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
  

V. From the PTSA

VI. ASB and Student Announcements

VII. Shout Out Marquee Tiles Now Available!

VIII. Department News

• Learning Commons
• PE
• Science
• Yearbook
  

IX. Clubs (periodic information on extracurricular school activities)

X. Nutrition Services

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

XII. Ethic Studies Engagement Plan - 2024-25

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

XIV. San Dieguito Union High School District Job Opportunities

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

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

Monday, September 23 - Student Bike Safety Presentation - MANDATORY for students with bikes, e-bikes, etc. - 8:20 a.m. in the MPR

Wednesday, September 25 - Picture Day thru PE classes - Periods 2, 4 and 6

• Tuesday, October 8 - Picture Day thru PE classes - Periods 1, 3 and 5

Friday, September 27

• Club Fair - Quad - during both lunches
• Trailblazer Awards - near Garden - during both lunches

Monday, September 30 thru Thursday,October 10 at 3:15p - Dance Ticket Sales

Happy Friday Wolfpack families,

As we wrap up another week at PTMS, I want to share a few items with you.

Principal's coffee: Thank you to the many parents who attended our PTSA meeting and Principal's Coffee this morning. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to join us. I shared a message about school safety and all of the steps that we do to ensure students are safe. This includes our physical structures, systems, drills that we practice, and our campus supervisors, all which serve to keep students safe. This also includes positive systems for students including the Wellness Center, a focus on social-emotional learning, and helping students finding peers and activities that are positive. We know there are positive correlations between feelings of belonging, connections to school and peers, and overall school safety. That is why we work so hard to connect students to PTMS, to each other, and help them get involved in a variety of ways. Additionally, I shared information about bike safety. We will be conducting our first bike safety training next Monday morning in the MPR. This is in partnership with the San Diego Bike Coalition. This will take place before school, and is mandatory for any student riding a bike, e-bike, or other vehicle. Parents should make every effort to attend with their child.

Fundraiser update: Well, it looks like we will reach our goal of raising $100,000 and yours truly will be getting a new haircut. I look forward to whatever the students vote to do. Thank you so much to all who contributed! The funds are evenly split 50/50 between PTSA and ASB, and they will be used this year to support students, staff, and the programs that foster learning across our campus. If you would like to get involved in PTSA, please contact them here.

Happenings on Campus: This week, we conducted our first lockdown drill. Dr. Hake and I were very intentional as we led our campus through this process. On Tuesday, Dr. Hake presented to all students during homeroom by livestreaming into their classes. She shared information so that we as a site would be better prepared. Then on Wednesday, we conducted a lockdown drill. Just prior to the drill, I addressed the school by live streaming into classrooms. I reinforce that it is our collective responsibility to keep each other safe. In doing so, we demonstrate care for one another. Part of that care includes taking safety drills seriously, and developing situational awareness should anything ever arise. In this same light, I shared, and I emphasize to you as well, that Pacific Trails Middle School is a very safe place to learn and attend school. The students did a great job, and after the drill, had an opportunity to debrief the experience in their classes with their teacher. These bi-annual drills are part of our collective intention around safety.

Next Week: As previously mentioned, our bike safety training occurs Monday morning before school in the MPR. School photos for students in PE periods 2, 4 and 6 will happen Wednesday the 25th. Students who have PE period 1, 3 or 5 won't have pictures until October 8th. Also, next Friday, the 27th, is our Club Fair in which students will have a chance to see what clubs are available this year, and sign up for clubs that they are interested in. We absolutely want all of our students to get connected, so please encourage your child to sign up for a club or two next week.

That's all for now. Have a restful weekend, and we will see your student on Monday.

In gratitude,

Scott Wild, Ed.D.

Student safety is our number one priority at PTMS. Since starting the school year, we've heard time and again from our parents, families, and greater Carmel Valley community about the need to educate our young students about safety-first practices for e-bikes, e-scooters, and traditional bikes. In response to this feedback, PTMS is planning to implement a permit system this fall for all riders akin to the ones already in existence at other middle schools in our district, including Carmel Valley Middle School just down the road. Student riders will be required to attend a presentation this Monday, September 23rd, in the MPR at 8:20 a.m. about bike safety for training, and upon completion will receive a permit to be affixed to their e-bike, e-scooter, or bike. Failure to follow school policies and/or traffic regulations on the way to or from school may result in progressive discipline including loss of the permit.

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!

As we end the 6th week of school, we recommend you review your student’s academic progress with them. D/F notifications for the first quarter can now be viewed in Aeries under the “grades'' tab. As a reminder, we have the following academic supports at PTMS for all students:

• Homeroom is a time where students can prearrange meetings with their teachers in order to get any questions that they have answered.

