Week of December 2

Happy December!  It's a great week to be a Scout as we sprint towards the end of the calendar year.  Our Thanksgiving break was extended by a day due to the weather.  Students should plan to attend school on Monday, April 13th to make up the snow day.  This day was originally a professional development day.

We have some excitement on tap this week. The winter dance is Friday from 3-5.  All LMS students in good standing are encouraged to attend.  Admission is $4 and concessions will be available.  Please email Kevin if you would like to chaperone.  The middle school is also entering a float in Friday's parade of lights.  If you are downtown on Friday, please keep an eye out for the LMS float.

The Student Leadership Team will be hosting a chili cook-off on Wednesday, December 18th.  There is no cost to enter and there will be prizes for the winners.  If you are entering the contest, please bring your chili in a crock pot so it stays warm and bring a serving utensil.  You don't need to enter to attend.  If you are a chili connoisseur, please come to sample all of the delicious entries and to vote for your favorites!

There will be an incentive day on Friday, December 20th.  Students will be eligible to participate in the incentive day if they are effectively demonstrating their learning and getting to class on time on a regular basis.  The purpose of the incentive day is to build community and help students get caught up on their work before winter break.  To be eligible for the incentive students must have less than two tardies between 11/18 and 12/18.  They also must be earning all A's and B's.  If a student has C's they can still earn the incentive as long as they don't have any missing assignments after 11/18.  Students earning D's and F's, with more than two tardies, and/or with C's and missing assignments, will be given time to work.

Upcoming Events:

December 2                      PTO Meeting
December 6                      Winter dance
December 18                     No Scout learning lab-staff meeting 
December 18                     SLT family night
December 23                     Winter break begins
January 6                           Classes resume 

Week of November 25

It's Thanksgiving week and the LMS staff has a lot to be thankful for. We are thankful that you share your students with us each and every day.  We are thankful for your support.  We are thankful that you make your student's education a priority and we are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the LMS community.  We wish you a happy Thanksgiving and hope you have an opportunity to spend time with those you care about.

Twelve week progress reports have been sent out.  It's amazing to think that we are 2/3 of the way through the first semester.  If your student has one or more deficiencies in their grades, please contact their teachers to arrange for additional time and support in Scout Learning Lab (SLL).  There is no SLL or late bus on Tuesday, November 26th. The next Saturday SLL Is on 12/7.

The month of December will be a busy one. The LMS PTO will meet on Monday, December 2nd.  All LMS families are cordially invited. Please note the next dance is Friday, December 6th.  Admission is $4 and concessions will be available.  All students in good standing are encouraged to attend.  LMS dances are from 3-5 in the gym and are not date dances.  If you are interested in chaperoning, please email Kevin or call me at 721-4430. 

The Student Leadership Team will be hosting a family night on Wednesday, December 18th.  More details are to come.  Also, we will be having our next incentive day on Friday, December 20th.  Students will be eligible to participate in the incentive day if they are effectively demonstrating their learning and getting to class on time on a regular basis.  The purpose of the incentive day is to build community and help students get caught up on their work before winter break.  To be eligible for the incentive students must have less than two tardies between 11/18 and 12/18.  They also must be earning all A's and B's.  If a student has C's they can still earn the incentive as long as they don't have any missing assignments after 11/18.  Students earning D's and F's, with more than two tardies, and/or with C's and missing assignments, will be given time to work. 

Upcoming Events:

●        November 26                   No Scout Learning Lab or late bus 

●        November 27-29              No school-Thanksgiving

●        December 2                      PTO Meeting

●        December 6                      Winter dance

●        December 18                     No Scout learning lab-staff meeting 

●        December 18                     SLT family night

●        December 23                     Winter break begins

Week of November 11

We would like to thank all Veterans for their service and sacrifice.  The freedoms we love, cherish, and teach come at a price.  Thank you for giving to our country.  Your service is appreciated.

The student leadership team is holding a canned food drive this week  Students who wish to participate should bring nonperishable items to Mr. Miller's room during the week of the 11th. The grade that brings in the most food items will be rewarded with  pizza at lunch.  The SLT got a head start when they went trick-or-treating for food on Halloween.  Check out their haul below!

Middle school students, staff, and families are rabid consumers of social media.  As with many things, how adults interact and respond to social media is very different than how our students do.  Adult brains are physically different from adolescent brains and therefore we process the feedback we get from social media very differently.  This article from Psychology Today summarizes the impacts of social media on middle level brains and offers suggestions for monitoring use.  If your student uses social media, please consider monitor their usage time, following their accounts (all of them as they probably have more than one Instagram and Snapchat account), and encouraging non-tech social interactions.  There are many positive aspects to social media, but it can also have a very negative impact on students and their learning.  Please help us create and sustain a healthy school community by monitoring your student's social media.

Upcoming Events:

●        November 15                     Hathaway Day

●        November 27-29                No school-Thanksgiving

●        December 2                        PTO Meeting

●        December 6                        Winter dance

●        December 18                      No SLL due to staff meeting

●        December 18                      SLT family night

●        December 23                      Winter break begins

Week of November 4

Our schedule this week is a little outside of the norm.  On Tuesday, November 5th students do not have school due to professional development.  Wednesday, November 6th is an 'even' day and Thursday, November 7th, is an 'odd' day.  Friday, November 8th, is an 'all' day.  We always have S4S on block days, so students will have S4S this Wednesday and Thursday.

The student leadership team is organizing a canned food drive the week of  November 11th-15th.  Students who wish to participate should bring nonperishable items to Mr. Miller's room during the week of the 11th. The grade that brings in the most food items will be rewarded with  pizza at lunch.

The district recently sent out a link to all families to complete the 2019 School Climate and Satisfaction Survey.  If you did not receive the link, it can be found on the front page of the District website.  Please take the time to complete the survey.  It provides us with valuable feedback at the school and District level.  This feedback allows us to identify areas of celebration and areas of growth.  Please contact Kevin at 721-4430 if you have any questions regarding the school climate and satisfaction survey.  We look forward to your feedback.

Upcoming Events

• 11/5:              No school-professional development 
• 11/11-11/15   LMS food drive 
• 11/27-29        No school- Thanksgiving
• 12/6               Winter dance
• 12/18             Family night
• 12/23             Winter break begins

Week of October 28

Halloween is approaching quickly and many students would like to show their spooky spirit by wearing a costume to school.  This is something that has been done in the past and we will continue this year.  In order to accommodate learning, costumes must meet a few conditions.

Costumes must adhere to the district dress code.  Weapons, gore, face paint, and masks are prohibited.  Students must be able to participate in classroom activities and not disrupt the learning of others.  For example, a giant inflatable T-Rex costume makes it hard to sit and for others to see.  Students may have to change for certain classes such as PE and industrial arts.  We are looking forward to a safe and festive Halloween at LMS. If your student has any specific questions regarding their costume, please direct them to one of the principals.  

Also, this week is the cut off for late and missing work from the first part of the school year.  If your student has any late or missing assignments they need to be in by the end of the week in order to receive credit. Extra help is available during Scout Learning Lab after school daily and this Saturday from 8-11.  

The weather has turned colder in typical Wyoming fashion.  If the windchill is above zero, we will allow students to go outside during lunch.  Many middle school students continue to dress for the summer during the winter.  Please encourage your student to dress for the weather.  I know they often feel that they are only walking from the bus to the school, but buses break down, schools lose power, things happen.  Shorts and sandals certainly look cool, but they are not the best in an emergency situation. 

Upcoming Events

• 11/5:            No school-professional development 
• 11/27-29      No school- Thanksgiving
• 12/23           Winter break begins

Week of October 21

Tonight, is our first family night of the year as the Student Leadership Team is hosting Family Bingo Night from 6:30-7:45 in the LMS cafeteria.  All LMS families and students are encouraged to attend.  There is no cost and prizes will be awarded.  Please join us for fun, games, and popcorn at bingo night!

Fall conferences and our first incentive day of the year are also this week. On Wednesday, students are to report to their S4S teachers first thing as we are having an incentive day.  The criteria for the incentive  are grades and tardies.  If students are earning a D or an F, they will have time to receive support to improve their academic standing.  Students who have excessive tardies will also receive support during the incentive time  to help them make it to class on time.  Students who earned the incentive will report to the gym for a movie.  Concessions will be available. At the end of the day, all students will report to the gym for a pep rally. Celebration is an important part of our school culture and we are looking forward to all of these activities on Wednesday. Students will be dismissed at 11:23 on Wednesday to give teachers time to prepare for conferences.

Fall conferences will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.   On Wednesday, conferences begin at 3:30 and go until 7:30.  Conferences on Thursday go from 8:00-7:00.  Please use this link to sign up for individual conferences with your student's teachers.  Conferences are 10 minutes in length. There is no school on Friday, October 25th. The LMS PTO is providing meals for teachers during conferences.  Please use this link or this link to sign up to help them out.

Hopefully we will see all of you at bingo night and conferences.  Please remember there is no school for students on Thursday or Friday.  There will be no Scout Learning Lab or late bus on Wednesday due to conferences and there is no Saturday Scout Learning Lab on the 26th.

Upcoming Events

• 10/21: Family night 
• 10/23: Fall conferences-students dismissed at 11:23
• 10/24: Fall conferences-no school for students 
• 10/25: No school
• 11/5:   No school-professional development 

Week of October 14

The LMS blog is back after a bit of a hiatus due to technical difficulties.  Six week grade reports were mailed out last week.  If you did not receive one, please contact the school at 721-4430 to make sure we have your correct address.  We mail home grade reports periodically to keep families informed of their students progress and to share other information.  In today's highly electronic world, it was discussed at the latest PTO meeting that  this might not be the most efficient way to share information.  Please click on this link to complete a short survey about how you would like to receive information.

Fall conferences are next Wednesday and Thursday.  Students will be dismissed at 11:23 on Wednesday, the 23rd, to give teachers time to prepare for conferences.  On Wednesday, conferences begin at 3:30 and go until 7:30.  Conferences on Thursday go from 8:00-7:00.  Please use this link to sign up for individual conferences with your student's teachers.  Conferences are 10 minutes in length. There is no school on Friday, October 25th. The LMS PTO is providing meals for teachers during conferences.  Please use this link or this link to sign up to help them out.

Certainly conferences are a great opportunity for us to share information with families, but it is also a great time for you to share information with us and to ask questions.  How does my student interact with the other students in class?  How does what my student is doing in class relate to their lives outside of school and their future studies?  What can we do at home to support our student's learning?  What soft skills can my student improve on?  Here are some things that would be helpful for you to know about my student.  These are all great talking points for a successful conference.  We hope to see you all next week.

Halloween is approaching and many students would like to know if they can wear costumes on the 31st. The short answer is yes with some conditions. Costumes may not distract or prevent learning.  For example, wearing a giant inflatable t-rex costume makes is hard to sit in a desk or for those behind you to see.  Students in PE or industrial arts need to be able to safely participate in those classes and may have to change out of their costumes.  Costumes must comply with the District dress code.  Masks, face paint, gore, and weapons (yes even light sabers) are not allowed.

Upcoming Events

• 10/21: Family night 
• 10/23: Fall conferences-students dismissed at 11:23
• 10/24: Fall conferences-no school for students 
• 10/25: No school-conferences
• 11/5: No school-professional development