Twin Peaks Middle School

Happy Sunday Ram Families!

I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying your weekend! We had another event-filled week at TPMS with the start and end of our ELA CAASPP testing on Monday and Tuesday, an amazing TPMS choir concert, our 3 on 3 Homeroom Basketball Tourney at lunch, a visit from TBES students for lessons by our agricultural science students, and a district wrestling meet! Get ready for more learning and laughter (and our last 5-day week of the school year!) as we get ready for a Twin Peaks tradition and annual right of passage for our 6th graders....

This Thursday and Friday, Twin Peaks will host the 48th Annual 6th Grade Olympics! A huge shoutout to our 6th Grade Team for all of their work in preparing for this year's event - it is a monumental undertaking that can only be accomplished through the coordinated efforts of many dedicated individuals working together. 6th graders will have a special schedule for Thursday and Friday and will not be attending their regularly scheduled classes. 6th Graders can drop off their gear on Friday morning on the upper field before school starts, and will report to their Homeroom class on Thursday morning when the bell rings to prepare for our Opening Ceremony.

Parents are welcome to come and be spectators for all of the Olympic events! Please remember that our parking lot and the TBES parking lot are reserved for staff during the school day, so you will need to find parking on Twin Peaks Road or in the community. Please enter for the Olympics through the fire lane gate at the north end of campus where you will need to sign-in before heading to the upper field for the events. Please check out the schedule and logistical information below... get ready for another amazing year of 6th Grade Olympics!

The ABC's of Spirit will continue this week with the following spirit dress-up day

• Monday, 5/20: R DAY - Red Day - wear RED head to toe!
• Tuesday, 5/21: S DAY - Soccer Mom or BBQ Dad Day - come dressed as either!
• Wednesday, 5/22: T DAY - Twin Day - come dressed like a friend!
• Thursday, 5/23: U DAY - USA Day - rock your red, white and blue!
• Friday, 5/24: V DAY - Vacation Day - wear something from a trip you have been on!

Students - you can earn 5 Star Points each day when you dress up and participate - check out the complete list of all the spirit days below!

The final PUSD Safety Summit for the 2023-2024 school year will be hosted next Thursday, May 23rd from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in the Community Room and will focus on the topic of Student Wellness & Mental Health. Panelists will include mental wellness experts from SDCOE, Heather Nemour and Tami Johson, the WVHS Mental Wellness & Connections Committee Chair, a Mending Matters Clinical Supervisor and student representatives. All are welcome to attend the summit live in the Community Room or join the live stream on the PUSD Board of Education YouTube Channel LINKED HERE.

Finally this week, we also have our last TPMS Foundation meeting of the school year this Tuesday night at 6pm at The Hop Stop, and our last English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC) Meeting of the year this Wednesday night in Pride Park starting at 5:30pm. A huge THANK YOU to all of our parents who have supported these organizations throughout the school year - they, along with our PTSA and our School Site Council are vital to our students' success and I am incredibly grateful for the amazing parents that I get to partner with to serve our TPMS school community. I look forward to celebrating all of our amazing volunteers on Wednesday, May 29th at 9am during our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in Pride Park.

With Gratitude,

Steve Mills

Proud Principal

Twin Peaks Middle School

stmills@powayusd.com

1(858)748-5131 x2806

Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks

TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - Click here for Calendar

May 21st: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm

May 22nd: Late Start, 9:50am

May 22nd: ELAC Meeting. 5:30-7pm, Library

May 22nd:Choir Concert, PCPA w/ PHS, 7pm

May 23rd and 24th: 6th Grade Olympics

May 23rd: Choir Concert, PCPA w/ PHS, 7pm

May 27th: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

May 28th: Jazz Band Concert, 5-8pm, TPMS Quad

May 29th: Volunteer Breakfast, 9am Pride Park

May 29th: Late Start, 9:50am

May 29th: Academic Awards Night, 5-8pm

May 31st: 5 Star All-Stars Lunch, MPR

June 3rd: 8th Grade Harbor Cruise, 5-9pm

June 5th: 8th Grade Breakfast (first block)

June 6th: 8th Grade Promotion, 8:30am - MINIMUM DAY

Help is needed to make this event a huge success. If you're interested in volunteering during the two day event please sign-up here: Volunteer Sign-Up 6th Gr Olympics. Please contact Melissa Atkinson at PTSAPresTPMS@gmail.com. Volunteers will still be able to watch/cheer for their student(s) and have access to the infield.

Please click HERE or on the graphic above for the complete Olympics flyer and handout. The schedule for the events are listed below:

Our amazing TPMS Choir performed this past Thursday night and they wowed the crowd with their upbeat and energetic set of songs featuring, You Got a Friend in Me. A huge shoutout to TPMS parent and substitute teacher Denise Gonda for all of her efforts in volunteering her time to lead this talented group of students! Wish them luck as several choir members prepare to travel and perform at Radio City Music Hall this summer!

