Tumwater News

Principal 's Message

Earlier this week one of our students had a surprise reunion with a sibling currently serving in the US Navy. It was a heartwarming moment for all involved. Today we recognize all who have served in the Armed Forces as we celebrate Veterans Day. To all in our Tumwater community who have served or are currently serving, please accept our gratitude for your service.

It is hard to believe that we've already completed one-fourth of the school year!

During yesterday's Quarter 1 Grading Day teachers assessed student work and entered marks summarizing student progress so far. For most TMS classes, the 9 week grade is a progress report at the halfway point of the semester. The progress report is intended as a way for students and families to monitor student progress and plan for the remainder of the semester. Only the semester grade issued in February is reflected on the student transcript. Next week, you will be able to access the progress reports in TeacherVue/StudentVue report card tab. If you have questions about the marks in a specific class, please ask your child, check ParentVue gradebook, and/or contact your child's teacher. All teacher email addresses are firstname_lastname@beaverton.k12.or.us

Thank you for your willingness to partner with TMS to support your child as we learn and grow together.

Warmly,

Jill O'Neill

Principal

Upcoming Events

Nov 10 Grading Day - No Students

Nov 11 Veterans Day - No School

Nov 15 Pre-ACT Exam - 8th Graders

Nov 17 PTO Community Meeting in TMS Library, 6:30 pm

Nov 22 OSU - UO College Spirit Day - Wear Orange & Black or Green & Yellow

Nov 23-25 Schools Closed

Nov 28 Staff Development Day - No Students

Dec 19-30 Winter Vacation- Schools closed

Be sure to check the calendars on ParentSquare and our school website (scroll to the bottom of the home page) for the school all school events.

Learner Profile Corner

This month, the learner profile focuses on being open-minded.

Definition: TMS students understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. We are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Students, reflect on the questions below:

Are you open to other people’s ideas, points of view, and culture?
Do you seek out new experiences?
Do you appreciate your own culture and background, while seeking information about the culture of others?
Are you willing to grow from new experiences?


	Costume Day

Costume Day


	Twin Day

Twin Day


	Dress Your Best

Dress Your Best


	Wacky Hair Day

Wacky Hair Day


	Tumwater Spirit

Tumwater Spirit

Become an AVID Tutor!

AVID is a class that helps students develop the skills that they'll need to be successful in college and beyond. As part of the class, students participate in student-led tutorial sessions, where small groups of students come together to work through problems that they're experiencing in their core classes.

We need AVID Tutors (in-person in the classroom) to help facilitate these conversations. Don't worry, you don't need extensive content or subject knowledge. You're really a coach, encouraging a small group of students to ask questions and keep the discussion going. You'll be supported by the AVID elective teacher and the students you work with.

The time commitment is just one hour per week. There are opportunities throughout the school day at the school of your choice. Training involves a self-paced online course plus a one-hour Zoom information session. That's it!

To apply to be a tutor and learn more, please use this link: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/teaching-learning/student-programs/avid/avid-etutor

BEF Building STEAM 4 All Program

Help career and technical lab students spark a creative interest in tech and learn more about what the future of automation might hold.

Someone once said that "if you're not moving forward, you're falling back."

We would like to offer an automation module to continue preparing our 8th-grade students for an ever-evolving future workplace. The main components of this experience (robotic arm, a VR-ready desktop PC and circuit-building tools and supplies). will teach students to design automation tasks that will approximate real-life career tasks.

Students will also research the field of automation and ponder on its impact both present and into the future. Several studies have estimated that machines complete almost half of all tasks in the workforce and that number is growing along with growth in complex automation software in almost every industry.

The direct link to the project is

Spark Creativity with Automation Exploration

We're asking for your help in 2 ways:

Share the link above on your social media to help us reach more supporters
Consider donating to our project

Thank you for you support!

Supply Drive to help Homeless Youth in BSD

The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program ensures that homeless children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed place of residence or a supervising parent or guardian. During the 21-22 school year, the Beaverton School District's McKinney-Vento program assisted 1057 youth in meeting some of their most basic needs.

