Week of November 24

Please join us tonight for Family Night from 6:00 - 7:15 in the LMS cafeteria.  We have planned a fun evening including several rounds of family bingo with opportunities to win fantastic family gift baskets.  Additionally, we will have a variety of supervised side activities available throughout the evening to engage all ages. We will also be serving complimentary refreshments, featuring a hot cocoa bar with an assorted selection of toppings as well as fresh popcorn.  There is no cost to participate and all LMS students and families are encouraged to attend.  We look forward to seeing your family for a night of community and fun!!

The Annual LMS Fall Food drive ended last Friday. We smashed the school record collecting a total of 4,590 non-perishable food items that will be donated to Laramie Interfaith.  The 7th grade brought in 383 items, the 6th grade stepped up with 830 items, and the 8th grade claimed victory with 1041 items. We combined these items with those that the Student Leadership Team collected on Halloween to reach our record setting total.  Thank you to everyone who supported our food drive.  Together, we have made a big difference this year.

It can be a bit hectic in Circle Drive before school.  If students are prepared to get out immediately and don’t wait until they are in the front spot to exit, it makes things smoother and safer for everyone. If your student takes longer to get out of the car, or needs to get large items out of the back, please pull into short-term parking so traffic can continue to flow.  Please watch this video to become a master of dropping off in Circle Drive. 

We only have two days of school this week. Both days are ‘all’ days and there is no Scout Learning Lab, clubs, or late bus on Tuesday.  All students need to head home directly after school tomorrow unless they are attending practice.  We are so very thankful for the opportunity to work with you in support of your student’s growth. It is an honor to be a part of your student’s journey.  We wish you all a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving.  

Upcoming Events

• 11/24 Family Night

• 11/26-11/28 No School-Thanksgiving Break 

• 12/1 Rosa Parks Day

• 12/4 Crazy Socks Day

• 12/6 Saturday Scout Learning Lab

Week of November 17

 

It is American Education Week!  This week celebrates the wide range of support professionals who help our students succeed-from paraeducators and clerical staff to bus drivers, technical specialists and student service workers. Every one of them plays a vital role supporting students and families while keeping our schools running and thriving.  Please join us in recognizing their vital roles in our school community. 

The Annual LMS Fall Food drive wraps up on Friday.  The class that collects the most non-perishable food items will be rewarded during lunch next week with cookies and hot chocolate.  Eighth grade is in the lead with 522 items.  Sixth grade is on their heels with 510 items, and seventh grade is saving up for a sprint to the finish with 164 items.  When we include the items collected by the student leadership team on Halloween, we are closing in on our goal of 4000 items with 3220 collected so far.  Students can drop off nonperishable food items in the cafeteria before school or with their S4S teachers.  Thank you to everyone who has donated already.  Please consider supporting the food drive as we try to set a new school record and help those in need in our community. You can learn more about the food drive by watching this video.

Twelve week progress reports are going out today at 2:00.  Please check your email after 2:00 and review your student’s report and to identify areas of celebration and areas of need. There is still a lot of time left in the semester to address any deficiencies.  Scout Learning Lab is available Monday through Thursday for students who need extra help.  Let’s finish the last 6 weeks of the semester strong!

In this month of gratitude it’s important to take a second to acknowledge all of the little things that make life good.  A warm meal with family, a stranger holding the door for you, a friend sending you a funny message, all of these things and many more are something to be grateful for. We’re thankful for the opportunity to see your student smile at school this week. Make it a great week. 

Upcoming Events

• 11/17-11/21 American Education Week

• 11/21 Substitute Appreciation Day

• 11/26-11/28 No School-Thanksgiving Break 

• 12/1 Rosa Parks Day

• 12/4 Crazy Socks Day

Week of November 10

On Tuesday we recognize our veterans and thank them for their service.  Our country, and the freedoms we enjoy, are protected by our brave men and women in uniform.  Thank you to all who have served, past and present, we appreciate you. 

The annual LMS Fall Food Drive is underway.  Students can drop off nonperishable food items in the cafeteria before school or with their S4S teachers.  All collected items will be donated to the Laramie Interfaith food bank.  Our goal for this year’s food drive is 4000 cans.  Currently 8th grade is in first place with 213 cans, 6th grade is closing in with 84 cans, and 7th grade is getting started with 4 cans.  The grade with the most donations will earn hot chocolate and cookies at lunch. When we include the cans the Student Leadership Team collected on Halloween, we are over halfway to our goal with 2045 cans! The food drive goes until November 20th, so there is still plenty of time to bring in donations.  Please do what you can to help those in need in our community. You can learn more about the food drive by watching this video.

Friends, it’s time for some straight talk about Circle Drive in front of our school. When dropping off in the morning, please move in cohorts of 4 cars.  Your student should not wait to get to the front spot by the flagpole to get out.  If 4 students are getting out simultaneously, traffic will move faster and more safely.  Also, please say goodbye and finish conversations before you’re in prime unloading position. This will further speed things up.  If your student takes their time getting out, or has stuff they need to get out of the back, that’s OK.  Please wait and pull into the short term parking area so that you’re not holding up the process. A little cooperation goes a long way to making everyone’s morning a little safer and smoother.  At the end of the day, consider when your student comes out of the building before pulling into Circle Drive.  If they tend to dawdle, maybe meet them on 22nd Street so traffic can continue to  flow through the circle.  This video is an oldie but a goodie on how to drop off in Circle Drive.  The classics never go out of style. 

In this month of gratitude, please know that we are grateful each and every day for the opportunity to collaborate with you in support of our students.  Make it a great week. 

Upcoming Events

• 11/11 Veterans Day

• 11/13 Kindness Day

• 11/17-11/21 American Education Week

• 11/21 Substitute Appreciation Day

• 11/26-11/28 No School-Thanksgiving Break 

Week of November 3

 

Thank you to everyone who attended conferences last week. There was a great turnout and we appreciate the communication, support, and feedback.  A special shout out to the LMS PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) for organizing food and drinks for teachers during conferences.  The generosity of everyone who contributed is greatly appreciated.  If you were not able to connect with all of your student’s teachers during conferences, please reach out to them via email to address any questions or concerns that you have.  

Our students will actually be returning to school tomorrow.  It’s been a bit of a stretch for them with the 5 and a half day weekend.  We are excited to have them back in the building and to get back to teaching and learning.  Our schedule this week will be ‘odd’, ‘even’, ‘all’, ‘all.’  

The LMS PAC meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 pm in the LMS library.  All LMS caregivers are cordially invited and encouraged to attend.  Tomorrow night we will be discussing a bill that would impact school libraries that has been introduced in the legislature, debriefing on conferences, and other relevant topics.  We hope to see many of you there. 

We can’t wait to get back to business tomorrow.  I hope you and your student enjoyed some family time and relaxation over the long weekend.  We are honored that you have chosen to share your student with us.  Let’s make it a great week!

Upcoming Events

• 11/3                 No School-Professional Development

• 11/3-11/7 School Psychology Awareness Week

• 11/4 November PAC Meeting 

• 11/13 Kindness Day

• 11/17-11/21 American Education Week

• 11/21 Substitute Appreciation Day

• 11/26-11/28 No School-Thanksgiving Break 

Week of October 27

 

Fall conferences are this Wednesday from 3:30-7:30 and Thursday from 8:00-7:00.  Please use this link to sign up for a conference with your student’s teachers before 11:30 on Wednesday.  If you need to schedule a conference after that time, please email the teacher directly. Students will be released at 11:30 on Wednesday and there is no school for students on the 30th or 31st due to conferences.  Students also do not have school on Monday, November 3rd due to professional development. We hope to see everyone at conferences.

Due to the short week for students, we have a bit of an unusual schedule.  This week’s schedule is ‘all’, ‘all’, ‘early release’.  The Student Leadership Team has designated Wednesday as Backwards Day so we are starting with 7th period and ending with 1st period that day.  We are also having a first quarter celebration assembly at the end of the student day on Wednesday.  It’s going to be a little crazy, but a lot of fun.

The lost and found has continued its record setting growth so we will be clearing it out again after conferences.  Lost items will be on display during conferences on the red tile near the attendance office. Please look for any items your student may have misplaced.  I’m always surprised there aren’t more cases of hypothermia in our county given the large number of coats, hoodies, and hats that turn up every year.  It’s a veritable smorgasbord of outwear. 

We are very excited to see many of you this week.  There is a plethora of information related to grades and what’s going on in your student’s classes on PowerSchool and Canvas and we’re all connected electronically.  However, there just is no substitute for in person conversations and connection.  We welcome your feedback and dialogue as we celebrate the successes of the first 9 weeks and brainstorm solutions to any issues that have presented themselves.  Let’s make it a great week!

Upcoming Events

• 10/28 Choir Concert 

• 10/29 Early Release-Conference

• 10/30 No School-Conferences

• 10/31 No School

• 11/3                 No School-Professional Development

• 11/4 November PAC Meeting 

Week of October 20

Families, we need your help.  In order to sustain a respectful school culture and help everyone feel safe at school, our students need to understand that their words matter.  Unfortunately, some very hurtful phrases have found their way into common language amongst some of our students.  When a student makes a mistake or is having a bad day, they might exclaim “I should just kill myself.”  Or if another student might say “you should kill yourself” in jest when something embarrassing happens, such as dropping a lunch tray, or to another student as an insult. The use of the R-word and autistic as a descriptor or insult have occurred as well.  For example, saying “I’m so autistic” when a student feelings awkward.  Using these words in these ways is not OK in any context

Our school will be addressing this unfortunate trend and we ask that you reinforce the seriousness of this issue with your student.  It’s never going to be OK to say these things to someone else. Please also remind your student that this includes any electronic communication and that we monitor everything that is put into an email, a document, or a Google search.  Together we can help our students make better choices and create a safe and welcoming environment for all Scouts. 

On a much brighter note, we’d like to celebrate our 8th grade B volleyball team.  They concluded their season by winning the conference championship.  Way to go girls!  Our cross country team also has a very successful season winning three races at the state meet and taking 2nd place in another. Congratulations to our JV boys, JV girls, and boys varsity teams on your victories and to the varsity girls for finishing second.  Wrestling and girls basketball are now underway.  The Scouts never rest!

Fall conferences are coming up and they are a great time to collaborate with your student's teachers.  Conferences are on Wednesday, October 29th from 3:30-7:30 and Thursday, October 30th from 8:00-7:00.  PTC Fast opened at 8:00 am this morning.  Please use this link to sign up for conferences with your student’s teachers.  Students will be released at 11:30 on the 29th and there is no school for students on the 30th or 31st due to conferences.  Students also do not have school on Monday, November 3 due to professional development. We hope to see everyone at conferences. 

We finally received the hard copies of your student’s WYTOPP scores from the state.  They are being scanned into your student’s file as we speak.  Once that is completed, we will mail them home.  We plan to have them in the mail today. Please review them with your student.  They are very informative and there are many areas to celebrate.  

We have the opportunity to make it a great week. Let’s make the most of it . Thank you for your continued support and feedback. Go Scouts!

Upcoming Events

• 10/25 Make a Difference Day 

• 10/29 Early Release-Conference

• 10/30 No School-Conferences

• 10/31 No School

• 11/3                 No School-Professional Development

• 11/4 November PAC Meeting 

Week of October 6

 

Fall has definitely arrived and we are excited for the cooler weather and new opportunities that the changing of the season brings.  Football and volleyball are wrapping up their seasons this week, while wrestling is starting and girls basketball will get underway next week.  The mountain bike, debate, and greenhouse clubs are currently in full swing and our music classes are preparing for their first performances.  Our band is ahead of the game.  They participated in the UW Homecoming Parade last Saturday and will be on campus again this Saturday for band day. We encourage all students to get involved in one or more activities.  Please reach out if you have any questions about how to get your student more involved in our school. 

The best way to stay involved in school is to be here every day.  With materials available on Canvas and the changes to the world of work since COVID, you might wonder if it still matters if students come to school every day.  It absolutely does. Students who attend regularly learn better, have better mental health, and have improved overall outcomes.  Being here really matters. Read more about the importance of daily attendance in this article. 

Our theme for this month is Self-Direct. 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 student’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. One way to help students self-direct is by using a planner or calendar. 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. Read more about self-direction in this month’s CKH newsletter. 

Progress reports went out at the end of the day last Friday.  Please review your student’s report with them and identify areas of need and areas of celebration.  Fall conferences are coming up and they are a great time to collaborate with teachers in support of your student’s learning.  This year, conferences are on Wednesday, October 29th from 3:30-7:30 and Thursday, October 30th from 8:00-7:00.  Teachers will be reaching out to the families of students who are struggling beginning on Monday, October 13th to schedule conferences. PTC Fast will open to families to schedule conferences on Monday, October 20th.  Students will be released at 11:30 on the 29th and there is no school for students on the 30th or 31st due to conferences.  We hope to see everyone there!

The Laramie Middle School Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will be meeting for the first time this year on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the LMS library.  All LMS caregivers are encouraged to attend.  The primary purpose of the PAC is two-way communication and feedback.  We also discuss ways that families can interact with and support our school.  Fundraising is not required!  We hope to see a lot of new and familiar faces on Tuesday night. 

We have the opportunity to have another great week ahead of us.  Let’s make the most of it as we continue to work together in support of our students. Make it a great week.

Upcoming Events

• 10/6 National Coaches Day 

• 10/7 PAC Meeting 

• 10/11 Band Day at UW

• 10/14 Picture Retakes

• 10/25 Make a Difference Day 

• 10/29 Early Release-Conference

• 10/30 No School-Conferences

• 10/31 No School