Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
Much learning and fun continues to occur at LCMS!
On Tuesday, December 8, members of the girls’ athletic teams traveled to the University of Virginia to watch a women's basketball game. The field trip was a great success! The girls had fun and also learned about sportsmanship, nutrition, and preparation for college. This trip would not have been possible without the hard work and support of many people. Thanks to Robbie Garnes (Assistant Principal Grade 7) for all his work to sort out the math benchmark testing groups, the math department for their flexibility with benchmark testing changes, Jordan Goodwin (Special Education teacher), Sarah Martin (Grade 6 Social Studies teacher), Nick Schreck (Physical Education and Health teacher) for chaperoning the trip, and finally to Leslie Jordan (Attendance Secretary) and Nurse Gholson. I want to give a particular Bobcat pat to Beth Brown (Grade 7 Social Studies teacher) and Terry Marks (Middle School Athletic Director) for spearheading and organizing this event!
On Thursday, December 10, Delegate Peter Farrell, Board Supervisor Stephanie Koren, School Board Members (Debbie Hoffman, Gail Proffitt, Stephen Harris, and Billy Seay), and Central Office Folks (Deborah Pettit, Doug Straley, Tom Smith, and Greg Dorazio) visited LCMS to see what our students are learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and math as part of the State’s and district’s initiative in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). They had the opportunity to see what I see every day, which are children engaged, learning, and having fun while learning. Students in Alex Waleski’s Accelerated Science 6 class made cars out of renewable energy sources, such as tape, paper clips, notecards, and paper. Students then competed with one another to see how far their cars would travel. Students in Richard Dye’s Technology 8 class were finalizing their sketches on google sketch-up, tinkercad.com, and thingiverse.com and using their sketches to develop 3-D ice cube trays. Students in Gail Carlin’s Grade 8 Art class further incorporated 2-D sketches of wind chimes and manufactured them into 3-D wind chimes made out of clay. Students in Trevor Gallo’s Grade 8 Computer Applications class and his Grade 7 Computer Coding class were involved in writing code using code.org and scratch. Students in these classes were involved in creating games and animations with sound. All in all, this was a great visit as folks saw excitement of students engaged and learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math!
As always, please feel free to contact me at chenlc@lcps.k12.va.us if you have questions, concerns, or anything that you would like to share.
The following are some important updates and announcements.
Announcements
Morning Announcers – Michael Martinez and Megan Mitchell
Michael Martinez and Megan Mitchell did an outstanding job with morning announcements! They were clear in their delivery of messages. They enunciated each word with great accuracy. Without their help, Morning Announcements would not be as fun, enjoyable, or even as informative. From Monday, December 14 to Friday, December 18, we will have two new guest speakers to assist us with the announcements: Lexi Molineaux and Maddox Pleasants.
LCHS Speech and Debate Tournament – Saturday, December 12
Andrea Jovel, Alexis Lagon, Victoria Moore, and Laura Turner will compete in Forensics (Speech) and Debate tomorrow at LCHS. Several of the events (Original Oratory, Oral Interpretation-Prose and Poetry, Declamation, Duo and Dramatic Interpretation) could be performed in front of a class. We wish our students much success as LCHS hosts their first Speech and Debate Tournament on Saturday, December 12. A huge “thank you” to LCHS teachers (Sarah Amick, Allison Guill, and Jessica Rabil) as well as Mary Eden (Grade 8 English teacher) for volunteering to judge and help out on Saturday. Thanks to all staff for helping us make this a success for students in Virginia!
LCMS 11th Annual Poetry House – Wednesday, December 16
The LCMS 7 English Team would like to cordially invite you to attend our annual Poetry Cocoa House. The LCMS Cocoa House tradition goes back over a decade and is always a favorite for students, parents, and teachers. Grade 7 students will be reading their poems in front of the LCMS English team and their peers in the Forum. Students in Period 1 will read their poems from 7:55 a.m. to 9:04 a.m. Students in Period 3 will read their poems from 10:20 a.m. to 11:28 a.m. Students in Period 4 will read their poems from 11:32 a.m. to 1:17 p.m. Students in Period 5 will present their poems from 1:21 p.m. to 2:29 p.m. The presentation will take about an hour, and Grade 7 teachers will be serving Swiss Miss brand hot cocoa, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies courtesy of the LCMS cafeteria staff. We hope that many parents will come join us for this event! Parents are reminded to check in with the LCMS Main Office first before proceeding to the Forum.
Students in the Gifted and Talented Program to Carpenter Theater – Wednesday, December 16
Students in the Gifted and Talented Program Grades 6-8 will be traveling to the Carpenter Theater in Richmond on Wednesday, December 16 to see the Richmond Ballet perform the “Nutcracker Ballet” with the Richmond Symphony performing the music. Students will leave around 9:00 a.m. and will return back to school around 2:30 p.m. Students will still be responsible for all missed work while on the field trip. We look forward to our students having a wonderful learning experience!
