Takoma Park Middle School

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Volunteer Coordinator need to help restart PAL program

The PTSA is looking to restart the Parents At Lunch (PAL) program. PALs are a group of volunteers that support a healthy, safe and vibrant lunchtime experience at TPMS.  We need a volunteer coordinator to help schedule other parent volunteers to be onsite for lunch so the kids can have outside recess time during lunch. PAL volunteers get to know staff and students, support healthy interactions, ensure the cafeteria and outdoor areas are cleaned up, and help make lunchtime fun! The biggest need is for volunteers during 6th grade lunch. If you are interested, please email Emily Pickren at epickren@gmail.com or TPMS.pta.president@gmail.com. 

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First PTSA Meeting – Oct 8th!

Join us for the first PTSA Meeting of the school year.

Tuesday, October 8th from 7:00-8:30pm in the Cafeteria.

An agenda will be posted in upcoming weeks, but here’s what we have planned so far:

  • 8th Grade Counselors and Administrator will provide a presentation on navigating the High School Choice process.
  • PTSA leadership will provide an overview of this year’s partnership. I strongly encourage all 7th and 8th grade families to attend this meeting.
  • Meet the administration and learn how to support your student through middleschool.

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What your donations support!

Wondering what your contribution to the TPMS PTSA will fund in the 2024-25 school year?  

Here’s a little list!  Please consider making a donation –  I want to donate!

  • Mini-grants to Teachers and Staff to Enrich Curriculum  (Last year these included: Counseling office reboot room materials, after school program materials, training resources, Pi Day activities, Turkey Trot t-shirts and PE equipment, instrument repair, curriculum enrichment, and so much more)
  • 6th Grade Welcome Families Picnic
  • 6th Grade Outdoor Ed Reptile Man
  • 7th Grade Family Winter Social
  • 8th Grade Family Winter Social 
  • 8th Grade Promotion Dance
  • 8th Grade Promotion
  • Student Dances
  • 3x Heritage Month Enrichment Performances
  • International Multicultural Night Event
  • Books & Basketball Community Building Event
  • We Shine Night 
  • Speakers and Presenters
  • Music Program
  • Teacher & Staff Appreciation Events and Meals
  • Teacher & Staff Professional Development Augmentation Materials
  • No Device Policy Materials for Safely Storing Devices
  • …And A Whole Lot More!

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PTSA TPMS Community Events in 2024-25 

Here’s what your PTSA is planning for the TPMS community in 2024-25 school year!

  • Oct 8, Jan 13, Mar 11, and May 6 | Four in-person PTSA Meetings designed to be  useful, and create opportunities to connect with other families, Principal Martin and staff
  • Nov 15  |  An International Night showcasing foods and performances from the many countries and ethnicities we’ve all come from 
  • Dec 6 and Dec 7 |  Winter socials for 7th and 8th grade families (6th grade families had a welcome picnic in
  • Feb 28-29 |  Our biggest, awesomest event of the year Books and Basketball.  Spanning two days   students will square off against teachers in a basketball game to remember.  At the same time, we’ll be having a used book sale, silent auction, games and more!  This is a great event you won’t want to miss.

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Last PTSA Meeting of the Year and Board Elections

The most social PTSA meeting of the year – Tuesday, May 28 from 7-8:30 in the cafeteria!
Bring the family and join us for the last PTSA meeting of the year, where we will celebrate the achievements of our students, hold a PTSA board election, and have a potluck dinner.  So bring a dish of your favorite food to share and celebrate the end of the year with us!

Get involved with the PTSA!
The PTSA needs parents and caregivers to join the board next year so that we can continue to support TPMS staff and provide fun and educational events and activities for our kids.

Check out the available positions here https://www.tpmspta.org/ptsa-board-elections/. Please contact PTSA President Ramata Diop for more information: TPMS.PTA.president@gmail.com.

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Parents at Lunch (PAL) Program Needs Volunteers

PALs (Parents at Lunch), a volunteer program for parents and caregivers to lend a hand during school lunch periods, is back! The staff could really use our help getting the kids through their meals, cleaning up and going outside, especially these last few weeks of school.
Sign up to volunteer here. 
Volunteers must have completed the Recognizing Signs of Abuse and Neglect online training (which takes approx. 30 minutes and can be found via ParentVue/Canvas). Click here for instructions to find your way to the training (which is valid for three years).
Once your training is completed, come for any or all three lunch periods!
6th grade: 12:15 to 12:45 pm
7th grade: 1 pm to 1:30 pm
8th grade: 11:25 to 11:55 am

For more information on the program, please check out the PAL handbook:

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April PTSA Meeting Notes

April 16, 2024

PTSA General Meeting

PTSA Board Attendees
Ramata Diop, President
Emily Pickren, Correspondence and Communications Secretary
Emily Modde, Treasurer

Staff Attendees
Principal Erin Martin

Upcoming events:

8th Grade Dance: June 8, 7-9pm – need chaperones and volunteers

8th Grade Promotion Day:  June 11 at Blair. Need 7th grade parents to help with promotion set-up

Ms. Martin asks attendees to reach out to 5 different families and ask them to attend May’s PTSA meeting.

