October 25, 2013

Good morning.

We have just concluded a pretty busy week – Parent Conferences, Red Ribbon week activities and Book Fair.  I was reviewing this in my head last night while driving home.  The successful completion of such a week is a direct result of contributions and efforts by numerous people on our staff who work behind “the scenes.”

I would like to take a moment to recognize our entire staff (teachers, custodians, office staff, counselors, TAs and admins) for their contributions and support.  In particular, I wanted you to be aware of the following folks who took the lead on each:

• ·         Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson (Associate Principal), Mary LoBosco (AP Secretary) and Joe Kleine (Technology Teacher) – Parent Conferences.
• ·         Narcisse Laidlaw (Librarian) and Ann Mohrmann (Library Secretary) – Book Fair.
• ·         Beth Mothersbaugh, Janey Worthington and Roger Scherck (Counselors) – Red Ribbon Week.

I am blessed to be surrounded by great people.

Upcoming Calendar Events:

Monday, October 28

Fundraiser order turn in, by 9:00 a.m. to the Welcome Center

Tuesday, October 29

7^th Grade Party, LMS Cafeteria and Gym – 3:10 to 4:10 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30

7^th Grade Parent/Chaperone meeting re: Kansas City Trip (6:00 – 7:00 p.m., LMS Cafeteria)

Thursday, October 31

Halloween

6^th Grade Party 3:10 to 4:10, LMS Cafeteria

Friday, November 1

LMS Fall Play, LHWHS Black Box Theater – 4:30 p.m.

LMS Fall Play, LHWHS Black Box Theater – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 6

7^th and 8^th Grade Orchestra Concert, LHWHS Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8

7^th Grade Trip to Kansas City

Monday, November 11

LMS Penny War (all week)

Tuesday, November 12

6^th Grade Parents to Lunch, LMS Cafeteria – 10:38 – 11:08 a.m.

6^th Grade Parent meeting, LMS Library – following lunch shift

Wednesday, November 13

7^th Grade Parents to Lunch, LMS Cafeteria – 11:26 – 11:56 a.m.

7^th Grade Parent meeting, LMS Library – following lunch shift

LMS Vocal Music Concert, LHWHS Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 14

8^th Grade Parents to Lunch, LMS Cafeteria – 12:14 – 12:44 p.m.

8^th Grade Parent meeting, LMS Library – following lunch shift

Friday, November 15

No School

Monday, November 18

LMS Canned Food Drive (through November 25)

Thursday, November 21

Anticipated delivery of fundraiser cookie dough

Tuesday, November 26

LMS Turkey Trot

Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29

No School

Film Screening (new)

The Diversity Cadre at LMS is thrilled to be sponsoring a screening of the documentary Jim Crow to Barack Obama on Thursday, November 21 at 3:15.  Presented in cooperation with Cinema St. Louis and the 22nd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival’s Cinema for Students (CFS) Program, Jim Crow to Barack Obama is a documentary featuring intergenerational conversations between African American elders who grew up in the now extinct era of Jim Crow and youth ages sixteen through thirty.

This documentary asks us to wrestle with the question: “How have issues of race and racism changed in the United States over the last one hundred years?”

The screening will be followed with a question and answer session with the director, Denise Ward Brown.

Please consider attending this event.  The screening will be held in the LMS Cafeteria on November 21 and will begin at 3:15 pm.  The question and answer session with the director will follow and the entire event should conclude before 6 pm. 

6^th Grade Party/Volunteer Request (new)

The parents who are coordinating the 6^th Grade Party, scheduled for October 31, have created a volunteer sign up.  The link for this is http://www.timetosignup.com/laduemiddleschool/signupsheet/20776

Please direct questions to Susie Sachs at 314-452-0808.   

Girls On Track (new)

Girls On Track, an after school running club for LMS girls, will return in the spring.  Lisa Witzofsky, one of the parent volunteers, is currently looking for a few other parents to commit to one practice day per week.  If you are interested and/or need additional information, please contact Lisa at blwitz@charter.net or at 314-989-1993.

Book Fair (conclusion)

Thank you to Scholastic Book Fair co-chairs Elizabeth Allen and Carrie Stempin for their help in making this year’s Book Fair an absolute success.  Also, thank you to all of the parent volunteers who worked at the Book Fair this past week.  Final numbers are not available yet, but we are very grateful for your support.

Parent Conferences (conclusion)

Thank you to all who attended Conferences this past two days.  I realize that the “Speed Dating/Musical Chairs” format for Core Team conferences does not allow time for extended conversations.  If there are questions or issues you need to discuss further with your child’s Core Team, please contact them by email or phone.  Each team has a common planning period each day, which can be used for meetings with parents.

If you were unable to attend Parent Conferences, we will work to mail your child’s grades as soon as possible in the coming week.

Red Ribbon Week (repeat)

Red Ribbon Week, LMS' annual campaign to promote drug-free living and positive decision-making, began this past Wednesday, October 23 and extends through Halloween.  Students may wear “spirit wear” each day in support of that day’s theme.  For the coming week:

Monday, October 28 - “The Hero in Me is Drug-free” Day: Dress like your favorite superhero, with capes, tights, face paint (no masks), comic book T-shirts, etc.

Tuesday, October 29 - “Don’t Let Drugs Into Your Dreams” Day: Protect your dreams by wearing cozy pajamas and/or carrying your teddy bear to school.

Wednesday, October 30 - “Drugs Are Tacky, Let’s Be Wacky” Day: Be your true self; don’t “dress to impress.”  Wear mismatched clothes and crazy hair.       

Do not think for one minute that you will see me in tights or pajamas next week during morning traffic duty.  

I hope you have a great day and weekend. 

Greg