Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, October 29th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying this final weekend of Ocotber! We had another amazing week of learning at Twin Peaks as 6th graders started their Earth Systems unit in Science, 7th graders were learning about the Middle Ages in Social Studies, and 8th grade AVID students enjoyed a campus visit to SDSU! I hope you all enjoyed the Hunter's Moon and partial lunar eclipse last night as we prepare for an abbreviated week of school, Halloween, and the beginning of November!
Monday, October 30th and Tuesday, October 31st are minimum days for students, with dismissal at 12:35pm each day. Our staff have professional development activities planned for both afternoons, and our school office will be open until 4pm on each day. ASES will be operating their regular hours on both Monday and Tuesday.
Calling all Spooky Rams! This year, Twin Peaks ASB will be hosting their first ever TPMS Haunted House on October 30th from 5:30-7:30 PM. Entry will be $1 for all TPMS Students and $2 for any other guests. Tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event. All guests under the age of 18 will need a permission slip, which can be found on the TPMS ASB Activities Canvas page, or in Room 911. Parents are also welcome to come and enjoy this event being held in the 100 Building (South gate nearest MPR).
Tuesday is Halloween, and we want our Rams to show their TPMS spirit and enjoy the day by wearing a costume if they chose to. Please remember that all costumes need to be school-appropriate and follow the guidelines below:
Halloween Costume Guidelines: Celebrating Halloween in today's social climate must be done with a sensitivity toward the subjects of violence, death, race, ethnicity, religious preference, physical and mental conditions, and sexual orientation. Please remember that costumes may not suggest racial attitudes that reinforce stereotypes about, mock or mischaracterize a culture, group of persons, an individual person or a religion. More specific guidelines include:
- Costumes may not include full face masks or cover the entire face.
- Costumes may not be violent or suggestive in nature.
- Costumes may not have anything simulating a weapon.
- Costumes must not be so distracting as to disrupt the learning environment
If you have any questions or concerns about these guidelines, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!
Wednesday, November 1st, is a non-student day and there will be NO SCHOOL! It is a professional learning day for our staff, so teachers will be on campus, but our main office will be closed all day on Wednesday, November 1st. Our main office will reopen at 7:30am on Thursday, November 3rd. ASES is NOT OPEN for students on Wednesday, November 1st.
What I Wish My Parents Knew is just around the corner and we want TPMS parents to attend! This series of workshops, held twice a year for PUSD parents to learn about their students and some of the realities of their day-to-day life in school, are facilitated by PUSD Administrators and local faith leaders, and also feature student voice! Workshop sessions include Establishing Guardrails, Managing Stress & Anxiety, Social Media Pressures, and Balancing Academics. The fall WIWMPK workshops will be held on Wednesday, November 8th starting at 6pm at Oak Valley Middles School. No sign-ups are needed - please make sure to bring a friend or two with you to this important and unique parent event!
I'd like to encourage all of our TPMS active duty military families to complete the TPMS Military Families Google Form LINKED HERE. This form was developed by our Counseling Department to allow us to connect with our active duty military families and make sure they and their students are receiving the support and services they might need. Look for an invite in the coming weeks to our Military Appreciation Lunch in Pride Park where we host our active duty service men and women and their students for a family lunch. Please see the bulletin announcement and link below for more information.
Our Step-It Up Day Kidchella event has been rescheduled toTuesday, March 5th. All students will still have the opportunity to come out and enjoy the BMX Bike Show during their lunch period on the back field / basketball blacktop during their assigned lunch on March 5th, but all other events will be held after school on the minimum day. Prizes for students who earned rewards will be distributed by ASB - more details to come on dates and time of prize delivery!
STUDENT PASSWORDS WILL RESET THIS THURSDAY NIGHT!! Student passwords will reset for all TPMS students on Thursday, November 2nd; this means students will need to access their new passwords during their first block class on Friday, November 3rd. Students will receive their new password from their Homeroom teacher before Friday, but if a student ever misplaces their new password, parents can access their student's password by logging into the Poway Account Self Service website (https://password.powayusd.com).
Finally this week, the end of trimester 1 is quickly approaching on November 9th. Parents and students, please take some time to review your grades through Student/Parent Vue to make sure you have all of your assignments complete and all projects and assessments have been graded and turned in. Students are encouraged to reach out to their teachers if they have missing work to complete to make sure it can still be accepted for credit. Students can use their Homeroom time to focus their time and energy on classes that need it the most - please reach out to your Homeroom teacher this week if you need guidance on how to use your Homeroom time to make up missing work in other classes. We are here to help, so please reach out to your student's teachers, their counselor, or a member of our admin team if you have any questions or concerns.
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 Student Activity Calendar
October 30th & 31st: Minimum Days - Dismissal at 12:35pm
November 1st: Non-Student Day - NO SCHOOL!
