Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, August 27th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather this weekend! This was our first full week of instruction, and there were lots of smiling faces all over the Twin Peaks campus as students settled into their classes and new schedules, got to know their teachers and classmates a little better, and started to find joy and belonging in their elective classes. Our students have been doing an awesome job of getting to class on time, keeping the campus clean, and most importantly, being respectful to their teachers and to each other. Let's keep up the great work Rams!
Our TPMS Foundation met this past Tuesday night in our library, and we had several new faces attend to get involved - Thank you to all of our parents who attended! We discussed updates on projects the Foundation is sponsoring, like new benches for the front of school and the new Student Wellness Center in the library. Plans were made for the Fall Foundation Social event - please save the date for Saturday, October 21st! Dates for future Foundation meetings can be found in the Foundation section below.
The TPMS School Site Council has two openings for parent members for a two-year term. According to our bylaws, interested candidates must have a student that attends Twin Peaks Middle School and should be selected by other TPMS parents. If you are interested in serving on our School Site Council, please complete the Candidate Interest Form LINKED HERE before 3pm on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023. All interested candidates will be included on our voting form that will be shared with all TPMS families starting on Back To School Night on Wednesday, September 6th. Voting will remain open until 5pm on Friday, September 8th. If you have questions about this process or the SSC, please send me an email.
We have several non-teaching/classified positions open at TPMS that we are still looking to fill, and maybe you or a friend are the right person for the job! Please consider joining Team PUSD as an Instructional Assistant (3 and 6 hour daily shifts), Noon Duty (2 or 3 hour daily shifts), or as our morning and afternoon crossing guard (7 hours a week!). To apply for any of these positions, or to see what other openings exist in PUSD, please CLICK HERE for the PUSD Job Listings Page or see the job postings in the graphic below.
This past week students took the math iReady diagnostic portion of the test for the fall. Students will be taking the Reading diagnostic test in their ELA classes this week, and will have a chance to complete any unfinished sections in their Homeroom classes. These fall tests set a baseline for each student for their work in iReady for the year, so this diagnostic test is an important marker for every student. Please make sure to encourage your student to always try their best, make sure to get enough sleep, and fully charge their Chromebook each night.
Sports at TPMS are gearing up and we have had an incredible amount of student interest for our fall sports! For information about the sports we offer and how to register, please visit the ASES & Sports page of the TPMS website LINKED HERE. Students cannot participate in after school sports until we have correct and complete forms, and many of the ones we have received so far are missing information. Please contact Matti mamiller@powayusd.com with any questions.
Finally this week, we are looking forward to Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 6th from 5:30-7:30pm. Please plan on attending to walk the campus, visit classrooms, and see all the amazing things going on at Twin Peaks! The evening will begin with a welcome in the quad at 5:30pm, followed by membership information from our PTSA and Foundation. Make sure to bring your checkbook or debit card so you can purchase a few books at the PTSA Book Fair too! It should be an awesome night - we hope to see you all there!
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
August 30th: Late Start - 9:50am
August 30th: Make-Up Picture Day
September 4th: Labor Day Holiday, No School
September 5th - 8th: Fall Book Fair, TPMS Library
September 6th: Late Start - 9:50am
September 6th: Back to School Night, 5:30-7:30pm
September 8th: 6th Grade Carnival, 3:30pm, TPMS Quad
September 12th: Step-It-Up Assembly, Special Schedule
September 18th: Teacher Professional Learning, Non-Student Day
Picture Make-Up Day
Get Your TPMS Spirit Wear @ Online Store!
In need of new TPMS Spirit for the new school year? Visit our online store at https://bit.ly/ramspirit today and place an order for the new school year. 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 August 30th, so don’t wait – place your order today!
PTSA BOOK FAIR 9/5-9/8
The TPMS PTSA is so excited to invite you to our upcoming Scholastic "Back to School" Book Fair! This event is an opportunity for students to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school and this book fair will help support the PTSA especially.
The "Back to School" Book Fair will be held in the TPMS Library and will take place from September 5th - 8th, and will be open before school, during lunch, and after school. The book fair will also be open during the Back to School night on September 6th, from 5-8pm.
Books can be purchased with cash, check (made payable to "TPMS PTSA"), or credit/debit card. Parents can also set up an eWallet — your child's digital payment account - for the Twin Peaks Book Fair. If you currently have a balance on an existing eWallet account, the balance can be used with your new account. Just be sure to set up the account with the same email address.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more, create an eWallet account, and preview books for the Fair: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/twinpeaksmiddleschool
In order to make the Fair as successful for our school as possible, volunteers are needed! Shifts are short and easy. Please click on the following link to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4CAAAA2AAAF58-tpmsBack to School Night
PTSA Classroom Supplies Closet Wishlist
WEB 6th Grade Carnival
Attention all 6th graders, we have a VERY important announcement for YOU! The 6th grade carnival is coming up on Friday, September 8th right after school from 3:30-5:00. If you're looking for a good time, this event is for you. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 30th through next Wednesday, September 6th. Tickets will be sold at lunch for only $5 in the WEB room (room 301).
Be sure to print a permission slip TODAY! You must have a signed permission slip and school ID card (or on your phone) in order to purchase your ticket. All you need to bring is a smile and an appetite for fun. Your entry includes a hot dog, popcorn, Rice Krispie treat, and so much more.
Students are expected to stay at the event from 3:30 to 5 PM. However, if there is an emergency and a student needs to leave prior to 5PM, parents must come to the front gate (under the sails) and speak to an administrator to release your student to you.
Everyone from WEB hopes to see you there.
Sports Update!
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
Computers 2 Kids Event
The San Diego County Office of Education and Computers2Kids are hosting an event for families to purchase affordable computers on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego County Office of Education (6401 Linda Vista Road San Diego, CA 92111 - enter the drive thru on Via Las Cumbres). Since the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, the partnership between SDCOE and Computers2Kids has provided over 1500 refurbished computers to San Diego families. We hope your families are able to benefit from this event.
See attached flyer for details.
Here is a link to the information.
Join the TPMS Choir!
TPMS Choir will start singing on September 5th! Practices will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:20-8:20am. All students are welcome! Students need to be on time and can not miss more than 4 practices total for the choir session. We will perform a December 7th concert at Twin Peaks, and another with the Poway High School Choir at their concert on December 12th.
Any questions, please email TPMSchoirdirector@gmail.com
For registration information: TPMS Choir Fall 2023
Attendance Corner
ATTENDANCE HOTLINE:
To report an Absence, Tardy, or student Leaving Early…Call the Attendance Hotline (858)668-2730. It’s available 24/7. Leave the information needed, and attendance will be updated.
STUDENTS LEAVING EARLY?
If you need to pick your student up early, please know that we are no longer able to locate or call up students during lunch hours. Please call the Attendance Hotline and arrange for your student(s) to be picked up before or after lunch hours.
If your student is leaving early, please arrange to pick up your student before 2:45pm. With two schools side by side, busses and parents for both schools, the parking lot fills up, and we don’t want anyone late to appointments.
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.
FREE Spanish Teen Positive Parenting Workshop
This workshop will be in person at Valley Elementary School on Thursday, September 21st, from 6pm-8pm. Childcare will be provided for school-aged children. Please click here for the flyer.
Parent Education Courses at PUSD
- Gender Identity & Expression Part I - All Grades in Person. Click here for flyer.
- Talking & Listening to Your Kids - TK-5th Grade via Zoom. Click here for flyer.
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.
ASB Student Activities Canvas Page
Student Bike Registration
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:
August 22nd
September 12th
October 17th
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:
September 14th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
October 19th
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