Templeton Middle School

Principal’s Weekly Communication

Middle School Years

The end is nigh, but not of the world. Can you believe it? 10 school days left until the end of the school year.  This is a busy time for us at TMS as we end one year and plan for the next.  One of the things keeping us busy is getting resources into the hands of students and families we have been working with as part of our Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Program. We want to ensure that families have the necessary resources for the summer time and that students/families know where to go for help. At the end of this message, you will find a number of resources for your students and families. Please make sure to check them out. 

If you or your student need assistance now, please reach out to our counseling staff. 

Prevention and Early Intervention Referral - When your student or family needs extra support from the school for a variety of academic and personal problems, including those related to grades, conflict with others, depression, anxiety, grief, recent life changes, alcohol and/or drug use, food, housing, and other essentials, such as child care, utility assistance, and health services. 

TMS Counseling Form - When your student needs extra support from Mr. Heinen or Mrs. Leopard with a variety of issues. 

8th Grade Promotion Messages 

Congratulations to our 8th graders for promoting this year! Purchase a promotion marquee message for $20 to be displayed the last week of school, Tuesday through Thursday, celebrating your student! We have three options shown below. Please use the following link and select the option you would like to purchase with your student's name.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Reassure:

• Reinforce safety and love within your relationship and family.

• Look for subtle signs of grief as this age group is better about masking or hiding their feelings.

• Be available for emotional needs and acknowledge feelings.

• Model appropriate ways to express feelings and fill feelings of emptiness (writing/drawing in a diary instead of watching TV or this shake & ground technique).

• Provide choices whenever possible.  

Routine:

• Identify clear and consistent roles, rules, and responsibilities within the family.

• Monitor high-risk behavior and set limits with practical consequences.

• Encourage healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits.

• Increase predictability in their environment (set family dinner time, etc.) 

Release:

• Provide and support creative outlets through art, music, theater, journaling, etc.

• Offer fiction and nonfiction books to provide a variety of perspectives into grief.

• Encourage physical outlets (sports, exercise, yoga, dancing) and appropriate options for aggression/anger (boxing/martial arts)

• Set limits for unsafe or unhealthy aggression. 

Remember:

• Allow youth to keep mementos of deceased loved one. 

• Include child in memorializing/funeral activities.

• Create a legacy book or box together. 

Reflect & Connect:

• Initiate conversations about the death of your loved one.

• Engage in active listening by asking open-ended questions and listening without judgment or interpretation.

• Allow for a wide range of emotional expression (child may want to throw or hit something – support them with safe ways to throw a baseball or hit a punching bag).

• Answer all questions clearly and accurately. Have patience and prepare by reading 10 Things Grieving Children Want You To Know or Seven Suggestions for Explaining Death to Children.

• Provide opportunities to talk with non family members for support. 

• For toxic shame or survivor guilt allow child to spend time with a person who had a similar experience.  

Reach out:

• Visit the National Bereavement Resource Guide (NBRG) to find counseling and support groups in your area.

• Proactively intervene and respond promptly to signs of depression or abnormal behaviors: Visit Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or call 988 

• For additional resources, visit our Eluna Resource Center or contact us directly for a customized resource packet specific to your area and needs. 

Arnold's Celebration of Life will be on June 12 @ 11:00 am at Chapel of the Roses, located at 3450 El Camino Real Atascadero, CA 

All staff and students are welcome.

Cards can be sent to:

Templeton Middle School

C/O Cross Family

925 Old County Rd

Templeton CA 93465

8th Grade End of the Year

We will be sending out our information next week with all the end of the year events for 8th Grade. This includes our 8th Grade trip on May 19, 2023, The End of the Year Dance on June 2, 2023, and Promotion on June 7, 2023.

Yearbooks!

Yearbooks are still available for purchase. They are a great way to remember friends and TMS when students get older! If you haven’t purchased one for your student, please head to the following link:

Yearbook - Head over to this link to buy your 2022-23 yearbook from Josten’s.

 DON’T MISS OUT!!!! Order NOW!!!

Dates to remember:

June 2, 2023 - Open gym at 4:00 pm - 6:00pm and Dance from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

June 7, 2023 - Promotion. 7:00 PM. THS Field.

Dr. Gene Miller

TMS Principal

 Here are some resources you may find useful:

 Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)

 Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)

 Helping Children Cope With Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)

Helping Young Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: Policies and Strategies for Early Care and Education (Child Trends)

Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma (Child Trends)

Talking to Children about the Shooting (Child Trends)

 TMS Counseling Form - When your student needs extra support from Mr. Heinen or Mrs. Leopard with a variety of issues.

Student Health and Well Being