March 14, 2014
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:
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
