Week of April 29

It looks like winter is coming back for an encore this week.  Please keep an eye on the weather and send your student dressed appropriately.  Wacky weather is just part of what makes living in Wyoming great. In addition to being winter 2.0, this week is the last week of WYTOPP testing for LMS students.  We will follow our normal schedule as it relates to block days (M,Th,F-All; T-Odd, W-Even).  We appreciate how hard students have been working.  Results will be available before the end of the school year. 

Many of our students like to order food to be delivered during lunch.  There is nothing wrong with that as long as the logistics work out.  Students will not be dismissed from class to pay for a delivery and lunch periods will not be extended for students whose deliveries are late.  It is highly recommended that all food deliveries are paid for ahead of time and made it a timely manner so students are able to eat their food during their assigned lunch period. If this is not possible, we request that students enjoy one of our delicious entrees or bring lunch from home. 

Students in Mrs. Heggie's 8th grade cooking class recently completed the annual cake contest.  All of the students did a great job.  Our winners were:

• 1st Place Carl the Hedgehog by Irys Linsdey, Hannah Dorminy, Michael Pikal, and Aver Hilton
• 2nd Place: Cabin Getaway by Emmitt Gray, Anthony Noecker, and Damien Casillias
• 3rd Place: Roger the Shark's Day at the Beach by Jeremy Rucinski, Baily Isaak, and Ava McCarthy

Order your award winning LMS yearbook soon from yearbookforever.com.  Don't miss out on your chance to own a piece of history! Pre-orders must be completed by May 9th.

Eighth grade students interested in participating in the color guard should attend the clinics May 6-8 from 6-7 pm in the Laramie High School cafeteria.  Official tryouts are on May 14th from 6-8 pm in the LHS band room.

Upcoming Events:

• April 16- May 10       WYTOPP testing
• May 22                       Last dance of the year
• May 27                       No school-Memorial Day
• May 29                       8th grade ice cream social
• May 31                       Last day for students (1/2 day) 
• June 3                         First day of summer school

Week of April 22

This week is the second week of WYTOPP testing.  To accommodate testing, we will have four block days this week.  Tuesday and Thursday are 'odd' days while Wednesday and Friday are 'even' days.  There is S4S on all block days.  Instruction occurs normally in classes that are not testing and our schedule is not disrupted.  Thank you for sending your student to school ready to learn and rested everyday, especially during testing.  

Throughout the year we've examined the age old question, "why do I have to learn this?" Through the So What? series.  This month we are looking at social studies.  The information below outlines how what students are learning in social studies connects to their lives outside of school and helps them prepare to become productive citizens.  Information is also displayed in the bulletin board outside of the main office. 

Sixth grade social studies focus on the transmission of culture and development of civilizations.  One such example is students researching their cultural heritage and doing a report to show how the United States truly is a melting pot of various ethnicities and values.  Another way we make history relevant is by examining ancient civilizations, specifically their government, economy, beliefs, traditions, social hierarchy, and other various aspects that make up human culture.  We draw parallels to modern day cultures and societies during each unit so that at the end of the year when they do their final project, create a civilization, they are able to decide for themselves what elements would make the best society.  Knowing how cultures developed and spread across the world helps students understand the complex geopolitical landscape we live in.  

In 7th grade, students research elements of Roman cities and how the Romans built their cities. Based on their research, students create a Roman City map. Then students compare their maps to a map of Laramie and other modern maps. Having done that, students evaluate and explain the tremendous influence the ancient Romans have had on the way we build our cities as many of the elements are very similar, including the two main streets concept, grid plan, and the inclusion of public works. Some related job fields to this research include engineering, city planning, construction, architecture, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and public works related jobs.

Eighth grade students student American History which is not just learning about dead people and past events. History is how we interpret the actions of these people and events to make informed decisions for the present and the future. This will help you understand the perspectives of other people, which is crucial for being a good citizen.

In 8th Grade American History, students learn about the story of the United States, which begins even before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Students go back all the way to the early cultures of North America and end the class with the Civil War and Reconstruction. In addition, they dive in to primary and secondary historical sources and learn how to analyze them.  Using both types of sources give students a more complete view of historical events. It also teaches students to make informed decisions and cite evidence which are applicable skills in all professions.

American History addresses a broad period of time beginning with a comparison of the First American group and the ways different groups interacted with each other. The course of study moves through European exploration and colonization leading to the formation of the original 13 English Colonies. Next is the American Revolution followed by the formation of our modern nation.  Students identify their rights as American citizens in the unit which looks at the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Following, eight grade students examine the expansion of the United States, compare the economic systems of the North and South, study the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the rebuilding the United States. Knowing where we've been as a country helps students lead us into the future.  Students also need to know their rights so they can be active participants in our democracy. 

Upcoming Events:

• April 16- May 10       WYTOPP testing
• May 22                       Last dance of the year
• May 27                       No school-Memorial Day
• May 29                       8th grade ice cream social
• May 31                       Last day for students (1/2 day) 
• June 3                         First day of summer school

Weekly April 15

WYTOPP (Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress) testing begins this week. WYTOPP is the annual state test that all middle school students are required to take.  Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades take reading and math tests. Seventh grade students take a writing test in addition to reading and math.  Eight grade students also take a science test in addition to the reading and math tests.  Students will test in their regularly scheduled classes.  Next week, we will follow a modified schedule to accommodate testing.  Monday will be an all day and then we will have four block days Tuesday-Friday (odd, even, odd, even).  

WYTOPP testing is an important data point that we use to assess student progress and measure instructional effectiveness. It is a snapshot of how your student is currently performing in relation to grade level standards.  We also use teacher created assessments, observations, and student input to measure student progress.  Your student is more than their WYTOPP score.  They are also great artists, brothers, sisters, athletes, and people.  WYTOPP is a valuable piece of information, but it is not the only piece.  Scores should be available for students and families by the end of the school year. Please have your student in school every day rested and ready to go for the next three weeks as we complete testing.  We want them to be able to give their absolute best. 

The 33rd Annual Hapi-ness 5K will be held on Saturday, May 11th. The Hapi-ness 5K race was started in 1987 by the 9th grade class of Laramie Middle School, in memory of their classmate, Hapi Patterson, who had passed away of leukemia that year. Since then, many families have received assistance from the efforts of this race.

This year we are helping multiple families, one of which is Derek Augustin’s (current 8th grade student) who is battling cancer for the 4th time. Help us support these families in their time of need. Thanks for being a part of our 5k family!

Pre-registration forms are available. Those who register on race day will not receive a t-shirt. Completed registration forms with payment can be turned into the LMS main office.  Your can print off a copy of the registration form here.

Upcoming Events:
* April 22                               Make up day-.school for all students
* April 16-May 10                 WYTOPP testing
* May 11                                Hapi-ness 5K 

Week of March 25

It is so great to be back after a wonderful Spring Break.  Spring is a time of renewal, planning, and invigoration. We are looking forward to the sprint to the finish for this school year.  I hope you and your students were able to spend some quality time over the break doing whatever you are passionate about and are as recharged and excited for the remainder of the school year as we are.  It's going to be an exciting couple of months.

The ACSD1 School Board will decide how to make up our snow days on April 10th.  School Board meetings begin at 7:00 pm and are held at the administrative office on Grand Avenue.  We will share out additional information as it becomes available.  Monday, April 22nd was designated in our school calendars as a make up day.  There will be a full day of school for all students on the 22nd.  It was originally scheduled to be a professional development day.

Spring conferences are next Tuesday, April 2nd from 3:30-7:30 pm.  All families and students are encouraged to participate.  More information regarding conferences will be shared later this week.  Elementary schools have an early release this Friday, March 29th to prepare for conferences.  We will follow our normal 'all' schedule on Friday with all LMS students being dismissed at 3:00.

The student leadership team has planned a Hawaiian Luau to dance away those winter blues on Friday and all LMS students are encouraged to attend.  Admission is $4 and students must be in good standing (not serving in or out of school suspension) to attend.  The dance is from 3:00-5:00 in the LMS gym.  Please plan to pick your student up promptly at 5:00 if they are attending the dance.

Upcoming Events:

●        March 29                             Spring dance

●        April 2                                 Spring conferences

●        April 22                               Make up day-no PD

●        April 16-May 10                 WYTOPP testing

Week of March 11

It's Spirit Week at LMS!  The Student Leadership Team has organized a variety of dress up days, planned a canned food drive, and organized an escape room family night. Spirit Week is a great way to build community and celebrate our Scout Pride.  Dress up days are as follows:

• Monday: Movie Monday
• Tuesday: Socks and Sandals (first day of food drive) 
• Wednesday: Western Wednesday
• Thursday: Tourist Day (last day of food drive)
• Friday: Scout Pride

The Hawaiian dance originally scheduled for Thursday, March 14th has been rescheduled for Friday, March 29th.  There is a swim meet on the 14th and the dance was rescheduled to allow swimmers to attend.  We are always on the lookout for a few great chaperones.  Please contact Kevin at 721-4430 if your are interested in chaperoning on the 29th. 

Upcoming Events: 

• 
  
• March 11-15                  Spirit week 
• March 13                       Family night-escape room
• March 18-22                  No school-spring break
• March 29                       Hawaiian dance
• April 2                           Spring conferences 
• 
  

Week of March 4

I love Wyoming, but on days like today I have to focus on the beauty of the frost and ignore what my thermometer is saying to keep those winter blues at bay.  I know that middle school fashion often eschews appropriate winter attire, but we do have classes in modular buildings and you never know when the fire alarm might be activated.  Being out in the cold without appropriate attire is straight up dangerous.  Students might think they are fine running from the bus to the building in shorts, but what if the bus breaks down?  What if the fire alarm goes off and we have to evacuate? Please make sure your students are dressed for the weather.

In the latest installment of So What?, we examine how some of what students learn in their science classes applies to their lives outside of school.  At LMS, sixth grade students study earth science, seventh graders take life science, and eighth grade students examine physical science.  All three branches are very important and help students understand the world around them.

In earth science, students learn about rocks and minerals. You may be asking yourself why are rocks and minerals important? Learning how to properly identify rocks and minerals can make an ordinary trip up to Vedauwoo much more exciting.  Also, you interact with rocks and minerals every day in the products you use and the food you eat. The copper in the wire that carries electricity to your television is a mineral. Minerals are also the building blocks for many popular products such as makeup, cars, and smartphones. Students rely on minerals, such as iron, to provide the energy needed to make it through those late night Fortnite sessions.

In life science, 7^th graders focus on ecology which is the study of living and nonliving components in the environment and our impact as humans on the management of our ecosystems.  Students research, discuss, and experiment on different ecosystems and how humans impact those systems.  They create and suggest solutions to improve the environment.

Earth is the only known biosphere in our galaxy. It is important for the survival of all life.  Humans are interconnected to even the smallest microorganisms of life and all life is connected through a web of interactions.  Students learn how important it is to take care of the natural world and how to be an advocate for our environment by picking up trash, walking or biking more often, and not polluting.

Students in physical science learn about electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are waves made by vibrating electric charges and can travel through matter and space, even where matter is not present. It is important to know about the different types of electromagnetic waves and their behaviors because different kinds of devices use electromagnetic waves.

Radios, cell phones, microwaves, remotes, X-rays, and radiation therapy for cancer all use various forms of electromagnetic waves. We all know that most LMS students can’t imagine life without a smartphone. Also, we wouldn’t even be able to see various objects and their colors without electromagnetic waves. One way 8^th grade students apply what they learned about electromagnetic waves is by exploring remote sensing.

Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information by a device that is not in contact with the object. Remote sensing is used to map cities, measure crop and forest health, and monitor water quality. Since most of us live in cities, like to eat, and enjoy clean water, remote sensing is very important to our everyday lives. We can use simple handheld instruments and even drones or satellites to gather this information. Remote sensing has been around for a long time and is only getting more popular.  Because it is such a versatile tool, some students will undoubtably end up in a career that relies on remote sensing. 

Upcoming Events: 

• 
  
• March 11-15                  Spirit week 
• March 13                       Family night-escape room
• March 14                       Dance
• March 18-22                  No school-spring break

Week of February 18

The student leadership team has declared this week is Unplugged Week.  Excessive cell phone use can lead to increased off task behavior, elevated levels of anxiety, and interrupt healthy sleep patterns.  The SLT has challenged students to moderate their phone use this week and connect with their classmates in more traditional ways.  Each grade level has been challenged to stay off their devices during class (except for educational purposes).  The grade level with the smallest number of infractions will earn a pizza party and Scout Cup points.  Thursday will be unplugged lunch where we're going to eat like it's 1991 and no phones or other devices will be allowed during lunch.

Next Wednesday, most 8th graders will be participating in NAEP testing.  Randomly selected districts and students are required to take this test every three years.  The results are used to compile the Nation's Report card.  Students and schools do not receive scores.  As a state we've traditionally done quite well on NAEP.  This is very useful information as it shows Wyoming's investment in education  is paying dividends.  Students who are testing complete a reading or math test in a morning (8:30-10:30) or afternoon (12:30-2:30) session.  Students only take one test.  Selected students will receive appointment cards in S4S tomorrow that list their testing sessions. Please contact Kevin O'Dea if you have questions regarding NAEP testing.

Upcoming freshman students (8th graders) and their families had the opportunity to attend a registration night at LHS on Monday.  If you were unable to attend, or have questions, the high school has posted the information from Monday and the curriculum guide on their website.  You can also contact the LHS counseling department for information.  Eighth grade students should return their completed registration cards to the LMS office by the end of the day on Thursday.

Upcoming Events: 

• 
  
• February 20                   No Scout Learning Lab due to staff meeting
• February 21                   8th grade registration cards due 
• February 27                   NAEP testing
• March 18-22                  No school-spring break
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