Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
Much is always occurring at LCMS as my staff and I take LCMS to its next level on behalf of our students.
Today, our Grade 7 students had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Garland Nuckols, the Mayor of the Town of Louisa. They learned firsthand from Mayor Nuckols what his job entails and all that is involved in being the leader of our town. In ACE Block, this week, all students will write on the topic, “If I Were Mayor.” Students in Grade 7 will follow up with what they are writing in ACE Block and complete their revisions in their English classes to enter in a statewide competition. Student essays will be judged on the following: originality, persuasiveness, understanding of city, town and county services, and proper use of composition and written expression. Winners, who are selected by the Virginia Municipal League, will receive a $150.00 prize and plaque. One statewide winner will be selected and awarded a $250.00 cash prize and plaque. The winners, along with their teachers, will be recognized at a special ceremony in Richmond. My teachers look forward to reading our students’ essays!
Tomorrow, LCMS is hosting Parent and Teacher Conferences from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. by appointment, and then, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for walk-in’s. I strongly encourage you to attend the Parent and Teacher Conference so that you can learn firsthand how your child is performing in class and to ask his or her teachers questions about your child.
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
Writing in Greg Palmer’s (Grade 8 Science Teacher) Science Classes
One of my favorite things about being a principal is spending time in the classrooms. I am highly impressed with the type of analyzing, researching, and writing that is occurring in Greg Palmer’s Advance Science class. Students for their research papers are conducing peer reviews on one another and offering one another feedback on their grades. All students have been assigned a rubric to provide their peers with feedback. Once students have received their peer reviews, students will then address how they will “fix the problem.” This is writing at a much deeper, cognitive level as students critique, analyze, and then evaluate each other’s papers and then discuss through and in the process of writing how they will revise their own papers. Students are learning how to take responsibility for each other’s writing, while at the same time thinking about their own process of writing. Writing is indeed a process that takes time, deep thought, and analysis. Well done Mr. Palmer! Thank you for pushing our students to the next level!
Support LCHS in On-Line Competition - Celebrate My Drive
LCHS has entered in an on-line competition, Celebrate My Drive, which is sponsored by State Farm. Celebrate My Drive is a program that urges drivers to use the 2N2 guideline: 2 Eyes on the Road and 2 Hands on the Wheel in order to reduce accidents involving texting, while driving and overall teen driver safety. In celebration of National Teen Driver Safety Week, we are asking everyone 14 years of age and older, once per day, per email account to log onto www.celebratemydrive.com, search 23117 for Louisa County High School, and pledge to be a safe driver. The Celebrate My Drive contest runs until Saturday, October 25.
LCHS is competing in the Large High School Division (student enrollment of over 750), with prizes available to the high schools finishing in Top 50. The grand prize is a $100,000 grant (10% will be used for the Driver’s Ed program) and a private concert from The Band Perry for LCHS students. What a unique way for our Senior Class to leave LCHS as they were only in a building for seven days during their entire high school career! Let us put our theme of “LC Collaborates” to good use by coming together and voting to support our students. Currently, we are in 15th place. Thank you for your support in this important endeavor.
Anti-Bully Walk and Steps to a Bully-Free Zone Contest
On Friday, October 17, the Safe, Orderly, and Caring Correlate hosted its annual Anti-Bully Walk. All students and staff pledged their allegiance to stomp out bullying as they walked around the LCHS track. This was a great culminating event to end our Friday afternoon as students were reminded and inspired to treat others how they would treat themselves and to have respect for all human differences. As a next step, the Safe, Orderly, and Caring Correlate in conjunction with the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) are hosting a “Steps to a Bully-Free Zone” poster contest. For more information, please click here: “Anti-Bully Poster Contest.” Thank you to the co-leaders, Tom Black (Physical Education and Health Teacher) and Richard Dye (Technology Teacher), and to members of the Safe, Orderly, and Caring Correlate for spearheading such our annual walk, and to Gracie Quarles (Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher) for organizing the poster contest with members of Safe, Orderly, and Caring Correlate. Your efforts make a difference for our students and staff!
Support the LCMS PTA – Fundraising Event
Our PTA is participating in the Belk Charity Sale. This is an awesome opportunity for us and a great deal for you! The Charity Sale will occur on Saturday, November 8 from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at all Belk stores across the country. The closest Belt is at the Fashion Square Mall in Charlottesville. The sale is a private event so you must have a ticket to enter. The cost of the ticket is $5.00. All proceeds will go to our PTA. The ticket is not just your ticket to enter the sale, but it also takes $5.00 off your purchase that day! The first 100 people at the store get a gift card to the store that is worth anywhere from $5.00 to $100.00. Thank you to Megan Jackson (Grade 6 Science Teacher), PTA President Tanya Knighton, and PTA Secretary Amy Froschauer for sponsoring such an event. To buy a ticket, please contact Megan Jackson at jacksoml@lcps.k12.va.us or Tanya Knighton at knighton@aol.com or Amy Froschauer at afroschauer@msn.com
Student Schedule for Monday, October 20 to Friday, October 31
On Monday, October 20 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (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 4 class.)
On October 20 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 21 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 22 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 23 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 24 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 27 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On October 28 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On October 29: (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On October 30: (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 31: (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
Updates
Hoops for Heart
On Tuesday, October 14, the mascot for the American Heart Association and the Hoops for Heart program, Happy Heart, came to LCMS to meet our students. Last year, our middle school raised over $1800.00 for the American Heart Association through our Hoops for Heart initiative. We will be raising money this year through the Hoops for Heart campaign. The information will be forthcoming to our students in February 2015 with the actual celebration occurring in March 2015. Thank you to Nick Schreck (Physical Education and Health Teacher) for leading such an event!
Important Upcoming Dates – Added information and dates are marked in purple.
Tuesday, October 21: Parent and Teacher Conference @ LCMS from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.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.
Wednesday, February 11: LCMS Science Fair Awards @ LCMS Forum at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 21: Battle of the Books Competition for LCMS Students @ Cedar Lee Middle School
Saturday, April 25: Battle of the Books Competition for LCMS Students @ Culpeper Middle School
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
