Dear LCMS Bobcat Family and Friends:
I am looking forward to my first Homecoming game with you. I can hardly wait to see all of you Friday night. Thank you for all of the good work of our coaches, students, parents, teachers, and community members for such an event. Go Lions!
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
Thank you to Ethan Foster and Brandan Fowler – Morning Announcers
On behalf of LCMS, we would like to thank Ethan Foster and Brandan Chloe for their assistance each morning with announcements. Both students have done an outstanding job of setting a positive tone for LCMS! Next week, we look forward to having Chloe Fritz and Sylvia Growden as our announcers.
Congratulations to LCMS Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Teams
We are proud of our boys’ and girls’ cross country teams for their outstanding performances at the Virginia State Middle School Invitational on Saturday, October 4. The 6th grade boys’ team finished in 1st place in their division with Matt Klapak, Ethan Nelson, Cole Miller, Logan Jenkins, Zachary Gallagher, and Ty Smith all earning individual medals. The 6th grade girls team finished 2nd place in their division: Riely Smith, Hannah May, and Rebecca Furgurson all won medals for their races. In the 7th and 8th grade Championship races, both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished in 3rd place. Dillon Nelson, Nate King, Nick Liles, Ryan Groome, Kensley Smith, Sierra Wells, Sarah Seay, and Sabrina Hatton all earned State medals for their individual performances. Thank you to our students for their hard work and efforts, to our parents for their support, and to Coach Brown for her leadership.
Vickie Southall and Nursing Students Visit Family Consumer Sciences
On Thursday, September 25 during Period 1A, Mrs. Vickie Southall and eight senior nursing students from the University of Virginia made their annual visit to Gracie Quarles’ Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) 8 Individual Development class during their child care unit. Mrs. Southall and the nursing students showed our students video clips of emergency situations and how to react. They then demonstrated to the students how to conduct CPR on an adult and a child using mannequins. FACS 8 students were able to practice the techniques in groups with the encouragement from the nursing students. They were also instructed in other life saving techniques, such as dislodging food from a choking victim and using a defibrillator when needed to save a life. Thank you again to Mrs. Southall, the nursing students, and to Ms. Quarles for organizing such an event for our students.
Olweus Steps Against Bullying Walk – Friday, October 17
On Friday, October 17 all students will be involved in a walk against bullying. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in a poster contest against bullying. Posters will be judged for their quality and message against bullying. First, second, and third places will receive gift cards. The Safe, Orderly, and Caring Correlate have been busy planning these events. More information about the contest will be forthcoming to students. For additional information, please email co-chairs Tom Black (Physical Education and Health Teacher) at blacktm@lcps.k12.va.us and Richard Dye (Technology Teacher) at dyerl@lcps.k12.va.us
LCMS Band and Guitar Students Hear Richmond Symphony – Wednesday, October 22
On Wednesday, October 22, LCMS Band and Guitar students will travel to hear the Richmond Symphony. We are excited that our students will have the opportunity to listen to local musicians play.
114 Students to VMI for AMC8 Event – Tuesday, November 18
On Tuesday, November 18, 114 LCMS students will travel to Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to partake in the AMC8 Math contest. Following the test, students will have lunch on campus, listen to a seminar from COL Troy Siemers (VMI Applied Mathematics Department Head), and then VMI cadets will lead students in tours. We are excited about this event and the opportunity for our Grade 7 and Grade 8 students to partake in this national math test and to visit a college campus.
LCMS Students Involved in Community Service
In the upcoming week, students will be involved in writing letters that recognize our servicemen and servicewomen in ACE Block. The purpose of next week’s writing assignment in ACE Block is for our students to provide positive encouragement to those who are in active service or recovering from injuries obtained through service. A big thanks to Nell Stover (Department Head of Social Studies), April Swain (Grade 7 Math Teacher), Katherine Duke (Department Head of English), and Joanne Kennedy (Grade 7 Math Teacher) for their leadership in such an important event. Students will see the following youtube clip next week to introduce them to this assignment.
Again, our students will have another opportunity to see how their writing can positively impact the lives of others, and the importance of writing effectively!
