Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, January 8th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying this beautiful San Diego weekend! This first week back at TPMS was a busy one - we started iReady Reading diagnostic testing in all Social Studies classes, we had over 100 students come out for volleyball tryouts on Wednesday, and students prepared for the end of Quarter 2 which will come to a close this Friday, 1/13.
We also had a few fun days with the rain this past week, and expect a few more this week too! This is a good time to remind families of a few expectations for student behavior on rainy days at TPMS:
- Please make sure to avoid large puddles of water on campus rather than running and jumping into the puddles to get your friends wet who are standing close by.
- If it is actively raining, please use the covered walkways on campus to move between buildings rather than sauntering slowly through the quad.
- If you chose to bring an umbrella to campus, please only have it open when you are outdoors and when it is needed to keep you dry or shaded. Umbrellas should never be used to have sword or light saber battles on campus.
- Even though it may seem very fun and a good idea in the moment, running and sliding on the wet astro-turf in the quad is very dangerous - please do not do this!
Thank you in advance for doing your part to keep TPMS safe for everyone!
Our 2nd semester will begin on Tuesday, January 17th - this will mean new elective classes for students in our 6th grade elective wheel and those taking semester-long electives. Class change forms are due by the end of the day on Monday, January 9th to the Counseling Office and require a parent signature to be turned in.
Our iReady testing will now transition to the math diagnostic, which students will be completing in their math classes this week. Any testing that needs to be completed from either the reading or math diagnostic test will be able to be finished next week in Ram classes. The deadline for all iReady testing has been pushed back by PUSD a few days to January 25th.
This past Wednesday, we hosted a parent night Q&A session for our upcoming Suicide Prevention Presentations to our 7th and 8th graders. Thank you to our Foundation for sponsoring this informative session hosted by With Hope, The Amber Craig Foundation. The recorded session can be found HERE on the TPMS website. This is a chance to preview the information that will be shared with our 7th and 8th grade students this Monday and Tuesday. For more information, please see the Suicide Prevention Presentation section below.
The TPMS Spelling Bee will take place LIVE on campus this year on stage in our Theater on Wednesday, January 25th starting at 4:30pm. This event is open to all TPMS students - if you are interested in participating in the Spelling Bee, please access the sign-up form in the Scripps Spelling Bee announcement below.
6th Grade Camp enrollment forms and the $430 camp fee for students to attend Cuyamaca Outdoor School were due to Ram teachers this past Friday, January 6th. If you did not get your packet turned in on time, or have questions about 6th Grade Camp, please email Mrs. Moreno at amoreno@powayusd.com as soon as possible! You can check the TPMS website for more information about 6th Grade Camp by CLICKING HERE.
SAVE THE DATE! All 6th Graders attending camp will need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 antigen test 72 hours prior to boarding the bus for camp, or an AG test within 24 hours of boarding the bus. In order to facilitate this for parents and students, TPMS will be offering a Covid testing opportunity on Sunday, February 12th from 12-2pm on our campus. Families can bring their own over-the-counter test to use, written documentation of a completed test dated after 9am on 2/10, or you can sign up to reserve a free 30 minute test that the school will provide you on campus. Please see the 6th Grade Camp is Coming section below to let us know what testing option you will choose for your student.
Finally this week, I encourage our students to look for opportunities in this newsletter to be creative, learn a new skill, or get involved! Whether you chose to be a part of the Coastal Art & Poetry Contest, tryout for volleyball, take part in the Virtual Hack-a-Thon, participate in the Spelling Bee, or submit your idea to name the CA Go Safely mascot, I encourage you to get involved and try something different this New Year! You might surprise yourself with a hidden talent or maybe even make a few friends along the way! Look for the opportunities mentioned here in the newsletter sections that follow.
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - bit.ly/tpmsevents
January 11th: Late Start - 9:50am
January 13th: End of Quarter 2 / Semester 1
January 16th: MLK Day - No School
January 17th: Quarter 3 / Semester 2 Begins
January 18th: Late Start - 9:50am
January 19th: Character Counts Quarter 2, 5pm @Zoom
January 25th: Late Start - 9:50am
January 25th: TPMS Spelling Bee, 4:30pm @TPMS Little Theater
January 30th: Professional Learning Day - No students
February 12th: Covid Testing for 6th Grade Camp, 12-2pm
February 13th-17th: 6th Graders at Cuyamaca Outdoor School
February 20th-24th: President's Week Break
TPMS Volleyball Tryouts - UPDATE!
8th Grade Yearbook Recognition Ads
The ad does NOT include a yearbook so don't forget to purchase a yearbook - details can be found below!
Attendance Announcement
If your student is absent, please call the attendance hotline (858)668-2730 as soon as possible each day your student is absent (unless you give us a date range for multiple days).
Parent or legal guardian please call and state the following information:
- Your student’s first and last name
- Their grade
- The date of the absence(s)
- The reason (if sick, please list symptoms)
- Your relationship to the student
- A phone number where you can be reached.
Note: Students will be listed as truant if we do not receive a call or note from a parent or guardian.
Meeting For Parents of Multilingual Learners


