December Edition of the Twality Spotlight

December Edition of the Twality Spotlight

Twality Students Give Back 

Students at Twality are embracing this Holiday season by giving back to our community in many different and heartfelt ways. 

Mrs. Baird's RV class is collecting toys for the KGW Toy Drive.  This event has become a tradition for our students.  If you would like to donate new toys for the toy drive, please drop them off in the main lobby here at Twality.

Mrs. Belknap, Mrs. Levin & Mrs. Waddell's RV classes participated in the "Fill a Stocking, Fill a Heart".  This organization distributes handmade Christmas stockings to families in need.  The students had a great time filling the stockings with personal necessities and gifts.  

  

 Ms. Rupp's class will continue their tradition of adopting a family this holiday season.  The students will shop for necessities for a family in need.  The family will receive items such as toys, clothing, shoes, coats, stocking stuffers, and some grocery gift cards for the family.

 Winter ASA is coming soon!

Winter ASA will begin January 12, 2015 and end on March 5, 2015.  Permission forms will be available in the main office on Monday, December 15th.  Some of the activities we will have will be: 

Basketball
Volleyball

Dodgeball
Indoor Soccer

Homework Help
Weight Training
Cartooning & Illustration
Instrument Practice
Dr. Who Club
Scream Team
Jewelry Making
Battle of the Books
Art Journaling

Here are some photos from the fall session of our After School Activities for you to enjoy. 

Volleyball Team

Cross Country Team

Soccer Team

Awesome Soccer Players!

Exciting things happening with the 

Tigard Tualatin Foundation

Trailblazer tickets!
Blazers vs. LA Clippers
Wednesday, January 14th at 7:30pm

Come join Tigard-Tualatin School District students, staff, families, and friends for a night of high-flying basketball action to benefit The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools.  

Everyone purchasing tickets through FTTS can come onto the court after the game and take a foul shot!  Select children will also get the chance to high-five the Trailblazers as they enter the court before the game! 

Click here to buy tickets.

Dirty Dancing at the Keller Auditorium

Sunday, January 18th, 6:30pm

A portion of ticket sales benefits FTTS.

Great seats available from $38-$88.

Click here to buy tickets! 

December's Upcoming Events

December 9 - PSO Meeting - Library - 7pm
December 10 - 6th Grade & Concert Band Concert - THS Auditorium - 6pm

December 11 - Panda Express Fundraiser - 99W & Durham Location
December 17 - 7th / 8th Choir Concert - Commons - 7pm

December 18 - 6th Grade Orchestra Concert - Multi-Purpose Room - 2:00pm
December 18 - Concert Band Concert - Tigard High School - 6pm

December 19 - Treble & Concert Choir Field Trip to the Oregon Capitol Building

December 22-January 2 - WINTER BREAK - Enjoy your Holiday! 

January 5, 2015 - School Resumes

November Edition of the Twality Spotlight!

November Edition 

Twality Spotlight!

Student and Staff Safety Training at 
Twality Middle School

As part of a statewide initiative to adopt common school safety practices, Tigard-Tualatin School District implemented Standard Response Protocols for initial staff and student actions in the event of an emergency at all of our schools.

Standard Response Protocols include four actions: Evacuate, Shelter, Lock Out and Lock Down. Each protocol has been taught and practiced during the months of September and October and will continue to be practiced throughout the year.

We encourage you to view the training materials presented to students in Rendezvous and discuss the importance of taking training activities seriously with your students. It is our intention to prepare for an emergency situation without raising the level of anxiety for you, our students and our staff.

Standard Response Protocols are adopted universally in Colorado schools and across the country. Standard Response Protocols are developed by the “I love u guys,” foundation. Additional details can be found by clicking here.

Our next safety drill will be on Tuesday, November 25th.

If you have questions about Standard Response Protocols, please e-mail Associate Principal, John Wayland (jwayland@ttsd.k12.or.us) for additional information.

THANK YOU VOTERS! 

Tigard-Tualatin voters have renewed the district's Local Option Levy. Unofficial returns have the measure passing by more than 70% of the vote! It is not a new or additional tax. It continues the existing levy that was originally approved by voters in 2000 and renewed in 2004 and 2008.  

