Tumwater News
January 28, 2022
Principal 's Message
Dear Tumwater Families,
We are nearly midway through the school year and are thrilled with the ability to have been in-person learning together! Please encourage your student to continue to follow our layered protocols, including wearing an adequate mask correctly and consistently, maintaining social distance, and washing hands frequently.
Next Friday is a non-student Grading Day. Teachers will be scoring student work, making summary judgments on the collections of evidence gathered for each student, and reporting these judgments as letter grades on the semester report card. Report cards will be visible in Parent/StudentVue the week of February 7th. At the middle school level, 1st Semester Report Cards are a midway report, as student growth is measured for the full-year. Students will have multiple opportunities to gain and demonstrate proficiency on learning targets.
Yesterday, I shared difficult news with you in a letter sent through ParentSquare. The incidents have prompted me to reflect on what it means to live out our school mission of "Building the knowledge and skills that empower students to change the world." Today I've been inspired by students having the courage to come forward to share their experiences and reactions to the events with the goal of fostering a healthy school environment, with shared responsibility. Thank you for talking with your child(ren) about these issues and encouraging them to talk to a trusted adult at school. As a learning community, we'll continue to work together to strive to achieve our mission through our motto of We Share, We Care, and We Dare.
Warmly,
Jill O'Neill
Principal
Upcoming Events
Feb. 4 Grading Day, No School
Feb. 10 PTO Community meeting 6:30 pm
Feb. 11 TMS Theatre presents Puffs, 7 pm
Feb. 12 TMS Theatre presents Puffs, 3 pm and 7 pm
Feb. 14 Spirit Day: Wear pink, red, and/or white
Feb. 17 & 18 Family Conferences; No School
Feb. 21 Presidents Day - No School
Feb. 22 Staff Development Day - No school for students
Be sure to check the calendar on ParentSquare and our school website (scroll to the bottom of the home page) for the school all school events.
School Spirit!
Tumwater sign with our rapid logos were put up in the commons area this week.
Learner Profile Corner
This month, the MYP Learner Profile focus is on being a communicator.
Definition: We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Student challenge: Brainstorm ways that you communicate. Reflect on the questions below:
In what ways do you communicate without words?
How do you communicate what you want to communicate?
What is your strongest mode of communication? What is your weakest mode of communication?
Are you a good listener?
This month, practice being a clear and confident communicator with those around you.
FREE Spirit Wear T-Shirts
We want every student to join us by showing their Rapids pride every Tumwater Tuesday! Students can reserve their FREE short-sleeved t-shirt by logging on to the link in their grade level Canvas course and checking the announcements. Students must use their BSD account to reserve their shirt. T-shirts will be delivered to Advisory classrooms in early March.
Spirit Wear on Sale Now!
Get ready to show some Rapids pride! We are excited to announce that Tumwater crewnecks, hoodies, and long sleeve t-shirts are available for pre-order through ParentVue Online payment system or through order forms you can access here and also available at the school. Pre-ordering will only be available until February 3, so don't delay! Orders will be delivered to students in early March.
Science Bowl Regional Competition
Best wishes to the TMS Science Bowl Team of Ahana Naskar, Carol Wang, Rishan Chakraborty, Nirvaan Gupta, and Sai Ishita Grandhi who will be competing virtually on Saturday, January 29, 2022 in the BPA Regional Middle School Science Bowl. If the two round robin sets of eighteen questions go well, they’ll move on to the double elimination tournament in the afternoon. Good luck Rapids!
Virtual Band Concerts
With a change in COVID-19 protocols, we made the decision to move this month's music concerts to a virtual format. This week our bands were showcased in livestream performances. Click the links below to view the band concerts.
8th Grade Band
6th Grade #1
7th Grade Band
6th Grade #2
Book Wish List
Calling all 7th Grade Families!
Like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or Jonas in The Giver, have you ever wanted to step in and save the day? Then now is your chance! The 7th grade Language Arts classes have an exciting list of dystopian novels to use in a book club unit, but we do not currently have enough copies for every student. If you are interested in helping us launch this unit, please consider donating a book to fill our shelves! We have created an Amazon wish list with all of our prospective titles, which can also be found here.
Thank you in advance for your support. Go Rapids!
