December 9, 2016
Good afternoon.
Nine more school days until Winter Break, but we are not counting.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU’s
Thank you to LMS student Leif Schuster. Leif was mistakenly omitted from the 100 Can Club list last week (he actually contributed 200 cans). Our apologies, Leif.
Congratulations to LMS teacher Elizabeth Dalbey and her husband Eric on the birth of their daughter Cora Noel on December 3.
Congratulations to LMS librarian Melody Frese, who has been nominated to be a member of the Notable Children's Books Committee (part of the Association for Library Service to Children). The purpose of the committee is to select, annotate and present for annual publication a list of notable children’s books published during the preceding year.
Congratulations to LMS teacher Quentin Alimayu, who was awarded a Ladue Education Foundation grant in the amount of $7,500. Quentin submitted a proposal to purchase technology and related equipment to provide students opportunities for virtual learning in multiple content areas. Thank you to the LEF and to Kristen Wild, Jodi Minkler and Julie Schuster for coming to LMS this afternoon to surprise Quentin with a very large check and balloons.
CALENDAR ITEMS
12/13/16
LMSPA Executive Board meeting; 1 pm
12/20/16
Last Day for Semester 1 After School Activities/Activity Buses
12/22/16
End of Semester 1
Early Release Day; 12:40 pm
12/23/16
Winter Break begins
1/4/17
School resumes
1/6/17
Ski Trip #1
NEW ITEMS
Winter Reading
St. Louis County Library is pleased to offer its popular Winter Reading Club again this year. The Winter Reading Club runs from December 1-February 28th. Anyone of any age (including parents and grandparents) can participate!
Log sheets are available from your child's ELA teacher or at any St. Louis County Library branch. Bring the completed log sheet back to your library branch to pick up your coupon and be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. Raffle prizes include Kindle Fires, $20 movie theater gift cards, and $50 Amazon gift cards. More information is available here: http://www.slcl.org/winter-reading-club
In addition to the County Library's Program, this year sixth grade students may also participate in the Six Flags Read to Succeed program. If your child is interested in earning a free ticket to Six Flags, all they have to do is read six hours and log their reading on the Six Flags Read to Succeed form, which was distributed this week. The deadline to return the completed and signed forms is February 24th. If you need another copy of the form, please email Melody Frese, our library media specialist atmfrese@ladueschools.net, or contact your child's ELA teacher.
As an extra incentive, any child who participates in either reading program will also receive a gift from the LMS library! Simply show the completed reading log to an LMS librarian before turning in your form, or make a copy of the form to show us!
8th Grade Slide Show
As a part of celebrating the accomplishments of 8th graders next spring, a slideshow) is shown at the 8th Grade party and at the Farewell celebration. We would like to ask for your help in contributing photos for the slideshow. We’re looking for good-quality photos (preferably taken with a digital camera instead of a cellphone) of school-related activities…sports events, field trips, musical performances, classroom experiments, etc. Our goal is for every LMS eighth grader to be included in the slide show!
If you have any photos to share, please email them to lms2017slideshow@gmail.com. If you’d prefer to put your photos on a flash drive, there will be a couple in the LMS office, designated for parent use, after winter break. Simply pick one up, load your photos, and return it to LMS.
If you have any questions, please contact Julie Schuster at lms2017slideshow@gmail.com
UPDATED/CORRECTED ITEMS
LMSPA Gift & Project: Teacher Tributes Fundraiser
Honor Our Wonderful Ladue Middle School Teachers and Staff This Holiday Season!
Act by TODAY, Fri. 12/9/16 to be guaranteed to be included in the staff letters
Dear Ladue Middle School Families,
The Ladue Middle School Parent Association's "Gift & Project: Teacher Tributes" Fundraiser (lovingly called "G & P" or "Teacher Tributes") is our largest fundraiser of the school year.
The funds raised every year through G&P make up a significant portion of the annual LMSPA budget, and allow the LMSPA to continue to do many things over the course of the year to elevate our children's learning experience and help support our children, their families and the LMS staff.
We hope that you will honor your student's teachers and other LMS staff members with a donation if you haven't already.
All contributions are tax-deductible and qualify for corporate matching contributions.
Donate by TODAY, Fri. 12/9/16 to be guaranteed to have your name(s) included in the letters that LMS teachers and staff will receive before winter break, letting them know who has honored them with a Winter Gift & Project: Teacher Tributes donation (donation amounts are not disclosed).
How To Participate:
You may view information on how to make your Winter Gift & Project donation today and how to provide the names of your teacher and staff honorees today by visiting the LMSPA website, www.mylmspa.com.
Select "Winter Gift & Project: Teacher Tributes" under "Support."
Thank you to everyone who has already donated!
Check out the growing list of participating LMS families on the LMSPA website!
Questions? Please contact either of our Gift & Project: Teacher Tributes Co-Chairs, Melissa Garza and Julie Stappenbeck:
Melissa Garza
melissahgarza@gmail.com
Julie Stappenbeck
jstappenbeck@yahoo.com
Thank you. The LMSPA is grateful for your support.
Happy Holidays!
REPEATED ITEMS
From our Cafeteria
Flatbread folds, hamburger bar, mandarin chicken salad, Italian sub sandwiches.....these are only a few of the new additions to the cafe this month. On Monday students will experience some exciting changes in the cafe! Check out the changes on the menu - or better yet come have lunch and check it out for yourself!
Ski Trip Update
Parents, we had a great turnout for our LMS Ski/board club this year. We have a total of 470 students who will be participating. If you wanted your child to be a part of the club but missed the registration, you can still purchase the discounted Friday passes (until the end of November), however you will have to transport your child to and from Hidden Valley.
Students who ordered a long sleeve T-shirt or Hoodie and did not receive it at that time will probably be receiving it right after Thanksgiving break. It is possible for them to come in before, but doubtful. They will be distributed in the lunchroom during your child's lunch shift.
If you have any questions about our LMS Ski Club, please email Mark Biernbaum at mbiernbaum@ladueschools.net
NURSE DANI NOTES
Immunization Requirement Changes
In the past year there have been some immunization changes required by the state of Missouri that will affect students going into 8th grade next school year. Students entering 8th grade will now be required to have a Meningitis immunization and a Tdap immunization prior to starting 8th grade. Your child may have already had both of these immunizations!
Please check with your pediatrician to verify if these have been completed. If not, please begin making appointments at your earliest convenience. Take advantage of the upcoming breaks to get this requirement out of the way. Do not wait until August when physician offices are booked!
You can send the updated immunization records that reflect that your child has these immunizations. The nurse's office will accept these records immediately - no need to wait until summer!
You may email, fax, or send in a copy of the record to the nurse's office.
Email: dbernholt@ladueschools.net
Fax: 314-997-8736
Thank you for your assistance, and have a wonderful holiday season!
Free Flu Vaccines
The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health is implementing influenza vaccination clinics. Free influenza vaccine will be available to uninsured children from 2 to 18 years of age. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The free influenza vaccination clinic schedule is:
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Location: John C. Murphy Community Health Center
Time: 9:30AM – 2:00PM
Address: 6121 North Hanley Road, Berkeley MO 63134
Food Allergies/Lunch Periods
We will remind students this week at lunches that they should not share food with other students. If you could please reinforce this at home, we would appreciate it.
HEALTHY THOUGHTS
With winter upon us, it is important to take care of yourself and your immune system. Try these tips to boost your immune system and stay healthy during cold and flu season.
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in saturated fat.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Control your blood pressure.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
- Get regular check-ups/stay up on your vaccinations.
LMSPA
You can access the Ladue Middle School Parent Association website at http://mylmspa.com and subscribe to email blasts from the LMSPA at http://www.mylmspa.com/eblast-newsletter/
BOARD BRIEFS
Information regarding Ladue Board of Education meetings and work sessions can be found at http://boardbriefs.blogspot.com
Have a great weekend and stay warm.
Greg
Gregory Baber B.S.Ed., M.Ed., Ed.S.
Principal, Ladue Middle School
