Twin Peaks Middle School
Home of the Rams
A Message from the Principal...
Dear friends,
As you know, this past week administrators from other PUSD middle schools and the district office were on campus as part of our learning walk work. We visited three classrooms: Penuliar/Hatch, Singer/Huerta and McKibbin. We were all so impressed with what we observed. Associate Superintendent Osborne captured the following themes during our debrief:
- Seamless support between the adults in the classes
- Use of primary language for English learners as needed
- Adults serve as scaffolds for students—they know the kids and provide differentiated support
- Thoughtful and intentional lesson progression
- Learning intentions and success criteria were used by students, not just posted
- Levels of thinking opportunities/demands of learning tasks were consistently around DOK 2-3 that included opportunities to analyze and apply learning
This week, Shaylene and I also had the pleasure of visiting several classrooms in which blended learning experiences were taking place. You guys are doing an amazing job of applying your new learning and this has resulted in high levels of student engagement. Thank you so much for your dedication to this work. We look forward to visiting more classrooms next week.
Speaking of next week, I will be out of the office through Wednesday. Please feel free to call or text if you need me.
Have a great week!
Kelly
October
Maria Paredes: October 2nd
Coach Spy: October 8th
Kodi Keller: October 9th
Charlene Ellington: October 15th
Megan Fenwick: October 25th
Emily Parker: October 25th
Amie Butman: October 25th
Rachel Singer-Gallouzi: October 31st
Upcoming Events & Activities - October 7th - October 18th
Tuesday, October 15th
- Instructional & Operational Team Meeting, 7:30-8:15am, PCR & Rod's Office
Wednesday, October 16th
- Boss' Appreciation Day
- Taco Shop Band Fundraiser, TBD, El Ranchito Taco Shop
- Suicide Prevention Parent Presentation, 6-7:30pm, Little Theater
Thursday, October 17th
- Professional Time, 8-9am, Grade Level
- Duck & Cover Drill (CA Shake Out), 10:18am, 1st block
- PTSA Board Meeting, 6-7:30pm, PCR
Friday, October 18th
- Quarterly Staff Breakfast, 7:45-8:30am, SPED/Electives
Monday, October 21st
- Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, October 22nd
- Joint Team Meeting, 7:30-8:15am, PCR
Wednesday, October 23rd
- Suicide Prevention Presentations, TBA, MPR
Thursday, October 24th
- Professional Time, 8-9am, Ram Way
- Band Concert, 8:45-9:15am, Quad
- Suicide Prevention Presentations, TBA, MPR
Friday, October 25th
- End of 1st quarter
TEAM RAM KUDOS & NEWS
I and O Team Minutes
Please click here for the O Team minutes from 10/8/19.
SAI Monthly Professional Learning Opportunity
This October 30th, we have the opportunity to send a team to learn more about Universal Design Learning.
Who should attend:
Teachers who are new or just beginning to explore Universal Design for Learning. Co-teaching partners who attended the fall session can also expand their lesson co-planning work during this session. IAs who work in general education classrooms, as 1:1s, and are supporting teachers with scaffolding materials.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the three principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Identify strategies for incorporating UDL into instructional design
Understand how co-teaching models could be used to support implementation of UDL in the classroom
Utilize the UDL principles to re-design a lesson and assessment to increase students’ access, engagement, and achievement
If you are interested in this all day training, please let Shaylene know. We have 5 openings left.
Focus Teaching Stratefy: The Protege Effect
2019-20 Progress Notice & Report Card Timeline
Click Here for the 2019-20 timeline
Game Room for Students
Daily Tweets to Build Community
It's GREAT to be a RAM!
Twin Peaks Middle School
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams
SAI Accomplishments
- Able to provide testing accommodations during the same period; scores seem higher
- Socially students are meeting more students, especially those who are 1:1
- Student confidence is growing
- IAs are able to help more students across more classes and can notice students who need help
- General education students trust IAs to help them, which allows all students at the table to have support
- Increased collaboration, including building successful seating charts
- Greater communication
- Improved student behavior in some collab classes
- Increased adult presence reassures students with an "I can do this" attitude
- Rephrasing to support student learning
- Advocating to provide reminders regarding accommodations
- 1:1s share their knowledge of students and strategies
- Students' opinions of IAs has improved when teachers recognize, value, and introduce IAs to class