Week of May 16

As we wrap up this school season, our focus word for the month is Integrity.  Integrity is not just about honesty or trustworthiness. Integrity involves every decision we make. It is about making the right choice for the right reason — not because of the praise we receive, but because it’s the right thing to do. And it isn’t only about what we do in front of others; it’s about how we respond even when no one sees or knows. It demands that we hold moral principles so dear that we stand for them when others walk away. Raising our students to become people of integrity won’t “just happen.” They won’t learn if we don’t intentionally model and teach them. Please read this month's CKH newsletter to learn about some activities you can do as a family to promote integrity. 

Current 7th graders interested in building their leadership capacity should apply to attend the Rotary Young Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Young RYLA is a leadership-training program sponsored by Rotary International that promotes, encourages and rewards outstanding young people. An all-expenses-paid five-day conference that brings together a special group of boys and girls from Colorado and Wyoming to share ideas about becoming better leaders. An action-packed program of activities that helps build confidence and leadership skills (like problem-solving games, challenge course, zip-line skits, group discussions and teambuilding activities). Please read this flyer and watch this video to learn more.  Contact Tim Eisenhauer at (307) 630-6413 to apply. 

If you have a current 8th grade student and are looking to expand cultural opportunities for your family, consider hosting a French exchange student for two weeks in October.  LHS French teacher, Dianne Thompson is hosting an informational meeting on Wednesday, May 25th at 5:30 in room 2026 at LHS.  You can attend in person or via Zoom.  More information and the application can be found here. 

It's the last call for the award winning LMS Yearbook!  Remaining copies are available on a first come, first served basis in the main office.  Yearbooks are $40 and it's cash or check only. Don't miss out on your chance to own a piece of history. 

Upcoming Events

• May 26                End of the year dance 
• May 30                No school-Memorial Day
• June 1                  8th grade ice cream social 
• June 3                  Last day for students 

Week of May 9th

Theodore Roosevelt is credited as the original orator of the line, but John C. Maxwell made it relevant to education when he added the word students instead of people, stating, “students don’t care what you

know, until they know that you care.” For the last two years Laramie Middle School has been utilizing

practices from Capturing Kids’ Hearts to create and sustain a culture of respect and belonging. As a

result of these efforts, Laramie Middle School has been named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School. This award spotlights campuses that go above and beyond in creating a safe and welcoming environment where students are relationally connected to school and eager to learn. There are over 1700 schools that are eligible for this recognition and LMS was one of only 376 U.S. campuses selected as a 2021-2022 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School. Because of the rigor of the evaluation process, the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School award is both a high aspiration and an exemplary recognition of excellence.  Please read more about this recognition here. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported the 2022 Hapi-ness 5K.  It was a beautiful day for a run/walk and the student leadership team did an amazing job organizing the race.  We are so proud of their work and humbled by the outpouring of support from our community.  The funds raised will be used to help Laramie families in need.

I can't believe there is less than a month left in this school year.  It's been a whirlwind and we are looking forward to finishing strong.  Don't miss out on commemorating this school year with an award winning yearbook.  There are less than 30 yearbooks left.   Use this link to order your yearbook before it's too late!

Upcoming Events

• May 11                No Scout Learning Lab-staff meeting
• May 26                End of the year dance 
• May 30                No school-Memorial Day
• June 1                  8th grade ice cream social 
• June 3                  Last day for students 

Week of May 2

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!  We have amazing teachers at LMS and across ACSD1.  We are so thankful for the effort they put in each and every day helping our students learn and grow.  They are dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate. Thank you to all teachers! If you get a minute, please send an email to a teacher who has made a difference for your student this year and tell them how much they mean to you, your student, and our community.

We will be finishing up WYTOPP testing this week.  Thank you to our students for doing their best on their tests and to our families for helping students come to school prepared and focused.  Our preliminary results are encouraging and reflect the hard work students, teachers, and families have been doing.

It is my pleasure to share that Mrs. Hammond, 8th grade ELA teacher, has been selected as the 2022 LMS Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Hammond is an amazing teacher who designs engaging lessons, builds relationships with students, and is always willing to help out students and colleagues with whatever they need.  Congratulations Mrs. Hammond!

The 8th grade cooking classes had a cake decorating contest last week. The cakes were all amazing and tasted even better than they looked.  Our winners were: 1st Place-Scottie Pippen, 2nd place-Mint Chocolate, and 3rd place-The Lorax.  Congratulations to all students who participated and to Mrs. Heggie for helping our students prepare to take over the Food Network.

Upcoming Events

• May 2-6               Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 7                  Hapi-ness 5K 
• May 30                No school-Memorial Day
• June 3                  Last day for students 

Week of April 11

Thank you to everyone who made it out for spring conferences last Thursday. It was great seeing everyone.  Please remember there is no school for students on Monday, April 11th.  We have professional development.  Students will return to school on Tuesday which is an odd day at LMS.

Tuesday was the first day of the WYTOPP testing window. WYTOPP stands for Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress and it is our state-mandated summative assessment that LMS students take each year.  All students take a reading and math test.  Seventh grade students take a writing test and 8th grade students are also tested in science.  Students will take their tests during regularly scheduled classes over the next three weeks.  Science and writing are this week.  Reading is next week and math is the week after that.

WYTOPP results are used to measure individual student progress as well as our progress as a school and a district.  This test is important.  We ask that you help your student do their best by making sure they are well rested and in school each day.  Please encourage them to do their best.  We also recognize that our students are defined by more than their results on one test.  Teachers, students, and families having been working hard all year.  If students come in and try their best, it will be enough, and our results will reflect the hard work everyone has been doing.  Thank you for your support. 

Spring also brings the Hapi-ness 5K and the award winning LMS yearbook. The Hapi-ness 5K is held every year in memory of a Hapi Patterson we lost to cancer and is used to raise funds for those in need.  Please watch the video below to learn more and make sure to bust out your running/walking shoes on May 7th.  Our publication photo students do an excellent job on our yearbook and it sells out every year.  Use this link to order yours now to make sure you get a copy. 

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.  We are looking forward to a great finish to this school year.  Make it a great week.

Upcoming Events

• April 11               No school-professional development 
• April 15               LMS Teacher of the Year nominations close 
• April 22               12 week progress reports
• May 7                  Hapi-ness 5K 

Week of April 4

Spring conferences are this Thursday from 3:30-7:30.  Thursday is a normal day of school for students and we will dismiss at our normal time of 3:05.  There will not be Scout Learning Lab or a late bus on Thursday due to conferences.  Please use this link to sign up for conferences.  All conferences are in person.  If you are unable to schedule a conference with all of the teachers you would like to meet with, please reach out to teachers to schedule another time to meet.  We hope to see as many families as possible this Thursday. 

It is also time to select a Middle School Teacher of the Year.  We have many deserving candidates in our school and across our district.  The LMS Teacher of the Year will be considered for ACSD#1 Teacher of the Year.  Please use this link if you wish to nominate an LMS Teacher for this honor.  Nominations will be accepted through April 15th and a selection will be made between April 16-22.   

Thank you for your continued support and feedback. We are looking forward to a great finish to the school year.  WYTOPP testing begins next week and continue for the following two weeks. Students will take the WYTOPP during their regularly scheduled classes and our schedule will proceed normally.  Make it a great week and we hope to see many of you on Thursday night. 

Upcoming Events

• April 7                 Spring conferences
• April 11               No school-professional development 
• April 15               LMS Teacher of the Year nominations close 

Week of March 28

The Student Leadership Team is hosting a Chili Cookoff this Wednesday from 6:30-7:45 in the LMS cafeteria.  The event is free and if you'd like to enter, bring a crockpot of your favorite chili.  There are prizes for the best overall chili, the hottest chili, and the most unique chili.  You don't have to enter the cookoff to attend. Everyone is encouraged to come to sample the chili, vote for your favorite, and play games in the cafeteria and gym.  Please watch the video below to learn more about the Chili Cookoff.  We hope to see everyone on Wednesday. 

Spring conferences are Thursday, April 7th.  That day is a normal day of school for students.  Teachers will be available for in-person conferences from 3:30-7:30.  Teachers will be reaching out to schedule conferences for students who are struggling next week and we will open the registration link for conferences to everyone Monday, April 4th.  

Drs. Cynthia Hartung (Psychology) and Derek Smith (Kinesiology & Health) at UW are conducting a research study looking at the benefits of exercise on performance and mood in middle school students. They are looking for volunteers to participate. Participating students will attend three 1-hour sessions at LMS or UW. During one of the sessions, they will use an exercise bike for 16 minutes. They will also complete some verbal and computer tasks. Parents will complete some online questionnaires at various points throughout the study (total time is less than 1 hour). Drs. Hartung and Smith would like to invite you and your child to participate in their study. If you participate, your child will receive a $30 gift card and you will receive a $25 gift card. If interested, please contact Tamara Abu-Ramadan at uwyoall@gmail.com or call 307-316-4783.

Thank you for your continued feedback and support.  Make it a great week.

Upcoming Events

• March 29             Spring choir concert
• March 30             Chili cookoff
• March 31             Spring orchestra concert
• April 7                 Spring conferences
• April 11               No school-professional development 

Week of March 7

Last Friday was the 6 week point of the second semester.  Students have been working hard and are making great progress.  We will be mailing out progress reports this week.  Please review these with your student and identify areas of celebration and places where additional work is required.  Teachers are ready and willing to assist students in Scout Learning Lab after school and a late bus is available.  Please emphasis to your student the importance of completing all assignments.  Providing a dedicated space free of distractions (especially phones!) for students to do school work is a great way to support your student.  We also recommend that students have a set time each day to work on school work.  By working together we can make sure that every student is prepared for the next step on their educational journey.

This week is spirit week at LMS. The student leadership team (SLT) has selected the themes below for dress up days.  Hats will only be allowed on Friday.  Please remind your student to show their Scout Pride by participating in spirit week.

• Monday: Camo Day
• Tuesday: Pink Out
• Wednesday: Vacation Day
• Thursday: USA Day
• Friday: Hat Day

In addition to dress up days, the SLT is hosting a dance after school on Wednesday from 3:05-5:00 in the main gym.  All LMS students in good standing (not serving ISS or OSS on Wednesday) are encouraged to attend.  Admission is $4.00.  Students attending the dance must be picked up by 5:15.  There is no school transportation for students to get home after the dance. 

We have one week to go until spring break.  Please support your student's learning by helping them be in school, on time, every day.  Students miss so much when they are gone.  Make it a great week and if you are traveling during spring break, be safe and have fun.

Upcoming Events

• March 7               Six week progress reports
• March 14-18        No school-spring break
• April 7                 Spring conferences
• April 11               No school-professional development