Week of October 14

We are doing picture retakes on Tuesday.  If your student was absent on picture day, they can get their picture taken on Tuesday morning.  If your student had pictures taken, but doesn’t love them, they can take another picture.  If you ordered pictures and are getting a retake, please bring them to return.  Pictures can still be ordered from the first picture day or from retakes by going to mylifetouch.com.  Use code F202410OFF to receive 10% off your order.  

Fall conferences are on October 30th and 31st.  Teachers will be available from 3:30-7:30 on the 30th and 8:00-5:00 on the 31st.  Students will be dismissed at 11:30 on the 30th and there is no school on Friday, November 1st.  Families can sign up for conferences through PTCFast beginning at 8:00 am on the 21st.  We hope to see all families at conferences. 

Six week grade reports were sent out on Friday via email.  They can also be viewed in PowerSchool.  Please review these with your student and identify areas of celebration and areas of growth.  If your student is struggling in a class, be sure to schedule a conference with that teacher. 

This is our last chance to opt into Rhithm.   It is an invaluable tool for our school. In order for your student to use Rhithm, they need your permission. Please watch this presentation to learn more about Rhithm and then use this form to give your student permission to use it.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin O’Dea at kodea@acsd1.org or 307-721-4430 if you have any questions. 

The October meeting of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC, formerly known as PTO) is on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the LMS library.  All LMS families are cordially invited.  We will be discussing conferences, our school colors, and school to home communication.  We hope to see you there.  Make it a great week! 

Upcoming Events

• 10/15       Picture retakes

• 10/15     PAC (parent advisory committee) meeting

• 10/30     Early release for student

• 10/30    Fall conferences 3:30-7:30

• 10/31    Fall conferences 8:00-5:00

• 11/1         No school-LMS offices closed 

Week of October 7

This month, we’re challenging students to envision future goals and take intentional steps toward who they want to be. We are partnering with you to grow and develop your child’s ability to self-direct. We can model self-direction by celebrating the positive in each day, seeking the good in others, and emphasizing our responsibility to make positive choices. If your student doesn’t already use a planner, empower them to start using one to manage their time better. Have a weekly meeting with your student to share what they have added to their planners. You can help them add family gatherings, school events, and due dates.  You can also review the week at a glance in Canvas for each of their classes to help your student manage their time and have them use their Outlook calendar in place of a paper planner.  Read more about helping your student self-direct in the September CKH newsletter. 

Fall conferences are on October 30th and 31st.  Teachers will be available from 3:30-7:30 on the 30th and 8:00-5:00 on the 31st.  Students will be dismissed at 11:30 on the 30th and there is no school on Friday, November 1st.  Families can sign up for conferences on PTCFast beginning at 8:00 am on the 21st.  Six week grade reports will be available in PowerSchool on the 11th.  Please review these with your student to inform your plan for conferences.  We encourage all families to meet with all of their students’ teachers during conferences. 

We are still collecting opt-ins for Rhithm.   It is an invaluable tool for our school. In order for your student to use Rhithm, they need your permission. Please watch this presentation to learn more about Rhithm and then use this form to give your student permission to use it.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin O’Dea at kodea@acsd1.org or 307-721-4430 if you have any questions. 

The week is underway and it’s going to be a good one.  Boys wrestling practice began today and volleyball and cross country conclude their seasons this week.  Many of our clubs have started as well. Please encourage your student to get involved in a sport, a club, and/or the fine arts.  Participating in these activities enriches their school experience and helps them develop essential life skills.  Make it a great week!

Upcoming Events

• 10/15       Picture retakes

• 10/15     PAC (parent advisory committee) meeting

• 10/30     Early release for student

• 10/30    Fall conferences 3:30-7:30

• 10/31    Fall conferences 8:00-5:00

• 11/1         No school-LMS offices closed

Week of September 30

Fall is here even if the temperatures don’t show it.  I think our unseasonably warm weather has helped our lost and found reach capacity earlier this year than ever before.  When it’s cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon, it’s easier to leave that hoodie behind.  I’m not sure what’s causing our students to leave so many shoes lying around however.  Whatever the cause, we need to clean out our lost and found.  Please encourage your student to check for their missing items by the end of the week.  Everything in the lost and found at the end of the day on Friday will be disposed of or donated. 

We are encouraging all students to participate in Rhithm which is a well being questionnaire that we started using last year to check in with students on a daily basis.  This allowed us to measure how students as a whole were doing and let us know which individual students might have been struggling so we could support them.  It is an invaluable tool for our school.  Rhithm is made by Securly which is the company that provides our web filter.  In order for your student to use Rhithm, they need your permission. Please watch this presentation to learn more about Rhithm and then use this form to give your student permission to use it.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin O’Dea at kodea@acsd1.org or 307-721-4430 if you have any questions. 

It’s hard to believe that our fall sports are nearing completion.  Cross country will be defending their state championship on Saturday and football and volleyball wrap up next week.  Our next two sports are boys wrestling and girls basketball.  Boys wrestling practice starts on Monday, October 7th. Wrestling is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.  Starting this year, there is a separate girls wrestling season that begins in January.  Girls basketball practice starts on Tuesday, October 15th.  Basketball is open to 7th and 8th graders.  Students must have a current physical and signed code of conduct on file to participate in activities.  Please encourage your student to join basketball or wrestling.

We are excited for the coming week.  Our students and teachers are doing great things in class each and every day.  Thank you for continuing to share your student with us.  We are honored to work alongside you throughout the school year.  I’d like to give a special shout out to our amazing custodians this week in recognition of School Custodian Appreciation Day on Wednesday.  Our crew does great work and we couldn’t do it without them.  Let’s make it a fabulous week!

Upcoming Events

• 10/2 School custodian appreciation day 

• 10/15       Picture retakes

• 10/15     PAC (parent advisory committee) meeting

• 10/30     Early release for students

• 10/30    Fall conferences 3:30-7:30

• 10/31    Fall conferences 8:00-5:00

Week of September 23

It’s going to be a short week for students, but a great week.  Students do not have school Friday this week due to professional development.  Our schedule this week is All, Odd, Even, All, No school.  We do not have an early release on Thursday.  Middle school students will be dismissed at our normal time of 3:05 on that day.  The early release is for elementary students only. 

Last Tuesday, the LMS Parent Advisory Committee, the group formerly known as the LMS PTO met to reform and re-engage this avenue for family-school collaboration.  The purpose of this group is to provide an avenue for two-way communication between families and the school, provide links to learning, provide support to teachers and students, and to make the middle school journey a successful experience for all students. You can read the minutes from our meeting by clicking here.  The LMS PAC will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm in the LMS library.  Please join us for our next meeting on October 15th. 

Rhithm is a well being questionnaire that we used last year to check in with students on a daily basis.  This allowed us to measure how students as a whole were doing and let us know which individual students might have been struggling so we could support them.  It is an invaluable tool for our school.  Rhithm is made by Securly which is the company that provides our web filter. We'd like to use Rhithm again this year.  In order to do so, we need your help.  We need you to give permission for your student to use Rhithm.  If the vast majority of students don’t use Rhithm, it is not an effective tool for us.  Please watch this presentation to learn more about Rhithm.  We ask that you then use this form to give your student permission to use Rhithm.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin O’Dea at kodea@acsd1.org or 307-721-4430 if you have any questions. 

As we move deeper into the fall, please continue to talk with your students about how they are doing in school and monitor their progress in school.  Teachers are available after school Monday-Thursday in Scout Learning Lab to provide extra time and support for students to demonstrate their learning.  Thank you for sending your student to school ready to learn every day.  They’re doing a great job taking advantage of the learning opportunities our teachers prepare for them.  Make it a great week!

Upcoming Events

• 9/27       Professional development (no school for students)

• 10/2 School custodian appreciation day 

• 10/15     PAC (parent advisory committee) meeting

• 10/30     Early release for students

• 10/30    Fall conferences 3:30-7:30

• 10/31    Fall conferences 8:00-5:00

The Week of September 16

The back to school dance is today. All LMS students in good standing (not serving ISS or OSS) are encouraged to attend.  The dance is from 3:05-5:00 in the main gym. Admission is $5 and concessions will be available.  Students attending the dance cannot ride the late bus and must be picked up or off campus by 5:15.  Attendees must remain at the dance until 5:00 unless they are picked up by their parents or guardians.  The first dance is always a great time.  Please encourage your student to come to the gym and dance like no one’s watching.

As we move deeper into the school year, it is likely that students will need additional time and support to demonstrate their learning.  Scout Learning Lab (SLL) is available to all LMS students Monday through Thursday from 3:05 to 4:00. Occasionally, like this Tuesday, SLL is canceled due to a staff meeting or other school event.  Teachers are available to work with students in their classrooms from 3:05-3:30.  If students need additional time to work, or need to ride the late bus, they go to the west modular from 3:30-4:00.  Students can be picked up after SLL or ride the late bus.  In order to ride the late bus, students must be working with a teacher right after school so they can be added to the late bus list.  Students not on the late bus list will not be allowed to ride the last bus.  Students attending sporting events, dances, or socializing with friends after school are not allowed on the late bus.  Please encourage your student to take advantage of SLL. 

Picture day was last Tuesday. Pictures can be purchased by going to mylifetouch.com and using our Picture Day ID: EVTJP4ZRM.  All students had their picture taken even if they did not order pictures.  Retakes are in October for students who were absent or would like the opportunity to look even better the second time around. 

Our first PTO meeting of the year is on Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the LMS library.  We will discuss our vision and goals for the PTO and how to best involve as many people as possible.  A Zoom broadcast will be available as well. Use this link and the passcode 668101 to participate via Zoom.  All LMS families are encouraged to participate in the PTO.  Even if you can’t make it to our first meeting, please take this survey to help us make our PTO an effective vehicle for collaboration and two way communication. 

The year is flying by and our students are doing a great job.  Please remember that while we have tools such as Canvas and SLL to help students who are absent, there is no substitute for the excellent first time instruction our teachers and staff deliver every day.  Being in school is  critical for student success.  Please strive for 5 or less absences for the school year.  This will put your student in a prime position to be successful.  Let’s make it a great week!

Upcoming Events

• 9/16       Back to school dance

• 9/17       No SLL due to staff meeting

• 9/17       PTO Meeting 

• 9/27       No school- Professional development 

Week of September 9

Spirit Week is here!  We will be showing our Scout Pride through dress up days, activities at lunch, packing the stands at our home athletic events, and cheering the Plainsmen on to victory on Friday Night.  We encourage everyone in our school community to participate in Spirit Week

Picture day is this Tuesday, September 10th.  We do not send home picture packets.  Pictures can be purchased by going to mylifetouch.com and using our Picture Day ID: EVTJP4ZRM.  All students will have their picture taken on Tuesday even if they do not order pictures.  You can order pictures before or after picture day.  

The back to school dance is Monday, September 16th.  All LMS students in good standing (not serving ISS or OSS) are encouraged to attend.  The dance is from 3:05-5:00 in the main gym. Admission is $5 and concessions will be available.  Students attending the dance cannot ride the late bus and must be picked up or off campus by 5:15.  Attendees must remain at the dance until 5:00 unless they are picked up by their parents or guardians.  The first dance is always a great time.  Please encourage your student to come to the dance and bust a move. 

I’m excited to share that we are rejuvenating the LMS PTO.  Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September, 17th at 6:30 PM in the LMS library.  We will discuss our vision and goals for the PTO and how to best involve as many people as possible.  A Zoom broadcast will be available as well.  All LMS families are encouraged to participate in the PTO.  Even if you can’t make it to our first meeting, please take this survey to help us make our PTO an effective vehicle for collaboration and two way communication. 

As we enter the 3rd week of the school year, we want to thank you for sending your student to school ready to learn each day. Our attendance has been amazing.  Mornings can be hard, especially for middle schoolers.  Thank you for helping them get up and moving each day.  Being in school really makes a difference. Make it a great week.  Go Scouts!  Go Plainsmen!

Upcoming Events

• 9/10       Picture Day

• 9/13       Positive Thinking Day

• 9/16       Back to school dance

• 9/17       PTO Meeting 

• 9/27       No school- Professional development 

The Week of September 2

Happy Labor Day!  After a successful first week of school, the long weekend was a nice time to rest, connect with friends and family, and prepare for another amazing week.  Our school has a modified block schedule where Tuesday and Wednesdays are ‘block’ days.  Tuesdays are generally ‘odd’ days and Wednesdays are usually ‘even’ days.  On these days students attend either their odd or even classes.  We have Scouts for Scouts (S4S) at the end of day on Wednesdays as well.  This Tuesday is our first block day so students will go to their ‘odd’ classes only.  You can find our odd and even calendar on our website.  

Cross county opened our fall athletic competition last Saturday.  They will be back in action this week along with football and volleyball.  Students have to have 9 practices before they can compete.  They also must have a completed online registration to travel.  Eligibility is checked on Thursdays at the middle school.  If students are earning one or more failing grades, they are ineligible the following Monday through Saturday.  Ineligible students can practice but they cannot complete.  Please encourage your students to monitor their grades closely and to complete every assignment to the best of their ability.  

To provide students with extra time and support to demonstrate their learning, Scout Learning Lab is held Monday through Thursday starting this week.  Teachers are available in their classrooms from 3:05-3:30.  Students riding the late bus, or needing more time to work, can stay with our proctors until 4:00.  A late bus is available at 4:00 for those students who need it.   Students cannot ride the late bus unless they are put on the list by the teacher they are staying with. 

One of the tools we use at LMS to create and sustain a culture of respect and belonging is Capturing Kids’ Hearts.  You may have heard your student talk about “good things” or building a social contract which are some of our CKH tools. Another tool is focusing on a character trait each month.  This month, we’re focusing on empathy and challenging students to make sure that everyone they interact with feels seen, heard, and valued.  One of the things you can do at home to encourage empathy is to, as a family, brainstorm a list of 3-5 individuals you typically encounter during the day who may not receive many notes or words of affirmation or appreciation. Consider people who make your day brighter or provide a needed service, like your mail carrier, the cashier at your local store, or a neighbor. Ask each person in your family to write a note thanking that person for “Being a Light.“  You can read more about building empathy in this month’s CKH newsletter. 

Every day something at school makes us smile at least once.  This is great practice for picture day on Tuesday, September 10th.  We do not send home picture packets.  You can purchase pictures by going to mylifetouch.com and using our Picture Day ID: EVTJP4ZRM.  All students will have their picture taken on picture day even if they do not order pictures.  You can order pictures before or after picture day.  

We only have four school days this week, so we need to make them count.  Thank you for sending your student to school every day ready to learn. Attendance matters and we appreciate you emphasizing this with your student and for entrusting us with them.  Make it a great week! 

Upcoming Events

• 9/2         No school- Labor Day

• 9/10       Picture Day

• 9/13       Positive Thinking Day

• 9/16       Back to school dance

• 9/27       No school- Professional development