During the week of November 14-18, Tumwater Student Council will be conducting a supply drive to help with the ongoing needs of the program. Students are being asked to bring in the following and drop them in their grade level donation box:

Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Toothbrushes/Floss/Paste
Chapstick
Menstrual hygiene products (pads preferred)

Hairbrushes/Hair Ties
Individual first aid kits
Nail Clippers and files
Body Lotion
Socks/Gloves/Beanies
Flashlights/Batteries

To add to the fun students will have the chance to drop their donation in an Oregon Ducks or OSU Beavers grade level box. Class competition points will be awarded as well as an early celebration of the OSU-OU State Rivalry game.

Thank you for your support of the students in our district.

The Battle of the Books is here!

Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is an exciting quiz style tournament of reading based on questions from the official list of 16 book titles selected by the Oregon Battle of the Books Committee. At TMS the competition is open to all students who form a team and submit their permission slips to Ms. Gillespie by Friday, December 16th. Teams are made up of 4 members, with the option of a 5th person as an alternate.

Battles will take place during the school day. Each team will participate in at least two battles and the two top-scoring teams will be entered into a single-elimination tournament. The tournament winners will then move on to compete in the regional battle against other schools in our area.

Team entry forms are available from Ms. Bell in the Library and Ms. Gillespie in Room C222. Only one entry form is needed for each team, but an individual permission slip from each team member must be attached.

OBOB books are available for check out in the library now. For more OBOB events and practice questions to be posted later this month, please visit the Cedar Mill Library


	Me, Myself and I (Another Lonely Day) Medium: Acrylic/Tempera Paint On Canvas	The Magic of Color Medium: Acrylic Paint On Canvas

Me, Myself and I (Another Lonely Day)

Medium: Acrylic/Tempera Paint On Canvas

The Magic of Color

Medium: Acrylic Paint On Canvas

TMS Chess Team

TMS Students competed at the Rose City Chess Halloween Tournament last week.

Isha Marla, Justin Jang, James Martin, Andrew Ma, and Anson Pfeiffer were very excited to win the 3rd Place in the Team Intermediate Division. Their trophy is on display in the A Hall Display Case. Congrats!

The TMS Chess Club meets Tuesdays after school. Interested in joining? Learn more and sign up here.

BSD Inclement Weather Information

When we have inclement weather, school schedules could be affected. School closure or delayed start decisions will typically be communicated to media outlets and posted on the district website, ParentSquare and social media by 5:30 a.m. The District makes decisions based on the ability to operate school buses safely, the ability of parents and students to drive safely, and the ability of students to walk safely. Decisions are made for the entire District. However, we encourage families to make transportation and attendance decisions for their children based on their own assessment of travel conditions at their locations.

For the latest inclement weather information:

Check the district website. A page pop-up will be posted if there’s a change in school
operations.
The BSD Public Safety webpage has information about inclement weather procedures and snow routes.
Follow us on: Twitter @BeavertonSD, Facebook @BeavertonSchoolDistrict or Instagram @beavertonsd
Tune into media outlets for updates.

MEDICATION INFORMATION

With cold and flu season upon us, please remember that any medication (prescription AND over the counter - including cough drops) must have a completed medication authorization form.

After an authorization form has been received, medications can be kept and administered in the health room OR students can meet with the nurse to authorize "self-carry." If your child is found with medication (even cough drops), without proof of authorization to self carry, it will be given to the office and the student will not be able to use it until authorization is complete.

Please note that Medication Forms must be updated each year.

Guidelines for all medications:

Medication must not be expired.
Medication must be Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. If the medication is not FDA approved then a signed prescription and treatment plan from a prescriber of Oregon licensed healthcare professional is required.
Medication must be transported to and from school by the parent/guardian or student (if self-consenting per Oregon law.)
Necessary paperwork is completed. (Medication authorization forms can be obtained in the office or on the district website.)
Adequate amount of medication is provided by the parent/guardian.
All changes in instructions must be in writing and cannot be accepted verbally.
All medications must be picked up at the end of each school year or they will be discarded.

Guidelines for prescription medications:

Must be prepared and labeled by a U.S. pharmacist.
Label or prescriber's orders must have child's name, name of medication, route of administration, dose amount to be given at school, frequency/time of administration, and physician's name.
Must be in a prescription bottle.
Most pharmacists will provide two containers for prescription medication at home and school.
Students are allowed to self-administer prescription medications, carry emergency medications for immediate access IF permission is obtained and the Self-Administration Medication Authorization form is completed and on file in school office.

