FCPS

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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

This past Wednesday evening we celebrated our 1st Annual Mark Twain Middle School International Night. We packed our cafeteria with student created visual displays and delicious food and enjoyed a beautiful fashion show and inspiring talent show. It was truly an amazing evening that showcased the great diversity of our Twain community. I was particularly impressed with the courage and pride shown by our students to represent themselves, their families, and their various heritages in front of peers, families, and staff. Our student government, led by Mr. Murphy and Mr. Pfadenhauer, planned and executed this event and were immediately talking about ideas for next year’s event. At a school that already has a number of fantastic traditions, I look forward to seeing how this new tradition evolves in the coming years. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, December 11: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, December 12: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, December 13: Even Day Schedule; Math VGA – altered Bell Schedule: 4th, 8th, 6th, 2nd  

Thursday, December 14: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, December 15: Even Day Schedule

Winter Break Spirit Week Schedule

Monday, December 11 to Friday, December 15

 

FCPS Outstanding Award Winners

On Tuesday at our monthly faculty and staff work session, we announced the Twain winners of our FCPS Outstanding employee awards. Our winners were: 

• Andrew Orenstein (Outstanding Leader)
• Brandon Henry (Outstanding Support Employee)
• Marie Danosos (Outstanding Professional Employee)
• Reid McLean (Outstanding New Teacher)
• Laura Nikander (Outstanding Teacher)

Thank you to all who nominated someone for these awards.

 

Math VGA, December 13

On Wednesday, December 13, all students in Math 7, Math 7H, or Pre-Algebra will complete the Math Virginia Growth Assessment through their 4th period Learning Seminar classes.  Please be aware that on that day, the bell schedule will be 4th, 8th, 6th, 2nd so it’s important that students arrive to school on time.   Please ensure your student is able to get a good night’s sleep Tuesday night and arrives to Twain on Wednesday morning with a fully charged laptop.  If you have any questions about the Math VGA, please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Sara Joy Lebowitz, [email protected].

Recess Equipment Donations

We are attempting to secure basic sports equipment to utilize during recess so that our students can effectively and safely utilize recess and meet its purpose of providing a brief physical and social outlet during the school day. If you have any lightly used sports equipment that may be sitting around in your garage or basement, please consider donating it to Twain. If you choose to donate, please deliver your donations to the main office and we will add to our supply. family engagement center in the main office suite. We are especially looking for soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, kickballs, jump ropes, and sidewalk chalk. Thank you for your consideration.

PTA Updates Staff Holiday Luncheon Donations

The holidays are fast approaching and what better way to recognize all of the hard working and dedicated staff at Twain MS than by donating food for them.  The PTA will be providing a delicious lunch for the staff on Friday, Dec 15 during the lunch periods.  We need volunteers to donate a few food items- finger-food holiday desserts, fruit, and cheese/cracker trays.  Please sign-up by visiting this LINK

Donations will be collected on Thursday, December 14th and Friday, December 15th.  Please drop them off in the office no later than 9am on December 15th.

Panera Bread Spirit Night

Mark your calendar for our next Spirit Night at Panera Bread in Kingstowne on December 12th from 4:00-8-00 PM.  Panera Bread will donate 25% of the sales to Twain PTA.  Use code FUND4U at online checkout, in the Panera App or at the kiosk in-café.  Eat good food and support the PTA.

Staff Member of the Month

Congratulations to Mr. Aizaga, Math/AVID Teacher, for being named the Staff Member of the Month for December.  Mr. Aizaga was awarded a gift card to a local restaurant, a reserved parking spot, and a trophy.  Thank you, Mr. Aizaga for making a difference at Twain.

PTA Membership

Did you know? PTA Membership is valid for one year. If you joined the PTA for the 2022-23 school year, please renew your membership for the 2023-24 school year.  PTA dues provide for many of the events and programs, including teacher mini-grants, Tiger Night, and staff appreciation events.

 

Mental Health, Coping & Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental health challenges will not receive treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 19% of adults in the United States (47.6 million) dealt with a mental health challenge, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). People often turn to alternative methods to cope with issues that are uncomfortable topics to speak about. These reasons include turning to drugs, alcohol, food, etc. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage difficult situations or high stress levels. These mind-altering substances are sometimes used as coping mechanisms for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, focusing, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary moment away from the reality of everyday life. Substances can enhance the feelings of pleasure, decrease feelings of anxiety and restraint. Substance use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Not all coping mechanisms are destructive or fail to provide appropriate or adequate adjustment to the environment or situation; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The main goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. Schedule a visit to your Primary Care Physician and a Professional Counselor if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in the stabilization of a healthy mind. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and good examples. Keep in mind that finding balance in life is an ongoing process. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further information & support

Shawn Elliott, BS, QMHP-C

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

Food Insecurity Resources for Families

Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

Yesterday, November 30th, was the birthday of our school’s namesake, Samuel Langhorne Clemens – pen name: Mark Twain. Twain is widely considered one of the most important and influential authors and humorists of his time, and in American history. Like many of the Twain Tigers that walk our halls, his success did not come without many challenges along the way. This included tragically losing his brother and having to file for bankruptcy.  And, also like our Twain Tigers, he succeeded, both despite, and because of those failures and tragedies. Over 150 years ago Mark Twain modeled the goal directed and resilient individual that is a part of the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate that we work to instill in our students. His story also reflects some of our International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Attributes – including being a “risk taker, inquirer, and thinker.”

Thank you to our generous PTA that provided all Tigers with a free cupcake at lunches as the central part of our annual celebration. A special and specific thank you to all families who donated cupcakes to make this happen and helped pass them out to grateful students during lunch. If you haven’t already, please consider joining our PTA at this link.

Finally, I’ll leave you with the same quote Mark Twain quote I shared with our students on Thursday morning “The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up.” In honor of our namesake, and in the spirit of being a good citizen, I encouraged all of our students to take a moment not just on this day, but every day to do something that will make someone else smile, laugh, and feel appreciated. Our community, and our world, can certainly benefit from that energy.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, December 4: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, December 5: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, December 6: Even Day Schedule; Reading VGA – altered Bell Schedule: 4th, 2nd, 6th, 8th  

Thursday, December 7: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, December 8: Even Day Schedule

Reading VGA, December 6

On Wednesday, December 6, all students will complete the Reading Virginia Growth Assessment through their 4th period Learning Seminar classes.  Please be aware that on that day, the bell schedule will be 4th, 2nd, 6th, 8th so it’s important that students arrive to school on time.   Please ensure your student is able to get a good night’s sleep Tuesday night and arrives to Twain on Wednesday morning with a fully charged laptop.  If you have any questions about the Reading VGA , please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Sara Joy Lebowitz, [email protected].

PTA Updates Mark Twain’s Birthday Celebration Thank You!

Many thanks to the wonderful volunteers who donated their time and cupcakes for the Mark Twain Birthday Celebration that happened on Thursday, Nov 30th.  During the celebration, all students and staff were treated to a complimentary cupcake organized by the PTA.  We couldn’t have done it without you!  We value your support!  Thank  You for making this day a memorable and yummy day for our students and staff.

Staff Holiday Luncheon Donations

The holidays are fast approaching and what better way to recognize all of the hard working and dedicated staff at Twain MS than by donating food for them.  The PTA will be providing a delicious lunch for the staff on Friday, Dec 15 during the lunch periods.  We need volunteers to donate a few food items- finger-food holiday desserts, fruit, and cheese/cracker trays.  Please sign-up by visiting this LINK

Donations will be collected on Thursday, December 14th and Friday, December 15th.  Please drop them off in the office no later than 9am on December 15th.

Book Fair Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to help Ms. Howard in the library for the Scholastic Book Fair happening December 4th – 8th. Please sign-up by clicking this LINK.

Panera Bread Spirit Night

Mark your calendar for our next Spirit Night at Panera Bread in Kingstowne on December 12th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm.  Panera Bread will donate 25% of the sales to Twain PTA.  Eat good food and support the PTA.

PTA Membership

Did you know? PTA Membership is valid for one year. If you joined the PTA for the 2022-23 school year, please renew your membership for the 2023-24 school year.  PTA dues provide for many of the events and programs, including teacher mini-grants, Tiger Night, and staff appreciation events. 

