TBMS November 2024

Hello, Twin Bluff parents and guardians.

I hope this finds you well, warm, and happy. October is in the rearview mirror and November is upon us. There are a lot of things happening at Twin Bluff Middle School and I want to ensure we are communicating information to you in a timely and accurate way.

There is no school for students on Monday, November 4th due to our Parent-teacher conferences. Our conferences at TBMS will run from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. that day. All teachers will host conferences in their rooms. The PE teachers will have a classroom on the main floor in the A wing. Mr. Lemke will be in room A 108 and Ms. Vrieze will be in room A 125. Our desire for this format is to provide better access and to reduce family wait times to see teachers. We appreciate your support and patience as we fine-tune the process to make it better for all.

Twin Bluff Middle School is hosting a Drive 4UR School fundraiser through House Ford of Red Wing on Monday, November 4th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event will be in the lower parking lot by the pool doors. Our goal is to raise $6,000.00 to be used towards the purchase of comfortable flexible seating for the IMC. We get $20.00 for each 18+-year-old who takes a test drive and fills out a short post-drive survey.

Please consider supporting our event. You may preregister for your test drive at Drive 4UR School, or by using this QR code below with the camera on your cell phone.

We will have a school-wide Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. There is no school for students and staff on November 27th, 28th and 29th.

With the first bit of snow on Thursday it finally is feeling like fall. I hope your family has a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing you at conferences.

Be safe and well.

Mr. Beierman & The TBMS Team

https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Twin_Bluff_Middle_School

• Friday, November 1st-No School
• Monday, November 4th-No School/Conferences 11:00am-7:00pm
• Thursday, November 7th-Picture Retake Day
• November 11th-Veteran's Day
• Friday, November 22nd-6th Grade Field Trip to MN History Center & State Capitol
• November 26th-End of Trimester 1
• November 27th-29th-No School
• Monday, December 2nd-6th & 7th grade band concert at Hovda Hall

Please use the attendance line when you need to report an absence, a student is coming in late or needs to be picked up early. You can also email tbmsattendance@rwps.org. Please keep in mind that students may be in PE class outside, in band, or at recess so the earlier the notification the better for us to make that happen in a timely manner. Parents do not need to sign students in when they are coming in late but please call or email. Thank you!

All 7th graders need to have a TDAP booster and a Meningococcal immunization or a Conscientious Objection. Please bring paperwork to the school nurse by November 6th. The Health Office needs all physician signed Authorization to Administer medication paperwork turned in by Nov 6th.

Reminder to Parents that students cannot carry medications while at school. All medications need to be brought to the nurse and administered in the Health Office.

Our school is in need of pants in sizes youth medium and large and t-shirts sizes youth medium and large. Thank you.

If your student missed picture day on October 16th or would like a retake, please have them ready for Picture Retake day on November 7th. We will be calling students down to the auditorium by grade during the morning classes.

9:15am to 9:45am-6th grade

9:45am to 10:15am- 5th grade

10:25am to 10:55am 7th Grade

Last Call is 10:55am to 11:25am

If you have not received an email from Kemmetmueller yet, please check your spam or junk mailbox first, the email came out on the 23rd of October. If you still do not see the email please reach out to the company at 952-473-2142 or email at info@k-photography.com. Their hours are Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

Swimming unit is coming! Students will need to bring a swimsuit and towel. More information will be emailed to you from your child's PE teacher closer to their swim unit.

Lemke:

1st Round: Nov 5- Nov 22nd

2nd Round: Jan 6- Jan 24th

Vrieze:

1st Round: Dec 2nd- Dec 20th

2nd Round: Jan 27th -Feb 14th

Students in two of Mr. Wyatt's and Mrs. Finholm's 7th grade math classes traveled to Sunnyside to participate in the continued pilot program of Math Buddies. They helped Kindergarten students in Mrs. McDonnell's and Mrs. Prigge's classes with pumpkin math, which included: making hypotheses and practicing their estimation skills, as well as practicing measuring units and counting by grouping.

What I Need Now (WINN) is a new time in our student day that allows students to request time with a specific teacher in a specific subject to get the help that they feel they need. Each day students spend 25 minutes with the teacher they select to get the help that they need. Teachers also have the option of assigning students to come to their class when they see students struggling in a subject or they see a student missing assignments in their class. There are also extension opportunities available for students who are looking for greater challenges.

