April Edition of the Twality Spotlight

April Edition of the Twality Spotlight

(English) If you need interpretation services, please call our English Language Learner (ELL) Department at: (503)431-4123

(Spanish) Si necesita servicios de intérprete, favor de llamar al Departamento de Aprendizaje del Idioma Inglés (ELL) al: (503)431-4123

(Somali) Haddii aad u baahantahay adeegga turjumaan, fadlan u wac Qaybta Barashada Luqada Ingrisiga ee Tel: (503)431-4123

(Arabic) (503)431-4123

(Vietnamese) Nếu như ông/bà cần dịch vụ thông dịch, xin vui lòng gọi bộ phận English Language Learner (ELL) của chúng tôi tại: (503) 431-4123

(Chinese) 若您需要語言翻譯服務，請聯絡我們的英語學習部門(ELL)，電話：(503)431-4123。

(Chuukese) ARE PWE EN MI MOCHEN ANINIS REN ANGANGEN CHIAKU, KOSE MOCHEN KOKORI ACH EI OFFESIN KAIO NGENI KAPASEN

MERIKA WON EI NAMPA:   (503)431-4123

(Russian) Если Вы нуждаетесь в услугах переводчика, тогда, пожалуйста, звоните в наш Отдел для изучающих английский язык

(English Language Learner- ELL), по номеру телефона: (503)431-4123

(Marshallese) N͂e kwoj aikuj jiban͂ ilo ukok, joij im call etok wopij in an kajin In͂lij ak English Language Learner (ELL) ilo: 503-431-4123

(Korean) 통역 서비스가 필요하시면 저희의 영어 언어 학습(ELL) 부서로 전화주십시오: (503)431-4123 

Tigard-Tualatin School District is an     

                Equal Opportunity School District. If 

                  you need interpretation of this document, please call our English Language Learner Department at 503-431-4123.

Twality Spring Auction

The Twality Spring Auction is right around the corner.  The auction will run from April 19-May 3.  The Spring Auction is one of our biggest fundraisers for the year.  We will send out information very soon with a link for the auction website.  There is still time to donate a basket or service if you would like.  Please contact the Auction Coordinator, Amy Meisch at 503.431.5203 for more information.

When will Twality students take the Smarter Balanced Assessment?  

• 6th grade students will be taking the test during the weeks of April 27th and May 8th.
  
• 7th grade students will take most of the assessment during the week of May 11-15, and the math performance task May 26-29. 
• 8th grade students will take most of the assessment during the week of May 18-22, and the math performance task May 26-29.

SEED Program 
SEED Enrichment Classes - Deadline 4/6

NEW:  JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT "BIZTOWN" - 4th-6th Grade
We're excited to team up with Junior Achievement and offer the popular JA Biztown program.  Some schools have had to eliminate this hand-on real-life learning of general commerce. We will offer Biztown this Spring, complete with the hands-on field trip to Biztown where students can be bank managers, TV station producers, retail owners, the mayor and learn how to work a job, collect and manage their budget while shopping at Best Buy or Petco.  Note:  A minimum of 70 students are needed to run this program.

SEED Spring class offerings are: 

Grade 3-6
Makers Workshop

Grade 3-6
Guitar
Aikido with Mind & Body Coordinated
All Levels Chess

Grades 6-8
Game Design Using Code (HTML & JavaScript)
School of Rock:  Guitar, Voice, Songwriting, Bass, Drums, Synthesizer
Creative Writing
Organizational Habits of Successful Students

For class details or to register, go to www.the-FTTS.org/seed

Questions?  Email Julie Flint:  seed@the-ftts.org

SAVE THE DATE:  SEED Summer Classes - July 13-17, 2015 - Details in May.

 5th Grade Transition Information

Information will be going home to 5th grade families with transition details next week. Here are some important dates to know if you have a 5th grader who will be a 6th grader during the 2015-2016 school year.

Monday, April 20 - 7pm - Parent Night for Deer Creek and Templeton 
Thursday, April 23 - 7pm - Parent Night for Alberta Rider and Durham
Tuesday, April 28 - 6pm - Instrument Try-Out Night
Tuesday, May 19 - 6pm - 5th Grade Ice Cream Social 


Please like us on Facebook for more information and communication.  




 

Stuff the Bus

Twality will be collecting hygiene items for the district's Caring Closet now through April 23rd. RV classes will be competing against each other for the most items collected!  The last few years Twality has been the biggest contributing middle school!  Great job! We will "STUFF THE BUS" on Friday, April 24th during RV.

