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

Friday, September 18, 2015

Principal's Update for September 18, 2015

Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:

On Thursday, September 17, which was Constitution Day, students in Grade 6 Social Studies classes were given a Constitution trivia quiz and a top ten list of facts about the Constitution. In the Grade 7 Social Studies’ classes, students followed up on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. In Pam Carpenter’s and Bonnie Collier’s Grade 8 Civics classes students read the play, “Saving A Nation,” while in Lewis Coleman’s, Maureen Everly’s, and Tony Swain’s Grade 8 Civics classes, students studies a lesson on the Constitution!

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 – Shane Bibb and Makalya Blair
Shane Bibb and Makalya Blair 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. Without their help, Morning Announcements would not be as fun and enjoyableFrom Monday, September 21 to Friday, September 25, we will have two new guest speakers to assist us with the announcements: Tyanna Brooks and Hope Bumgarner.

Science Fair Due Dates
The following attachment, “Science Fair Due Dates 2015,” contains all due dates for the Advanced Science classes in Grades 6, 7, and 8. For more specific information about the science fair, please contact your child’s science teacher. All students regardless if they take Regular or Advanced Science classes will be involved in the researching and writing components of the scientific process.

PTA Fundraiser Tulip Pick-Up – Monday, September 21
The LCMS PTA would to like thank you for supporting the first PTA’s fundraiser of the school year. Your support is greatly appreciated! If your child sold tulips, they will be available for pick-up on Monday, September 21, 2015 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the LCMS Cafeteria. If you wish to have them sent home with your child, or you need to make other arrangements for pick-up, please contact Shanna Hart at (540) 420-1894 and leave your child's name and Period 4 teacher. It would also be helpful to provide the name of a person who ordered from your child as reference. Thank you for your continued support!

Talented and Gifted (TAG) Night – Wednesday, September 23
On Wednesday, September 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. parents or guardians of TAG students will have the opportunity to meet with their children's TAG coordinators and to hear about the current TAG Programming at the middle school. Parents/Guardians will also be able to participate in a fun activity similar to the kinds of things that students do at TAG meetings. This meeting is not required, but we encourage you to join us! TAG students do not need to attend. This meeting is for parents or guardians only. We look forward to meeting with you in the LCMS Forum on Wednesday, September 23 at 5:00 p.m.

School Board’s Annual Perfect Standards of Learning (SOL) Scores Recognition Event – Monday, September 28On Monday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Alan Jackson Auditorium at LCHS, the School Board will be recognizing those students who achieved a perfect SOL score on their tests. We look forward to this exciting event!

Middle School Years – September 2016
In this edition of “Middle School Years,” parents or guardians can learn more information about helping their child stay on task and planning assignments. For more information, please see the attachment, “September 2016.”

After School Help – Tuesday, September 22 and Wednesday, September 23
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.

ACE Math – Monday, September 14 to Thursday, September 24
Students have been involved in learning more math skills during Period 6 from Monday, September 14 to Thursday, September 17, and then from Monday, September 21 to Thursday, September 24. I am extremely appreciative of all of my teachers who were involved in planning this initiative not only last year but also this year. It is an incredible community building event to see all teachers involved in helping students review math skills that our math teachers have identified as important and pivotal for all students. Students are either involved in reviewing math skills during this time or working with their respective math teachers. Way to go LCMS Staff and Students!

Student Schedule for Monday, September 21 – Friday, October 2Monday, September 21 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (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 4 class.)

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)On Monday, September 28 (A):                     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
On Tuesday, September 29 (B):                     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2
On Wednesday, September 30 (A):                1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On Thursday, October 1 (B):                          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Friday, October 2 (A):                              1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5

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

Monday, September 21: ACE Math continues in Period 6.
Monday, September 21: PTA Fundraiser Tulip Pick-up
Wednesday, September 23: TAG Parent Night at 5:00 p.m. in LCMS Forum
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 during or 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