Tumwater Lost and Found
Our lost and found racks are overflowing with jackets! Please look through the
slide deck, (click link to access slide). If you find an item that belongs to your household email
TMS-Communications@beaverton.k12.or.us with the slide number and item letter. We will get the missing item to your student.
3rd Annual Walk + Roll Art Contest
Safe Routes to School invites all Beaverton Middle School students to participate in our January Art Contest. Students may create a Safe Routes to School piece of art depicting why they choose to walk or roll to school. A winner will be chosen for each grade across the district. Each winner will receive a prize bag with items to help safely travel to school. A grand prize winner will also receive a full day art class from Gilchrist Art Camp. Submit your entry to your school office by January 31st. Visit www.beaverton.k12.or.us/safe-routes for contest details.
Sunset Youth Lacrosse
Sunset Youth Lacrosse Registration is in full swing for spring 2022! SYL serves boys and girls grades 1-8 that live in the Sunset High School boundary.
Spring season for grades 3 - 8 officially starts the week of February 28th! Games will start after Spring Break and go through late May/early June. Grades 1-2 start mid-April.
If you are interested in playing, please visit www.sunsetlacrosse.com and review the Youth drop down and pages. For all questions, feel free to reach out to syl.president@gmail.com.
We are thrilled to be able to offer a fun sport to our young Sunset players and look forward to seeing them all in purple once again!
Parking Lot Safety
Thank you to all the drivers who are slowing down, as well as following signage and established drop off / pick traffic patterns in our school parking lot. Here are a few reminders to follow during all drop off / pick up times, including for after school activities:
- Slow and yield to pedestrians.
- Remain in your car and allow your child(ren) to come to you.
- Use the designated langes. Notice that the main lot entry by the flag pole has one entry lane and two exit lanes. After the crosswalk there is both a traffic lane and a drop off / pick up lane (yellow curb).
- Drop off students only in the areas marked by a yellow curb - please pull as far forward as possible and use the full U-shaped turn.
- Refrain from letting students out of the car or picking them in the traffic lane, marked by a red curb.
- When dropping off or picking up, after you've entered the parking lot please do not turn left before the crosswalk. This lane is blocked with an orange cone during drop off/pick up. All traffic should follow the U-shaped turn.
- The spaces marked "car pool" are intended for staff parking, not student carpools.
SAVE THE DATE: February Community Meeting on 2/10 to Include Vote to Amend 2021-22 Budget
Join us for February’s Community Meeting on Thursday, 2/10 at 6:30pm via Zoom. Pop in to hear school & PTO updates with principal Jill O'Neil and your Tumwater PTO Board, as well as our special guest, Sunset Principal John Huelskamp.
VOTE TO AMEND 2022 BUDGET: This meeting will include a community vote to amend the 2021-22 budget. Check out this comparison to see the proposed changes.
This amended budget would move $2000 out of School Socials and Science Fair (both impacted by Covid restrictions) and into the Community Grant budget (see blue highlighted line items).
SPECIAL GUEST: Sunset High School Principal, John Huelskamp will be joining us for a 20 minute presentation and Q&A regarding the transition to high school and what parents can expect this spring. To maximize efficiency, please submit any questions you may have for Mr. Huelskamp in the form below.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS: In an effort to communicate effectively & efficiently, the Tumwater PTO will be taking questions BEFORE our community meeting on 2/10. This will ensure that our meeting agenda and topics will clarify any lingering questions for our parent community.
You can submit your questions at https://forms.gle/JPNSHmo6p6FKZ4eH7
Zoom info will be sent on 2/10. All parents are automatically members of the Tumwater PTO and all are encouraged to attend.
Questions? Email Hannah (tumwaterpto.president@gmail.com)
Love Notes to Staff
Tumwater PTO Staff Appreciation Team invites you to another community effort to help our TMS Staff feel the LOVE this Valentine’s Day! Please consider donating goods with the Sign Up Genius link, and adding your words of kindness to the Google Form, all to be collected by Friday, February 3rd, and presented to our staff Monday, February 14th! Together we will encourage the hearts of our staff, who do so much for the hearts of our children! Thank you for your support!
Click here! and Here!
Tumwater Middle School
Building the knowledge and skills that empower students to change the world.
