September 13, 2013
Good
afternoon and Happy Friday:
For some strange reason, this five-day
week has gone much faster than the previous four-day week. Maybe testing this week, resulting in longer
class periods and fewer passing times, had something to do with it.
I have been toying with how I should
structure these messages over the past few days. I want to try to make it simpler for all,
based upon information I think I would want as a parent. For those of you who really need only the
calendar updates, I will put them first so that you don’t need to scroll down
through all the verbiage and random thoughts.
I’ll try to delete those items from the completed week and add those I
think are relevant, always at least a month or so ahead. Next will come “new” messages or updates. Lastly will be some selected items I think
need to be repeated. I hope this works
for you. Please let me know if it
doesn’t.
Upcoming Calendar Events:
Friday,
September 20
7th
Grade Kansas City Trip packets due to Social Studies teachers
Monday,
September 30 through Wednesday, October 2
6th
Grade Camp – Session 1
Wednesday,
October 2 through Friday, October 4
6th
Grade Camp – Session 2
Kansas City Parent meeting - October 30 6pm
Wednesday, October 9
Picture Re-Take Day
Thursday, October 10
Fundraiser Kick Off Assemblies
Friday, October 11
Early
Release Day – 12:40 p.m.
End
of Quarter 1
Fundraiser
Post Card turn in (all lunches)
Wednesday,
October 16
Fundraiser
Turn In day 1 (all lunches)
Monday,
October 21
Scholastic
Book Fair (in the Library, all week)
Wednesday,
October 23
Fundraiser
Turn In day 2 (all lunches)
Red
Ribbon Week (through October 31)
Parent
Conferences 3:50 – 7:40 p.m.
Thursday,
October 24
Early
Release Day – 12:40 p.m.
Parent
Conferences 1:00 – 6:40 p.m.
Friday,
October 25
No
School
Monday,
October 28
Fundraiser
late order turn in
Wednesday,
October 30
7th
Grade Parent/Chaperone meeting re: Kansas City Trip (6:00 – 7:00 p.m., LMS
Cafeteria)
Thursday,
October 31
6th
Grade Party 3:10 to 4:10, LMS Cafeteria
Weather
Bug/Announcements (new)
As you may be aware,
LMS is now a Weather Bug (free smart phone app) reporting site. This is a result of the efforts of 6th
Grade Science Teacher Kathleen Murphy, who has a monitor with real-time weather
data in her classroom.
“Murph” has been
sending down one to two 6th Graders each morning to read the day’s
weather forecast on our daily announcements.
I mention this part because it gives our announcements a “kid-centered”
aspect and I also get such a kick out of it.
They have been great, particularly when they announce two days in a row
– the first day is all nerves compared to the second, when they walk right into
my office like old pros.
Traffic
Tweaks (new)
Katie R. (our TA who
directs traffic at the “bottom” of the Circle Drive) and I have been playing
around a bit with our morning traffic routine.
Since most buses don’t begin arriving until around 7:55 a.m., we have
been routing cars through the Circle Drive early in an attempt to get you on
and off our campus quicker. Once the
first bus is sited coming down either Clayton or Conway, I radio Katie to
divert cars toward the back lot to drop off near the Gym, then exit onto
Clayton.
I thought you might
be curious when Katie asks you to take the longer route. Once all buses have arrived and unloaded, we
then will direct cars back to the Circle and front entrance. I hope this works to your benefit.
Yearbooks On
Sale (new)
Yearbooks are on sale
now. Orders can be placed by going to www.yearbookordercenter.com and
entering #8647 to order (or there is a link under the Activities tab on the LMS
webpage) or they can be ordered by phone at 1-866-287-3096. Please email any questions to Sharrie Cognac,
one of our yearbook sponsors.
Parent Teacher Conferences
(repeat)
Fall Parent Conferences are scheduled for
October 23 and 24. If you have not done
so already, you may be able to sign up for open time slots through our LMS
website at http://www.ladue.k12.mo.us/lms/
LMSPA (repeat)
6th Grade Parent Party - Friday, September 27th.
Hosted by Rich
and Julie Lane - Time to be announced.
7th Grade Parent Party - Saturday, September 21st.
Hosted by Mark
and Jodi Blucher - Time to be announced.
8th Grade Parent Party - Date and time to be announced
Hosted by John
and Jill Farmer
Please watch for more
communications with addresses, start times and items to bring.
School
Picture Re-Takes (repeat)
If for some reason your child is absent on
August 28, we will have a Re-Take Day on Wednesday, October 9. Should you need another order form, there are
extras in the Welcome Center Office.
If you have questions,
concerns or special requests, please direct them to Wagner Portrait Groups at
314-567-5900.
Bus Passes
(repeat)
As previously communicated, please be
aware that we cannot issue bus passes for the following buses until further
notice: L3, L5, L7, L9, L10, L16, L17,
and L20.
Bus Behaviors
(repeat)
I also want you to be aware that we are in
the process of addressing some negative bus behaviors that have come to our
attention recently. Specifically, we are
targeting inappropriate language, throwing items on/out of the bus, and the
“saving” of seats based upon grade level (i.e. the 8th graders
reserving portions of a bus).
We have reviewed our expectations over
morning announcements and followed up with specific discussions during
classes. I would greatly appreciate you
reinforcing with your children, if they ride a bus to/from school, that we want
everyone to have a safe, positive experience.
Actions that are detrimental to a safe bus ride will be addressed
through our discipline policy and may, if deemed appropriate, result in
suspension from the bus for a period of time.
Your help in this would be valuable.
As
always, my apologies if I have made mistakes or omissions.
I
hope you have a great weekend. Go
Cards. Go Rams.
Greg
