Weekly Parent Newsletter
August 20, 2021
Upcoming Events
August 23 - Picture Day - thru PE Classes
August 23 - Welcome Week lunchtime activity - Beat Shazam
August 24 - Welcome Week lunchtime activity - Get to Know You Bingo
August 25 - Welcome Week lunchtime activity - What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar?
August 26 - Welcome Week lunchtime activity - Minute to Win it
August 26 - Back to School Night - 5:30-7:30 p.m.
August 27 - Welcome Week lunchtime activity - Lunch party (music and games)
Principal's Message
Dear PTMS Families,
We had a wonderful first week of school! The students seemed happy to be around their friends and excited to meet their teachers. There were definitely a lot of smiles and laughter during lunch.
As predicted, the snack and lunch lines were long. We are doing our very best to be as efficient as possible. I anticipate the lines to move faster next week, as all students will have their lunch number and we will have systems in place. As a reminder, breakfast and lunch are free for all students. To help with the long breakfast lines and the short 10 minute break, breakfast will also be served from 8:00-8:20 each morning. Students will be served breakfast only once per day.
Back to School Night is next Thursday, August 26th at 5:30 p.m. This will be a live, virtual event. Next week, I will send home the Google Meet links for each of your student’s classes along with the bell schedule. This event is a wonderful way to meet your student’s teacher, learn about the course content, and class expectations. As in the past, each teacher’s session will be 10 minutes long. We hope you can join us!
Have a wonderful weekend, Wolves!
Mary Anne Nuskin
Principal
Assistant Principal's Message
Next Week is Welcome Week!
ASB will be hosting various events and activities in the quad during lunch. Encourage your student to participate and meet new people. ASB will be providing students with a preview of the weeks' events on Monday, August 23rd, during Homeroom.
STAR Testing
Description: Star Reading and Star Math are both short, 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.
PTMS STAR Testing Schedule
STAR Math: Monday, August 23rd in Math classes
STAR Reading: Monday, August 30th in English classes
Make-up testing will be done through Homeroom classes.
STAR Testing Resources/ Websites:
From the Counseling Office
Hi Wolfpack!
We are so excited to see our wolves back on campus! We wanted to remind students that we are here to help and how to access their school counselor. We are available before school, in between classes, 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 10, 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. If your student was invited and attended today’s social, please encourage them to continue to attend the next three socials. We will continue to send passes before each gathering. This is an opportunity for students who do not know others to make connections that can lead to great friendships!
Wishing our PTMS families a restful weekend.
Lisa Curry (A-Ma) lisa.curry@sduhsd.net Carsen Murt (Mc-Z and EL students) carsen.murt@sduhsd.netSafety
Picture Day - August 23 - through PE Classes
Picture Times for ISPE Students
ISPE students with ISPE Period 6 should stay on campus during 6th period to have their picture taken outside in back of the gym.
ISPE students with ISPE Period 1, and music students with NO ISPE Period, will receive a pass to go outside in back of the gym during Homeroom to have their picture taken. Passes will be delivered to these students at the beginning of Homeroom, after they have checked-in with their Homeroom teacher.
Student ID cards will be generated and delivered to the site after Picture Day and distributed to students through their Homeroom classes. There is no charge for the Student ID card, but replacement ID cards cost $5.00/ea.
Yearbooks are Available to Order!
The cost for a Yearbook is $45, but will go up to $50 at second semester. Please CLICK HERE to order your student's yearbook at the lowest price offered this school year.
From the PTSA
Welcome To A New School Year! Please Join The PTSA!
The PTMS Parent, Teacher & Student Association (PTSA) welcomes you to the 2021-22 school year! As the school enters a new year, the PTSA continues to grow, supporting the families and staff of PTMS by sponsoring enriching activities and programs.
We kindly ask for your support to continue this work.
PTSA programs include the Math League, Science Olympiad, Spelling Bee, STEM, Technology Drive, National History Day, Red Ribbon Week, Eighth Grade Graduation, Homework Club, Teacher mini-grants, Parent Education and Forum, Art Collection, Arts Night, Staff Appreciation, Orientation, Spirit Day, Pi Day, and many more!
Please use the link below to help us keep these programs and activities available by becoming a PTSA member and/or making donations.
Visitor Badges and Check-In/Check-out Procedures
Other
- PTMS Webstore - the PTMS store for PE clothes and Spirit Wear.
- Boys & Girls Club 2021-22 Sports Tryouts Schedule
- Rady Children's Hospital presentation, "Supporting Your Child's Transition Back to School" recording.
- San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth - Parent Pledge.