Tumwater News
June 10, 2022
Principal 's Message
This week I will be celebrating high school and college graduations with my nieces, nephews, and extended family. As I listen to commencement speakers, I feel both inspired and reflective by the stories they share. At these events it is predictable that senior speakers will offer praise and gratitude to their families and teachers who supported their success throughout their journey to earning their high school diploma or college degree. Often they share that their educational journey didn't start in high school or college, but long ago with a teacher who welcomed, encouraged, or academically challenged them.
It has been a gift to share this year with our students - a small, but important part of their educational journey. It simultaneously feels like yesterday and a long time ago that the doors of Tumwater Middle School opened to welcome students on the first day of school. Over the past school year, students, staff, and families have worked together to navigate the return to full-time, in-person learning in the context of gradually relaxed pandemic response protocols and the formation of our new school identity and community. As we build our school learning plan for next year, we are taking into consideration survey results from parents/guardians, students, and staff. We'll continue to strive for building an inclusive community where all students feel welcome, inspired, and supported through academic challenge.
Thank you for allowing us to share in your child's journey this year!
Warmly,
Jill O'Neill
Principal
Upcoming Events
June 13 Spirit Day: Mismatch Day
June 14
- Spirit Day: Tumwater T-Shirts
- Band Concert in Main Gym, 6:30 pm
June 15 Spirit Day: Hat Day
June 16
- Spirit Day: School Color Day
- Choir Concert in Commons, 6:30 pm
June 17
- Spirit Day: Summer!
- 8th Grade Recognition Assembly, 9:45 - 11:15 am
- 8th Grade Celebration, 11:30 am - 3:50 pm
June 20 No School - Juneteenth Holiday
June 21 Last Day of School for Students & Field Day, Early Dismissal at 1:50 pm
Be sure to check the calendars on ParentSquare and our school website (scroll to the bottom of the home page) for the school all school events.
Spirit Week
Students are encouraged to earn points for Class Competition by participating in Spirit Week.
Monday - Mismatch Day
Combine stripes & polka dots, clashing colors, two different shoes or socks. Get creative and mix it up!
Tuesday - Tumwater Tuesday
Show school pride by wearing a TMS t-shirt!
Wednesday - Hat Day
Sun is in the forecast for Wednesday (finally!) so wear a hat!
Thursday - School Color Day
Wear clothing in the school color designated for your grade. No body or face paint is permitted.
- 6th Graders wear white clothing
- 7th Graders wear light blue clothing
- 8th Graders wear black clothing
Friday - Summer Fun!
Wear clothing that celebrates summer - tropical prints and bright colors. Swimsuits are not permitted.
Sign Up Now for 2022-23 Free/Reduced School Meals
Next school year, breakfast and lunch will no longer be free for all students. USDA meal waivers that have permitted all students to eat for free the last two years are set to expire June 30, 2022.
Families can apply for meal benefits for school year 2022-2023 beginning July 1 online at: www.schoolcafe.com.
Summer Food Service
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meal Program, was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. When school is out, SFSP provides free meals to kids and teens in areas of need throughout the community. This summer, USDA plans to serve more than 200 million free meals to children 18 years and under at approved SFSP sites. BSD approved sites are at eligible schools and sites.
You can find more info on the BSD Summer Food Service site.
Hotspot Turn-in and Summer Hotspots
We are asking that students return hotspots to their school by June 20. The Verizon and Kajeet devices will become inactive at the end of June.
The district has a limited supply of hotspots available for families with students who are participating in Summer School, Credit Completion, or other summer programs where internet connectivity is needed. There is a Summer Hotspot Request form available in Spanish and English for this purpose.
Locker Clean Out
Please encourage your student to begin bringing home any decorations or extra supplies stored in their hall locker. Time will be provided on Thursday, June 16th for 8th graders to clean out their lockers and on Friday, June 17th for 6th and 7th graders.
Friday, June 17th will be the last day students will use their lockers. Any belongings left after June 21st will be thrown away.
Lost & Found
Students are encouraged to look in the Lost & Found this week for any missing items. Throughout the week tables will be set up in A Hall with the plethora of jackets, sweatshirts, umbrellas, water bottles, lunch boxes, and other belongings that have been found. Parents/guardians are encouraged to look through the collection while volunteering or when attending a school event this week. Smaller items such as glasses and jewelry are kept in the office. Anything remaining after June 21st will be donated to charity or thrown away.
Chromebook Turn In
Students who are returning to Tumwater, Sunset High School, or another BSD school may keep their Chromebook over the summer. Students who will not be attending a BSD school next year should turn their Chromebook into the library by Friday, June 17th. Chromebooks will not be necessary on the last day of school.
Before returning your Chromebook:
- Make sure device is fully charged at check in.
- Bring functional, untangled, original charging cable.
- Remove USBs (mice and external flash drives).
- Remove all stickers and residue .
- If you clean the keyboard and screen, use ONLY computer-safe wipes (Do NOT spray the device with cleaning agents or water.). Here is a tutorial on how to clean a Chromebook.