Changes to the Calendar/Bell Schedule: Jan 22 and 25

Thursday, January 25 will now be an Early Release Odd Day Schedule (previously an Early Release Anchor Day schedule.)  This means that Monday, January 22 will now be a regular Even Day schedule (previously an Anchor Day Schedule.)  These changes have been posted to the Bell schedule page on the Twain website.  You can find the information about schedule changes for the year under Important Dates: Schedule Changes and the Early Release Odd Day bell schedule under 2 Hour Early Release Bell Schedules.

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

Next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving, which of course is a traditional time to spend with family and reflect on all that we are thankful for. Every year I am the most thankful for the health and safety of the family and friends that I am lucky to have in my life. This year, I am also very thankful for the opportunity to lead and work alongside all Tigers here at Twain. We are fortunate to have a supportive community, a talented and dedicated faculty and staff, and a student body with endless potential.

Sadly, although this is a joyful time of year for many, it can also be a stressful and sad time for others. If you are in need of information to support your student’s mental health and resiliency, you can find information and resources on the FCPS Website here. If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, you can access information about resources here.

Have a nice weekend and a restful Thanksgiving holiday.

Gratefully,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, November 20: Even Day Schedule

Tuesday, November 21: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, November 22: Holiday break – No School

Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving – No School

Friday, November 24: Holiday break – No School

Monday, November 27: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, November 28: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, November 29: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, November 30: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, December 1: Even Day Schedule

Crosswalk and Kiss & Ride Safety

As the late autumn & winter weather has seemingly finally arrived, there is a increase in the number of students being dropped off by parents and guardians in the morning. We have also seen an increase in the number of students who are arriving late to school, either as drop-offs or as walkers. We would like to prioritize on-time arrival to the first class of the day as it helps them start their day in a positive manner and minimizes lost learning time.

We attempt to have our kiss & ride process move as smoothly and efficiently as possible and it is a partnership we share with our families and students. Thank you for reviewing the reminders below.

• Plan your departure time with a small cushion to allow for on-time drop-off.
• Students are unable to enter the building until 7:00 AM, at which point we have staff present to provide supervision.  
• Pull forward as far to the front of the drop-off zone as possible, to allow multiple cars to unload efficiently and then exit campus.
• Only drop students off in the designated drop-off zone. Dropping students off in the staff parking lot can create unsafe pedestrian situations during a busy 25 minute timeframe.
• Do not use the curb along Franconia Road or Craft Road in the neighborhood across Franconia Road as a drop-off zone. Doing so creates an untenable pedestrian flow across the crosswalk that does not allow for the efficient flow of cars on Franconia Road. Additionally, some of the students are then running across a busy road while not using the crosswalk.
• Our crossing guard also supports safe arrival at Edison High School, therefore she cannot remain with us past 7:30. Students arriving this close to our start time may have to cross without the crossing guard being present.   

Thank you again for your partnership in making sure our Tigers can arrive to school safely and on time every day.

PTA Updates Mark Twain’s Birthday Celebration

Cupcake Day is around the corner and we still need help with donations of cupcakes and volunteers to help serve.  We’ll be celebrating Mark Twain’s Birthday on November 30th. Each and every student and staff will receive a complimentary cupcake during the lunch periods. We are asking for your help by donating homemade or store-bought cupcakes, helping to serve cupcakes at lunch, and collecting cupcake donations in the Kiss N Ride.  We are asking for regular sized cupcakes. so that everyone gets the perfect size of cupcake. No minis.  Allergen free cupcakes will also be provided.  Sign up to help out by clicking this LINK.  Thanks for making this a great day at Twain!

Parent Strategy Session New in 2024 

Starting in January, Parent Strategy Sessions will piggyback monthly PTA meetings.  Speakers will present on the topics you want to know about.  Give us your suggestions, and we will work to find speakers.   Already know a great speaker for the topic, or do you have skills that might be helpful to other parents?  Be sure to include their information on the form.   We would love your input!  Responses due by 11/21

Reflections Art Contest

There is still time to participate in the Reflections Art Contest.  Deadline is November 27th. Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

PTA Membership

Did you know? PTA Membership is valid for one year. If you joined the PTA for the 2022-23 school year, please renew your membership for the 2023-24 school year.  PTA dues provide for many of the events and programs, including teacher mini-grants, Tiger Night, and staff appreciation events. 

December 4 - 8 Twain MS Library Gingerbread House Workshop Edison Academy Culinary Arts

5801 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310 In room H-128

December 9, 2023

Session 1: 9:00 am-10:30 am

Session 2: 10:30 am-12 noon

Enjoy the holiday season with friends and family with Gingerbread FUN! Let us take care of all the mess and stress. Our talented culinary students will assist you in creating a truly unique house for display during the holiday season. The workshop includes all the ingredients to decorate a beautiful gingerbread house. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available after your decorating experience.

Pricing: $45 and a minimum of 4 canned goods per house (the canned goods will be donated to the Koinonia Foundation food pantry).

Due to limited space a maximum of three people per house.

Recommended age: 5 years old and up. Participants 13 and under must have an adult chaperone.

Registration and money payment is required by December 1st.  (limited to 24 paid participants). Please register for this event with this link: https://goo.gl/forms/QgPPJ7Blwbnt8oZ42

In case of inclement weather and cancelled event, take home kits will be available for pick up before noon on the 15th and 16th.

Alcohol & The Holidays

Holidays may involve family time, games, movies, food, and possibly drinks. Although loneliness is a cause for alcohol or drug consumption, being around others does not necessarily mean a decrease in unhealthy habits. Alcohol consumption increased during the pandemic and has not decreased after we have returned to a semblance of normalcy. Many people are still trying to figure out how to navigate our “new normal”. We encourage the consideration of a few things as we move towards the end of the year, have time off, and look forward to social interactions.

Questions to consider when drinking with your family:

1. What message am I sending if I drink in excess around my underage child?
2. Have I had conversations about responsible drinking with my child(ren)?
3. Are the conversations I have about alcohol consumption realistic?
4. Are the conversations I have with others reinforcing alcohol use as a coping skill during stressful times?
5. What messages am I sending my underage child(ren) if I allow them to drink with me or another adult in the house?

Information to consider:

“One-third of Fairfax County students (33.7%) reported drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 18.8% of eighth-grade students to half of twelfth-grade students (49.4%). One in seven students (15.2%) reported drinking alcohol in the past month, ranging from 4.5% of eighth-grade students to 27.7% of twelfth-grade students.” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020)

“Female students reported higher rates of alcohol use in their lifetime (36.1% compared to 31.2% of male students), in the past month (17.1% and 13.1%, respectively), and binge drinking in the past two weeks (7.3% and 6.5%, respectively)” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020).

Resources:

Holiday Stress

Helpful Info to Quit Vaping

FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.

For further information & support:

Shawn Elliott, BS, QMHP-C

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

Please note, there will be no issue of Twain’s News You Choose on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break!

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Twain’s Advanced Theater students are proud to present: Treasure Island

Based on the novel by Robert Lewis Stevenson. Join Jim Hawkins and other legendary pirates as they search for the treasure of Captain Flint. Expect excitement, adventure, swashbuckling times, and a little bit off silliness.

Thursday - 11/16 @ 7:00

Friday - 11/17 @ 7:00

Saturday - 11/18 @ 2:00

Saturday - 11/18 @ 7:00

Buy tickets at the door or follow the link here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15615/mark-twain-middle-school-theatre

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
Web | Twitter | YouTube

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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

As we started the second quarter this week, it has been eventful here at Twain! Yesterday, we had our annual “Friends Gather” Thanksgiving potluck with our AVID and RISE students. The time together between students and the staff they personally invited to join them was not only delicious but inspirational. I could clearly see the impact our dedicated staff is having on our students, as well as the impact those same students are having on our staff. We are truly fortunate to serve the student body and community that we do here at Twain.

This morning, we held our annual Veterans Day Celebration, where we honored approximately 30 Veterans from our community and 50 military connected students. Our talented music program provided music for all to enjoy, our student government created patriotic signs and families and staff were able to connect in a brief reception in our library following a parade through our halls. Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” We are thankful this Veterans Day, this Thanksgiving season, and throughout the year, for the courage shown by those that choose to serve, and the families that serve alongside them.

