August 24, 2014
Good afternoon. I hope your weekend has gone well, and that
you have been able to stay cool over the last few days. This would have gone out yesterday, but we
got tied up with a birthday celebration during the day and had family over last
night.
I would like to bring up
two items at the beginning of this message, rather than list them down below in
the body of the email.
Item 1
It came to my attention on
Friday, as I was leaving for home, that several of our students were crossing
Clayton Road (some of whom were outside marked crossing zones). Please be aware that we have an ABBCO
employee (contracted by the district) that serves as a crossing guard (with
stop sign and vest) on Clayton Road, near Sportman’s Park, on a daily basis in
the afternoons. A Ladue PD officer is
normally located at the intersection of Clayton and Conway Roads at dismissal
to help release buses and cover that crosswalk for those students who live to
the south of our campus. The officer was
not present on Friday afternoon.
I contacted not only our
Admin Center on the way home, but was also contacted by our Director of
Maintenance. It is my understanding that
Ladue PD has an officer present in the afternoons when they are not involved in
other emergency calls. We cannot
anticipate when this may occur. Please
be assured that the topic of the crosswalk and intersection at Clayton and
Conway in the afternoons will be a topic of conversation and study this
week. We will also increase our
communication to students to make sure they are aware of the daily crossing
supervision at/near Sportman’s Park, on Clayton Road.
Item 2
Prior to the beginning of
school, Leah Scheidt (LMS Drama teacher) approached Dr. Taylor-Johnson and me with
an idea for our fall production. Leah
shared that the students she worked with last year, who are returning, were
exceptionally talented for middle school students and she wished to challenge
them with something not ordinarily attempted by our students.
Leah proposed that we
produce the play “And a Child Shall Lead”, a drama written for middle level
students based upon true stories and poems of children who were interred at the
Terezin Nazi concentration camp, near Prague, during World War 2. To be honest, I have struggled with this. On one hand, light-hearted productions 1) are
greatly entertaining and 2) appeal to our audiences (mainly composed of family
members). On the other hand, if we truly
wish to challenge our students, help them make connections to “real world”
events and multi-cultural and multi-ethnic issues, then an undertaking of this
kind should be considered.
Last week, I was able to
read the script of this play, almost in its entirety (the last ten pages or so
were not available through the special preview process – copyright provisions
and we have not purchased scripts as yet).
I have little knowledge of the fine arts, being an old Science and
mathematics teacher. With that in mind,
I can honestly share that I was deeply, deeply moved by the stories of these
poor children, who exhibited more courage and strength than I can ever imagine
in myself. I proceeded to walk to Leah’s
classroom, suggested a few modifications that she had already considered, and
let her know that I approved of her selection.
Should you wish to look at
a preview of “And a Child Shall Lead”, particularly if you have a student
interested in auditioning for or working on this production, please use the
following link: http://www.playscripts.com/play/1242
CONGRATULATIONS
and THANKS
Thank you to everyone who
was able to attend our Meet The Teacher Night on Wednesday, August 20.
Thank you to Scott Lackey,
6th Grade Assistant Principal for coordinating the event and to all
the staff members who helped make it happen.
Particular thanks go out to our LMS Custodians for the set up in the
Gym.
CALENDAR ITEMS
Tuesday,
8/26
After School Activities
begin (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Wednesday,
8/27
School Picture Day
6th Grade Camp
Parent meeting, 7 – 8 pm (see below)
Monday,
9/1
Labor Day: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday,
9/2
SRI Reading assessments; Grades
7 and 8
Wednesday,
9/3
SRI Reading assessments;
Grade 6
Monday,
9/8
Discovery Education (DE)
assessments; through Thursday, 9/11
Block Day schedules
Friday,
9/12
Early Release day; 12:40
pm
Monday,
9/15
6th Grade Camp
Session 1; through Wednesday, 9/17
Wednesday,
9/17
6th Grade Camp
Session 2; through Friday, 9/19
Wednesday,
9/24
Fundraiser Kickoff
assemblies; Periods 1, 2, 3
Friday,
9/26
Fundraiser Postcard turn
in; during Lunch periods
Thursday,
10/2
Fundraiser Turn In day 1;
during Lunch periods
7th Grade
Party; 3:10 – 4:10 pm
Friday,
10/3
Ram Award Pizza day;
during Lunch periods
CORRECTION/ADDITION(S)
NEW ITEMS
After School
Activities/Quarter 1
We offer
after school activities each quarter, based upon student interest and staff
availability. These occur on Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons, from dismissal until 4:10 pm. Quarter 1 activities will begin this
Tuesday. I will make it a priority to
communicate activity choices through our website and through a corresponding
email on Monday/tomorrow. My apologies
for getting this information out later than anticipated.
