Twin Peaks Middle School

Happy Sunday Ram Families!

It was an AMAZING first week back to school with lots of laughter and learning to open up the 2026-2027 school year! I hope you are all enjoying this great weather and finding some time to catch your breath after a busy opening of school... we spent time on the first day of school building community with our students and staff through our all-Homeroom schedule with team-building activities and grade level assemblies. On Friday, students visited their odd-period classes and learned about their new subjects, teachers reviewed expectations and protocols, textbooks and Chromebooks were distributed as needed, and half of the school had a chance to take their Yearbook & Student ID card photo in their PE class. There will be a second day of pictures tomorrow - Monday, August 17th for even-period PE classes.

As we begin our first full week back at school, I do want to ask for your help with an important safety reminder regarding dropping off and picking up your students at school. As you can see, our parking lot and Tierra Bonita Road are incredibly impacted at both drop-off and pick-up times; please consider other alternatives near TPMS as drop-off and pick-up points when possible (Twin Peaks Road, Trinity San Diego, St. Gabriels, North County Soccer Park). Also, consider picking your student up after 3:20pm rather than at 3:05pm... traffic is heaviest ten minutes right before and ten minutes immediately after school starts and ends.

When dropping off or picking your students up from school, please reduce your speed, eliminate distractions, and use extreme caution as we have many students who walk, ride bikes and skateboard to school and they will be sharing the community roads and sidewalks with you. We have already experienced several near misses in the first two days of school and it is largely because drivers are not paying attention to students.

If you must pick up your student at the front of the school, please DO NOT use the lane closest to the school unless directed to do so - this lane is reserved for our buses and vehicles for students with special needs both before and after school. We also ask that you not use the Tierra Bonita Elementary parking lot for parking or picking up and dropping off your student either, and please be mindful of our neigbors houses and driveways.

Students on bikes, ebikes and scooters - please make sure you are RIDING SAFELY to and from school. Riders must wear a helmet, observe all traffic rules and regulations when riding on roads, be aware of pedestrians and their right to the sidewalk, and only ride as a single rider. Don't forget to walk your bikes once you turn onto Tierra Bonita Road! Please read the Bike & eBike Information section below for details on how to register your bike and receive a permit to park on campus.

Elective change request forms are available at Mrs. Kirti's desk in the counseling office before school, during break or lunch, or after school. Forms must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to Mrs. Kirti by Monday, August 24th at 3:30pm. No late forms will be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: All of our electives are severely impacted and there are limited options available for students requesting a different elective. Elective courses are for the entire school year, and students do not change electives at the trimester unless they are enrolled in a wheel where students take a different class each trimester.

iReady math diagnostic testing will begin in all Math classes this week and will be followed by the reading diagnostic in their ELA class the following week. Please make sure your student is charging their Chromebook each night and bringing their charger with them to school so that they are prepared for these online assessments. Students will have additional time in their Homeroom class to complete their diagnostic if needed as this is an untimed exam. Results of the fall diagnostic will be compared to students' winter and spring diagnostic scores from last year so that we can get a measure of what growth your student has had in both math and reading, and work with your student to set growth targets for this year.

Mark your calendars now for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 2nd from 5:30-7:30pm! We will gather in the main quad starting at 5:30pm to welcome parents and to hear from our PTSA and Foundation. We will then have time for short classroom visits by odd/even periods. Your students will be completing a schedule for you to follow for the evening that will include class and teacher names, in addition to the room numbers of their classes. Back to School Night is a parent-only event; please do not have your student attend this event with you. I hope you can join us!

This year, our TPMS Library is excited to launch our Give a Book, Grow a Reader campaign to help build an even stronger school library for our middle school students. We invite each family to donate one new book to our library; every book added to our shelves opens the door to new adventures, fresh perspectives, and lifelong learning! A vibrant library does more than provide books—it creates opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop empathy, strengthen literacy skills, and experience the joy of reading for pleasure. Together, we can foster a school culture where reading is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and every student can find a book that speaks to them. Please CLICK HERE to send a book directly to the TPMS Library! Thank you in advance for helping us grow our library, inspire our readers, and make a lasting difference—one book at a time!

Finally this week, please consider attending one or both of our parent meetings happening this week - our TPMS Foundation is meeting this Tuesday, August 18th starting at 6pm in the TPMS Library, and our Twin Peaks PTSA will be meeting this Thursday, August 20th starting at 6:15pm. I hope to see you there!

In Partnership,

Steve Mills

Proud Principal

Twin Peaks Middle School

stmills@powayusd.com

1(858)748-5131 x2806

Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks

It was an AMAZING first week back to school for PUSD and for Twin Peaks! Our week included the all-PUSD kick-off at DNHS, staff professional development, the First Day of School gauntlet, Homeroom activities, and the Welcome Assembly!

August 17th: School Pictures Day #2 (during even PE classes)

August 18th: TPMS Foundation Meeting, 6:00pm (TPMS Library)

August 20th: PTSA Board Meeting, 6:15pm (TPMS Library)

September 2nd: Back to School Night, 5:30-7:30pm

September 3rd: 6th Grade Camp Presentation (6th Grade - lunches)

September 7th: Labor Day Holiday, No School

September 10th: 6th Grade Carnival, 3:30pm, TPMS Quad

September 17th: PTSA Meeting, 6:15pm (TPMS Library)

September 28th: Minimum Day, 12:35 pm release for students

September 29th: Minimum Day, 12:35 pm release for students

PE clothes can be purchased through your students PE Coach during their PE class all week long. Please see the price list below for equipment costs; cash or checks payable to "TPMS" only.

For families new to PUSD, an informational letter with a new user account name and password was sent to all parents of secondary students (grades 6-12). If you did not receive this letter, have misplaced it, or if you are a parent of a new student enrolled after the start of school, please visit the password.powayusd.com website to retrieve their username or select a new password.

Attendance in school is vital for a successful education.

It is important that you notify the school if your student is absent or will be picked up early.

You may choose to call in your student’s absence (858-668-2730)

OR

Digitally excuse your student’s absence though ParentVUE

Below is the video link for details on how to access it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=720SAxzNzyY

For more information on attendance and absences. Please see our website for additional details!

https://twinpeaks.powayusd.com/apps/pages/attendance

Please Note: No walk-in pickups will be allowed after 2:45 p.m., unless a one hour prior notice has been received.

As the new school year begins, many students will be riding bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, and scooters to school. To give everyone time to transition, all students may park on campus without a permit through August 31st. Beginning Tuesday, September 1st, a valid permit will be mandatory.

Safety, Walk Zones & Parking

• State Helmet Law (CA VC 21212): All riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet at all times when riding any vehicle.
• Mandatory Walk Zones: Safety protocols begin at the intersection of Twin Peaks Rd. and Tierra Bonita. Students must walk or carry their vehicles in all areas in front of Twin Peaks Middle School, Tierra Bonita Elementary, in our parking lot, and anywhere on campus. Riding on walkways or in parking lots is strictly prohibited.
• Designated Bike Parking: All vehicles must be parked in the designated bike area, located through the gate to the far right of campus as you face the school.
• Securing Vehicles & Lock Advice: TPMS is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen property. We strongly encourage students to use heavy-duty U-locks—especially for e-bikes—as cable locks are easily cut.

Vehicle Restrictions & Prohibited Vehicles

• Prohibited Vehicles: E-scooters and motorized scooters are strictly prohibited for middle schoolers under Poway law and CA Vehicle Code (which require a valid driver’s license to operate).
• Allowed E-Bikes: Only Class 1 (pedal-assist) and Class 2 (throttle-assisted) e-bikes capped at a maximum motorized speed of 20 mph are allowed on campus.
• Banned E-Bikes: Class 3 e-bikes (speeds up to 28 mph) are illegal for anyone under 16 and are strictly banned. Modified "e-motos" or dirt bikes are also banned. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (Poway Station) will conduct random sweeps throughout the year; unpermitted or illegal bikes are subject to impound.

How to Obtain a Permit

• Bicycles, Skateboards & Push Scooters: Register for a standard TPMS permit via the "Parent" section of the school website.
• E-Bike Permits (Separate Steps): Go to the "Parent" section on the TPMS website to complete the following:
1. Watch the mandatory PUSD safety video with your student.
2. Submit the official PUSD Request Form to the Assistant Principal’s office.
3. Permanently affix the approved permit sticker to the e-bike frame.

This year, we're excited to launch our Give a Book, Grow a Reader! campaign to help build an even stronger school library for our middle school students.

We invite each family to donate one new book to our library. Every book added to our shelves opens the door to new adventures, fresh perspectives, and lifelong learning.

A vibrant library does more than provide books—it creates opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop empathy, strengthen literacy skills, and experience the joy of reading for pleasure. Together, we can foster a school culture where reading is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and every student can find a book that speaks to them.

Thank you for helping us grow our library, inspire our readers, and make a lasting difference—one book at a time!

Send a book directly to TPMS Library!

This is a friendly reminder that TPMS is a phone free school between the hours of 8:30am - 3:05pm. Students must keep their devices in their backpacks during school hours to support our learning centered classrooms.

Phones and electronic devices can be confiscated by school staff for repeated violations of our electronic devices policy. Please review page 14 in the student planner (LINKED HERE) for more information on our school's electronic devices policy. Parents - please review the appropriate use of cell phones and our school's policy with your student to avoid having to come in and pick up their phone after school.

This is a friendly reminder for all Band & Orchestra students that instruments are not needed the first week of school. If you have any additional questions please email Mr. Moreau at amoreau@powayusd.com. Thanks so much!

All children in PUSD are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals regardless of income for the 2025-2026 school year. Please see the PUSD Food and Nutrition Website for more information. Breakfast is served 30 minutes before school starts daily, if your student can not make it before school, they can receive a free breakfast at morning break! Click here to view the school menus.

Parents/Guardians are still encouraged to complete a meal application online to receive other benefits such free or reduced-price after-school care, discounts on SAT and AP testing fees, reduced internet and utility bills, and food-buying assistance during summer breaks. Meal applications also help ensure that our school receives its fair share of state funding. The website to apply is www.myschoolapps.com. Paper meal applications (for parents that can’t complete one online) are available in the TPMS front office.

*PUSD Food and Nutrition Department is cashless. Parents/Guardians can add money to their students account at MySchoolBucks.com or bring a check to any window to enter in their account for any a la carte items their students would like to purchase.

Help us get the year off to a great start by donating to the Twin Peaks Foundation Back to School Campaign! We will use the money within the next year or two so your student benefits! We support all kinds of programs and projects on campus, from mental health programs to school beautification. We appreciate any amount you are able to contribute but any donations over $150 will receive a special edition Twin Peaks fleece blanket.

Donate today! Back to School Campaign 2026 - 2027 - Cheddar Up

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 2026-27 school year:

Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 6:00pm

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6:00pm

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:00pm

Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 6:00pm

Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 6:00pm

Tuesday, January 12, 2027, 6:00pm

Tuesday, February 9, 2027, 6:00pm

Tuesday, March 16, 2027, 6:00pm

Tuesday, April 20, 2027, 6:00pm

Tuesday, May 11, 2027, 6:00pm

Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE!

The Twin Peaks Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is a membership-based 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to making each school year a rewarding and enriching experience for every student. TPMS PTSA brings you the 6th Grade Olympics, 8th Grade Promotion, Academic Awards, Book Fairs, Choir, the Giving Tree program, the Reflections art program, the Spelling Bee, Staff/Teacher Hospitality, Student Character Recognition Awards, and lots more!

Whether you join as a member, donate directly to our programs, or give your time and talents (or all of the above!), we are very grateful for your contribution to TPMS. All donations are tax deductible. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities or other ways to get involved, email Steph Cole at ptsaprestpms@gmail.com We will also be available to chat and answer questions at Back to School Night on 9/2. Come find our table!

** To join PTSA and/or donate via TOTEM, click here

** To join PTSA and/or donate via Cheddar Up, click here

PTSA Meetings 2026-2027

As a member of PTSA, you are invited and encouraged to attend our three Association Meetings, held in September, February, and April. Mark your calendars now! This is where you can learn about what's happening at the school and hear directly from Principal Mills, student leadership, staff, and the PTSA Board. Members will receive meeting packets to the email addresses used to register. Our first Association meeting is coming up on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:15pm in the TPMS Library. Hope to see you there!

August 20, Board Meeting

September 17, Association Meeting at 6:15pm, Board Meeting to follow

October 22, Board Meeting

November 5, Board Meeting

December 3, Board Meeting

January 14, Board Meeting

February 11, Association Meeting at 6:15pm, Board Meeting to follow

March 18, Board Meeting

April 22, Association Meeting at 6:15pm, Board Meeting to follow

May 13, Board Meeting & Awards Night

June TBD

Our 2026-2027 Executive Board:

President - Steph Cole

Executive VP - Misa Rudge

1st VP of Fundraising - Shelly Mead

2nd VP of Membership - Beckie Barber

3rd VP of Volunteers - Shannon Lilly

Secretary - Cassie Stroben

Treasurer - Kate Dokmo

Historian - Brenda Wiese

Financial Reviewer - Chrissy Rhew

Parliamentarian - Alicia Gormican

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, Melissa Griffith, Associate Superintendent of Personnel support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128, 1-858-521-2800, extension 2121, mgriffith@powayusd.com. For students, you may contact Title IX Coordinator/504 Coordinator Jessica Pineda, Director of Attendance and Discipline, Poway Unified School District, 1-858-521-2843, jpineda@powayusd.com.

Website: https://twinpeaks.powayusd.com/l
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams