Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, Nov 28th, 2021
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope everyone had a safe and restful Thanksgiving and are feeling rested and recharged to take on the next 15 days of learning before the winter break! We are excited to have students back on campus for classes starting Monday, November 29th - school starts at 8:27am and ends at 3:10pm. The next three Thursdays are late-start schedules and we have a minimum day scheduled for Friday, December 17th. Please make sure to check out all the details on the TPMS calendar by clicking HERE!
Please make sure to check out the ""Upcoming Events" section below for information on student events like the ASB's Winter Dance on 12/10 and parent meetings happening this month including our joint Equity Council with Tierra Bonita ES on 12/8, the TPMS Foundation on 12/14 and the PTSA on 12/16 - all meeting virtually this month.
Before we left for the Thanksgiving Break, we had a number of TPMS students submit entries into the PTSA's Reflections Art Contest. This year's theme was: "I Will Change the World By...". Our Rams did an amazing job and took home quite a few awards - here is a list of our Twin Peaks Middle School winners for 2021-2022:
Award of Excellence:
Lily Fountain - Gr. 6 - PHOTOGRAPHY
Joanna Kruglick - Gr. 7 - FILM PRODUCTION
Kailey Long - Gr. 6 - VISUAL ARTS
Caitlyn Rocha - Gr. 8 - FILM PRODUCTION
Guilherme Sisti - Gr. 6 - FILM PRODUCTION
Award of Merit:
Lila Davis - Gr. 6 - VISUAL ARTS
Coral Sarai Popa - Gr. 8 - LITERATURE
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our students who participated in the PTSA Art Reflections Contest, and a special kudos to all of our winners - way to go RAMS!!
As we return to school this Monday, we hope that your students have developed responsible habits and are arriving to school on-time and prepared for the school day. In order to provide them with the best chance at being successful, please make sure your students are bringing the following essential items with them to school each day:
- Charged Chromebook and charger
- Refillable Water bottle
- Face mask (CLICK HERE for the CDC Guide to Masks)
**HINT: Have your students place these essential items by their phone or a parent's phone / car or house keys the night before to make sure they are not accidentally left at home!
Thank you in advance for your help in making sure your students are coming to school on-time, prepared and ready for the school day!
Finally this week, please make sure to help out those PUSD families who need some additional support this holiday season through the PTSA Adopt-a-Family program. Please see the information below with the link you will need in order to participate and donate - you can donate gift cards to provide much needed meals or choose to sponsor gifts for an entire family. The deadline to participate is this Friday, December 3rd! Thanks in advance for your generosity during this season of giving!
With Gratitude,
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
December 2nd: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 3rd: Adopt-a-Family Donation deadline
December 8th: Joint Equity Council w/ TBES, Zoom 4pm
December 9th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 10th: ASB Winter Dance, TPMS Quad @6-8pm
December 14th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm Zoom
December 15th: TPMS PTSA El Ranchito fundraiser, 7am-9pm
December 16th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
December 16th: TPMS PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm Zoom
December 19th-31st: Winter Break
January 3rd: First Day Back to school
Adopt-A-Family at TPMS
It's that time of the year again when Twin Peaks Middle School has the opportunity to give back to our community with the Adopt-a-Family program. Adopt-a-Family is a program sponsored by the Poway Unified School District and our PTSA and is designed to assist local families in need during the holiday season. You can choose to purchase an item or buy a gift card.
Please click here to see how you can help support PUSD families this holiday season. Items and gift cards can be dropped off at the Twin Peaks office between 8am-4pm Monday-Friday. The deadline to turn items in is Friday, December 3rd.
If you would like to sponsor an entire family this holiday season, please email Dorinda Soucek at pusdadoptafamily@gmail.com. If you have any other questions, please email Valerie Hughes at valerie.hughes@gmail.com All donations are tax-deductible.
POWAY Board & Brew Grand Opening!
The Poway Board & Brew officially opens this Friday 12/3 and you can get in on the action! Scan the QR Code below or click on the image to sign up for the 2 for 1 sandwich special and to get entered into their raffle for free prizes! Also - the school with the most participants will win sandwiches for their staff, so don't forget to mention you're a RAM!!
