PTMS Weekly Parent Newsletter
August 18, 2023
Coming Up
August 21-25 - Welcome Week - ASB Activities scheduled during lunches
August 21 - Late Start Monday - School starts at 9:25 a.m.
August 22-23 - Behavior Talks by the Assistant Principal
August 25 - New Student Social #2 during lunches
Message from the Superintendent's Office
Good morning SDUHSD Community,
At the conclusion of a successful first week of the school year, I would like to share a few announcements.
Last night, our governing board approved the appointments of Kathryn Freeman, currently the assistant principal at Pacific Trails Middle School, to become the assistant principal at Canyon Crest Academy. Additionally, Staci Ortiz-Davis, currently the English Department chair at Torrey Pines High School, was approved to become assistant principal at Diegueño Middle School. We congratulate both individuals on these new leadership positions which they will begin this month.
As a reminder all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly here.
As you may be aware, San Diego County may experience some intense weather this weekend because of Hurricane Hilary that has formed in the Pacific Ocean, just south of Baja California. Although forecasters say it’s likely to be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches our county, there is the potential for extreme weather such as high winds, flash flooding, rain, and thunderstorms.
San Dieguito Union High School District will be monitoring the storm as it makes its way toward the region and will communicate with you through our regular channels if the storm has any impact on school facilities or operations.
We care about our community and encourage you to sign up for Alert San Diego and visit the County of San Diego website to boost your personal preparedness for storms and flooding.
Thank you again for your ongoing support of our SDUHSD students. We wish everyone a safe and wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Anne Staffieri, Ed.,D.
Superintendent
Message from the Principal
Wolfpack families,
We have made it to Friday! Today as I walked around at lunch, I saw so many students eating in groups, playing games in the Learning Commons, playing sports on the grass fields, some relaxing in our Wellness Center, and most importantly, creating positive connections. Our counseling team also held lunch activities for new students to build connections for our new members of the Wolfpack. They were well-attended at both lunches, and it certainly brought a smile to my face to see so many happy students.
In class this week, I noticed students in PE getting their locks and learning their combinations, art students creating art portfolios, students in STEM building structures from pasta in efforts of holding up a ping-pong ball, Spanish classes beginning learning in the targeted language and 8th grade Science classes started an experiment using glow sticks. It's great to see active learning across so many subjects.
Last night, our school board approved the transition of our Assistant Principal, Ms. Freeman, in her move to Canyon Crest Academy to serve in the same role. Ms. Freeman has worked at Pacific Trails since it opened in 2015, working in multiple roles including science teacher, ASB Director, and Assistant Principal. She will be with us until after Labor Day, and I will keep our community updated on who may take on that role as it occurs.
Monday will be our first Late Start Monday of the year. While school begins at 9:25 am, we know many families may need to drop their students off to PTMS prior to this time. Please know our Learning Commons opens at 7:30 a.m. and is supervised. Students who are dropped off early are welcome to access this space.
Finally, with the forecasted rain, please send your student to school with an umbrella or rain jacket. Too often, students show up unprepared for the rain, get soaking wet, then sit in a classroom that is air-conditioned. Additionally, please remind your children to not intentionally get soaking wet. While I can appreciate playing in the rain, and it certainly can be fun, we will provide spaces during the day for students to eat lunch and during break so that they can stay dry.
Enjoy your weekend and we will see you Monday.
In gratitude,
Scott Wild
Principal
Message from the Assistant Principal
STAR Testing
This year all students will participate in the Renaissance Star Reading and Star Math academic universal screening tests to measure student’s learning and growth over the school year. The Star tests help our schools and teachers evaluate student performance and progress over time in order to provide the necessary student support.
Star Reading and Star Math are both short (30 minute), low stakes, computer adaptive, academic assessments. Star assessments help teachers better understand what students know and can do in the areas of reading and math. As a student takes the test, the software selects items based on the student’s responses. If the student answers correctly, the next item will be more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the next item will be less difficult. By adjusting the difficulty of the items based on a student's responses, the assessment is an accurate way to help teachers identify what skills students are ready to learn. Teachers use this information to guide their instruction.
Scores will be posted by the district in Aeries once they are available.
Fall STAR Testing Dates
STAR Reading: Monday, August 28th in English classes
STAR Math: Thursday, August 31st or Friday, September 1st in Math classes
Feel free to contact me at kathryn.freeman@sduhsd.net, or Lisa Graciano, at lisa.graciano@sduhsd.net, if you have any questions.
