Twin Peaks Middle School

Happy Sunday Ram Families!

Happy Groundhog's Day! I hope this week's newsletter finds you all well and enjoying this first weekend in February. Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog weather watcher, was pulled from his warm burrow this morning and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. Phil has been prognosticating since the late 1800s but his recent predictions would have a better track record if he just flipped a coin: thankfully, Phil has only been right about 35% of the time since 2005, according to data analyzed by NOAA!

We had a short 4-day week to finish off what seemed like the longest January ever; our Volleyball team had a great win over Mesa Verde MS, dance tickets continued to be sold, and students continued to complete their iReady diagnostic testing. I'm happy to report that as of Friday, 97% of students have completed their iReady Reading diagnostic, and 95% have completed their iReady Math diagnostic - GREAT JOB RAMS! We have this last week to get as many students through the winter diagnostic test before the window closes this Friday, February 7th. Students - don't forget to bring a charged Chromebook with you to school each day!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of our parents and staff who attended the Foundation Winter Social this past Friday night at The Cork & Craft! A good time was had by all as we raised several thousand dollars to support programs and initiatives at Twin Peaks. A special shout out to all of our Foundation members for their time and energy in organinzing this year's event, and a special THANK YOU to all of the parents who purchased raffle tickets and bid on student experiences and auction items provided by our TPMS staff.

The Poway Unified transfer window opened on Saturday, February 1, 2025. If you live within the Poway Unified boundaries and want your child to attend a school different than your assigned school, submit your request online through the Transfers page on the PUSD website. (This includes siblings of current students.) Please make sure to still enroll your child at their assigned school of residence when new student enrollment opens on April 1, 2025. Transfer requests can only be processed once your child is enrolled in their school of residence. The transfer request window will close on March 31, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Is your student riding an e-bike to school? Do they still need to register their e-bike and get a bike sticker?! Mount Carmel High School is hosting an e-bike safety workshop this Wednesday, February 5th starting at 6pm in their performing arts center. We do hope to hold additional e-bike safety workshops in the spring, and we are trying to secure TPMS as a location to host the training. More information will be shared once the dates are confirmed.

You have FOUR MORE DAYS to purchase your tickets for the A Night in Candyland Dance, happening this Friday, February 7th from 5:30-8pm. Tickets will be sold in the main quad during both lunches through this Thursday, February 6th for $15 each. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AFTER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6th and NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR! As always, we need parent volunteers to make this dance a reality, so please consider donating an item or come and help supervise the fun! Please CLICK HERE to sign-up! For those students attending the dance, here are some reminders:

• This is a school-sponsored event - ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY TO THIS EVENT!
• You will need your student ID or a picture of your student ID to enter. All tickets are electronic but we will need to verify your identity.
• No bags or backpacks will be allowed at the dance.
• Dress warmly and in layers - it will get cold once the sun goes down!
• Students will not be allowed to leave early without a parent present to pick them up.

February 3-7 is National School Counseling Week, and we have alot to celebrate with our amazing TPMS Counseling Team! A HUGE THANK YOU to Melissa Baskin, Jami Jennings, Nicole Roman, Victor Ortiz, Jasmine De La Torre, Deanna Bernsen and Kirti Choudhary for all they do to support our students and staff each and every day. Please take a look at the story below to learn a little more about all the amazing work they are doing here at Twin Peaks!

Finally this week, the PTSA is planning on hosting an Our Staff is SOUP-er Bar on Friday, February 7th and could use your help in providing soups, salads, sides and desserts for the event. Please CLICK HERE to access the Sign-up Genius page and see how you can help celebrate the best Middle School staff in PUSD! Thank you in advance for your consideration!

In Partnership,

Steve Mills

Proud Principal

Twin Peaks Middle School

stmills@powayusd.com

1(858)748-5131 x2806

Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks

TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS

February 1st: PUSD Transfer Window Opens

February 5th: Late Start, 9:30am

February 5th: ebike Safety Workshop, MCHS 6pm

February 7th: Welcome to Candyland Dance, 5:30-8pm

February 10th-14th: 6th Grade Camp

February 17th-21st: President's Break - No School

February 28th: PUSD Continuing Student Registration Opens

March 5th: 5th Grade Information Night, Zoom 5-6pm

March 17th-21st: Scholastic Book Fair, Library

March 19th: TPMS Electives Expo, 5-6:30pm

March 26th: SPED Info Night, 5-6pm, Zoom

February 3rd-7th is National School Counselor Week. The theme this year is Helping Students Thrive, and our amazing Counseling /Student Services Team of Melissa Baskin, Jami Jennings, Nicole Roman, Victor Ortiz, Jasmine De La Torre, and Deanna Bernsen have worked hard to build a model program that not only serves students' academic and college & career needs, but more importantly provides the mental and emotional support so many of our students, and staff, require these days. Please view their Amazon Wish List if you would like to support this important work with our students. THANK YOU! to the TPMS Counseling/Student Services Team for their dedicated service to our school community - we are so lucky to have you!

Get ready for a mouth-watering event that's not only delicious but also for a great cause! We're excited to invite you to join us at Chipotle on Poway Road for a special fundraiser that supports the AVID Ohana.

Here's the scoop: when you, your family and friends dine in, grab takeout, or order online from Chipotle located on Poway Road on Tuesday, February 4th during the hours of 4-8pm, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to support our AVID program! Link to flier

Spread the Word: Don't keep the excitement to yourself! Share this announcement and the flier with your friends, classmates, teachers, and family members. The more, the merrier, and the bigger impact we can make together! Make sure you take the flier or the picture of the flier with you, or even just MENTION the event! You will definitely make a difference to our program!

