February 6, 2014
Good afternoon everyone. Although snow days are good in the short
term, it is good to have everyone back at school/work today.
Tomorrow appears like it
will be hectic, with our last full day of DE Testing, Ski Trip, and Science
Olympiad leaving around mid-day for a competition. Rather than risk putting this together in a
hurry, or running out of time, I thought it best to send this out when I had
time to think a bit. If I have omitted
anything below, I will put out an update tomorrow.
CALENDAR ITEMS
Monday, February 10
DE Testing Make Up Day
Pennies for Patients fundraiser (through
February 13)
Wednesday, February 12
Hoops for Heart during PE classes (through
February 13)
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
A word of thanks is needed
for our Custodians (Milan Rakic, Steve Bell and JB Tate) and two of our TAs
(Katie Rahmoeller and Jennifer Cerame) who brave the elements each morning
performing crossing guard and traffic duties.
They perform these tasks cheerfully and without complaint (at least not
around me). We depend upon them a great
deal and appreciate their efforts.
CORRECTION(S)
NEW ITEMS
Hidden Valley/Energy
Drinks
A
concern has been voiced by a parent that some students participating in our
Hidden Valley Ski Trips may be consuming more than a reasonable amount of
energy drinks through their concession stands.
Although we don’t have much if any control over what they offer for
sale, and can’t monitor each student’s purchase, I wanted to bring this to your
attention in the event that you want to address this with your child. Mark Biernbaum, Industrial Technology teacher
and also Ski Trip Coordinator, has made/will make a call to Hidden Valley to
request that only one energy drink be sold to students at a time (hopefully,
preventing the situation in which a student loads up on several at once). This system will not be perfect or foolproof,
but by 1) bringing this to your attention, and 2) making Hidden Valley aware of
the concern, we can impact this in a positive manner.
Friday Wear Red Day
Tomorrow
(February 7) is National Wear Red Day, which supports the fight against heart
disease. In an effort to raise awareness for this effort, the LMS
Physical Education Department would like to encourage all students and staff to
show their support by dressing in their favorite red clothing.
UPDATED ITEMS
REPEAT ITEMS
Hidden
Valley ski/board pass info: Just a reminder, if you purchased a Friday pass from
through LMS from Hidden Valley for your child, you will receive an actual
card IF/WHEN your child goes to Hidden Valley on a Friday that LMS is not
there. On that Friday, your child will need to go into the office, show them
some identification and they will take their picture and print a pass.
Therefore, if your child only goes to Hidden Valley on the five school Fridays,
he/she will NOT receive an actual pass card.
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
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:
LMSPA eBlasts
If you are
not currently receiving LMSPA email news blasts but would like to, please click
on the following link to subscribe:
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.
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
Thanks for your time. We hope you have a great Friday and weekend.
Greg
