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