October Newsletter

Dear Twin Bluff Families,

We are off to an amazing start to the school year! The energy in our building has been positive, and students are settling into routines while working hard in and out of the classroom. Our core values of being Safe, Kind, and Responsible have been talked about, modeled, and celebrated school-wide. We are proud of how well our students are already demonstrating these expectations each day.

October is a busy and exciting month at Twin Bluff, filled with opportunities for students to learn, connect, and thrive:

PBIS All-School Assembly

• Friday, October 3rd
  We will gather as a school community to celebrate the many positive accomplishments of our students so far this year.
  

Leaders Dance

• Friday, October 3rd | 6:00–8:00 PM | TBMS Cafeteria
  Students who consistently demonstrate Safe, Kind, and Responsible behaviors are invited to attend our first school dance of the year!
  

• Admission: $5 per student (includes one prize ticket for end-of-dance prize drawings)
  

• Snacks available for purchase
  

• Eligibility: Current TBMS students only (no outside guests)
  

Bus Stop and Walk

• Every Wednesday morning, weather permitting
  Students can join staff and peers for a healthy, community-building walk to school.
  

Indigenous Peoples Day Program

• Monday, October 13th
  We will recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with activities and learning experiences for students.
  

No School Days

• October 16–17 (Fall Break)
  

• October 27 (Staff Development Day)
  

• October 28 (Conferences)

Fall Play – Matilda Jr.

• Friday, October 24 | 7:00 PM
  

• Saturday, October 25 | 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM
  Our students have been working hard to prepare for this year’s fall production. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating their talents!
  

Conferences

• Tuesday, October 28th
  An important opportunity to connect with teachers about your child’s progress this fall.

We are so proud of how this year has begun and are excited for all that’s ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students grow, succeed, and thrive here at Twin Bluff Middle School!

Warmly,

Patrick Beierman, Principal
pcbeierman@rwps.org

Early Pick-Ups & End-of-Day Changes

If your child needs to leave early or you have an end-of-day change to communicate, please notify the office in the morning. End of day messages are difficult as students may be outside for PE, at recess, or in band. The earlier you can notify us, the better. Thank you for your cooperation!

Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up
All student drop-off and pick-up takes place in the upper lot off of Twin Bluff Road.
Please note: The lower/back lot off of Pioneer Road is reserved for buses only.

Attendance
To report an absence, a late arrival, or if your student needs to be picked up early, please call the attendance line at 651-385-4550 or email tbmsattendance@rwps.org.

Wednesday, October 1: Bus Stop & Walk

Friday, October 3: PBIS Assembly and School Dance

Tuesday, October 7: Student Flu Clinic

Wednesday, October 8: Bus Stop & Walk

Friday, October 10: Dental Clinic

Monday, October 13: Indigenous Peoples Day Program

Wednesday, October 15: Bus Stop & Walk

Thursday, October 16th & Friday, October 17th: NO SCHOOL-Fall Break

Wednesday, October 22: Bus Stop & Walk

Friday, October 24: Matilda Jr. Play 7:00pm

Saturday, October 25th: Matilda Jr. Play-4:00pm & 7:00pm

Monday, October 27: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 28th: NO SCHOOL/Conferences

Wednesday, October 29: 5th Grade Vision & Screening & Bus Stop & Walk

Thursday, October 30: 7th Grade Vision & Screening

Tuesday, November 4th: Picture Re-take Day

Tuesday, November 25th: End of 1st Trimester

Wednesday, November 26th-Friday, November 28th: NO SCHOOL-Thanksgiving Break

Any student that will be taking prescription medications at school will need an Authorization to Administer Medication form signed by a parent and a provider. Medication is required to be in the original container with the most recent prescription label. Medical Conditions such as Asthma, Seizures, Diabetes, Etc will need an action plan from the student's provider as well.

Student Flu Clinic is October 7th from 9:15 -11:15 am. Parents can register online Please see the link below.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HomelandHealthSpecialists1/GoodhueCountyHHSFluCOVIDVaccinationClinicsEnglishSpanish

Vision Screening: 5th Grade will be on October 29 and 7th grade will be on Oct 30th.

Dental clinic is scheduled for Oct 10. Dental Clinic Registration link below-

https://patientviewer.com/WebFormsGWT/GWT/WebForms/WebForms.html?DOID=51941&RKID=17505&WSDID=162389

All 7th graders need to have a TDAP booster and a Meningococcal immunization or a Conscientious Objection on file in the Health Office. Please bring paperwork to the school nurse before the first day of school. If you need a Conscientious Objection notarized, please contact the school nurse to arrange an appointment to have that notarized.

The Health Office always accepts donations such as period products and deodorant. We are also in need of t-shirts, pants, underwear and socks for both boys and girls in all sizes. Thank you

PE: Our Phy Ed Department is looking for socks/shoe donations in good condition. Please drop off in the main office.

Art: Students in Art class will have a $5 classroom fee. This will replace students purchasing their own sketch pads and pencils for the Art room.

FACS students became chefs in Mrs. LaVigne's class showing their amazing safety skills with seasonal apples picked right from the tree- Thank you to the Finholm family for donating the apples!

What is BARR?— Building Assets, Reducing Risks — is an evidence-based system that provides our school with a strength-based, comprehensive approach to meeting the academic and non-academic needs of every student. Through BARR, we work to harness the power of relationships and data to focus on students’ strengths and ensure that all students are supported.

At Twin Bluff, all teachers are grouped into grade-level teams. These teacher teams meet throughout the week to monitor student progress, identify strengths, and consider ways to support and challenge all students on their team. Each week, our administrators and school counselors meet with the teacher teams to offer additional support for students and provide recognition for students' unique strengths and talents.

BARR is the framework that provides us the opportunity to get to know each student's strengths and interests. As educators, we leverage the knowledge we gain through relationship building and I-Time lessons to better engage and challenge our students.

What are these I-Time lessons my student talks about?

Once a week, teachers facilitate an I-Time lesson. The goal of I-Time is to strengthen student-to-student and staff-to-student relationships and to build classroom community. Important topics explored together include: building community, goal setting, stress management, bullying, and communication skills.

How does BARR benefit my student?

BARR educators focus on your child as more than just a learner – we work to understand them as a whole student. They are trained to use strength-based techniques to build positive relationships and support each student toward success in the classroom and beyond. Staff are provided with ongoing professional development on the BARR system.

The BARR system has a 20-year track record of student success and has been proven to drive significant improvements in school climate measures and standardized test scores. BARR has shown decreases in behavior referrals and absenteeism.

What they’re saying

“From a parent perspective, we get to see that the teachers are really connecting with the students. . . . They take an interest in students above and beyond academics. To me, that’s what makes it—when my kids come home and they are so excited because a teacher connected with them. From then on, math is awesome, and they are motivated.” —BARR parent

"Grades are a good indicator of how a student is doing, but if you just look at grades, you miss a lot of things: social changes, friend-group changes, attendance, health, all of a sudden a student is getting too skinny ... It's like a puzzle, and everybody holds a piece of the puzzle, so when we are all together, we can see the whole kid." —BARR educator

“BARR has enabled me to deepen my relationships with my students and families. It has also provided a structure that encourages me to collect and use data with purpose.” —BARR educator

To learn more about BARR, visit www.barrcenter.org.

If you have questions or want more information about BARR at Twin Bluff, please contact our Assistant Principal, Bobbi Seleski at baseleski@rwps.org

Students in Ms. Vrieze's PE class enjoyed a successful bike unit. Pictured below: Students and our Resource Officer Nik after enjoying a bike ride to the park!

Yearbooks are $26. Please stop in the office for a flyer or click on the link below. Any questions, please contact our Yearbook Advisor-Christine Stewart: tbmsyearbook@rwps.org.

School Hours:

8:35 a.m. Building opens & supervision begins (8:30 if eating breakfast)

8:45 a.m. First bell

3:40 p.m. Last bell: students dismissed

Please see the links below for a lot of helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions.

ParentVue gives you access to your student's school information such as attendance and grades. We will also be using it for report cards this year instead of mailing them. Please call or email the office to get an activation key to get things started. Once you have the activation key you can access it through this link or any of the links on the district or school buildings web pages. You must have an email address to use this system.

Middle school students attending activities and events must be accompanied by an adult. The same behavior that is expected during the school day is also expected at events. Please remember to be Safe, Kind, and Responsible as you show your Winger Pride!

No parking or drop off during busing times!

We have new signs that are now in place reminding all drivers that the bus loop is ONLY for buses each morning during drop off's (8:15 - 9:15 am) and each afternoon during pick up's (3:15 - 4:15 pm).

New signs at the bus loop entrance reminds drivers that this is a "One Way" and only bus traffic each morning and afternoon as well.

Please help us keep students safe by following the expectations.

Attendance Matters! Please take a look at this info chart that our Assistant Principal created showing the importance of school attendance. Students can have up to 10 parent/guardian excused absences prior to the school asking for a doctor's note for future absences. If a doctor's notes is not provided after 10 absences, the absence will be unexcused.

Every Sunday during the school year, the district office sends out their newsletter by email. It has news from the whole district and the calendar of events for each building. If you haven't already, please sign up by emailing a request to: newsletter@rwps.org.

Box Tops are now digital! You can help our school raise funds to help students by enrolling in the program. It is free and an easy way to help the school earn money by scanning the groceries you already pay for! https://boxtops4education.com/s/get-the-app

Class hours

8:35 a.m. Building opens & supervision begins

8:45 a.m. First bell
3:40 p.m. Last bell: students dismissed

Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Email: tbmsattendance@rwps.org
Webpage: Twin Bluff Middle School
Location: 2120 Twin Bluff Road, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA
Phone: 651-385-4530
Social media: Facebook, Instagram

Twin Bluff School Office-651-385-4530

Attendance Line-651-385-4550

First Student Busing Questions-651-388-8244

District Transportation Route Questions-651-385-4795

Spanish Assistance-651-385-4607 (Carla)