Happy Veterans Day Tigers!

Sincerely,

Matt

1st Quarter Report Cards

Today, we distributed 1st quarter report cards to students during 8th period and we hope it serves as a good conversation starter at home about how the first quarter of the school year went. We hope your student has experienced many successes through the first 9 weeks of school and hope they can build on that momentum going forward. If you and your student see areas where improvement is needed, consider having them stay after school to work with a teacher, use their agenda to write down important assignments and dates, and create a home/school calendar to better manage their time.  

Grades are available through ParentVUE (there are temporary blackouts around grading periods), so please take advantage of this tool to help monitor how your child is doing in school. Here are some ways to make sure you are connected:

The Student Information System (SIS) Parent Account Access allows parents access to teacher grade books, attendance information, course history and other useful information.

New Users:

Please use the parent account registration page to register your account. You will need an activation key to log in for the first time. o Please contact the school if you need a new activation key or are having issues logging onto your ParentVUE Account. Please include your name, email address, student's name, students ID number and a short description of what the issue is.

Returning Users: 

Please go to https://sisparent.fcps.edu to log in to your ParentVUE Account.

Trouble logging in?

If you are unable to log into ParentVUE, contact the school to verify that your correct email has been added into SIS:

If you have never logged into ParentVUE: 1. Call the school to add your email into SIS – it takes at least 24 hours to update in SIS. 2. Once added into SIS, the school can send out an activation key to the email you have provided. This activation key will include your username, password, and directions for how to log in.

If you forgot your username: 1. Contact the school to verify what your username is. 

If you forgot your password: 1. Reset your password using the “Forgot Password” button on the ParentVUE login screen

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, November 13: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday: November 14: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, November 15: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, November 16: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, November 17: Even Day Schedule

Outstanding Employee Awards

Greetings Tiger Families & Students!

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Twain Middle School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the linked Google forms below (simply click on the award title to access the form). You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. 

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a couple of sentences or paragraphs about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

Outstanding Teacher  

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Principal

Eligibility: Be within the first 3 years of their assignment as principal in FCPS

Outstanding Leader  

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services

Outstanding Professional Employee  

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Family Liaisons

Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 17th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Mejia at [email protected].

Annual 5K Fun Run

Join us on November 18th at 9:00 AM for a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the bonds within our Twain community and come together like a close-knit family. It's our pleasure to invite you to our 3rd Annual 5K Fun Run.

To participate, wear your Team Twain colors and assemble at the front parking lot of Twain at 9:00 AM sharp. The race will officially start at 9:15 AM.

To register for this exciting event, kindly fill out the registration form located here: https://forms.gle/oYhuC7RLFECSJdr67 (also found in All Student Schoology Course). Please note that a $10 registration fee is required, payable through MySchool Bucks. It's important to mention that all the proceeds generated from this event will be dedicated to supporting the Twain Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.

For our young participants under the age of 18, parents are kindly requested to sign a waiver on the morning of the event to ensure their child's participation. Your presence and support are greatly appreciated. We look forward to a memorable day of fun and togetherness!

PTA Updates Spirit Night at McAlister’s

Eat good food at McAlister’s Deli on November 14th  and support the PTA.  McAlister’s will match 20% of total sales from the dining room, pick up, carry out or curbside ALL DAY!!  No flyer or promo code needed. McAlister’s Deli is located at 7704 Richmond Hwy. ***Please note, any orders placed through their website for delivery will NOT count towards the PTA’s fundraising total.

Mark Twain’s Birthday Celebration

A fun tradition at Twain is the annual observance of Mark Twain’s birthday, where each and every student and staff members is given a complimentary cupcake during lunch.  We will be celebrating “Cupcake Day” on November 30th.  We are asking for your help by donating homemade or store-bought cupcakes, helping to deliver cupcakes at lunch, and collecting cupcake donations in the Kiss N Ride.  We are asking for regular sized cupcakes. so that everyone gets the perfect size of cupcake. No minis.  Allergen free cupcakes will also be provided.  Sign up to help out by clicking this link.

Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Staff Member of the Month

Congratulations to Ms. Besecky, a 7th Grade History Teacher, for being named the Staff Member of the Month for November.  Ms. Besecky was awarded a gift card to a local restaurant, a reserved parking spot, and a trophy.  Thank you, Ms. Besecky for making a difference at Twain.

PTA Membership

Our members make a difference. Your membership dues helps the PTA support the students and staff at Twain.  Every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  PTA Membership is yearly, so if you joined last year, your membership needs to be renewed this year.  Visit this website to join today. https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

International Night

Twain’s SCA is hosting an International Night at Twain on Wednesday, December 6th from 6-8pm to celebrate the many cultures and heritages we have at Twain!  Students can participate in any way they choose, including a fashion show of cultural clothing, a cultural showcase of traditional performances, a potluck featuring cultural foods, and/or creating a poster with information about a country.  To sign up, they need to complete the Google Form on the All School course on Schoology by Friday, November 17th.  Students who are participating and their family members will get in for free, and anyone else can buy a ticket for $3.  Please contact Colin Murphy ([email protected]) if you have any questions about signing up or participating.

We welcome all Twain Families to follow our Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look of all upcoming Twain events!

 

@TwainMiddle

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
Web | Twitter | YouTube

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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

It is hard to believe that today marks the end of the first quarter! Our students and staff have been working hard to establish routines, build relationships and engage in rigorous and authentic learning experiences since the start of school. As teachers finalize grades and your student’s progress in their classes are discussed at home, please do not hesitate to reach out to teachers, counselors and administrators so that we can partner together to maintain success where it already exists and improve in areas where it is needed.

Monday and Tuesday next week are student holidays and teacher workdays. We look forward to seeing our students again on Wednesday, which is an anchor day. Tuesday is Election Day and I hope all eligible voters take advantage of our right to vote in this, and every election. If you have an 8th grade student, you may have been hearing about their campaign simulation project that they have been working on in recent weeks. I have been encouraged by what I have seen, heard, and read from our students as they take on various roles relevant to the democratic process to include serving as candidates, campaign managers, finance consultants, communication directors and political consultants. One of the candidates wrote the following as to why they were running for president:

I am running for president so I can make sure that every single person in this country is safe and has any necessities to survive. I want everyone to have healthcare. I want families to be able to visit doctors/pediatricians for any problems' without having to necessarily worry about the cost. I want to preserve the environment to make sure that the future of this planet is safe and has a healthy environment to live in. Lastly, I want everyone in this country to be safe and be able to live in peace and happiness.

The intellect, empathy, and maturity of our students makes me hopeful for the future of our local and national community. Go Tigers!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Sunday, November 5: Daylight Saving Time Ends – Move clocks back one hour!

Monday, November 6: School Planning Day – Student Holiday

Tuesday, November 7: Teacher Work Day - Student Holiday

Wednesday, November 8: Anchor Day Schedule

Thursday, November 9: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, November 10: Even Day Schedule

After School Program

There will be no After School Program on November 8, 9, and 10. Twain’s After School Program will be back to full programming on Monday, November 14We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your support in this matter.  

Thank you,

Mr. Amato

After School Specialist

Youth Mental Health

Edison High School will be hosting a training session on Youth Mental Health First Aid for the Edison Pyramid on Friday, November 10 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. Please register here, if you are interested in attending.

This course is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Class size is limited to 30 members.

Learn more at http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/

Youth Mental Health Flyer.jpg

PTA Updates PTA Meeting

We hope you will join us for our PTA Meeting on November 8th at 7:00 PM in the Twain Library.  A zoom option will be available.  No meeting will be held in December.

Spirit Night at McAlister’s

Join us for our next PTA Spirit Night at McAlister’s Deli on November 14th.  McAlister’s will match 20% of total sales from the dining room, pick up, carry out or curbside all day!!  No flyer or promo code needed. McAlister’s Deli is located at 7704 Richmond Hwy. ***Please note, any orders placed through their website for delivery will not count towards the PTA’s fundraising total.

Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Mark Twain’s Birthday Celebration

A fun tradition at Twain is the annual observance of Mark Twain’s birthday, where each and every student and staff members is given a complimentary cupcake during lunch.  We will be celebrating “Cupcake Day” on November 30th.  We asking for your help by donating homemade or store-bought cupcakes, helping to deliver cupcakes at lunch, and collecting cupcake donations in the Kiss N Ride.  We are asking for regular sized cupcakes. so that everyone gets the perfect size of cupcake. No minis.  Allergen free cupcakes will also be provided.  Sign up to help out by clicking this LINK.

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Candy Drive for a Good Cause

Please donate any leftover Halloween candy or unwanted pre-wrapped candy November 1 through November 3 to Twain’s main office. All donations will go to benefit local first responders, homeless shelters, and rehabilitation centers. These places have found that candy is a great way to connect with others and get people in need of help to talk. 

Thank you for your donation!

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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Tigers!

This week Fairfax County published the results of the 2022-23 Fairfax Youth Survey. This survey was taken by 27,000 8th, 10th & 12th grade students – including students at Twain. Some of the encouraging trends noted in the survey include lower rates of mental health concerns compared to last year, lower reporting of risky behaviors (such as substance abuse), and more students returning to volunteer and extra-curricular activities (although still lower than pre-pandemic levels). You can access the website connected to the Youth Survey at this link, and the more detailed full report here.

I share this information with you as part of our continued school and home partnership in serving our students holistically supporting both their social-emotional and academic growth. Although there is much to celebrate, there certainly still is room for growth in how we care for and educate our students.

Three to Succeed is the belief that if students have three or more positive, proactive factors in their life, they are more likely to make better choices, engage in healthier habits and manage stress positively. Some of these factors include:

• Having high personal integrity
• Performing community service
• Having teachers recognize their good work
• Having community adults to talk to
• Participating in extracurricular activities
• Having parents available to help 

At Twain we continue to emphasize these efforts to positively contribute to our Tigers’ development through our weekly social-emotional learning lessons, the programming and support offered by our student services and clinical team, and a robust after school program and new middle school athletic program, just to name a few. Our Vision, Mission & Collective Commitments reflect these priorities.

As we partner together to help our Tigers be the best version of themselves, please never hesitate to reach out to us for support. We will do this important work together.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 30: Even Day Schedule

Tuesday: October 31: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, November 1: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, November 2: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, November 3: Anchor Day, End of 1st Quarter - 2 hour Early Release (12:15 pm)

Monday, November 6: School Planning Day / Student Holiday

Tuesday, November 7: Teacher Work Day / Student Holiday

PTA Updates PTA Staff Member of the Month

Last chance to nominate a teacher or Staff Member for the PTA Staff Member of the Month Award in November.  Each month the PTA awards this honor to a deserving Twain Staff Member.  Prior winners this school year are Ms. Linton and Mr. Marsh.  Nominate your favorite teacher or staff member by filling out this form.  Nominations due before October 31st.

Spirit Night at McAlister’s

Save the date for the next PTA Spirit Night at McAlister’s Deli on November 14th.  McAlister’s will match 20% of total sales from the dining room, pick up, carry out or curbside all day!!  No flyer or promo code needed. McAlister’s Deli is located at 7704 Richmond Hwy.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Join the PTA

Haven’t gotten around to joining the PTA.  It’s not too late and your support is vital.  The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

 

Conversing with Teens about Substance Use

Within this society’s culture sometimes we avoid talking about topics that make us uncomfortable but can be both lifesaving and changing, such as finances and drugs. Are there things that would have really made a difference in some of your experiences if known when younger, that can be shared with your teenager now? Read the attached for a few tips for talking about substance use and misuse with your teenager.

Substance Conversations.pdf

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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

This week we celebrated Digital Citizenship Week, with some learning about responsible use of technology and a spirit week to bring awareness to the power and the pitfalls of technology in our lives – especially in the lives of adolescents. This has been an opportunity for students to reflect on how their digital habits can impact their social and emotional well-being. Our hope is to continue to partner with families in educating our young people on how to prioritize the self-esteem, confidence, and mental health of ourselves and others by using technology in a way that demonstrates positivity and maturity. We encourage all families to regularly talk about technology with your students and monitor their social media activity. If you would like to explore more information on this topic, you can visit Common Sense Media for ideas on how to talk to your children about digital well-being.

Tonight, we are excited to partner with our Edison Pyramid friends (Edison HS, Clermont ES, Rose Hill ES, Cameron ES, Franconia ES, Mount Eagle ES & Bush Hill ES at the first ever pyramid night at 7:00 pm at Edison HS stadium. This is a great opportunity for our students to show their Twain Pride, connect with former friends at their elementary schools, and experience their future high school experience at Edison. We anticipate tight parking, so for any students who want to join us on the track at 6:40 pm to be recognized before kickoff, please plan to arrive early. Gates open at 6:00 pm. All middle and elementary school students who attend the game must be accompanied by an adult into the game and cannot just be dropped off.

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope to see many of you at Edison this evening.

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 23: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, October 24: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, October 25: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, October 26: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, October 27: Even Day Schedule

Federal Impact Aid Surveys Now Open

Impact Aid forms are now available in SIS ParentVue.  It is important for parents to fill out a form for each FCPS enrolled child as Impact Aid programs and grants assist local school districts with federally connected students.  We are required to ensure that the parents of all Twain students submit an Impact Aid. 

You must log into SIS ParentVue on a computer as the form is not accessible in the mobile app.  Once you log in, a pop up will appear that will allow you to start the process for submitting the form.  You can also access the steps to follow on the FCPS website.

Online forms will be available for submission through the end of January, 2024, however, FCPS has requested that any parents who do not submit their forms through SIS ParentVue by October 31 be sent a paper form so we humbly request that you log in to SIS ParentVue as soon as possible and submit yours.

Outstanding Employee Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Twain Middle School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the linked Google forms below (simply click on the award title to access the form). You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. 

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a couple of sentences or paragraphs about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

Outstanding Teacher  

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Principal

Eligibility: Be within the first 3 years of their assignment as principal in FCPS

Outstanding Leader  

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services

Outstanding Professional Employee  

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Family Liaisons 

Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 17th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Mejia at [email protected].

PTA Updates Tiger Night Student Social Thank You

A huge thank you to the Tiger Night Co-Chairs, Stefani Steelman and Sarah Rodgers for throwing a fun-filled Tiger Night Student Social last Friday night!  We had over 350 students attend this event.  Thanks to the amazing staff and volunteers who donated their time and supplies to make this event a huge success.  Whether you helped to sell tickets, donated items, set-up or cleaned-up, ran the minute-it to win-it games, or chaperone the event, we couldn’t have done it without you.  We can’t wait to do it again in the Spring!

Staff Member of the Month

You can nominate a teacher for November by filling out this form.  Nominations due before October 30th.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Join the PTA

The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true It’s never too late to join and your support is vital!!

Drug Take Back Day

Drop off unused or expired medications at the locations on the attached flyers. Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Drug Take Back Day Flyer

Thomas Jefferson HS Applications

Applications open October 23 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2028 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Students should visit the TJHSST admissions website and familiarize themselves with the process.

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 23, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 17, at 4 p.m. Please allow 24-48 hours for the math course to be verified by the school counselor. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information. Please contact TJ liaison counselor, Leslie Pilotti, at [email protected] with any questions you may have about the application process.

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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Families.

This week we were given a unique opportunity to attend The First Lady’s “Girls Leading Change” event to celebrate International Girls Day and honor 15 young ladies from across the country who are making positive and impactful change in their communities. Thirty-three students from our cross-country team and our robotics/STEM program traveled to The White House to be present for the program and the reception that followed. Of course, our students represented themselves, their families, and our school in a positive manner as they had a once in a lifetime experience. They exhibited great excitement for the event and curiosity in what it takes to truly implement change and have an impact on those around them.

Of course, events like this do not present themselves frequently, but the opportunities to “Be the Change” in our local, national, and global community are only limited by the imagination and will of our young Tigers. Personally, I am inspired by our students’ potential and how they can, and will, make the world around them a better place.

Thank you for sending us such a talented group of young people each and every day.

Humbly,

Matt

 

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 16: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, October 17: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, October 18: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, October 19: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, October 20: Even Day Schedule

Digital Citizenship Week

Next week Twain will be celebrating Digital Citizenship Week.  We will explore healthy habits with our electronic devices and ways to handle the pressures the electronic world puts on us.