Message from the Counselors
Hi Wolfpack!
We were so excited to see our new and returning Wolves on campus this week! We wanted to remind students that we are here to help and how to access their school counselor. We are available before school, during break, at lunch, and during dismissal. Students can stop by the Counseling Office and if we need more time to talk, we can schedule a time to meet. Students can also complete this Pacific Trails Middle School Counseling - Student Request Form and their assigned counselor will follow up via the preference noted in the form (meeting in the counseling office or email).The form is posted on the PTMS Counseling website and there are also signs on campus with a QR code that links to the form as well.
On Fridays through September 8, we host New Student Socials during Homeroom for students who recently moved to the area from another district, out of state, out of country or from private school. This is an opportunity for students who do not know others to make connections that can lead to great friendships! If your student was invited and attended today’s social, please encourage them to continue to attend the next three socials. We will send passes before each gathering.
The new school year is an exciting time, but it can also cause some nervous feelings for students. See tips for easing anxiety and links to resources to help students deal with worry here.
Our Wellness Center is open every lunch break (except Tuesdays) for quiet board games, mindful coloring or simply relaxing on our rocking chairs. This is a great place for your student to come if they are feeling a little overwhelmed outside, if they want to make new friends or just hang out with old ones.
Wishing our PTMS families a restful weekend.
Lisa Curry, Counselor (A-Ma) lisa.curry@sduhsd.net
Carsen Murt, Counselor (Mc-Z and EL Students) carsen.murt@sduhsd.net
Samantha Eels-Taylor, Student Support Facilitator samantha.eelstaylor@sduhsd.net
From the Attendance Office
Is your student going to miss any class time?
If so, the Attendance Office needs to know! It's great that your student knows and it's great that your student's teachers' know, but it is ESSENTIAL that it is communicated to the Attendance Office.
Also, contacting the Attendance Office when you need to pull your student from class for any reason is required. If you are able to contact us in advance, we can have your student waiting for you in the office when you arrive.
Here's what we need when your student misses class:
1. Student first/last name.
2. Your name/relationship with the student.
3. The reason your student is late, is out, or needs to be pulled (and at what time)
4. A phone number/email address where you can be reached.
To pull a student from class, you will need to come into the office with your license/ID.
Contact information for the Attendance Office is:
- 858.509.1000, x4609
- ptattendance@sduhsd.net - **email is the preferred means of communication for Attendance.
~ We want you here for another great year! School attendance matters.
ASB and Student Announcements
You can check them out on the Students tab of our website under "Student Announcements" for a running post of each week's student announcements.
Department News
From the PE Department
Please follow us on Instagram to see what your student is up to during PE class.
Science Notebooks
Are you going Back-to-School shopping? Don't forget to pick up a science notebook!
All 7th and 8th grade science students will need a notebook that they will bring to their science class daily. These can be a composition style or a spiral bound notebook. We recommend the 8.5x11” spiral bound, 100 page, college-ruled notebooks, but the 7.5x10" size will work as well. We DO NOT recommend the 3 or 5 subject notebooks, as this science notebook must be used EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCIENCE; no other subjects should be in this notebook. (If a student needs a notebook for another class, please get a separate notebook for that class.)
Students should bring their science notebook to class by Monday, August 21st. If a student is unable to get a notebook, please contact your student’s science teacher.
Check out this Guide for Science Notebooks
PTMS 2023-24 Yearbook
Submit Summer Photos for the Yearbook!
Yearbook is looking for photos of your student's summer adventures or activities! Please click here to submit summer photos that may potentially be used in the 2023-2024 yearbook.
Clubs
Club activity will be posted here throughout the year. To get a list of all Clubs currently active, please check our Activities page on our website.
From the PTSA
On August 10th, our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) was pleased to treat our school staff to a Board and Brew sandwiches for lunch. Please check out the pictures from the lunch event on our school Facebook page Inservice Staff Lunch - August 10, 2023. "Like" our Facebook post, and leave a comment of appreciation for our amazing school staff. More appreciation events like this one will be held throughout the school year thanks to your PTSA membership purchases and other generous donations. Go, Wolf Pack!
~ Petia Balden
PTSA Staff Appreciation Chair
~ To join PTSA today, click here. For Membership information, Upcoming Events, Fundraiser activity, PTSA Executive Board Members and their contact information, PTSA General Meeting dates, and more, please go the the PTSA Page of the PTMS Website.
Picture Days
Picture Days this year will be held on August 28 for 7th graders through PE classes and September 11 for 8th graders also through PE classes. ISPE classes will report to the gym for their picture to be taken during their ISPE class periods (either Period 1 or Period 6) on their assigned 7th or 8th grade day, or will receive passes to get their pictures taken. ISPE families: Please watch for an independent notification from the Assistant Principal's Office for more details.
Click on the QR code on the below flyer to receive a link to your gallery when it's ready (which will be sometime after picture days). With that link, you will be able to view and choose from proofs of your student's portraits.
Click on this QR code to receive a link to your Gerardy photo gallery when it's ready (which will be sometime after the picture days conclude). This will open up a direct link to Gerardy when it comes time to see the proofs and order the 2023-24 school pictures of your child. The school site is no longer permitted to provide parent email addresses to the picture people, so parents need to provide it directly to the company in order to take advantage of this service.
Nutrition Services
Job Opportunities - Nutrition Services
SDUHSD is seeking individuals who want to make a difference in children’s lives in the role of an Instructional Assistant. We have positions available for Instructional Assistant – Special Education, Instructional Assistant – Behavior Intervention, and Instructional/Personal Care Assistant. These positions are typically between 4 – 6 hours per day, depending on the assignment.
Instructional Assistants assist a certificated teacher in providing instruction to an individual or small group of students in a special education learning environment. We have openings throughout the district at middle and high schools in Special Education classrooms.
If you are interested, or know someone else who would love this job, go to www.edjoin.org/sandieguito.
A Community Message from Torrey Pines High School
Falcon Families and Fans,
Torrey Pines High School is very proud of our tradition of Friday night lights in Falcon Stadium. We are happy to provide this fun, exciting community event for our families and fans. In order to ensure everyone can enjoy the game, performances, and amenities, it’s important that we all understand our TP Pledge, and abide by our stadium rules and expectations. If you or your student attend our games, please take a moment to read and discuss our rules and the expectation for positive fan conduct:
No alcohol, cigarettes, vaping devices, or controlled substances are allowed anywhere on our school grounds, including parking lots. This applies to everyone in attendance.
Tailgating is prohibited.
No outside food or drink is allowed in the stadium.
There is no re-entry allowed. Once inside the stadium, no one may leave and come back in.
Parents/guardians who bring their children to the games are responsible for monitoring their behavior.
All students must bring a school-issued ID to be admitted to the game.
All middle school students and younger must be accompanied by and sit with a parent or an adult who is responsible for them (limit 4 students per adult).
Anyone who engages in an activity that disrupts the event or the enjoyment of the event will be directed to leave the stadium and may be subject to disciplinary action.
By working together we can support our teams, our school, and our community and all enjoy the magic that happens on Ed Burke Field.
This year’s home schedule is:
August 24 (Thurs) vs San Clemente
September 1 vs. Escondido
September 8 vs. San Marcos
October 6 vs. Mission Hills (Homecoming)
October 13 vs. Carlsbad (Senior Night)
We are TP!
Rob Coppo, Principal
Tracy Olander, Assistant Principal (A-G)
Rebecca Gallow, Assistant Principal (H-N)
Robby Shockney, Assistant Principal (O-Z)
Charlenne FalcisStevens, Athletic Director
Other Important Items
- Boys & Girls Club - Seasonal sports information/registration.
- PTMS Live Calendar of Campus Events and 2023-24 Instructional Calendar.
- PTMS Spirit Wear/Gear - PTMS Spirit Wear and accessories for the whole family!
- PTMS Student Vehicle Permit - Register your bike/e-bike/scooter/skateboard with PTMS. Complete this form and turn in to the office.
- PTMS Webstore - PE clothes/Limited Series Clothing
- PTMS Webstore - Spirit Wear
- PTMS Yearbook. - Order today!
- San Dieguito Alliance for a Drug-Free Youth - complete the Parent Pledge here.
- San Dieguito Boys & Girls Club - click the link to the left for 2023-24 athletic schedules.
- SDUHSD - Employment Opportunities. To view a list of openings and to apply, please click https://www.edjoin.org/sandieguito or you can call Susan Gray at 760 753-6491 x5543.
This newsletter has also been posted to our website under "Parent Communications."