Possible Items:  
Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Body Wash, Face Wash, Hair Brush, Deodorant, New Socks, New Underwear, Towels.  PLEASE NO RAZORS, OR WHITENING TOOTHPASTE.  

Most items can be found at the dollar store.  Save soaps from hotels you stay in. 

 

9th Grade Forecasting 

 All forecasting for 8th grade students going to Tigard High School next year must have their papers turned in and website forecasting completed by April 8th.  Forecasting for Tualatin High School is due by Monday, April 13th.  If you have any questions, please contact your student's counselor. 

 

6th Grade Jog-a-thon

The 6th grade jog-a-thon is coming up on April 23rd from 1:00pm-3:00pm.  Pledge packets will be coming home with your 6th grader very soon.  The jog-a-thon has been a fun tradition at Twality.  Some of the 6th grade classes will pick a theme and dress up during the run. Let's not forget the yummy popsicles too!

Youth Summit 

The Tigard Young Advisory Council is an 18 member volunteer group of Tigard High School students who have re-formed the city's Advisory Council this year.  The group is putting on a Youth Summit on Friday, April 10th from 11:00am-4:00pm here at Twality Middle School.  All middle school and high school youth are invited.  The summit is meant to be educational and social, with speakers about a variety of topics.  

Lunch will be served during the summit.  (Pizza, Sandwiches, Salads & Drinks)

Guest Speakers will include - Mayor Cook, State Representative Margaret Dougherty, and many more! 

Pre-Register for the FREE EVENT!  
http://tinyurl.com/TYAC-Youth-Summit 

8th Grade Panoramic Picture

   

The 8th Grade Panoramic Picture will be taken on Tuesday, April 28th at the beginning of 1st period at 9:20pm.  Orders forms will be going home with your 8th grader during the week of April 20th.  Please make sure that your student is not absent so they can be in the 8th grade class picture! 

Attention 7th Grade Parents - Washington DC Trip

This is a fantastic opportunity to catapult your child into high school by giving them a trip of a lifetime.  For 8 days and 7 nights, we go from Boston to New York, to Philadelphia and finally end in DC....and we see tons of stuff in between.  This is an educational trip disguised with fun.  We visit historical sites that are littered up and down the east coast of the United States.  Sites where Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross once made history.  We see the Liberty Bell and tour Amish Country.  We see a play on Broadway and go to the 9/11 Ground Zero Memorial.  We lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and tour the Capitol Building, among many other amazing places.  

There is an informational meeting about this trip on April 16th  at 6pm in the Twality Library.  There will be a short PowerPoint presentation explaining everything from what the trip includes to the safety precautions we take while on this trip.  A representative from the travel company will be there to answer questions as well.  If you are interested, or even think there might be a chance, we highly recommend at least coming to hear the presentation.  The meeting is mostly parents, but students are welcome to attend.  Feel free to spread the word to all parents of current 7th graders.  If you have questions or can't make the meeting, feel free to contact Sarah Waddell at 503.431.5226.  You can also visit: twalitydc.weebly.com or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TwalityDcTrip for more information. 

 

Tigard Youth Football

April 2015 Events

Monday, April 6th - SEED Program Registration Due
Wednesday, April 8th - Tigard High School - Forecasting Due 
Thursday, April 9th - End of the 3rd Quarter
Friday, April 10th - NO SCHOOL
Monday, April 13th - Tualatin High School - Forecasting Done
Monday, April 13th - Jazz Band playing at all lunches
Thursday, April 16th - Mega Math Field Trip
Thursday, April 16th - 6th Grade Music Concert - Tigard High - 7pm
Thursday, April 16th - Panda Express Fundraiser 
Sunday, April 19th - SPRINGFEST AUCTION BEGINS! 
Monday, April 20th - 5th Grade Parent Night - Deer Creek & Templeton 7pm
Thursday, April 23rd - 5th Grade Parent Night - Alberta Rider and Durham 7pm
Thursday, April 23rd - 6th Grade Jog-a-thon - 1pm-3:30pm
Friday, April 24th - STUFF THE BUS during RV 
Monday, April 27th - 6th Grade Smarter Balanced Testing 
Tuesday, April 28th - 8th Grade Panoramic Picture
Tuesday, April 28th - Instrument Try Out Night for 5th graders
Wednesday-Friday, April 29 -May 1 - Q'doba Fundraiser -vs- Hazelbrook
Thursday, April 30th - Choir Field Trip
Thursday, April 30th - ASA Vollleyball Jamboree
Tuesday, May 5th - Band Field Trip
Tuesday, May 5th - One Act Plays - 7pm
Thursday, May 7th - One Act Plays - 7pm

March Edition of the Twality Spotlight

March Edition of the Twality Spotlight

Cheaper by the Dozen

It's March!  It's Springtime! It's time for the Twality Musical, Cheaper by the Dozen!  

Please join us March 5-7 at Deb Fennell Auditorium at Tigard High School for the Twality Middle School production of Cheaper by the Dozen.  All shows are at 7pm.  Tickets are $10.00 each and are available in the main office of Twality, at the door on show nights or you may also purchase tickets online by clicking here.  

There is a wonderful article in the Portland Tribune about our musical.  Click here to read the article.

CLASSIFIED APPRECIATION WEEK

Here at Twality, we love our classified staff members.  March 2-6 is Classified Appreciation Week. Our Secretaries, Custodians, Instructional Assistants, and Kitchen Staff keep our school running.  If you get a chance, say "Thank You" to these hard working employees! 

Band Bake Sale

Our Band program will have a Bake Sale to benefit the Jazz, Concert and Cadet Band programs.  

Tuesday, March 17th

5:30pm-6:30pm - Bake Sale
Followed by 7th and 8th Grade Band Performances

Tigard High School Deb Fennel Auditorium

Please bake an item for the bake sale!  Help us finish the year strong!

We are working towards the purchase of a Baritone Saxophone and a piano amplifier.  Thanks to generous support from community, band families and PSO we have purchased the Timpani Drum Set.  

No time to bake?  Ask for a donation from your favorite bakery! 

• Dozen Cookies
• Dozen Cupcakes
• Pies, Cakes, Cobbler

• Please package your item to capture the eye of the buyer - a festive place, pretty packaging, attached recipe card, etc. 

• Invite friends and family to attend the Bake Sale and free concert! 

• In order to plan for our sale, please email Raylea Pickett to volunteer / bake / set up:  pickettcm@comcast.net.  Baked goods may be delivered to the auditorium lobby between 4:45pm-5:30pm.

Thank you for supporting Twality Middle School Band Programs!

Spring Conferences

 

Spirit Week is Coming!

March 16-20, 2015

Monday - BLACK OUT DAY

Tuesday - TWIN DAY
Wednesday - SWEATS DAY
Thursday - SPORTS DAY (Hats are OK)

Friday - FLANNEL DAY

March 2015 Events

March 2-6 - Classified Appreciation Week
March 2-3 - Pastini Pasteria Restaurant Fundraiser
March 3 - Band Solo Night at Tualatin High School
March 5 - ASA Basketball Jamboree at Hazelbrook Middle School
March 5 - ASA Volleyball Jamboree at Fowler Middle School
March 5 - Common Core Info Night in Spanish 6:30pm-8:30pm
March 10 - Strengthening Families - Twality Library 5:30pm
March 12 - No School
March 12 - Spring Conferences 5:00pm-8:00pm
March 13 - No School
March 13 - Spring Conferences 8:00am-12:00pm
March 16-20 - Spirit Week
March 17 - 7th / 8th Grade Band Concert
March 19 - Family Engineering Night - Twality Commons - 6:00pm-8:00pm
March 20 - 8th Grade TAG field trip to Tillamook State Forest
March 23-27 - SPRING BREAK! 
March 30 - Twality Springfest Online Auction Begins
March 31 - 8th grade forecasting begins
April 1 - 8th Grade Parent Night at Tigard High - 6:00pm-8:00pm
April 1 - 8th Grade Parent Night at Tualatin High - 6:00pm-8:00pm

February Edition of the Twality Spotlight

February Edition of the 

Twality Spotlight

Smarter Balance Testing

Twality staff is preparing for the Smarter Balanced Assessment, which will be given to all middle school students this Spring.  Below is an article from our Curriculum & Instruction Department with more information and details about the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  We have added some additional Twality specific information as well.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  Carol Kinch, Principal 503.431.5208

GETTING TO THE CORE OF THE MATTER

What is the New Smarter Balanced Test?

All students deserve an education that prepares them for their next step in life, whether it is going on to college or starting a career.  In the past, Oregon students have taken the OAKS test (Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) to measure their academic skills.  In 2014-2015, Oregon will replace OAKS with a test called Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC).  The SBAC is designed to measure how well students meet the new Common Core state standards.

How does Smarter Balanced compare to OAKS? 

Students will take the SBAC on a computer.  The first part of the test is very similar to OAKS and consists of multiple choice questions.  The test is untimed. The second part of the SBAC is called "performance tasks."  Performance tasks are activities and responses that measure depth of understanding, analysis, research and writing skills.  Students will be asked to do an activity.  After, they will be given a question or a prompt to respond to.  The purpose of this type of assessment is to measure skills that cannot be measured on a more traditional multiple choice test, like analytical and problem solving skills. 

How does Smarter Balanced support student needs? 

SBAC offers accommodations for students with disabilities and who are English Language Learners.  For example, SBAC is offered in Braille and with closed captioning.  It is also offered in Spanish, and has a special dictionary section for other languages.  

How does Smarter Balanced affect graduation requirements?  

Oregon students will continue to have many ways to meet graduation requirements.  If a student does not meet the standards on the SBAC, he or she can meet the requirements on another test or through work samples.  Schools work closely with parents and students to make sure that students have every opportunity to complete their graduation requirements.  

Using the SBAC test will allow Oregon students to compare their performance across the state and the nation.  For the first time, we'll see how prepared our students are to compete with their peers from around the country.

When will Twality students take the Smarter Balanced Assessment?  

• 6th grade students will be taking the test during the weeks of April 27th and May 8th.
  
• 7th grade students will take most of the assessment during the week of May 11-15, and the math performance task May 26-29. 
• 8th grade students will take most of the assessment during the week of May 18-22, and the math performance task May 26-29.

When will we receive the results?

We do not have a definitive timeline, but we anticipate receiving test scores during the summer of 2015. 

Common Core - February / March Newsletter

Please click here for the current newsletter about Common Core state standards.

ART IN THE BURBS - 2015

OPEN BOARD POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Yearbook and 8th Grade Baby Pictures

 The very last day to pre-purchase a yearbook will be on Friday, February 27th.  The cost is $30.00 and is due to Miss M. in the Main Office.  Order forms are available on our Twality website. There will be a very limited number of yearbooks available for purchase on yearbook distribution day in June.  If you are a parent of an 8th grade student and would like to have your child's baby picture in the yearbook with a message from you, please turn in the baby picture, the form and $15.00 to Amy Meisch in the main office by Monday, March 2nd.

Cheaper by the Dozen

Our Spring musical will be Cheaper by the Dozen!  The musical will be March 5-7.  Our students have been working hard to make this production spectacular for you! Tickets are on sale now in the main office.  Tickets are $10.00 per person with open seating at the Deb Fennel Auditorium at Tigard High School.  You may also purchase tickets online by clicking here.  

 

 Twality Springfest Auction

The Twality Springfest Auction will be held March 30-April 12.  This auction is one our most successful fundraisers!  Please help the PSO raise money for our school so we can fund our programs, field trips, classroom expenses, teacher hospitality and much more.  This helps PSO to support students and staff by providing resources to enable us to do amazing things, so please help.  If you have any services that you would like to donate to the auction, please contact Amy Meisch, Twality Bookkeeper at 503.431.5203

Val-O-Grams on Sale Now

 Val-O-Grams are on sale now through Feb 9th.  All grams will be delivered Friday, Febraury13 through RV class.  You can purchase grams from Miss M. in the Main Office.  1 gram for $.50 or 3 grams for $1.00.  Money collected goes back to Twality students for student store and student activities.  Thank you for supporting Twality students. 

 February 2015 Events 

February 9-13 - Val-O-Grams on sale in the main office and during all lunches
February 10 - Pizzacato Restaurant Fundraiser

February 11 - After School Soccer Jamboree at Hazelbrook
February 13 - 6th Grade Spelling Bee
February 16 - No School - Happy President's Day
February 18 - Exclusion Day for Immunizations
February 24 - Battle of the Books Competition at Fowler Middle School
February 24 - Parent Advocates of African American Students (PAAAS)
February 25 - After School Soccer Jamboree vs. Hazelbrook at Twality
February 26 - After School Volleyball Jamboree at Fowler Middle School
February 27 - LAST DAY TO BUY A YEARBOOK!  $30.00 to Miss M. in the main office 
March 2-3 - Pastini Pasteria Restaurant Fundraiser (Bridgeport)
March 2 - 8th Grade Baby Pictures DUE!  $15.00 and photo due to Miss M. in the main office
March 2 - Common Core Spanish Information Night 6:30pm
March 3 - Band Solo Night at Tualatin High School 6:00pm-9:00pm
March 5 - After School Basketball Jamboree at Hazelbrook Middle School
March 5 - After School Volleyball Jamboree at Fowler Middle School