The Terrapin Times #30

Please give your input to our awesome Turtleback Education Foundation! Please take this brief survey to help make our school better!

Dear Families,

Our Habit for the Month of March is Synergize! Habit 6 from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey emphasizes the power of teamwork and collaboration. It teaches that by valuing differences and working together, people can create better solutions than they could alone. Synergy fosters creativity, mutual respect, and a win-win mindset, leading to stronger relationships and more effective problem-solving. Ask your child about how they have been synergizing this week!

Important Upcoming Dates:

📅 March 24-28 – Book Fair 📚

📅 March 25 – Multicultural Family Event 🌍
📅 April 4 – Volunteer Reception, Terrapin of the Month Awards, & Friday Flag

We have some open Foundation Board seats and would love for you to join us! Read below for details on how to get involved and be part of the Foundation Team!

PROGRESS NOTICE MESSAGE: Trimester 2 student progress reports via Synergy ParentVUE will be available on Thursday, March 20th at 5:00 pm. For instructions on how to access your child’s progress report, please click here for the parent directions in English or here for the Spanish version.

Thanks again for another great week at Turtleback!

Lisa Maguire

📧 lmaguire@powayusd.com

What is the CA Reading Difficulties Risk Screener?

The CA Reading Difficulties Risk Screener (RDRS) is a tool that is used annually with all K-2 students to assess their early reading skills. The RDRS is used to identify students who may be at risk of reading difficulties and need additional support in reading and literacy to ensure success in school. The RDRS screening process will begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

Why is the RDRS important?

The screener helps identify reading difficulties in the primary grades, giving students the best chance to improve their reading skills. By identifying challenges early, teachers can offer targeted support and interventions that help all students become confident readers. Early identification and support lead to better outcomes in literacy and overall academic success.

How does the RDRS work?

The screener will be administered to students in the primary grades (Kindergarten through 2nd grade) through a series of short assessments focused on foundational reading skills. The results help teachers understand where a student may be struggling and whether further assessment or intervention is needed.

RDRS Community Input Meeting

Learning Support Services will be hosting a Community Input Meeting on April 1, 2025 from 5:00-5:45 pm. We invite parents and community members to join our Community Input Meeting to ensure all voices are heard in selecting new learning materials for our schools. Community feedback is essential in choosing resources that support student success, reflect our district’s values, and align with educational goals. This meeting will be held via Zoom, and can be accessed HERE.

For more information, please click here for an infographic explaining the RDRS selection process and timeline.

Teacher Appreciation Week - Help Needed!

We need help creating and hanging door decorations for the following TBK teachers and staff! If you can help, please email Archana Balasubramanian (archana.balasub@gmail.com) directly!

- Adriana Escobar-Amezola (SSC 1/2/3)

- Laura Bruvold (RSP)

- Alexandra Leopold (RSP)

- Kelsey McKinney and Sarah Le (OT)

- Robbyn Luecke (Speech)

- Raylene Flores (Speech)

- Amanda Smith and Diedra Dunn-Tu (Psych)

- Jeanna Carroll (ELL)

- Sharon Delozier (Health Tech)

- Kim Otero (AP)

Book Fair: March 24th - March 27th:

The annual Book Fair will be from Monday, March 24th through Thursday, March 27th. The book fair helps us raise funds for the school library and supports events like the Finding Gobi Author Visit. We are in need of volunteers to help with the following shifts:

- March 24th - March 27th: Classes that have 2 or less volunteers signed up

- March 24th - March 27th : after school daily

- March 25th Only: 4:30 pm - 7 pm (Family Night Event)

- March 27th: Breakdown Book Fair -- 2:15 to 3:15 pm.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BACA82FA5FE3-48608956-book#/

A World Of Stories -Tuesday, March 25th (5-7 pm)

Embark on a journey through the MPR and immerse yourself in captivating stories from across the globe!

Please feel free to come dressed in attire that represents your culture, ethnicity, or heritage!

Tuesday, March 25th from 5-7 pm

Location: Turtleback Elementary MPR

5-5:15 pm: Current TBK students, stop by the TBK Passport Agency to pick up your passport!

5:15- 6:30 pm: Travel to different countries, enjoy stories from around the world and collect stamps in your passport!

6:30 - 6:50 pm: Experience the powerful rhythm of Taiko drummers from Japan!

6:50-7:00 pm: Show your stamped passport and receive a souvenir!

No sign up or Registration Needed for this free event!

Students should be Accompanied by an Adult Family Member.

2025-2026 Turtleback Education Foundation Open Positions

2025 - 2026 Open Positions

Turtleback Education Foundation (TEF)

Come Join Us!!

Get involved and make an impact!

We are looking to fill the following voting board positions:

- Secretary

- MUST attend and take notes of monthly TEF meetings (typically held the first Monday of each month during school year)

- Works with TEF web manager to have minutes from TEF meetings posted on the TEF website (electronic format)

- Keep electronic file of all meeting minutes

- Works with TEF President to create sign up genius for all TEF events

- Assists with item pick up from Costco and local businesses for TEF events

- Must attend all or most TEF events; helping with event set up, clean up and or support during events; most events are on Friday evenings

- Should be an active parent volunteer who has been volunteering to support TEF events during the 2024-2025 school year

- On average, this is a weekly 5 - 10 hour time commitment

- Treasurer

Responsible for all financial transactions of the foundation

- Pays operating bills and keeps 5013c status current

- Holds access to back account, PayPal, Venmo, tax records, etc

- Receives income and deposits to bank

- Oversees tax preparation and filing of taxes

- Creates monthly budget of income /expenses to share at monthly TEF Board meeting

- Sets up monthly PayPal needs on website for any Foundation Event/Program/Fundraising

- Attends TEF events and oversees the collection of funds and anyone working with money

- In charge of Paypal and Venmo accounts, credit card, and any payment systems that the Foundation uses

- Responsible for acknowledging gifts (letters)

- Prepares reimbursements

- Assists with item pick up from Costco and local businesses for TEF events

- Must attend all or most TEF events; helping with event set up, clean up and or support during events; most events are on Friday evenings

- Should be an active parent volunteer who has been volunteering to support TEF events during the 2024-2025 school year

- On average, this is a weekly 7 - 12 hour time commitment

We are also looking to fill the following non-voting board roles:

- Restaurant Nights Coordinator

- Front Bulletin Coordinator

- Red Ribbon Week Coordinator

- Corporate Sponsor Outreach Coordinator

- Family Nights Coordinator

- Kona Ice Coordinator

- Boo Hoo/ Yahoo Parent Breakfast

- Auction Coordinator

- APEX Fun Run Chair

- Teacher Appreciation Week Coordinator

- Harvest Festival Chair

- Spell-a-thon Chair

- 5th grade graduation reception

Full Day TK in Poway Unified!

We have some exciting news regarding our district’s TK program! Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, PUSD Transitional Kindergarten will be a full-day program.

The range of age-eligibility will also expand - children who turn four-years-old on or before September 1, 2025, will be age-eligible for TK. (Students who turn five-years-old on or before September 1, 2025 will be age-eligible for Kindergarten). Enrollment for TK for 2025-26 school year opens on April 1, 2025. Please feel free to share this news with your friends and neighbors who have children in this age range.

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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.

Turtleback Mission: We empower each other to create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically in a community where character counts.

Email: lmaguire@powayusd.com
Website: https://turtleback.powayusd.com/
Location: 15855 Turtleback Road, San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: 858-673-5514