Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
October 2nd-30th: AMC Tickets Fundraiser
October 2nd: Band Night at PHS Football Game
October 8th: TPMS ASB SoCal Beach Ice Fundraiser, 3:30-8:30pm
October 14th and 15th: Music Fundraiser at the Taco Shop
October 19th: AVID 8 Field Trip (USC/CSU Long Beach)
October 20th and 21st: CPK Science Fundraiser
October 21st: EL Parent Advisory Committee Meeting, 5:30-7:30pm
October 26th - 27th: Minimum Days, Professional Learning
October 29th: Sea World Field Trip - Zoology
October 29th: Lunch Time Jazz Concert
October 29th: Boo on the Blacktop, 4:30-6:30PM
October 30th: Before School Halloween Concert, 8:00 - 9:00am
Starting tomorrow and running throughout the month of October, support TPMS PTSA while watching your favorite movies at AMC theaters! Grab a $39 Movie Ticket Bundle with two AMC tickets, or treat yourself to the $60 Movie Ticket & Concession Bundle, complete with two drinks and a popcorn to share. For every bundle sold, AMC will give back 20% to TPMS PTSA!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET BUNDLE AND SUPPORT OUR PTSA!
Please join us at the free E-Bike Safety Workshop from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 at the Scripps Ranch Civic Association (Community Room, 11885 Cypress Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92131).
Thank you to our co-hosts: UC San Diego Health and The Scripps Ranch Civic Association!
At this workshop, you'll learn best practices and safety tips for electric bikes as they become more prevalent with children in our communities. My district staff will also be on-site to assist with any County-related issues.
Please RSVP by clicking the blue button below or by calling my office at 619-219-2470.
See you there!
Sixth Grade Camp is an amazing experience for our students, and we hope your student will join! Twin Peaks will be attending camp November 2nd - 6th. Please let us know if your student will be attending camp by filling out THIS FORM! Below are important dates to remember:
- September 4th: Camp packets go home with students.
- October 2nd: Camp Packets DUE
- October 9th: Medical Authorization Forms DUE
UPDATED PRICING: Cost per camper is $495
Parents - we need your help with making sure to not block the fire lane on Budwin Lane after school when you are picking up your students. Please make sure to not park in designated fire lanes, on a red curb, or in driveways or access ways as it prevents local traffic from being able to operate as normal. Poway Sheriffs have been notified and will begin monitoring the situation for possible citations. Thank you in advance for making sure to keep our neighbors in mind when driving and parking around TPMS!
Twin Peaks ASB is excited to announce our very first “Boo on the Blacktop!” This event will be open to TPMS staff, students, and their families, and will include Halloween-themed carnival games in addition to a traditional Trunk or Treat event with cars hosted by our very own TPMS Teachers and Staff.
Event details:
- Thursday, October 29th, 4:30-6:30 PM
- Location: TPMS Blacktop
- Cost: Free!
- Concessions and Kona Ice will be available for purchase
We know this event is still quite a way away, but to ensure this event is successful, we need YOU! If you are interested in supporting the event by either donating or volunteering, please CLICK HERE to access our online Sign Up. More information about the actual event will be coming very soon! Please direct any specific questions to our ASB Advisor, Mrs. Crow at kcrow@powayusd.com
National PTA has a long-standing commitment to arts education. For over 50 years, Reflections has helped students develop artistic literacy and explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas through the arts. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, which boosts student confidence and success in the arts and in life. For more information about National PTA Reflections, please visit this website.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. Students may submit in one or more of these arts categories:
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature
- Music Composition
- Visual Arts
- Photography
Here are the Official Rules for each category, and more information about Reflections.
All Twin Peaks students are invited to submit their entries by Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Please submit entries to the TPMS Reflections 26-27 Online Entry Form.
Student work will be judged on Interpretation of Theme, Creativity, and Technical Skill, and student awards include:
- Award of Excellence (Advance to 9th District PTA for Judging)
- Award of Merit
- Honorable Mention
- Participation Award
Email questions to the Reflections chair for TPMS, Leslie Fisher or visit the National PTA Reflections site or California State PTA website.
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $60. We sold out last year so get yours now!
Pay by card: Go to https://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 https://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 27th so don’t delay!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
Edupoint has released a modernized ParentVUE (New) mobile application and retired the older ParentVUE app. Families should download the updated version to maintain access to student grades, schedules, and attendance records. Here are some easy directions you might provide to families:
How to Get Started with ParentVUE (New)
Remove Old App: Delete the old ParentVUE app from your phone first so the new version functions correctly.
Download: Search for ParentVUE (New) directly in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or follow the upgrade prompt inside your legacy (old) ParentVUE app.
Connect to District: Open the new app, swipe through the intro, and search for your school district using your postal zip code.
Log In: If prompted, select "Already Activated" if you already have an account, and sign in using your existing username and 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.
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:
- Watch the mandatory PUSD safety video with your student.
- Submit the official PUSD Request Form to the Assistant Principal’s office.
- Permanently affix the approved permit sticker to the e-bike frame.
Please Review our Electronic Devices Policy!
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.
Food & Nutrition Information
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.
TPMS Foundation Meeting Dates for 2026-27
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, 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
** 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. Hope to see you there!
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
Pay Through Totem
Pay Through Cheddar Up
Twin Peaks Middle School
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