Students can earn points for their and raise awareness around good digital habits by participating in our Digital Citizenship Spirit Week. 

Monday 10/16- 📣🎉   School Spirit Day   🎉📣 Wear school swag or colors to celebrate the value of community.

Tuesday, 10/17- 🛌🏽💤    Pajama Day    💤🛌🏽Wear PJs to get ready for a restful night of sleep, without any tech notifications!

Wednesday, 10/18- 🧡 Unity Day 🧡Wear orange, which represents standing up against bullying. More info on Unity Day

Thursday, 10/19- 🤠👒🎩 Thinking Cap Day ⛑️🎓🥳 Wear your favorite hat to put on positive thoughts.

Friday, 10/20- 💚Wear Green Day💚- Wear green, the color that represents mental health awareness.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday lessons on digital citizenship will occur school wide.  You can continue the conversation at home with your students with these questions:

Monday

• What are our values, and how do media and tech impact them?

Wednesday

• How can people de-escalate digital drama, so it doesn't go too far?

Friday

• What are thinking traps, and how can they impact our well-being when we use tech?
• How can people build positive habits around media and tech to support my well-being?                

PTA Updates Tiger Night Student Social – Tonight!

October 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM

Tiger Night is a Twain student only social that has something for everyone.  Some of the activities include, Minute to Win It games, Basketball Tournament, board games, video games, Improv, Karaoke, and a glow dance.  Tickets will be sold at the door for $5.  Pizza and other concessions for sale.  $5 for pizza, drink, and chips.  Popcorn, slushies, and candy also for sale. Come join in the fun!

Staff Member of the Month

Congratulations to Mr. Marsh for being named the PTA Staff Member of the Month for October.  Mr. Marsh was awarded a traveling trophy, a prime parking spot in front of the school, and a gift card to a local restaurant.  Please congratulate Mr. Marsh for making a difference at Twain.

You can nominate a teacher for November by filling out this form.  Nominations due before October 30th.

Spirit Wear

Get your Twain Spirit Wear and show your Tiger Pride!  Hoodies, sweatpants and t-shirts can be purchase online and delivered during your student’s lunch period.  Order at our online store while supplies last. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Have you heard about the Reflections Program? Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Join the PTA

The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at Member Hub. It’s never too late to join and your support is vital!!

October PTA Meeting

Join us for the next PTA meeting on Wednesday, October 18 at 7 pm in the Twain Library.  All are welcome to attend!  A zoom link will be available prior to the meeting.

Family Life Education Parent Preview

All 7th and 8th grade students participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction unless parents/guardians opt their students out of this instruction. To help parents/guardians with this decision, the FLE curriculum will be available for you to preview via Zoom on October 25, 2023 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Twain Middle School’s Health and Physical Education teachers will be available to answer your questions. If you are not able to attend this virtual FLE preview session, parents/guardians can also visit FCPS FLE Information Site to view the curriculum and print opt-out forms. Twain families will receive access to this informative session through Zoom on the morning of October 25. We look forward to seeing you on October 25, 2023 at 5:30pm!

Broadway Desserts

Broadway Desserts is coming! Broadway Desserts is a talent show of singers performing show tunes that supports the Chorus Department.  Broadway Desserts will be Friday, October 27th.  The doors will open at 6:00 pm and the show starts at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $8 and will be sold at all lunches the week of the show. Tickets will not be sold at the door, and may sell out, so be ready to purchase tickets at lunch.  Audience members receive unlimited desserts during intermission, while supplies last!

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Principal's Message Greetings Tiger Families!

Last week our Twain cross country team participated in the first middle school sporting event in school history! Our coaches, Mary Pinkard and Jacob Marsh, and our athletic coordinator, Sarah Pflugradt, have dedicated their time, energy and talent in getting our program up and running. Their efforts are evident in our participation (over 50 students have participated in cross country in its inaugural season) and in our performance. At the first meet we had 8 student-athletes making the top 15 and Marcel Worthem finished first overall in the boys race and Pauline Maletz finished in second place overall in the girls race. You can find a WTOP article about FCPS foray into middle school sports that features our neighboring Sandburg Panthers at this link.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” —Michael Jordan

The resilience noted by Michael Jordan, although directly applicable to success in athletics, is also relevant for academics and for life. Each and every day we are working to make sure our students are willing and able to be risk takers in their classrooms, learn from their mistakes, and succeed as a result. Mistakes and failures are opportunities for growth when we create an environment where a growth mindset is fostered. Thank you for partnering with us as we embed these life skills into the Twain experience and prepare our Tigers for success not only in their brief time with us, but in high school and beyond.

Have a safe and enjoyable three-day weekend.

Go Tigers!

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 9: Indigenous People’s Day - Student Holiday

Tuesday, October 10: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, October 11: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, October 12: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, October 13: Even Day Schedule

Parent Coffee

Twain Middle School is hosting our first Parent Coffee of the year. We will be highlighting the topics of Attendance and Navigating Parent Vue. This event will be held on October 13 at 9:30 am. If you could please RSVP by October 11 using this link

https://forms.gle/VWSk86RB9kx6Tjc87

PTA Updates Spirit Night at Chipotle

October 10th from 4-8 PM at 5955 Kingstowne Towne Ctr. Ste 160.  Use code 3DBQKEL when ordering pick-up online orders.  Visit the Twain Facebook and Instagram pages for the flyer or just mention the fundraiser to the cashier BEFORE you pay.  Eat good food and help the PTA!!

Tiger Night Student Social-October 13 from 5:30-7:30 pm

Tiger Night is a Twain student only social that has something for everyone.  Some of the activities include Minute to Win It games, Basketball Tournament, board games, video games, Improv, Karaoke, and a glow dance.  Tickets will be on sale for $3 during lunches Oct 11-13 and tickets will be sold at the door for $5.  Come join in the fun!

Tiger Night Volunteers

The PTA is still looking for volunteers to help with the Tiger Night Student Social.  We need help selling tickets at lunchtime, donating items for concessions, serving as event staff, and helping with set-up and clean-up.  You can sign up to help right here.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Have you heard about the Reflections Program? Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the Twain Front Office before November 27, 2023. The entry form has instructions and more details. Click here for the entry form. Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) with any questions.

Join the PTA

The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true It’s never too late to join and your support is vital!!

Solar Eclipse Resources

Resources for families to learn more about the upcoming solar eclipses (October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024) have been compiled, including safe viewing practices. Resources can be found at this FCPS website link. These resources are applicable to students of all ages. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon.

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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Families,

September 23rd through October 1st has been designated “Blue Star Welcome Week.” This is a nationwide campaign to build a better sense of community and belonging for those who serve our great nation and their students. At Twain Middle School we are fortunate to have over 80 Tigers who have identified as military connected students with parents or guardians who are active duty, reserve, or National Guard. FCPS has collected video testimonials of military connected students over the past few years, which I find to be a powerful way to showcase the strength, resilience and talent of our military connected students and their lived experiences. Last school year, Twain earned a three-year designation as a Purple Star School by demonstrating tireless dedication in the support of military connected students (see our award that is proudly displayed in our main office below). We are grateful for the sacrifices our military families make to protect us all and are honored to educate our military connected students each day in our classrooms. Our Superintendent, Dr. Reid, shared this message regarding Blue Star Welcome Week recently in her community message.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Gratefully,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 2: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, October 3: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, October 4: Even Day Schedule

Thursday, October 5: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, October 6: Even Day Schedule

Picture Day is Coming

Thursday, October 5 and Friday, October 6 are Picture Days at Twain. Students will take pictures during their Physical Education Class. Additional information will be sent home with students on Monday, October 2.

PTA Updates Spirit Night at Chipotle

October 10th from 4-8 PM at 5955 Kingstowne Towne Ctr. Ste 160.  Use code 3DBQKEL when ordering pick-up online orders.  Visit the Twain Facebook and Instagram pages for the flyer or just mention the fundraiser to the cashier BEFORE you pay.  Eat good food and help the PTA!!

Tiger Night Student Social

October 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM Tiger Night is a Twain student only social that has something for everyone.  Some of the activities include, Minute to Win It games, Basketball Tournament, board games, video games, Improv, Karaoke, and a glow dance.  Tickets will be on sale for $3 during lunches Oct11-13 and tickets will be sold at the door for $5.  Come join in the fun!

Tiger Night Volunteers

The PTA is requesting volunteers to help with the event.  We need help selling tickets at lunchtime, donating items for concessions, serving as event staff, and helping with set-up and clean-up.  You can sign up to help right here.

PTA Mini Grants

Congratulations to Mr. Wesnofske for being award a PTA Mini Grant. The PTA is pleased to support Mr. Wenofske’s Civics class. Teachers and Staff will be given the opportunity to apply for a second round of PTA Mini Grants in February.  This is just another way your membership to the PTA provides valuable support to the students and staff at Twain MS.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The first-place winners of our schools’ entrees will be forwarded to our County Council PTA for regional judging. The entry form has instructions and more details.  Please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) to receive a copy of the entry form or with any questions.

Join the PTA

Are you a PTA Member, yet?  It’s never too late to join.  The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Principal's Message Good afternoon Twain families,

As an administrative team, and with the support of FCPS central office leaders, we have been assessing our attendance data to identify areas where we can improve. Across the division, and the country, chronic absenteeism rates have increased dramatically following the pandemic (chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school days. By the end of our 180 day school year, this would equate to 18 absences). Over the past four years, our chronic absenteeism rate at Twain Middle School has quadrupled. There can be many different obstacles preventing students from attending school regularly, such as illness or personal or family circumstances. That is why it is so important for our school team to work together with our students and families to remove any barriers. We all belong here!

Please encourage your student to arrive on time every day and maintain regular attendance until the last day of school. Together, we can work toward increasing school attendance rates and improving academic outcomes for all our students.

Below are some specific ways families can help encourage regular school attendance. 

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick. Keep in mind that complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
• We are ready to support students who may be experiencing school-related anxiety. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make them feel comfortable and excited about learning. If you do not know your student’s counselor or administrator, you can find that information on our website at these links: student services & administration.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.

We are excited to partner with families to maximize opportunities for learning for our students each day while they are in school. You will find some FCPS information related to attendance later in this newsletter.

Please enjoy the three-day weekend, and we will see our Tigers back at school on Tuesday for an Odd Day (periods 1,3,5,7).

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, September 25: Holiday – No School Today

Tuesday: September 26: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 27: Even Day Schedule, Altered: 4, 8, 6, 2

Thursday: September 28: Odd Day Schedule

Friday: September 29: Even Day Schedule

Math VGA, Sept 27

On Wednesday, September 27, all students will complete the Math Virginia Growth Assessment through their 4th period Learning Seminar classes, except for students enrolled in Algebra and Geometry classes.  Please be aware that on that day, the bell schedule will be 4th, 8th, 6th, 2nd so it’s important that students arrive to school on time.   Please ensure your student is able to get a good night’s sleep Tuesday night and arrives to Twain on Wednesday morning with a fully charged laptop.  If you have any questions about the Math VGA , please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Sara Joy Lebowitz, at [email protected].

After-School Program

Begins on Wednesday September 27th with our first day of late buses. The after-school program website has been updated and is ready for viewing -  https://twainms.fcps.edu/activities/after-school-program

Please feel free to contact Twain’s After School Specialist, Dominic Amato at [email protected] or 703-313-3760 with questions.

No Place for Hate Committee Community Members and Parents/Guardians Needed

Twain is reinstituting No Place for Hate (NPFH). This program focuses on building a learning community of inclusivity, respect and equity. The committee is made up of students, staff and parents/guardians who collaborate to create a few schoolwide activities. A presentation was made at Twain’s PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 13 that shared the purpose of this Committee and invited parents/guardians to join. If you would like to support Twain and the No Place for Hate Committee, please use the link below.  Full committee meetings will be held once a month and on Monday afternoons. Students and staff will meet after school on Monday weekly.

If you have questions, please contact NPFH Coordinator, Luwanne Mebane [email protected] or Assistant Principal, Melissa Montgomery at [email protected] . 

No Place for Hate Parent/Guardian link: https://forms.gle/uWLQ3FPAMCdpgPFS9 

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is crucial for the academic success of all students. Studies have repeatedly proven that students with better attendance records perform better in school and are more likely to graduate high school on time.

Did you know?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10% (or about 2 days per month) can make it harder to learn to read.
• Attending school even if your student arrives late is valuable for their academic success. 

PTA Updates Tiger Night Student Social 

October 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM (note the time change). Tiger Night is a Twain student only social that has something for everyone.  Some of the activities include, Minute to Win It games, Basketball Tournament, board games, video games, Improv, Karaoke, and a glow dance.  Tickets will be on sale the week of the event.

The PTA is requesting volunteers to help with the event.  We need help selling tickets at lunchtime, donating items for concessions, serving as event staff, and helping with set-up and clean-up.  You can sign up to help right here.

PTA Mini Grants

Congratulations to Ms. Smith, Ms. Yeo, and Ms. Vivian-Beck for being award PTA Mini Grants this Fall. The PTA is pleased to help support the PE department, RISE, and the CSS Program.  Teachers and Staff will be given the opportunity to apply for a second round of PTA Mini Grants in February.  This is just another way your membership to the PTA provides valuable resources to the students and staff at Twain MS.

Join the PTA 

It’s not too late to join the PTA.  The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable support to help the PTA help the students and staff.  Join now at https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Twain students are invited to create theme-based artwork in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts. This year’s Reflections Theme is "I am Hopeful Because...." Please submit your completed work of art with an artist’s statement to the MTMS Front Office before November 27, 2023. The first-place winners of our schools’ entrees will be forwarded to our County Council PTA for regional judging. The entry form has instructions and more details, but please reach out to Michelle Schafer ([email protected]) to receive a copy of the entry form or with any questions.

Twain PTA on Social Media

Did you know that Twain PTA is on social media?  Follow us on Facebook at Mark Twain MS PTA and Instagram at twainmspta to stay in touch with what’s happening at MTMS PTA.

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Principal's Message Good afternoon Twain Families,

As you likely saw in our communications earlier this week, we recently conducted our required lockdown drill on Wednesday. We also have conducted two building evacuations and next week we will do a bus evacuation drill. Our students and staff have done an amazing job taking these safety processes seriously and with an attention to detail. There is no greater responsibility we have than keeping our Tigers physically safe and also feeling emotionally and psychologically safe in their learning environment. If you would like to learn more about the FCPS Office of Safety and Security you can check out the resources and information at this webpage. Also, if you would like to review some of the FCPS initiatives related to student and staff wellness, you can see that information here.

I am excited to see what lies ahead as Fall officially begins next week. I continue to be encouraged by the learning I see in classrooms, the energy of our students, and the engagement of our families.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, September 18: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday: September 19: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 20: Even Day Schedule, Altered: 4, 2, 6, 8

Thursday: September 21: Odd Day Schedule

Friday: September 22: Even Day Schedule

Reading VGA, Sept 20

On Wednesday, September 20, all students will complete the Reading Virginia Growth Assessment through their 4th period Learning Seminar classes.  Please be aware that on that day, the bell schedule will be 4th, 2nd, 6th, 8th so it’s important that students arrive to school on time.   Please ensure your student is able to get a good night’s sleep Tuesday night and arrives to Twain on Wednesday morning with a fully charged laptop.  If you have any questions about the Reading VGA, please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Sara Joy Lebowitz at [email protected].

Back-to-School Preventative Health Practices

Flu season is quickly approaching, and communicable diseases continue to be present in our schools. We are committed to providing students with the education and support to help them succeed while maintaining a safe environment for in-person learning. Families and staff are encouraged to engage in the following health practices to prevent the spread of illnesses. 

• Make an appointment to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine (with rare exceptions). Flu vaccines are widely available at doctors’ and pediatricians’ offices, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
• Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you have not done so already. An updated COVID booster for the 2023-2024 season should be released in the coming weeks and will more effectively target the current circulating strains of the virus. Find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster in your community by visiting: vaccinate.virginia.gov or call (877) VAX-IN-VA or (877) 829-4682.
• Check with your students’ healthcare providers to make sure they are up to date on their required school entrance immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated online in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form.
• Check for mild, cold-like symptoms each day, such as fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath. Parents/caregivers are advised to keep their children home if sick and get them tested for COVID-19 to stop further spread from occurring. Employees are also advised to stay home and get tested when feeling sick.
• Don’t forget to wash hands regularly, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands, cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing, and limit the time children spend in large group settings with contagious individuals whenever possible.