- Cases will not be stored at ISB and students should keep these at home.
Medication Pick Up
If your child has medication at school, a parent or guardian must pick it up in the school office by Wednesday, June 22nd. Any medication not picked up by this date will be disposed.
Tumwater Summer Camp
Summer Camp acceptance/regret letters were emailed Friday, June 10, 2022.
For students who were accepted into Summer Camp, you should have recieved an RSVP form and course catalog where students can rate their class preferences. The RSVP's are tailored to individual students. If you cannot access yours, please e-mail Tiffany_lace@beaverton.k12.or.us for another (please do not obtain the form from another family as our records will show that your child is not enrolled).
If you applied to Summer Camp, but did not receive either an acceptance or regret letter (in the format of a Google Form) on 6/10/22, please check your junk mail.
An RSVP is required to confirm your child's enrollment in Summer School. They are due by midnight, Friday, June 17, 2022.
We are excited to offer this opportunity for the second year and look forward to hearing from you!
Yearbook Distribution
Our yearbooks have arrived, and the hard work of our Yearbook Club members is evident! We're excited to share the Yearbooks with students and will distribute them in Advisory classes this week. 8th Graders who pre-purchased yearbooks will receive them on Thursday, June 16th. 6th and 7th Graders who pre-purchased yearbooks will receive them on Friday, June 17th. Students who will be absent on these days can pick them up from the school office when they return.
All yearbook sales were online. If you pre-purchased a yearbook in April, you should have received a confirmation email from Lifetouch or you can get the details of your order on the Lifetouch website. Students can check if they have pre-purchased a yearbook by checking the list displayed in the Commons.
If you did not pre-purchase a yearbook, we have a limited number still available for pre-order for $20. They can be purchased through the Online Payment System through BSD. To access the Online Payment System, you will need an active ParentVUE account. If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact the school for an Activation Key code. Once the ParentVUE account is created, it may take up to 24 hours for the Online Payment System account to be activated. Online sales will only continue through Tuesday, June 14th.
Any remaining yearbooks will be sold in the student store. We'll offer the first opportunity to 8th graders during lunch on Thursday, June 16th. 6th & 7th graders will be available for purchase during lunch on Friday. If there are still yearbooks available, they will be sold before school in the Student Store on Tuesday, June 21st.
Summer Office Hours
June 27 - August 12 our school office will be open during the summer from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays only.
6th grade Science
Ms. Dennis' 6th grade science classes are learning about potential and kinetic energy. To apply what they learned they have built these amazing paper marble roller coasters completely powered by gravitational potential energy!
Matilda Production
The drama club shone brightly in their spring production. Matilda the Musical showcased the talent of our Tumwater students. The set and the performances were received well by sold-out audiences. A big round of applause to theatre director Ms. Gladstone!
Little League All-Stars
Congrats to Tumwater students who are members of the Cedar Mill Little League All Star Team: Carson Bossert, Cameron Dann, Collin Dunn, Klarence Harden, Vincent Jeffords, and Brayden Seppala.
High School Transition for current 8th Graders
Sunset High School's Summer School Program is available to all 8th graders residing within SHS attendance boundaries. Students living within other boundaries should check their neighborhood high school's website.
Students interested in participating in fall sports or activities such as Marching Band, should visit the SHS Athletic and Activities webpage to learn more about registration and summer practices.
Volunteers Needed for 8th Grade Celebration on Friday, 6/17
The times for a few of the shifts have been adjusted to allow volunteers to sign up for shifts that were previously overlapping with the Lunch Support Volunteer shift. We have also corrected the link description for the Set up & Decorating shift that had incorrect times in the previous email. Please review the shift links below and in the system for the revised times.
If you are unable to view these volunteer opportunities . . .
Or if you get an error when you click on the link, then it is very likely that you do not have your COVID vaccine record/exemption approved by the district. Only volunteers with an approved COVID vaccination/exemption are allowed to volunteer in person, thus the opportunities are not visible to volunteers missing this approval.
You can now check your profile to see if your vaccination status has been approved. Click on MY PROFILE → Qualifications. Select “Tumwater Middle School” as the organization, and the qualifications should state if you have an approved COVID vaccination status.
More info can be found at www.tumwaterpto.org/volunteer.
Questions regarding volunteering can be sent to Kristi (volunteer@tumwaterpto.org).
If you have any questions about the celebration, please email Amber (amber.fer@frontier.com).
Field Day Volunteers Needed!
Our final volunteer event for the school year will be helping staff run field day on the last day of school (Tuesday 6/21). There are shifts available for each grade level, as well as shifts for those who want to volunteer for the full day. Links to the volunteer opportunities are shown below. As with the 8th Grade Celebration, you must be in Tumwater's Volunteer Database AND have your COVID vaccine record/exemption approved by the district in order to view, sign up and volunteer for these shifts. If you have any questions about volunteering for this event, please send an email to Kristi (volunteer@tumwaterpto.org).
Tumwater Middle School
Building the knowledge and skills that empower students to change the world.
