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
  

V. From the PTSA

VI. ASB and Student Announcements

VII. Shout Out Marquee Tiles Now Available!

VIII. Department News

• Learning Commons
• PE
• Science
• Yearbook
  

IX. Clubs (periodic information on extracurricular school activities)

X. Nutrition Services

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

XII. Ethic Studies Engagement Plan - 2024-25

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

XIV. San Dieguito Union High School District Job Opportunities

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

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

Week of September 9 - Suicide Prevention Week

Monday, September 9 - Suicide Prevention Presentations with the Counselors through PE classes

Wednesday, September 11 - Therapy Dogs - 11:40-1:00 p.m. - Wellness Center

Friday, September 13

• Wear Teal and/or Purple Day
• Ribbon Signing - 11:40-1:00 p.m. - Quad

Wolfpack families,

As I wish you a happy Friday, I want to begin by addressing my earlier notification to you. While today may not have begun in typical fashion, I am grateful to our law enforcement for their partnership and response in keeping our community safe. I am also grateful to you. When you send your children to Pacific Trails, not only do you expect them to learn, connect with peers, and have a positive middle school experience, but at a basic level, you expect that they will return home safely. As I have shared previously, I am a father of two. My role as principal is only second to that as my role as a father. I take both roles very seriously, and I understand the trust that we as parents put in schools. Please know that the PTMS staff is deeply committed to the safety of your children, and thank you for the trust you put in our team.

Shifting to happenings on campus, our classrooms continue to engage in learning activities. 7th grade Social studies classrooms are wrapping up their study of the Fall of Rome, while our 8th graders continue their understanding of the 13 original colonies. Some of our PE students had a unique collaborative experience in which they learned a line dance in partnership with some CCA students. Further, our Lunch League dodgeball games on Tuesday and Thursday continue to draw a lot of positive energy from our students.

If you are a parent of a 7th grader, I encourage you to look at the information below about the SDUHSD Ethnic Studies Engagement plan. When your students are 9th graders, they will be our first group of students to engage in this curriculum that is being developed from a state requirement. The content will be embedded in the 9th grade English courses, and our district is looking for parent input and feedback. Please see the section in the newsletter that provides more information.

Thank you to the many who continue to contribute to our fundraiser. I am blown away by your generosity, and as of today, we have raised over $63,000! I sure hope we can get to the $75,000 mark at which point I will dress as our mascot for a day. If we get to the $100,000 mark, the students can vote on a new haircut/hairstyle for the principal.

Finally, next week will be "Suicide Prevention Week", a week in which schools across our district focus heavily on mental health and appropriate strategies that support our students development. As a child growing up in the '80s and '90s, mental health was not often talked about and "therapy" was a private word. I am pleased that this attitude is evolving for our students, and more focus is being given to mental health. Our counselors will lead a number of activities and efforts aimed to destigmatize individual experiences of distress as well as ongoing protective factors. Please see the counseling section lower in the newsletter for more information.

Have a relaxing weekend, and see you Monday.

In gratitude,

Scott Wild, Ed.D.

Student safety is our number one priority at PTMS. Since starting the school year, we've heard time and again from our parents, families, and greater Carmel Valley community about the need to educate our young students about safety-first practices for e-bikes, e-scooters, and traditional bikes. In response to this feedback, PTMS is planning to implement a permit system this fall for all riders akin to the ones already in existence at other middle schools in our district, including Carmel Valley Middle School just down the road. Student riders will be required to attend a presentation about bike safety for training, and upon completion will receive a permit to be affixed to their e-bike, e-scooter, or bike. Failure to follow school policies and/or traffic regulations on the way to or from school may result in progressive discipline including loss of the permit. More information will be forthcoming.

At this time, we are seeking parent/guardian feedback about the best time to schedule the initial student training. Please respond to this quick survey (less than 1 minute) to help us make plans that will be suitable for all student riders, and their parent/guardian if interested, to attend. Click here to access the Google Form survey. Thanks for your partnership on this important safety topic!

Starting this week, the Attendance Office will begin interventions for students who arrive tardy to class. Per Administrative Regulation 5113, if students are not in their assigned classroom when the period begins, they can be marked tardy. If you would like to know if your student has any tardies, please note that tardies are recorded in Aeries. If you need help accessing Aeries, please contact our front office staff for assistance. Finally, teachers may not verbally notify students when they have been marked tardy. The Attendance Office will notify you via Parent Square when your student has been marked tardy. Once five tardies have been accrued, your student may be assigned to after school detention, which will occur weekly on Wednesdays from 2:45-3:15 p.m. If the student doesn’t show up to detention, students and their parent/guardian may be called to a parent conference. If your student needs to reschedule their detention, it’s no problem to reschedule by contacting the Attendance Office. After the first detention, students will be assigned detention after every third (3rd) tardy. The purpose of this protocol is to guide students towards punctuality, good attendance, and time management skills that will serve them in college, career, and beyond.

