Hello Ladue Middle School Families,

It’s official! Words can’t express how honored I am to have this opportunity to serve the LMS school community as principal. Although, I am new to this role, I am not new to Ladue Middle School. This is my seventeenth year as an administrator in this building and I am just as passionate and committed to this school as I was back in 2000 when I began as an administrative intern.

To share a little background, I am originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, I attended the University of Oklahoma (Go Sooners!) and graduated with a B.S. in Language Arts Education. I moved to St. Louis in 1995 and began my teaching career as a communication arts teacher in the Mehlville School District. During that time, I obtained middle school certification and a M.A. in Education Administration from Maryville University. In 2010, I earned my doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Louis University. Education is huge in my family. My husband, Dr. Edward M. Johnson Jr., is also an educator. He taught and coached in Ladue for several years and later moved to Brentwood School District, where he is currently serving as head principal of the high school. He is also a proud Ladue Alumni having graduated from LHWHS in 1987. Together, we enjoy city living in the Benton Park area of St. Louis, MO with our six-year-old son Tristen, who is following is his dad’s footsteps by attending Spoede School as a first grader in the fall.

This is the first of many updates that will be provided to families to keep parents/guardians and students aware of school happenings. As we draw closer to the start of the school year, you can expect more frequent updates. For now, this communication will serve as a summer check in to introduce new staff, notify parents of upcoming summer parent meetings, and provide a few school updates.  


SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

In case you need to drop by the school for any reason, please be aware that our building is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m. We have a construction project in our parking lot that make it necessary for visitors to park on the side of the building and walk around to enter.

STAFF UPDATE

We have several new teachers joining our LMS Team this school year and a few returning staff that are serving in new roles. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating:

Mr. Jason Case                 PE TA

Ms. Nancy Fuchs              6th ELA

Ms. Sara Goldson             6th SSD

Mr. Steve Graef                 Administrative Assistant to the Principal

Ms. Emily Meuth               SSD  

Ms. Tori Palumbo             7th ELA  

Ms. Sharee Werner           TA

Ms. Brittany Willis      PE

Ms. Agnes Wypych           6th Grade ELA

Ms. Natalie Zook               8th Grade ELA

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL UPDATE


As many are aware, Dr. Shante Lyons was hired as the 7th Grade Assistant Principal back in May and has probably set the record for the shortest administrative tenure at LMS. With the departure of LHWHS Associate Principal, Mr. Pablo Flinn, who accepted a position as head principal at Normandy High School, Dr. Lyons was shifted back to the high school to begin his career as an AP. We are sad to see Dr. Lyons go, but are very excited that he will continue to work in the district. We are in the process of interviewing candidates for the new vacancy and hope to have someone hired very soon. Although we are late into the summer, we are certain that we will be able to bounce back and get another dynamic person to add to our LMS Team. We will keep families updated on our progress with getting the position filled.

BACK TO SCHOOL SUMMER MEETING  

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our back to school meeting on July 27 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will begin with all grade levels together and then split into grade level specific groups. This is an opportunity for students and their parents/guardians to meet administrators, ask questions, and hear pertinent back to school information. The meeting is very informal, so please don’t worry if you cannot attend. We especially encourage “New to Ladue” families to attend. More information about the meeting is included in grade level back to school letters that are attached to this email.

PACKET PICK UP

Back to School Packets (including student schedules and locker assignments) may be picked up in the LMS Lobby on Monday, August 7, from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Families that are unable to pick up their packets on this day, may come during regular office hours in the Welcome Center.  If you have an 8th grade student for the coming school year, please take special note of the item below regarding immunizations.  Please note that we are prohibited from allowing any 8th grade student from beginning classes until the necessary immunization information is provided.  As a result, 8th grade student schedules will be held until we receive that information from your child’s doctor.  


LOCKER INFO


We highly suggest that families bring a lock with you (students supply their own) when picking up "Back to School" packets at Packet Pick-Up.  This allows families to locate the correct locker and secure it before having to battle the crowd during Community Night. Most lock types will work on our lockers, but please try to select one that does not an exceptionally thick hasp (or whatever the curved metal thing is named that goes through the hole in the locker handle).  Signs will be posted throughout the building to help in locating your student’s assigned locker.


STUDENT SCHEDULES


Student schedules will be provided during Packet Pick Up. Unless we have made an error on our end, we are unable to make any schedule changes.  A significant amount of time has been invested to trying to meet course requests, locating course sections to optimize our classroom/teacher time and resources, and balancing section sizes. Please also be aware that some elective course requests may not have been possible to meet due to class size limitations or other student needs.

