T-Bird Weekly Message by Dr. Blakley Wallace

WEEKLY MESSAGE: 01/18/2022

Dear T-Bird Families,

We are continuing our focus of staying healthy and continuing in-person learning. It is imperative that if your child is sick or symptomatic that you allow them to stay home and get well. Your child’s teachers will work with your child to get them caught up on any missed schoolwork. If your child is feeling up to it, they can go into Schoology and access some of their schoolwork there. They may also communicate directly with their teachers through their email. Thank you for doing all that you can to stay safe and healthy!

Important information for the week:

Restaurant Night – Wednesday, January 26

Please join us for a restaurant night fundraiser at Noodles and Company in Southlands from 4:00 – 8:00pm this Wednesday, January 26. All funds will go to our TRMS PTO. Please click on this LINK for further details.

Lost or damaged student computers and power cords

As you are aware, the Cherry Creek School District provides computers and power cords to all students for use at school. Students are asked to bring these home to charge each night. Damaged or lost computers or chargers will result in fines (see the table below). Students may be eligible for a fee waiver based on Free or Reduced Lunch status. For more information, please visit the Cherry Creek School District Technology Home Use Expectations webpage.

EHS (Eaglecrest High School) Incoming Freshman Night – Current 8^th graders

Raptor Welcome Night now scheduled for February 1^st. Please go to their website for more information.

CTHS (Cherokee Trail High School) Incoming Freshman Night – Current 8^th graders

CTHS Incoming Freshman Night has now been rescheduled for February 1^st. Please go to their website for more information.

Educator of the Year

It is that time of year where we can take a moment to recognize our outstanding educators who strive every day to help students be inspired to think, to learn, to achieve and to care. Below is a link where you can submit your nominations for the 2021-2022 Educator of the Year. All teachers, specialized service professionals and non-teaching licensed employees are eligible to be nominated, even if they have previously won a Teacher of the Year award.

The Educator of the Year Award for the 2021 – 2022 school year will be announced on April 21, 2022, at a the Foundations Gala/EOTY event. This event will be held at Infinity Park Event Center, 4400 E. Kentucky Ave., Glendale, CO 80246. Reserve this date on your calendar - you won’t want to miss this event.

Please submit your nominations starting on January 5^th using this link below:

https://forms.gle/YW5ThzDeFq1319mY8

Black History Month Poetry Competition

Calling all student poets, writers, rappers, and lyricists -TRMS is having our 1st annual Poetry / Short Essay Competition for Black History Month. We're starting a little early because your original work must be submitted by Feb. 1st and it will be showcased the entire month of February. 

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive a CASH prize. Please check out the flyers around campus or contact Mrs. Whitt or Ms. Rojas in the main office for more information. Let your voice be heard and express your artistic expression! Click on this link for more details.

AVID Information Nights for Middle School and High School

Do you know what AVID stands for? Advancement Via Individual Determination is an elective class at TRMS that teaches college readiness skills, develops critical/creative/metacognitive thinking, engages in project-based learning, explores colleges and careers, and much more. AVID instruction is academically rigorous and is a full year elective class. Want to learn more about AVID and how to apply, join us for the AVID Virtual Student & Parent Information Night for Middle School on January 31, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. For High School AVID Information Night, join us on February 3, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. (Zoom link - QR code). If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Maria Cobb at mcobb@cherrycreekschools.org. Thank you.

Boys Basketball Game

Tuesday, January 25 – 8^th grade Home/6^th grade Away v. Falcon

Thursday, January 27 – 8^th grade Away/6^th grade Home v. West

Wrestling

Practice begins afterschool on Monday, January 31^st.

YEARBOOK AND BABY AD SALES END THIS MONTH! 

 Our TRMS yearbook is a full-color, 120-page book (and world supplement) that captures moments in time and features all that is great about student life at Thunder Ridge.  8^th grade parents also have the option of commemorating their child’s completion of middle school by designing a baby ad!  Yearbooks cost $40.00 each, baby ads cost $15.00 each, and all orders close on Friday, January 28th, 2021.  Yearbooks did sell out last year, so order yours today!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OFIKbY1Xdo7zVMa7a1IsTmDH5URahUQk/view?usp=sharing  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Colleen Holtman at choltman2@cherrycreekschools.org

Milk Caps for Moola

If you have Longmont Dairy delivered to your home, we are collecting their milk caps. We turn in those milk caps for money. We have a container in the front hall of our building for you to place them in. Please see the flyer for more information.

Amazon Smile Program

If you shop at Amazon a lot like I do, here is an easy way to give back to your school! Just simply go to smile.amazon.com then search for Thunder Ridge Middle School PTO, select them for your charity, and then shop and purchase as you normally do! Amazon will send a check to our PTO for the accumulated donations! It is just that simple! You must go to smile.amazon.com every time first for your purchases to qualify! Please join me in supporting our PTO and our school!

Food pantry

We would like to let you know about a resource in our community and surrounding feeder schools.  We have a food pantry in our building.  This resource is for any family needing to help with groceries.  Please contact Deanna Rojas at 720-886-1570 to schedule an appointment to visit TRMS Food Pantry.

Upcoming January dates:

January 21 – Thunderations @ 8:15 in Library

January 25 – EHS Registration for 8^th graders @ TRMS

February 1 – EHS Registration for 8^th graders @ TRMS

                       PASS Meeting @ 6:00 in Library or virtual

February 5 – Honor Band

Thank you for all of your support this year!

Sincerely,

Blakley Wallace

Blakley Wallace, Ed. D.

Principal, Thunder Ridge Middle School

bwallace@cherrycreekschools.org