 The Local Option will:

-        Provide funding for approximately 70* classroom teachers and the     classroom programs provided by the expiring levy; 

-        Protect class sizes from increasing;

-        Provide approximately $6M* in 2015-16; 

-        Continue the existing levy rate (which cannot exceed $1 per $1,000 of assessed value) for another five years.  The exact amount varies from property to property.  For a home assessed at the maximum rate (above), the cost would continue to be $200 per year or about $16.67 per month.

Do you need some help for the Holidays?

Tualatin Family Resource Center is coordinating Christmas/holiday assistance again this year.  Applications are in the main office and need to be turned in no later than November 14.  If you have question feel free to call Rachel Rivera 503-431-5189 or Cindy Villanueva 503-431-5195.

Twality Middle School's Spring Musical 

                      

The show will be March 5, 6, and 7 at Tigard High School.

Auditions are Nov. 17th, 18th and 19th.

Callbacks are Nov 20th.

Auditions are open to the entire student body.  Students must fill out an audition packet in order to audition.  Please pick those up from Mrs. Thielen, Mr. Lee or Ms. Muehleck.  Forms are due Nov. 12th.

Break a leg!!

Outdoor School was a great success!

We had about 300 students attend Outdoor School this year.  We went to Camp Trickle Creek and Camp Cedar Ridge.  Yes, it was a little wet this year for our campers, but they didn't let a little rain dampen their spirits.  

Twality's Annual Food Drive

 Starry Nights and Holiday Lights! 

 

Our choir will be performing at the Starry Nights and Holiday Lights on December 5th in downtown Tualatin at The Lake at Tualatin Commons.  Please come and support our wonderful choir as we kick off the holiday season. 

November's Upcoming Events! 

November 6 - ASA Volleyball Jamboree @ Fowler 3:45pm-5:00pm

November 6 - ASA activities end.  Winter ASA forms will be available

                     mid December  

November 7 - End of the 1st Quarter
November 10 - No School - Teacher Workday
November 11 - No School - Happy Veteran's Day
November 14 - Chill Ride to Cold Stone for Magazine Sale Winners!
November 17-24 - Musical Auditions 3:45pm-7:15pm
November 17-25 - Annual Food Drive - Thank you for your support!
November 17 - Report cards mailed home
November 20 - Common Core Night in Spanish - Commons - 6pm

November 21 - Honor Roll Breakfast
November 21 - Jazz Band Dance and Dessert Night - Twality Commons - 6pm

November 22 - Barnes and Noble Book Fair at Bridgeport

November 27-28 - No School - Happy Thanksgiving
December 1 - No School - Teacher Work Day
December 3 - Orchestra Concert - Twality Commons - 7pm
December 4 - 7th / 8th Grade Band Concert - Tigard High - 7pm
December 4 - 8th Grade EXPLORE test 

Welcome to the Twality Spotlight!

Welcome to the Twality Spotlight! 

We are excited to have this new blog set up to keep lines of communication open and share the great experiences that happen everyday at Twality Middle School with you.  Our goal will be to update this blog once a month with new information, student and staff highlights and important calendar information with upcoming events!  You are welcome to leave comments or questions at the bottom of each post.  You may always email Angie at aryan@ttsd.k12.or.us with any questions or concerns.

FALL CONFERENCES - OCTOBER 23-24

Thursday, October 23
8:00am-11:30am (11:30am-1:00pm - teacher lunch break)
1:00pm-4:30pm (4:30pm-5:30pm - teacher dinner break)
5:30pm-8:00pm (Child care available)

Friday, October 24
8:00am-11:30am

Sixth Grade Core Teachers:  Conferences are arranged by teacher teams.  If you have not received a conference appointment or letter, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.  Sixth graders who attend Math classes outside the homeroom team may drop in with the appropriate Math teacher during all conference hours. 

Seventh and Eighth Grade Core Teachers:  Grade level teams will host families on a drop-in basis.  Elective teachers and PE/Health teachers are also available on a drop-in basis.

Maps will be available in the lobby on conference days to help you locate the staff members you need to see. Please plan on attending the session most convenient for you and your student.  However, past experience suggests that the evening time between 5:30-8:00pm becomes crowded and may require longer waits for parents and students.  Please come during the other available times if you are able.  Be sure to bring your son or daughter! 

Child Care Available:  Thursday, 10/23 from 5:30pm-8:00pm

The Scholastic Book Fair will be open during ALL conference times.  Please stop by and take a look at some great books and help support Twality!

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT FEEDBACK

On August 27^th, Twality hosted our annual Back to School Night (BTSN).  As many of you know, the format was different from a traditional BTSN and the intention was to create a more interactive, community experience for students, parents, and teachers.   We asked for your feedback and approximately 140 teachers and parents responded.  A group of teachers and parents reviewed the feedback and will eventually come up with recommendations for next year.  We wanted to share some of the feedback with you.  

The positive feedback was strong:

• Parents enjoyed meeting their students’ teachers in a friendly, relaxed, and comfortable atmosphere. 
• 6^th grade parents appreciated being able to experience school with their child, meet their teacher, and visit the classrooms before the first day.
• Teachers appreciated having positive, genuine interactions with parents and students before school started, instead of more formal presentations and limited one-on-one interactions.  
• Teachers and parents liked celebrating together as one community. 
• Parents and teachers liked watching students get excited to see friends, get their schedules and meet teachers.
• Everyone loved Deer Creek’s Marimba band and the food trucks. 

While the responses were strong in building relationships and community, feedback indicates (and we agree) there is plenty of room for improvement.   

Generally improvement feedback included:

• Fee lines were too long and it was frustrating to find out it was unnecessary because of the on-line pay option.
• Signage was poor and information (schedule, maps, etc.) was unclear.    
• Parents were confused about the schedule and where to go, especially 6^th grade families. 

Most concerning was that many families were unclear that this event was the actual Back to School Night.   Despite repeated communication (e-mail, facebook, and postcard), the change in format led many parents to believe this was in addition to a more traditional BTSN.    Clearly, we should have communicated differently.   

The goal of this event was to build community, strengthen relationships with families, and provide information about classes, curriculum, and other school functions.  Teachers appreciated being able to connect with families before school began.Teachers were pleased that those connections with students have positively impacted their classrooms today.  This early event allows teachers to focus on planning and teaching without the distraction of preparing for back to school night in late September. 

We appreciate your honest responses.  If you missed the event or feel like you did not receive the classroom information you needed to support your student, please contact us at 503-431-5200.  It is important to us that you receive the information you need.  

If you are interested in working on the committee to make recommendations about next year’s event, please contact Angie Ryan at 503-431-5202. 

Here are a few pictures from Back to School Night! 

Deer Creek Marimba Band!

Twality teachers enjoying dinner

The food trucks were a big hit!

GREAT JOB, WEB LEADERS! 

Our WEB Leaders were wonderful with our new 6th graders at the beginning of the year!  They welcomed them with the warmth and compassion that we have come to expect from our leaders. 

ART IN THE BURBS! 

Please come and support the TTSD Foundation at Art in the Burbs the weekend of October 17-19 at Alberta Rider Elementary!  $2 suggested entry fee at the door.  

COMMON CORE AND SMARTER BALANCED

Interested in learning more about Common Core Standards and Smarted Balanced Assessment?  Attend TTSD's community event on October 14th from 6:30-8pm at Fowler Middle School.  Click here, and then click "Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessment" for September's newsletter from Curriculum and Instruction Department. 

OCTOBER'S UPCOMING EVENTS! 

October 10th - NO SCHOOL - CLASSIFIED INSERVICE DAY
October 13 - Magazine Sale Prize Day - Commons
October 14-16 - Outdoor School for Rupp / Clark / Montplaisir classes
October 16 - Burgerville Restaurant Fundraiser - Hwy 99 location
October 20-22 - Outdoor School for Eto / Puhl / Cunningham / Elwyn-Pass
October 20-22 - Outdooor School for Taylor / Scholte / Bostwick / Young
October 23-24 - Scholastic Book Fair
October 23 - NO SCHOOL - FALL CONFERENCES
October 24 - NO SCHOOL - FALL CONFERENCES
October 28 - Fall Bus Evacuation
October 29 - ASA Cross Country Meet at Fowler Middle School 3:45pm-5:30pm
October 30 - Picture Retake Day!  Forms available in the main office
October 30 - ASA Soccer Jamboree -vs- Hazelbrook (Twality Soccer Field)
October 31 - Happy Halloween!  Costume Contest at all lunches