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!

On Monday, September 9, during PE classes, we will be speaking with students about suicide prevention. Students in ISPE met with our counseling team during Homeroom today. This is a very difficult, but very important topic to be shared with students. To preview the presentation, click here.

Topics covered will include:

• the difference between stress and distress

• risk and protective factors for suicide

• signs to watch for if a person may be suicidal

• resources for support

We will also be talking with students about the concept of a trusted adult and that if you or someone you know has thought about suicide, it is something that should not be kept secret. Help and hope are available.

We wanted to provide you with a few resources to use when having a follow-up conversation with your child at home. First, you are encouraged to visit and review the SDUHSD Suicide Prevention page that has been developed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students. Another resource titled Suicide Prevention A Resource for Parents from Know the Signs is a guide that recommends the "when and how" of talking with your student about suicide prevention and intervention. In order to keep the discussion going at home, you may want to ask your child things like:

- Who is your trusted adult at home and school?

- What were two or three important things you learned from the presentation?

- What would be some good responses/actions if a friend confided in you that they were thinking of suicide?

-Can we go through the Suicide Prevention slides that you saw and talk about it? (the presentation will be posted in their PE Google Classroom)

-What are some resources you can use if you or a friend need to talk?

As a follow-up, we will be asking students to complete a post-survey. This survey includes questions regarding interest in groups on campus. We will be hosting various suicide prevention activities throughout the week, including a self-care workshop that students can sign up for. In addition, the Therapy Dogs will once again be visiting our Wellness Center.

Again, we want to note that we are thankful to be partners with you not only in your child's education, but also in addressing their social-emotional growth and needs. California State Assembly Bill 2246 requires this very important information be made available, but if you prefer to Opt Out your student, please click here. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student’s school counselor.

Join our PTMS School Social Worker Anna Riley in a VIRTUAL PARENT WORKSHOP: Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention. She will cover the signs and symptoms to look out for and how to help your child thrive during the middle school years. Date/Time: September 9, 6 PM- 7 PM Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/uch-yawz-mnd

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

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - September (Link)

During National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, communities across the US raise awareness about the protective factors and help-seeking behaviors that help to build resilience and prevent suicide. We also reach out and support those impacted by loss and enhance efforts to connect individuals who may be at a heightened risk of suicide to qualified mental health systems.

Suicide Prevention Awareness emphasizes the power of connections and the importance of discussing mental health in everyday moments. These efforts aim to destigmatize individual experiences of distress as well as ongoing building of protective factors - the personal or environmental characteristics that help protect people from suicide.

Major protective factors for suicide include:

• Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions

• Life skills (including problem-solving skills and coping skills, ability to adapt to change)

• Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life

• Effective behavioral healthcare

• Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide

The work of youth suicide prevention is a community effort that includes families, schools, faith institutions, teams, public health officials, emergency responders, and more.

Suicide Prevention Week 9/8-9/14 promotes the commitment to working together to prevent suicide through increasing awareness about the complex set of causes, risks, and warning signs. It promotes compassion, care and action to connect those in need to qualified support.

SDUHSD

Our staff works to increase protective factors by fostering connections and building life skills, social-emotional competencies and a culture that encourages qualities such as empathy and optimism. The district suicide prevention policy and referral systems increase access to professional support; all student ID cards and the student start page have resources and students are encouraged to access support for themselves, a friend, family member, or colleague. A team of credentialed school-based professionals, including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists, along with school administrators, lead suicide prevention efforts throughout the school year.

Resources

There are multiple local and national resources available to help increase knowledge of suicide prevention, risks and warning signs, and provide crisis support - including for parents/guardians.

One California-based resource, Suicide Is Preventable Know the Signs, provides important information in multiple languages (available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Lao, Hmong, Punjabi) about identifying indicators of risk through conversations, actions, and social media. It provides a conversation framework for concerned family members or friends to start the conversation, listening and expressing care, creating a safety plan, and getting help.

Additional Resources

• CareSolace confidential counseling referrals with a live 24X7 concierge line (888) 515-0595

• Jason Foundation / Jason Foundation Parent Resource Program

• Preventing Youth Suicide - Tips for Parents NASP

• SDCOE Resources for High Priority Groups Suicide Prevention

• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

• Suicide Awareness and Guidance for Families

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center

• Talking to your Kids About Suicide - SPTSUSA

If you or someone that you know needs further assistance, please access these qualified crisis resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 National Suicide Prevention Line 988 https://988lifeline.org/

• National Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741 - Youth Crisis Line 800-843-5200

• Trevor Project: National Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate crisis, call 911 or the San Diego Access & Crisis Line 888-724-7240

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

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

Hello PTMS Families!

