January 31, 2014
Happy Friday to you
all.
I don’t know about you, but
this week has flown by. Based upon my
observations and interactions, the staff and kids have done a great job.
I think plans are finalized
for Discovery Education testing next week.
As previously communicated, DE testing is used in our building to
“benchmark” student progress three times throughout the year. Since testing is done online, it provides us
with data in a timely manner to identify not only what we do well, but more
importantly areas that may need attention.
The information gathered also is vital in helping us make placements in
mathematics and Communication Arts for the coming school year.
CALENDAR ITEMS
Monday,
February 3
Discovery
Education testing (through Thursday, February 6)
Friday,
February 7
2014-2015
Registration forms for current 6th and 7th graders due in
Welcome
Center Office
Science Olympiad
to Illinois Invitational
Hidden Valley Ski
Trip; 3:00 – 9:30 pm
Friday, February 14
No School; Professional
Development for Staff
Monday, February 17
No School; Presidents’ Day
Tuesday, February 18
Patriot Team field trip to
Springfield, IL
Thursday, February 20
Trailblazer Team field trip
to Springfield, IL
Friday, February 21
Hidden Valley Ski Trip; 3:00
– 9:30 pm
Tuesday, February 25
6th Grade Party
3:10 – 4:10
Thursday, February 27
Pioneer Team field trip to
Springfield, IL
7th Grade Party
3:10 – 4:10
Friday, February 28
Hidden Valley Ski Trip; 3:00
– 9:30 pm (make up day)
Tuesday, March 4
Vocal Concert, Grades 5 -
12; 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5
Jazz Band Concert, Grades 7
– 8; 7:00 pm
Friday, March 7
I Am LMS activities
Early Dismissal; 12:40 pm
CONGRATULATIONS
and THANKS
Congratulations
to 7th grade students Eric Biernacki, Hale Masaki, Lauren Vanlandingham. These three, along with other LMS students,
are participating in the Green Schools Initiative and presented their findings
to the Board of Education this past Monday.
The Green Schools Initiative is a program sponsored by the Missouri
Botanical Gardens designed to put the tools and resources in students' hands to
determine how "green" their school buildings are. Students conducted an energy audit of our
building earlier this year as a part of the program under the direction of
Science teachers Liz Petersen, Colleen Deibel and Beth Steck. Eric, Hale and Lauren presented several
interesting findings and some proposals to help make LMS more “green.”
CORRECTION(S)
NEW ITEMS
NJHS Fundraiser
The National
Junior Honor Society is sponsoring a Pennies for Patients fundraiser from February
3 through February 21 to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This fundraiser is in memory of former NJHS
President Michael Reifsteck, who died in 2012 from leukemia. Michael would be a
junior at Ladue High School this year.
Students
will bring home penny boxes and are encouraged to collect spare change over the
next three weeks. (We will also accept cash and checks should be made out to
Ladue Middle School). On Friday,
February 21 students will return their penny boxes to any team teacher.
In addition
to the penny boxes, National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring a hat day on
Friday, February 7. Students can pay .50
cents to wear a hat to school. They will get a sticker and have their name put
on our Help Beat Cancer!
Also the
week of February 10 through February 13, NJHS members will be selling candy
grams before school. Students can pay $1 to have a lollipop and a note
delivered to a friend in class.
Our school's
goal is to raise $1,500! Thank you in
your efforts to Help Us Beat Cancer!!
Rams Club
A new club is
starting next Tuesday for 8th grade students who are interested in staying
after school to watch home basketball games but need supervision. The Rams Club is a club that provides a place
for 8th graders to stay after school, get homework done and have a snack, and
then go to the game. This club will be supervised by 8th grade teachers. It will meet only on the days that there are
home basketball games (February 4, 6, 13 and 20). The first game is next Tuesday, February 4. A signed permission slip is required to be a
part of this club and must be turned in before the afternoon of the game. Permission slips are available in the Welcome
Center or AP Office. If you would like
an electronic copy of the permission form or more information, contact Sarah
Schwartz: saschwartz@ladueschools.net
8th Grade Dates of Interest
The
following are dates specific to parents of current 8th grade
students in order to make plans for this spring:
May 2
7:30-10 8th grade dance
May 19 and
20 (all day) 8th grade boat building
May 21 (all
day ) 8th grade boat races
May 22 (all
day ) 8th grade to Six Flags
May 23 8th
Grade Promotion 12pm
LMSPA eBlasts
If you are
not currently receiving LMSPA email news blasts but would like to, please click
on the following link to subscribe:
UPDATED ITEMS
REPEAT ITEMS
Discovery Education (DE) Testing
Round three of
our yearly benchmark DE testing will occur February 3 through February 6. In order to allow for sufficient time for
testing, we will follow a Block Day schedule that is listed below:
February 4 – EVEN/Blue day (Math
testing)
February 5 – ODD/White day
(Communication Arts testing)
February 6 – EVEN/White day
(Communication Arts testing)
(Note: ODD
and EVEN days refer to the class periods that meet on those days. BLUE and WHITE days impact 6th
Grade students only and refer to classes that meet on alternating days. The kids have it figured out at this point.)
