November 9, 2014
Good afternoon. I hope you are enjoying your weekend.
I would like to follow Dr.
Jahnke’s recent communication to district parents with some building-specific
information pertaining to a decision by the grand jury in the Michael Brown
death investigation. I do not have any
information as to when this decision will be released. What we have done to date at our level is
have conversations with our district administration and have brainstormed
possible scenarios as they might pertain to our school. In a communication sent out to LMS staff this
past Friday, I stressed that we will continue to maintain our regular level of
security, monitoring access to our building through designated points of
entry. Following the release of any
announcement, we plan to provide school personnel for students or staff that
need support, in a manner that respects personal opinion, privacy and
dignity. It is my goal to maintain our
instructional plans and activities, providing students and staff with a level
of normalcy and continuity. One of the
many aspects of LMS that I love and cherish is our diversity – it makes us
strong. I know that our Ladue Middle School students
and staff will work to support one another and our community during this
challenging time for our city.
CONGRATULATIONS
and THANKS
Congratulations to 7th
grader Anna Zhong, who has been accepted into the St. Louis Symphony Youth
Orchestra. Acceptance into this
orchestra is a huge accomplishment for any young musician. Congratulations as
well go out to LMS Orchestra teachers Jeff Lindhorst, Twinda Murry, Elizabeth
Daley and Ruth Panhorst. Performance
dates for the 2014-2015 season are: Friday, November 14 (8 pm); Sunday, March
22 (3 pm); and Saturday, May 30 (8 pm).
Thank you to all the
parent volunteers and especially our Book Fair Chairperson, Jodi Blucher, for
making our recent Scholastic Book Fair a success. Our profit increased
more than 5% from last year and the LMS Library will receive approximately
$1700 to use for library purchases. Thank
you for devoting your time in helping our students.
Congratulations to LMS
Drama teacher Leah Scheidt and the cast and crew of The Southfield Stories for
very wonderful performances Friday evening at the LHWHS Black Box Theater. Outstanding job to you all!
Thank you to LMS
teacher Mark Biernbaum and staff members who organized Ski Club signups this
past week.
CALENDAR ITEMS
Monday, 11/10
LMS Penny Wars begin (see below)
Tuesday, 11/11
6th Grade Parents to Lunch;
10:38 – 11:08 am
ELL Pie Night; 6:30
pm; LMS Cafeteria
Wednesday, 11/12
7th Grade Parents to Lunch;
11:26 – 11:56 am
LMS Vocal Music concert; 7 pm; HS
Performing Arts Center
Thursday, 11/13
7th Grade Trip; Trout Lodge
and City Museum
8th Grade Parents to Lunch; 12:14
– 12:44 pm
Friday, 11/14
No School; Professional Development Day
for Teachers
Monday, 11/17
LMS Canned Food Drive begins (see
below)
Tuesday, 11/25
LMS Turkey Trot and Assembly (see
below)
Wednesday, 11/26
through Friday, 11/28
Thanksgiving Break; No School
Monday, 12/1
Discovery Education (DE) testing
(through 12/4); Block Day schedules
·
12/1 – White
day/Periods 1, 3, 5, 7
·
12/2 – White
day/Periods 2, 4, 6, 8
·
12/3 – Blue
day/Periods 1, 3, 5, 7
·
12/4 – Blue
day/Periods 2, 4, 6, 8
Friday, 12/5
Hearing screenings
Ram Award Pizza day; all lunch shifts
CORRECTION/ADDITION(S)
Please be
aware of the following corrections:
·
The
ELL Pie Night scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 will begin at 6:30 pm
(originally communicated as beginning at 7 pm).
·
The
LMS Penny War fundraiser will be extended through Monday, November 17 to allow
for five full school days.
NEW ITEMS
8th Grade
Semi-Formal
Attention Eighth Grade Parents: Thank you so much to the
70 families that have already donated to help fund the Eighth Grade
Semi-Formal. If you have not already donated we now have an opportunity
for you to donate online at the following address:
http://mylmspa.com/8th-grade-party-info/
Thank you for your generous contributions,
Michelle Hawkins and Abby Hahn
Co-chairs of the Eighth Grade Semi-Formal
UPDATED ITEMS
REPEAT ITEMS
Ladue Middle School 17th Annual Turkey Trot,
Penny War and Canned Food Drive
Penny Wars: November
10 – 17
Show that your grade level is the most caring and has the most
spirit. Each grade level will have a jug placed in the lobby all week for
donation collection. All pennies and checks (made out to Ladue Middle
School) placed into a jug count as a positive amount.
All silver coins and paper money counts as a negative dollar amount equivalent to their
denomination. The grade level with the greatest positive (or least negative)
amount at the end of the week wins! All donations will go to Free
the Children Create Change program to help children and families in
impoverished countries.
Canned Food Drive: November
17 – 24
LMS is collecting can and money donations for Gateway
180, an area shelter that distributes food and funds to many area homeless
shelters. There will be a competition to see which class at each grade
level can bring in the most cans. The class with the best overall per
student donation average will win a pizza party. The winning class at
each grade level will receive a soda and chip party. You may choose to
bring in money instead of cans. One can equals $.50 (make checks out to
Ladue Middle School). All cans will be turned into the before school
grade level waiting area (cafeteria or gym) and collected by parent volunteers
as well as members of the Social Justice Club and National Junior Honor
Society.
100 Can Club – All students bringing in 100 cans will receive a 100 Can Club
Certificate hung in the hall with their name on it and their name read on the
afternoon announcements. Members of the 100 Can Club will have the opportunity to throw a
pie in one of their favorite faculty member’s face!
Turkey Trot: November 25
A special Turkey Trot schedule will be created with shortened
periods that will allow for the running of three separate one-mile races, one
for each grade level, as well as an all school celebration at the end of the
school day.
All School Celebration Assembly:
November 25; 2:25 – 3:05 pm
We will recognize the winning grade level of penny war, the
winning classes of canned food drive, 100 can club members and turkey trot
winners. 100 can club members will be selected at this time to throw a pie
in the face of some of their favorite faculty members!
Canned Food Drive
Parent volunteers are needed for the LMS Canned Food Drive. This will occur Monday, November 17 through
Monday, November 24 (7:15 to 8:20 am).
Please contact Nancy Edwards (my Secretary) at nedwards@ladueschools.net or call (314) 983-5502 if you are
able to volunteer for this great event. We need one volunteer for each
grade per day. You do not
have to work every day. Working
even one morning would be a tremendous help.
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
Have a great remainder to
your weekend.
Greg
