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

Monday, February 1, 2016

Principal's Update for January 29, 2016

Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:

I am so glad that we are finally back in school! My nephew Toshi and my niece Emiko, however, who attend Fairfax County Public Schools are still out of school today. As a reminder, LCMS will be hosting a dance tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Payment and permission slips are due at the door. We hope that as many of our students will join us tonight for a fun time! Assistant Principals, Tom Connolly, Robbie Garnes, and Joel Rupert, will be doing the “worm” and break dancing!

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 – Brynn Straley and Courtney Toews
Brynn Straley and Courtney Toews did an outstanding job with morning announcements! They were clear in their delivery of messages and enunciated each word with great accuracy. Without their help, Morning Announcements would not be as fun, enjoyable, or even as informative. From Monday, February 1 to Friday, February 5, we will have two new guest speakers to assist us with the announcements: Hayden Ussery and Deirdre Varney. Because of the short week, Brynn Straley and Courtney Toews will continue to assist us with Morning Announcements as well!

Bring Up Grades – Congratulations to our students!
The High Expectations Correlate would like to congratulate the following students for “bringing up their grades” on their second report cards without any grades dropping. We are really proud of these students for their continual hard work and efforts. Please see the attachment, “BUG.”

Welcome Lauren Lamb
We would like to welcome Lauren Lamb, who is the long-term substitute for the Chorus and Drama position. Ms. Lamb was originally from Pittsburgh, PA and received formal vocal training at Slippery Rock University (SRU). She graduated from SRU with Honors, earning degrees in both Music Education and Vocal Performance. While in PA, Ms. Lamb taught Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choirs, and Guitar and Piano to high school students. Ms. Lamb has had three years of teaching music at the elementary level in Prince George County, VA, as well as an additional year as a long-term substitute at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. For the past two years, Ms. Lamb has worked at Lousia County High School as an instructional assistant in special education. She has also maintained a private studio throughout the years for voice students in the surrounding area and has worked in different studios as a vocal instructor. In addition to teaching music, she loves to sing and has performed extensively throughout Pittsburgh as an opera and jazz singer. We are very excited to have Ms. Lamb during this time period. Ms. Lamb can be reached through email at lamblp@lcps.k12.va.us. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Lamb to LCMS!
Welcome Katherine Seidl
We would like to welcome Katherine Seidl, who is a fourth year nursing student at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. She will be completing a practicum with Nurse Gholson at LCMS. Katherine Seidl also loves to sing, is a member of the cappella group at University of Virginia, and spent the last six months living and studying in New Zealand. Next year, she hopes to work in the pediatric setting at a hospital in North Carolina or Virginia. She looks forward to meeting our students and working with Nurse Gholson in the health office. Ms. Seidl will be with us on Thursdays from now until Thursday, March 31. We would also like to thank Vickie Southall, the Assistant Professor of Nursing, at the University of Virginia School of Nursing for this partnership with us!

LCMS and LCHS Sports Update – See these websites!
For the most up-to-date information about conditioning, tryouts, and games, please see the following websites:https://sites.google.com/a/lcps.k12.va.us/lcms-athletics/ and https://t.co/ma4j41gxyA

Grade 7 Advanced History Classes – Louisa Arts Center – Monday, February 1
The 7th Grade Advanced History classes will attend a youth performance of Frederick Douglass, performed by actor Nathan Richardson. This presentation will be a thirty minute monologue followed by a fifteen minute question and answer session at the end of the performance held at the Louisa Arts Center on Monday, February 1. The subject of the performance is the 19th Century American Abolitionist Icon and Civil Rights Leader, Frederick Douglass. The performance will cover Frederick Douglass’s life as a slave, his escape to freedom, and his rise as a great abolitionist. Students will be traveling by school bus to the Louisa Arts Center in Louisa and be returning to LCMS afterwards. Students will eat 2nd lunch and will then depart at 12:30 p.m. to return back to LCMS at 2:00 p.m. There is no cost for this trip. Thank you to Grade 7 Social Studies teachers, Beth Brown and Hope Hamblin, as well as Assistant Principal, Robbie Garnes, for organizing this field trip for our students!

Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School (BRVGS) Student Interviews – Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5
The Governor’s school interview dates are now Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5. The applicants’ interview times will be the same. Students have received interview slips with their dates and times. If you have questions, please contact Guidance Counselor, Sarah Porter, at portersa@lcps.k12.va.us

Edgar Allen Poe Museum – Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24
Grade 8 students in the Gifted and Talented Program will go the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond, VA on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24. For more information, please contact Grade 7/8 Math teacher, Kristina Johnson, at johnsokd@lcps.k12.va.us

PowerSchool Grades – Updated Weekly
Your child’s grades are updated weekly on PowerSchool. If you or your child have questions about your child’s grades or assignments, please contact your child’s teacher directly.

Interim Reports – Monday, February 15
Due to the inclement weather and the days that our students have not been in school, students’ interim reports will go out with students on Monday, February 15. The interim for the third marking period ends on Friday, February 12.Students will be in school on Monday, February 15, and this will be a “B” Day. Tuesday, February 16 is also a “B” day. This is to help even out the number of A and B days for electives during the months of January and February.

Student Attendance and Student Tardies
Beginning in January 2016, LCMS will be sending home letters to those students who have unverified absences of 5, 10 and 15 more days. The purpose of sending home such letters is to bring awareness of the number of missed days that a student may have and the importance of being in school and in class consistently in order to receive vital information and instruction. Within the month of December, LCMS had an average of 40 students coming to school late each morning. When students arrive to school late on a regular basis and/or miss classes on a regular basis, they are missing important information. Thus, as a goal for LCMS, we want all of our students to be present, and participating in the fun and learning at school. My staff and I appreciate your help and support in advance!

After School Help – Tuesday, February 2 and Wednesday, February 3

Student Schedule for Monday, February 1 to Friday, February 12 Monday, February 1 (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, February 1 (B):                           1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Tuesday, February 2 (A):                          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Wednesday, February 3 (B):                     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Thursday, February 4 (A):                        1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Friday, February 5 (B):                             1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 Club B or Reading

On Monday, February 8 (A):                          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Tuesday, February 9 (B):                          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Wednesday, February 10 (A):                   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Thursday, February 11 (B):                       1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 ACE Reading/Writing
On Friday, February 12 (A):                           1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 Club A or Reading

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, February 1: Grade 7 Advanced History classes to Louisa Arts Center.
Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5: Student interviews for Blue Ridge Governor’s School

Tuesday, February 9: Grade-Level Spelling Bee @ LCMS Forum
Wednesday, February 10: Science Fair Awards at 6:00 p.m. @ LCMS Forum.
Friday, February 12: Club A or reading. Interim ends for 3MP.
Friday, February 12 – Saturday, February 13: All District Chorus at Culpepper Middle School
Monday, February 15: This is a B Day. There is school for students. Interim reports go home with students.

Tuesday, February 16: This is another B Day. 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.

Wednesday, February 17: English 8 Benchmark (Multiple choice/writing simulation).
Friday, February 19: English 8 Benchmark (Writing prompt/essay simulation).
Friday, February 19: LCMS Dance from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the LCMS Cafeteria.
Monday, February 22: English 7 Benchmark.
Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24: Grade 8 Gifted and Talented Students to Edgar Allen Poe Museum.

Tuesday, February 23: English 6 Benchmark.
Tuesday, February 23: District-wide Spelling Bee.
Thursday, February 25: Social Studies Benchmark.
Friday, February 26: Drama Field Trip to Swift Creek Mill Theatre to see the play, “The Little Lion”

Tuesday, March 1: Math 8 Benchmark.
Wednesday, March 2: Math 7 Benchmark.
Thursday, March 3: Math 6 Benchmark.
Monday, March 7: Science Benchmark.
Monday, March 7 – Friday, March 11: LCMS Book Fair
Friday, March 11:  End of 3rd Marking Period.
Friday, March 11: LCMS Pot of Gold Dance from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the LCMS Cafeteria.

Monday, March 14: Teacher Workday. Students are not in school.
Tuesday, March 15: Classes resume for students. School doors open at 7:40 a.m.

Tuesday, March 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, March 18: Report cards go home. Club B or reading.
Monday, March 21: Grade 8 Standards of Learning Writing Test.
Wednesday, March 23: Grade 8 Standards of Learning Writing Test.
Thursday, March 24: All County Music @ LCHS Auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Monday, March 28-Friday, April 1: Spring Recess for students.

Monday, April 4: Classes resume for students. School doors open at 7:40 a.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