PTMS Weekly Parent Newsletter

I. Coming Up (calendar items in the coming week or so)

II. Message from the Principal

III. Message from the Assistant Principal

• From the Attendance Office

IV. Counseling Corner

• Information on Wellness and Suicide Prevention
  
• Annual Residency Verification
• High School Selection

V. From the PTSA

VI. ASB and Student Announcements

VII. Department News

• Learning Commons
• PE
• Science
• Yearbook
  

VIII. Clubs (periodic information on extracurricular school activities)

IX. Nutrition Services

X. Multilingual Corner (includes information on ELAC other community resources)

XI. Ethic Studies Engagement Plan - 2024-25

XII. Special Education Sessions and Events (parenting classes, family events, informational sessions)

XIII. San Dieguito Union High School District Job Opportunities

XIV. Community Events (opportunities/events involving the district and its schools)

XV. Other Important Items (links to the PTMS Family Handbook, Boys & Girls Club, Webstore, etc.)

March 28 - PTSA General Meeting/Coffee with the Principal - 8:45 a.m.

March 31 - April 4 - Spring Break - No School - Campus/Office Closed

Wolfpack families,

Happy Friday to you. Spring has sprung, and while I loved the rainy days, I am really happy that some springtime weather has arrived. Because we got rained out last week, on Monday, DJ Eric came to campus. He played music in the quad at lunch, and led students in a variety of games including water balloon toss. He is always a hit, and it was a great way to start the week. Coach Olson continues to lead lunch league activities, and right now students are competing in 3 on 3 basketball. Our PE coaches also opened the gym at lunch so students could watch "March Madness." Additionally this week, our students participated in the CAST (California Science Test) in their science classes. This is another metric that allows us to measure both individual and schoolwide progress, and I really appreciate how seriously the students took the test.

After spring break, our science classes will begin the health curriculum. To that end, I want to offer a few resources for you to have so that you are fully informed. First, here is the district website that provides comprehensive information about the health curriculum. If you scroll down the page, you can find the various units, lessons, and accompanying resources. Additionally, next Friday from 8:30 - 9:30 am, I will hold a Principal's Coffee as part of our PTSA meeting. A large portion of the meeting will provide us time to dialogue about the health curriculum and answer any questions you may have. This meeting will be held in our Learning Commons.

Finally, a gentle reminder about the importance of attendance. I know that the rain made traffic really challenging for the morning commute. However, some of our students continue to struggle to get to school on time. This lifelong habit is so important, and something I work on with my own children. Please keep working with your child on their morning routine so that they can get to school on time and are ready to learn for the day.

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the sunshine, and we will see your student on Monday.

In gratitude,

Scott Wild, Ed.D.

This year students will be participating in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). After Spring Break, all students will take the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts/literacy and Mathematics. Additional information can be found by clicking on the link HERE.

PTMS Testing Schedule:

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA in English classes (April 7-11)

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for Math in Math classes (April 14-18)

Students will NOT be able to use wireless headphones. Students should bring their own WIRED headphones or earbuds if they have them. As always, students should bring their charged Chromebook and charger.

If you have questions please email Lisa Graciano (lisa.graciano@sduhsd.net).

Be sure you contact Attendance (858.509.1000, x4909 or PTAttendance@sduhsd.net) if your student misses or is going to miss any class time.

For more attendance information, please see the PTMS Family Handbook posted on the homepage of our website, or you can refer directly to the Attendance Page. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Attendance Secretary, Elizabeth Williams, at (858) 500-1000 ext. 4609. Thank you!

Lisa Curry, Counselor (A-Ll) lisa.curry@sduhsd.net

Carsen Anderson, Counselor (Lo-Z and MLL Students) carsen.anderson@sduhsd.net

Samantha Eels-Taylor, Student Support Facilitator samantha.eelstaylor@sduhsd.net

Please click here for complete SDUHSD Grading Information which includes a Parent Tutorial on accessing grades in Aeries.

Mental Health & Wellness Resources for Students, Staff, and School Community.

Click on the QR code to discover your PTMS Support Staff.

Dear PTMS Families,

As we move into another exciting week at PTMS, we want to keep you updated on some important upcoming events!

Coffee with the Principal
Join us on March 28th for our "Coffee with the Principal" session. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with our principal, share your thoughts, and stay informed about what’s happening at our school. We look forward to seeing you there! The main theme will be the Health Unit.

PTSA General Meeting
We will also hold a PTSA General Meeting during the Principal's coffee. The agenda is available on the school page, so be sure to check it out for details!

Please note we will proceed on our annual election of next year PTSA board, you will find a list of nominees below.

Heritage Night
Mark your calendars for PTMS’s yearly Heritage Night on April 24th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM! We are looking for families to participate as cultural hosts by showcasing their ethnic backgrounds and heritage. Additionally, we encourage students to sign up to perform songs or dances that represent their culture.