• Academic Power Hour is from 2:50-3:50pm in the Learning Commons every Monday-Wednesday. Students are welcome to drop-in and work on homework as well as get help from a PTMS teacher. Students are required to sign in when they arrive.

• Math Mornings are Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. with Ms. Hunner and Mr. Torkelson in room B220.

This week some of our students signed up for a rock painting activity in the Wellness Center during Homeroom. This activity was open to everyone as a way of encouraging connection and a chance to unwind and relax while getting creative!

The counseling team needs your help! Would you be able to come into school and talk to our Wolves for about 30 minutes about your chosen career? This November, as in previous years, we will be running a Career Program for students to get them to start thinking about their strengths and interests. In the past we have had wonderful parent speakers come in to talk about being Engineers, Doctors, Artists, Business Entrepreneurs and much more. If you think you may be able to help, please message our Student Support Facilitator samantha.eelstaylor@sduhsd.net for more information.

SDCOE Caregiver Wellness offers information on recognizing signs of stress, engaging in joyful activities, taking a self-compassion break, and creating a web of support - including a link to the National Parent Helpline: 1-855-4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736) to get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent. They are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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

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

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

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - September (Link)

During National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, communities across the US raise awareness about the protective factors and help-seeking behaviors that help to build resilience and prevent suicide. We also reach out and support those impacted by loss and enhance efforts to connect individuals who may be at a heightened risk of suicide to qualified mental health systems.

Suicide Prevention Awareness emphasizes the power of connections and the importance of discussing mental health in everyday moments. These efforts aim to destigmatize individual experiences of distress as well as ongoing building of protective factors - the personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide.

Major protective factors for suicide include:

• Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions

• Life skills (including problem-solving skills and coping skills, ability to adapt to change)

• Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life

• Effective behavioral healthcare

• Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide

The work of youth suicide prevention is a community effort that includes families, schools, faith institutions, teams, public health officials, emergency responders, and more.

Suicide Prevention Week 9/8-9/14 promotes the commitment to working together to prevent suicide through increasing awareness about the complex set of causes, risks, and warning signs. It promotes compassion, care and action to connect those in need to qualified support.

SDUHSD

Our staff works to increase protective factors by fostering connections and building life skills, social-emotional competencies and a culture that encourages qualities such as empathy and optimism. The district suicide prevention policy and referral systems increase access to professional support; all student ID cards and the student start page have resources and students are encouraged to access support for themselves, a friend, family member, or colleague. A team of credentialed school-based professionals, including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists, along with school administrators, lead suicide prevention efforts throughout the school year.

Resources

There are multiple local and national resources available to help increase knowledge of suicide prevention, risks and warning signs, and provide crisis support - including for parents/guardians.

One California-based resource, Suicide Is Preventable Know the Signs, provides important information in multiple languages (available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Lao, Hmong, Punjabi) about identifying indicators of risk through conversations, actions, and social media. It provides a conversation framework for concerned family members or friends to start the conversation, listening and expressing care, creating a safety plan, and getting help.

Additional Resources

• CareSolace confidential counseling referrals with a live 24X7 concierge line (888) 515-0595

• Jason Foundation / Jason Foundation Parent Resource Program

• Preventing Youth Suicide - Tips for Parents NASP

• SDCOE Resources for High Priority Groups Suicide Prevention

• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

• Suicide Awareness and Guidance for Families

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center

• Talking to your Kids About Suicide - SPTSUSA

If you or someone that you know needs further assistance, please access these qualified crisis resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 National Suicide Prevention Line 988 https://988lifeline.org/

• National Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741 - Youth Crisis Line 800-843-5200

• Trevor Project: National Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate crisis, call 911 or the San Diego Access & Crisis Line 888-724-7240

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

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

Dear PTMS Families,

I am thrilled to reach out to you with wonderful news! We have just hit our fundraising goal, and I cannot express how grateful the PTSA Team is for each and every one of you who contributed to this amazing success. Your dedication and commitment to Pacific Trails Middle School truly demonstrate the investment our families have in making PTMS a fantastic place for our children to learn and grow. This accomplishment is a testament to the incredible engagement of our parent community. It is heartwarming to witness so many families come together for a common cause, and it reaffirms our belief in the power of teamwork. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your support!

Looking ahead, we have some exciting events lined up. Next Friday, we will host our first Trailblazer Awards of the year during lunch (student event only). Following that, we have our first dance for the students and at the same time a social meeting for parents, stay tuned for the dates and info.

Additionally, we are preparing for Red Ribbon Week, promoting drug-free lifestyles among our youth. If you would like to volunteer for Red Ribbon Week, please visit our SignUp Genius page to find opportunities to get involved. Every helping hand makes a difference and enhances the experience for our students, we will share more opportunities to volunteer in the next weeks and months.

I also want to take a moment to share our excitement about Principal Scott Wild’s upcoming haircut, as chosen by all of the school! Stay tuned for the reveal, and be on the lookout for raffles, prizes, and incentives that will be distributed in the next two weeks as a culminating celebration of our fundraiser. All the students will be able to celebrate during a lunch Party with DJ Eric!

Once again, thank you for being such a wonderful part of our PTMS community. Together, we can continue to create an enriching environment for our students.

Warm regards,

Claire Dufayet
PTSA President

~ PTSA Activity will be posted here throughout the year. You can visit their webpage by clicking here.

We will have two Picture Days this year through PE Classes. The first Picture Day on Wednesday, September 25, will be during PE Periods 2, 4 and 6. The next Picture Day on Tuesday, October 8, will be during PE Periods, 1, 3 and 5. Gerardy will email proofs to parents about 2 weeks after each Picture Day. For students who miss those days due to being absent from school, the Make-Up Picture Day is the morning of Monday, October 14. Absent students will receive passes from their Elective classes to report for getting their picture taken.

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.

Is your student having a birthday? Or just accomplished a great sporting feat? Maybe your student aced a recent test. Well, here's your chance to send a "Shout Out!"! Your $25 purchase of a Shout Out Marquee Tile will have your Shout Out projected on the marquee that is mounted on the gym wall facing the parking lot for five business days beginning the day after you place your order. Proceeds will help ASB with scholarships for students for getting dance tickets, PE clothes, Disney tickets, and more. You can order your Shout Out marquee tile on our webstore. Type in what you want to say when you order. Careful, your note is limited to 100 characters.

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!

Science Bowl (https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb) is a buzzer-based national competition where teams of students from different schools compete in head-to-head science competitions with questions in math, biology, the physical sciences, Earth/Space, Energy, and general science. Students will compete in a regional competition in late February, and will compete in the national round if they win.

PTMS Science Bowl Club that is sponsored by Mrs. Griffen and will be coached by CCA students. Weekly meeting will be held on Tuesdays 3:45-4:45pm in the PTMS Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) Starting September 24th, 2024. Please register using this link: https://forms.gle/GSpar7iUqkxcEmXU9

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.

School Meals Reminders:

• School meals are free for all students.

• Know your student ID# for meals.

• Breakfast Daily: 7:40 - 8:10am.

• Breakfast Late Monday: 8:50 - 9:20am.

• Nutritional Break: 9:45 - 10:00am.

• Lunch Daily: according to the bell schedule.

Each student is entitled to one breakfast and one lunch per day.

You can either receive Breakfast before School OR during Nutritional Break.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining our team, PTMS is hiring for food service workers . Click on the links for more information.

If you need to check our menu in advance you can follow the link: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2011131648587358

Thank you to all the PTMS parents who attended the Fall Multilingual Learner Night (MLL). The evening kicked off with MLL families connecting through an engaging icebreaker activity, all while enjoying cookies baked by the SDA Culinary Arts program. Following this, parents took part in Family/Community Listening Circles, facilitated by site principals. These circles provided a valuable opportunity for parents to share their insights, experiences, and perspectives, helping SDUHSD gain a deeper understanding of both the strengths and needs of the MLL program. The slides from the program are linked here.

SDUHSD invites you to get involved in the Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan 24-25. 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.

Below are the meeting dates:

Community Engagement Meeting Dates:

8/14 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

9/17 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

10/8 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

11/7 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

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

SDUHSD is seeking individuals who want to make a difference in children’s lives as a classified staff member. Current job opportunities include Nutrition Services Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Campus Supervisor, Custodian, and Student Health Care Specialists. We have both full and part time positions at campuses throughout the school district. The District offers great benefits, including paid time off and health and retirement benefits for eligible positions.

Our job opportunities can be viewed here. If you have questions, please contact us at classifiedpersonnel@sduhsd.net.

To apply to be a Bus Driver Trainee, click the link below.

High school students from Canyon Crest Academy and others across the US are hosting free online coding camps for middle school students. They offer Introductory Python, Intermediate Python, Introductory Machine Learning, and Project-Based Machine Learning with more programs planned, and their past programs have achieved 800+ enrollments throughout the country with dozens of positive reviews. These programs usually meet bi/tri-weekly for two to three weeks for one-hour classes. More information on dates can be found on their flyer and their website, and the enrollment form is linked here.

~ 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 Student Rider Permit - Required for all students who ride to school.

- 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.

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