8/27/2010

   Hello, Titan Families!  We have had a GREAT first week of school.  It was wonderful to meet so many new Titan parents last night. 

 We would like to extend an invitation to  anyone who  would like to serve on our Campus Improvement Committee.  The committee meets four times over the course of the year at 8 a.m.  We review our campus improvement plan, talk about things going on at school, and discuss various topics according to committee request.   I need about six parents to serve on this committee.  If we have more than six people interested, we will have an election to determine who will serve.  If you are interested in being on the TSMS Campus Improvement Committee, please email me back with your name and best contact phone number.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

8/24/2010

 Hello, Titan Families!

 We had a very successful first day of school.  Students entered the building a little nervous but left with confidence.  One opportunity for improvement is the lunch lines!  We will ensure every student gets ample time to eat.  On the first day, the lines back up because so many students have forgotten their student ID and need to deposit money.  Please encourage your child to memorize their ID number.  It can be located on their schedule.  It will help our cafeteria lines run quicker!

 Tonight, athletics will host a parent meeting for all parents of students that play football.  The meeting begins at 6:00 and is in the TSMS gym.

 At TSMS, we use various resources while teaching our students.  This year, students will have the opportunity to use various technologies, such as Ipods, netbooks, Macs, laptops, active expressions, promethean boards, and promethean slates.  Additionally, our students will use various print media like textbooks, magazines, and library books.  The textbooks can be accessed online.  Our teachers will get you access information.  Just as our goal is not one-to-one distribution of a single technological device, it is also not one-to-one distribution of every textbook to every child.   Rather, we will provide access to team/class sets of books and afford students and families the opportunity to check out textbooks to keep at home per request, preference, or individual education plan.  We hope to eliminate the heavy backpacks coming to and from school and move toward smart selection and use of available resources.  If you would like to request a set of textbooks for home, your child may fill out the request form in our front office.

 Since students are not asked to carry textbooks to and from class, and since most teachers provide spaces in the classroom for binders and spirals, we only issue lockers to students requesting them.  Your child’s Power Hour teacher has this information.

 This Thursday is the TSMS Mini-School Night for parents.  Our evening begins at 6:00.  Make sure you get a copy of your student’s schedule so you know where to go!  You are asked to report to your child’s first period class by 6:00.  We spend about five minutes in each class, rotating through the day just like your child rotates through their schedule.  This will give you the opportunity to meet each of your child’s teachers.  The school will be selling TSMS t-shirts for $5.00.  PTA will have sign-ups for membership, and volunteers will be pre-selling Titan hoodies.

 See you Thursday night!

8/10/2010

   Hello Titan Families!

 Residency Verification seemed to go very smooth last week.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or concerns with the process.  We value your feedback and continually seek ways to improve.

 For families that have not yet been able to complete residency verification, you may do so anytime by visiting the TSMS front office.  Our summer hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-3:00 pm.  Please complete the forms that were mailed to you.  We have an additional form for you to complete upon your arrival.  Once everything is up-to-date, you will receive your child’s schedule.

 Finally, I would like to invite you to follow the school on Twitter.  If you do not have a Twitter account, you will have to create one.  Please visit www.twitter.com to create an account, then search for TSMSKISD.  Some of our TSMS parent email address domains reject our emails, so here is a way to stay informed. The messages are kept to 140 characters, so they are short and sweet last minute reminders.  I will also send athletic, band, choir, and other school accomplishments through the Twitter account.

 See you soon.

Lindsay Anderson,Principal

Trinity Springs Middle School

7/21/2010

Titan Families

I hope summer is treating you and your family well.  Please note the reminder about our summer library hours and information about Residency Verification.  I have cut and pasted the letter you will be receiving by mail in the next couple of weeks.  I do not have the forms in a format where I can attach them to email, so you will have to check your mailbox for the actual forms.

 Trinity Springs Middle School is excited to announce…..2010 SUMMER LIBRARY HOURS!!!

The TSMS Library will be open each TUESDAY June 22 thru July 27, from 2:00-6:00 in the afternoon. We invite incoming 7^th graders and incoming 8^th graders to visit the library this summer.

You can check out books, read, and meet TSMS teachers.

 Residency Verification is August 4^th from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and August 5^th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Keller ISD requires that each family must show their name and address on a utility bill dated within the last 30 days for it to be a valid form of Proof of Residency.  Valid forms of Proof of Residency are the lease or contract on the house or a gas, water, or electric bills.  (No residential or mobile/cell phone bills will be accepted.)  We will also need to see a valid driver’s license.  If you will be attending TSMS based on an approved transfer, please bring the transfer approval letter with you.  If your family resides with another KISD resident, an Affidavit of Residency is required.  If only the student lives with another KISD resident, a Power of Attorney is required.  At residency verification, if you bring the enclosed paperwork completely filled out, have all immunizations up-to-date, and update an enrollment form that will be given to you on site, students can receive their schedules.  The building will be closed except for the residency pick-up area.

 Friday, August 20, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., our building will be open for students to walk their schedules, pick up school supplies, and pick up athletic equipment.  Lockers will be issued to students if they want one when they arrive the first day of school.  Families will be allowed to complete residency verification and submit forms this evening if needed.

For students to receive their schedules, they will need to submit the following:

  Proof of Residency information (30-day current utility bill not a cell phone or residential phone bill) and a valid Texas Driver’s License

  KISD Student Enrollment Form-This must be signed by a parent/guardian.  THIS WILL BE GIVEN ON SITE AT RESIDENCY VERIFICATION. 

  Medical and Emergency Care Authorization Form-This must be signed by a parent/guardian 

 Code of Conduct Form- This must be signed by a parent/guardian and student

  Notice of Disclosure of Student Directory Information- This must be signed by a parent/guardian

  Voluntary Student Drug Testing Consent and Release-Parent must sign if agree to participate

  Parent to Step-Parent Student Record Access Consent Form—Parent must sign if applicable

  $10 check or cash to purchase a TSMS T-shirt (optional)

   2010-2011 GradeSpeed Parent Connection Access Form (optional)—available on the KISD website.

 Please note—if you prefer to type the information, many of these forms can be found at www.kellerisd.net.

 Once these forms have been verified at the various stations, students will be allowed to pick up their schedules.  No schedule changes will be made before school starts unless a core class (English, math, science, or social studies) is duplicated or missing. If you would like to request a schedule change or have a core class conflict on your schedule, please complete the form available in the front office.  The changes will be reviewed by our counseling staff.  Core class issues will be handled prior to the start of school.  Elective class issues will be handled as availability in classes permits.  Students may visit their classrooms to determine their locations on August 20^th.

For students who are unable to attend August 4^th, 5^th, or 20^th, you must provide Proof of Residency and the other listed requirements on or before the first day of school. 

 Thursday, August 12, 2010:

            There is a Girl’s Athletics Parent Meeting at 6:30 p.m. for all parents who have a girl participating in athletics this school year.  The meeting will be in the TSMS cafeteria.

 Monday, August 23, 2010:  1^st Day of School

            The doors will be unlocked at 8:00 a.m.  Seventh-graders will report to the cafeteria while eighth-graders will report to the performance gym.  Tables will be set up in each location for students who need to pick up a copy of their schedules.  At 8:20 a.m., students will be released to go to their first-period classes.

            If students are in athletics or PE, they will not dress out on the first day of school.  The coaches will give dress-out information on the first day.

            Band students should bring their instruments on the first day.  More information will be coming during the first day of class.

 Tuesday, August 24, 2010: 

The first day of workouts for 7^th grade football and volleyball will be Tuesday, August 24.  Seventh-grade athletes will need to be at school at 7:00 a.m. on that day. 

The first day of workouts for 8^th grade football and volleyball will be Tuesday, August 25.  Practice is after school and will last until 4:45 p.m. 

There is a Boy’s Athletics Parent Meeting at 6:00 p.m. for all parents who have a boy participating in athletics this school year.  The meeting will be in the TSMS cafeteria.

Please monitor the TSMS website for updates and new information.  The school supply list is also on the website.  You can access this website by visiting www.kellerisd.net and click on schools; middle schools; then Trinity Springs Middle School.

 I look forward to another excellent year.  See you soon!