Week of October 29

It's a spook-tacular week to be a Scout.  Students are allowed to wear costumes on Halloween.  They must meet the criteria laid out previously.  Which are basically: the student is identifiable, and excessive gore, excessive face paint, masks, and faux weapons are not permitted.  Students and their classmates must be able to participate in learning activities.  Students with costumes that do not meet these criteria will be asked to change.  Let's make this a fantastic Halloween.

One of the many great things about graduating from high school in Wyoming is that Hathaway Scholarship.  The Hathaway Scholarship is funded by a $400 million permanent endowment an all Wyoming students are eligible for the Hathaway Scholarship if they meet the criteria. This scholarship can cover significant portions  post-secondary education.  Please visit this website to learn more about the Hathaway Scholarship or email your questions in.

In order to make grades reflective of learning, the LMS staff has developed grading norms.  Some of our norms are related to late or missing work.  Students do not lose points if work is late.  Taking off points would be grade promptness, which is a behavior, as opposed to offering feedback on what the assignment was about.  However, turning in assignments on the last day of a semester from the first week of the semester is more about a grading game than a learning game. 

Late or missing assignments can be completed and submitted for credit in nine week intervals.  The first nine week interval ends this Friday.  Any work from the first part of the year will not be accepted for credit after Friday, November 2nd.  Assignments from Monday the 5th onward will be accepted through the end of the semester on January 18th.  Please check your student's grades in Powerschool and utilize Scout Learning Lab to help your student complete any missing work prior to this Friday.

Upcoming Events: 

• November 5-9                LMS food drive
• November 6                   No school-professional development 
• November 9                   Fall dance
• November 16                 Hathaway Scholarship Day
• November 21-13            No school-Thanksgiving
• November 29                 Nellie T. Ross' birthday 

Week of October 22

To begin this post, I'd like to share some of Dr. Yennie's words to frame why we have conferences. When I typed my first draft, I focused on the logistics of conferences, which are important and shared below.  But Dr. Yennie helped me remember the why of conferences.  Why we take the time to be intentional about discussing your student's growth, why we alter our busy schedules for conferences, and why in this age of digital communication, there is so much value in meeting face to face.

With parent-teacher conferences this week, we get the opportunity to connect in the presence of old and new friends. We get to share the stories about children and their amazing learning and growth.  We get to hear dreams and aspirations. Please take the time to make meaningful connections this week.  Parent –teacher conferences are a great celebration and an important milestone. 

And now for the nuts and bolts.  There are only three days of school for students this week.  Students do not attend school on Thursday, October 25th or Friday, October 26th. Conference are from 3:30-7:30 on Wednesday and 8:00-7:00 on Thursday.  There will be no Scout Learning Lab (SLL) on Wednesday, but we will have SLL on Friday from 8:00-11:00.  Classes will resume on Monday, October 29th.  Please use this link to sign up for conferences if you have not done so already.  Because of the short week, we will be following our 'all' schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Attendance is crucial to student success.  Our attendance mantra for this year is "Strive for Five" meaning our goal for all students is five or less absences excluding those absences related to school activities.  There are many factors that influence school attendance, and at times students need to miss school for illness or other reasons, but students need to be in school as much as possible as there truly is no replacement for first time instruction and the learning that accompanies it.  You might wonder, what's the big deal about attendance?

A study in Maryland found that only 49% of chronically absent middle school students graduated from high school on time compared to 70% of students who attended faithfully.  Another study in Pennsylvania showed that students who struggled academically and who were habitually absent were significantly less likely to close the achievement gap than their peers who also struggled academically but attended school regularly.  This research confirms what we already know, being in school is important.  Please do everything you can to help your student be in school, on time, ready to learn every day. Certainly we will do everything we can to help students who are absent get caught up on what they miss, but there's just no substitute for being in school.

The last class at LMS dismisses at 3:00 every day.  Unless your student is staying for SLL, or participating in an activity that starts right after school, they need to be out of the building by 3:10.  Some students are staying long after that creating supervision issues.  If your student is being picked up, their ride should be at the school by 3:10 or other arrangements need to be made.  If your student participates in an activity that has late practice, they need to make arrangements to go somewhere after school until practice begins.  They can not remain at the middle school until late practice starts.  There is no one available to supervise students during that time.  Thank you for your support.

Upcoming Events: 

• October 24                     No SLL conferences 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences
• October 25-26                No school-conferences
• November 6                   No school-professional development 
• November 29                 Nellie T. Ross' birthday 

Week of October 15

Fall conferences are Wednesday, October 24th from 3:30-7:30 and Thursday, October 25th from 8:00-7:00.  Conferences are a great time to check in with your student's teachers and to offer feedback to help us support students more effectively.  Use this link to schedule your conferences.  If you can't remember everyone's name from back to school night, please review your student's schedule on Powerschool, consult the six week grade report that was mailed home last week, or view the staff listing page on our website.  If you are unable to schedule a conference with all of your student's teachers on the 24th or 25th, please contact teachers via email to set up another time to meet.  We hope to see you all on the 24th or 25th.  Spanish translation services are available all day on the 25th.

Halloween is approaching quickly.  In fact, based on the displays in the stores, we've been ready for Halloween since late August. Students are allowed to wear costumes on Halloween, however, there are guidelines for costumes.  Please review the video below from the student leadership team for more information.

There will be no Scout Learning Lab (SLL) this Wednesday due to a staff meeting.  There will also be no late bus.  All students not participating in school activities should leave right after school on Wednesday.  Also, please remember that while the elementary schools have an early release this Friday, the middle school will dismiss at our regular time of 3:00.

As you can see from the picture below, the LMS lost and found is way more lost than found at this point.  Please encourage your student to look for their missing items in the lost and found.  It is located in the cafeteria.  All items remaining after conferences will either be donated or disposed of.

Upcoming Events: 

• October 17                     No SLL-staff meeting 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences
• October 25-26                No school-conferences
• November 6                   No school-professional development 

Week of October 1st

It's homecoming  spirit week at Laramie Middle School.  There are a variety of activities planned including dress up days, a football game, a volleyball games, and family bingo night.  Homecoming spirit week concludes with the LHS football game on Friday night. Please see the LMS Events Calendar for a complete listing of events.  The themes for the dress up days are:

• Movie Monday
• Twinning Tuesday
• White Out Wednesday
• Throwback Thursday
• School Spirit Friday

Family Bingo Night is today, October 2nd, from 6:45-8:00 pm in the LMS cafeteria.  All LMS students and their families are encouraged to attend. There will be prizes, popcorn, and plenty of fun.  There is no cost to attend.  We hope to see you all tonight n the cafeteria.  It's the place to be!

Families whose students have a negative lunch balance began receiving text messages last Friday, September 29th.  These texts will be sent weekly to keep families informed of their student's balance. Lunch payments can be made online under the resources tab on the LMS website. If you have questions regarding your student's account, or feel you have received a text message in error, please contact food service at 721-4482. 

The State Department of Education has released WYTOPP scores from last Spring.  WYTOPP is the state mandated test students take each fall and spring to measure their progress and growth.  We use WYTOPP scores to examine our instructional effectiveness and to identify areas of celebration and areas of growth.  Students in all grades take the math and English Language Arts (ELA) tests.  Eighth grade students take a science test and seventh grade students take a writing test as well.  Our scores, as measured by the percentage of students who scored proficient or advanced, were higher than the state average in all areas.  We are excited for these results and look forward to working together to improve in the future.  Families will receive a copy of their student's scores with the six week grade report that is being mailed out this Friday.

	State Average	LMS Scores
ELA	56.7%	63%
Math	50.6%	65%
Science	46.8%	50%

Upcoming Events: 

•                   
• October 1-5                    Homecoming spirit week                      
• October 2                       Picture retakes 
• October 2                       LMS family night 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences
• October 25-26                No school-conferences

Week of September 24th

Another week is underway at LMS, but we begin without our students.  During Monday's professional development we are building skills to move effectively support students in crisis and to provide for the care, welfare, safety, and security for all students.  We realize that professional development can be a bit of a blessing and a curse.  A blessing at times as these days provide a long weekend for families to be together without missing school, and a curse in the same breath as families  may need to find supervision for their students during the day.  Please know that our work during professional development is crucial to our growth as a school community and we appreciate your support.

All students must have updated vaccination paperwork on file, filed for an exemption, or scheduled an appointment to become properly vaccinated or by state law they are not allowed to attend school 30 calendar days after the start of the school year.  Mrs. Woodhouse has been reaching out to all families whose students need to update their vaccinations. Beginning on 9/25/18, students lacking the proper vaccinations will not be allowed to attend classes.  If you have any questions regarding vaccination requirements, please contact Mrs. Woodhouse at 721-4430.

Picture retakes are Tuesday, October 2nd.  Students who did not have their pictures taken previously will have their pictures taken.  Students who had their pictures taken, but would like retakes should bring their original pictures with them.  Replacement pictures are free no charge if students return all of their original pictures. If you would like to order pictures online, go to mylifetouch.com and enter picture day ID CG218395Y1.

The upcoming shift in activities is evidence that the school year is flying by.  Cross country, football, and volleyball will be wrapping up soon and girls basketball and wrestling will begin the week of October 8th. Wrestling is open to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and girls basketball is open to female students in 7th and 8th grades.  Students must have a signed code of conduct and athletic physical on file to participate in activities.  If your student already participated in an activity this year, all of their paperwork will is on file. Please contact Mrs. Anfinson or Mrs. Burkhart.

Upcoming Events: 

•                   
• September 24                 No school-professional development
• October 1-5                    Homecoming week                      
• October 2                       Picture retakes 
• October 2                       LMS family night 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences

Week of September 17

It's another week of unique schedules as students complete the math portion of the fall WYTOPP test.  Our schedule will be Even, Odd, Even, Odd, All, this week.  This allows students to complete their math tests during their math class causing less disruption to their overall schedules. Students attend Scouts for Scouts (advisory) on all block days so they will attend four days this week. We will return to a more standard schedule next week with only two block days.

I say or more standard schedule next week as students will not have school on Monday, September 24th due to professional development.  All LMS staff will be participating in nonviolent crisis intervention training on the 24th.  This training sounds more intense than it actually is.  We will be developing deescalation skills to help students who are becoming agitated, acting out, or struggling emotionally deescalate and return to learning in a way that minimizes disruptions, increases safety for students and staff, and maintains the respect and dignity of all involved.  This training is part of a District-wide effort so staff at other schools will be engaging in similar training on the 24th as well.

The week of October 1st is homecoming week.  We will engage in a series of dress up days an other activities to build school spirit.  Our activities will culminate with the LHS football game on Friday, October 5th.  Homecoming is another opportunity to build community and celebrate a positive school culture.  We will share more information about homecoming and spirit week as the date gets closer.

Upcoming Events: 

•                   
• September 24                 No school-professional development
• October 1                       Homecoming week
• October 2                       Picture retakes 
• October 2                       LMS family night 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences

Week of September 10

This week brings fall WYTOPP testing to LMS. The WYTOPP (Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress) is the state-mandated test that replaced PAWS.  We also take the interim test in the fall in place of MAP.  To accommodate testing and have the least disruption to student's overall schedules, we will have four block days this week.  Our schedule will go Even, Odd, Even, Odd, All.  The longer blocks allow all students to take their ELA and math tests during class so they do not have to miss other classes to test.  WYTOPP data helps us not only measure student progress, but helps us identify areas of celebration and areas of growth as it relates to our curriculum and instruction.

WYTOPP data from last Spring has just been released.  You will be receiving your student's report with their six week grade report in a couple of weeks.  This school year, you should receive your student's results at the end May or beginning of June.  Results were late this year due to the implementation of the new test.  Overall LMS students performed well.  We saw growth in most areas and are pleased with the efforts of our students, staff, and families.  The WYTOPP is an important data point, but it is just one piece of data.  Teacher created assessments, family input, and student perspectives are also very valuable pieces of information we seek out and and use to guide instruction.

Wyoming state statute requires all students who attend public schools to be immunized or have the appropriate waiver on fall. If your student's immunization records are not up to date, you should have been contacted by Mrs. Woodhouse, the school nurse, if your student's records are out of date.  Students will not be able to attend class after September 21st if their vaccines are not up to date.  Please visit immunizewyoming.com for additional information or contact Mrs. Woodhouse. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances the 8th grade football game scheduled for Thursday, September 13th has been moved to Tuesday, September 11th.  The 7th grade games scheduled for Thursday remain unchanged. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Upcoming Events: 

•                   
• September 24                 No school-professional development
• October 1                       Homecoming week
• October 2                       Picture retakes 
• October 2                       LMS family night 
• October 24-25                Fall conferences