

The Terrapin Times #25
A Leader in Me School - February 7, 2025
Dear Families,
Thank you for a beautiful week at TBK! Our student led Friday flag and awards reception were so fun and we always love having families on campus.
If you're interested in purchasing Turtleback spirit wear, click here! Orders placed by Friday, February 14th will receive free shipping to TBK. We hope to see all our Terrapins showing their school pride by wearing their spirit wear every Friday.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Managing Screen Time
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.
Resource: How Much Screentime is OK for My Kids
Important Upcoming Dates:
📅 February 10-14: Kindness Week
📅 Friday, February 14: Spirit Wear orders due for free shipping
📅 February 17 – 21: "Ski Week" – No school for students or staff
📅 February 26: School Site Council Meeting
📅 February 28 : End of Trimester 2
Thank you again for sharing your sweet students with us and enjoy your weekend,
Lisa Maguire
Leader in Me Low Down
"Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood" The emotional bank account is a metaphor that describes how people build trust and maintain relationships. It's based on the idea that people have an invisible bank account where positive interactions are deposits and negative interactions are withdrawals.
Deposits - Positive actions like kindness, understanding, and keeping commitments build up the balance in your emotional bank account
Withdrawals - Negative actions like ignoring or not listening can hurt the balance in your emotional bank account
- Balance - A high balance indicates good feelings, while a low balance indicates bad feelings
How to build an emotional bank account:
- Be understanding: Listen to others and try to understand how they feel
- Keep commitments: Do what you say you will do
- Communicate expectations: Ask for what you want and let others know what you expect
- Attend to the little things: Show respect and kindness through small gestures
- Be sincere: Apologize when you make a mistake
- Be open to feedback: Consider what others have to say
Foundation Updates
- Flippin' Pizza Restaurant Night - Thursday, February 13th
25% of all sales come back to TBK!
DATE: Thursday, February 13th
LOCATION: 4S Ranch, 16615 Dove Canyon Road, 858-674-9977
TIME: 11 am - 8 pm
*Show flyer on phone, print or mention to staff to receive fundraiser credit
*Place order ahead for easy pick up
*If placing online order - let staff know
*PLEASE SAVE RECEIPTS*
SpED Luncheon - Wednesday, February 26th
Our Special Education Department is OUT OF THIS WORLD and the Turtleback Education Foundation will be hosting a luncheon for the team on Wednesday, February 26th.
Classics 4 Kids Sabrosas Latin Combo - Thursday, February 13th
A small combo of musicians will bring the vibrant sounds of classic Afro-Cuban and salsa music to life. Blending music with educational storytelling, this program will explore the history and evolution of these genres from Africa to the Caribbean and highlight the European influences that shaped them.
Assembly 1: 9-9:45 am
Assembly 2: 9:50-10:35 am
This assembly is funded by the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.
Kona Ice - Friday, February 14th
We have Kona Ice after school on Friday, February 14th by the TBK MPR; 20% of all sales come back to Turtleback. Thank you for supporting our TBK Kona Ice Days!
If you have any free Kona Ice Cards, please make sure to use them before this school year ends. The ownership is changing and these cards may not be honored after May 2025.
Spell-a-thon- Kona Ice Party Winners
Mrs. Taggart's 4th grade class for our second top fundraising class for the Spell-a-thon. The TEF celebrated this class with a Kona Ice party on Tuesday, February 4th.
Thank you Kona Ice Central North County SD for sponsoring this Kona Ice Party!
TBK Spirit Wear Store
The TBK Spirit Wear Store is Open
- 25% of all sales come back to TBK
- Order by Feb 14th and receive free shipping to TBK on your order!
https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/iJdzC8Xr8OTBnAvgTnfmSypHa4?domain=rgbcommerce.com
- When ordering please put the student name in “Company Name” field or in the “add order notes” field
- All funds raised support campus beautification at Turtleback Elementary
Thank you Ms. Kelley Hills and team for initiating this effort!
5th Grade Yearbook Baby Photos:
Submit your 5th grader's baby photo to tbkyearbook@gmail.com
- DEADLINE: February 28th
- Email: tbkyearbook@gmail.com
- FREE
5th Grade Recognition Ads:
Celebrate your 5th grader with their own 1/4 page yearbook recognition ad
- DEADLINE: February 28th
- Email: tbkyearbook@gmail.com
- Cost = $10
- https://web.treering.com/school/237122/2024/school-content/recognition-ads
- Flippin' Pizza Restaurant Night - Thursday, February 13th
ENGLISH LEARNER FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
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.
Family Resource Fair for Students with Special Needs
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.
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.
About Us
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