Week of December 14

It's the last Monday of the year and we are so excited about our progress up to this point. Back in August we weren't sure if we'd make it to Labor Day in person, let alone until winter break.  COVID conditions in our community are still troubling and we have to remain dedicated to preventing community spread, but we are so thankful for the dedication and support of our students and families.  We are in this together and we will continue to do our best in what has become our new normal. 

Our student leadership team keeps coming up with ways to brighten the day and celebrate. This Wednesday and Thursday are ugly sweater days.  We encourage all students to wear their most beautiful holiday sweater.  No sweater, no problem! Some of the best sweaters I've ever seen have been created in under 5 minutes by pinning random holiday themed items to a shirt or sweatshirt. We hope all students will show their Scout Spirit on Wednesday and Thursday.  The grade with the best participation will earn points towards the Scout Cup.

The first semester ends on January 15th.  We will have I/E from 8:00-11:00 that morning.  All work that is going to be submitted for credit, must be in by 11:00 on the 15th.  Report cards will be mailed out the following week.  There are three I/E days before the end of the semester. We encourage all students to come in on Fridays, stay after school, and do whatever else it takes to demonstrate their learning.  All teachers and staff are here to help.  Please email me if you have any questions or need to sign your student up for additional support. 

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  The next two weeks are a time for us to collectively exhale, spend time with loved ones, and prepare to sprint towards the end of the first semester.  Have a great winter break and we can't wait to put 2020 behind us and excel in 2021.  The race for excellence has no finish line and we are thankful to be running this race with everyone. 

Upcoming Events

• December 17           Orchestra concert 
• December 21           Winter break begins
• January 4                  Classes resume
• January 15                End of the 1st semester 
• January 18-19          No school
• January 20                Start of the 2nd semester 

Week of December 7

We have two action packed weeks before the collective exhale and relaxation of winter break.  Our schedule for the next two weeks is A,B,A,B,I/E.  Students are encouraged to come in for extra help and enrichment from 8-11 on I/E days (Fridays).  It is our hope that all students will be caught up on their work before the end of 2020 and start the new year with a clean academic slate.  

Our Student Leadership Team has planned some spirit days to get us in the holiday mood before the break as well.  This Wednesday and Thursday are holiday socks and flannel days.  Next Wednesday and Thursday are ugly sweater days.  Please encourage your student to participate.  As you can see from last year's staff picture, ugly sweater day is a big deal and a lot of fun.  The grade with the best participation also earns points towards the Scout Cup. 

We are hosting a virtual family night this Thursday from 6:00-6:30. Please go to the LMS Facebook page to participate.  We will be reviewing the information from November's family presentation and answering questions related to blended learning, the end of the semester, and whatever else comes up.  We hope to see everyone there.

Meals are available for students the winter break.  The break runs from December 21 through January 3rd.  Families who would like to sign up for meal service should call food services at 307-721-4482 by December 14th.  Meals will be distributed on December 22nd and 29th between 11 am and 1 pm from our central kitchen at 419 S. 8th Street.  Meals can be picked up behind the building in the alley located off of Custer Street between 9th and 9th Streets.  Delivery can be arranged if transportation is not available. 

Upcoming Events

• December 7             Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 
• December 7             Band concert 
• December 10           Wyoming Day
• December 10           Virtual family night
• December 17           Orchestra concert 
• December 21           Winter break begins
• January 4                  Classes resume
• January 15                End of the 1st semester 

Week of November 30

We hope you all enjoyed a restful and safe Thanksgiving break. We are excited to have students back in the building for the push until winter break.  Our schedule for the next three weeks will be A,B,A,B, I/E.  Please remember that our school does not have a soft start or release. Students can enter the building at 7:45 and classes begin at 8:00.  Classes dismiss at 3:05. Students are in the building on I/E days (usually Fridays) from 8:00-11:00 and the buses run their normal routes.

The student leadership team hosted a successful food drive prior to Thanksgiving break. We are so proud of their leadership and the great response from our school community  It was very satisfying to take the items shown below, and many more, to Interfaith and help out those in need.

Every month we share information related to virtual and blended learning.  Please use this link to access this month's presentation.  Although it covers virtual learning, the suggestions are resources are very applicable to blended learning as well. We will be hosting a live Facebook meeting at 6:00 on December 10th to discuss this information and answer any questions you have.  We hope you will join us online a week from Thursday.  

COVID cases are increasing in our community.  We are continuing to do everything we can to limit transmission in the school setting and our efforts have been largely successful.  It is imperative that families complete the health screener every morning and keep students home if they are experiencing symptoms.  We know this is a stressful time, but we are in this together and we will make it through.  Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

Upcoming Events

• December 2             Choir concert
• December 7             Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 
• December 7             Band concert 
• December 10           Wyoming Day
• December 10           Virtual family night
• December 17           Orchestra concert 
• December 21           Winter break begins
• January 4                  Classes resume
• January 15                End of the 1st semester 

Week of November 16

Twelve week progress reports will be mailed out at the end of the week.  Please review your student's report with them and discuss their progress up to this point.  Teachers are available after school and from 8:00-11:00 on most Fridays to assist students who need extra support and enrichment.  We are committed to the learning of all students, even during this pandemic.  Let's continue to work together in support of students.

It is imperative that students shut down their Chromebooks each night and bring them fully charged to school each day.  This gives the Chromebook the chance to install updates, new features, and any new programs that ACSD#1 has added.  Students use their Chromebooks throughout the day and if it's not updated, or charged, it's not very useful. 

The Student Leadership Team is hosting a food drive this week to benefit Laramie Interfaith.  Students are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to Mr. Miller's room before school.  Hero points will be awarded for each item and the grade that brings in the most items will earn Scout Cup points.  Bonus points are given from items related to Thanksgiving, but all donations are appreciated. 

With holiday breaks right around the corner ACSD#1 Central Kitchen has been working hard to put together a couple of extended meal options for students in order to ensure that they are still able to receive meals even while schools are closed for the holidays. 

For Thanksgiving, students will receive their regular weekend food bag as usual and will also receive an additional backpack with non-perishable food items. For winter break, students will receive their regular weekend food bag as they go into the break. Then on December 22nd and December 29th families have the option to pick up meal bags on either or both days from Central Kitchen. Meal bags will consist of both perishable and non-perishable food items. There is a meal delivery option if needed. 

If you would like for your student/s to participate in these meal options please fill out the bottom half of this form and return it to Laramie Middle School or you can contact Lisa Theis at ltheis@acsd1.org or 721-4430 with your information. Please be sure to sign up by November 20, 2020 in order to help Central Kitchen know how many meals to plan for. 

COVID is on the rise in our community and state.  So far, the measures we've put in place have limited transmission in the school setting.  Please continue to do your part by social distancing, using face coverings in and out of school, practicing good hand hygiene, and modifying your routines, plans, and activities to reduce transmission.  If you have not done so already, please complete the stakeholder wellness survey that Dr. Yennie sent out and let us know how you're doing. 

Upcoming Events

• November 18           12 week progress reports
• November 25-27     No school 
• November 30           Virtual family night 
• December 2             Choir concert
• December 7             Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 
• December 7             Band concert 
• December 10           Wyoming Day
• December 17           Orchestra concert 
• December 21           Winter break begins

Week of November 9

It's a busy week at LMS.  This week we have wrestling at home, basketball at home, and Math Counts is starting to hit their stride.  Band, choir, and orchestra are preparing for performances next month as well. Activities are an important part of the school experience.  We encourage all students to participate in at least one sport, club, or fine art.  More information about activities can be found on the LMS website. 

From Dr. Yennie's Blog: COVID-19 cases in the county are increasing exponentially, and the school district has been affected by the increases due to many of our families and staff being in close contact with a person who has tested positive.  As of Monday morning, November 9, 2020, the school district has 10 students and 5 staff members who have tested positive.  In addition to these 15 cases, there are over 100 students and staff quarantined as a result of someone in their household who has tested positive (86 students and 21 staff). It is important to know that there has not been a case of transmission in the schools.  Students and staff have been affected through community spread outside of the schools and mostly due to close contact with a member in the household. Please read more about COVID-19 in our community and how we can help keep each other safe and our schools open

Many of our students are doing exceptionally well.  Others need additional time and support. Some students fall into both categories depending on the week and the class. Please remember that students can work with their teachers after school until 3:30 on their in-person days. Additional help is also available on most Fridays from 8:00-11:00 and students can sign up to come in on their virtual days from 8:00-11:00.  We are committed to the success of all LMS students. Please email me if your student would benefit from extra help. 

Upcoming Events

• November 3             No school 
• November 11           Veterans Day
• November 18           12 week progress reports
• November 25-27     No school 
• December 7             Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 
• December 10           Wyoming Day
• December 21           Winter break begins

Week of November 2

We have a more unique than usual schedule this week. Since there is no school on Tuesday, our schedule this week is A, off, B, A, B. There will not be I/E this Friday since that day is an in-person day for B cohort students.  Students will be dismissed at 3:05 each day they are in attendance this week. 

The obstacles we all face can either stand in our way or provide us new opportunities for growth. November is a great time to grow an attitude of gratitude to help frame our obstacles appropriately. We as adults have the unique opportunity to help our students grow by modeling gratefulness, encouraging them to find positives each day, and creating moments for them to affirm and build others up. If we learn to see the good, even in difficult times, we will inevitably grow an attitude of gratitude together. There are many ways to grow an attitude of gratitude. 

One way is to start a gratitude journal with your student and encourage them to record one thing each day that they are grateful for: a kind act, a funny moment, a special friend, or even the smell of freshly baked cookies. Your student can record these with a drawing, a poem, or a quick sentence. Keep one of your own and share them as a family periodically. It may seem small but writing about positive experiences can have a major impact.

You can also practice growing as a family through positive affirmations. At dinner, or during the day sometime, give affirmations to each other and share the good things you see. Take it to the next level and think of someone outside of your family who you could affirm. Challenge each member of the family to handwrite a note to thank that person and send them in the mail. 

These strategies are similar to some that we use at school.  Students share good things in classes, affirm each other, and do other activities to sustain a culture of respect and belonging at LMS.  This work directly ties to our theme, The Race For Excellence Has No Finish Line.  Each day we work to be our best, whether we are in school or not.  Pursuing excellence in all aspects of our lives in support of continuous improvement. Doing similar things at home that we do in school connects students' worlds and is a lot of fun. We hope you'll try it. 

Upcoming Events

• November 3            No school 
• November 25-27    No school 
• December 21          Winter break begins

Week of October 26

As a district, we have made some changes to the way students log onto their Chromebooks. These changes will increase security, improve performance, and make it easier for students to log on.  The initial log in after these changes is a bit different.  Please review this document for more information on how to log onto an ACSD1 Chromebook. 

There is no school next Tuesday, November 3rd.  This will change our schedule.  We will go A, Off, B, A, B next week.  In-person days for A cohort students next week will be Monday and Thursday.  In-Person days for B cohort students next week will be Wednesday and Friday.  There will not be I/E next week as Friday is a regular in-person day for B students.  Students will be dismissed at 3:05 every day next week. The entire A/B schedule can be found on our website. 

We were offering support to students on their virtual days at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Due to some logistical constraints, we moved that opportunity to the middle school.  Students can come in and work from 8:00-11:15 on their virtual days.  Busing will be available and students can grab a lunch to go if they want.  This is not a drop in opportunity.  Students must commit to attending on their virtual days for the remainder of the semester, or until we transition to Tier I, whichever comes first. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Kevin via email or at 721-4430.

Halloween is this weekend. Since the holiday is on a Saturday this year, we will not be wearing costumes at school.  It just isn't as special dressing up 2 or 3 days before the actual holiday.  When Halloween rolls around to a weekday again, we'll bring back costumes.  Stay warm and make it a great week.

Upcoming Events

• October 26-27        Picture retakes
• October 30              Last day to submit work from the 1st quarter
• November 3            No school 
• November 25-27    No school 

  

Week of October 19

We have a unique schedule this week due to fall conferences.  Today was an A day, Tuesday is a B day, and Wednesday is an intervention/enrichment day.  A cohort students attend in person on Monday.  B cohort students attend in person on Tuesday, and students participating in intervention and enrichment attend from 8:00-11:00 on Wednesday.  There is no school for students on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, or Friday. 

Fall conferences are from 3:30-7:30 on Wednesday, October 21st and 8:00-3:30 on Thursday, October 22nd.  If you haven't done so already, please sign up for a conference with your student's teachers using this link.  Registration closes at 3:00 on Tuesday, October 20th. The link to the sign up page is also on our website.  All conferences will be held via Zoom.  At your designated time, please go to our website and click on the teacher's name to access their Zoom meeting.  You will enter the waiting room and the teacher will let you in.  The passcode for all conferences is LMS.  If you are unable to access Zoom, please email your student's teachers and they will call you.  Students are encouraged to participate in conferences.  If you'd like to visit with an administrator during conferences, please join our Zoom at either 10:30, 12:30, or 2:00 on Thursday, October 22nd.  

We have been offering support to students on their virtual days at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Due to some logistical constraints, we are moving that opportunity to the middle school.  Students can come in and work from 8:00-11:15 on their virtual days beginning on Monday, October 26th.  Busing will be available and students can grab a lunch to go if they want.  This is not a drop in opportunity.  Students must commit to attending on their virtual days for the remainder of the semester, or until we transition to Tier I, whichever comes first. If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete this form to sign up.   

Picture retakes are coming up on Monday, October 26th and Tuesday, October 27th.  A cohort students will have retakes on the 27th and B cohort students on the 28th. CBVI students can come in for retakes at 10:00 on Monday, October 26th.  If you missed picture day, or would like retakes, please go to mylifetouch.com to order.  Use picture day ID: EVT4K8VTB.  

Our grading norms allow late work to be submitted for the first 9 weeks with no penalty.  The first quarter ends on 10/16.  In light of our current circumstances, late work from the first 9 weeks will be accepted through the end of the day on Friday, October 30th.  Any missing assignments from the first quarter need to be completed by the end of the day on the 30th.  After that, they will not be accepted.  You can tell if your student is missing an assignment if it has a score of 0.  Assignments may also have a late or missing flag on them.  Students can receive extra help after school or on intervention days. 

If you'd like a yearbook from last year, please contact Donella in the main office.  We have a few left. Thank you for your continued support and feedback during these challenging times.  I hope you will all join us at conferences to celebrate your student's successes so far this year and to collaborate on ways to improve.  

Upcoming Events

• October 21-22        Fall conferences 
• October 22-23        No school
• October 26-27        Picture retakes
• November 3            No school 

Week of 10/5

After a brief hiatus the LMS blog is back in action.  We are cruising through the first semester.  It's hard to believe that the first quarter ends on October 16th. Progress reports will be mailed out next week.  We are also preparing for fall conferences.  

The registration link for fall conferences went live today at 3:00.  If this hyperlink does not work for you, the link can be found on the front page of the LMS website.  Conferences are Wednesday, October 21st from 3:00-7:30 and Thursday, October 22nd from 8:00-3:00.  Conferences will be held via Zoom and are 10 minutes in length.  Zoom links for each teacher will be provided at a later date. Students do not have school on Thursday, October 21st or Friday October 22nd due to conferences.  Our schedule for the week of conferences will be A, B, I/E. This means A cohort students will attend in-person on Monday, October 19th.  B cohort students attend in-person on Tuesday, October 20th, and intervention and enrichment will be available for students 8:00-11:00 on Wednesday, October 21st.  

Support for students on virtual days at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)is currently on hold due to staffing changes.  We hope to reopen BBBS next week. Students can go to BBBS on their virtual days from 8:00-11:15 or 11:45-3:00 to receive assistance and work in a supervised space.  BBBS is located at 1010 S. 6th Street.  District transportation is not available to or from BBBS. If you are interested in this support for your student, please contact me. 

Thank you for your continued support overall and especially with our COVID protocols. It's imperative that you complete the health check for your student every morning before they attend school and that we all continue to practice the necessary steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community both in and out of school. Social distancing, face coverings, and careful hand hygiene are essential to keeping our students, staff, and families safe, and our school open.  We understand our current circumstances are frustrating, but we appreciate your continued diligence.  

I hope you have an amazing week.  For those of you that know me, I'm a huge Buffalo Bills fan. Seeing Josh Allen and the rest of the team go 4-0 has been a bright spot for my family.  The Scouts have also been performing well as we wrap up our fall seasons. Congratulations to the  boys and girls teams for earning first place at our state meet on Saturday.  Girls basketball and wrestling are up next as we transition in out winter seasons.  Activity information can be found on our website. Take care and stay safe.

Upcoming Events

• October 12              PTO Meeting 
• October 16              End of the 1st quarter 
• October 21-22        Fall conferences 
• October 22-3          No school
• November 3           No school 

Week of September 21

It's Homecoming Spirit Week at LMS.  The student leadership team has planned a series of dress up days to show our school spirit. Monday and Tuesday are socks and sandals.  Wednesday and Thursday are Scout Pride.  On Wednesday and Thursday, 6th graders should wear white, 7th graders wear orange, and 8th graders should wear black.  Students may also wear a hat during Spirit Week if they pay $1.00.  Please note that hoods are not hats. We hope all students will show their Scout Pride by participating in Spirit Week.

In the past we were able to open the school prior to 7:45.  However, due to COVID, we cannot let students in the building earlier.  This has caused traffic to back up in circle drive more than usual.  We ask all drivers to model our community core values by being safe, respectful, and responsible when picking up or dropping off.  This means please have your student ready to quickly and safely exit the vehicle when you enter the circle.  Circle drive is not a place to say long goodbyes, park, gather materials, or do anything besides quickly exiting the vehicle.  Lingering here delays students and causes unsafe conditions.  If you are anywhere in circle drive, please have your student promptly exit the vehicle.  Don't wait until you are directly in front of the door.  Have instruments, lunches, and other materials ready to go.  Don't drive around parked cars.  If you need more time to exit your vehicle or take care of other business, please pull forward into 15 minute parking just past the flag pole.

Friday, September 25th is the deadline for all students to have current vaccinations or an approved exemption on file.  This is state law.  Students without current vaccination, or an approved exemption, will not be able to participate in school after 9/25 until their records are current.  Please contact Mrs. O'Brien, LMS nurse, if you have questions or need assistance. 

Upcoming Events

• September 21-25   Homecoming Spirit Week
• September 25         Vaccination deadline
• September 28         No School-professional development 
• October 12              PTO Meeting 
• October 21-22        Fall conferences 

Week of September 14th

It's great to start a week off with a smile, and since Monday and Tuesday are our picture days, we're able to do that this week.  All students will have their picture taken even if they didn't pre-order pictures.  CBVI students can come in for pictures on Tuesday from 1:30-2:30.  Please enter the back gym through the doors off of the bus lane. Pictures can be ordered by going to mylifetouch.com even after pictures are taken. Our picture day ID is EVT4PJSVR.  If students missed pictures, or don't like their picture, retakes are on 10/27/20. 

The window for first semester schedule changes has closed.  Students can request second semester schedule changes at the end of the first semester or the first two weeks of the second semester. We understand that students may have not gotten all of their first choice electives, but due to necessary changes related to COVID-19 we had to approach scheduling differently this year.  All LMS classes are valuable and who knows, students might just find a passion they didn't know they had by taking a class they didn't sign up for.

Friday, September 25th is the deadline for all students to have current vaccinations or an approved exemption on file.  This is state law.  Students without current vaccination, or an approved exemption, will not be able to participate in school after 9/25 until their records are current.  Please contact Mrs. O'Brien, LMS nurse, if you have questions or need assistance. 

If your student needs assistance on their virtual days, we can help.  An ACSD1 staff member is at Big Brothers Big Sisters to work with students on virtual days.  Students can go to BBBS from 8:00-11:15 or 11:45-3:00.  District transportation is not available at this time.  If your student would benefit from working at BBBS on their virtual days, please call Kevin at 721-4430 or email me. 

Next week is homecoming!  We will have dress up days throughout the week.  Monday and Tuesday are socks and sandals and Wednesday and Thursday are school spirit days.  On School Spirit Day, 6th grade wears white, 7th grade wears orange, and 8th grade wears black.  We will also be introducing the Scout Cup next week.  Students may wear a hat on in person days for $1.00.  Adjusting to blending learning is difficult.  Please continue to communicate with your student's teacher and ask for help when you need it.  We are here for you and your student.  

 Upcoming Events

• September 14-15   Picture days
• September 21-25   Homecoming 
• September 25         Vaccination deadline
• September 28         No School-professional development 
• October 12              PTO Meeting 
• October 21-22        Fall conferences 

Week of September 7

Another great week is underway at LMS.  Our schedule for this week is B, A, B, A.  We will follow a similar schedule the week of September 28th due to professional development on Monday of that week.  The A/B schedule for the first quarter can be found in the school calendars section of the LMS website.  In the event we are in Tier II longer than 9 weeks, an updated A/B schedule will be placed in the same location.

There are changes to our foods service program this week.  Our district has been approved to change from the National School Lunch Program to the Summer Food Service Program.  Because of this change, there will only be one entree at breakfast and lunch.  Breakfast will consist of a cold entree, white milk, and a juice.  Lunch will consist of either a cold or hot entree with a fruit and vegetable and a chocolate milk.  Students will not be charged for breakfast or lunch as long as we are in this mode.  If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, you still need to complete the application. We are unsure of how long we will be in the Summer Food Service Program.  It depends of funding. We'll let families know if anything changes. 

Friday, September 25th is the deadline for all students to have current vaccinations or an approved exemption on file.  This is state law.  Students without current vaccination, or an approved exemption, will not be able to participate in school after 9/25 until their records are current.  Please contact Mrs. O'Brien, LMS nurse, if you have questions or need assistance. 

Picture day is next Monday and Tuesday.  CBVI students can come in on Tuesday from 1:30-2:30 for pictures.  CBVI students should enter the back gym directly through the door on the bus lane.  CBVI students, please do not come to the front door for pictures.  We will not be handing out picture packets to students.  You can order pictures by going to mylifetouch.com.  Our picture day ID is EVT4PJ2VR. 

Let's work together to make this week the best we possibly can.  The weather has thrown us for a loop, but at least the fire danger is down.  Please remember to complete the health check for your student each morning before they come to school.  It's an important part of keeping everyone safe and our schools open. 

 Upcoming Events:

• September 14-15   Picture day
• September 23        No School-professional development 
• September 25        Vaccination deadline 
• October 21-22       Fall conferences 

Week of August 31

It's going to be a great week at LMS.  Tuesday is the first virtual day for A cohort students and Wednesday will be the first virtual day for B cohort students.  All classes will be on Canvas this year and students can access all of the necessary resources for learning through Classlink.  This is helpful because everything is in one place and students only have to log in once.  Students who didn't receive their Chromebooks last week will get them this week as long as their online registration is complete.  

We are hosting virtual back to school night on Wednesday.  LMS staff have created welcome videos that will be posted on the faculty and staff page on the LMS website.  We will also be live on the LMS Facebook page from 6:00-7:00 to talk about the start of the school year and answer questions.  

Blended learning presents unique challenges and opportunities for students and families.  If you want to learn a bit more about Classlink, Canvas, or other tools there are two main places to go.  The student resources page on the district website is a great place to start.  The technology help center has a lot of helpful information as well.  We're all learning together and we're here to help you and your student be successful.  

Students are encouraged to come in on Friday mornings from 8:00-11:00 for extra support or enrichment activities.  Students need to sign up with their teachers in advance.  If they need to ride the bus, students need to be on the list by the end of the day on Wednesdays.  Students sign up by talking with the teacher(s) they will be working with.  Teachers may also sign up students who they feel would benefit.  Students who do not need to come in for extra support on Fridays are to work remotely on any activities posted to Canvas they still need to complete or activities assigned in class not yet completed.  If students are current on their learning, they are available to do all of things at home that you'd like them to do. 

Picture day is coming up on Monday, September 14th for A cohort students and Tuesday, September 15th for B cohort students.  CBVI students can come in on Tuesday from 1:30-2:30 for pictures.  CBVI students should enter the back gym directly through the door on the bus lane.  CBVI students, please do not come to the front door for pictures.  We will not be handing out picture packets to students.  You can order pictures by going to mylifetouch.com.  Our picture day ID is EVT4PJ2VR. 

Upcoming Events:

• September 2          Virtual back to school night 
• September 7          No School-Labor Day 
• September 14-15   Picture day
• September 23        No School-professional development 
• October 21-22       Fall conferences 

First Week of School 2020!

 We are eagerly anticipating the first day with students on Wednesday, 8/26.  We are excited to see our students in person again. Our building will be open to students at 7:45.  Please do not drop students off before then.  Students will head directly to their S4S classes unless they are eating breakfast.  Students who are eating breakfast can go to the cafeteria to eat before going to S4S.  Students will remain with their S4S classes all day building community and learning about expectations.  In person students will also be given their Chromebooks at this time. Online (CBVI) students will check out their Chromebooks on Friday. Both Wednesday and Thursday are early release days, so students will be dismissed from LMS at 11:23.  Students must be off campus by 11:40.  Everyone who enters an ACSD1 building is required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. 

Because we are opening in Tier II, we have A and B cohorts.  Students in the A cohort will attend classes in person on Wednesday.  Students in the B cohort will attend classes in person on Thursday.  Friday is a virtual day.  We are asking all students to log into their classes on Friday morning during the times they would be in class based on the attached early release schedule.  There will be a short activity, such as a discussion post, for them to complete in each class.  The purpose of this is to determine which students can get into Canvas and which students cannot.  This will allow us to help those who are struggling when they are in the building the following week. Teachers will be monitoring Canvas and their emails on Friday morning to assist students as well.

In order for a student to receive their Chromebook this week, their online registration must be completed.  This is done through PowerSchool and must be completed each year.  The instructions can be found on the ACSD1 website.  Please call us if you are having problems completing your student's online registration.  

The structure of student passwords have changed.  If your student has tried to access their school email recently, they may have been locked out.  Student passwords now use the follow format: Myacsd####!

• Passwords are case sensitive.
• The #### represents the last for digits of a student's PowerSchool number, just like last year.
• Usernames are the same as before
  • A student's username/email is comprised of their graduation year and usually their 1st initial and last name
    
  • There are times that a student needs to login to applications where you will only need a username vs. the entire email.
    • Username Ex: 19jsmith
    • Email Ex: 19jsmith@acsd1.org
    • Password is the same for both: Myacsd####!
    • Logging into Classlink and accessing all needed applications from there is the best strategy. 

Thank you for sharing your student with us.  We are honored you have entrusted us with their safety and education.  It's going to be a different start to the school year, but it's going to be great nonetheless.  We appreciate your continued support and flexibility. The race for excellence begins on Wednesday.  We can't wait.

Upcoming Events:

• August 26        First day for A cohort students
• August 27        First day for B cohort students
• August 28        Chromebook checkout for CBVI students
• September 2     Virtual back to school night 
• September 7     No School-Labor Day 
• September 23   No School-professional development 

Semana de 25 de mayo

La última semana del año escolar ha llegado y en algunas maneras no puedo creer que ha venido tan rápido, y en otras sentía como si nunca llegara.  Gracias por apoyar a su estudiante, nuestra escuela y nuestra comunidad durante esta pandemia.  Ha sido una situación desafiante y apreciamos su apoyo, su gracia y sus comentarios.  Hemos planeado varias celebraciones esta semana para marcar el fin de otro año escolar y reconocer a nuestros estudiantes.  

El personal de LMS va a pasar por Laramie el martes, empezando a las 3:00 pm. Esperamos ver a tantos de nuestros estudiantes como sea posible para desearlos lo mejor y agradecerlos por todo su trabajo duro.  Las rutas que vamos a tomar y más información se puede encontrar aquí.  El PTO de LMS va a reconocer a nuestros estudiantes de 8^o con un drive through ice cream social miércoles, el 27 de mayo desde las 4:00 a las 6:00 pm.  Los pedimos que los estudiantes de 8^o grado vengan por la vía circular enfrente del edificio para ser reconocido y recibir un helado.  Esperamos que veamos a todos nuestros estudiantes de octavo grado allí.

Si Ud. necesita devolver instrumentos de orquesta o un Chromebook, puede hacerlo esta semana.  Jueves, el 28 de mayo puede devolver instrumentos de orquesta desde las 9:00 am a la 1:00 pm. Favor de entrar por la verja al lado de las canchas de tenis y parar detrás del cuarto de orquesta.  Sr. Ryan estará allí para coleccionar sus instrumentos.  Se pueden devolver los Chromebooks en el carril de autobuses desde las 8:30 am a las 4:00 pm jueves, el 28 de mayo y viernes, el 29 de mayo.  Si no pudo recoger los contenidos de la taquilla de su estudiante, favor de llamar la escuela a 721-4430 para hacer una cita.  Los artículos que no se recogen para el 12 de junio se tirarán. 
Gracias por compartir su estudiante con nosotros este año.  No fue el año escolar que visualizaron cuando empezamos en agosto, pero lo hicimos.  Este año fue una experiencia única y aprendimos mucho sobre la importancia de comunidad, interacción social y colaboración.  Que tengan un muy buen verano.

Week of May 25

The last week of the school year is here and in some ways I can't believe it's come this quickly and in others it felt like it might never arrive.  Thank you for supporting your student, our school, and our community during this pandemic.  It has been a challenging situation and we appreciate your support, grace, and feedback.  We have several celebrations planned this week to mark the passing of another school year and to recognize our students.

The LMS staff will be parading through Laramie on Tuesday, May 26th beginning at 3:00 pm. We hope to see as many of our students as possible to wish them well and thank them for all of their hard work.  The routes we will be taking and more information can be found here.   The LMS PTO will be recognizing our 8th grade students with a drive through ice cream social on Wednesday, May 27th from 4:00-6:00 pm.  We are asking 8th graders to come through circle drive in front of the building to be recognized and to receive a sweet treat.  We hope to see all of our 8th graders there.

If you need to return orchestra equipment or a Chromebook, you can do that this week.  Orchestra drop off is on Thursday, May 28th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please enter through the gate by the tennis courts and pull up to the back of the orchestra room.  Mr. Ryan will be there to take your items.  Chromebooks can be dropped off in the bus lane from 8:30-4:00 on Thursday, May 28th and Friday, May 29th.  If you were unable to pick up your student's locker contents, please call the school at 721-4430 to make an appointment.  Items not picked up by June 12th will be disposed of.

Thank you again for sharing your student with us this year.  It was not the school year we envisioned when we started in August, but we made it.  This year was a unique experience and we certainly learned a lot about the importance of community, social interaction, and collaboration.  Have a great summer.

Upcoming Events

• May 26                  LMS End of Year Parade
• May 27                  8th Grade Ice Cream Social
• May 28                  Orchestra Check In
• May 28                  Chromebook Return
• May 29                  Chromebook Return
• August 20              6th Grade Orientation 

Week of May 18

Tomorrow is the first day for 6th grade students to pick up their belongings from their lockers and to return school materials such as textbooks, uniforms, band instruments, and library books.   Students' materials have been gathered and we're ready to hand them out. If students have medication at the school, this will also be returned at this time.  Seventh and eighth grade students can pick up their things later in the week.  Pick up times are as follows:

• 6th grade: Tuesday, May 19th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
• 7th grade: Wednesday, May 20th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
• 8th grade: Thursday, May 21st from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Anyone: Friday May 22nd from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

We are planning for a one stop exchange where families pull up in the bus lane and staff give them student belongings and collect items that need to be returned.  

If you have students in more than one grade, and don't want to make multiple trips, please come at the designated time for your oldest LMS student or on the 22nd.  For example if you have a 6th and 8th grader, please come on the 21st or 22nd.  If student belongings are not picked up on these dates, an appointment will need to be made to pick up belongings the last week of May or thin June.  Belongings not picked up by June 12th may be disposed of.  

Please note two important exceptions to the return of school property.  We are asking that students do not return Chromebooks or orchestra instruments on the dates listed below.  These items are still needed for the remainder of the school year.  Orchestra instruments and uniforms will be returned on May 28th from 9-1 and a later time outside of traditional business hours to be shared later.  The process for returning devices will be shared later as well.

We look forward to seeing families and returning students' belongings.  Yearbooks will be available for pick up and purchase during pick up as well.  Thank you for your continued patience and support.  Also, please check out the the latest edition of the Scout Shout.  It's a real page turner. 

Week of May 11

We are entering the home stretch for virtual learning and the school year.  This the last week that new, required learning will be posted on Canvas and Schoology.  Students will have the weeks of the 18th and 25th the complete work and finalize the school year. To that end we're developing a process for students to retrieve materials from lockers and to return instruments, uniforms, books, and other materials. Once the process is finalized, we will share it with families. We are also working on end of the year concluding activities and celebrations.  We will find ways to recognize our students and bring closure to the school year.

Speaking of celebration and community, dust off your running shoes because the Hapi-ness 5K is this week.  Due to COVID-19, the Hapi-ness is virtual this year.  Please visit the Hapi-ness Facebook page and watch this video to learn more.  We hope you will participate in this new format of the Hapi-ness.  It's a great opportunity to support our community.

There are some additional resources to support students in their learning.  Virtual study halls are held Monday-Thursday for LMS students.  The Zoom link for study halls can be found on the LMS S4S page in Canvas.  The best way to access Canvas is through Classlink.  The district has also started a homework hotline for all students.  The homework hotline can be found on the virtual learning tools page on the ACSD1 website.  Click on this link and enter 'Parent' for the password to access the homework hotline.  The hotline will be staffed throughout the day and into the evening.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Virtual Learning survey.  We appreciate your feedback as we continue to improve at virtual learning.  Stay safe and stay strong Scouts.  We're all in this together.

Week of April 27

Welcome to week 4 of virtual learning.  Thank you for your continued support and feedback.  Last Friday the school board extended virtual learning for the remainder of the school year.  Classes will continue as they have been for the rest of the semester.  The extended closure does raise some logistical questions.  We will develop a process for students to retrieve belongings from lockers and return materials such as textbooks, library books, and instruments.  Right now our building remains closed to prevent further spread of COVID-19.  Over the coming weeks we will communicate with you how we will address these logistical needs at the end of the semester.  We will also be looking at ways to celebrate our student's achievements  and to bring closure to the school year given our current circumstances. 

We are rolling out two additional supports for students this week.  Virtual study halls are now available for all students on Mondays and Wednesday from 8:00- 10:00 and Tuesdays and Thursday from 1:00-3:00.  Virtual study halls are held in Zoom and any LMS student can attend.  Students can find the link to virtual study hall in the school wide S4S class on Canvas.  Teachers will also now be holding Scouts for Scouts (S4S) on Wednesdays at 1:00.  The Zoom link for S4S can be found in students' S4S classes on Canvas.  So if a student had Mrs. Cuin for S4S, they would go to Mrs. Cuin's S4S class on Canvas to access the Zoom link.  Both of these opportunities are intended to give students an opportunity to interact with teachers and classmates in real time and to provide additional academic support.

The yearbook is completed and is being shipped right now.  If you pre-ordered a yearbook, we will find a way to get it to you.  If you'd like order one, there are still some available.  Please go to yearbookforever.com to place your order. Many people have inquired about second semester grades.  Teachers will continue to enter grades normally into PowerSchool through the end of the semester.  After the semester is finished, grades will be converted to pass/fail. Any grade 60% or higher will be converted to pass.  Grades 59% or lower will be converted to fail.  This was part of our virtual learning plan that was approved by the school board and accounts for the unique circumstances presented by virtual learning.  Please continue to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions. Make it a great week!

Week of March 30

Welcome to the second week of school closure due to COVID-19.  We have been working hard preparing to serve our students and families virtually.  As you heard from Dr. Yennie yesterday, all ACSD1 schools are now closed through Friday, April 17th.  This week students should focus on completing any missing or late work from the 3rd quarter and working on the posted extension and enrichment activities.  Please review your student's progress in PowerSchool.  Teachers will be reaching out via email and are available during office hours from 1:00-3:30 today if your student has work that needs to be completed. 

As we move into the virtual learning environment, your students will be receiving content and instruction primarily through Canvas and Schoology.  The Student leadership team put out a great video last week that showed students how to access Canvas through Classlink.  Families can also sign up as an observer to monitor student's progress and activities in Canvas.  Our friends at LHS prepared these instructions and this video to assist families in signing up. 

Many people have been asking how students can retrieve materials from the school.  Band instruments were handed out last Friday and Saturday.  If your student left an orchestra instrument at the school, please contact Mr. Ryan if you have not been in contact already.  At this time, access to the building to retrieve materials from lockers is not possible.  We realize that many students have materials in their lockers that they need.  However, at this time the risks associated with building access outweigh the benefits.  In the event of a long term building closure we will develop a plan to get students' materials back to families.  If you have questions about building access, please email me. 

In addition to the enrichment and extension activities teachers have created for their classes, teachers have created other resources for students and families during the closure.  Ms. Meyers, 8th grade math teacher, created these helpful hints to stay busy when working from home.  Our school psychologist, Mrs. Grimes, had been creating videos on mindfulness. Finally, check out the video below from Mr. Townsend, 7th grade social studies teacher, on how to work out from home.

Upcoming Events

• March 30          Enrichment and extension opportunities available
• March 30          Teacher office hours begin
• April 1               ACSD1 School Board meeting 

Week of March 23

It is a very unique time in our country's history. Please know that the staff of Laramie Middle School, and all of ACSD1, remains committed to supporting students and families.  Our school is currently closed through April 6th.  In the interim, teachers are working on a variety of activities to keep students as engaged in learning as possible.

Beginning today, LMS teachers will be contacting the families of students in their Scouts for Scouts (S4S) advisory classes. You may receive a call from a restricted or unknown number as a result of this.  Many teachers are using an app called Google Voice to make calls.  The purpose of this call is to make contact with families and check in.  We miss our students and wish we were all in school.  Teachers are working to make virtual extension activities available online to students starting next week.  Students should log into Canvas and Schoology on Monday to see what activities are available.  These and other other applications can easily be accessed through Classlink which is found at the bottom of the ACSD1 web page.  Students should also check their school emails periodically.

At the present time, students should work on any missing or late assignments from the third quarter. Please have your students log into PowerSchool if they're not sure if they have any missing work.  Teachers will reach out to families regarding missing work next week as well. If you have questions for teachers, they will be holding virtual office hours starting on Monday.  LMS teachers will be actively responding to email from 1:00-3:30 on Monday and Wednesday and 8:30-12:00 on Tuesday and Thursday.  Although it can be challenging, we encourage families to maintain a structured routine at home where students get up, eat breakfast, etc. at predictable times.

Thank you for your continued support.  Interacting with students virtually is not an ideal scenario, but it is our reality for now. The district will be sending out a survey on Friday to assess families' needs in the event schools are closed after the 6th.  Please be on the lookout for this and take a few moments to complete it.

Upcoming Events

• March 23          S4S teachers begin contacting families
• March 27          District technology survey
• March 30          Enrichment and extension opportunities available
• March               Teacher office hours begin

Week of March 9

It's Spirit Week at LMS.  Students and staff are dressing up all week to show their school spirit.  The themes for each day are as follows:

• Monday: Cozy comfy day
• Tuesday: Twin day
• Wednesday: Vacation day
• Thursday: Sports team/movie day
• Friday: School spirit day 

Scout Cup points will be awarded daily to the grade with the highest participation.  Part of Spirit Week is family pizza and trivia night on Wednesday from 6:00-7:30.  Attendees will be treated to delicious pizza as they test their wits against each other in a variety of trivia games.  There is no cost to attend.  Please view the video message from the Student Leadership Team below for more information.

As you can see from the picture below the lost and found is overflowing.  We will encourage students to clam their belongings throughout the week and will clean out the lost and found over spring break.  Please ask your student to check for their missing items this week before they are gone forever. 

Many students are being checked out between 2:30 and 3:00.  While we understand this may be unavoidable at times, it is very challenging to call a large number of students to the office during 8th hour.  We ask that you do your best to allow students to stay in class until the end of the day, or if they must be checked out during 8th hour, communicate with your student in advance so they come to the office at the appropriate time on their own.  

It's going to be a fun, exciting, and productive week.  If your student is missing work, please help them take advantage of Scout Learning Lab after school this week so they can go into the break all caught up.  There is no Scout Learning Lab or late bus on Friday. Thank you for your support in continuing to make LMS a great place for students, families, and staff. 

Upcoming Events:

●        March 9-14                         Spirit week

●        March 11                             Family night

●        March 13                             No SLL or late bus

●        March 16-20                       Spring break

●        March 27                             Spring dance

Week of February 10

It's already time to start scheduling for the 2020-2021 school year!  Upcoming 6th grade students  (current 5th graders) have received their registration cards, visited with a principal and counselor, and had an informational night.  Upcoming 7th and 8th grade students (current 6th and 7th graders) will receive their registration cards next Tuesday, February 18th, during S4S and need to return them to their S4S teachers on Wednesday, February 19th.

Upcoming freshmen (current 8th graders) are meeting with staff from LHS during S4S this week and are encouraged to attend a welcome presentation with their families next Tuesday, February 18th at 7 pm in the LHS theater.  Attendees will learn about graduation requirements and course selection for their upcoming freshman year. After the presentation, the academic wings will be open and teachers will be available to answer questions.

Today at lunch we distributed student passes to bus riders that are compatible with the ZPass program.  ZPass is scanned when students get on and off the bus.  This allows families that set up an account to track where and when their student got off the bus, check bus locations for their student, and receive notifications via email or text related to their student's bus.  SafeStop allows families to see where a bus is located so student's can stay inside when a bus is running late do to weather and to stay informed of last minute bus changes. You can learn more about ZPass and SafeStop here.

This Friday is a half day for all students and staff.  Students will be dismissed at 11:23. Students not riding the bus need to make arrangements to be off campus by 12:00.  There is no SLL or late bus on Friday.  We are having an incentive day for students on Friday as well.  Students earning all C's or higher are eligible for the incentive.  Students with lower grades will have time to work on missing assignments and other activities to demonstrate their learning.  All students will conclude the day with an assembly.  There is also no school on Monday, February 17th.

Upcoming Events:

• February 10         PTO meeting
• February 14         Early release for all students (no Scout Learning Lab or late bus) 
• February 17         No school 
• February 18         LHS registration informational meeting
• February 19         7th and 8th grade registration cards due 
• March 9-13          Spirit week 
• March 11             LMS family night
• March 12             Spring dance 
• March 16             Spring break begins
• March 23             Classes resume 

Week of January 27

The second semester is picking up steam.  Report cards will be mailed out today, so families should have them on Wednesday.  First semester grades can also be viewed online.  It was a fantastic first half of the school year and we're looking to build on that success in the second semester.  Thank you for your continued support and feedback.  We are running an unique schedule this week to accommodate Days of Understanding. Students will have four block days (even, odd, even, odd) starting today and well finish the week with our 'all' schedule on Friday. 

Days of Understanding is being facilitated by renowned motivational speaker Keith Hawkins for all LMS students.  Keith is an international speaker that speaks and conducts programs to over 400,000 students, parents, educators, leaders, and businesses annually.  The purpose of Days of Understanding is to create and sustain a culture of connection, empathy, success, inclusiveness, appreciation and respect at LMS.  Students attended an assembly today and will participate in one, two hour session facilitated by student leaders later in the week.  Part of the experience during the Day of Understanding is the power of parenting community night from 6:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 29th.  All LMS families are encouraged to attend.  

Many students eat breakfast and lunch at LMS.  Please keep an eye on your student's account balance.  We try to keep families informed when balances become negative.  With the availability of a la carte options, students can go through their lunch funds quickly.  If you have question about your student's lunch balance, or need assistance with the free and reduced lunch application, please contact the school.

Upcoming Events:

• January 27-30:    Days of Understanding programming 
• January 29           Power of Parenting community night 
• February 10         PTO meeting
• February 14         Early release for all students
• February 17         No school 

Week of January 13

It's the last week of the first semester!  The first half of the year has gone by very quickly.   Grades will be final at the end of the week.  Students who are missing assignments, or need to complete activities to demonstrate their learning, should make arrangements to do so before the end of the day on Friday.  Scout Learning Lab will be held from 3:00-4:00 every day this week and a late bus is available.  There is no Scout Learning Lab this Saturday.  First semester report cards will be mailed out the week of January 27th.  Students will receive their second semester schedules in S4S this Wednesday.

We have some unique schedules over the next couple of weeks.  There will be a full day of school for all middle school students this Friday, January 17th.  The early release is for elementary school students only.  There is no school for students on Monday, January 20th due to professional development.  The second semester begins on Tuesday, January 21st.   We will follow the 'all' schedule on the 21st-24th. Students will have four block days (even, odd, even, odd) the week of January 27th to accommodate Day of Understanding programming. 

Renowned motivational speaker Keith Hawkins will be at Laramie Middle School January 27th-30th to facilitate Day of Understanding programming for all LMS students.  Keith is an international speaker that speaks and conducts programs to over 400,000 students, parents, educators, leaders, and businesses annually.  The purpose of the Day of Understanding is to create and sustain a culture of connection, empathy, success, inclusiveness, appreciation and respect at LMS.  Students will attend an assembly on Monday, the 27th and then one, two hour session facilitated by student leaders later in the week.  Part of the experience during the Day of Understanding is a community night on Wednesday, January 29th.  All LMS families are encouraged to attend the community night. 

Many students have appointments, or other commitments, during the school day.  We try our best to get student to the attendance office as quickly as possible when they are checking out. It is extremely helpful if students are prepared in advance to come to the attendance office at the time of their checkout.  This gets you and your student out the door as quickly as possible.  Please discuss check out times with your student if they are leaving early and plan ahead whenever possible. Thank you for helping us make the first half of the year a success and for your continued input and support.

Upcoming Events:

• January 17:         End of 1st semester
• January 20:         No school-professional development
• January 21:         Start of 2nd semester 
• January 27-30:    Day of Understanding programming 
• January 29           Power of Parenting community night 
• February 10         PTO meeting