Twin Peaks Middle School

Happy Sunday Ram Families!

I hope this week's newsletter finds you all well and enjoying your weekend! We had another amazing week of learning at Twin Peaks that included our 6th grade math students earning how to calculate percentages and decimals for taxes and tips, our 7th grade social studies students learning about the Age of Exploration and the Scientific Revolution, our 8th grade science students learning about optics through the use of night vision goggles, and our remaining students finishing up our iReady diagnostic testing. We capped off the week with our Welcome to Candyland Dance on Friday night in the quad with over 660 Rams in attendance! A big THANK YOU to all of the parents who donated items to support the event or volunteered their time to come and supervise and work the event - we couldn't have done it without you! Please check out some pictures from the event below.

A huge THANK YOU to Kristen Spratt and the PTSA for the wonderful "Soup-er Staff" Luncheon on Friday in our workroom. Your amazing generosity provided amazning soups, chili, breads, salads, drinks and baked goods to our staff on a wet, cold and drizzly day on campus. THANK YOU to all of the parents who donated items for this amazing staff luncheon - it was greatly appreciated!

Last week we launched our annual District wide survey. We are excited to gather your input on both a District and individual school level. Your responses will shape future budget decisions and program priorities. It’s easy to participate, right from your smartphone, and you’ll even be able to anonymously see and rate the thoughts of others:

• Click here to participate: bit.ly/2025pusd-parent-lcap

We are happy to provide you access to a device in our school office, should you need it. The survey period is open from now until Friday, February 21. Please reach out with any questions or concerns and don't forget to take the survey in the next two weeks!

We know that phones are an important part of our daily lives, but we also want to make sure our students stay focused and engaged in learning. Just a quick reminder that phones should be turned off and kept away during the school day unless a teacher gives permission for educational use. If a student is using their phone without permission, it may be held until the end of the day. Repeated issues could result in further consequences. We appreciate your support in helping our students stay present and focused in class! Thank you for partnering with us to create a great learning environment!

The Poway Unified transfer window opened on Saturday, February 1, 2025. If you live within the Poway Unified boundaries and want your child to attend a school different than your assigned school, submit your request online through the Transfers page on the PUSD website. (This includes siblings of current students.) Please make sure to still enroll your child at their assigned school of residence when new student enrollment opens on April 1, 2025. Transfer requests can only be processed once your child is enrolled in their school of residence. The transfer request window will close on March 31, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Parents of English Learners: Today through Friday, February 28th, Poway Unified will be conducting our Family Engagement and Accountability survey to gather input from all families of English Learner students. This survey helps shape the District’s goals and guide priorities for the 2025-2026 school year. Your feedback is extremely helpful as we continue to seek ways to better our English Learner program. Please click HERE to complete the survey.

Finally this week, we are excited for our 6th graders to visit Camp Cuyamaca this next week! Our staff has been busy preparing for students attending camp and those staying on campus; we will have an abbreviated 6th grade schedule this week for those students staying at TPMS. All 6th graders should be at school by our regular starting time of 8:25am and report to their Homeroom class when the first bell rings. Please review the information below for luggage drop-off prior to school on Monday moring. If you have any questions or last minute emergencies, please email Assistant Principal Jessica Turner at jturner@powayusd.com.

In Partnership,

Steve Mills

Proud Principal

Twin Peaks Middle School

stmills@powayusd.com

1(858)748-5131 x2806

Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks

TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS

February 10th-14th: 6th Grade Camp

February 12th: Late Start, 9:30am

February 17th-21st: President's Break - No School

February 26th: Late Start, 9:30am

February 28th: PUSD Continuing Student Registration Opens

March 5th: 5th Grade Information Night, Zoom 5-6pm

March 17th-21st: Scholastic Book Fair, Library

March 19th: TPMS Electives Expo, 5-6:30pm

March 26th: SPED Info Night, 5-6pm, Zoom

DROP OFF:

There will be a drive-thru luggage drop-off area in the St. Gabriel’s Church (13734 Twin Peaks Road) parking lot beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, February 10th. Please drive your car through, stop by the attendants and drop off your student’s suitcase, and then exit the parking lot.

Luggage: Label all items with your student’s name. One duffel bag or rolling suitcase, one sleeping bag (or sheets/blanket) and a pillow. In addition, students may carry a backpack on the bus. Please do not tie items together. For a complete student-packing list click here.

Students attending Camp Cuyamaca must be at school by 8:25 a.m. on Monday, February 10th. Report to your Homeroom teacher for attendance and final instructions. The buses will leave Twin Peaks Middle School at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Students Please DO NOT pack these items (Cuyamaca is not responsible for lost , damaged, or stolen property:

• Cuyamaca is Fragrance-Free Campus – prohibited items: perfumes, colognes, essential oils, all scented products, and all aerosol spray products. These items will be confiscated and given to TPMS Staff.
• Candy, gum, or food of any kind, flashlights, knives/hatchets, matches, lighters, or fire starters, hair dryers or curling irons, makeup, money, personal electronic devise such as phones, games and media players, jewelry/watches, expensive cameras.
• Cuyamaca is a Nut-Free Campus – strictly prohibited items from all areas of the campus: All products containing nuts (of any kind) or sesame seeds

PICK UP:

Students and luggage will return to the front of the school on Friday, February 14th, at approximately 12:00 p.m. The main parking lot will be closed to all through traffic except for camp buses. Neighborhood parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. All students should be picked up at 12:00 p.m. Students ARE NOT allowed to take a school bus home on March 15th, so it is imperative to have someone at school by 12:00 to pick up your student (s).

We appreciate your patience with this process and will do our best to make the delivery and pick-up process as smooth as possible!

Thank you!

TPMS Staff

St. Gabriel Catholic Church

13734 Twin Peaks Road

Poway, CA 92064

For our current 8th graders heading to high school next year please click on the link below to access your Course Request Forms (CRFs). PHS Counselors will be coming to 8th Grade ELA classes at the end of February to help students select their classes and to review their 4-year plan. For additional questions, please contact your TPMS counselor:

Mrs. Baskin Last names A-F

Mr. Ortiz Last names H-O

Mrs. Jennings Last namesP-Z

https://sites.google.com/powayusd.com/pusd8thgradecrf/home

Managing screen time is an essential part of supporting children’s well-being and academic success in today’s digital world. Technology offers incredible opportunities for learning and creativity, but maintaining a healthy balance is key. Setting clear boundaries and encouraging mindful tech habits at home helps children develop the skills they need to navigate their digital lives responsibly. By working together to create a balanced approach to technology use, we can empower students to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

• Elementary Resource: How Much Screentime is OK for My Kids?

• Secondary Resource: 4 Conversations to Have with Older Kids and Teens About Their Screen Time Habits

It's spring sports time which means it's time to hit the links and the pitch! Soccer and Golf Registration begins February 3rd and ends February 14th. Students cannot attend skill evaluations without the registration packet filled out completely and correctly. Pleas see the ASES Sports page of the TPMS website for more information or CLICK HERE!

The Parent Ambassadors invite you to join the Family Resource Fair, an event to connect families with resources and opportunities in Poway and surrounding areas that promote inclusion, whole-person development and fun for students with special needs.

When: Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 6-8pm

Where: Community Room at PUSD District Office

15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128

Join us to explore:

• Social opportunities tailored to meet diverse needs

• After-school social and recreational activities

• Inclusive sports programs

• Camps for all abilities

• Vocational training opportunities

Why should you attend?

• Activities for ALL age groups including young adults

• 16 booths featuring varieties of options in Poway and surrounding areas

• Opportunity to ask questions and sign up with the providers

• Get a head start on summer planning

Join us anytime between 6 to 8 pm to meet providers, learn about programs in our community, and find activities that support your child's growth and happiness. Kindly RSVP here so we can ensure adequate handouts to all families. See this flyer for more information.

We've secured a block of tickets RIGHT BEHIND THE GOAL for the SD Gulls March 1st game vs. the Bakersfield Condors. This game will have a Pregame Tailgate Mardi Gras celebration as well as a Gulliver (he's the mascot) jester bobblehead giveaway for the first 8,000 fans!

In addition to this, if we sell 50 tickets, all kids will be able to go down and make a "high-5 tunnel" for the players when they take the ice at the beginning of the game! If we sell at least 75 tickets, everyone will go down on the ice after the game for photos! If we sell 100, we can possibly have some players come to school for demonstrations with our students and they will open up the rink for a free-skate for us after the game! Tickets are only going to be $35, and a percentage of each ticket sold comes back to the school as a donation.

The game is Saturday, March 1 at 6:00pm at Pechanga Arena. If you've never been to a hockey game before, now is the time! It's a super fun, fast-paced game that everyone will enjoy!

Here is the link to purchase your tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Twinpeaks030125

Questions?! email Coach Spy at jspychalski@powayusd.com

February 2025 Parent Education Courses:

Help Your Teen Manage Stress & Anxiety - Grades 6-12 In-Person

Navigating Autism and Supporting Your Child - Grades TK-5th Online via Zoom

It’s hard to believe it, but it’s already time to begin to think about the 2025-2026 school year! If you didn't catch them last week, here are some important dates to mark on your calendars for next school year:

• Transfer Requests - beginning on February 1st at 8:00 am, we will accept transfer requests for students who live in the Poway Unified boundaries and would like to attend a different Poway school. This includes incoming siblings of current students, as well as students who have not yet enrolled. Transfer requests can be made on the Poway Unified website by clicking THIS link. The transfer window closes on March 31st at 5:00 pm.

• Continuing Student Registration - from February 28 - March 31st, all parents whose current students will continue in Poway Unified for the 2025-26 school year need to complete online continuing registration. Look for more information coming soon.

• New Student Enrollment - beginning on April 1st at 8:00 am, new student enrollment opens on the Poway Unified website. We are excited to welcome our new students!

**More details can be found on the Poway Unified website at www.powayusd.com.

Join Life Planning Specialist Wendy Smith for an insightful presentation on why creating a plan matters, how to take the first steps, and where to find support along the way. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with fellow parents, gaining valuable insights and support. Start building a strong foundation for your child's future today! Flier found here.

On February 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., Valley Elementary School will host PUSD's first-ever IEP Basics training exclusively in Spanish. In collaboration with the Exceptional Family Resource Center, this event is designed to support PUSD Spanish-speaking families of students with IEPs. More details are available in the event flier.

College & Career Fair Details

Date: Wednesday, March 19th

Time: 11:45am-12:52pm

Location: TPMS Quad

If you would like to participate by sharing fun facts and other information about your work and career with our students, please complete our Google Form: bit.ly/tpccf2425. We look forward to partnering with you for this exciting event. Please contact Melissa Baskin, mbaskin@powayusd.com, if you have any questions.

With fire season upon us we want to assure parents and guardians that we have appropriate response systems in place when emergencies arise. Our first priority will always be the safety of our students and staff on campus.

When Twin Peaks becomes aware of any incidents in the geographic area of the school site, we will focus first on the safety of our campus while working with law enforcement, emergency responders, and the District for guidance and support for communication. Communication with parents is part of the response plan, but will be secondary to immediate safety. As soon as we can, we will message families with details of school-wide incidents such as lockdowns or evacuations. Please ensure your contact information is up to date in ParentVue in the “My Account” section.

Finally, we have been asked by first responders to remind our families NOT to come to campus in times of emergency – there have been several instances when officers, firefighters, and their ability to respond to the emergency have been hindered by parents rushing to the scene. Should an emergency occur, we will send out messages about dismissal or reunification procedures for families when first responders indicate it is safe to do so.

Yearbooks are available for $55. Reserve yours now!

Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code

Pay by cash/check: Download the 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.

Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/

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. We realize that volunteering may not be in the cards for everyone, but your membership and donation will ensure our programs continue to stay funded.

If you would like to contact PTSA please email: ptsaprestpms@gmail.com. Thanks so much!

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:

February 27th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)

March 20th

April 24th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)

May 15th

June TBD

To join the PTSA for the 2024-25 school year, please CLICK HERE!

Our 2024-2025 Executive Board:

President - Melissa Atkinson

Executive VP - Sonnie Humphreys

1st VP of Ways and Means - Rachel Czarzasty

2nd VP of Membership - Shelly Mead

3rd VP of Volunteers - Alicia Tamayo

Secretary - Mikki Trusheim

Treasurer - Steph Cole

Historian - Alicia Gormican

Financial Reviewer - Phil Trom

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 2024-25 school year:

February 11th
March 18th
May 13th

Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE!

You can always shop Amazon and earn money for Twin Peaks! Just click on the Amazon link below, then start spending!

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.

Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams