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

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Principal's Update for September 11, 2015

Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:

I have had the privilege of observing some great classes lately. Watching students learn new ideas is by far one of my favorite aspects of this job! I am truly blessed to work with such a group of talented and caring teachers. I had the opportunity to learn more about translations, rotations, reflections, and symmetry in Geometry, while watching students learn more about how to identify words with the affixes super- and sur-. I also watched students who were engaged in a Socratic seminar in which they debated on an issue and applied their learning to the Fourth Amendment. Indeed, there is much learning occurring at LCMS!

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
Morning Announcers – Makaylah Anderson and Jeremiah Ayers Shorts
Makaylah Anderson and Jeremiah Ayers Shorts did an outstanding job with morning announcements. Both students were clear, enunciated each word with great accuracy, and had a nice and pleasant tone in delivering some important announcements. From Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18, we will have two new guest speakers to assist us with the announcements: Shane Bibb and Makalya Blair!

Guidance Counselors in Classes
As an introduction to students and the services available for students, the guidance counselors for Grades, 6, 7, and 8 have been going into the classrooms in the past weeks to talk to students. Jaclyn Jacobson (Grade 7 Guidance Counselor) will be meeting with students this upcoming week. Annie Floyd (Grade 6 Guidance Counselor) and Sarah Porter (Grade 8 Guidance Counselor) have spoken to students on the following topics: how best to access a counselor during the day for assistance, the importance of advocating against bullying, mechanisms for reporting bullying, such as using the confidential bully report forms located in the Main Office, the Nurse’s Office, and in every classroom as well as using the Safe-To-Tell access link on the school website, which is also confidential. The guidance counselors shared with students the importance of reporting any information to adults about students who are being hurt and/or wish to do harm to themselves or possibly others. In these scenarios, the guidance counselors have shared with students that they must report this information to the administrators or authorities in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Annie Floyd can be reached at floydam@lcps.k12.va.us Jaclyn Jacobson can be reached jacobsjn@lcps.k12.va.us Sarah Porter can be reached at portersa@lcps.k12.va.us We are grateful to have the assistance of these three strong women who continue to support all of us and our students!

NJHS Applications – Monday, September 14NJHS candidacy packets can be picked up on Monday, September 14 at the Main Office. The NJHS Council will only review applications that have been completed.

LCMS Parent Advisory
The LCMS Parent Advisory is a council of parents/guardians who serve on a voluntary basis for a term of two years to assist the principal in providing her with feedback and input on the school improvement plan and the budget. This is another venue for parents/guardians to provide feedback. Please feel free to contact any member of the parent advisory to share ideas and/or to bring questions that you may have. You may reach the following members via their email addresses.

Shonda Brooks:            brooks.shonda@gmail.com
Kasity Cawthorne:       kasnkidz@gmail.com
Debbie Dessent:           thedessents@embarqmail.com
Elizabeth Goodwin:    goodwies@lcps.k12.va.us
Ekeasha Hunt:             Ekeasha.Hunt@dss.virginia.gov
Meghann McKnight:   meghann.colleen@gmail.com
Susan Menton:            mentonsr@lcps.k12.va.us
Martha Moore:           martha.moore@vafb.com
Zuwana Morgan:        zmorgan@louisa.org
Yvette Williamson:     allirish@netscape.com

Water, Water, Water Everywhere
Thank you for your feedback regarding the water bottles. In soliciting your feedback, speaking to the LCMS Parent Advisory School Council, and speaking with my staff, LCMS will be modifying its water protocol. Similar to LCHS, students will be allowed to bring in SEE-THROUGH plastic containers with water only. Students can continue to drink apple juice, milk, or whatever fluids that are provided to students by their parents/guardians during lunch. However, in class, only water can be drank. As long as the plastic containers are see-through, they can be used. A teacher has the right to confiscate any water bottle that is NOT see-through and/or which does NOT contain water only. As we have shared with our students, water is not pink. It is not bubbly. It is the type of water that comes out of our water fountains. However, students with health plans are permitted to drink what is required as documented in their health plans. Our teachers are aware which students are on particular health plans. We appreciate your feedback and input on this matter!

After School Help – Tuesday, September 8
After School Help began on Tuesday, September 8. This is a great opportunity for students to catch up on work, to use the computers, and/or to see specific teachers for additional assistance. Please see the attachment, “After School Help Fall Schedule 2015,” for a schedule of staff members and topics addressed for assistance.

Shelter for Help Emergency Art Contest
Please see the attachment, “2015 Louisa Art Flyer,” for more information on this contest.

Student Council Association (SCA)
A presentation will be shared with students about participating in SCA. SCA is a student run club with the purpose of promoting student involvement with LCMS activities  and events. SCA members help to foster school spirit and create grade level events for students to enjoy. Last year, SCA was involved in Spirit Week, the Canned Good Drive, Valentine’s Day Grams, and the Grade 8 Formal. SCA meets on Club B days on certain Fridays and once a month after school to work on school related activities. We hope that your son or daughter will participate in SCA. For more information about SCA, please contact Conner Waldron (Social Studies teacher) for Grade 6 at waldrojc@lcps.k12.va.us Jenna Payette (Science teacher) for Grade 7 at payettjf@lcps.k12.va.us and Natalie Watterson (English teacher) for Grade 8 atwatterna@lcps.k12.va.us

High Expectations Correlate – Student Awards
Our staff members have a variety of groups that they are involved in after school. One of the groups is the High Expectations Correlate, which focuses on promoting a culture of high expectations at LCMS. Attached is the power point, “High Expectations Powerpoint Student Awards,” that provides students with information about various awards that they can earn at LCMS.

Family Movie Night at Louisa County High School (LCHS)  Cafeteria – Friday, September 25LCHS invites students and their families to enjoy a movie, How To Train You Dragon 2, on Friday, September 25 at the LCHS Cafeteria. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Admission to this movie is to donate one bag of individually wrapped candy (per family) for Trunk or Treat. Pizza, popcorn, candy, and drinks may be purchased at the concession stand during the movie. Please bring a chair or a blanket to watch this picnic-style movie. We hope that many of you will join us for this fun filled family event!

Blue Ridge Virtual Governor School Night (BRVGS) – Thursday, October 22Please save this date. Marc Carraway, the BRVGS director, will provide parents/guardians and students with a presentation about the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor School and the application process and procedures. More information will be forthcoming. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Porter (Grade 8 Guidance Counselor) at portersa@lcps.k12.va.us

Student Schedule for Monday, September 14 – Friday, September 25Monday, September 14 (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 Monday, September 14 (A):          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (ACE Math begins. This is a “A” Day again to balance out elective and TAG programming.)

On Tuesday, September 15 (B):          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Wednesday, September 16 (A):     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Thursday, September 17 (B):         1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Friday, September 18 (A):             1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (Club A or Reading)
On Monday, September 21 (B):           1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Tuesday, September 22 (A):           1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Wednesday, September 23 (B):       1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Thursday, September 24 (A):          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Friday, September 25 (B):               1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (Club B or Reading)

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

Friday, September 11: Interim report cards for the first nine weeks are sent home with students on Friday, September 11. Teachers will stop entering grades for students from Wednesday, September 9 at 9:00 a.m. to Monday, September 14 at 3:30 p.m. This is to ensure that there is an accurate snapshot of all student grades during this interim period. Thus, your child’s grade may change starting on Tuesday, September 15 once new grades have been entered after the interim period has passed.

Monday, September 14: NJHS Candidacy packets are available in the Main Office.
Monday, September 14: ACE Math begins.
Friday, September 18: Club A or Reading
Friday, September 18: LCMS Dance @ LCMS Cafeteria from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 24: All Grade 8 students take their Social Studies Benchmarks. For Grade 6 and Grade 7 students, performance-based assessments in social studies will occur around this time.

Friday, September 25: Club B or Reading
Friday, September 25: NJHS Candidacy packets are due in the Main Office by 3:30 p.m. 
Monday, September 28: All students will take Science Benchmarks.
Monday, September 28: SOL Recognition for Elementary and Middle School Students at 7:00 p.m. in “The Alan Jackson Theatre” or the LCHS Auditorium
Wednesday, September 30: Grade 6 English Benchmarks

Thursday, October 1: Grade 7 English Benchmarks
Friday, October 2: Grade 8 English Benchmarks
Monday, October 5: Math 6 Benchmarks
Tuesday, October 6: Math 7 Benchmarks
Wednesday, October 7: Math 8 Benchmarks

Friday, October 9: First nine weeks end. LCMS Dance and Football Game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Anti-bullying Awareness Day. All students will participate in an anti-bullying walk during last period.
Friday, October 16: Report cards for the first nine weeks are sent home with students.
Monday, October 19: ACE Math occurs from Monday, October 19 to Thursday, October 22 during the last period of the day. 

Tuesday, October 20: Tentatively scheduled for Parent/Teacher Conference (3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. appointment only) and (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. walk-ins)

Thursday, October 22: Blue Ridge Virtual Governor School with Director Marc Carraway
Friday, October 23: Decision letters for NJHS mailed home to candidates. Club A or reading
Friday, October 23: LCMS Dance and Football Game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Monday, October 26: ACE Math occurs from Monday, October 26 to Thursday, October 29 during the last period of the day.

Thursday, October 29: Student picture day
Friday, October 30: Club B or reading
Thursday, March 24: All County Music @ LCHS Auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 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
Lisa C. Chen, Ph.D.
Principal
Louisa County Middle School