Week of September 20

It's hard to believe we've shared three full weeks of school already.  Time sure flies when you're having fun.  I know it's been an adjustment for students and families as we've gotten into the flow of the first semester.  Thank you for sharing your student with us every day.  We are honored to be working with you to support your student's learning. 

We are experiencing an uptick in the number of COVID cases at LMS. If your student develops symptoms, even if they are mild, they may have COVID-19.  Your student should stay home except to get medical care.  Do not sent your student to school, avoid public spaces, public activities, and group gatherings.  Call your student's healthcare provider to discuss their symptoms and whether they may need to be tested. For questions pertaining to your student's symptoms, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. O'Brien.  Read more about COVID-19 and how to limit the spread here. 

Seventh grade students completed the writing fall interim WYTOPP test last week and all students will complete the reading fall interim WYTOPP test this week.  Next week students will take the interim math test. Students test during class on block days.  The fall interim measures students against end of year standards and its main purpose is to show growth between now and when students take the summative WYTOPP test in April and May.  All we ask if for students to try their best. It's a useful piece of information, but it's one test in September and it's important to maintain the proper perspective as it relates to WYTOPP. 

Students may need additional time and and support to demonstrate their learning.  Scout Learning Lab (SLL) is a time for students to receive just that.  Teachers are available after school until 3:35.  If a student who is staying after needs to ride the bus, there is a late bus at 4:15.  Students riding the late bus will work under the supervision of a proctor until the bus arrives. Students not riding the late bus do not have to stay until 4:15.  Teachers will be contacting families of students who need to stay for SLL or students can talk to their teachers to arrange to stay after.  If your student is missing work or has questions, we highly encourage them to take advantage of SLL. 

Besides this blog, our website is a great place to stay up to speed on what is happening at LMS.  Click on the Weekly Announcements page to find out what is new this week.  The events calendar and activity pages are also very helpful.  Our staff directory will help you contact your student's teachers.  

Upcoming Events

• September 21-22:     Fall interim reading WYTOPP
• September 27:          No School: professional development 
• September 28-29      Fall interim math WYTOPP
• October 15                End of the first quarter 
• October 19                Picture retakes
• October 20-21           Fall conferences 

Week of September 6

 A long weekend was just what we all needed after the excitement of the first full week of school. Our fall activities are underway with volleyball, football, and cross country all competing.  The mountain biking club has it's first meeting on Tuesday after school, and Scout Learning Lab will be starting on Thursday.  There are always plenty of things happening at LMS.  You might wonder how to best keep up with everything.  Reading this blog is a good start.  Our Facebook page is another great source of information as is our website.  Our calendar, activities pages, and weekly announcements page are great places to look on our website to stay informed. 

One thing students and families will want to stay abreast of is our weekly bell schedule.  For the most part we follow a modified block schedule where we have 'all' and 'block' (odd or even) days.  Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays are 'all' days where students attend periods 1-8.  We have Scouts for Scouts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  On 'block' days, students either go to periods 1,3,5, and 7 after S4S on an odd day or they go to periods 2,4, 6, and 8 after S4S on an even day.  One of the things we learned last year is that while we needed block days for effective instruction in many areas, we didn't need them every week.  So some weeks, such as this week, we won't have block days and students will attend all 8 of their classes every day with S4S on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Seems confusing right? Fortunately both our bell schedule and an odd/even calendar can be found on our website. 

I mentioned Scout Learning Lab earlier. Scout Learning Lab (SLL) is a time for students to receive additional time and support to demonstrate their learning.  Teachers are available after school until 3:35.  If a student who is staying after needs to ride the bus, we will have a late bus at 4:15 for them.  Students riding the late bus will work under the supervision of a proctor until the bus arrives. Students not riding the late bus do not have to stay until 4:15.  Scout Learning Lab provides additional time and support for those students who need it. Teachers will be contacting families of students who need to stay for SLL or students can talk to their teachers to arrange to stay after. 

We are planning our first dance of the school year on Friday.  Our dances are not date dances and go from 3:05-5:00.  Admission is $4.00. All students who are in good standing (not serving ISS or OSS) are encouraged to attend.  Starting this year, all students who choose to attend the dance will be required to stay until 5:00 unless checked out by a parent or guardian. This will allow us to make sure your students are supervised and safe during the dance.  All students who attend the dance must be picked up by 5:15.  

Upcoming Events

• September 6- No School: Labor Day
• September 10- Back to school dance 
• September 27- No School: professional development