 Wishing everyone a healthy holiday season and
a safe and prosperous New Year!
News You Choose will return January 6, 2023.
Calendar Updates
December 19, 2022 – January 2, 2023 - Winter Break – School Closed
Transition Corner
Rising 7th & 8th Grades:
Please join us in-person on Monday, January 9, 2023, for our Middle School Transition Night! Our Rising 7th grade presentation will be held in the cafeteria from 6-7pm. Our Rising 8th grade presentation will be held in the Lecture Hall from 6-7pm. Immediately following will be our AVID Information Session in the Lecture Hall and our Rising 7th Grade AAP Level IV Information session in the cafeteria, both from 7-8pm. This is an event for parents only.
Rising 9th Grade:
***Please consider subscribing to your base high school’s News You Choose messages for the most up-to-date information about the transition to high school – you can do that here. Unsure what school your child will attend in 9th grade? Click here to access the FCPS boundary locator.***
Lewis High School
Rising 9th grade students and families are invited to attend Lewis High School’s Curriculum Night on Thursday, January 5, 2023 (6pm) at Lewis High School. At this session, you will meet the school counseling team, curriculum department leaders, and school administrators. The focus of this session is to present course offerings so you can plan the best school schedule for next year and beyond. Looking forward to seeing you and welcoming you to high school! For questions about this event please contact Ms. Amanda Hudson, Director of Student Services, at aahudson@fcps.edu.
Edison High School
All Edison-bound rising 9th graders will participate in a virtual course offering overview through Learning Seminar (4th period) on Friday, January 20, 2023. Edison counselors will come to Twain to help students make course selections the following Monday and Tuesday, January 23rd and 24th, through Health & PE classes. Edison’s Rising 9 transition night for parents is TBD.
Hayfield Secondary School
Hayfield counselors will visit Twain on Wednesday, January 18, through Learning Seminar *(4th period) to help 8th graders make course selections for the 23-24 school year. Hayfield’s Rising 9 transition night for parents is TBD.
Please continue to check back for more transition updates this winter.
PTA Updates
Join the Twain PTA!
Your membership dues fund a variety of programs throughout the year.
Thank you to everyone who graciously donated to make our Winter Wonderland Luncheon a success! We couldn’t do this without your continued support! Thank you!
Twain 8th Graders….
Get your Edison Sports Pass for next year!! Buy your Edison Eagle Sports Pass and become an Edison Athletic Booster Member Today! Your Eagle Sports Pass gets you free admission to all regular season Edison High School home games. In addition, your Booster Membership helps support the 800+ student athletes at Edison High School and helps to defray the costs of running these programs. Your membership is a major source of revenue. Make sure to include all of your family's email addresses to receive our weekly Eagle Blast. Enjoy the games!
Hope all our Twain Families have a happy and healthy Holiday Season! We will see you in 2023!!
Address Changing?
In FCPS, parents are required to notify the school of any changes to residency. Address changes within Twain Middle School’s boundaries will require a Student Registration Form, as well as a new (signed) copy of your deed/lease. Address changes made through WeCare will not be accepted unless proof of residency and the updated registration have been received. Students are required to attend the school within whose boundaries they physically reside.
If you are moving out of our boundaries during the school year, please fill out the Student Withdrawal Form and submit it to us as soon as you know you are moving. This serves as your official withdrawal notification document and will ensure that student records are prepared and are ready to be sent to the new school when they request them. Please include the date your student will last attend Twain, the name of the new school as well as your new address to forward any items left after your move.
The processes for updating your address, withdrawing a student as well as access to the required forms can be found on the Registrar’s Corner section of our website.
Additionally, if you will finish the year at Twain but are moving late spring/summer 2023 and will not attend Twain or the high school assigned to your boundaries, we will be sending the annual Student Intent to Return form in March to assist with planning and staffing for the 2023-24 School Year.
Please reach out to Christina Spencer, Twain’s Student Services Assistant/Registrar with any questions you may have regarding these processes.
Mental Health, Coping & Addiction
One in four Americans suffers from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety. Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.
Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The 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. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and 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: sbelliott@fcps.edu
|
