TMS February Newsletter
2021
Letter from the Principal
To Our Teeland Families:
Thank you to our families for your continued support of TMS! We are so fortunate to be a part of a school community that communicates, engages in family events, supports their students at home, and allows us some grace when we make mistakes! We held our quarter three Title I, family event last night. The “Nacho Average Game Night” was a drive-in success! Over 85 families drove up and received nacho ingredients and games to take home for an evening of fun.
Teeland will again offer virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences on February 15-16, 2021. Families will be sent information on how to sign up for an online, or phone call, conference. We encourage families to meet with teachers if their student has been earning low grades, if their student appears confused about class expectations, or if there is a personal concern. Each time slot will be for 15 minutes. If you are unable to meet on the 15th or 16th, you have the option to set up a Friday conference after 12:15. More information on how to sign-up will be sent soon!
TMS is still very concerned about keeping our students safe as we plan for spring. This year we are hoping that we can have an 8th grade celebration for our students as they prepare to move into high school. As an alternative to the traditional “Promotion Ceremony”, this year’s event will be a student only, social distanced assembly, to recognize academic achievement and the advancement to 9th grade. We are planning to offer a zoom link for families that want to observe the event in a live feed, and we will record the ceremony to post on our TMS YouTube channel. After the ceremony, students will enjoy an outdoor BBQ and spend time with their peers before heading out for the summer.
Our reasons for having a smaller event are twofold: Most importantly we want to address the continued health and safety of our families due the pandemic. The unknown factor about the future of the pandemic in our State is reason enough to plan differently.
The second reason is the current societal expectation that all students will complete the 8th grade, high school, and hopefully, some form of schooling/training after high school. In the early 20th Century, 8th-grade promotion did mark the completion of formal school for many students. Today, we know that our students need to move past the 8th grade to compete for gainful employment. We believe completion of 8th grade can be celebrated in a manner that is inclusive of all students, less formal, and more fun. When we no longer must plan around a pandemic, we will of course seek out community input on this issue as we move into the future.
Teeland Middle will be celebrating “Kindness Matters” the week of February 8th-11th. Our NJHS has put together a week of events focused on caring and kindness towards others. We appreciate this group of leaders focusing on unity and compassion.
Enjoy the longer days!
Mrs. Hinds, TMS Principal
Important Dates
- February 15 - Parent-Teacher Conferences / No School for Students
- February 16 - Parent-Teacher Conferences / No School for Students
- February 8 - 11 Kindness Matters Week
- March 5 - End of Quarter 3
- March 8 - 12 Spring Break
- March 15 - Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
- March 30 - PEAKS Testing Begins
- May 7 - Professional Development, No School for Students
Kindness Matters Week, February 8 - 11.
Teeland will be celebrating Kindness Matters Spirit Week, Feb. 8-11
Monday: spREaD the Love Day (wear red)
Tuesday: Pink/Red Hat Day
Wednesday: TMS Pride Day (wear team jerseys, organization t-shirts, or TMS spirit wear);
Thursday: Share the Love Day (wear anything with hearts or pin a heart on clothing). Students that participate will receive a Kindness Matters wristband.
NJHS will be hosting a "Cans for Kindness" food drive! The competition will be between grade levels and a school-wide goal of 1000 items.
Chess Club
Teeland's virtual chess club is up and running and students can still join if they wish.
We are meeting by zoom on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm, but students can use the ChessKid.com website any time to learn and play chess.
We will transition back to an in school chess club starting Tuesday, February 23. We meet right after school on Tuesdays from 2:20 - 3:45. If your child must be picked up before 3:45, that is absolutely ok.
TMS will host a chess tournament in the library on Tuesday, March 2 from 8:30 - 10:30.
Contact Mr. Murray if you have questions.
Dropping off and Picking up Students from School
Some drivers using the parking lot to the left of TMS are not parking their vehicles when dropping off or picking up students. These actions are creating an unsafe and chaotic situation for students. A few drivers have been observed parking in designated fire lanes. As a reminder, if you want to do a rolling drop off or pick up, please use the drive-through area to the right. Our priority at TMS is to keep all students safe. If drivers continue to not park their vehicles in the left parking lot while dropping off or picking up students, we will need to revert back to prior years and close the gate entrance to the parking lot.
Please do not leave unattended vehicles in front of the building while waiting for your student. If you need to come into the building, walk your dog, or anything else requiring you to leave your vehicle, please park in the main parking lot.
Let's keep our students safe.
Overdue Library Books
Study Hall
Win a Prize With Math! Work on Moby and ALEKS to earn tickets into the drawing below!
About Us
Email: tms@matsuk12.us
Website: www.matsuk12.us
Location: 2788 North Seward Meridian Parkway, Wasilla, AK, USA
Phone: 907-352-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Teeland-Middle-School-1579130432415578/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARDW0h1EtkxAP4da90ScKXcvK-1sUCJnDL-8NQD_zCE2uYyy7jwABQrxch_7IMz_n2d_7OxXhwsi6o3n