The most up to date information regarding COVID-19 school health practices is available on the Health and Safety Guidance Document webpage.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe and healthy.

PTA Updates Tiger Night Student Social

Save the date for our first Tiger Night Student Social - October 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Tiger Night is a Twain student only social that has something for everyone. Some of the activities include, Minute to Win It games, Basketball Tournament, board games, video games, Improv, Karaoke, and a dance.  Tickets will be on sale the week of the event.  More details to follow.

Join the PTA

It’s not too late to join the PTA.  The PTA is primarily funded through our membership dues, so every person who joins provided valuable resources to help us support the students and staff at Twain.  Join now at MTMS Member Hub

Nominate a Staff Member

Know a great staff member at Twain?  Each month the PTA awards one of our hard-working staff member the honor of being the Staff Member of the Month.  In addition to a gift card to a local restaurant, the Staff Member received a prime parking spot and a cool trophy!   We need your nominations. Please tell us about a Staff Member at Twain that you feel deserves this award and why by filing out this form

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS) Introduction

Each school pyramid has a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS) to provide substance abuse prevention, education, and intervention services. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists are part of the FCPS Office of Student Safety and Wellness. Like other members of the mental health team (school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors), SAPS do not provide treatment services, but we support students while they are in the buildings. Key roles of a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist:

• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug education for students, parents, staff, and Fairfax County community stakeholders.
• Intervention services upon violation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook or referral for suspected substance use involvement.
• Assessment of a student’s level of substance use and, if appropriate, subsequent referrals to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board for additional services or other community resources as appropriate.
• Individual and group interventions for students. Prevention services for students, staff, parents, and Fairfax County community stakeholders.
• Most importantly, building and maintaining positive relationships with students to provide support and encouragement.

Resources:

Free Virtual Parent Support Group

Free Online Narcan Training for Opioid Overdoses (English & Spanish)

Free Lock Boxes for Medications & Firearms

Spiritual Support by Phone for Adults

Spanish Podcast: Tips on How Parents Play an Important Role in Substance Abuse Prevention

Juvenile Court Parent Support Group

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

For further Information & support:

Shawn Elliott, BS, QMHP-C

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

AVID Tutors Needed

Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position at Twain MS? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2023-2024 school year.  AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at [email protected] or [email protected].

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
Web | Twitter | YouTube

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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Families!

Thank you to all of our families who came out and weathered the extreme heat on Wednesday evening for Back to School Night. It was an exciting night filled with making home and school connections that will help foster student success throughout this school year.

If you were unable to attend Wednesday night, I encourage you to review the brief video below, which introduces you to some key people connected to Twain this school year.

Twain Middle School Back to School Night Video

You can also learn about your student’s classes and teachers through Schoology and of course can reach out directly to teachers, counselors or administrators for support. Please also feel free to connect to our Family Liaison, Ms. Keytlin Antezana Soto at [email protected] or 703.313.3744.

With Back to School Night behind us, our “start of school” programming has come to a close. However, regardless of the time of year we are always ready to engage with our families to do what is best for individual students, our entire student body, and our tremendous Twain community. If you are available, please consider attending the first Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00 pm in our library. You can access more information on the PTA page of our Twain website.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, September 11: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday: September 12: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 13: Even Day Schedule

Thursday: September 14: Odd Day Schedule

Friday: September 15: Even Day Schedule

Permission to Use Digital Resources

Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission. 

Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the Digital Ecosystem Library. Learn more about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.

Broadway Desserts

Is your student looking for a chance to showcase their inner star?! Do they love to sing and perform? Then they should plan to audition for Twain’s Annual Broadway Desserts! Students can grab friends and plan a song! Auditions will be after school on Wednesday, September 20th in the Chorus Room. All students interested in auditioning should pick up an audition form as soon as possible. Forms are in the Theater Room with Mr. Scaros. Don’t wait because students need to get teachers to sign your audition form! Auditions can be solos, duets, or group performances and they must be Broadway songs. Auditions do not need to be completely memorized but should be well learned and prepared.  The performance will be on Friday, October 27th. Have students see Mr. Scaros in the Theater Room or email Ms. Tolpa with any questions.

Thomas Jefferson HS Info Session Next Week

We are excited to welcome Nancy Rowland, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology Outreach Specialist, to Twain for an information session all about the admissions process! This session will be held in our cafeteria on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 9-10:00am. Ms. Rowland will guide you step-by-step through the entire application process and will hold a question-and-answer portion at the end. This event is open to parents/guardians and all eligible 8th grade students. Prior to coming, please familiarize yourself with the TJ admissions website (click here) where you will find applicant eligibility requirements, the 23-24 freshman round calendar, and steps to complete the application when it becomes available in October. If you cannot attend, there are additional dates on the TJ admissions website for presentations at other schools around the county. In addition, there is a pre-recorded presentation on the site which covers the same information. If you have any questions, please contact TJ liaison counselor Leslie Pilotti at [email protected].

World Language Credit Exam

Is your child able to read and write in a language other than English? If so, they are eligible to take the World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)! The registration window is open now until October 5, 2023 and students must register at school with their counselor. The WLCE is offered in 30 languages and assesses reading and writing proficiency in languages other than English. Students who take the WLCE may earn up to three World Languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam. The credits may fulfill the World Languages requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma. The FCPS World Languages Credit Exam is also an approved assessment for awarding the Virginia Department of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy. The exam is offered one time per school year. A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. More information about the specific languages offered and dates and locations of the exam can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.  Please reach out to your child’s school counselor with any questions.

PTA Updates Staff Member of the Month

Congratulations to Ms. Linton for being named the PTA Staff Member of the Month for September!! Ms. Linton was awarded a trophy, a gift card, and a sweet parking spot for her use this month.  Her nomination included this comment, “Ms. Linton builds connections with her students.  From my daughter, ‘She didn’t just teach us, she talked with us and got to know us and cared about us.  She made class and learning fun.  She was the perfect balance of keeping everyone behaving well while caring and making class fun.’”   

Spirit Night

Eat at Panda Express, located 6477 Old Beulah Street, on September 12 from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm and the PTA receives 20% of the event sales.  Enter 357783 when you order online or visit twainms.fcps.edu/event/panda-express for a copy of the paper flyer.

Join the PTA

Become a member of the MTMS PTA.  Your membership goes to support the programs and events sponsored by the PTA.  Our PTA is funded mainly by our membership dues.  Join now at  https://mtms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

First PTA Meeting

Hope to see you at the first PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 pm in the Twain Library.  All are welcome to attend!  We have several items of PTA Business to conduct, and we need your vote!  A zoom link will be available prior to the meeting.

 

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Families!

Our students and staff have been working to continue our strong start to the school year this week and we all look forward to a restful extended Labor Day Weekend this Friday through Monday. I hope that you are able to take some time for friends, family, and yourself over these four days. Please note that when we return on Tuesday, we will do so with an odd day (periods 1,3,5 & 7). We will then quickly prepare for our annual Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 6th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Our primary objective for this important evening is to further build the bridge between home and school to foster success for our students this school year. We can do that by providing an opportunity for our Twain families to learn about, and connect with, their student’s teachers, identify ways families can support learning at home and briefly dive into each course’s curriculum. We will have our wonderful PTA set up in the cafeteria selling Twain spirit wear and they will be ready to invite all families into PTA membership if you wish. I look forward to greeting our families and will be available starting at 5:45 pm in the cafeteria and main entrance to engage with you as you arrive.

Please take care and I look forward to seeing you soon.

In partnership,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, September 4: Holiday – No School Today

Tuesday: September 5: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 6: Even Day Schedule

Thursday: September 7: Odd Day Schedule

Friday: September 8: Even Day Schedule

Reading Inventory, Sept 6

On Wednesday, September 6, all students will complete the Reading Inventory through their 4th period Learning Seminar classes.  Please ensure your student is able to get a good night’s sleep Tuesday night and arrives to Twain on time Wednesday morning with a fully charged laptop.  During the Reading Inventory, students have the option of listening to the directions being read out loud but will need to bring their own headphones in order to access that option.  If you have any questions about the Reading Inventory, please reach out to our Testing Coordinator, Sara Joy Lebowitz, or your student’s English teacher.