We have some news for you! Our End of the Year 8th Grade Breakfast is just around the corner on Wednesday, June 5th. This breakfast will be a final hurrah with all of your peers before we go off to high school. We will have tasty food, snazzy music, and awesome decorations that will ensure everyone will have a great time! This amazing event will definitely be a highlight of your middle school career! However, we need a little help to make this celebration happen. We would love donations in any way shape or form. Signups will close on May 24th. PLEASE - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Our annual PTSA Academic Awards Night is coming up on Wednesday, May 29th. Students eligible for academic awards will receive notification by Mid-May and are strongly encouraged to attend the evening event with their families to be recognized! Here is the schedule for the evening:

• 6th Grade Awards: 5:00-5:45pm
• 7th Grade Awards: 6:00-6:45pm
• 8th Grade Awards: 7:00-7:45pm

As we look ahead to the summer, I am thrilled to share an exciting opportunity with you and your students. The San Diego County Office of Education is hosting an Esports Summer Camp from July 8th to 12th for Middle School Students. This camp promises to be an engaging and enriching experience, featuring a variety of games and activities that students will love.

Here are some key details about the camp:

Dates: July 8th - 12th

Location: Linda Vista Innovation Center 2202 Comstock St. San Diego, CA 92111

Cost: $550 for the week

Includes: Camp materials (journal, t-shirts, blue light glasses), AM/PM snack, transportation to UCSD, UCSD lunch, and access to games such as Super Smash, Rocket League, Minecraft, Chess, FIFA, NBA2K, Madden, MarioKart, and Splatoon.

Click Here for flyer.

Yearbooks pre-order deadline has now passed. Here is the how, when and where to pick up a pre-ordered book or purchase one of our limited-supply extras!

HOW:

Every student who has a pre-ordered book will receive a Receipt Flyer showing their picture and the details of their order. Students will get the Receipt Flyer in their Homeroom class right before the Pick-Up Event. Students will be able to use the flyer to pick up their yearbook. If they don’t have the flyer at time of pick up, then they will have to show school ID, either by card or by phone on Synergy.

If students are purchasing one of our limited supply of extras, they do not need an ID but they will need $55 cash. Cash only. We cannot take checks this late in the school year. Purchasing is first come, first serve while supplies last.

WHEN AND WHERE TO PICK UP A PRE-ORDERED YEARBOOK:

Tuesday, 28th

Pick up only of Pre-ordered Books in MPR (no sales)

During Homeroom class

Must have flyer or show ID by card or phone through Synergy

WHEN AND WHERE TO PURCHASE AN EXTRA YEARBOOK:

Wed 5/29 through the last day of school or until yearbooks run out

Before school/During both lunches

Table in front of room 406

$55 Cash Only, no ID required

May 2024 Parent Education Courses:

• Navigating Autism and Supporting Your Child – 6th- 8th Grade NEW
• Shaping Positive Behavior: Strengthening Emotional Intelligence in Children TK-5th Grade NEW
• FREE Spanish Parent Education Workshop: Coping Skills for Anxiety and Depression Among Children and Teens

In Person – Valley Elementary School

Tuesday, May 14th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm

*Childcare provided for school-aged children

Parents - please make every effort to have your student here before classes begin each day at 8:30am, or before 9:50am on Wednesdays. We are actually experiencing a larger percentage of students late to school on Wednesdays when we have late start than on our regular start days. Please try and drop your student off at school by 8:15am or regular days and by 9:30am on late-start Wednesdays so that they have time to get to their first block class on time; we open the school gates 30 minutes before classes actually start, and our Food Services provide a free breakfast for students during this time or during the morning break after first block.

First, we are excited to share a new tool you can access to support your student(s) that are English Learners. The EL Console is our new application where parents can see student’s progress towards reclassification. You can view their ELPAC scores along with their progress on iReady and SBAC assessments. To access the EL Console, follow these quick steps!

Second, our English Learner department has a new Instagram and Facebook account you can follow! You can see amazing learning in action, get updates from the EL Department, and learn how to continue to support your child. You can follow along at @pusdmll !

Is your Student leaving early? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730 that morning. Leave a message and a note gets sent to the student that block. Bring in your ID, sign the student out, and away you go!

Is your Student running late? Absent? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730

Leave a message with the requested information and the Tardy or Absence will be excused.

Did your student go to the Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist/Dermatologist/Optometrist?

It is beneficial to his/her attendance record to bring an official medical note to the Attendance Desk. Any absence excused by a medical note does not count toward your student’s absence total.

As a general rule, we do not accept drop-off items for students once they arrive at school. While we do make exceptions for medical and emergency situations, our TPMS Student Planner states: "In an effort to limit classroom interruptions as well as encourage students to become more independent and self-sufficient, Twin Peaks does not allow delivery of forgotten lunches, PE clothes, homework, non-emergency messages, or other items during the school day."

Delivery food and Door Dash-like companies may not deliver to students at school; additionally, cell phones will not be held for students at the front desk for them to pick up. Breakfast and lunch items are provided to all students, free of charge, so there should not be any reason to drop off a lunch for your student - they will be able to get food at school. If your student has food allergies that require special lunches, the Student Planner states you "must provide a Medical Statement (SNP-925) that explains the need. The medical statement must be signed by a physician and include recommended alternate foods."

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

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:

• June 13th @ The Hop Stop

To join the PTSA for the 2023-24 school year, please CLICK HERE!

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 2023-24 school year:

• May 21st @ The Hop Stop

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.

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