go to the Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist/Dermatologist/Optometrist?
It is beneficial to his/her attendance record to bring an official medical note to the Attendance Desk. Any absence excused by a medical note does not count toward your student’s absence total.
TPMS Bike Permits
More Than A Meal
This years Free and Reduced Lunch Application is now available! Although school meals are now free to all students, the application for free and reduced-price meals is still very important. School funding depends in part on the number of students at our school who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. With all students now eating for free, fewer families are completing the application and our school is at risk of losing much-needed educational funds. Plus, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for discounts on bus transportation, before and after school care, and home internet!
Income qualifications change annually, so a new application is needed every school year. For school year 2023-2024, children from a family of four are eligible if the total gross (pre-tax) household income is less than $4,625 per month, or less than $55,500 per year. Household income information is confidential and applying online is quick and easy.
Apply online at MySchoolApps.com, or pick up a paper application in the school office. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your students counselor if you have any questions or concerns about completing the application. MORE THAN A MEAL (formerly called FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION) can help you out in many ways. Please click on this link More Than a Meal to complete the online application. Listed below are a few ways this program can help:
- Discounts for passes on public transportation
- Discounts on home internet costs
- Discounts on fees for SAT, ACT, AP tests
- Discounts on application fees associated with colleges and universities
- Our district can receive increased funding to support students.
ASB Student Activities Canvas Page
Main Office Drop-Offs
As a general rule, we do not accept drop-off items for students once they arrive at school. While we do make exceptions for medical and emergency situations, our TPMS Student Planner states: "In an effort to limit classroom interruptions as well as encourage students to become more independent and self-sufficient, Twin Peaks does not allow delivery of forgotten lunches, PE clothes, homework, non-emergency messages, or other items during the school day."
Delivery food and Door Dash-like companies may not deliver to students at school; additionally, cell phones will not be held for students at the front desk for them to pick up. Breakfast and lunch items are provided to all students, free of charge, so there should not be any reason to drop off a lunch for your student - they will be able to get food at school. If your student has food allergies that require special lunches, the Student Planner states you "must provide a Medical Statement (SNP-925) that explains the need. The medical statement must be signed by a physician and include recommended alternate foods."
Food & Nutrition Update
All children in PUSD are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals regardless of income for the 2023-2024 school year. Please see the PUSD Food and Nutrition Website for more information. Breakfast is served 30 minutes before school starts daily, if your student can not make it before school, they can receive a free breakfast at morning break!
Parents/Guardians are still encouraged to complete a meal application online to receive other benefits such as a Pandemic EBT card for each child. The website to apply is www.myschoolapps.com
Paper meal applications (for parents that can’t complete one online) are available in the TPMS front office.
*PUSD Food and Nutrition Department is cashless. Please click on the following link to learn more about the cashless system Cashless System
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
Calling all 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 February 1st so don’t delay! Don't forget to order your yearbook, too!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $55. Reserve yours now!
Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code above.
Pay by cash/check: Download the typable 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.
TPMS Foundation 23-24
Twin Peaks Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing educational excellence for ALL students at Twin Peaks Middle School. Their purpose is to bridge the widening gap between the amount of money actually provided by the State of California and the Poway Unified School District and the amount necessary to fund technology upgrades, educational programs and resources necessary to support the school. The Foundation typically meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the TPMS Library. Here are their monthly meetings dates for the 2023-24 school year:
November 14th
January 16th
February 13th
March 12th
April 16th
May 21st
Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE!
PTSA Meeting Dates 23-24
The Twin Peaks Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is a membership-based, volunteer organization dedicated to making each school year a rewarding and enriching experience for all students. As a volunteer organization, PTSA is integral to the success of many campus events. We fund, organize and provide volunteers for a variety of PTSA programs and important school activities which serve to enhance your student’s middle school experience
All Executive Board meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:15pm in the TPMS Library unless listed otherwise. Association Meetings will be held in September, February, and April. Board meetings are open to PTSA Board Members and Committee Chairs while Association Meetings are open for all members of the Twin Peaks Middle School PTSA:
November 16th
December 14th
January 18th
February 15th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
March 14th
April 18th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
May 23rd
To join the PTSA for the 2023-24 school year, please CLICK HERE!
Shop Amazon through TPMS Foundation
Twin Peaks Middle School
Nondiscrimination Philosophy and Policy Statement
The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is an equal opportunity employer/program and is committed to an active Nondiscrimination Program. PUSD prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For more information, please contact: Title IX/Equity Compliance Officer, James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Personnel support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128, 1-858-521-2800, extension 2121, jjimenez@powayusd.com. For students, you may contact Title IX Coordinator/504 Coordinator Jamie Dayhoff, Director of Attendance and Discipline, Poway Unified School District, 1-858-521-2840, jdayhoff@powayusd.com.
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams