Timber Wolf Times

News for TMS Families Week of December 13, 2021

Principal Updates

Dear Trailside Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your families for the overwhelming response to our Winter Warmth Drive for Guilford Elementary and Food Drive for Link. We collected over 400 coats, jackets, hats, and gloves for our elementary students in Sterling Park. This week, we will be sorting, hanging, and staging the coats so the children can come and select a coat prior to Winter Break. We had a significant number of brand new coats donated as well. I cannot imagine the look on the children's face when they get to select a new coat! The generosity and compassion you have shown is truly remarkable.

Also, on Friday we concluded our annual Food Drive for LINK. It has been a very tough the past two years with Covid especially for the poor in Loudoun County. While this drive began with a competition between the grade levels, it took on a life of its own. We collected over 7,000 items for the Food Bank. While sixth grade did collect more in the end, we heard the following comments from students: Here are just a few....

"Everyone wins since we can give the food to needy people"

"Its okay if we don't win, this is a good thing we are doing for other people"

"I can't believe we collected so much, this makes me feel so good"

I cannot be prouder as a principal to be serving this community and our children. We truly have seen IMPACK in action these past few weeks!

All my best,

Bridget M. Beichler

School News

Please note that students may not order food to be delivered for lunch. We do not accept DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc. orders addressed to any student.

When dropping off lunch for your student, please note that only beverages that are in sealed containers will be accepted. Please no fountain drinks, milkshakes, Starbucks, etc.

6th Grade Updates

7th Grade Level Updates 12/12

8th grade will be sent out on Monday

What is happening in the Library??

The month of November was a busy time in our Makerspace area. Students had the opportunity to weave yarn bracelets as well as create a yarn baby turtle. Keva planks were added to the Makerspace area and many students accepted the challenge to create tall towers and other structures. Students could choose whether they wanted their picture taken, all pictures were then displayed on the wall in the Keva Planks Hall of Fame for all to see. We are continuing with low-tech activities in our Makerspace area until after our Winter Break but have plans to start including more high-tech activities next semester.

We hosted the Scholastic Book Fair during the week of November 29th- December 3rd and we are happy to report that it was the highest grossing book fair that has been hosted at Trailside Middle School! Students and families were able to shop on Thursday evening at our Family Night and we had several families take advantage of the evening shopping hours. Profits from the book fair will be used to purchase more books for the library as well as materials for our Makerspace area, and other materials for our library. The library staff would like to thank our volunteers who came in and helped during the book fair.

Winners from our November Literary Pumpkin Decorating Contest were announced, and the winners were: 1st place – Isha Boggarapu, 2nd place – Hitisha Malhautra, 3rd place- Freya Brown. Winners received scholastic bucks that could be used at our book fair.

November was Native American Heritage Month and our display included books about Native and Indigenous peoples and/or books that included Native American/Indigenous characters.

Our Genre spotlight for the Month of December is Historical Fiction. The library is also getting ready for winter and our Minions have been busy transforming our library into a Winter Wonderland by creating snowflakes to hang throughout the library.

Counselor's Update

STEP UP LOUDOUN

The deadline to register for this year’s Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition (SULYC) is December 17th. You can find more information about SULYC and the link for the application at: www.loudounyouth.org, under Programs: Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition.

If you have any questions about SULYC or Loudoun Youth, Inc., please reach out to swolfson@loudounyouth.org.

Compass & SEL Learning

As shared previously, Trailside is utilizing the Second Step curriculum in our Compass classes to support our students' social/emotional development. Below are some of the topics covered in Compass over the last couple months and some questions/conversation starters to explore with your students.

6th Grade

How to Grow Your Brain

Tell your child about a time you had to learn something new. Explain whether it was hard to learn and how you learned it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.

Trying New Strategies

Tell your child about a time you needed to change your approach in order to learn something new. Ask your child to tell you about something they’re working hard to learn and how you can help.

Making Goals Specific

Ask your child to tell you about a specific goal they’re interested in working toward and what makes it specific.

7th Grade

Creating New Pathways in Your Brain

Tell your child about a time you had to learn something challenging and explain how you persisted in learning it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.

Learning from Mistakes & Failure

Tell your child about a mistake you made in the past and what you learned from it. Ask your child to tell you about a mistake they made and what they learned from it.

Identifying Roadblocks

Tell your child about a roadblock you encountered when you were working toward a goal, and if you had control over the roadblock.

8th Grade

My Interests & Strengths

Tell your child about a skill, interest, or ability you have and how you developed it. Discuss the skills, attitudes, or people who helped you along the way.

Harnessing My Strengths

Help your child make a list of strengths they have. Ask your child about how they could use these to get better at a new skill.

Pursuing My Interests

Tell your child about something positive or negative that influenced you as you were working toward a goal. For example, a friend who helped you find a job or learn a new skill. Ask your child about positive and negative factors that may influence them.

6th Grade Counseling Updates

Rising 7th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 7th grade, but the time is almost here. All 6th grade students will receive their Rising 7th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on January 18th. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.

7th Grade Counseling Updates

One Love Presentations

All 7th graders will participate in the One Love Foundation Couplets Program, February 3rd & Feb 7th through Health/PE class. Over the 2 days, members from the Unified Mental Health Team will provide relationship health education to students to help them understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as early warning signs of abuse.

The purpose of this program is to provide a forum through which students can come together to consider a very poignant example of relationship abuse as a case study and work together to generate ideas for having healthier relationships, creating a more respectful society, and improving safety for all.

The program involves a workshop which 8 animated cartoon videos and guided discussion presented by a trained LCPS facilitator. This workshop provides young people with the tools to recognize the warning signs of relationship abuse, to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors, and to learn ways to safely intervene to help a friend.

According to the One Love Foundation, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in this country experience an abusive relationship during their lifetime. This program aims to raise awareness among students about the warning sign of relationship abuse as well as to educate, empower, and activate young people in a movement for change.

For more information about the program visit https://www.joinonelove.org/act/couplets/.

If you would like to opt your student out of the presentations, please fill out the One Love Opt Out Form.

Rising 8th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 8th grade, but the time is coming soon. All 7th grade students will receive their Rising 8th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on January 21st. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.

Career/College Lessons

It was great getting to collaborate with FACS classes and getting to talk with your students about their post-secondary plans, as well as share information about the Academies of Loudoun. If your student is currently in Tech Ed, they will participate in Career/College Lessons through FACS on February 8th through Feb 15th.

8th Grade Counseling Updates

Campus Presentation & Info

All 8th grade students participated in a virtual presentation by Mr. Chris Clarke the CAMPUS program that will be at Stone Bridge High School. To view the presentation, please watch the Campus Presentation w/Mr. Clarke. If your student is interested in applying or talking to Mrs. Perinis more about the program, please have them fill out the 8th Grade CAMPUS Interest Form.

Rising 9th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 9th grade, but the time is coming soon. All 8th grade students will receive their Rising 9th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on February 3rd & 4th. Counselors from Stone Bridge High School will be here to talk to students and answer any questions they may have. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.

Important School Safety Reminders and Resources

https://www.lcps.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=274904&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=418075&PageID=1

PTA News

PTA Reflections Contest Winners

Trailside students had the opportunity to participate in the national PTA’s Reflections Art Program. The theme of this year’s program was “I Will Change the World By ...” Students were able to enter this arts-based program in a variety of different categories. After anonymous judging, the first place winners in each category will now be sent for judging at the District level. Please join us in congratulating our Trailside Timberwolf winners!

Film Production - Hisham Khan

Visual Arts - Addison Gillette

Dance - Samara Masson

Literature - Aran Simou

7th grade families, the Winter Dance is coming up on Friday, January 7th.

· Tickets are $10 each ($10.62 if paying online). No refunds.

· Only TMS 7th graders are allowed to attend.

· Each student MUST have a permission form to attend the dance (see below). 7th graders without permission slips will not be allowed entry to the dance.

We need your help to make this a successful dance! Please sign up to help with supplies and chaperoning for the dance here: https://tmspta.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=t5zZeTI3T5yaqn07Wpv_43N___6E8mhFT3___oNDYoxf

Tickets will be on sale online from Monday, December 6th through Wednesday, January 5th. Please pay online here: PTBoard.com .

Please fill out the permission form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hXfAPFYzG0aZU48WBIaP5_jgoWvFVFvaZYzTZJdAYFo/edit?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=61a68ab1 .

If you prefer to pay cash, we will be selling tickets during the 7th grade lunch ONLY on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th. If you would like to volunteer to sell tickets during 7th grade lunch, please sign up here: PTBoard.com

You may still fill out the permission form online, even if paying by cash. You may also have your child bring the printed form when buying a ticket with cash. If paying by check, please make it out payable to TMS PTA.

Thank you and please sign up to help make this a wonderful first Middle School dance for our 7th graders!

Wolf Watcher's Program

Trailside Middle School PTA

Wolf Watchers Program:

● In support of the school’s safety and security efforts, the Wolf Watchers (parent volunteers in yellow vests) will station themselves on the paths leading to the school to help to ensure that our kids arrive and depart safely.

● Students know that the adults in the yellow vests are Wolf Watchers and are there should they need any help.

Volunteer Guidelines:

● No need to sign up to stand watch. Just pick a day and time that works for you. o Monday-Friday

▪ Arrival: 8:10-8:30am

▪ Dismissal: 3:20-3:45pm

● We have identified 2 primary “watch” spots. Please see the map on page 2 for exact locations. If there are several volunteers available on any given day/time, there are 3 secondary locations where you can also stand watch. The secondary locations are noted on the map on page 3.

● Wear a yellow vest while standing watch. You can pick one up in the front office. Please put your name on the sign-out sheet in the box so we can keep track of who has a vest. If you plan to volunteer on a regular basis, you do not need to

return the vest each time. Please return the vest when you are done. ● “See something, Say something”

o Please share any concerns with the administration and the School Resource Officer (SRO) immediately.

▪ SRO: Master Deputy Thomasson #2451

▪ 571-528-7924

▪ robert.thomasson@loudoun.gov

o You can also contact the Sheriff’s Office. The non-emergency number is 703-777-1021.

o When in doubt, call 911.

o Safe 2 Talk App

▪ Click here for more information.