If I Were Mayor
During the week of October 20, all students will be involved in writing an essay on the topic, “If I Were Mayor.” Students in Grade 7 will even have a special visit from Mayor Garland Nuckols (Mayor for the Town of Louisa) in their Social Studies classes. Across the school, both English teachers and Social Studies teachers will be working together to plan this curriculum unit, so that the content that is taught and discussed in Social Studies will be aligned to the writing and instruction in English class through writing and reinforced in ACE Block. Students will begin writing their essays in ACE Block and finish up the writing process with their writing teachers. A big thanks to Karen Hurst (Grade 6 English Teacher) and Tom Jordan (Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher), Laura Watkins (Grade 7 English Teacher) and Nell Stover (Department Head of Social Studies), Meagan Hoy (Grade 8 English Teacher) and Pam Carpenter (Grade 8 Social Studies Teacher), and Katherine Duke (Department Head of English) for planning a co-curricular, school-wide event!
Student Schedule for Tuesday, October 14 to Friday, October 24
On Tuesday, October 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 October 13 There is no school for students. This is a Teacher Workday.
On October 14 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 15 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 16 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 17 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 20 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 21 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 22 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 23 (B): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
On October 24 (A): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4
Updates
Battle of the Books – Reading Competition for LCMS Students
This year students from Louisa County Middle School will participate in the Piedmont Region Battle of the Books. Battle of the Books is a reading competition, which provides a fun environment while encouraging students to read good books. Students will read 19 preselected books and then compete against other schools by answering questions about the books in a game show type competition. The first competition, which is called Open, will be held on Saturday, February 21 at Cedar Lee Middle School in Fauquier County. All Battle participants are eligible to participate in Open. The Final Battle will be held on Saturday, April 25 at Culpeper Middle School in Culpeper County. Seven members will be selected to represent LCMS at theFinal Battle. Battle of the Books members and their parents are encouraged to visit Rebecca Baughman’s blog at www.lcmsbattleofthebooks.blogspot.com to stay up to date on current happenings. Thank you to Rebecca Baughman for her leadership in this club. We look forward to our students participating in these exciting events!
Important Upcoming Dates – Added information and dates are marked in purple.
Wednesday, October 8: Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Science benchmarks.
Thursday, October 9: Grades 6, 7, and 8 take Social Studies benchmarks.
Friday, October 10: Field trip for all Grade 6 students to Louisa Arts Center to see “Science Circus”
Friday, October 10: First nine weeks end.
Saturday, October 11: A Gathering of Connections Event from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. @ Carver Recreation Center
Monday, October 13: Teacher Workday. No school for students.
Tuesday, October 14: School resumes for students. School doors open at 7:40 a.m. for students.
Tuesday, October 14: Parent Advisory Meeting with Dr. Chen in LCMS Conference Room at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 14: PTA meeting at LCMS at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 16: Blue Ridge Governor’s School for Grade 8 students and parents with Ms. Jennifer Purcell @ LCMS Forum at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 - Steps Against Bullying Walk @ LCHS track for all LCMS students at 2:30 p.m. Rain date is Friday, October 24
Friday, October 17 - Steps Against Bullying Walk @ LCHS track for all LCMS students at 2:30 p.m. Rain date is Friday, October 24
Friday, October 17: Report cards for First Nine Weeks go home with students.
Tuesday, October 21: Parent and Teacher Conference @ LCMS from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. by appointment / 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. walk-in’s.
Friday, October 26: Club B for students. Other students not involved in clubs are reading independently with teachers for 30 minutes.
Friday, October 31: Dance and football game @ LCMS Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, November 3: Staff Development Day No School for Students
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day Division Holiday No School for Students and Staff
Wednesday, November 5: Students are back in school. School doors open at 7:40 a.m. This is an “A” Day.
Tuesday, November 18: Grade 7 and Grade 8 students attend AMC8 Competition @ VMI at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, November 25: Grade 8 students attend The Encore! Presentation @ Altria Theater, Richmond at 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, February 11: LCMS Science Fair Awards @ LCMS Forum at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 21: Battle of the Books Competition for LCMS Students @ Cedar Lee Middle School
Saturday, April 25: Battle of the Books Competition for LCMS Students @ Culpeper Middle School
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
