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Principal's Message |
Greetings Tiger Families!
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and focused learning environment for our students, 16 teachers at Twain have been piloting a classroom management tool called Lightspeed for the past month. This past week at our monthly staff work session, we shared our findings from this pilot with our full faculty and have embarked upon a schoolwide adoption of this tool. This tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:
- Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
- Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
- Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.
Some positive feedback from our pilot members include how the program has allowed them to recognize when a student is participating in off-task behavior like video gaming during class, block Internet access to the entire class when having students engage in non-digital learning opportunities, and identify patterns of what sites may be causing the largest distractions for our students. Instructionally, teachers noted that it has been helpful while students were working independently to see if there was a common part of an assignment where students were “stuck” which informed the teacher on how to modify his teaching. Teachers can also quickly push out a link to all students at one time, helping them efficiently access a resource as the teacher adjusts her lesson for the day. In summary, we are hopeful that it will provide both classroom management as well as instructional benefits as we explore it further.
Please note that student devices will not be monitored outside of school hours. The regular filters remain in place on school devices, but once they are home, teachers cannot monitor students. As parents, we would like to encourage you to sign up for your own Lightspeed reports, which will allow you to see how your child is spending time on the computer during and after school hours.
Together, we can leverage the educational technology available to us to maximize student engagement and academic success.
Sincerely,
Matt
Twain’s Weekly Schedule
Monday, March 11: Anchor Day Schedule
Tuesday, March 12: Odd Day Schedule
Wednesday, March 13: Even Day Schedule
Thursday, March 14: Odd Day Schedule
Friday, March 15: Even Day Schedule
Daylight Savings Time Begins
Sunday, March 10 – Spring Ahead
Move your clocks ahead one hour.
FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Opens March 18th
On Monday, March 18, Twain parents/guardians will be sent an email containing a link to complete the online FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the VDOE-mandated Performance Evaluation Program for principals and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include how the principal demonstrates/impacts instructional leadership, school climate, management, communication and community relations, culturally responsive and equitable leadership, and professionalism within the school.
The questionnaire will be administered between March 18 and April 5. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your feedback matters!
Please note, this survey is different from the FCPS Engagement Survey that was sent out on March 3rd. The FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form is specifically geared towards Twain Middle School, and ultimately, Principal Mough. Your participation in the survey is greatly appreciated as we constantly strive to maintain the areas where we are already thriving and improve in the areas where it is necessary.
Attendance Information
Next week, Twain Middle School’s Attendance team will be sending emails to all parents/guardians to inform families about the number of days students have been absent this school year. Moving forward, this will be a routine part of our communications so that we can inform parents how many days a child has been absent. Receiving this email does not necessarily signal that there are any problems with your child’s attendance, and please know that all students will be receiving the exact same communication regardless of how many days a student is absent.
First Full Day of Ramadan
This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. In Islam, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day while striving to increase their spirituality, through prayers, charity, and good deeds. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
March 11 is a religious and cultural observance day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on observance days, however, tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be scheduled. See the school year calendar.
PTA Updates
Urgent Needs for Tiger Night
Volunteers and donation are still needed for Tiger Night on March 15th. We especially need volunteers to help run the events and work the concession table. Please use this sign-up genius link to offer your support. Donations can be dropped off at the main office starting Wednesday, March 13 and ending Friday, March 15 by 3:00 PM.
Tiger Night
Tiger Night is coming on March 15th from 6-8 PM. This very popular Twain student social has something for everyone! Activities include a dance, basketball tournament, Improv, karaoke, board games, video game, and minute-to-win-it games. Concession will be on sale including pizza, chip, soda, and slushies. Advance tickets will be on sale during lunches March 13-15 for $3 and at the door for $5 on March 15th. All Twain students are invited!!!
Spirit Night at Honeygrow
Eat to support Mark Twain PTA on March 12th from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM at HONEYGROW, 7698 Richmond Hwy. Use promo code GIVE149 on the honeygrow app, at honegrow.com or in-store at the kiosk before checking out. MTMS PTA will get 20% of all order placed by Twain supporters.
Staff Member of the Month
Congratulation to Mr. Prokos, a new History and Social Studies Teacher at Twain for being named the PTA Staff Member of the Month for March. Mr. Prokos received a gift card to a local restaurant, a trophy, and a sweet parking space in front of the school for the month. Thank you, Mr. Prokos for making a lasting impact on the students you teach and interact with at Twain!
8th Grade Dance Interest Zoom Meeting
Are you interested in helping with the 8th Grade Dance? The PTA is looking for interested volunteers to join the 8th Grade Dance Committee. We’ll hold a zoom meeting on March 19th at 7:00 pm. Email Linda Pinkney at mtmspresident@gmail.com for the zoom link.
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!!
Institute for the Arts Summer Opportunity
Students in all FCPS secondary schools can enroll in the Institute for the Arts. IFTA is a two- or three-week summer Arts enrichment program for students in rising 7th through 12th grades. Students create their own schedules in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance from nearly 60 courses offered. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Institute for the Arts website for more information or email ifta@fcps.edu.
The Rose Hill Players present “The Claw”
Join us ‘The Rose Hill Players’, from Rose Hill Elementary School, for our production of “The Claw.”
Welcome to the Rose Hill Bowling Alley, specifically inside a Claw Machine that has not been turned on in a long time. Our narrator, Claw, introduces us to two best friends: a cow plush named Dot and a stuffed dragon named Aiden. While Aiden wishes they could leave the game, Dot loves being stuck inside, where things never change. Suddenly, all the toys are tossed around inside the machine, as the Claw game springs to life for the first time in ages! Aiden is thrilled and determined to leave the game today. Dot, meanwhile, is terrified of facing the unknown. A trio of Beanie Elders, eccentric Flair Bears and tough Mighty Mutant Power Turtles teach them how to embrace change and conquer the unknown, but is Dot ready? With things changing so quickly, can they manage to stay together? Or will they be separated forever?! Come join us and find out.
Performances will be held at:
Thomas A. Edison High School
5801 Franconia Rd. Alexandria
Saturday, April 6
1pm and 6pm
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children, $1 for children at the matinee.
Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m.
Although this event occurs primarily during and after dismissal, we wish to reiterate to students and families the importance of safe viewing practices. FCPS safety guidelines do not permit direct viewing of the sun even with protective eyewear and encourage the use of indirect (projection) viewing devices, including solar boxes and pinhole projectors. We wish to share the Solar Eclipse Resources with our community to access safe viewing practices. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
 Buy your Twain yearbook today!
Go to yearbookordercenter.com
Use our code #: 8606
Last day to order: April 19
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