Week of May 29

 The last week of this school is here and it’s off to a beautiful, sunny start.  We’ve had so many successes this year.  We couldn’t have done it without your support and feedback.  Thank you.  Our theme this year was ‘You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take.’  Our students took risks, made gains, learned things, and became better people this year because they put themselves out there and looked out for each other.  We’ve successfully  implemented new curriculum resources, won conference championships, performed great at concerts and contests, had some fun, and most importantly we grew as teachers and learners.  We’re looking forward to a strong finish this week and of course there are a lot of logistics to take care of.

Students cleaned out their lockers during S4S today.  Students should take home everything from their lockers and they should not use them after the end of the day on Tuesday.  Students will also be checking in their Chromebooks and chargers on Tuesday and Wednesday during their math class.  Loaner devices will be available in classrooms for students who need them to finish missing assignments.  We have Scout Learning Lab on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.  Thursday is the last day for the late bus this year.  All students will be dismissed at 11:23 on Friday. 

All students are required to have a Tdap booster vaccine between 11-12 years of age. Please make sure that your child has received this mandatory vaccine and the school has been given a copy of an updated immunization record or you have requested a vaccination waiver through the State of Wyoming.  If your student has medications in the nurse's office, please make sure to pick these up by the last day of school. All medication remaining in the nurse's office after the last day of school will be disposed of.   The school nurse can be contacted at aobrien@acsd1.org or by calling the school, for any questions, concerns, or assistance.

To celebrate the last week of school we are having a series of dress up days this week. Tuesday is Dynamic Duo Day, Wednesday is Celebrity Day, Thursday is Dress Up or Dress Down/Socks and Sandals Day, and Friday is the Last Luau so rock your beach gear.  Spirit Week is a fun way to end this school season. 

We are undergoing a major upgrade to our ventilation system over the next two summers.  As a result the middle school will be closed June 9th through August 14th.  LMS office staff will be working out of LHS over the summer.  Our “office” will be open Monday-Thursday this summer and our phone numbers and other contact information will remain the same. 

Make it a great summer!

Upcoming Events:

• May 30-31 Chromebook check in
• May 30 Locker clean out
• June 1 8th grade ice cream social
• June 2 Last day for students

Week of May 22

The end of the school year is upon us and it has been an amazing ride.  Thank you for your support and feedback during this school season.  We've had a lot of success and we wouldn't have been able to do it without your help.  As we head into summer break, we have a lot of celebrations and logistics to take care of. 

Our end of the year dance is tomorrow from 3:05-5:00.  Admission is $5.00 and all students in good standing (not serving ISS or OSS) are encouraged to attend.  Concessions will be available as well. Students attending the dance need to stay until the end unless they are picked up by a parent or guardian and all students need to be picked up by 5:15.

We will be having an assembly at the end of the day on Friday to celebrate the success of the Hapi-ness 5K and for teachers to pay their debts related to Hapi-ness 5K incentives.  Heads will be shaved, beards will disappear, and hair will be dyed.  To accommodate our assembly lunches will be at slightly different times. On Friday 6th grade lunch is from 10:44-11:19, 7th grade lunch is from 11:26-12:01, and 8th grade lunch is from 12:08-12:43. It's going to be a great end to the week. 

Students will be checking in their Chromebooks next week on either the 30th or 31st during their math class.  Students need to remove any stickers they have placed on their Chromebooks prior to checking them in.  They must leave their name sticker and the school asset tag on their devices.  If students need a Chromebook to complete missing work after check in is completed, they can use a classroom loaner device. Students will also be cleaning out their lockers during S4S next week.  They should be prepared to take home all materials from their locker on on the 30th and students will not be allowed to use their lockers after clean out.

The last day of school for students is Friday, June 2nd and students will be dismissed at 11:23.  Breakfast will be served but there will be no lunch service.  All missing work must be turned in before students leave on the 2nd.  We have a great day of celebration planned and we hope all students will attend class each day through the end of the year. It's been an honor working alongside your student this year.  Thank you for sharing them with us.

Upcoming Events:

• May 24 End of the year dance
• May 30-31 Chromebook check in
• May 30 Locker clean out
• June 1 8th grade ice cream social
• June 2 Last day for students

Week of May 8

The Hapi-ness 5K is this Saturday at 9:00.  You can register up until the start of the race, however if you did not pre-register, you will not receive a t-shirt.  This year we are raising funds to support two students in our district who are battling cancer.  You can run, walk, or jog, just don't miss the Hapi-ness.  You can also support our cause by participating in Crunch for a Cause on Friday.  Thank you for your support.

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!  We are so thankful for all of the amazing educators at LMS.  We are fortunate to have such skilled and committed teachers, paraeducators, and support staff.  Please reach out to them and tell them what you appreciate about them.  If you looking to contribute to our celebrations, please look at this link and see where you might like to lean in. 

We were excited to learn last Friday that for the second year in a row we were name a Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase School. This award recognizes and celebrates schools producing exemplary outcomes using the CKH process.  Award winners demonstrate a high level of performance and a positive climate and culture for learning.  Certainly being recognized is nice.  What we love even more are the great things students, staff, and families are doing every day to make LMS the place to be.  

Thank you for your support during WYTOPP.  We had great attendance and our students put in an amazing effort.  We won't get official scores until August, but I know our students did a fantastic job.  We we excited to carry that momentum through the rest of the year.  Make it a great week. 

Upcoming Events:

• May 12 Crunch for a Cause
• May 13 Hapi-ness 5K
• May 24 End of the year dance
• June 1 8th grade ice cream social
• June 2 Last day for students

Week of April 10

Thank you to everyone who made it to spring conferences last week.  We had a great turnout.  If you were unable to connect with a teacher you need to meet with, please contact them via email to set up a time to get together.  We only have 7 weeks left in the school! Let's work together to make it a great sprint to the finish. 

The 38th Annual Hapi-ness 5K is on Saturday, May 13th.  The Hapi-ness 5K was founded in honor of Hapi Patterson, an LMS student we lost to cancer.  The funds raised are used to support Laramie students and families in need. This year we are running to support a 1st grade student who is battling cancer.  Please join us for a fun morning in support of a worthy cause.  You can run, walk, or jog, just don't miss out on this year's Hapi-ness 5K!

Our annual state assessment, WYTOPP, is coming soon.  Students will test on April 25th, 26th, and 27th this year.  We will run a slightly modified schedule on those days to accommodate testing.  All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students participate in WYTOPP.  Make up testing will occur April 28- May 5th, but it's best to test as many students that we can during the time set aside for testing. Please plan any appointments and other commitments outside of the WYTOPP testing window as much as possible.  

The appearance of spring like weather is a great feeling.  We have had a very productive year up to this point and we anticipate more of the same.  We are so proud of our students and all they have accomplished.  Make it a great week!

Upcoming Events:

• April 27-29 WYTOPP Testing
• May 13 Hapi-ness 5K
• May 24 End of the year dance
• June 2 Last day for students

Week of April 3

The first official day of track practice is today and with it with have the traditional first day of track snow storm.  Spring in Wyoming is not for the faint of heart.  No matter what the weather is doing, we are basking in the glow of Scout Pride inside the walls of LMS.

Spring conferences are this Thursday from 3:30-7:30.  You can schedule an appointment with teachers between 3:30-6:30 using this link: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Laramie_Middle_School.  From 6:30-7:30 we will be using an open house format where you can stop by classrooms and conference with teachers as they become available.  No appointment necessary.  Our out of bounds lost and found will be cleared out after conferences.  Please encourage your student to look for any items they are missing. We hope to see many of you this Thursday.

There is no school for students on Friday due to professional development.  Classes will resume on Monday April 10th.  Track practice will be held at it's normal time, 3:15, on Friday. We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend. 

If you haven't ordered your copy of the award winning LMS yearbook, do so immediately. There are only 13 copies left.  Don't miss out. Go to yearbookforever.com right now and secure your piece of history.

Our annual state assessment, WYTOPP, is coming soon.  We will test on April 25th, 26th, and 27th this year.  We will run a slightly modified schedule on those days to accommodate testing.  All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students participate in WYTOPP.  Please plan any appointments and other commitments outside of the WYTOPP testing window as much as possible. 

We are looking forward to another great week and a fantastic fourth quarter.  This year has not been without its fair share of challenges, but we are committed to a fantastic finish.  Thank you for your continued feedback and support. 

Upcoming Events:

• April 6 Spring conferences
• April 7 No school- professional development
• April 27-29 WYTOPP Testing
• May 13 Hapi-ness 5K

Week of March 27

Can you believe we are in the final quarter of the school year?!?  It's been an amazing ride and we have so many great things yet to come.  Such as spring conferences which are next Thursday, April 6th from 3:30-7:30.  Teachers will be available by appointment from 3:30-6:30 and open house style from 6:30-7:30.  Registration will open Friday at 3:00 pm.  Please use this link to sign up: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Laramie_Middle_School.

New social studies materials are coming as well. ACSD1 middle school teachers have recently reviewed social studies materials.  The team is recommending Saavas materials for adoption and use in 6th-8th grades and in the Modern American Studies program at the high school beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.  Anyone interested in reviewing these materials and making comments on this recommendation are invited to do so by visiting the foyer of the Special Services building on 509 S. 9th. Street. The public comment period closes on Friday.

The award winning LMS yearbook is finished.  Quantities are limited so please go to yearbookforever.com and order yours today.  You can see a preview of this year's edition below.  Don't miss out, order your copy now!

Thank you for making this school year successful and for sharing your student with us.  Each day brings new opportunities, challenges, and celebrations.  Your feedback and support are important to us as we finish this school season and launch into the summer and next year with a head full steam.  Make it a great week. 

Upcoming Events:

• April 6 Spring conferences
• April 7 No school- professional development
• April 27-29 WYTOPP Testing

Week of March 20

Welcome back!  Hopefully everyone had a safe and satisfying spring break. We are excited and ready for the final two and a half months of the school year.  It's amazing that we are already in the final part of this school season.  We have so many exciting things between now and the end of the year.  Please work with your student to have them in school every day through the last day. There really is no substitute for first time instruction.

One of the exciting things that happens around this time of year is the selection of the LMS Teacher of the Year.  We are fortunate to have great teachers in our school. If you would like to nominate one of them for Teacher of the Year, please use this link to do so.  Nominations will be accepted through the end of the day on April 7th.

Spring conferences are coming up on April 6th.  They are from 3:30-7:30.  Teachers will be reaching out to schedule conferences the week of March 27th.  Registration will open up to everyone on March 31st.  The first three hours of conferences will be by appointment and the last hour will be open house style where caregivers can meet with any teacher that is available.  

From our friends at Laramie High School: It has been a pleasure meeting the incoming Class of 2027. Course requests have been received from each school. Those choices have been entered into PowerSchool and are viewable in your account under the “Class Registration” icon. If your child did not send course requests there is still time to do so, however they may not receive their first choice of electives. We will continue to modify selections based upon factors such as required educational supports, proper placement (i.e. Pre-Algebra vs. Algebra 1), and availability of elective offerings. If you have questions please email lhscounselors@acsd1.org. 

Spring has sprung and we are making it great at LMS.  Thank you for your continued feedback and support.  You are appreciated. 

Upcoming Events:

• April 6 Spring conferences
• April 7 No school- professional development