Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills - Sunday, January 16th, 2022
Happy Sunday, Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the three-day weekend! Please remember, there is no school on Monday, January 17th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday. We will start quarter 3 on Tuesday, January 18th with 1st period beginning at 8:27am.
We continue to focus on student and staff safety during the current rise of Covid-19 cases. Updated guidelines and protocols concerning close contact notifications and an updated decision tree were shared with us by the CDPH this week; please take a moment to read "Covid 19 Updates" section below for the most recent information and links to updated resources.
The wearing of face masks remains a primary method for us to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on campus for our students and staff; please make sure your student continues to come to school with an approved comfortable mask that they can wear whenever they are indoors on campus. Masking guidelines are LINKED HERE.
Please join us this Thursday, January 20th from 6-7:30pm as PUSD hosts our next Community Conversation on Racial Equity and Inclusion via Zoom. If you are interested in attending, please click on the flyer below to register and be sent the Zoom link to attend. These virtual community conversations are open to all PUSD families in the Poway HS feeder pattern; please consider attending to be a part of the conversation and to support the inclusive work PUSD is leading in our community.
Our Twin Peaks PTSA and Foundation have partnered together to provide our school community with an opportunity to watch two documentaries together to learn more about screen time and how it is impacting our lives. Coming in February and March, TPMS students and families will have a chance to watch one or both of the award-winning films and then attend a community forums to discuss the topics raised by the films with our panel of local experts.
- Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.
- Screenagers: The Next Chapter follows physician and filmmaker, Delaney Ruston, as she discovers solutions for improved adolescent well-being in the digital age.
Please click on the Screenagers flyer below to signup! Students will have an opportunity to watch a shortened version of the movies in their Ram classes during February and March.
Finally this week, I wanted to remind our 6th grade students and parents that the February 1st deadline for signing up for 6th Grade Camp is quickly approaching! We encourage all of our 6th graders to attend camp, but it is ultimately the choice of each student and their family if they want to attend. To help you make your decision, please CLICK HERE for a video link and a PDF with Frequently Asked Questions that you may want to consider, including testing and masking requirements, cabin assignments, and most importantly - information on meal times and the dining hall! 6th Grade Camp forms should be turned in to your student's Ram teacher; if you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Lynda Carter at lycarter@powayusd.com.
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - bit.ly/tpmsevents
January 17th: MLK Day, NO SCHOOL
January 18th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6pm @library
January 20th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
January 20th: Community Conversation, 6-7:30pm via Zoom
January 26th: TPMS Spelling Bee, 4:30pm @Zoom
January 27th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
January 27th: PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm @Zoom
January 31st: Professional Development Day, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
February 2nd: Character Counts Virtual Celebration, 4:30pm via Zoom
February 3rd: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
February 10th: Late Start Schedule, 9:15am start
February 16th: Screenagers Forum 1, 6-7pm via Zoom
February 21-25th: President's Week Break
Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age
SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE
Students who are interested in participating can sign-up by CLICKING HERE to access the Google sign-up form. Once you sign-up, a practice packet and pledge form will be emailed to the email address provided. If you have questions or concerns, please
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $45 until January and then they go up to $50. So get 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.
Calling all proud families of 8th graders here at Twin Peaks! 8th Grade Recognition Ads are open and ready for purchase. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Recognition Ads to start the process of celebrating your 8th grader in this year’s yearbook! Deadline is January 31st so don’t delay!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
8th grade Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for parents, families and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. The deadline is fast approaching so don’t wait! Go to Jostens.com to order and build your 8th grader’s Recognition Ad. Don’t forget to make sure you order a yearbook, too!
For more information or to check if you already bought a yearbook, please email Charlene Ellington at cellington@powayusd.com
PUSD School Safety Summit
PUSD will be hosting its second School Safety Summit of the year on January 20th, 2022, via Zoom, from 6:30-8pm. A panel of local law enforcement, education, mental health experts, and student leaders is being convened to discuss current trends in student wellness, and what parents can do to support their children more effectively during these challenging times.
Please RSVP via this link - more information and a Zoom link will be sent to all those who RSVP on the morning of January 20.
Click here for more information about our previous School Safety Summit, presented on September 21, 2021, where a panel of local experts discussed current trends in teen drug use and adverse social media influences.
The Cal Water H2O Individual Challenge
A FREE art competition open to individual students in grades K-12 who reside or attend a school in a Cal Water Service Area. The Cal Water H2O Individual Challenge is looking for original artwork focused on caring for water and addressing local California concerns along with a short statement about their work.
There will be 12 prizes dispersed equally across grade bands and the grand prize will be awarded $250. Visit challenge.calwater.com to learn more about submission dates, resources, and prizes.
COVID-19 Updates
For students who have tested positive for Covid-19, per the California Department of Public Health updated guidance on isolation and quarantine as of December 30, 2021, PUSD staff may return to work when:
- 5 days from symptom onset (or if no symptoms then 5 days from positive PCR COVID-19 test date) AND
- Symptoms are not present or are resolving AND a negative COVID test (antigen test is preferred) taken on day 5 or later. (If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10)
- Fever free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medication) AND
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings
STUDENT CLOSE CONTACT
The updated CDPH K-12 guidance gives school districts the option of using the three quarantine model or the Group-Tracing Approach to Students Exposed to COVID-19 in a K-12 Setting. PUSD will be using the Group Tracing approach. Per the K-12 Guidance 2021-2022 Questions and Answers, tracking results from all exposed students is not required.
