Dr. Lisa Chen, Principal, Louisa County Middle School, Mineral, VA

Friday, September 5, 2014

Principal's Update for September 4, 2014


Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
It is hard to believe that so much has already occurred within these past weeks of school. I am so excited to be here as I continue to learn with and from you, my staff, and students. I have been asked by my students, “Why do you wear tennis shoes with your dresses?” One student even shared with me, “You don’t match.” J That student was absolutely correct. I should try to buy tennis shoes that coordinate much better with my dresses! (I have shared with my students that my tennis shoes allow me to feel comfortable while entering classrooms as quietly as I can.) This is why I love this age group. Students are honest and to the point. This is great!
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
Congratulations Kensley Smith and Sarah Seay
We would like to congratulate Kensley Smith and Sarah Seay for their 3rd place and 4th place finishes in the Open Race for students Grades 6 through 12 at the Ragged Mountain Relays this past week. Congratulations to our students, Coach Beth Brown, and to all of our runners! We are extremely proud of your efforts!

Congratulations to the Bobcat Football Team and LCMS Cheerleaders
We would like to congratulate the Bobcat Football team on their victory over Walker Grant Middle School. Coach Brian Wilson is extremely proud of how hard the team played in all phases of the game. The final score was 40 to 6. The LCMS Cheerleaders also had their first outing. Coach Sarah Martin and our young ladies were loud and proud in the Bobcat’s win at the football game. Way to go Bobcats!

September Sizzler Wresting Tournament – Saturday, September 20
On Saturday, September 20, the Louisa County Wrestling Team will host its annual September Sizzler Wrestling tournament at the middle school gym. This will be the third year the tournament is running, and each year, it has grown tremendously. This tournament is open for wrestlers of all ages and weights. Wrestler weigh-ins will be on Friday, September 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, September 20 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Medals will be given to the Top 3 in each weight class. The cost of the tournament is $20.00 per wrestler if wrestlers pre-register. You can also register at the door on Friday, September 19 for $25.00. There will be a concession open all day for anyone who wants to come and watch some great wrestling. 

To wrestle in this tournament, students should purchase a USA wrestling card. Cards can be purchased at www.themat.com. There will also be someone available on site to register your student for the USA wrestling card. Registration for the tournament can be completed by emailing Dan Bono at danielrbono@gmail.com. Please click here: “September Sizzler Tournament 2014.” For additional questions, please call Dan Bono at 540-894-6406. We are expecting a great turnout for this tournament so please join us!

Music Night Preparations – Friday, September 26
Presently, LCMS Band students are preparing for the 9th Annual Music Night on Friday, September 26. This is a very exciting event that will take place at the LCHS Football game on Friday, September 26. For more information, please click here: “Music Night Information 2014.” 

Morning Announcers – Cole Alberts, Audrey Allison, and Abigail Alpern
On behalf of LCMS, we would like to personally thank Cole Alberts, Audrey Allison, and Abigail Alpern for their assistance each morning as all three students delivered to us important information. The next group of students who will be assisting me in our morning announcements will be Madison Baldini and Jacob Barlow, and I look forward to making announcements with them during the week of September 8 through 12.

Student Council Association (SCA) – Please join!
This week, your child will receive a presentation on SCA. I am looking forward to all of the good work that students on the SCA will do on behalf of our school. I will be meeting with the SCA Executive Board once a month to receive feedback from our student representatives of how we can make LCMS much better for all of our students. Please click here: “Student Council Association Info 2014,” for more information on what SCA is, and what SCA will be doing this year!

Academic Centered Enrichment (ACE) Block and (Talented and Gifted) TAG Services
Presently, teachers are receiving professional development on teaching writing across the curriculum during our faculty meetings and professional development days. For two weeks each month, students will be involved with writing, and reading on Fridays. Students will have a portfolio and a reading log that will demonstrate the work that occurs in ACE Block during this year. Students will be introduced to ACE Block on Monday, September 15. The goal of this program is to ensure that we have a stronger writers and readers in Grades 6, 7, and 8. 

Further, as stated in the Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted 2012-2017, “the class schedule serves as the secondary Differentiated Education Plan (DEP). With input from the building administrators and gifted coordinator, teachers of regular and accelerated courses plan differentiation of instruction through varied content, process, and/or products in English, mathematics, science, and history. The academic performance of students is monitored by teachers and administrators. Guidance counselors assist students and parents with the selection of appropriate accelerated courses. Additionally, identified students are invited to participate in after-school workshops, academic and creative competitions” (p. 17).