So, mark your calendars for February 4th starting at 4pm, rally your crew, and let's make this fundraiser a delicious success while supporting our school community's AVID Ohana!

Thank you for your support!!

It's spring sports time which means it's time to hit the links and the pitch! Soccer and Golf Registration begins February 3rd and ends February 14th. Students cannot attend skill evaluations without the registration packet filled out completely and correctly. Pleas see the ASES Sports page of the TPMS website for more information or CLICK HERE!

ASB is thrilled to announce that our TPMS Students have been committed to keeping our campus clean these last few weeks and have earned the right to after school events back! We would like to formally invite your student to attend our Valentines Semi-Formal - A Night in Candyland, which will be held in the TPMS Quad from 5:30-8:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Students will receive more information in their homeroom classes next week, but we wanted to make sure that you had time to mark your calendars and plan accordingly! If you are interested in donating items or volunteering to help out with the dance, please CLICK HERE to view our sign-up page. Questions about the dance can be directed to our ASB Advisor, Mrs. Crow at kcrow@powayusd.com.

We've secured a block of tickets RIGHT BEHIND THE GOAL for the SD Gulls March 1st game vs. the Bakersfield Condors. This game will have a Pregame Tailgate Mardi Gras celebration as well as a Gulliver (he's the mascot) jester bobblehead giveaway for the first 8,000 fans!

In addition to this, if we sell 50 tickets, all kids will be able to go down and make a "high-5 tunnel" for the players when they take the ice at the beginning of the game! If we sell at least 75 tickets, everyone will go down on the ice after the game for photos! If we sell 100, we can possibly have some players come to school for demonstrations with our students and they will open up the rink for a free-skate for us after the game! Tickets are only going to be $35, and a percentage of each ticket sold comes back to the school as a donation.

The game is Saturday, March 1 at 6:00pm at Pechanga Arena. If you've never been to a hockey game before, now is the time! It's a super fun, fast-paced game that everyone will enjoy!

Here is the link to purchase your tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Twinpeaks030125

Questions?! email Coach Spy at jspychalski@powayusd.com

It’s hard to believe it, but it’s already time to begin to think about the 2025-2026 school year! If you didn't catch them last week, here are some important dates to mark on your calendars for next school year:

• Transfer Requests - beginning on February 1st at 8:00 am, we will accept transfer requests for students who live in the Poway Unified boundaries and would like to attend a different Poway school. This includes incoming siblings of current students, as well as students who have not yet enrolled. Transfer requests can be made on the Poway Unified website by clicking THIS link. The transfer window closes on March 31st at 5:00 pm.

• Continuing Student Registration - from February 28 - March 31st, all parents whose current students will continue in Poway Unified for the 2025-26 school year need to complete online continuing registration. Look for more information coming soon.

• New Student Enrollment - beginning on April 1st at 8:00 am, new student enrollment opens on the Poway Unified website. We are excited to welcome our new students!

**More details can be found on the Poway Unified website at www.powayusd.com.

Join Life Planning Specialist Wendy Smith for an insightful presentation on why creating a plan matters, how to take the first steps, and where to find support along the way. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with fellow parents, gaining valuable insights and support. Start building a strong foundation for your child's future today! Flier found here.

On February 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., Valley Elementary School will host PUSD's first-ever IEP Basics training exclusively in Spanish. In collaboration with the Exceptional Family Resource Center, this event is designed to support PUSD Spanish-speaking families of students with IEPs. More details are available in the event flier.

College & Career Fair Details

Date: Wednesday, March 19th

Time: 11:45am-12:52pm

Location: TPMS Quad

If you would like to participate by sharing fun facts and other information about your work and career with our students, please complete our Google Form: bit.ly/tpccf2425. We look forward to partnering with you for this exciting event. Please contact Melissa Baskin, mbaskin@powayusd.com, if you have any questions.

With fire season upon us we want to assure parents and guardians that we have appropriate response systems in place when emergencies arise. Our first priority will always be the safety of our students and staff on campus.

When Twin Peaks becomes aware of any incidents in the geographic area of the school site, we will focus first on the safety of our campus while working with law enforcement, emergency responders, and the District for guidance and support for communication. Communication with parents is part of the response plan, but will be secondary to immediate safety. As soon as we can, we will message families with details of school-wide incidents such as lockdowns or evacuations. Please ensure your contact information is up to date in ParentVue in the “My Account” section.

Finally, we have been asked by first responders to remind our families NOT to come to campus in times of emergency – there have been several instances when officers, firefighters, and their ability to respond to the emergency have been hindered by parents rushing to the scene. Should an emergency occur, we will send out messages about dismissal or reunification procedures for families when first responders indicate it is safe to do so.

Yearbooks are available for $55. Reserve yours now!

Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code

Pay by cash/check: Download the order form from our webpage

http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/ or pick up a form in the office. Return the form and cash or check to the school office.

Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/

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. We realize that volunteering may not be in the cards for everyone, but your membership and donation will ensure our programs continue to stay funded.

If you would like to contact PTSA please email: ptsaprestpms@gmail.com. Thanks so much!

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:

February 13th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)

March 20th

April 24th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)

May 15th

June TBD

To join the PTSA for the 2024-25 school year, please CLICK HERE!

Our 2024-2025 Executive Board:

President - Melissa Atkinson

Executive VP - Sonnie Humphreys

1st VP of Ways and Means - Rachel Czarzasty

2nd VP of Membership - Shelly Mead

3rd VP of Volunteers - Alicia Tamayo

Secretary - Mikki Trusheim

Treasurer - Steph Cole

Historian - Alicia Gormican

Financial Reviewer - Phil Trom

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 2024-25 school year:

February 11th
March 18th
May 13th

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.

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