A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our fundraising efforts this year! We’ve currently raised $57K. Your support makes a real difference in enhancing our children’s school experience.

This year, the school goal is to raise $100K. We’re asking each family to consider making a donation of $250 to support our school’s enrichment programs.

Why $250?

Because every dollar of your donation will go directly toward enhancing our students' educational experience this year : After school Academic Power Hour, Teachers' mini grants, Health and wellness initiatives (red ribbon week, wellness center,...), PE equipment, school events, lunch activities and clubs, campus beautification and so much more!

We understand that every family's situation is different, so please know that every amount, big or small, is greatly appreciated and makes a real impact. Please check with your employer for donation matching ( U.S. Tax ID/EIN: 901080675 )

Donating is easy! Simply visit https://app.99pledges.com/fund/ptms, or drop off your contribution check at the school office. And remember, all donations are tax-deductible!

Together, we can make this year truly special for our children. Let’s show them how much we believe in their potential and support their journey to becoming well-rounded, confident learners!

Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

~ PTSA Activity will be posted here throughout the year. You can visit their webpage by clicking here.

See this presentation for more information.

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.

Is your student having a birthday? Or just accomplished a great sporting feat? Maybe your student aced a recent test. Well, here's your chance to send a "Shout Out!"! Your $25 purchase of a Shout Out Marquee Tile will have your Shout Out projected on the marquee that is mounted on the gym wall facing the parking lot for five business days beginning the day after you place your order. Proceeds will help ASB with scholarships for students for getting dance tickets, PE clothes, Disney tickets, and more. You can order your Shout Out marquee tile on our webstore. Type in what you want to say when you order. Careful, your note is limited to 100 characters.

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

Order your PE clothes here.

Please follow us on Instagram to see what your student is up to during PE class.

Pre-order your Yearbook here. Don't delay! Order your 2024-25 Yearbook TODAY!

Science Bowl (https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb) is a buzzer-based national competition where teams of students from different schools compete in head-to-head science competitions with questions in math, biology, the physical sciences, Earth/Space, Energy, and general science. Students will compete in a regional competition in late February, and will compete in the national round if they win.

PTMS Science Bowl Club that is sponsored by Mrs. Griffen and will be coached by CCA students. Weekly meeting will be held on Tuesdays 3:45-4:45pm in the PTMS Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) Starting September 24th, 2024. Please register using this link: https://forms.gle/GSpar7iUqkxcEmXU9

~ 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.

SDUHSD annual Fall Multilingual Learner Night is taking place on Wednesday, September 11, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Earl Warren Middle School. This event will feature our Family/Community Listening Circles, which was so successful last year in encouraging active parent involvement and gathering valuable feedback on our MLL programs.

On the link below, you’ll find the flyer with registration details, including a link and QR code for parents to sign up. The flyer is available in English, Spanish and Chinese and can be translated into additional languages by right-clicking on the document and selecting a different language option.

Fall Multilingual Learner Night and Family Listening Circle - September 11 - 6:00-7:30 p.m. - EWMS

SDUHSD invites you to get involved in the Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan 24-25. 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.

Below are the meeting dates:

Community Engagement Meeting Dates:

8/14 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

9/17 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

10/8 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

11/7 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Earl Warren Middle School

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

SDUHSD is seeking individuals who want to make a difference in children’s lives as a classified staff member. Current job opportunities include Nutrition Services Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Campus Supervisor, Custodian, and Student Health Care Specialists. We have both full and part time positions at campuses throughout the school district. The District offers great benefits, including paid time off and health and retirement benefits for eligible positions.

Our job opportunities can be viewed here. If you have questions, please contact us at classifiedpersonnel@sduhsd.net.

High school students from Canyon Crest Academy and others across the US are hosting free online coding camps for middle school students. They offer Introductory Python, Intermediate Python, Introductory Machine Learning, and Project-Based Machine Learning with more programs planned, and their past programs have achieved 800+ enrollments throughout the country with dozens of positive reviews. These programs usually meet bi/tri-weekly for two to three weeks for one-hour classes. More information on dates can be found on their flyer and their website, and the enrollment form is linked 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 Student Vehicle Permit - Register your bike/e-bike/scooter/skateboard with PTMS. Complete this form and turn in to the office.

- PTMS Webstore - PE clothes and Limited Series Clothing (While Supplies Last)

- 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.

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