If you’re interested in participating, please sign up using the link below. Ms. Ellen Main, our ASB teacher, will reach out with more information: Sign Up for Heritage Night

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We can’t wait to see you at these events!

Have an awesome weekend,
The PTSA Team

~ PTSA Website

To volunteer at the PTMS Heritage Night, please click here.

Shout Outs (marquee tiles) can now be purchased for 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-day runs. At $5 per day, you choose the start and stop dates along with your personalized message.

Click here to order your Shout Out and remember that proceeds for the purchase of Shout Outs help ASB pay scholarships for various student needs.

You can check them out on the Students tab of our website under "Student Announcements" for a running post of each week's student announcements.

Congratulations to Emily Petersen, our 2025 Teacher of the Year! Her dedication, creativity, and impact on students make her truly deserving of this honor.

Please click here to see everything that the Learning Commons has been up to so far this year.

Please follow us on Instagram to see what your student is up to during PE class.

Order your PE clothes here.

Pre-order your Yearbook here. Don't delay! Order your 2024-25 Yearbook TODAY!

Posted on the Activities Page of our website, you can see all the various Clubs now being offered to all students who would like to join (and it continues to grow!) If your student would like to join one of the listed clubs, all they need to do is talk to the Advisor named with the club.

~ Club activity will be posted here throughout the year. To get a list of all Clubs currently active, please check the Activities page on our website.

To view our menu, please click here.

PIQE (Parent Institute for Quality Education) is hosting a series of workshops to empower families with supporting their student's educational journey. Workshops cover topics such as college preparation, tools and resources, working with school staff and more. The workshops are Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30 pm at Carmel Valley Middle School (3800 Mykonos Lane).

For more information, contact Jesus Ortiz, Associate Director, at facilitatosd2@piqe.org or 760-994-6017

UC San Diego's FREE annual Comienza con un Sueño 2025 conference brings together 6th-11th grade students, families & educators for a day of culture, community and knowledge. Offering bilingual workshops on college systems, admissions & financial aid, bringing together college & community resources & providing a one of a kind STEM fair!

To register, click here.

SDUHSD invites you to get involved in the Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan 2024-25. The district has developed an Ethnic Studies Engagement plan which will become a graduation requirement for high schoolers in a few years. For more information, including opportunities for involvement in the engagement process, please visit the Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirements webpage.

For a list of Special Education Informational Sessions and Family Events, please click here.

Dear Middle School Math Students and Parents/Guardians,

The Torrey Pines High School Math Club is excited to announce the 8th annual Falcon Math Contest. This free event will be held in-person at Torrey Pines High School in the early evening on Thursday, March 27.

All 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in mathematics, math competitions, and/or problem solving are invited to attend. Students will participate in the FMC competition in teams of two. It is a fun event!

For additional details and to sign up please see www.tpmath.net/fmc.

FMC: Falcon Math Contest
Thursday, March 27, 4:30 - 6:30 P.M.
Torrey Pines High School, Room 43

Free Event!

Room 43 is in the main academic building at the top of the stairs facing Del Mar Heights Road.

Please RSVP with the registration form by Tuesday, March 18.
www.tpmath.net/fmc

Thank you!

Python Programming

SDUHSD middle school students enrolled in an Essentials Level math class may participate in an SDUHSD Math Bridge opportunity to determine course enrollment in math for the following school year. There are two ways for students to participate in a math bridge opportunity to move from Essentials to grade-level math: 1) enrollment in an in-person summer school course or 2) participation in the Concurrent School Year Bridge Opportunity. For more information on the Summer School Math Bridge Opportunity, please click here. Students interested in participating in the Concurrent School Year Bridge Opportunity can learn more, and register, by accessing the attached information. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact your child's school site team.

~ Activities at our sister schools or district-sponsored events will be posted here.

- Boys & Girls Club - Seasonal sports information/registration.

- PTMS Family Handbook. - PTMS Cell Phone Policy

- PTMS Live Calendar of Campus Events and 2024-25 Instructional Calendar.

- PTMS Webstore

- PTMS Yearbook. - Order today!

- San Dieguito Alliance for a Drug-Free Youth - complete the Parent Pledge here.

- San Dieguito Boys & Girls Club - click the link to the left for 2023-24 athletic schedules.

- "Shout Out" Marquee Tile - 5-day stretch for $25 - Say something special about your child!

This newsletter has also been posted to our website under "Parent Communications."

Deadlines to submit articles for publication are Thursdays.

Email: vetha.pierce@sduhsd.net
Website: pt.sduhsd.net
Location: 5975 Village Center Loop Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858.509.1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacifictrailsmiddleschool