PTMS Weekly Parent Newsletter

I. Coming Up (calendar items in the coming week or so)

II. Message from the Principal

III. Message from the Assistant Principal

• From the Attendance Office

IV. Counseling Corner

• Information on Wellness and Suicide Prevention
  
• Annual Residency Verification
• High School Selection

V. From the PTSA

VI. ASB and Student Announcements

VII. Department News

• Learning Commons
• PE
• Science
• Yearbook
  

VIII. Clubs (periodic information on extracurricular school activities)

IX. Nutrition Services

X. Multilingual Corner (includes information on ELAC other community resources)

XI. Ethic Studies Engagement Plan - 2024-25

XII. Special Education Sessions and Events (parenting classes, family events, informational sessions)

XIII. San Dieguito Union High School District Job Opportunities

XIV. Community Events (opportunities/events involving the district and its schools)

XV. Other Important Items (links to the PTMS Family Handbook, Boys & Girls Club, Webstore, etc.)

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

January 24-February 14 - High School Selection Window

February 13 - Night in New York Winter Dance - Ticket sales begin February 3rd - Parent Permission Slip Required.

This week we celebrated National Counselors Week by showing gratitude to our two outstanding school counselors. Carsen Anderson and Lisa Curry do so much to care for our students; from scheduling courses to working through challenges that children face each day, our counselors are there to listen and support. I am so grateful for their work, and more importantly for who they are. I encourage you to celebrate them with me, and next time you see Carsen or Lisa, let them know how amazing they are!

As we turn the corner to February, it's time to start thinking about spring. While our Boys & Girls Club winter sports are still happening, they are getting ready for spring sports. A variety of sports are available, including girls soccer, boys soccer, girls basketball, track & field, and pickleball. Remember that track & field and pickleball are no-cut sports, meaning anyone and everyone can participate! See the flyer below for further information.

If you are familiar with Science Olympiad, you know that the PTMS has a very robust "Sci Oly" program that runs from the fall through the spring. It involves 23 different events, and we have about 150 very dedicated students participating. Behind the scenes, we have numerous parents who support, others who serve as coaches, and leading the charge as head coaches are Mr. Sukesh Chandra and Mr. Yan Li. The dedication to provide children with this opportunity is immeasurable, and I want to acknowledge our head coaches, parent volunteers, and others who make this happen. Recently, they participated in the Sierra Vista Tournament and earned 2nd place! This is a great accomplishment, and I know the teams are excited for more success. Way to go Sci Oly!

I want to reiterate the district message about caring for, and protecting all of our students. We do this each and every day in so many ways. That charge has not, and will not change. I have also heard some concerns about police vehicles being at PTMS in the last few weeks. The San Diego Police Department partners with us in a variety of ways, and we are grateful for their partnership. They work with us to ensure that students, families and our community are safe. From time to time, they visit campus to follow up on various items. While this may be something you notice, please know that your students are safe, as that safety is our number one priority as a school and school district. Thank you for your continued support and trust, and we thank law enforcement for their efforts to keep our community safe.

Finally, next week our ASB is hosting the winter dance called "Night in New York" from 5-7 pm. I know students are really excited, and I hope you are too. That's because while students are at the dance, we will open up the MPR for all parents to come, have a free meal, connect, and build community. PTSA is sponsoring the parent community gathering, and I sure hope you choose to attend!

In gratitude,

Scott Wild, Ed.D.

This week, Assistant Principal Dr. Hake delivered an important presentation to our students, reinforcing the school's behavior expectations and the potential consequences for not meeting those standards. Dr. Hake emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful environment for all, both in the classroom and around the school.

We encourage parents to review the presentation slides and Loss of Privilege Policy linked below, and to continue supporting and discussing these expectations with their children at home to ensure that everyone contributes to a respectful and safe school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting positive student behavior!

Behavior Expectations Reminders

Loss of Privilege Policy

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!

Parent Education Opportunity

Feb. 19 SDCOE & Rady Children’s Webinar: Hope and Healing: Understanding Self-Harm and Supporting Youth

Youth may turn to self-harm as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions. Join Jason Schweitzer, MD, to explore the underlying factors, recognize warning signs, and discover strategies to reduce self-harm and foster healing and connection with youth at home.* REGISTRATION PDF ENG | SPAN

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 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.

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.

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

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

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

Dear PTMS Families,

We are excited to share some upcoming events that you won't want to miss!

1. PTMS Parents and Guardians Free Social Meeting

We’re thrilled to announce our second PTMS Free Social Meeting for parents and guardians! Join us on February 13th from 5 PM to 7 PM in the PTMS Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). We’ll provide delicious food and drinks, creating a relaxed environment for you to connect with other parents and guardians. Feel free to stay as long as you and you can arrive anytime at your convenience.

Please RSVP here to help us with planning.

2. Winter Dance for Students

At the same time as the Free Social Meeting, our students will be attending the Winter Dance on February 13th from 5 PM to 7 PM! Tickets will soon be on sale by ASB—stay tuned for details! We would also love to have some parent volunteers to help make this event a success. If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up here.

Thank you for your continued support! We look forward to seeing you at these events.

Warm regards,

The PTMS PTSA Team

~ PTSA Website

Shout Outs (marquee tiles) can now be purchased for 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-day runs. At $5 per day, you choose the start and stop dates along with your personalized message.

Valentine's Day is coming! A perfect time to Shout Out your love for your little darlin'!

Click here to order your Shout Out and remember that proceeds for the purchase of Shout Outs help ASB pay scholarships for various student needs.

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.

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

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!

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.

Our February Menu is here.

To view our menu, please click here.

UC San Diego's FREE annual Comienza con un Sueño 2025 conference brings together 6th-11th grade students, families & educators for a day of culture, community and knowledge. Offering bilingual workshops on college systems, admissions & financial aid, bringing together college & community resources & providing a one of a kind STEM fair!

To register, click here.

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.

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

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! This class is open to ALL SDUHSD students.

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.

To view the slide decks from CCA's Information Night Presentations on January 22nd, please click here.

~ Activities at our sister schools or district-sponsored events will be posted here.

- Boys & Girls Club - Seasonal sports information/registration.

- PTMS Family Handbook. - PTMS Cell Phone Policy

- PTMS Live Calendar of Campus Events and 2024-25 Instructional Calendar.

- PTMS Webstore

- PTMS Yearbook. - Order today!

- San Dieguito Alliance for a Drug-Free Youth - complete the Parent Pledge here.

- San Dieguito Boys & Girls Club - click the link to the left for 2023-24 athletic schedules.

- "Shout Out" Marquee Tile - 5-day stretch for $25 - Say something special about your child!

This newsletter has also been posted to our website under "Parent Communications."

Deadlines to submit articles for publication are Thursdays.

Email: vetha.pierce@sduhsd.net
Website: pt.sduhsd.net
Location: 5975 Village Center Loop Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858.509.1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacifictrailsmiddleschool