Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
I hope that you and your family members had a good Labor Day weekend, and tomorrow, I look forward to seeing our students on Tuesday, September 8.
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 – Madison Amick and Jakayla Anderson
Madison Amick and Jakayla Anderson did an outstanding job with morning announcements. You were clear, and you helped to provide all staff and students with important announcements to begin our school day. Thank you for doing such a great job! From Tuesday, September 8 to Friday, September 11, we will have two new guest speakers to assist us with the announcements: Makaylah Anderson and Jeremiah Ayers Shorts!
Afternoon Pick-up On behalf of my staff, I just want to thank our parents and guardians for using the Central Office parking lot during the 3:09 p.m. pick up. We are hoping that this avenue will help to alleviate the back up during this time. You are still welcomed to use the circle for student pick-up, but please keep your car moving along to alleviate congestion. If you arrive earlier, please feel free to use the Central Office parking lot. You can meet your child on the sidewalk behind the buses for pick-up. A reminder that no child is allowed to cross in between the buses or to cut through the Central Office Parking Lot during the 3:09 p.m. dismissal. This is to ensure the safety of all of our students as this is a very busy time for traffic.
Computer Programming Update – Trevor Gallo (Computer Teacher)Grade 7 students enrolled in this new computer class have been working in code.org using basic programming functions. So far, students have created programs with loops, events, and conditionals. Students wrote algorithms for everyday tasks. Moving forward, students will also translate their names into binary, investigate different problem-solving techniques, and discuss societal impacts of computing. By the end of the curriculum, students will create interactive games or stories to share with other students. According to Trevor Gallo, this has been an exciting new course available to our Grade 7 students! It is aligned to what students will be exposed to at the high school if they further wish to pursue Computer Programming. I am really excited about this opportunity for learning for our students!
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Invitations – Week of Tuesday, September 8
For this year only, invitations will be mailed home to not only Grade 7 students who had a cumulative 6th grade GPA of at least 3.40 but also to Grade 8 students who had a cumulative 6th grade GPA of at least 3.40. This is to ensure that our Grade 7 students last year (who are now Grade 8 students) did not miss any opportunity to apply. We will continue to provide clear communication for all students about NJHS. The following year (as what has occurred in the past) only Grade 7 students who had a cumulative 6th grade GPA of at least 3.40 will be mailed home an invitation to apply. Invitations to apply will be mailed home to students and families this week.
Grade 7 and Grade 8 students who had a cumulative 6th grade GPA of at least 3.40 and who wish to be considered for membership in the National Junior Honor Society must complete a Candidacy Packet (available September 14), and return it to the LCMS Main Office by 3:30 p.m. Friday, September 25. Completion and submission of a Candidacy packet does not guarantee selection. The Candidacy Packet will be reviewed and evaluated by the NJHS Faculty Council. Students will be notified of the Faculty Council’s decision by letter in the US Mail postmarked no later than Friday, October 23. The decision of the Faculty Council is final, and members of the Faculty Council cannot discuss their decisions with students or their parents or guardians. Appeals may be made to the school principal. There is no quota of how many students will be accepted this year or in following years to come.
After School Help – Tuesday, September 8
After School Help begins 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. For more information, please see the attachment, “After School Help Form 2015.” A printed schedule of the staff available for after school help will be forthcoming. For more information, please contact Annie Floyd (Grade 6 Guidance Counselor) at floydam@lcps.k12.va.us
Interim Grades for Students – 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.
LCMS Club Sign-ups – Friday, September 11 From now until Friday, September 11, students have the opportunity to sign up for clubs during their lunch periods. Please note the following regarding memberships to either FCCLA or FFA:
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is the student organization for students who had previously enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) classes (including the Exploratory Wheel) during their Grade 6 or Grade 7 school years, who are presently enrolled in FACS this school year, or who will be enrolled next semester for this school year. It is the only student organization with family as the main focus.
FFA is a national youth organization for students enrolled in Agricultural Education classes. Our mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people by providing opportunities for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. Students who are not enrolled in Agricultural Science may still apply but will only be involved in locally sponsored activities, such as Club day and some after school activities. Students who are not enrolled in Agricultural Science may join this club but will be unable to compete at the National level.
For more detailed information about clubs, please see the attachment, “LCMS Club Info 2015.” Club days will begin on Friday, September 18. Students who are not participating in clubs during Club days will either be reading with teachers, and if they have finished reading, they working on homework.
Student Schedule for Tuesday, September 8 – Friday, September 18Tuesday, September 8 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2 (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 2 class.)
On Tuesday, September 8 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2 (This is a “B” Day again to balance out elective and TAG programming.)
On Wednesday, September 9 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3
On Thursday, September 10 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Friday, September 11 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
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
Important Upcoming Dates – Added information and dates are marked in purple.
Monday, September 7: Labor Day. No school for students and staff. This is the last week for students to sign up for clubs during lunches.
Monday, September 7: Labor Day. No school for students and staff. This is the last week for students to sign up for clubs during lunches.
Tuesday, September 8: School begins at 7:40 a.m. LCMS Parent Advisory Council @ LCMS Main Office Conference Room from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and PTA Board Meeting @ LCMS Main Office Conference Room from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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.
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
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)
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
Principal
Louisa County Middle School
