Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, September 10th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the warm weather this weekend! We had a very busy short week of school, highlighted by our PTSA Book Fair, which kept our library the most popular place on campus as classes of students visited during the day and individual students and parents dropped in before school, during lunch and break, and after school. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers who helped out during the Book Fair, and a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Uyloan, our Librarian, and Mrs. Johnson, our Library Media Tech, for all of their efforts in hosting another successful Book Fair!
We also hosted Back to School Night this past Wednesday night... a big THANK YOU to all of our Twin Peaks families that attended Back to School Night! We hope you were able to see your student's classrooms, get some information about their classes, and meet their teachers. Because we tried something a little different this year with our BTSN event, we want to make sure to get your feedback on how it went. We were hoping to make the event more flexible for families and less rushed - how did it go? Please CLICK HERE to access the Parent Feedback Form for this year's Back-to-School Night event. Thanks in advance for taking the time to let us know your thoughts!
School Site Council elections are now underway! Thank you to all of our parents who submitted their names to be members of the TPMS School Site Council - we have 6 candidates for two parent openings for a two-year term. Please CLICK HERE to access the TPMS School Site Council Voting Form for 23-24. All votes need to be received by 5pm on Monday, September 11th.
We have almost three times the number of students riding bikes to school this year than we did last year; many of the new riders are on e-bikes or electric scooters that students are riding with traffic on the streets. The biggest safety issues we are seeing with students riding their bikes is that they are riding way too fast (especially around pedestrians) and students are riding with more than one person (usually without a helmet too). I have witnessed several near misses already this year where students are riding against traffic at high rates of speed on Twin Peaks Road where parents are dropping off or picking up students for school. We want our students to be safe on their way to and from school each day, and students who continue to practice unsafe riding habits will lose the privilege of being able to ride their bike to school. Parents - please remind your student of safe riding habits around school and in the community when they are riding their bikes!
If your student is riding a bike, ebike, motorized scooter or other powered bike to school, they will need to have a TPMS Bike Permit. The new TPMS Bike Permit form can be found on our website by CLICKING HERE; please complete it with your student and have them return it to Mrs. Moreno in the main office ASAP. We will start issuing permit stickers to students with their paperwork completed this week. In order for your student to continue parking in our lockable bike racks, they will need to have a TPMS Bike Permit on their bike.
Our after school Japanese Power Hour will be starting up again on Monday, September 25th. We are incredibly lucky to have both of our instructors from last year, Ms. Masako & Ms. Fujii, returning to lead the program again this year. We also look forward to adding more students this year than last year, so please consider signing up to participate. Please CLICK HERE for the sign-up form and see the flyer below for more information. If you have questions about the program, please email the instructors at hfujii503@gmail.com
Finally this week, our teachers are in need of some support from our TPMS families - we need your help in collecting classroom supplies used by our students and teachers each day in school. Please see the classroom wishlist of supplies below and consider dropping something by school or ordering it from Amazon and having it delivered. A 12 pack of glue sticks, a few boxes of expo markers, or even a Costco size package of Kleenex are like gold in a classroom! These items will go to stock our classroom supply closet where teachers are able to find classroom essentials that they need to work with students. No donation is too small - thanks in advance for your help with our classroom wishlist!
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS
September 12th: Step-It-Up Assembly, Special Schedule
September 13th: Late Start - 9:50am
September 18th: Teacher Workday, Non-Student Day
September 19th: TPMS Foundation, 6pm @TPMSLibrary
September 20th: Late Start - 9:50am
September 21st: TPMS PTSA, 6:15pm @TPMSLibrary
September 22nd: Cross Country Meet, 3:30-5:30, Upper Field
September 27th: Late Start - 9:50am
September 29th: TBES/TPMS Identity Day, 4-6pm
October 21st: Foundation Fall Parent Social, 6-9pm
6th Grade WEB Carnival!
PTSA Classroom Supplies Closet Wishlist
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.
Join the TPMS Choir!
TPMS Choir will start singing on September 5th! Practices will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:20-8:20am. All students are welcome! Students need to be on time and can not miss more than 4 practices total for the choir session. We will perform a December 7th concert at Twin Peaks, and another with the Poway High School Choir at their concert on December 12th.
Any questions, please email TPMSchoirdirector@gmail.com
For registration information: TPMS Choir Fall 2023
Identity Day - Volunteers Needed!
To make this event a reality, we need your help! Please CLICK HERE to signup to help at the check-in/Scavenger Hunt tables, supervise an event, or help with set-up or clean-up. We look forward to seeing everyone on the 29th!
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."
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
ASB Student Activities Canvas Page
Attendance Corner
ATTENDANCE HOTLINE:
To report an Absence, Tardy, or student Leaving Early…Call the Attendance Hotline (858)668-2730. It’s available 24/7. Leave the information needed, and attendance will be updated.
PERIOD ABSENCES
If you receive a call about your student being marked absent for a period the chart below will help to explain.
Example: The phone message states your student was marked absent for Period 5.
Period 1 = 1st class of the day
Period 2 = 2nd class of the day
Period 3 & 4 = Homeroom (previously RAM)
Period 5 = 3rd class of the day
Period 6 = 4th class of the day
Period 5 is the 3rd class of the day and is in the afternoon after Lunch or Homeroom.
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 SPANISH Teen Positive Parenting Workshop In Person 1 DAY
- 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.
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:
September 21st (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
October 19th
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!
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:
September 19th
October 17th
November 14th
January 16th
February 13th
March 12th
April 16th
May 21st
Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING 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