Weekly Parent Newsletter
August 21, 2020
Principal's Message
School starts next Tuesday, August 25th, and we are excited to meet you! Remember, during this first week of school, Tuesday and Wednesday are Single Period days. All students start their day in their Advisory class at 8:30 a.m. and attend Periods 1 thru 6. Please see the SDUHSD middle school bell schedule for the start and end times of each class. On Monday afternoon, please have your student check their district-issued email. He/she can expect to receive an email from his/her Advisory teacher with details about getting ready for the first day of school.
While we are in Distance Learning, we will occasionally have a drive-thru pick up event for classroom supplies and course materials. Our first drive-thru event will be on Monday, August 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We have a Student Agenda and math course materials for ALL students. These materials are required for Distance Learning. We ask that you write your student's name on a piece of paper and INCLUDE his/her math class, and place it in the front windshield of your vehicle so we can move cars through quickly. The pick-up times are designated by math classes:
8:00-10:00 a.m. - Math A Honors
10:00-11:00 a.m. - Math A & Math A Essentials
11:00-12:30 p.m. - Math B Honors
1:00-2:30 p.m. - Math B, Math B Essentials, and Math I Honors
The start of this school year is going to look very different. I can assure you the PTMS staff has been working hard and we are ready for the challenge that is upon us. With that being said, I anticipate some struggles. Please be patient and flexible. If assistance is needed, contact your student's teachers, counselor, or an administrator.
We are One Pack - We've Got This!
Sincerely,
Mary Anne Nuskin
Principal
From the Assistant Principal
We are so excited to virtually "meet" everyone next week!
If you need a Chromebook or internet, please complete this form. Below is a to-do list to help you be successful for the first day of school.
Student To-Do List for the First Day of School
1. Be familiar with logging into Aeries and G Suite which includes Google Classroom, Google Meets, Gmail, and more.
2. Join our "PTMS Student Support Services" Google Classroom and follow the directions on How to Join a Class. Our Google Classroom code is: c336lhc. This is our "all-school classroom" where school connections and activities happen.
3. Log into Aeries and view class schedule. **
4. Regularly get into the habit of checking district-issued student email. On Monday, all students will receive a message from their Advisory teacher.
5. Pick up the student agenda and math module on Monday, August 24th, at the designated time.
6. Log into Google Classroom and accept all Google Classroom invites.
7. Set up a quiet learning space for Distance Learning the day before school starts - charge your device, have headphones/earbuds, pens/pencils, and paper at your workspace.
8. Get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast.
9. On the first day of school, plan to log in five minutes before school starts (just in case there are technical difficulties). Open Google Classroom, select your Advisory class and click on the Google Meets link to enter the virtual classroom.
10. Breath! Remember, the first day of school during Distance Learning is new for all of us (students, teachers, parents, and staff!!)
** Check the SDUHSD Tech Hub if you are experiencing technical difficulties. If you cannot solve the problem on your own, contact our Learning Commons Technician, Jessica Richards, at jessica.richards@sduhsd.net.
We've Got This, Wolfpack!!
Kathryn Freeman
Assistant Principal
Counseling Update
The PTMS Counseling Department is excited to share that student schedules are ready to view in Aeries! Please read the First Day of School Prep step-by-step instructions required to access student class schedules in Aeries. Please also be sure to look over the second page, where you will find instructions for the first day of school.
For technical support with student accounts, please call or email Jessica Richards, Learning Commons Technician at (858) 509-1000 x 4626 or jessica.richards@sduhsd.net for assistance.
We wish everyone a positive start to the school year!
A-R: Lisa Curry - lisa.curry@sduhsd.net
S-Z: Carsen Murt - carsen.murt@sduhsd.net
From the Learning Commons
Reminder: Once students gain access to their school Google accounts, they MUST change their password. Students should NOT continue to use the default password. For information and a video tutorial on how to change passwords, please click here.
Got general technology questions? Visit our Tech Hub website for information on all of the technology your student will need for school. If your student is having technical difficulties that cannot be resolved by visiting the Tech Hub, please email the Learning Commons Technician, Jessica Richards, at jessica.richards@sduhsd.net for help.
The PTMS Learning Commons has gone digital!!! For LC updates, fun activities, and a safe online community, students may join the Learning Commons Google Classroom with the code: ngumoay.
Reminder: If you have borrowed a school Chromebook, please have your student fully charge it BEFORE the first day of school. Chromebooks have been unplugged all summer and their batteries are drained. They may need to charge for twenty minutes before they will switch on.
A Message from Yearbook
It is our goal to still cover what is going on with our students even if you're at home, but we need your help. As the year progresses, Yearbook will send ideas for stories we plan to cover and would like to collect your photos. Here are the first two optional assignments. We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing your wonderful summer and first day of school photos! ** Deadline: September 4th **
All photos can be submitted here, or by emailing lauryn.gahagan@sduhsd.net with the subject line: Yearbook Photos.
Immunization Requirements
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Para asegurarse de que su hijo(a) esté listo(a) para comenzar el año escolar el 25 de agosto, tenga en cuenta que no hay cambios en los requisitos de vacunación: requisitos de inmunización para el año escolar 2020 / 2021. La ley estatal requiere que todos los estudiantes tengan sus vacunas vigentes para asistir a la escuela, aunque estemos abriendo un modelo de aprendizaje a distancia. Entendemos que puede haber preocupación sobre el acceso a la atención médica durante la pandemia; sin embargo, la mayoría de los consultorios que proporcionan atención están realizando controles de bienestar y citas de vacunación, al tiempo que toman precauciones adicionales de seguridad e higiene. Si tiene preguntas sobre cómo obtener las vacunas requeridas, por favor comuníquese con su proveedor de atención médica primaria. Para obtener más información sobre los requisitos de vacunación, por favor visite la página web: https://www.shotsforschool.org/espanol/
From Nutrition Services
- Monday - 2 breakfasts/2 lunches
- Wednesday - 3 breakfasts/3 lunches
Meals can be picked up in front of the PTMS MPR and will be charged to the student's account at the designated prices. Free/reduced price meals are available at no charge.
Please refer to the Nutrition Services website for additional information.
From the PTSA
Please help us keep school programs and activities available by becoming a PTSA Member, or by RENEWING your PTSA Membership today. Click here to become a PTSA Member.