March 14, 2014

By Anonymous -


Good afternoon, Happy Friday and Happy Spring Break.

My office and desk are a mess at the conclusion of this week.  If I was more conscientious, I would stay around after everyone leaves to clean it up before heading home.  Not going to happen.  We have three days of trout fishing planned, beginning this weekend.  At least the mess here won’t get any worse until next Saturday or Sunday.

Happy Pi Day, as well (May 14 or 3.14 for you non-Mathy folks).  I have sampled the pumpkin and chocolate varieties today, which were delicious.

CALENDAR ITEMS

Monday, March 17 through Friday, March 21
No School: Spring Break
Tuesday, April 1
SRI Reading testing; Grade 7; regular schedule
Wednesday, April 2
SRI Reading testing; Grades 6 and 8; regular schedule
Thursday, April 3
LMS Spring Play; 4:30 – 6:00 pm; LHWHS
Friday, April 4
LMS Spring Play; 7:00 – 8:30 pm; LHWHS
Monday, April 7 through Thursday, April 10
MAP Testing
Tuesday, April 8
LMSPA Meeting; 1:00 pm
Friday, April 11
Science Olympiad; State Competition at University of Missouri
Thursday, April 17
Percussion Concert; Grades 6 – 12; 7:00 – 8:30 pm; LHWHS
Friday, April 18
Early Release Day; 12:40 pm (Professional Development)
Wednesday, April 23
LMS Vocal Concert; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Wednesday, April 30
LMS Band Concert; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Friday, May 2
Early Release Day; 12:40 pm
8th Grade Dance; 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, May 7
LMS Orchestra Concert; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Friday, May 9
Citizenship Ceremony; times TBA
Tuesday, May 13
LMSPA Meeting; 1:00 pm
LMS Choir Concert; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Wednesday, May 14
Science Olympiad to national competition
Friday, May 16
Band field trip; 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday, May 22
8th grade Six Flags trip
Friday, May 23
8th grade Farewell Assembly; 12:00
End of 4th Quarter

CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS

Thank you to Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson and AP Secretary Mary LoBosco for organizing our Spring Portfolio Conferences.  This takes a great deal of time and effort to make conference run smoothly.  A big thank you, as well, to Jennifer Parish and the LMSPA for providing supper on both nights.

The National Junior Honor Society would like to thank all parents and students for their participation in this year's Pennies for Patients campaign to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Between the hat day, candy grams and penny boxes we raised over $1,500 dollars. Thank you for your support.

LMS Character Council participated in the annual Fill The Bus food drive to benefit the Jewish Food Pantry and Operation Food Search.  Totals for donated canned goods and food items for the district totaled 9,274.  Thank you to LMS students, parents and staff.

CORRECTION(S)

This will take a little setting up –
Our staff has been involved in an ongoing process this year to identify our collective purpose and identity.  This effort is based on a book study by the district administrative team to determine, as the author calls it, our “WHY.”  We recently got staff t-shirts with our identified WHY’s on the back, as a form of celebration and unity.  Many of us took the opportunity today to wear them to work.
Several of the kids today have assumed that our WHY t-shirts have been worn to question why we are in school today.  That is not the case, and I wanted to clear that one up before it gained a lot of traction.

NEW ITEMS

School of Character announcement
As you may know, Ladue Middle School was selected as a Missouri School of Character in 2012.  We were just informed that LMS is one of 50 finalists in the National Schools of Character program.  There is still an intensive screening process to go through before the actual National Schools of Character recognitions are announced.  However, I think you will agree that being a finalist is a great honor in itself.  There are nearly 100,000 public schools in the U.S. and LMS is one of 50 being considered for this honor.  Congratulations to our staff, students and their families for making this possible.  The 2014 National Schools of Character will be announced in mid-May.  I will keep you posted!

LMSPA Fundraiser/California Pizza Kitchen
New and Improved! California Pizza Kitchen will once again donate 20% of all purchases to the LMSPA…this time at TWO locations: Galleria Mall and Creve Coeur.  So on Tuesday, APRIL 8, 2014, dine in, carry out or even cater that company lunch knowing you are benefitting your child’s school.  Valid any time of day – lunch, snack or dinner!  Please see the attached flyer on the Blackboard Connect email.

Costa Rica trip 2015
Attention 7th grade parents! The 8th grade Costa Rica trip is currently being organized for next year. All Spanish students  are invited to travel to Costa Rica during Spring Break 2015. Parents are welcome to travel with their children, but it is not required. Siblings may be considered as well. Practice your language skills, learn about the culture and see some of the magnificent beauty that is found in Costa Rica. The program next year will be led by a bilingual naturalist guide and Sarah Schwartz, 8th grade administrative intern (and former Spanish teacher). Mrs. Schwartz presented to Spanish classes on Thursday, March 13 and will be holding an informational meeting for parents at 7:30am on Tuesday, April 1st from 7:30-8:15am in Mrs. Berrios' classroom (205). If you can't make it or have any questions, feel free to call Sarah at 983-5529 or email saschwartz@ladueschools.net

UPDATED ITEMS

REPEAT ITEMS

LMSPA Nominations for 2014-2015
The Ladue Middle School Parent Association is beginning to plan for the 2014-15 school year.  If you would like to nominate yourself or another person for a position on the LMSPA Executive Board, please print out and complete the attached Nomination Form and return it to the LMS Welcome Center by Monday, March 24th.

La'Due It 5K
On Sunday, March 30, 2014
Ladue walks, runs, and cares! 
This event is brought to you by the Ladue Schools Physical Education Department and District Wellness Committee.  Proceeds will support Due Care, an organization which provides financial assistance to district families and students in need.  Bring your old shoes to donate to Shoeman Water Projects, helping bring clean water to communities around the world.  A T-shirt is guaranteed with pre-registration by March 15th.  To pre-register, go to:  www.ladueschools.net

LMSPA eBlasts
If you are not currently receiving LMSPA email news blasts but would like to, please click on the following link to subscribe:
http://mylmspa.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8186aab01aeae3b063b04d395&id=3b63071451

Board Briefs
Information regarding Ladue Board of Education meetings and work sessions can be found on boardbriefs.blogspot.com

I hope you and your families have a great Spring Break.  If you are traveling, please be safe.

Thanks for your time,

Greg

Popular posts from this blog

April 29, 2016

By Anonymous -
Image
Good afternoon.  I hope that your week has gone well. CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS Thank you and congratulations to Aaron Lehde, Betsy Cytron, Michael Faris, Scott Harris, Katie Solomon and members of the LMS 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Bands for their truly wonderful performances this past Wednesday evening to a packed house at the LHWHS Performing Arts Center.  It was a truly wonderful way to end the day.  The kids (and teachers) did a fantastic job.   Administrative Professionals Day was this past Wednesday.  I cannot adequately express how valuable our office staff members are to us.  They are: Nancy Edwards, Principal’s Secretary Peggy Breidenbach, Registrar Carol Stephens, Guidance Secretary Danna Anderson, Receptionist Mary LoBosco, Assistant Principals’ Secretary Ann Mohrmann, Library Aide Kelly Shevitz, Clinic Aide Thank you, as well, to the LMSPA which allowed me to take them to lunch on their day. CALENDAR ITEMS...
Read more

April 14, 2016

By Anonymous -
Good afternoon.  I hope that your week has gone well so far.   All indications point to MAP testing having gone pretty well for the 6th and 7th graders this week.  Although many hands contribute to the success of school-wide, grade level testing, I would like to share special thanks to the work put in by Associate Principal Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson, Counselor Janey Worthington, Technology Coach Karl Kindt, and Teaching Assistant Katie Rahmoeller.  We should wrap up testing for 8th grade next week, with make up exams to follow.   CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS Congratulations to the LMS Science Olympiad team.  This past Saturday, they took first place at the state finals in Fulton, MO with a commanding lead over the second place team (Pembroke Hill from Kansas City).  Thirty-two of the top teams from the state were present and Ladue took top five in 20 of the 22 events.  The team will be moving on to the national finals at University of W...
Read more

September 18, 2015

By Anonymous -
Good afternoon, everyone.   I hope that your week has gone well. CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS Congratulations to LMS Literacy Coach, Erika Niles.   Erika was recently selected by the LMS Administrators and Dr. Jennifer Allen (Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum/Instruction) to receive an Excellence In Education recognition for 2015-2016.   In addition to her duties as Literacy Coach, Erika also makes a positive impact on our building and district through her work on the LMS Problem Solving Team, as the LMS Representative on the district New Teacher committee, as a member of the LMS Professional Development committee, as a member of the district Curriculum and Instruction committee, as a LMS Representative on the district RTI Planning Committee, and as a Mentor to an LMS student.   Erika will be honored at the October 26 Ladue Board of Education meeting.     CALENDAR ITEMS Monday, 9/21 7 th Grade Trip Thursday, 9/24 Fundraiser ...
Read more