Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the Desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, March 10th, 2024
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and adapting to one less hour in your day after setting your clocks forward an hour last night for Daylight Savings Time. We had a fast week with an abundance of activities and events scheduled that brought students from TBES and PHS onto our campus, and had our TPMS students visiting their campuses too! Add to that 2 minimum days, our STEP-IT UP celebration - Kidchella, our College and Career Fair and a Spring Dance, and you have one heck of a start to our 3rd and final Trimester!
6th Grade Camp is this week! We are so excited to have nearly 300 of our young Rams heading off to Cuyamaca Outdoor School for a week of learning! Students attending camp will report to their Homeroom teacher for attendance and final instructions after the bell rings on Monday morning. Students remaining at school this week should report to the Theater for their welcome and orientation for our Ram Camp Schedule when the bell rings tomorrow morning. Please review the information below for information on luggage drop-off BEFORE bringing your student to school tomorrow morning!
Grades for trimester 2 have been finalized and should accessible to students and parents starting on Monday, March 11th through StudentVue and ParentVue. Our teachers are now in the process of reaching out to parents to schedule Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences on March 18th and 19th to check-in with parents about their student's academic progress and overall preparedness for high school. If your student's Homeroom teacher has not reached out to schedule a conference with you, that is good news - our team did not feel that one was needed for your student. If you would still like to schedule a conference for your student, please email their Homeroom teacher before the end of this week. Conference appointment times are limited on March18th and 19th, so please reach out ASAP if you feel a conference is necessary.
Continuing Student Registration is now open for all returning PUSD students and families. Please take a few minutes to review the information in the newsletter below or in the email I sent out on March 1st and complete your online registration as soon as possible! Your prompt response allows us to get a sense of our student population for next year in determining class offerings and staffing. Please make sure to complete your continuing registration packet before the March 31st deadline!
The end of the year is already upon us, which means we have even more activities and events happening at Twin Peaks! Please look for more information in upcoming emails and newsletters about the following schoolwide events - make sure to mark your calendars for the following major events this trimester:
- March 20th: 5th Grade Parent Night and Electives Showcase, 5-7pm
- May 29th: Academic Awards Night: 6th grade (5pm), 7th Grade (6pm), 8th Grade (7pm)
- June 3rd: 8th Grade San Diego Harbor Cruise, 5-9pm
- June 5th: 8th Grade Breakfast, Promotion Practice, and final 8th Grade Assembly
- June 6th: 8th Grade Promotion, 8:30-10am MINIMUM DAY for ALL STUDENTS!
Finally this week, a big THANK YOU! to all of our students and parents who attended and volunteered at this past Friday's Spring Dance and helped TPMS Make it Glow! It was a fun evening with lots of neon, thumping music, tacos, root beer floats, games and prizes! A special shout-out to Mrs. Crow and our ASB students for all of their hard work in organizing the event, setting everything up, decorating, and most importantly - staying after to clean up after the event. Your leadership and service to our school community is greatly appreciated!
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - Click here for Calendar
March 11th-15th: 6th Grade Camp
March 13th: Late Start, 9:50am
March 18th & 19th: MINIMUM DAYS - Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
March 18th - 22nd: TPMS Library Book Fair
March 18th: NO Japanese Power Hour today
March 19th: NO Tutoring Club today
March 20th: Late Start, 9:50am
March 20th: 5th Grade Parent Night / Electives Showcase, 5-6pm / 6-7pm
March 25th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Library
March 27th: Late Start, 9:50am
March 27th: TPMS Sped Night, 5:00pm @Zoom
March 28th & 29th: MINIMUM DAYS - Staff PD Days
April 3rd: Late Start, 9:50am
April 3rd: School Site Council, 3:45pm
April 8-12: Spring Break - No School
April 22nd & 23rd: Breaking Down the Walls, 7th Grade
TPMS WEEK IN REVIEW: March 4th-8th
Step-It Up - KIDCHELLA '24!
TBES 3rd Graders Visit Ag Science
Spring Dance - MAKE IT GLOW!
Important 6th Grade Camp Info
DROP OFF:
- Students attending Camp Cuyamaca must be at school by 8:27 a.m. on Monday, March 11th . Report to your Homeroom teacher for attendance and final instructions.
- The buses will leave Twin Peaks Middle School at approximately 9:30 a.m.
- Luggage: Label all items with your student’s name. One duffel bag or rolling suitcase, one sleeping bag (or sheets/blanket) and a pillow. In addition, students may carry a backpack on the bus. Please do not tie items together. For a complete student-packing list click here. Luggage drop off is at St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Please see map below or click here for all information.
Students Please DO NOT pack these items (Cuyamaca is not responsible for lost , damaged, or stolen property:
1. Cuyamaca is Fragrance-Free Campus – prohibited items: perfumes, colognes, essential oils, all scented products, and all aerosol spray products. These items will be confiscated and given to TPMS Staff.
2. Candy, gum, or food of any kind, flashlights, knives/hatchets, matches, lighters, or fire starters, hair dryers or curling irons, makeup, money, personal electronic devise such as phones, games and media players, jewelry/watches, expensive cameras.
3. Cuyamaca is a Nut-Free Campus – strictly prohibited items from all areas of the campus: All products containing nuts (of any kind) or sesame seeds.
PICK UP:
Students and luggage will return to the front of the school on Friday, March 15th , at approximately 12:00 p.m. The main parking lot will be closed to all through traffic except for camp buses. Neighborhood parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged. All students should be picked up at 12:00 p.m. Students ARE NOT allowed to take a school bus home on March 15th, so it is imperative to have someone at school by 12:00 to pick up your student (s).