November 6th - 10th: National School Psychology Week
November 8th: Late Start, 9:50am open
November 8th: What I Wish My Parents Knew, 6pm @OVMS
November 9th: Military Appreciation Lunch, Pride Park
November 9th: End of Trimester 1
November 10th: Veteran's Day, No School
November 13th: Start of Trimester 2
November 15th: Late Start, 9:50am open
November 20th-24th: Thanksgiving Break
Reflections Art Contest
The PTSA Reflections Art Contest deadline is October 31st and all submissions must be in by the end of the day that day. For more information about tis year's contest, please CLICK HERE!
To enter, go to: https://forms.gle/oXnzK2B7aVea3sGb9
For questions, contact Krista Mertz at kristalynnmertz@gmail.com
Chipotle Fundraiser
Basketball Registration
IT'S TIME FOR BASKETBALL SEASON AT TPMS!!!! Basketball registration forms will be available in the front office and PE locker room starting on TUESDAY 10/31-11/9. All info about Basketball season will be on the registration packet and available on the TPMS website sports page on TUESDAY! We hope to see your student come out for the team! Any questions about basketball please reach out to Matti Romero at mamiller@powayusd.com
Listed below is the link to the TPMS Sports Page!
Sports Program - ASES - TWIN PEAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL (powayusd.com)
CJSF Canned Food Drive
Hey Rams! Mark your calendars! We are gearing up for our yearly homeroom canned food drive competition! The CJSF club on campus has teamed up with the San Diego Food bank and will be conducting a food drive on our campus beginning November 2 to November 15th! It is a perfect time to ask your families to clean out those pantries at home! While we know you want to participate to help feed families around San Diego, your homeroom class has a chance to win a whole class prize! Double points for delicious and nutritious items like tuna, canned veggies, canned soup, and canned beans. We will see you out at the Science Patio - first and second lunch beginning November 2!
Attention Military Families
Twin Peaks Middle School deeply appreciates the sacrifices and dedication of our service members and their families. Your resilience and commitment to our county do not go unnoticed. In an effort to better understand the unique needs and challenges faced by military families, we have created a brief survey. Your input is invaluable and will aid us in tailoring our support programs to best serve your needs. Please take a moment to complete the Google Form HERE.
Please also save the date for our annual Military Appreciation Lunch taking place on Thursday, November 9th, 2023.
The TPMS Parent Patrol Needs YOU!
Join #TEAMPUSD!
What I Wish My Parents Knew
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.
ASES Sports Donations
TPMS Bike Permits
More Than A Meal
MORE THAN A MEAL (formerly called FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION) can help you out in many ways. Please click on this link More Than a Meal to complete the online application. Listed below are a few ways this program can help:
- Discounts for passes on public transportation
- Discounts on home internet costs
- Discounts on fees for SAT, ACT, AP tests
- Discounts on application fees associated with colleges and universities
- Our district can receive increased funding to support students.
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."
ASB Student Activities Canvas Page
Food & Nutrition Update
All children in PUSD are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals regardless of income for the 2023-2024 school year. Please see the PUSD Food and Nutrition Website for more information. Breakfast is served 30 minutes before school starts daily, if your student can not make it before school, they can receive a free breakfast at morning break!
Parents/Guardians are still encouraged to complete a meal application online to receive other benefits such as a Pandemic EBT card for each child. The website to apply is www.myschoolapps.com
Paper meal applications (for parents that can’t complete one online) are available in the TPMS front office.
*PUSD Food and Nutrition Department is cashless. Please click on the following link to learn more about the cashless system Cashless System
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.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
Calling all 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 February 1st so don’t delay! Don't forget to order your yearbook, too!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
PUSD Parent Education Courses
- FREE Teen Positive Parenting Program (English) via ZOOM.
- Gender Identity & Expression Part I - All Grades in Person.
- Talking & Listening to Your Kids - TK-5th Grade via Zoom.
- Talking and Listening to Your Kids – 6th -12th Grade NEW.
- Early Childhood Development: Shaping the Mindset TK-3rd Grade NEW.
- Help Your Children Manage Stress and Anxiety – TK-5th Grade.
- Using your Strengths to Navigate Life Storms – All Grades NEW.
- Help Your Teen Manage Stress and Anxiety – 6th-12th Grade NEW.
- Developing an Effective Individualized Education Program – All Grades.
- Empowering Parents with Consequences that Work – TK-5th Grade NEW.
Scholarships are available to parents who may be in need. Parents can contact the Caring Connections Center for more information. You can visit their website by clicking here and searching for the course you are interested in and enroll directly from their site.
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:
November 14th
January 16th
February 13th
March 12th
April 16th
May 21st
Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE!
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:
November 16th
December 14th
January 18th
February 15th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
March 14th
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!
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