Meet Madi Wade, 6th grade ELA
I've taught in multiple 5th grade classrooms, and was a class aid for 4th grade for a semester. Right after getting my BA, I jumped into getting my MA in Educational Leadership. I am very passionate about trauma informed practices and enjoy getting to build strong relationships with my students while watching them grow.
Counselors Corner
So far this school year, the school counselors have met individually with approximately 150 students. The main topics we’ve supported students with include anxiety, stress, academics, and social skills. If you’re worried about your child or would like them to receive any extra support at school - for any reason - please contact Andrea Wallace (all 6th grade; 8th grade last names A-L) or Keefer Lanham (all 7th grade; 8th grade last names M-Z).
In PRO classes throughout the month of September, students learned about sending a SPARK - which is an acronym for Sending Positive And Random Kindness. SPARK is a system that allows students to send positive and kind messages to other students and staff. These are vetted by a staff member and then sent through email. Another topic covered in PRO was Xello - this is the website that TSD uses in grades 6-12 for students to start preparing for post-secondary and career readiness. Students start identifying what their interests and skills are and how those match up to future career pathways. In the social-emotional learning curriculum that TSD is using this year, called Character Strong, students have learned about topics related to bullying, respect, values, and goals. In PRO classes, we also started Castle Competitions in September where each grade level participated in an activity to earn points for their castle. Ask your student how their castle performed in their competition!
The WEB leaders have been working hard in September - they hosted a dance for 6th grade early on in the month and worked in 6th grade PRO classes to lead a lesson about middle school mythbusting. They will be planning their next activity soon and will be doing a “WEB Wednesday” with their 6th grade groups about once every 6 weeks in PRO classes. Overall, they have done a great job of helping make the transition to middle school smoother for our newest Turner Dragons.
The Sources of Strength group has got off to a roaring start. This is a group dedicated to teaching and helping others manage the hard times that happen in our lives. Using the power of social networks in the school, student leaders, identified and nominated by teachers, went through a fun-filled training on the principles and approaches we will be using for the rest of the year. A small group did an introductory lesson with an activity to the teachers that was both informative - and hilarious. Students will be delivering both an introduction lesson and our first campaign in early October.
The start of a school year can be a tough time for youth. Speaking to a therapist can make transitioning into the new academic year easier. If you know someone who might benefit from free therapy sessions, visit
IMatterColorado.org to get started.
6th grade Squad
Things are really falling into place in 6th grade (pun intended)! We continue to be impressed by this great group of kiddos!
One thing we wanted to make sure parents are aware of is our Focus Friday celebrations. Every Friday, the 6th grade teachers award 6 students with a positive referral for exhibiting leadership, empathy, and a hard working, positive attitude. If your kiddo receives an award, you will receive a postcard in the mail, so keep your eyes open!
The weather is getting ready to take a turn towards cooler temperatures, especially in the mornings when students are waiting for the doors to open. Please send your kids with ample layers to keep them warm outside, and cool on the inside when the heat inside the school is cranked up.
Finally, conferences are approaching, and there are a number of students who could benefit from having their families go through their Infinite Campus (Parent Portal) gradebooks with them to see if they have missing work. Please make time to sit down with your student and have them show you their gradebook and how to check their scores. It’s not the easiest system to navigate, so having some adult help when checking scores is always beneficial. As always, thanks for supporting your students!
7th grade Encounters
Seventh grade has some exciting projects coming up this month!
In ELA, we are continuing our "Generations" unit that ends with personal narrative writing. In math class, students are learning how to multiply and divide integers. In social studies class, students are learning about Mesopotamia and Egypt. Lastly, in science, students will be learning about cells.
The seventh grade teachers are looking forward to a fun next few weeks!
8th grade Adventures
8th grade has beat the first full month of school like we beat the heat everyday! Social Studies has begun the process of learning and understanding the events that lead up to the American Revolution and the Revolution itself. Do not be worried when your kid comes home complaining about British Tea, that is all according to plan.
Remember parents that we at Turner practice away for the day with all electronics. If you need to get a hold of your students during school hours, contact the front office and we will get a hold of them. Please refrain from texting them during school hours.