Access to Google Drive
documents/forms
Please
be aware that in order to access documents or forms that teachers have posted
via Google Drive, you must be logged into your child’s ladueschools.net account.
Mr. Kindt, our LMS Technology Coordinator, has posted a “how to” link on
the LMS website that should help:
http://kkindt-ladueschools.blogspot.com/p/parent-help.html
http://kkindt-ladueschools.blogspot.com/p/parent-help.html
Vision Screening
Volunteer Request
If any parent is a nurse and would like to volunteer to assist
with our vision screening on Monday, October 27, please contact Ann Body at annbody@ladueschools.net or leave a message in the clinic at
983-5516.
Girls Scouts
7th
grade girls: there is a Girl Scout troop for you. Parents and all interested girls are welcome
to come to an organizational meeting on Wednesday, August 27th, after school in the LMS library. Our
meetings are once per month, on the first Wednesday, from 3:15 to 5pm.
If there are any questions, please contact Sarah Martin via email at goodmartin2u@sbcglobal.net.
Lunches/Going Outside
We try to
provide students the choice of going outside at the back of our building during
lunches. This is usually the last ten minutes
or so of the lunch period. Please know
that we monitor this in terms of weather (extreme heat and extreme cold) and
reinforce that this is based upon choice – students may remain in the
Cafeteria until the conclusion of the lunch period.
MTN Survey
If you have a
moment, we could use your feedback on Meet The Teacher Night. There is a very brief survey available for you input at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lmsmtn2014
UPDATED ITEMS
Fall Parent Conferences
Parent
Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 (3:50 to 7:30 pm) and
Thursday, October 23 (1:20 to 6:40 pm).
Sign ups are
now available online at:
http://www.myconferencetime.com/laduems
You may also
the website by going to the LMS webpage using the following link:
Prior to
completing your sign up, please carefully review the instructions that are
provided. Do not delay in signing up as
appointment slots fill up very quickly.
REPEAT ITEMS
GENERAL INFORMATION
6th Grade Camp Information
Information about 6th grade camp should have arrived to
you. Paperwork can be turned in to your
child's 8th period teacher anytime, but no later than August 29.
Additional camp information and copies of what is sent home today can
also be found on the middle school website at:
http://www.ladue.k12.mo.us/lms/ExtraStuff/6thGradeCamp.html
Spring Break
Opportunity
Visit Costa Rica during Spring Break! There
will be an informational meeting for 8th
grade Spanish students and parents interested
in going to Costa Rica during Spring Break on Thursday, August 28 at
6pm in the library. This information is the same that was given during the
informational meeting last year. Parents are invited to accompany their
children, but it is not required. The deadline for signing up is October 1 (Please note, last week's email said November 1 in error). If you have any questions
or cannot attend, please email Sarah Schwartz (8th grade AP) at saschwartz@ladueschools.net or call 983-5529.
8th Grade Sports
Is your 8th grader interested in running cross
country (co-ed) or playing volleyball (girls) this fall? 8th grade sports are
starting soon. Next week, students will have the opportunity to sign up for
fall sports during lunch. The sports program is a free, no cut, all play
program the focuses on positive sportsmanship and character development.
Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:10-4:10.
There is a late bus available after practice. The first practice is Tuesday, September 2.
In order to participate, students must turn in required forms and have a
physical on file dated on or after February 1. The forms can be found here: http://teachersites.ladue.k12.mo.us/lms/jtheodosiou/8th_Grade_Sports/Welcome.html Paper copies are available in the office. Forms can be turned
in to the office or Coach Theodosiou. If you have questions, please email Sarah
Schwartz (saschwartz@ladueschools.net) or Coach Theodosiou (jtheodosiou@ladueschools.net).
Contact Information
It is important for the
middle school to have the correct contact information, address, and phone
numbers for your child in case of an emergency. Address
changes must be done by contacting our registrar and providing appropriate
documentation. Please take a few minutes to make sure your
child’s contact information is correct by logging on to the Parent
Portal. If you have not signed up to access the Parent Portal,
please stop by the middle school with a picture ID and see our registrar, Ms.
Breidenbach. You can also update your information by contacting our
registrar, Ms. Breidenbach at 983-5511.
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 afternoon and evening.
My best,
Greg
