PTMS Weekly Parent Newsletter

January 10, 2025

I. Coming Up

January 13 - March 17 - Annual Residency Verification Window for CURRENT 7th-11th grade SDUHSD Students.

January 15 - Therapy Dogs in the Wellness Center - during both lunches

January 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - NO SCHOOL

January 21 - Block 1, 3, 5 Day - as usual

II. Message from the Principal

Wolfpack families,

Happy Friday! I hope that the Winter Break was enjoyable for you and your family. As I welcomed back the staff, many shared that their break was an opportunity to recharge, spend time with loved ones, and some traveled as well. On Tuesday, our staff spent the day engaging in professional growth, and I think it's important for you to know. Our focus is, and will continue to be, on classrooms in which we create the conditions for students to thrive. Additionally, we talked at great length about how we engage our students, the questions we ask, and how this leads to student learning. I am grateful for our teachers and staff, because they are so committed to continually learning, reflecting, and ultimately caring for students.

On Wednesday, we welcomed back students. It was great to see them, and hear how they spent their break. The kids were so excited to see each other, and lots of hugs and smiles happened throughout the week. In classrooms, teachers are helping students get back into the rhythm of school. Students are getting new seats in most classes, reviewing expectations, and starting new units of study. In 8th grade English, students are beginning their justice unit that will include a speech students deliver about a famous person they select. In 8th grade science, students reflected on Term 1, good habits they exhibited and opportunities for improvement. In some 7th grade social studies classes, they are beginning their unit on China, while in PE, some students played a really fun game of "plank hand tag" that you should ask them about!

As we try to instill positive learning habits for all students, things like self-advocacy, organization, and being on time, we also try to instill good social habits. Middle school students can sometimes be very flippant with words, words they use to others, and even words they tell themselves. These words can carry great weight and have a big impact. To that end, I will be presenting to all 8th graders next Monday in the PE class about the power of words, and the responsibility we have in using words in a responsible and caring way. I will give the same presentation to our 7th grade students later this month. Hopefully, this will further reinforce the concept of speaking with kindness and care to others.

I hope that you have a relaxing weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.

In gratitude,

Scott Wild, Ed.D.

Principal

III. From the Assistant Principal

Attendance

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!

IV. Counseling Corner

We want to welcome our wolves back for second semester and hope everyone had a great winter break! As a reminder, the new semester means a fresh start for grades. If you find that your student is needing extra support, we encourage them to attend Academic Power Hour. Academic Power Hour is held Monday through Wednesday in the Learning Commons from 2:50-3:50p.m.

Final First-Semester Grades can be viewed in the Aeries Parent Portal on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. To access semester grades click on the "Grades" tab, located under the student's name. Click on "Grades" then click on Report Card History.

On January 14 and 15th, the counseling department will meet with our 8th grade Wolves for a presentation titled “Preparing for your High School Launch”. This presentation will cover important topics such as graduation requirements, the high school selection process and how students can best prepare for high school. We will also use Thrively to help students revisit their strengths and interests and see how they align with the CTE offerings at each high school. We will be posting the presentation in students' history Google Classrooms and will also link the presentation in next week's newsletter.

This coming Wednesday the 15th, we are excited to once again welcome the Therapy Dogs from Love on a Leash. Our students are encouraged to come pet them in the Wellness Center during lunch break.

The SDCOE is hosting an upcoming 2025 Mental Health Webinar Series for Parents/Caregivers in partnership with Rady's Children's Hospital starting this month. This webinar series will provide information on common mental health challenges faced by youth today and will offer information, tips, and tools for parents and guardians. Please see this flyer for more information. The first session is on January 15 and will focus on Building Belonging: Turning the Tide on Bullying. Bullying, in-person and online, can erode a youth's sense of self-worth and belonging. Join Hilary Bowers, MD, FAAP, to explore the impact and signs of bullying. Learn tools to foster connection and create inclusive spaces where children feel valued and supported, whether at home or in the broader community. Register here.

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

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

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

Annual Residency Verification - January 13 thru March 17

Annual Residency Verification is for CURRENT 7th thru 11th grade SDUHSD students ONLY - not for new incoming students. Click here for information and instructions on how to submit. It is encouraged that parents upload this information via the Aeries Parent Portal. If you are UNABLE to upload through Aeries, we will accept hard copies in the office.

If you have more than one 7th thru 11th grader in the district, you only need to submit ONE form with each of their names on that form to ONE school.