We appreciate your patience with this process and will do our best to make the delivery and pick-up process as smooth as possible!
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND OUR ELECTIVES SHOWCASE ON 3/20!
Attention TPMS Wrestlers!
Wrestling season at Twin Peaks is fast approaching! Registration will begin on Monday 3/11 and will go through Friday 3/22. Registration packets will be available in the front office or on the TP website listed below. Practices will begin Monday 3/25. You will receive a schedule email once registration is done! We look forward to seeing everyone come out for the team! Go Rams!
Sports Program - ASES - TWIN PEAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL (powayusd.com)
Spring Book Fair March 18th-22nd
The Spring Book Fair will be held in the TPMS Library and will take place March 18th - 22nd; students will be able to shop the fair before school, during break periods and lunch, and after school. Students will also have the chance to purchase items with their language arts classes throughout the week. In addition, the book fair will also be open from 4:30-6:30pm during the 5th Grade Parent Night/Elective Showcase on March 20th.
To make the fair go as smoothly as possible, we need parent volunteers to help with purchases as well as monitor the students. Shifts are short and always fun! Please check out the sign up genius to see where you can help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4CAAAA2AAAF58-48204291-tpms
As a reminder, 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
PUSD Continuing Student Registration now open!
Online Continuing Student Registration will be open from March 1- March 31, 2024. We must receive a completed digital packet for all returning students. This will allow for proper placement of your student for the 2024-2025 school year. This annual digital process allows a family to complete one single “family” packet instead of completing one packet per student. Packets can be completed using any computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection.
Continuing Registration Steps:
Login and complete the digital registration packet via the online registration portal found here.
Review and complete any required forms located at the conclusion of the process. A packet is not considered finalized until this step is completed.
Please note: MEDICATION FORMS or ADDITIONAL SIGNED SITE SPECIFIC FORMS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED UNTIL SCHOOL BEGINS IN AUGUST FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.
Forgot your username or password? Need technical help? You can retrieve your username as well as reset your password by visiting https://password.powayusd.com/AccountSelfService/ and clicking the button that represents the help you require. Technical help is also available by sending an email to accounthelp@powayusd.com.
PUSD Transfer Window Now Open!
The Poway Unified transfer window is now open! Transfer requests for students who live within the Poway Unified boundaries and would like to attend a different Poway school other than their school of residence should be submitted online by visiting the PUSD webpage and clicking the “Transfers” link on the home page. This includes incoming siblings of current students. Please enroll your student at their school of residence when new student enrollment opens online on April 1, 2024. Transfer requests cannot be processed until the student is enrolled in their school of residence. The transfer window closes on March 31st at 5:00 pm. For more information, please visit PUSD’s Residency & Transfers webpage.
FREE Teen Positive Parenting Program
The FREE Teen Positive Parenting Program via Zoom is back one more time in March before the end of this school year. This webinar series is designed for parents and will address raising responsible teenagers while improving family communication. These workshops do fill up quickly and parents have shared positive reviews and feedback.
**FREE Teen Positive Parenting Program (English) via ZOOM: Wednesdays, March 6th, March 13th, and March 20th, 2024 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Click here for specific details.
Panorama Student Survey
The second Panorama student wellness survey window will open on Monday, February 26 and remain open until Friday, April 5, 2024.
As a reminder, the Panorama survey promotes positive school climate by collecting valid and reliable feedback about what matters most — from belonging and teacher-student relationships, to engagement and school safety. The survey is administered twice a year to all fourth, sixth, and ninth graders by teachers and counselors. The Panorama survey takes approximately 15 minutes (on average) to complete. Survey results are NOT anonymous.
Parents/guardians will be notified prior to the survey and will have the opportunity to preview the survey questions before they are administered; families who request to have their children excluded will be accommodated.
Please Get to School On-Time!
Parents - please make every effort to have your student here before classes begin each day at 8:30am, or before 9:50am on Wednesdays. We are actually experiencing a larger percentage of students late to school on Wednesdays when we have late start than on our regular start days. Please try and drop your student off at school by 8:15am or regular days and by 9:30am on late-start Wednesdays so that they have time to get to their first block class on time; we open the school gates 30 minutes before classes actually start, and our Food Services provide a free breakfast for students during this time or during the morning break after first block.
Multilingual Program Updates!
First, we are excited to share a new tool you can access to support your student(s) that are English Learners. The EL Console is our new application where parents can see student’s progress towards reclassification. You can view their ELPAC scores along with their progress on iReady and SBAC assessments. To access the EL Console, follow these quick steps!
Second, our English Learner department has a new Instagram and Facebook account you can follow! You can see amazing learning in action, get updates from the EL Department, and learn how to continue to support your child. You can follow along at @pusdmll !
Attendance Corner
Is your Student leaving early? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730 that morning. Leave a message and a note gets sent to the student that block. Bring in your ID, sign the student out, and away you go!
Is your Student running late? Absent? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730
Leave a message with the requested information and the Tardy or Absence will be excused.
Did your student go to the Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist/Dermatologist/Optometrist?
It is beneficial to his/her attendance record to bring an official medical note to the Attendance Desk. Any absence excused by a medical note does not count toward your student’s absence total.
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."
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.
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:
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!
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:
March 12th
April 16th
May 21st
Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING 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