Canned Food Drive – Friday, December 18
Louisa County Middle School students are participating in a canned food drive through their Social Studies classes until Friday, December 18. The canned food items collected will be donated to the Louisa County Resource Council's Food Pantry as a way to help out families during the holiday season. Social Studies teachers will be accepting donations of non-perishable canned, boxed, or packaged goods. We would appreciate no glass items. Thank you for your support in this endeavor!
After School Help – Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16
Student Schedule for Monday, December 14 to Friday, December 18 and for Monday, January 4 to Friday, January 8Monday, December 14 (B): 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, December 14 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (ACE Math)
On Tuesday, December 15 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (ACE Math)
On Wednesday, December 16 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (ACE Math)
On Thursday, December 17 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 (ACE Math)
On Friday, December 18 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 End of 2nd Nine weeks. Club B or reading.
On Monday, January 4: No school for students. Teacher workday.
On Tuesday, January 5: No school for students. Professional Day for teachers.
On Wednesday, January 6 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3 Classes resume for students. LCMS doors open at 7:40 a.m.
On Thursday, January 7 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On Friday, January 8 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
Updates
Student Portal – PowerSchool
Upon students’ return to LCMS in January 2016, all students in their Social Studies classes will receive training on how to use the student portal on PowerSchool. This will provide students with the opportunity to check on missed assignments and their grades. A letter will be forthcoming from students’ social studies teachers.
Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School (BRVGS) Application Process
As the final part of the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School application process, your son or daughter must interview, take achievement and ability tests, and complete an essay administered by the school. These parts of the application process will occur during the month of January. BRVGS applicants will take the Standford 10 Science test and the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) on Tuesday, January 12, during Periods 1 and 2, and the Stanford 10 Reading Comprehension and Math Problem Solving tests on Wednesday, January 13, during Periods 1 and 2. Applicants will take the essay test on Wednesday, January 20, during Period 1. Interviews will be held on Wednesday, January 27 and on Thursday, January 28. Your son or daughter will be assigned to a 10-minute interview slot on one of these two days. Students will be excused from their classes on these days, but will be required to make up their missed work.
A letter will be forthcoming to your child who is involved in the application process for permission from the parent in order to participate in the required BRVGS testing, interview, and essay administration. Please note that a student cannot retest after completing the testing. If your son or daughter is ill during the designated testing times, a testing time will need to be rescheduled. If parents have questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Porter (Grade 8 Guidance Counselor) at portersa@lcps.k12.va.us or Todd Ryan (LCHS School Counseling Director) atryante@lcps.k12.va.us
Spelling Bee Rounds
Around the weeks of January 6 and January 11, all students will be involved in the preliminary rounds of the grade-level spelling bee. Teachers will be notified by Wednesday, January 20 of the top 10 spellers in the grade-level preliminary round. The top ten spellers will then go on to the grade-level bee on Tuesday, February 9. On Tuesday, February 9, Grade 8 spellers will compete during Period 2, Grade 7 students will compete during Period 3, and Grade 6 students will compete during Period 5. From there, the top two grade-level spellers plus one alternate will move onward to the district-side spelling bee on Tuesday, February 23. Please see the attached study guides (sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade) for spelling words for each grade-level.
Important Upcoming Dates – Added information and dates are marked in purple.*Please note that the week students return to school, they will be taking benchmark tests.
*Monday, December 14: Science Benchmark
Tuesday, December 15: Dr. Chen meets with the LCMS Parent Advisory Council from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Main Office Conference Room. PTA Board meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Main Office Conference Room.
Friday, December 18: End of 2nd Marking Period.
Monday, December 21- Friday, January 1: Winter Break. No school for students.
Monday, January 4 – Teacher Workday. No school for students
Tuesday, January 5: Staff Development Day. No school for students.
Wednesday, January 6: Classes resume for student. School doors open at 7:40 a.m.
Friday, January 8: Club A or reading.
Saturday, January 9: Battle of the Books Competition. Snow date is Saturday, January 23. This event will take place at Warrenton Middle School, 244 Waterloo Street, Warrenton, VA Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The competition begins at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, January 11: Report cards are sent home.
Monday, January 12: Dr. Chen meets with the LCMS Parent Advisory Council from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Main Office Conference Room. PTA Board meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Main Office Conference Room.
Thursday, January 14: Parent teacher conferences 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. appointments only, and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. walk-ins.
Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. No school for students.
Tuesday, January 19: Classes resume for student. School doors open at 7:40 a.m.
Friday, January 22: Club B or reading.
Friday, January 22: LCMS Dance from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the LCMS Cafeteria
Friday, January 29: Club A or reading.
Tuesday, February 9: Grade-Level Spelling Bee @ LCMS Forum
Tuesday, February 23: District-wide Spelling Bee
Thursday, March 24: All County Music @ LCHS Auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 16: Final Battle of the Books Competition will take place at Cedar Lee Middle School, 11138 Marsh Road, Bealeton, VA Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The competition begins at 10:00 a.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