Guidelines for prescription medications:

Must be in original container (no baggies, foil, etc.) and labeled with child’s name.
Physician order needed only when the parent’s instruction for administration contradicts the safe dosing instruction on the bottle/container.
Students are allowed to self-administer non-prescription medications IF permission is obtained and Self-Administration Medication Authorization form is completed and on file in the school office.

The district reserves the right to reject a request for district personnel to administer, or to permit a student to administer to themselves, a medication when such a medication is not necessary for the student to remain in school.

6th Grade Outdoor School - Save the Dates

All TMS 6th Graders are encouraged to attend Outdoor School, an overnight outdoor learning experience. Our students will learn outdoors through hands-on, field study activities that promote inquiry and appreciation for the natural world. Students will learn about careers in science and natural resource management, as well as build community through meal times, campfire programs, and cabin group activities.

TMS 6th Graders are scheduled to attend Outdoor School the week before spring break: Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24th. 6th Grade Families, please mark your calendars now and watch for ParentSquare messages with more information coming soon. Until then, learn more at https://www.nwoutdoorschool.org/ .

SAVE THE DATE: November Community Meeting Next Thursday, 11/17

November's Tumwater PTO community meeting will be Thursday, 11/17 at 6:30pm in the TMS Library. Join us to hear school & PTO updates with principal Jill O'Neill and your Tumwater PTO Board.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS: In an effort to communicate effectively & efficiently, the Tumwater PTO will be taking questions BEFORE our community meeting on 11/17. This will ensure that our meeting agenda and topics will clarify any lingering questions for our parent community. Please submit your questions here.

A Zoom link (for audio only) & agenda will be sent via email to parents/guardians closer to the date.

All parents/guardians of TMS students are automatically members of Tumwater PTO. Join us!

Questions? Email Hannah (president@tumwaterpto.org).

ART LIT TRAINING: Next Tuesday, 11/15

Please join us for a fun night of ART as you learn to deliver our first art literacy lesson on the artist Wayne Thiebaud scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th from 6:30-8pm in Room B110 at Tumwater Middle School.

The link to the training session can be found here: Fall Art Lit Training Session. Our Art Lit Coordinator, Melissa Manos, will run through the lesson as you would to the students (10 minutes—no more! We want the majority of the classroom time to let the kids create!) and then we will do the production together.

Wayne Thiebaud is known for his still life, with a pop-art influence. We will be playing around with watercolors using primary colors for accents and shadows. It'll be fun!

At our training, we should have the schedule for the classroom sessions so you can sign up for your child's class that night! The program will launch in the classrooms the first week back from Thanksgiving break.

Not in our TMS volunteer database? Head to our Volunteering page for more info.

If you have any questions about Art Literacy, please contact Melissa at artlit@tumwaterpto.org.

JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER DATABASE: A 2-step process

Instructions on how to join our Tumwater volunteer database are available at www.tumwaterpto.org/volunteer. This is a two-step process. We’ve also included an extensive FAQ with the most common volunteer questions.

Request your profile be moved into Tumwater’s database or fill out the volunteer application. **Please note: your profile does not automatically move from your previous BSD school. Email update_volunteer_locations@beaverton.k12.or.us in order to add your profile to Tumwater Middle School.

Upload a jpg of your covid vaccination or medical exemption to be reviewed by District staff. The covid vaccination & medical exemption requirements remain in place, per state mandate. Please ensure that you have completed this process so that volunteer opportunities can be available to you. More info re: this requirement is found on the BSD volunteer page.

Email our Volunteer Coordinators, Kristi Nelson & Katia Kaeser (volunteer@tumwaterpto.org) with any questions.

Dear BSD Families,

We understand that it can be challenging to access current information regarding your child’s schooling in your own language. We do our best to send out messages about important updates, especially during these challenging times. However, you can access the BSD website — and specifically, our return-to-school page — at any time. Below, we’ve included a link that will take you to our website, where you’ll find it already translated into your language. Please know, the translation is generated by Google Translate. It’s not perfect, but we do hope it’s helpful.

If you need additional assistance, please contact our Multilingual Department at 503-356-3755.

View the BSD website in Arabic قم بزيارة الموقع الإلكتروني للقطاع التعليمي لمدارس بيفرتون باللغة العربية