Back-to-School Night

Please join us for Back-to-School-Night on Wednesday, September 6th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. We are excited to welcome parents/guardians to our building to learn about all of the wonderful things going on in our school.

A few points to note:

• Parking will be extremely tight (we will be using our back fields when our parking lot spaces fill up)
  • We highly encourage people to carpool and arrive by 6pm
• This event is for parents/guardians only – we anticipate a high number of attendees and space inside the building will be limited
• Parents/guardians will follow their child’s Anchor Day schedule (periods 1-8, except period 4)
  • We will have schedules available to pick-up, however, you can follow your students schedule via ParentVUE

Health & Physical Education

Tuesday, September 5th, will be the official start to our Health and Physical Education units. Teachers and students have been working together the past couple of weeks on getting to know each other, team building, locker room logistics, and sharing roles and expectations both in the classroom and schoolwide alongside their administrators and counselors. In order to deliver a well-rounded curriculum and for our students to safely receive and engage in safe and meaningful learning experiences, we must ensure each student comes to class prepared. 

As per FCPS regulation 3210:

 “Appropriate physical activity clothing MUST be worn by all students participating in physical education class. To support health and hygiene, it is recommended that students change clothes for physical education. 

Clothing should be appropriate to the instructional activity. Shoes MUST be appropriate to the instructional activity and designed to provide support, fit securely, and prevent injury”.

Please support our HPE team by ensuring that your child comes to school with appropriate footwear and athleticwear. Sneakers are required and changing is strongly recommended. If you would like to purchase a PE uniform, please visit the My School Bucks website and our HPE teachers will deliver the uniform to your child in class. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in education. 

The Twain HPE Department 

AVID Tutors Needed

Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position at Twain MS? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2023-2024 school year.  AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at [email protected] or [email protected].

2023-24 Opt-Out Information and Booklets

The Fairfax County School Board is committed to protecting student and family privacy (see Policy 1445) and wants all parents to be aware of their rights and the ways that information is treated in relation to:

• Parents’ rights to inspect, and to consent or opt out, before their child participates in certain surveys administered to students.
• Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum.  
• FCPS’ maintenance, retention, and disclosure rules regarding student scholastic records including parents and eligible students’ rights to inspect such records, to request amendment to such records and to opt out of disclosure of directory information about the student. 
• FCPS’ disclosure of student information for graduation photographs or other commercial purposes and the right of parents and eligible students to opt out of this disclosure.
• FCPS’ disclosure of secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters and the right of parents and students to opt out of this disclosure.
• Parents’ right to opt out of any physical examination of their child not required by state law. 
• The FCPS school counseling program and parents’ right to opt out their child from participation in academic, career, and/or social or emotional counseling.
• Student participation in the Library Equity Access Pass Project, and the rights of parents to refuse participation in the program.
• Parents’ rights to opt out of their child’s access to Tutor.com.   
• Student participation in the Social and Emotional Learning Screener and the rights of parents to opt out of the Screener.
• The process by which parents and students may file complaints if they believe their rights as referenced above have been violated. 

In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available—a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level. 

Opt-Out Booklets

Any parent or guardian who objects to their child’s participation in any or all of these activities should complete and return the appropriate form(s) to their child’s school.

• Elementary and Middle School (grades K-8).
• High School (grades 9-12).

Parents may also request a paper copy from the principal’s office at their child’s school. If you wish to opt your child out of any of the activities mentioned above, you must complete and return the appropriate forms to your child’s school.

New Family Liaison

Meet Twain’s new Family Liaison, Keytlin Antezana Soto. She can be found at Twain every day from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.

PTA Updates Join the PTA

Become a member of the Twain PTA. Your membership goes to support the programs and events sponsored by the PTA. Don’t have a lot of time to volunteer? That’s ok.  Joining the PTA doesn’t mean you have to commit to a lot of volunteering. Our PTA is funded mainly by our membership dues.  Join now at Mark Twain Middle School PTA Store

Nominate a Staff Member

Know a great staff member at Twain? Each month the PTA awards one of our hard-working staff member the honor of being the - Staff Member of the Month! In addition to a gift card to a local restaurant, the Staff Member received a prime parking spot and a cool trophy!  We need your nominations. Please tell us about a Staff Member at Twain that you feel deserves this award and why by completing this Staff of the Month Form by August 31st.

Spirit Night

Eat at Panda Express located at 6477 Old Beulah Street on Tuesday, September 12 from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm and the PTA will receive 20% of the event sales. Enter 357783 when you order online or visit Twain-Panda Express for a copy of the paper flyer.

First PTA Meeting

Join us for the next PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00 pm in the Twain Library.  All are welcome to attend!  We have several items of PTA Business to conduct and we need your vote!  A zoom link will be available prior to the meeting.

 

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
Web | Twitter | YouTube

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Principal's Message Greetings Twain Community!

During this opening of school Mark Twain Middle School has been buzzing all week. The anxieties of finding classrooms, figuring out how to open lockers and remembering lunch codes have been balanced by the excitement of seeing old friends, meeting new teachers, and exploring new learning.

Mark Twain said “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” Although I will admit I enjoy a good summer vacation, the hard work to open school has not felt like work, but instead has been a great joy. I continue to be impressed with the students, staff, and community members I have had the pleasure of meeting.

We are looking forward to our next event where we open our doors to our parents and guardians – Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 6th. Between 6:30 & 8:30 on that evening you will be able to visit your student’s classrooms and learn more about their teachers, the curriculum and ways to support their success this school year. Please be on the lookout for specific communication regarding the logistics and schedule for this event in the coming days.

Please have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule

Monday, August 28:   Even Day Schedule

Tuesday: August 29: Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, August 30: Even Day Schedule

Thursday: August 31: Odd Day Schedule

Friday: September 1: Holiday – No School Today

Save the Date: Back-to-School Night

Please join us for Back-to-School-Night on Wednesday, September 6th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. We are excited to welcome parents/guardians to our building to learn about all of the wonderful things going on in our school.

A few points to note:

• Parking will be extremely tight (we will be using our back fields when our parking lot spaces fill up)
  • We HIGHLY encourage people to carpool and arrive by 6pm
• This event is for parents/guardians only – we anticipate a high number of attendees and space inside the building will be limited
• Parents/guardians will follow their child’s Anchor Day schedule (periods 1-8, except period 4)
  • We will have schedules available to pick-up, however, you can follow your students schedule via ParentVUE

AVID Tutors Needed

Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position at Twain MS? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2023-2024 school year.  AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at [email protected] or [email protected].

PTA Updates Join the PTA

Become a member of the Twain PTA. Your membership goes to support the programs and events sponsored by the PTA. Don’t have a lot of time to volunteer? That’s ok.  Joining the PTA doesn’t mean you have to commit to a lot of volunteering. Our PTA is funded mainly by our membership dues.  Join now at Mark Twain Middle School PTA Store

Nominate a Staff Member

Know a great staff member at Twain? Each month the PTA awards one of our hard-working staff member the honor of being the - Staff Member of the Month! In addition to a gift card to a local restaurant, the Staff Member received a prime parking spot and a cool trophy!  We need your nominations. Please tell us about a Staff Member at Twain that you feel deserves this award and why by completing this Staff of the Month Form by August 31st.

Spirit Wear

Get your Twain Spirit Wear and show your Tiger Pride!  Hoodies, sweat pants and t-shirts will be available for purchase at Back to School Night on September 6th.  Contact [email protected] with any questions.

First PTA Meeting

Join us for the next PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00 pm in the Twain Library.  All are welcome to attend!  We have several items of PTA Business to conduct and we need your vote!  A zoom link will be available prior to the meeting.

Twain PTA on Social Media

Follow us on Facebook at Mark Twain MS PTA and Instagram at twainmspta to stay in touch with what’s happening at Twain PTA.

Substance Abuse Prevention

This article, When a Nap Isn’t a Nap, focuses on International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31. The article’s purpose is to help people be more informed about overdose by identifying signs and symptoms.

 

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