IMMUNIZATION INFO (8th GRADE)



As a result of immunization changes required by the State of Missouri, students entering 8th grade for the 2017-2018 school year will now be required to have a meningitis immunization and a Tdap immunization prior to beginning school.  Your child may have already had both of these immunizations.  Please check with your child’s pediatrician to see if these have been completed and, if not, get an appointment scheduled.


Updated records from your pediatrician that reflect that your child has received these immunizations may be faxed to (314) 983-5965 or mailed to the LMS School Nurse at 9701 Conway Road; St Louis, MO; 63124-1646.  Information regarding the immunization requirements for 8th grade can be found at:

http://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/pdf/1617schoolrequirements.pdf



Please note that we are prohibited from allowing any 8th grade student from beginning classes until the necessary immunization information is provided.



8th GRADE SPORTS PHYSICALS

Eighth graders have the opportunity to play sports with other local middle schools this year in a play, no cut, free program. The sports offered are: volleyball (girls) and cross country (co-ed) in the fall; basketball (boys and girls) in the winter;  and field hockey (girls) and track (co-ed) in the spring. All students who would like to participate must turn in a physical that is dated on or after February 1, 2017. Fall sports start a few weeks after school begins, so please schedule your child's physical if he or she needs one and would like to participate. More information about sign-ups will come out when school begins.

 

LMSPA MEETINGS



The LMSPA will have both day and evening meetings to accommodate varying schedules -- all are encouraged to attend! Meetings will be held on the following dates at LMS (room TBD):


Wed. September 27, 2017 from 7-8 p.m.
Tues. October 17, 2017 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Wed. November 15, 2017 from 7-8 p.m.
Tues. December 12, 2017 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Wed. January 10, 2018 from 7-8 p.m.
Tues. February 13, 2018 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Tues. March 13, 2018 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Wed. April 11, 2018 from 7-8 p.m.
Tues. May 8, 2018 from 12-2 p.m.


You can subscribe to email blasts from the Ladue Middle School Parent Association at http://www.mylmspa.com/eblast-newsletter/  



The LMSPA can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LadueMiddleSchoolParentAssociation/ and on Twitter @mylmspa


COMMUNITY NIGHT

The LMS Parent Association invites all students and families to celebrate the beginning of a new school year on Friday, August 11 from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents and students together to:



  • · Bring schedule and walk your classes

  • · Bring a combination lock for your assigned locker

  • · Decorate the inside of your locker  

  • · Fill your locker with school supplies

  • · Remove some of the first day jitters

  • · Turn in all School and Parent Association paperwork

  • · Buy school logo clothing  

  • · Visit with all of your friends



Past large turnouts result in some crowding, so we ask that the following schedule be followed if at all possible: Sixth Grade (4-5 pm), Seventh Grade (5-6 pm), Eighth Grade (6-7pm)

 

Refreshments will be provided by the Dad’s Club and served in the LMS cafeteria (more information regarding menu items will be forthcoming).


Please be aware that teachers will not be in classrooms during Community Night.

  

BOARD BRIEFS



Information regarding Ladue Board of Education meetings and work sessions can be found at http://boardbriefs.blogspot.com

CALENDAR ITEMS

7/27/17
Back to School Meeting; 6:00 p.m. (LMS Gym)
8/7/17
Packet pick up; 7 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
8/11/17
Community Night; 4 - 7 pm
8/9/17
District Opening Meeting (LMS office will be closed that morning)
8/10/17
LMS Breakfast and Staff Mtg (LMS office will be closed 7:30 am - approximately 9:30 am)
8/16/17
New 7th and 8th Grade Student Orientation; 8:30-10:00 am
8/17/17
First Day of School
8/18/17
Parent Coffee; 8:30 - 9:30 am (LMS Cafe)
8/23/17
Sixth Grade Camp Parent Meeting; 7:00 pm
8/29/17
Start of After School Activities
8/30/17
Meet The Teacher Night; 6:30 - 8:30 pm
9/1/17
Early Release; 12:40 Dismissal
9/5/17
School Picture Day


That's all for now. More updates will come as we get closer to the school year. Don't forget to click on the links below to view welcome letters from Mr. Scott Lackey (6th Grade Principal), Dr. Vanessa Cochran (7th Grade Principal), and Ms. Sarah Schwartz (8th Grade Principal). I've attached a letter from me as well.


Welcome Letter from Dr. T-J (Building Principal)


Take Care!

Dr. T-J


Principal, Ladue Middle School






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