El Ranchito Taco Shop Fundraiser
TPMS Sports Update
Last week our Rams had another all-star performance in football and came away with the victory 26-14. This win pushes the rams to 4-0 in district play and puts them in the district championship game against Bernardo heights! The championship game will be played at MBMS this Tuesday, November 30th at 3:50pm. Listed below are some stand outs from yesterday's game. Also, a special thank you to Mr. Jiu for doing a great job officiating the game!
Henry Kraft - Threw a pass for a touchdown
Michael Andrade - Threw a two-point conversion pass and had some really nice catches
Brandon Sawyer - Ran in for a touchdown
Tristan Wolfe - large number of rushing yards and long run of 50 yards
Kamden Altman - Caught a long touchdown pass
Jose Garcia - Touchdown catch
Overall, it was a great game and all players contributed to the win over MB! Way to go RAMS!
Volleyball Sign-Ups
Volleyball registration forms will be available in the front office from 11/29-12/10. Registration forms need to be returned to the front office or Room 201 by Friday 12/10 before students can attend the skill evaluations the following week. Skill evaluations will be held on12/14, 12/16, 1/4 and 1/6, players will meet at the lunch tables to check in! Volleyball practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting January 11th from 3:30-4:30. All information about Volleyball season will be on the registration packet! We hope to see your student come out for the team!
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $45 until January and then they go up to $50. So get yours now!
Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code
Pay by cash/check: Download the 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.
Calling all proud 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 January 31st so don’t delay!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
PTSA Reflections Art Contest - Calling All Artists!
Don't forget! PTSA is still accepting online entries for our first ever Twin Peaks Reflections Art Contest! In order to allow students more time to enter something they are really proud of, the PTSA is holding our very own TPMS Reflections Art Competition, with the same theme and categories allowing more time for student's to enter. This year's theme is: "I Will Change the World By...". If your student loves art, photography, dancing, music, or film, we encourage you to let them know about this opportunity to enter their work in our own Reflections Art Competition here at Twin Peaks. Students are encouraged to get create their own interpretation of this year's theme through art by entering in one or more of the following categories:
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature (writing)
- Photography
- Music Composition
- Visual Arts (drawing, painting, mixed media)
To enter the TPMS Reflections Art Contest, go to the link below and submit your student's entry by December 1st!
Entry Form: https://forms.gle/vqFFNGuVUEmQXptp6
For more information, Krista Mertz at: kristalynnmertz@gmail.com or (858) 602-9262.
COVID-19 Updates
On October 1, 2021 Governor Newsom announced the COVID-19 vaccination would be added to the list of required vaccines for school. There is no immediate impact to staff or students: the mandate does not take effect until either January 1 or July 1, 2022 depending on full FDA approval for children ages 12 and over. All staff and 7th through 12th grade will be phased in first, then K-6 later, pending full FDA approval. PUSD will need time to assess and determine how to proceed with the requirement and how take into account any exemptions.
The PUSD School Board met on 10/18 and provided new protocols to allow a limited number of visitors and volunteers back on campus. PUSD is slowly expanding volunteers on campus – effective October 18, 2021, we may now have a limited number of volunteers present in learning spaces with students during the school day. All volunteers must be vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID test; this process is currently being reviewed and will be updated shortly. Outdoor celebrations will have designated visitor areas (i.e. Friday Flag, Jog-a-thons). Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we calibrate with the district and CDPH to make the necessary adjustments.
Please make sure your students are coming to school with a comfortable facemask that they can wear when they are indoors on campus, preferably a cloth mask that can be washed and reused. We are having to handout an increased number of facemasks each day to students who forget theirs and our supply is dwindling quickly. Please review with your students the expectation that masks are to be worn whenever they are indoors on campus (classroom, offices, library, gym, locker room, etc.) and must cover their mouth and nose.
Shop Amazon through TPMS Foundation
Twin Peaks Middle School
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams