Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
We have had a really smooth beginning of the year. Students have been involved in getting acclimated to their classes, meeting their new teachers, and learning more about teacher expectations. I had the opportunity to see at least 40 classrooms, and students are engaged with learning!
This week, my administrative team, staff, and I further met with all of our students to review safety rules as well as school incentives. Today, we practiced our first fire drill. Students exited out of the building quietly and quickly, and did an outstanding job.
Further, be sure to ask your son or daughter about their syllabi by the end of next week so that you too are familiar with the grading procedures, expectations, and protocols of your child’s class.
With such a strong beginning, I know that our students will be afforded with much knowledge, skills, and opportunities!
As always, please feel free to contact me at chenlc@lcps.k12.va.us if you have questions, concerns, or any feedback that you would like to share.
The following are some important updates and announcements.
Announcements
School Assemblies - “Be Fully Engaged” and “Never Give Up”
On Thursday, August 14 and Friday, August 15, LCMS staff, Assistant Principals (Robbie Garnes, Nick LeReche, and Joel Rupert), and I met with all of our students to welcome them back to Louisa County Middle School and to share with them our message of “being fully engaged” and “never give up.” At these assemblies, we also reviewed with our students important expectations, rules, and positive incentives, such as “Be on Target.”
We shared with our students the story of billionaire Sara Blakely, who reminds all of us of an important lesson that she had learned as a child. According to her, “ ‘My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome. Failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail.’ ”
Throughout the year, we will be sharing this message with all of our students. It is with this mindset that our students will be even stronger and more resilient in a world that is fast paced and changing.
Congratulations to Gracie Quarles (Department Chair of Family and Consumer Sciences)
Please join me in congratulating Gracie Quarles on receiving the Carl Perkins Service Award,representing the Virginia Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (VATFACS) and the Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (VACTE). Gracie Quarles will be recognized as the State winner during the ACTE Region II Conference on Wednesday, September 27 in Richmond, Virginia. We are extremely proud of her contributions to our students and to her vision in the Family and Consumer Sciences department! Thank you Gracie Quarles for your years of contribution to teaching and learning at LCPS.
The Wrestling Program at LCMS
We hope that your children will also try out for the LCMS Wrestling Program. We are excited to have the following coaches for this program:
Ty Boyer, Special Education teacher for Grades 6, 7, and 8, has been involved with wrestling since age 4. He wrestled in Pennsylvania throughout elementary, middle, and high school. He was a district and regional qualifier. Ty Boyer coached high school wrestling throughout college and was the middle school assistant coach for the Louisa Bobcats in the 2013-2014 wrestling season.
Trevor Gallo, Business teacher for Grades 6, 7, and 8, has been in love with the sport of wrestling since he was 7. He started wrestling in a small town named Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania. At Slippery Rock High School, he was a three-time State Placer, finishing 3rd his senior year. After high school, he went to college at Mercyhurst University, where he received a scholarship for wrestling. In 2008, he qualified for the Division 2 National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduating from Mercyhurst University, Trevor Gallo went on to graduate school at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). While in school, he spent his next two years coaching at the high school level for Butler High School and Kittanning High School in Pennsylvania. Last year, Trevor Gallo moved his teaching and coaching career to Louisa County, where he was the middle school coach with Coach Boyer. He is very excited to be helping out the Louisa Wrestling Program.
Dan Leale, Grade 6 Math teacher, has been involved with wrestling since the age of 5. He wrestled in Pennsylvania growing up and continued his wrestling at Lycoming College, a premier Division 3 school. After completing college, Dan Leale moved to Louisa to take the head varsity wrestling job for 5 years. He then started the program at Deep Run High School, where he was the head varsity coach for 10 years. Under his leadership, the Wildcats won over 250 matches, won 5 district titles, and had numerous state champions and place winners. Coach Leale is now back to help the Louisa Wrestling Program grow at all levels, from the youth level where he started to the high school starters.
We hope that your children will come to learn from these experienced gentlemen, who have had many years of wrestling experience! It is without doubt that these three men will take Louisa County to the next level in the sport of wrestling.
Drills to Occur with First Four Weeks of School
A reminder that a series of drills to ensure your child’s safety will occur during the first four weeks of school. Guidance counselors and special education staff working with our more anxious students will notify our students in advance about these drills and check up on them.
Student Schedule for First Three Weeks of School
To ensure that your child has the opportunity to develop relationships with new peers and staff, the schedule has been adjusted for the following days:
On August 18 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 (This is a “B” day for electives. Students go to Period 1, Period 2, Period 3, Period 4, Period 5, and then for the last period of the day, students return back to their Period 1 class.)
On August 19 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On August 20 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On August 21 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On August 22 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
On August 25 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On August 26 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On August 27 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On August 28 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On August 29 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
On September 2, Ace block rotation begins.
The aforementioned schedules from Monday, August 18 to Friday, August 29 were designed to provide teachers with more classroom instruction as this week will be interrupted by drills, and students will be involved with pre-tests.
Pre-tests Dates
On Monday, August 18, all students will be given pre-tests in their Math and Social Studies classes. On Tuesday, August 19, all students will be given pre-tests in their English and Science classes. The purpose of these tests is to provide teachers with more detailed information on what students already know and what skills and areas of focus your child needs.
Student Morning Announcers for LCMS
If your child is interested in helping the principal make Morning Announcements at 8:00 a.m. each day, please ask your child to tell their fourth period teacher. Auditions will be held, and I look forward to your child’s assistance in making these important announcements on behalf of LCMS.
Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, August 27: PTA Meeting @ Roma Italian Restaurant from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 29: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, September 1: Labor Day Holiday. School is closed.
Friday, September 12: Interim report cards for First Nine Weeks go home with student.
Friday, September 19: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 24: Student picture day
Friday, October 10: First nine weeks end.
Friday, October 17: Report cards for First Nine Weeks go home with student.
Tuesday, October 21: Parent/Teacher Conference @ LCMS from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00p.m. by appointment/ 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. walk-in’s.
Friday, October 31: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thank you for taking the time to read these updates. As I will say to my students each day, “This is important. You belong here. Effort makes a difference.”
With warm regards,
Lisa C. Chen