For us older folks, it would be like a study hall with a teacher helping us get what we need in each class or subject area.

Every Friday students sign up for help sessions for the next week. Teachers can assign students to their class up to the day of the session. Students may also ask a teacher to add them if they feel that they are struggling with an assignment during the week and they haven’t signed up for that teacher.

Monday through Thursday are dedicated to academics. This is an opportunity for students to either catch up or attempt even more challenging (extension) work. Fridays are designed more for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and team-building activities.

This is a flexible way to support all students each day with content-specific teachers providing the support. As this is a new program, we are sure there will be bumps as we implement it. We will do our best to ensure each student gets what they need!

No parking or drop off during busing times!

We have new signs that are now in place reminding all drivers that the bus loop is ONLY for buses each morning during drop off's (8:15 - 9:15 am) and each afternoon during pick up's (3:15 - 4:15 pm).

New signs at the bus loop entrance reminds drivers that this is a "One Way" and only bus traffic each morning and afternoon as well.

Please help us keep students safe by following the expectations.

First Student, Red Wing Public Schools’ transportation provider, will again be using FirstView, a bus tracking and communications app for your smartphone or desktop.

Coverage will begin the first day of school, Sept. 3, 2024. The app will be up to date with the latest information and able to track your student’s bus.

Please note that no personal identifying information is required or shared -- student name, grade, address, etc.

The district code for 2024-2025 is 7MM5.

The code works for all schools.

The features include:

• Live tracking

The FirstView app screen shows you the location and direction of your student’s bus, for both morning and afternoon trips.

FirstView provides caregivers with confirmation when the trip is complete.

• Customization

Notifications -- When the bus enters a specific area -- for example, four blocks from the bus stop -- you will receive an email or alert. The app calls this alert area a “geofence.” The size and alert times are customizable, so parents control their notifications.

Multiple users -- You may choose up to three email accounts to receive these alerts. This is a great feature for grandparents or caregivers.

Multi-stop view -- The buses for all your children can be tracked with FirstView. Using individual colors for each student, the bus assigned to each student’s route appears on the app map in the same color as the student for easy viewing.

• Simple, secure access

FirstView requires a code for app set-up. This way only you can view your student’s stop.

• Customer support

Whether you are having trouble getting started, not seeing correct data or have an idea to make FirstView better, contact FirstView Monday-Friday (English only at this time):

1. Call the toll-free phone number 888-889-8920 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
2. Email support@firstviewapp.com, or
3. Use the in-app “✉” button.

For more information and to download the app, go to www.firstviewapp.com.

Attendance Matters! Look at this info chart that our Assistant Principal created showing the importance of school attendance.

ParentVue gives you access to your student's school information such as attendance and grades. We will also be using it for report cards this year instead of mailing them. Please call or email the office to get an activation key to get things started. Once you have the activation key you can access it through this link or any of the links on the district or school buildings web pages. You must have an email address to use this system.

We also still have a few extra yearbooks available, contact Kelly at kjkolby@rwps.org if you would like to claim one. The cost is still only $20.

Every Sunday during the school year, the district office sends out their newsletter by email. It has news from the whole district and the calendar of events for each building. If you haven't already, please sign up by emailing a request to: newsletter@rwps.org.

Box Tops are now digital! You can help our school raise funds to help students by enrolling in the program. It is free and an easy way to help the school earn money by scanning the groceries you already pay for! https://boxtops4education.com/s/get-the-app

Click the links below for important information about Twin Bluff Middle School and Red Wing Public Schools. Please pay special attention to the District Handbook and the Twin Bluff Expectations & Procedures. Both documents contain important information and are a great reference for many frequently asked questions!

Twin Bluff School Office-651-385-4530

Attendance Line-651-385-4550

First Student Busing Questions-651-388-8244

District Transportation Route Questions-651-385-4795

Spanish Assistance-651-385-4607 (Jeimmy)

Class hours

8:35 a.m. Building opens & supervision begins

8:45 a.m. First bell
3:40 p.m. Last bell: students dismissed

Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Email: tbmsattendance@rwps.org
Webpage: Twin Bluff Middle School
Location: 2120 Twin Bluff Road, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA
Phone: 651-385-4530
Social media: Facebook, Instagram