April 5, 2015

Good afternoon on this gorgeous Sunday. 

As previously mentioned, this Tuesday our Library will be used as a polling place.  Members of the public enter and exit through our side Library door, thus preventing the need for our guests to travel throughout our building.  One challenge this does present is parking.  We try to reserve some spaces for voters near the Library, but many end up wanting to park in our Circle Drive.  There will be three times on Tuesday when we will need folks to refrain from this: 7:45 to 8:15 am, 2:45 to 3:15 pm, and 4 to 4:30 pm.  I will try to have signs posted that morning.

We continue to look at our current master schedule for revision in the 2016-2017 school year.  Our current forty-three minute class periods are not sufficient to meet the instructional needs of our teachers and students, particularly in the core areas (English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies).  A committee has been active in looking at alternatives that support increasing instructional time in these areas while minimizing the impact upon our Electives programs/offerings.  We will continue to work on this for the remainder of this spring and into next fall, with the goal of making a presentation to the Ladue Board of Education prior to winter break in 2015.  More information from me will follow.   

CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS

Welcome to the newest members of the LMS Family:

Finn Richard Heckendorn, born on March 20.

Lydia Jane Dalbey, born on March 30.

Griffin Wade Schwartz, born on April 1.

Congratulations to LMS teachers Leah Scheidt, Leah Alrutz, Erika Niles and the cast and crew of our musical Alice In Wonderland Jr. for two outstanding performances last Wednesday and Thursday at the LHWHS Performing Arts Center.

Congratulations to Beth Heuermann, LMS French teacher, who was selected by the school’s faculty as LMS Teacher of the Year.  This process involved nominations by LMS faculty and a vote involving many outstanding teachers who serve our students, parents and colleagues.  Great job, Beth.

Ladue Middle School took second place in the Sixth Grade and under category of the Missouri State Chess Championships March 28th. The team was comprised of Erik Tkachenko, Joshua Wolk, Ari Gottesman, Seth Goldman, Katie Eisenman, Ron Weiss. Erik also placed first and Joshua tenth in the state individually for the sixth grade and under category.

Congratulations to Joan Shacklette, LMS Grade 8 Social Studies, who was chosen to participate in a very prestigious summer teaching seminar sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 

On Saturday, March 28, twenty LMS students competed in the MCTM (Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics) regional competition at Selvidge Middle School.  Due to the number of students in this competition, it was considered a double site.  As a result, there are two first place winners, two second place winners, two third place winners, two fourth place winners and two fifth place winners overall.  The results are as follows:
6th-Grade Individual Awards
1st - Jason Ding, 1st - Stephen Jiang, 2nd - Harry Chen, 2nd - Michael Tu
(All 8 6th-grade participants placed in the top 20!)
7th-Grade Individual Awards
1st - Jeremy Ouyang, 2nd - Anna Zhong, 3rd - Lena Liang
8th-Grade Individual Awards
1st - Moses Schindler, 2nd - Akhil Kondepudi, 2nd - Seema Patil, 5th - Akshay Govindan, 5th - Jackie Zeng
Team Competition
1st - Moses Schindler, Akhil Kondepudi, Seema Patil, and Jason Ding

All twelve of these students will be participating in the state competition on April 25 at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. 

Every year, University of Missouri - St. Louis organizes a competition for young composers for the entire state of Missouri. The competition is called C.O.M.P., an abbreviation for creating original music (information can be found at http://music.missouri.edu/COMP). There are 3 categories (elementary, middle and high school), 2 sub categories in each of the 3 (instrumental piece or song) with three winners in each category. The competition is very challenging.

This year's winners are (as they were every year since 4th grade):  Ande Siegel (LMS Grade 8), First place in the middle school division, original song; Menea Kefalov (LMS Grade 8), Third place in the middle school division, original song.

CALENDAR ITEMS

Tuesday, 4/7

Election Day; LMS Library as a Polling Place

Monday, 4/13

MAP Testing, Grade 7

Tuesday, 4/14

MAP Testing, Grade 7

LMSPA meeting (open to the public); 1 – 3 pm

Wednesday, 4/15

MAP Testing, Grade 6

Ram Award Cardinal Game

Thursday, 4/16

MAP Testing, Grade 6

NJHS Induction Ceremony; 8:30 – 9:30 am; LMS Cafeteria

Percussion Concert (Grades 6 – 12); 7 – 8:30 pm; LHWHS Performing Arts

     Center

Friday, 4/17

Early Release Day; 12:40 pm

Monday, 4/20

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (English/Language Arts and Science)

Tuesday, 4/21

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (English/Language Arts classroom activity); regular

     schedule

Vocal Music Concert (Grades 5 – 12); 7 – 8:30 pm; LHWHS Performing Arts

     Center

Wednesday, 4/22 

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (English/Language Arts performance task and Science)

Thursday, 4/23

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (English/Language Arts performance task and Science)

Friday, 4/24

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (Math)

Monday, 4/27

Patriot Team field trip

Tuesday, 4/28

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (Math classroom activity); regular schedule

Wednesday, 4/29

MAP Testing, Grade 8 (Math performance task)

Friday, 5/1

Early Release Day; 12:40 pm

8^th Grade Semi-Formal; 7:30 – 10 pm

CORRECTIONS/ADDITIONS

NEW ITEMS

E-Cycling Drive

Ladue Middle School is hosting a Free Community Wide Electronics Recycling Drive on Saturday, April 25, from 10am - 1pm. You can drop off basically anything that has a cord or battery. Things like LCD/LED TV's, computers, printers, keyboards, laptops, radios, cell pones, speakers, fax machines answering machines, air conditioners, microwaves, kitchen appliances, lawn and garden equipment. 

UPDATED ITEMS

MAP Testing

LMS students will take the MAP tests on the following dates.  Please avoid scheduling appointments during school on these days.

Grade 6:  Wednesday, April 15 (English/Language Arts) and Thursday, April 16 (Math)

Grade 7:  Monday, April 13 (English/Language Arts) and Tuesday, April 14 (Math)

Grade 8:  Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 and Tuesday-Wednesday, April 28-29

(English/Language Arts, Math, and Science spread over the seven days)

A more comprehensive description of the MAP assessments will be e-mailed to parents in a separate communication.

REPEAT ITEMS

Documentary Screening

On Tuesday, April 7 the LMS Diversity Cadre is sponsoring a screening of the documentary Miss Representation, with a group discussion to follow.  This powerful, uncompromising film explores the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America, and challenges the media's limited portrayal of what it means to be a strong woman.  It's sure to be an informative, eye-opening event.  Participation is limited to the first 60 students who turn in a permission slip, and parents are welcome to attend as well.  The screening will begin at 2:30 in the cafeteria, with the group discussion finishing up in time for the students to take the late bus home at 4:10.  We'd love to see you there, so please watch for the permission slips to come home with your child. (Reminder – If you are able to attend the screening, please refrain from parking in the Circle Drive.  We should have spots available to the side and/or rear of the building.)

Ram Award Cardinals Game

Wednesday, April 15 is the Ram Award Cardinals game!  As a reward for students who have earned 100 Ram Awards for showing positive character traits, LMS is taking a field trip to see the Cards versus the Brewers.  Students will be meeting at school at 5:45 pm and return around 10 pm.  In order to participate, students must get a permission slip from the AP office and return it signed with 100 Ram Awards.  There are a limited amount of spots available, so only the first 13 students from each grade level to return their slips can participate.

LaDue It 5K

Registration is still open for the La'Due It 5K and 1-mile Fun Run.  We hope to see you at Stacy Park on Sunday, April 26!  5K race time is 9am with the Fun Run to follow (at approximately 10am.)  Registration forms are available on PeachJar and at www.ladueschools.net.  

Current 7^th grade students/Immunizations for next year

Students entering 8th grade in the state of Missouri are required to receive the TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) immunization.  This is usually given by a doctor at age 11 or 12.  If your child has not received this immunization, please consult your physician.  If you have records showing that your child has received it, please provide them to the nurse's office.

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

Have a great remainder of your weekend.

Greg