6th and 7th Graders/Scheduling
Counselors are in the
process of meeting with current 6th and 7th grade
students this week and next to discuss scheduling for next year. During these meetings, students have received
(or will receive) curriculum handbooks and registration forms to bring home. Registration forms will be due in the LMS
Welcome Center Office by February 7.
Program to support Cardinal Glennon
Please
support two of our own, Jessie and Sara Eastlund and their dance company
for the 4th Annual Pazazz Gala to be held Saturday, February 8th at 7:00 pm at
the Touhill Theater. Fifty-percent of the proceeds from the Gala will be
donated to Drea's Dream Dance Therapy Program at Cardinal Glennon Children's
Hospital. It will be a great night of dance for a phenomenal
cause.
Girls on Track
This program is for 6th
-8th girls, general registration will open at 8:30 a.m. on January 27th and
close at 5:00 p.m., February 12th. The cost is $150. We want all girls to
be able to participate regardless of their financial circumstance, payment
plans and scholarships are available. Flyers are available in the office.
Please visit the web site below for additional information and to
register:
LMS Lunchtime Parent Lecture Series
The following
lectures are sponsored by the LMSPA.
It’s information that will make you a better parent! Bring a bag lunch, or just bring yourself,
your curiosity, and your desire to learn from the best and the brightest. Note: All of our speakers will begin promptly
at noon and end promptly at 1 pm to respect the time of our busy parents.
Communication
Without Conflict – How to Get More than Grunts, Groans and Eye Rolls
Wednesday, February 5; 12-1 pm; LMS
Library
Join Debbie
Granick for an engaging, humorous, and solution-packed lunch hour that will
give you new tools and tricks for enhancing communication with your tweens and
teen.
You will:
·
Learn
causes of communication breakdown.
·
Reduce
friction in common “high conflict” situations.
·
Discuss
tips for talking about sensitive issues like drinking, peer relationships,
sexual situations and more.
·
Get
proven strategies for engaging your child in conversation and enhancing your
relationship.
Debbie Granick is a Licensed Clinical
Social Worker and RN. She has worked
previously at MoBap and as a Counselor at MICDS. She helps teems, adults, and families to
create positive change. She is currently
in private practice in Clayton.
Advocating
For Your Child – Why, When, and How
Wednesday,
February 12; 12-1 pm; LMS Library
As parents it
is natural for us to help and support our children, yet we may be denying them
the ability to advocate for themselves.
Why is that we advocate for our children? When should we take the lead in the
advocating process and when should we follow?
How can we help and support our children without being too
emotional? Learning how to step in and
out and really listen to our children can help both parents and their children
navigate the world.
Peggy Fiala, M. Ed., LPC is in private
practice. She focuses on adolescent
counseling specifically around school issues (academic, social, and emotional
transition and adjustment). She also is
a Parent Coach and educational consultant.
Before going into private practice, she worked for 32 years at John
Burroughs School as a teacher, middle school principal and counselor.
Parenting,
how it changes as they grow!
Wednesday,
February 19; 12-1 pm; LMS Library
Come hear
national speaker MJ Corcoran introduce the three main parenting stages, along
with tips on how to get the most out of your relationship with your teen. If you are sick of reminding, coaxing or
simply being responsible for your teen’s life, join MJ in a lively discussion
on how to be more coach-like for a winning relationship with your teen.
MJ Corcoran is a National Speaker,
Certified Parenting Coach and M. Ed. strategist.
Stepping Off the Hamster
Wheel – Tools for Frenzied Families
Wednesday, February 26;
12-1; LMS Library
Feel like there’s never
enough time to do it all? Jill Farmer
will give you tools for unraveling the business in your lives. Learn how to replace the craziness in your
house with some calm. Tips for
overscheduled parents and middle schoolers.
Jill Farmer is the Author of “There’s Not Enough Time
. . . and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves” and is a Master Certified Life Coach
and speaker.
MAP Testing
Please note
that MAP testing will be held on Monday, April 7 through Thursday, April
10. If possible, please try to avoid
scheduling doctor appointments or other time away from school during this
period for your children. We would
appreciate it very much.
Yearbook Order information
Yearbooks
will be on sale until February 14, 2014. After that date, pre-orders will no longer be
available. 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). You can also order by phone at
1-866-287-3096.
Board Briefs
Information
regarding Ladue Board of Education meetings and work sessions can be found on boardbriefs.blogspot.com
I hope everyone has a great
remainder of their Friday and weekend.
Thanks for sending us great kids every day.
Greg
