Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
I wish you a good week and look forward to seeing you at Music Night and our football game this Friday!
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
Thank you to Aleigha Chandler, Harrison Childs, and Andrew Clark – Morning Announcers
On behalf of LCMS, we would like to thank Aleigha Chandler, Harrison Childs, and Andrew Clark for their help each morning with announcements. These students did an outstanding job of providing us with important information each morning. Next week, we look forward to having Chloe Dowell and Nathaniel Dwyer as our morning announcers.
Poetry Contest
Please remind your child to submit one poem to any branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library from Wednesday, October 1 to Saturday, November 1. The contest is open to students ages twelve through eighteen. Each winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble Bookstore, compliments of the Friends of the Library. Winners will receive notification by mail in mid-November. For more information, please contact your local library.
Louisa County Public Library Open Sundays
Beginning this Sunday, September 28, the Louisa County Public Library will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. LCMS students can use their student IDs to print for free at the library. LCMS Librarians, Rebecca Baughman and Sue Watson, remind us that September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Please encourage your child to check out the local library and to sign up for a library card.
American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) Program
According to the website, http://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-contests/amc-8, “the AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. The contest is held in November every year. The examination provides an opportunity to apply the concepts taught at the junior high level to problems which not only range from easy to difficult but also cover a wide range of applications. Many problems are designed to challenge students and to offer problem solving experiences beyond those provided in most junior high school mathematics classes. High scoring students are invited to participate in the AMC 10.”
The event will occur on Tuesday, November 18 at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). VMI will be hosting this event for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students across the State. VMI will pay for all test materials and provide lunch for all participants. In 2013, 800 students from schools around Virginia participated in the AMC8@VMI Event Day. We will be sending a group of our students to participate in this program. Your Grade 7 or Grade 8 math teacher will be providing your child with information on how to attend this field trip in the very near future. If you are interested in chaperoning this field trip, please contact Joel Rupert (Grade 8 Assistant Principal) at rupertjd@lcps.k12.va.us
Laura Watkins’ (Grade 7 English Teacher) Last Will and Testimony
Recently, students in Laura Watkins’ class read the book The Westing Game, which is about a multimillionaire who mysteriously dies. In this book, the narrator invites 16 people to the reading of his will where they are given clues to figure out who among them has taken his life. While reading this book, students in Laura Watkins’ class were invited to play “The Watkins’ Game.”
Students came to the reading of Ms. Watkins’ will and were given clues to figure out which two students from their classes had taken Ms. Watkins’ life. Ms. Watkins dressed up as an older lady who was the substitute for the day and invited four different parents to come in, to be her lawyers, and to read her will to the students. Students thoroughly enjoyed this lesson and were asked to dress accordingly for this event. Several students were dressed in complete suits or dresses. The students did a fantastic job of using their critical thinking skills to decipher the clues and to determine who the two students were in their classes!
Science Fair Update from Robyn Rupert (Grade 6 Science Teacher) and Alex Waleski (Grade 6 Science Teacher)
Students in Robyn Rupert’s and Alex Waleski’s Accelerated Science 6 classes have been discussing research topics for the upcoming science fair. Please click here, “Science Fair Due Dates Grade 6,” for more information.
Science Fair Update from Patrick Scharf (Grade 7 Science Teacher)
Students in Patrick Scharf’s Accelerated Science 7 classes have begun talking about their research topics. Please click here, “Science Fair Update Scharf,” for more information.
Science Fair Update from Gregory Palmer (Grade 8 Science Teacher)
Students in Gregory Palmer’s Accelerated Science 8 classes have begun researching topics for the science fair. The following are due dates for student projects for the science fair. Students in Mr. Palmer’s class have spent time discussing each step of the process, including doing research in the computer labs. All work must be completed on Google Docs.
Research Topic Due
What is the overall topic?