We are excited to have three teachers who will assist in TAG Services this year. Sarah Martin (Grade 6 Social Studies teachers), Hope Hamblin (Grade 7 Social Studies Teacher), and Amanda Corson (Grades 6, 7, and 8 Spanish teacher) will be working with our students beginning in October. Sarah Martin will be working with our Grade 6 students. Hope Hamblin will be working with our Grade 7 students, and Amanda Corson will be working with our Grade 8 students. This year, students will be divided into two groups per grade level to offer students a smaller class size. In addition to the services that students receive in their classes, students will meet with their corresponding grade-level teachers twice a month. Staff will receive information about the TAG Services on Monday, September 22. Field trips have further been planned for our students in Fall and in Spring.

More detailed information on ACE Block and TAG Services will be provided on Tuesday, September at 7:00 p.m. in the LCMS Forum. We hope to see you there!’

LCMS Receives State Accreditation
Congratulations to our teachers for their good work as we continue to improve in our overall scores on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Below is a comparison chart. 


Subject

Louisa County

2012-2013

Louisa County

2013-2014

State Average

2013-2014

English: Reading

72

73

74

English: Writing

71

76

75

History and Social Sciences

87

87

84

Mathematics

70

76

74

Science

82

84

80

This chart indicates that 73% of all students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 received pass rates on the SOL Reading tests. Seventy-six percent of all Grade 8 students received pass rates on the SOL Writing tests. Eighty-seven percent of all students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 received pass rates on the History and Social Sciences tests. Seventy-six students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 received pass rates on the SOL Math tests, and 84% of all Grade 8 students received pass rates on the SOL Science tests. Next year, only Grade 8 students will take the SOL History and Social Sciences tests, while Grade 6 and Grade 7 students will take an internally created History and Social Sciences assessment.

Please note that there are two standards of accountability. While we received accreditation at the State level, we still need to work on meeting our Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) for our students in special education in English and Math. LCMS did not meet all Federal AMOs.

As a community, we strive to provide all of our students with only the best. Thus, my staff and I are in the process of examining the student data, developing intervention plans for our students who did not meet adequate progress, and examining how we can continue to enhance the academic achievements of those students who are already proficient and advanced in their classes. 
This is one of the reasons that we have examined how we are using the time in ACE Block. The purpose of ACE Block this year is to help all students become stronger writers and readers, and for Semester II, our focus will be on strengthening students’ mathematical and logic skills. We recognize that in order for our students to be successful in college and years beyond, our students need to have a strong grasp on organization skills, time management, note-taking, reading, writing, and mathematical reasoning.

My staff and I appreciate your support in this process. 

Middle Years – September 2014
In this edition of Middle Years, parents will find more information of how to help students become better organized. This is a great magazine for parents that is particularly focused on the adolescent years and what adolescents are experiencing. Please click here: “Middle Years September 2014,” for more information.

Student Schedule for Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12
On Monday, September 8 (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 September 8          (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On September 9          (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On September 10        (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On September 11        (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On September 12        (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5

Important Upcoming Dates Added information and dates are marked in purple.

Friday, September 12: Interim report cards for First Nine Weeks go home with student.
Monday, September 15: English Language Learners Program begins.
Friday, September 19: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 20: September Sizzler Wrestling Tournament @ LCMS Gymnasium

Tuesday, September 23: After School Help begins. After School Help is supervised time after school in which students can make up work that they have missed, make up time that they have missed from school, seek assistance from teachers, or work on assignments including using the computer. After School Help runs from 3:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and will be held on designated Tuesdays and Wednesdays, beginning Tuesday, September 23.

Tuesday, September 23: LCMS Parent Advisory Council meets with Dr. Chen at 6:00 p.m. in LCMS.

Tuesday, September 23: PTA hosts Dr. Chen information session on ACE Block and TAG Services at 7:00 p.m. in the LCMS Forum.

Wednesday, September 24: Student picture day
Friday, September 26: LCHS Football Game @ LCHS football fields at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1: TAG Services begin this month.
Friday, October 10: First nine weeks end.

Friday, October 19: Club A for students. Other students not involved in clubs are reading independently with teachers for 30 minutes. 
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: 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 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.

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