Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, November 5th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying this first weekend of November and our 80-degree weather! It's hard to believe that we are finishing our 3rd month of school and first trimester this week... time is flying by this school year and the winter holiday will be here before you know it! Don't forget it's time to FALL BACK this weekend! That's right, Daylight Savings Time ended last night, so please remember to set your clocks back an hour!
It was another busy week at TPMS with Halloween, 2 minimum days, 3 days of professional learning for our staff, and our first-ever ASB Haunted House!! A big THANK YOU to all of our staff, students, and parents who played a role in setting up, working, and cleaning up after the Haunted House! For a first effort, our ASB students did a SPOOKTACULAR JOB of hosting a very Haunted House!
What I Wish My Parents Knew is happening this Wednesday and I'm hoping to see our TPMS parents there! This series of workshops, held twice a year for PUSD parents to learn about their students and some of the realities of their day-to-day life in school, are facilitated by PUSD Administrators and local faith leaders, and also feature student voice! Workshop sessions include Establishing Guardrails, Managing Stress & Anxiety, Social Media Pressures, and Balancing Academics. The fall WIWMPK workshops will be held on Wednesday, November 8th starting at 6pm at Oak Valley Middles School. No sign-ups are needed - please make sure to bring a friend or two with you to this important and unique parent event!
The end of trimester 1 is this Thursday, November 9th. Parents and students, please review your grades through Student/Parent Vue to make sure you have all of your assignments complete and all projects and assessments have been graded and turned in. Students are encouraged to reach out to their teachers if they have missing work to complete to make sure it can still be accepted for credit. We are here to help, so please reach out to your student's teachers, their counselor, or a member of our admin team if you have any questions or concerns.
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.
During this upcoming week of November 6-10th, schools throughout the United States will celebrate National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive. This year's theme is "Let's Grow Together," inspired by the importance of both personal and shared strengths in our growth as individuals and school communities in every season of life. A big THANK YOU to our wonderful TPMS School Psychologists, Sam Wasowski and Carol Moore, for all they do to support our school community!
Finally this week, this Thursday at lunch we will host our annual Veteran's Day Luncheon for our staff who are military veterans and for our active duty military families. A huge THANK YOU to our TPMS active duty military families and our military veterans for your service and sacrifice to our country! I'm looking forward to spending some time with our military families and staff this Thursday in Pride Park starting at 11:30am. Please remember that there will be no school on Friday, November 10th in recognition of the Veteran's Day Holiday.
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 6th - 10th: National School Psychology Week
November 7th: Chipotle PE Fundraiser, 4-8pm, 13495 Poway Rd
November 8th: Late Start, 9:50am open
November 8th: What I Wish My Parents Knew, 6-8pm @OVMS
November 9th: Military Appreciation Lunch, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Pride Park
November 9th: End of Trimester 1
November 10th: Veteran's Day, No School
November 13th: Start of Trimester 2
November 14th: TPMS Foundation, 6pm @Library
November 15th: Late Start, 9:50am open
November 15th: School Site Council, 3:45-5pm, @Library
November 16th: PTSA Fundraiser @ Jersey Mike's, 3-9pm
November 16th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm @Library
November 20th-24th: Thanksgiving Break
November 28th: Late Start, 9:50am open
Chipotle Fundraiser
What I Wish My Parents Knew
TPMS Spirit Wear is Back!
In need of new TPMS Spirit for the winter? Visit our online store at https://bit.ly/ramspirit today and place an order as we start to enter the colder months. We’ve got everything from hats to hoodies and even some new TPMS pajama pants, but hurry! The online store will close for production on November 19th, so don’t wait – place your order today!
No Place For Hate
Twin Peaks Middle School is a proud No Place for Hate designated school. The No Place for Hate goal is to build a learning community of inclusivity, respect and equity by engaging students and staff in dialogue and active learning on topics of bias, bullying, inclusion and allyship.
We will be kicking off our No Place for Hate presentations during Homeroom this coming week. Students will have the opportunity to review & sign the Resolution of Respect and discuss how they can play a role as a Ram. Whether we are a student, educator or family/community member, we all have a role to play in combating bias & bullying as a means to stop the escalation of hate. We hope you take the opportunity to have a discussion with your student about the upcoming No Place for Hate Resolution of Respect presentation & what we can do to help continue making Twin Peaks a more inclusive school community.
Butter Braids on Sale!
Please help our 6th Grade class raise funds to support the 6th Grade Olympics and end-of-the-year activities! Butter Braid Pastries are soft, flaky, hand-braided pastries filled with fruit, cinnamon or cheese fillings, made with 100% real butter. An icing or marinara packet is included with each pastry. If this sounds yummy, find a 6th grader to purchase from! Thank you for supporting our 6th grade class!
Butter Braids will be sold for 2 weeks, with sales ending on Tuesday, November 14th!
Basketball Registration
IT'S TIME FOR BASKETBALL SEASON AT TPMS!!!! Basketball registration forms will be available in the front office and PE locker room starting on TUESDAY 10/31-11/9. All info about Basketball season will be on the registration packet and available on the TPMS website sports page on TUESDAY! We hope to see your student come out for the team! Any questions about basketball please reach out to Matti Romero at mamiller@powayusd.com
Listed below is the link to the TPMS Sports Page!
Sports Program - ASES - TWIN PEAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL (powayusd.com)
CJSF Canned Food Drive
Hey Rams! Mark your calendars! We are gearing up for our yearly homeroom canned food drive competition! The CJSF club on campus has teamed up with the San Diego Food bank and will be conducting a food drive on our campus beginning November 2 to November 15th! It is a perfect time to ask your families to clean out those pantries at home! While we know you want to participate to help feed families around San Diego, your homeroom class has a chance to win a whole class prize! Double points for delicious and nutritious items like tuna, canned veggies, canned soup, and canned beans. We will see you out at the Science Patio - first and second lunch beginning November 2!
Attention Military Families
Twin Peaks Middle School deeply appreciates the sacrifices and dedication of our service members and their families. Your resilience and commitment to our county do not go unnoticed. In an effort to better understand the unique needs and challenges faced by military families, we have created a brief survey. Your input is invaluable and will aid us in tailoring our support programs to best serve your needs. Please take a moment to complete the Google Form HERE.
The TPMS Parent Patrol Needs YOU!
Join #TEAMPUSD!
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.
ASES Sports Donations
TPMS Bike Permits
More Than A Meal
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.
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."
ASB Student Activities Canvas Page
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
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.
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/
PUSD Parent Education Courses
- FREE Teen Positive Parenting Program (English) via ZOOM.
- Gender Identity & Expression Part I - All Grades in Person.
- Talking & Listening to Your Kids - TK-5th Grade via Zoom.
- Talking and Listening to Your Kids – 6th -12th Grade NEW.
- Early Childhood Development: Shaping the Mindset TK-3rd Grade NEW.
- Help Your Children Manage Stress and Anxiety – TK-5th Grade.
- Using your Strengths to Navigate Life Storms – All Grades NEW.
- Help Your Teen Manage Stress and Anxiety – 6th-12th Grade NEW.
- Developing an Effective Individualized Education Program – All Grades.
- Empowering Parents with Consequences that Work – TK-5th Grade NEW.
Scholarships are available to parents who may be in need. Parents can contact the Caring Connections Center for more information. You can visit their website by clicking here and searching for the course you are interested in and enroll directly from their site.
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