What factors will you are researching
Factor 1
Factor 2
Factor 3
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9/09/2014
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Draft of Research Due (in Google Doc)
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9/26/2014
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Experimental Idea
4 Question Strategy
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10/03/2014
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Purpose Due in Google Doc
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10/10/2014
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Draft of Hypothesis, Materials Due
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10/12/2014
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Final Version of Research Due
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10/12/2014
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Final Draft of Hypothesis Due
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10/19/2014
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Procedure Due
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10/11/2014
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Results Due
Data Table
Graph
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11/28/2014
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Conclusion Due
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12/05/2014
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Final Project Due
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12/18/2014
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Upcoming Benchmark Testing
Students will be taking their English, Math, Science, and Social Studies benchmarks, which are cumulative tests on what students have learned from the beginning of school until now in their particular subject areas. Teachers have been preparing students for these benchmarks based on students completing their homework, quizzes, classwork, and other tests. The benchmark test is not the only assessment for students in their classes. All assessments in the testing category are 35% of the student’s total grade. Data from these benchmarks will be used to assist teachers in knowing what students excel in and what students need greater assistance.
Monday, September 29 Grade 6 English benchmark
Tuesday, September 30 Grade 6 Math benchmark
Wednesday, October 1 Grade 7 English benchmark
Thursday, October 2 Grade 7 Math benchmark
Monday, October 6 Grade 8 English benchmark
Tuesday, October 7 Grade 8 Math benchmark
Wednesday, October 8 Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Science benchmarks.
Thursday, October 9 Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Social Studies benchmarks.
LCPS Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Meeting – Thursday, October 2
All parents of students with special needs in grades K-12 are invited to join parents and educators to learn more about special education resources at LCPS. The meeting will be at the Central Office Board room from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Carla Alpern (Director of Pupil Personnel Services) at 540-894-5115.
Information on Standardized Test Secrets and Homework
For information on how to support your child on taking tests and doing homework, please click on, “Standardized Tests Secrets” and “Homework 101.”
Student Schedule for Monday, September 29 through Friday, October 10
On Monday, September 29 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 (This is a “A” 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 September 29 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On September 30 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On October 1 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On October 2 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 3 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
On October 6 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On October 7 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On October 8 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On October 9 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 10 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
Updates
Grade 8 Field Trip – Tuesday, November 25
An enrichment trip has been planned for Grade 8 students on Tuesday, November 25. Students will travel by school bus to the Altria Theater in Richmond to see The Encore!presentation of the five 19th century short stories that students are studying this semester. Students will leave LCMS at 8:30 a.m. and return 12:30 p.m. to eat lunch at school. We look forward to this exciting show for our students!
Important Upcoming Dates – Added information and dates are marked in purple.
Friday, September 26: Club B and Reading Friday’s begin for students.
Friday, September 26: LCHS Football Game @ LCHS football fields at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 27 - Justis Bratt Performs @ Louisa Art Center at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, September 29 – Grade 6 English benchmark test
Tuesday, September 30 – Grade 6 Math benchmark test
Wednesday, October 1: TAG Services begin this month.
Wednesday, October 1 – Grade 7 English benchmark test
Thursday, October 2 – Grade 7 Math benchmark test
Thursday, October 2: LCPS SEPAC Meeting @ LCPS Central Office Board Room at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 6: Grade 8 English benchmark
Tuesday, October 7: Grade 8 Math Benchmark
Wednesday, October 8: Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Science benchmarks.
Thursday, October 9: Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Social Studies benchmarks.
Friday, October 10: Field trip for all Grade 6 students to Louisa Arts Center to see “Science Circus”
Friday, October 10: First nine weeks end.
Saturday, October 11: A Gathering of Connections Event from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. @ Carver Recreation Center
Thursday, October 16: Blue Ridge Governor’s School for Grade 8 students and parents with Ms. Jennifer Purcell @ LCMS Forum at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 - Steps Against Bullying Walk @ LCHS track for all LCMS students at 2:30 p.m. Rain date is Friday, October 24
Friday, October 17 - Steps Against Bullying Walk @ LCHS track for all LCMS students at 2:30 p.m. Rain date is Friday, October 24
Friday, October 17: Report cards for First Nine Weeks go home with students.
Tuesday, October 21: Parent and 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 26: Club B for students. Other students not involved in clubs are reading independently with teachers for 30 minutes.
Friday, October 31: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, November 3: Staff Development Day No School for Students
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day Division Holiday No School for Students and Staff
Wednesday, November 5: Students are back in school. School doors open at 7:40 a.m. This is an “A” Day.
Tuesday, November 18: Grade 7 and Grade 8 students attend AMC8 Competition @ VMI at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, November 25: Grade 8 students attend The Encore! Presentation @ Altria Theater, Richmond at 8:30 a.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