In Science, students are in the middle of our Energy unit, using our new curriculum to discuss Potential and Kinetic energy in the world around them. They are using rollback cans to explore how energy can be built up and stored within a system. Soon students will design and create mini roller coasters to explain conservation of energy and energy transformations. During these labs and experiments, we will also begin to hone in on their hypothesis and claim writing skills that they’ve worked on in 6th and 7th grade science.
We are excited to see what the rest of this year has in store for our 8th grade Dragons!
-8th grade team
Everyone loves Electives
PE needs donations of travel size deodorants
Art needs donations of magazines
Orchestra needs donations of tissues
Music Performance needs donations of rhythm sticks or tambourines.
FACS-
8th: continuing school to career with Xello. Will be moving on to filling out job applications, writing cover letters, and creating a resume.
7th: extending learning from Xello to “Living On Your Own” activity, including an intro into credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cards, credit scores, and what FICO means.
6th: time management for not only cooking, but overall for school. Begin learning self-care options to lessen stress and anxiety, while learning how to make lasting connections with others.
Save the Date!
October 8: Band Concert
October 9: Choir/Orchestra Concert
Elective Mash Up
I was working at Turner one day,
When my eyes beheld a sight I’d say,
For our students, in our classes, began to rise
And suddenly… to my surprise
They did the Mash,
They did the Electives Mash,
Oh yes the Mash,
It was a school-wide smash,
They did the Mash,
The Electives Mash.
AH OOOO,
They’ll do the Mash,
In Art, it is a pinch-pot smash,
6th grade’s clay pots,
Will be in a kiln in a flash.
From our art room in the Castle east,
7th & 8th grade will learn about Matisse,
Making colorful paper cut-out wall hangings,
Collage images will make a beautiful piece.
To the tune of
They’ll do the Mash,
They’ll do a Spanish Mash,
8th grade words, “Comida” (Food) in a dash,
Speaking All About Me (Describing Myself) is 7th’s newsflash,
Six graders will be learning Spanish basics, a mishmash.
AH OOOO,
They’ll do the Mash,
They’ll do the Electives Mash,
The IT lab,
Where the engineers feast,
The 3D projects came from their humble abodes
To get printed and now start on a new mode,
Individual projects in woodworking and rocketry,
Laser engraving and robotic circuitry.
"Monster Mash"
They’ll do the Mash,
They’ll do the Phys Ed. Mash,
The Phys. Ed Mash, it was a tennis smash,
They did the Mash, it caught on in a flash,
They’ll do the Mash,
The Fitness Mash, our goals we’ll smash.
They’ll do the Mash,
They’ll do the Music Mash,
The scene will rock,
All digging the sounds,
Listen to the flute,
Backed by baying trombones
The concerts are open to all.
GT news
Students should listen to the announcements for Math Counts and Spelling Bee Clubs starting in October. Dates will be released soon. Contact Mrs. Leonard for more information.
Upcoming Dates:
Oct. 16 & 17: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Oct. 21 - 25: Spirit Week for castle points
Oct. 25: First Quarter Assembly
Nov. 16: LEGO Robotics Regional Competition in Broomfield
Please save your lightly used jackets and coats for our coat drive in November.
Also, start saving your pennies for Penny Wars that will also start in November.
PRO Class
PRO is our connections/advisory class. Each student is in a same grade group and each grade level group belongs to a castle. There are 8 castles: time, wind, energy, rock, water, metal, ice, and fire. PRO class meets twice a week. Sources of Strength, Character Strong, and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports are part of the lesson development.
During October we are launching our Sources of Strength Trusted Adult Campaign, discussing bullying and bystanders, understanding Día De Los Muertos, and participating in Castle Competitions.
Give Next club will be going to the CSU Lory Center this Friday October 4th. Please arrive at 8:30 am on the East side of the building, the bus will leave at 8:45. This field trip is for the 8th grade students to meet the non-profits of Larimer county and learn more about issues that through our community partner we will be able to raise funds and make a donation.
Whole School DANCE
Get ready to dance and have some fun on Friday, October 4 from 4:15-5:30. The dance will take place in the gym and concessions will be sold in the cafeteria.
The cost of the dance is $3.00 and students will need to present their TMS school ID at the entrance if they have not pre-purchased a ticket (wristband). Tickets can be purchased during school the day of the dance during breakfast and at lunch.
We ask that parents who are picking up their student to be at the school no later than 5:30.
SPIRIT WEEK
The week of October 21-25, students can participate in Spirit Week and earn points for their castle.
Monday Oct 21 - Jersey Day: Represent your favorite sport team
Tuesday Oct 22 - Matching Day: Match outfits with a group of friends
Wednesday Oct 23- Crazy Sock Day: wear your crazy, fun, weird but school appropriate socks
Thursday Oct 24- Dress Like your Preschool Self Day: wear something inspired by your younger self- no stuffed animals or other accessories.
Friday Oct 25- Castle Colors for the assembly. Rock (black); Water (green); Wind (purple); Energy (yellow); Fire (red); Metal (gray); Ice (white); Time (Orange)
Whole School Assembly: Friday, October 25 at 3:15 pm.
Congratulations to Turner's JV-A volleyball team!
Congratulations to Turner's JV-A volleyball team for making the finals of the JV tournament held at New Vision on Saturday, Sept. 28. Brooke Davis, Kati-Lynn Sells, Aspen Thorstenson, Serenity Thurston, Gracelynn Huckfeldt, Sloane Dolak, and Sophia Zamora beat New Vision and Bill Reed to get to the championship game. They lost a competitive game against Lucille Erwin's Maroon team to finish in second place. Turner's second team of Rachel Beal, Chloe Cwik, Serenity Glassford, Avielle Hunt, Gigi Sandoval, Riah Scadden, Sadie Scadden, Febe Staley, Lizzie Stewart, and Katelyn White played hard but did not win their games. The teams were coached by TMS teachers Alex Kneuven and Kristi Leonard.
Picture Retakes October 8
Please make sure you bring your photo package back if you would like to get picture retakes. This event is also for any students that did not get their picture taken yet.
Parents can order for the next 13 months by:
View/order online at mylifetouch.com - they just enter their child’s ID number and can view/purchase photos from there.
These orders will be shipped directly to your homes.
For Parents With Picture Questions, here are 3 ways they can contact Lifetouch for help:
Lorene - Customer Service: 303-565-5203
Lifetouch General Customer Service: 800-736-5473
To email Customer Service: colorado@lifetouch.com
Reminder: No classes for students
Thursday, Oct. 17 for Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, Oct 18: No school for students and staff
TMS PTO
TMS parent teacher organization (PTO) meets at Turner Middle School.
Please feel free to join them for the next meeting on Friday, October 4 at 9:00am. This meeting sets up the opportunity to work together with the school to supplement and enrich our student's educational experience.
See TMS Website for contact information.
SAAC
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, October 8 from 4:15-5:15 pm TMS main office conference room
Boys Basketball
We are 1 week away from starting Boys basketball already! Tryouts will begin on Oct. 7 from 4:15-5:45 in the gym. Tryouts will be at the same time every day after school until coaches have decided they can place students on Varsity or Intramural.
Make sure you get your forms uploaded on BigTeams and pay through the School Store in Parent Portal. If you need BigTeams help, please contact our athletic secretary Kelly Sandoval (kelly.sandoval@tsd.org) REMINDER: physicals are only valid for 1 calendar year, so make sure yours is current.
Conference Scheduler Opens to Families on October 7, 2024:
Fall conferences will be available by appointment only according to the following schedule:
- Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:00pm-8:30pm
- Thursday, October 17, 2024 8:00am-8:00pm
*Please note: Conferences are 10 minutes with the teacher.
To give greater flexibility in scheduling conferences, parents/guardians will have access to their student's teachers calendar and schedule a convenient conference time. The conference scheduler and password will be sent to all families when it has opened on October 7th.
Change to Berthoud Home Football Games
Parents,
Please share this information with your student from BHS Athletics:
Starting Next Week, 10/4, NO BALLS or FRISBEES WILL BE ALLOWED at Berthoud Home Football Games. Students getting into the game with special passes need to be supervised by coaches or adults. We are also asking parents to be more attentive to their kids who are playing behind the bleachers during the games. Any students found under the bleachers will be removed from the stadium. Other Schools in our area have implemented "No Unaccompanied Minors" Policies. We are not there yet but if the Youth Behavior at home games does not improve we will explore that option.
Thank you for continued support of BHS Athletics!
NOCO Emergency Alert
Larimer County Fire Departments have asked us to share this information. This emergency alert will alert those who sign up for it with emergency notifications from Larimer county. Please text NOCOALERT to 888777.
Safety Drills
TMS practices emergency safety drills on a continuous basis throughout the year. The type of drill we practice and discuss with students is rotated. We help students to become familiar with the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which outline 5 situations and the actions that both the students and the adults do during an emergency.
School fees are due!
You can pay your student fees one of two ways:
1. You can drop off a check or cash at the school
2. Pay in Parent Portal with a credit card.
3. If you have previous years fees to pay, you must change the school year in the school year drop down menu.
If you have any questions, please contact the front office.
Thank you!
Tech4All
Welcome to Thompson’s Tech4All (1:1) program, a vital component of Thompson’s Strive 2025 Strategic plan. Tech4All equips students with the digital tools they need to enhance their learning and prepare for the future. We invite you to partner with us as we empower students to thrive in today's rapidly-evolving digital world.
Tech4All supports TSD’s strategic plan by providing digital tools that enable students to demonstrate their learning meaningfully and reach their fullest potential. Whether it's exploring interactive digital textbooks, collaborating with peers on projects, or engaging in immersive educational experiences, the possibilities are limitless.
Each student will receive a TSD digital learning device, ensuring equitable access to resources and enabling personalized learning experiences. All 6th grade students will receive a Chromebook that will serve as their digital learning tool throughout their time Turner Middle School. Each year, the device will transition with them to the next grade level and will be replaced when they move to high school as freshmen.
Students and families are responsible for the care and safety of their district device. Please see our Technology Agreement Form which includes a link to the JS - Responsible Use Policy for TSD. Instructions to accept the Tech Agreement Form are included in this How To Guide.
Students are expected to bring their device with them to class, charged and ready to use. All students will receive documentation on maintaining their device, keeping it safe, practicing digital citizenship and meeting any school-specific requirements for digital learning. To protect against potential damage, we offer an optional insurance plan.
In an effort to secure student data and teach students how to secure their own accounts, we are implementing a single-sign-on product called ClassLink.
We trust our students to be responsible for maintaining their own password for their device. Students will use their current password, once they log into ClassLink, they will be prompted to reset their password.
As we continue to secure our environment, students will set up their own security questions. This allows them to reset their password in the future and teaches them security processes to confirm their identity.
As a secondary method for protecting accounts, students will also be asked to set up a Personal Identification Number. This PIN will also be used to secure their TSD account.
Please remind your child that the PIN and security questions will help keep other people from accessing their account. Passwords, PINs, and security questions and answers should only be shared with trusted adults, like guardians.
Tech4All is not just a program; it's a commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering our students to thrive in the digital age which includes password management. We Trust You to take care of your device and use it to open up possibilities in your educational journey. Together, we will embark on a transformative educational experience that prepares our students for a future filled with innovation and opportunity.
For more details, including expectations, frequently asked questions and support for home use, please visit our website.
Turner Middle School
Mission:
We will provide a safe and inclusive environment and ensure a high level of learning for every student to become engaged citizens and lifelong learners.
Vision:
Cultivate Excellence, Celebrate Diversity, Connect with Community
Principal: Brandy Grieves
Assistant Principal: Adam Kohn
Dean: Lacey Scadden
Secretary: Merri Hocker
Attendance Secretary: Kelly Sandoval
Registrar: Brandii Wilson
School Nurse: Stephanie Roberts
School Health Office Aide: Pam Sargent
Website:https://tms.tsd.org/
Location: 950 Massachusetts Avenue, Berthoud, CO, USA
Phone: 970-613-7400
Email: Info.TMS@tsd.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurnerMSBerthoud
Twitter: @tmsdragons