Meeting Overview:

  • Wax Museum presentation in honor of Women’s History Month – students represented Sally Ride, Jane Goodall, and Cleopatra.
  • Clare, PTSA Board member at Blair and former TPMS PTSA president, talked to the group about the Blair PTSA and encouraged incoming 9th grade parents to join their Listserv: www.blairptsa.org

o   May 4 was Blair Fair – door prizes, opportunity to tour the school.

  • Kaysi-Ann Webley from the City of Takoma Park discussed Safe Routes to School and presented $1k check to TPMS – revenue from previous 5K races – this was seed money for the five area schools participating in the Safe Routes to Schools program. Ms. Webley also shared:
  • May is Bike Month in TKPK– will have free bike repair pop-ups at Farmers’ markets.
  • Bike to School Day is May 8 – encouraged all kids to ride to school. There are also Adult Learn to Ride classes, there is currently a wait list for them. Bike to Work Day is May 17.
  • Participate in Safe Route to School 5-minute survey.

Teacher Appreciation Week was May 6-10 – parent Alisa O’Brien was the lead coordinator. There was a sign-up genius for parents/caregivers to donate food for teachers, for students to write cards for their teachers.

Treasurer’s Report: Emily Modde presented. PTSA has $22K in the bank but has a lot of big-ticket items coming up such as the 8th grade dance and promotion. The PTSA also helped to sponsor We Shine Night. We Shine is a venue where students can shine, make connections to what they are learning and create a project. It is expanding every year and students are planning for it for next year.

Ms. Martin reported that TPMS is continuing to roll out STRIVE, which focuses on kindness toward others and recognizes student’s achievements in and out of school. Always in Principal’s newsletter.

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March PTSA Meeting Slides

Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) PTSA General Membership Meeting

March 12, 2024
7:00 – 8:30pm

View the slides and what we discussed at the meeting here or click on the image below.

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Books & Basketball – A Big Success!!

A big thank you to all the parents, students, teachers and staff who came out for the Books & Basketball event this weekend, February 2 & 3. This FUN-raiser exceeded our goals of building community and raising funds for our school. Camaraderie, community, and sportsmanship were on full display, with some amazing basketball performances by 8th grade players and the teachers!  

The money from this PTSA fundraiser will be used to finance other school events, support and appreciate teachers, provide field trip scholarships, and a whole lot more. 

Special shout-outs to all those who made this event possible:

  • TPMS parents Céline Allard and Patty First for their leadership and for managing the silent auction
  • TPMS staff for managing the basketball game and all the logistics.
  • All the parents who donated food for the bake sale.
  • Horticulture club for selling plants during the book sale. 
  • Special thanks to Mayor Talisha Searcy for reading to children at Storytime on Saturday during the book sale.
  • Difference Makers for their huge volunteer support, and a big high-five goes to all the parent donors and adult volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without you. Finally, a huge thanks to all the businesses and parents who donated to the silent auction. 

Silent Auction Donors (in no particular order):

Restaurants and Food

Dance 

  • Tango lessons with Céline Allard

Home goods, Clothing, Books & Accessories

Hair and Nails

Special Item donations

  • Pare (Ethical Consumptive Coaching)
  • Patty First Coaching (Executive Coaching)
  • Connective Development (Nonprofit strategy coaching) 
  • Lunch with Takoma Park Mayor Talisha Searcy
  • Lunch with Takoma Park Councilmember Shana Fulcher (Ward 1)
  • Lunch with Takoma Park Councilmember Cindy Dyballa (Ward 2)
  • Lunch with Takoma Park Councilmember Cara Honzak (Ward 5)
  • Popcorn party with Ms. Martin

Hope to see you at this event next year!

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January PTSA Meeting Slides

Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) PTSA General Membership Meeting

January 9, 2024
7:00 – 8:00pm

View the slides and what we discussed at the meeting here or click on the image below.

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Books and Basketball – Friday and Saturday, February 2-3, 2024

Join us for BOOKS AND BASKETBALL!

Our annual TPMS Books & Basketball fundraiser is around the corner on February 2 and 3! Join us on Friday, Feb. 2 at 6pm for the basketball game and on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 10am-1pm in the TPMS cafeteria for our book sale.

We can use your help with any of the following:

  • Ticket sales:

    • Student tickets are $3 for the basketball game and accompanying adults are free for up to three students. Ticket sales will begin during lunch the week of January 29 to Feb 2. Lunch ticket sales are cash or check only. 

    • Tickets may also be purchased at the door using cash, Venmo, check or Paypal.

    • We need parents to help staff the ticket sales. The TPMS lunch break is from 11:15 am -1:00 pm each day, and we will also need a few parents to help with ticket sales at the door. Please sign up here.

  • Book Donations:

    • We would love your used books! Please have your child drop them in the box outside the office labeled Book Sale, or drop your books on the porch at 225 Grant Ave or 409 Beech Ave.

  • Volunteers:

    • We have some truly awesome volunteers, and we need more, especially for Saturday’s book sale. If you are able to volunteer either Friday or Saturday, please sign up here for a shift.

  • Bake Sale:

    • We will also be holding a bake sale during the basketball game and book sale. Please sign up here to donate baked goods.