Parents should notify schools of positive results.
- Schools will notify group of students who spent more than a cumulative total of 15 minutes (within a 24-hour time period) in a shared indoor airspace (e.g., classroom) with someone with COVID-19 during their period of infectiousness.
- Notification will occur to "groups" of exposed students (e.g., classmates, teammates, cohorts, etc.) rather than contact tracing to identify individual "close contacts" (e.g., those within 6 feet).
- Notifications should be provided to all individuals, including those who are vaccinated and/or recently infected.
Please continue to self-screen and take your student's temperature each morning before they come to school. If your student feels sick or shows any symptoms of being sick, please have them stay home. If you need to schedule a Covid test, you can do so for you and your family members at Pharmatech LINKED HERE.
MASKING GUIDELINES: Please make sure your students are coming to school with a comfortable facemask that they can wear when they are indoors on campus, preferably a cloth mask that can be washed and reused. We are having to handout an increased number of facemasks each day to students who forget theirs and our supply is dwindling quickly. Please review with your students the expectation that masks are to be worn whenever they are indoors on campus (classroom, offices, library, gym, locker room, etc.) and must cover their mouth and nose.
- Indoors with Students: Face masks are MANDATORY for all adults and students, except those with a documented medical excuse on file with our Heath Technician.
- Indoors with Adults ONLY: Masks are currently MANDATORY for fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated adults through January 15th.
- Outdoors: Masks are optional for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
The PUSD School Board met on 10/18 and provided new protocols to allow a limited number of visitors and volunteers back on campus. PUSD is slowly expanding volunteers on campus – effective October 18, 2021, we may now have a limited number of volunteers present in learning spaces with students during the school day. All volunteers must be vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID test. Outdoor celebrations will have designated visitor areas (i.e. Friday Flag, Jog-a-thons). Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we calibrate with the district and CDPH to make the necessary adjustments.
Please click HERE to access the updated Covid Guidelines and Protocols on the PUSD website.
Poway Adult School
Parents, A new year is a great time to head back to school! Poway Adult School offers low-cost career training classes for you to upskill. Just need some help tuning up your resume or someone to discuss a career change idea? The Poway (Unified) Adult School provides free career guidance, high school diploma classes for adults and GED prep as well. Call Jon at (858) 668-4022 or go online at www.powayadultschool.com and check out our catalog pages 5-11 for career training and free workshops. Make an appointment for free career support at https://calendly.com/help4careers/30min
Apoyo a Nuestras Familias de Habla Hispana
Help Your Children Manage Stress & Anxiety
Our children have experienced a great deal of change and uncertainty over the past year. You may have noticed that they have felt overwhelmed or exhibited symptoms of anxiety. The good news is that there is a solution! We can teach our kids concrete tools to reduce anxiety and manage stress by strengthening their emotional intelligence (EQ). Research has showed that children with high emotional intelligence do better in school and get along well with others.
In-Person Thursday, 1/27/22 at Abraxas School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting and Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Teens Part I
PART I: The Basics
Our children have experienced a great deal of change and uncertainty over the past year. You may have noticed that they have felt overwhelmed or exhibited symptoms of anxiety. The good news is that there is a solution! We can teach our kids concrete tools to reduce anxiety and manage stress by strengthening their emotional intelligence (EQ). Research has showed that children with high emotional intelligence do better in school and get along well with others.
In-Person Thursday, 1/27/22 at Abraxas School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting and Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Teens Part II
PART II: Conscious Parenting New Course
Join Angelle Maua to continue the discussions from the LGBTQIA+ Part I: The Basics Workshop. Learn how to:
1. Become a more conscious parent of a gender-expansive or questioning child.
2. Look beyond the binary and unpack years of cultural beliefs, traditional roles, and expectations.
3. Improve the odds for your child to embrace the complexity of their journey.
4. Nurture and enjoy the journey with your child.
This is all-inclusive for parents of children who have identified as LGBTQIA+.
In-Person Saturday, 2/12/22 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at Poway Adult School
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Effective Strategies to Advocate for Your Child in Special Education
Whether you suspect your child would benefit from special education services or are already in the process, come discover and practice tools to improve communication with teachers, administrators, and case managers. Spend time with Laurie Magulac to discuss how to increase collaboration and create your child's education plan as well as develop tools to process meetings and diagnoses.
In-Person Tuesday, 2/1/22 at Poway Adult School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Parenting Well Through Life Changes
Change is a part of life that comes in many forms which can include divorce, moving, and loss. How do we manage our own response to change while parenting our children effectively?
Spend time with Laurie Magulac to learn strategies to:
1. Understand and recognize stress in your child during change.
2. Help your child cope in healthy ways.
3. Manage and diffuse tough behaviors that may arise.
4. Not burn out while you are helping your child through the process.
In-Person Tuesday, 2/8/22 at Poway Adult School from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Class fee: $24/individual or $29/couple (for couple enrollment parent needs to contact Poway Adult School)
Shop Amazon through TPMS Foundation
Twin Peaks Middle School
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams