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