Annual Residency Verification
Aeries Parent Portal Uploading Tutorial - This tutorial is designed to walk parents through the process of uploading residency documentation using their parent portal.

If you have a current student AND an incoming student who will be in 7th grade next year - you must submit a separate Residency Verification for the incoming student with the other online enrollment forms you complete for the incoming student.

High School Selection - January 24 thru February 13

The window for 8th graders to select - online - the high school they would like to attend for the 2025-26 school year opens on January 24, 2025 and closes on February 13, 2025. Students who do NOT choose to select a high school will automatically go to Torrey Pines High School - the natural feeder high school from PTMS. To keep an eye on High School Selection, please refer to this district webpage.

How Parents Can Access Student Grades

Please click here for complete SDUHSD Grading Information which includes a Parent Tutorial on accessing grades in Aeries.

Mental Health & Wellness

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

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

V. From the PTSA

Dear Pacific Trails Families,

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, I hope this message finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities for growth, connection, and community. We are thrilled about the opportunities this year will bring for our students and families at Pacific Trails Middle School!

I would like to remind you about our upcoming Principal's Coffee and PTSA General Meeting on Friday, January 31st at 8:30 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Principal Scott Wild, ask questions, and learn more about what’s happening at our school. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend, as your insights and involvement are vital to our school community.

As we look forward to the future, we are also seeking individuals who are interested in joining the PTSA Board for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. If you have a passion for supporting our students and making a difference in their educational experience, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out if you are interested or have any questions about the positions available.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Pacific Trails Middle School. Together, we can make this school year a memorable and successful one for our children.

Wishing you all a fantastic start to the new year!

Warm regards,

The PTSA Team

president@pacifictrailsmsptsa.org

~ PTSA Website

VI. ASB and Student Announcements

ASB presents the Weekly Wolfpack Howl Student Announcements.

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.

VII. Department News

Learning Commons News

Please click here to see everything that the Learning Commons has been up to so far this year.

PE News

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!

VIII. Clubs

Check out all of the Student Clubs!

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.

IX. Nutrition Services

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, click here.

X. Multilingual Learner Corner

XI. Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan - 2024-25

SDUHSD invites you to get involved in the Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan 2024-25. 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.

XII. Special Education Sessions and Events

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

XIII. SDUHSD News

E-Bike Safety - Saturday Cycling Class

SDUHSD is committed to helping our students stay safe while e-biking to school! The District has joined with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition to present bike education classes at San Dieguito Academy for SDA, LCC, Oak Crest and Diegueno students. Appropriate for both regular and e-bike riders, the 3-hour sessions cover road rules, where to ride, general bike safety, emergency maneuvers, legal rights, and responsibilities, and conclude with a guided road ride to put your new skills into action!

When: Saturday, January 11, two sessions available:

9 am-12 pm Register here!
1 pm-4 pm Register here!

Riders under 16 must be accompanied by a parent. All riders under 18 must have a parent drop them off and sign a waiver. This class is FREE and open to students of SDA, Diegueno MS and Oak Crest MS.

Where:San Dieguito Academy's Mosaic Cafe
800 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas

The Mosaic is located northeast of the gym, up the stairs from the gym entrance.

Bring:Your bike and helmet are mandatory
Parents are encouraged to attend!
Informational flyer here

Summer School Math Bridge Opportunity

SDUHSD middle school students enrolled in an Essentials Level math class may participate in an SDUHSD Math Bridge opportunity to determine course enrollment in math for the following school year. There are two ways for students to participate in a math bridge opportunity to move from Essentials to grade-level math: 1) enrollment in an in-person summer school course or 2) participation in the Concurrent School Year Bridge Opportunity. For more information on the Summer School Math Bridge Opportunity, please click here. Students interested in participating in the Concurrent School Year Bridge Opportunity can learn more, and register, by accessing the attached information. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact your child's school site team.

XIV. Community Events

CCA Campus Tours

Campus tours meet at 3:45 p.m. near the flagpole outside the CCA Administration Building. School staff and students will lead the tours and give you an insider's view about being a Raven. Parents and prospective students are welcome.

CCA - Coding and Tech Camps

High school students from CCA and across the US are hosting free online coding camps for middle school students. They offer Introductory Python, Intermediate Python, a Java Bootcamp, and Introductory Web Development with more programs planned. Their past programs have achieved 1500+ enrollments throughout the country with hundreds of positive reviews. These programs meet twice or thrice a week 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.”