Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the Desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, May 12th, 2024
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying your weekend - Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I want to wish each and every one of our Ram Moms a restful and enjoyable Mother's Day doing what you enjoy with the people you love.
We had another event-filled week at TPMS, with some notable after school events taking place. On Monday, our TPMS Competitive Reading Team outread Oak Valley MS to maintain their undefeated record and capture 1st place in PUSD for the 2nd year in a row! On Thursday afternoon, our Ram Soccer Team lost a hard-fought match against Bernardo Heights MS in the district soccer championship, 0-2. And after our soccer team played, we had a chance to recognize our AVID Student Scholars at the PUSD Board Meeting. Congratulations to Melenie Guevara and Parker Rohrer on their awards - check out the write-ups for each student below!
On Thursday and Friday, students in grades 6-8 began their Math CAASPP Test in their Homeroom classes. The vast majority of our students were able to complete both sections of the math test in the time allotted, with many having time to spare. Students will now transition to their ELA CAASPP Test with their Homeroom teacher on Monday and Tuesday of this week; please make sure your student continues to charge their Chromebook each night this week before school, that they get plenty of rest each night, and wake up and have something to eat before they begin testing. Don't forget that PUSD Food Services still provides students with breakfast free of charge; if they chose not to eat it before school from 8-8:30am, then they have an opportunity to still get their breakfast during the first break of the morning from our cafeteria windows.
A friendly reminder that we will have MINIMUM DAYS this MONDAY and TUESDAY, May 13th and 14th for CAASPP Testing. All students will be dismissed at 12:35pm. Our Main Office and ASES program will still be open as normal on both days.
The ABC's of Spirit will continue this week with the following spirit dress-up day
- Monday, 5/13: M - Music Day - rock your favorite band shirt!
- Tuesday, 5/14: N - Neon Day - come dressed in your highlighter colors!
- Wednesday, 5/15: O - Occupation of Your Dreams Day - have fun with this one!
- Thursday, 5/16: P - Pink Day - wear it proudly!
- Friday, 5/17: Q - Queens & Kings Day - come with your crowns on!
Finally this week, these final 4 weeks of school will go by quickly, and we have quite a few big activities remaining this school year. Please read through the rest of this week's newsletter and check our website for information updates on all of the upcoming events including 6th Grade Olympics, 8th Grade end-of-year events, Yearbook distribution, our final PTSA and Foundation meetings, and dates and times for our TPMS band and choir concerts. We're looking forward to an amazing end of the year for our Rams!
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
Upcoming Events at Twin Peaks MS
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - Click here for Calendar
May 15th: Late Start, 9:50am
May 16th: PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm, Library
May 16th: Choir Concert, 7pm, Little Theater
May 21st: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm
May 22nd: Late Start, 9:50am
May 22nd: ELAC Meeting. 5:30-7pm, Library
May 22nd:Choir Concert, PCPA w/ PHS, 7pm
May 23rd and 24th: 6th Grade Olympics
May 23rd: Choir Concert, PCPA w/ PHS, 7pm
May 27th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
May 29th: Late Start, 9:50am
May 29th: Academic Awards Night, 5-8pm
June 3rd: 8th Grade Harbor Cruise, 5-9pm
June 5th: 8th Grade Breakfast (first block)
June 6th: 8th Grade Promotion, 8:30am - MINIMUM DAY
Mother's Day Card-making in the Library
AVID Student Scholars Recognized by PUSD
This past Thursday evening, the PUSD School Board formally recognized our AVID Student Scholars for 2024-2025 for their outstanding accomplishments. Unfortunately, Melenie was not able to attend Thursday's Board Meeting and will receive her award at our AVID Awards Ceremony. We were able to recognize Parker - please check out the photo above with TPMS AVID Coordinator Mikki Matutia, Board Member Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff, Interim Superintendent Greg Mizel, TPMS Assistant Principal Jessica Turner and Principal Steve Mills.
Melenie Guevara: Melenie embodies the spirit of AVID, our Ohana family, and more importantly, a newfound pride in herself, which has developed through her AVID participation. Melenie takes her AVID skills and applies them to her other classes and sets an example for others. She embraces challenges and never backs down when faced with adversity. Her bilingualism is not only a gift to her, but to others, as she supports other bilingual students. Melenie stands out to us because of her grit to want more for herself and her future.
Parker Rohrer: Parker emanates the true AVID Ohana spirit at Twin Peaks. Her leadership and dedication to success are guides she uses to help herself and others through challenges. Being the Best Version of Herself liberates others and aspires them to do the same. Parker's big heart and smile is contagious… It warms our soul, and she is always willing to welcome a new friend and encourage an old one to work as hard as she does. Parker is an incredible AVID standout who continues to work on building a strong RAM Community at Twin Peaks and for our AVID Ohana.
TPMS Reading Team Places 1st in PUSD!
Competitive Reading Team Wins Back-to-Back Titles!
Our TPMS Competitive Reading Team has won first place in the district for the second year in a row! We won our final competition against Oak Valley MS on Monday and ended our season undefeated with 4 wins and an overall accuracy rating of 87% across the matches! Congratulations to Teacher Coach Tina Folsom and our student readers on this amazing accomplishment!
8th Grade Breakfast - We Need Your Help!
We have some news for you! Our End of the Year 8th Grade Breakfast is just around the corner on Wednesday, June 5th. This breakfast will be a final hurrah with all of your peers before we go off to high school. We will have tasty food, snazzy music, and awesome decorations that will ensure everyone will have a great time! This amazing event will definitely be a highlight of your middle school career! However, we need a little help to make this celebration happen. We would love donations in any way shape or form. Signups will close on May 24th. PLEASE - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
Volunteer Opportunity - Painted Rock Spring Fling!
TPMS Students! Painted Rock's Spring Fling is Friday, 5/17, from 4:30-7:30pm. There are many volunteer opportunities including: setup, working a booth and/or clean up!
Click HERE to sign up!
Feel free to contact Mrs. Buswell, the Painted Rock PTA President, with any questions: rebeccabuswell@hotmail.com
PTSA Academic Awards Night - May 29th
Our annual PTSA Academic Awards Night is coming up on Wednesday, May 29th. Students eligible for academic awards will receive notification by Mid-May and are strongly encouraged to attend the evening event with their families to be recognized! Here is the schedule for the evening:
- 6th Grade Awards: 5:00-5:45pm
- 7th Grade Awards: 6:00-6:45pm
- 8th Grade Awards: 7:00-7:45pm
The ABCs of School Spirit!
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks pre-order deadline has now passed. Here is the how, when and where to pick up a pre-ordered book or purchase one of our limited-supply extras!
HOW:
Every student who has a pre-ordered book will receive a Receipt Flyer showing their picture and the details of their order. Students will get the Receipt Flyer in their Homeroom class right before the Pick-Up Event. Students will be able to use the flyer to pick up their yearbook. If they don’t have the flyer at time of pick up, then they will have to show school ID, either by card or by phone on Synergy.
If students are purchasing one of our limited supply of extras, they do not need an ID but they will need $55 cash. Cash only. We cannot take checks this late in the school year. Purchasing is first come, first serve while supplies last.
WHEN AND WHERE TO PICK UP A PRE-ORDERED YEARBOOK:
Tuesday, 28th
Pick up only of Pre-ordered Books in MPR (no sales)
During Homeroom class
Must have flyer or show ID by card or phone through Synergy
WHEN AND WHERE TO PURCHASE AN EXTRA YEARBOOK:
Wed 5/29 through the last day of school or until yearbooks run out
Before school/During both lunches
Table in front of room 406
$55 Cash Only, no ID required
6th Grade Olympics!
Mark your calendars for our 48th annual 6th Grade Olympics on Thursday, May 23rd and Friday, May 24th. The Olympics are hosted by our PE department and sponsored by TPMS PTSA. Students will be out on the Twin Peaks upper field competing in: relay races, mini marathon, long jump, hurdles, high jump, shot put, discus events & much more! Don't miss the chance to cheer on your student and their Olympic team!
Help is needed to make this event a huge success. If you're interested in volunteering during the two day event please sign-up here: Volunteer Sign-Up 6th Gr Olympics.
Please contact Melissa Atkinson at PTSAPresTPMS@gmail.com. Volunteers will still be able to watch/cheer for their student(s) and have access to the infield.
Parent Education Workshops
May 2024 Parent Education Courses:
- Navigating Autism and Supporting Your Child – 6th- 8th Grade NEW
- Shaping Positive Behavior: Strengthening Emotional Intelligence in Children TK-5th Grade NEW
- FREE Spanish Parent Education Workshop: Coping Skills for Anxiety and Depression Among Children and Teens
In Person – Valley Elementary School
Tuesday, May 14th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
*Childcare provided for school-aged children
Please Get to School On-Time!
Parents - please make every effort to have your student here before classes begin each day at 8:30am, or before 9:50am on Wednesdays. We are actually experiencing a larger percentage of students late to school on Wednesdays when we have late start than on our regular start days. Please try and drop your student off at school by 8:15am or regular days and by 9:30am on late-start Wednesdays so that they have time to get to their first block class on time; we open the school gates 30 minutes before classes actually start, and our Food Services provide a free breakfast for students during this time or during the morning break after first block.
Multilingual Program Updates!
First, we are excited to share a new tool you can access to support your student(s) that are English Learners. The EL Console is our new application where parents can see student’s progress towards reclassification. You can view their ELPAC scores along with their progress on iReady and SBAC assessments. To access the EL Console, follow these quick steps!
Second, our English Learner department has a new Instagram and Facebook account you can follow! You can see amazing learning in action, get updates from the EL Department, and learn how to continue to support your child. You can follow along at @pusdmll !
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.
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."
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:
- May 16th
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:
- 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