DNHS Virtual Hack-a-Thon
Please check out the flyer below for more information - CLICK HERE or on the graphic below for the sign-up link!
Free Spanish Teen Positive Parenting Workshop In Person
We are pleased to share that we are offering a 1 Day Spanish Teen Positive Parenting Workshop for FREE In Person at Valley Elementary School! This webinar series is designed for parents and will address raising responsible teenagers while improving family communication. The webinar is offered for Spanish speaking parents:
- FREE SPANISH Teen Positive Parenting Workshop In Person
Valley Elementary School
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
*Childcare provided for school-aged children
SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE
This year's TPMS Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 25th in the TPMS Theater starting at 4:30pm. All students in grades 6-8 are encouraged to participate in this annual event, and all participants will receive a prize for participating in the event. The school winner will advance on to regional competition representing Twin Peaks in March, 2023!
Students who are interested in participating can sign-up by CLICKING HERE to access the Google sign-up form. Once you sign-up, a practice packet and pledge form will be emailed to the email address provided.
6th Grade Camp is Coming!
All 6th Graders attending camp will need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours prior to boarding the bus for camp. In order to facilitate this for parents and students, TPMS will be offering a Covid testing opportunity on Sunday, February 12th from 12-2pm on our campus. Families can bring their own over-the-counter test to use, written documentation of a completed test dated after 9am on 2/10, or you can sign up to reserve a free 30 minute test that the school will provide you on campus. To sign-up and/or reserve your Covid test for the February 12th testing session, please CLICK HERE.
ITEMS NEEDED FOR CAMP: Some of our students may not have all of the items they need to attend camp comfortably. Please let our Counseling Team know if you have a sleeping bag, jacket, sweatshirt, gloves, scarf, or hat that you or your kids no longer use and would like to donate. These are the most common items needed, but you can view the complete list below. Thanks so much for supporting 6th Grade Camp!

Suicide Prevention Presentations in January
Our 7th and 8th grade students will take part in an important and engaging presentation by With Hope, The Amber Craig Foundation focusing on suicide prevention during their PE class on Monday, January 9th and Tuesday, January 10th. The purpose of the presentation is to educate, equip, and empower students regarding suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Research shows that suicide is preventable through education and awareness. Patti Ferraro from With Hope will provide students with facts about suicide, alert them to warning signs related to suicide, and provide them with information about how to seek help for themselves or others. Students will participate in a variety of self-esteem and social competency development activities that support mental health. This workshop is approximately 45 minutes in length during your student’s PE class. Our counselors, mental health therapist, student services specialist, and school psychologists will be available to assist students who need additional support during and after the presentation.
This past Wednesday, we hosted a parent night Q&A session for our upcoming Suicide Prevention Presentations to our 7th and 8th graders. Thank you to our Foundation for sponsoring this informative session hosted by With Hope, The Amber Craig Foundation. The recorded session can be found HERE on the TPMS website. This is a chance to preview the information that will be shared with our 7th and 8th grade students this Monday and Tuesday.
If you do NOT give permission for your student to attend the presentation, please email Christie Hamilton, Administrative Assistant to the Principal, at chamilton@powayusd.com by Thursday, January 5th. Please make sure to include your student’s name in your email. You can also contact your student's counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
These presentations are possible due to the generous support of the Twin Peaks Foundation.
Go Safely California Needs Your Help
We’re on the search for a name for our new cone mascot. If your students have a creative name idea, now is their chance to win a laptop, a $500 gift card, plus a $500 class gift card and prizes for their classroom! Winners will be announced on January 31, 2023. To enter, visit the QR code on the flyer below or visit www.gosafelyca.org. If you have any questions, please email us at moveovercontest@gmail.com or reply directly to this email.

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications!
Poetry Contest & Video Challenge
Coastal Art & Poetry Contest for K-12 students
California students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to submit artwork or poetry with a California coastal or marine theme. Application deadline is January 31, 2023. For rules, contest flyer, entry form, and helpful links for teachers and students, visit https://www.coastal.ca.gov/art-poetry/. The instructions, flyer, and entry form are also available in Spanish at https://www.coastal.ca.gov/art-poetry/espanol.html.
Up to ten winners will be selected to win $100 to an art store (art winners) or $100 to a bookstore (poetry winners). Each winner will also receive four tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Each winner's sponsoring teacher will receive a $50 gift certificate for educational supplies, courtesy of Acorn Naturalists.
Climate Video Challenge for middle and high school students
Enter any time this school year, through May 31, 2023. Students are invited to submit a 3-minute video responding to the question, “What is your vision for a thriving future?” Contest instructions and rules, brainstorming prompts, and lots of information on climate change and climate solutions can be found at https://www.coastal.ca.gov/climatechallenge. Students can enter as individuals or in teams of up to five. Prizes are offered for first ($300), second ($200), and third ($100) place videos.
ASES is Hiring!!
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $50. We sold out last year 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 27th so don’t delay!
TPMS Yearbook Needs Your Photos
The yearbook staff invites students, staff, and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you have great photos of school, sport or class events, we’d like to see them.
Our photographers can’t be everywhere. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific yearbook everyone will want to have.
The last day to submit your photos is: March 1, 2023
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS ONLINE
● Click on “Select My Images.”
● Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.
● Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information.
● Click “Upload Chosen Images.”
PTSA Meeting Dates for 2022-23
To join the PTSA for the 2022-23 school year, please CLICK HERE! All Executive Board meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:15pm in the TPMS Library unless listed otherwise:
- January 19th
- February 16th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
- March 16th
- April 20th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
- May 18th
- June 1st
TPMS Foundation Meeting Dates
The TPMS Foundation typically meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the TPMS Library. Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE! Here are the upcoming monthly meetings for the 2022-23 school year.
- January 10th
- February 13th
- March 21st
- April 18th
- May 23rd


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.