April 29, 2016

TJs Tidbits

Greetings LMS Families,

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and was able to spend quality time with loved ones. There is nothing like being able to relax and have fun with family and friends. My brother and

his family drove in to spend the holidays with us. Of course, we ate, and ate, and ate. I don't

know how I managed to not get sick as much as I indulged. No Black Friday shopping for me

this year. My brain and my body needed rest.

Everyone, including myself, should be rejuvenated and ready to get back in gear. We are hitting the home stretch and heading into the new year. These last few weeks will be busy and eventful with daily learning and school business, concerts and performances, and field trips. Please encourage students to come back energized and focused. Around this time of year, they tend to get ancy looking forward to Winter Break. We still need them geared up and eager to learn. The time will go quickly. Before we blink it will be December 21st.

Please come out on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to support our theater students' performance of Aladdin Kids. The show will be in the LMS cafe. Ms. Alrutz has been busy preparing the kiddos for this special show. I also encourage families to rally behind our HS football team as they play in the state championship against MICDS. What a rivalry. We are encouraging students to wear their Ladue Gear to school on Friday. We are shooting for a BLUE OUT! Go RAMS!

Have a blessed week!

NEW INFORMATION

STUDENT RECOGNITION- CHESS

Eight Ladue Middle School students competed in the Gateway Chess League's Fall Tournament held on
Saturday, November 17th at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School. Congratulations to the LMS
chess team on coming in 2nd place in the 8th Grade and Under Division!

Zach Barrett, 7th grade

Andrew Stappenbeck, 8th grade

Sahil Chatwal, 6th grade

Sam Loiterstein, 8th grade

Franklin Yang, 6th grade

Rory Bland, 8th grade

Jacob Begis, 6th grade

Matthew Shoykhet, 6th grade

FEARLESS FOCUS

The Ladue Schools Diversity Committee is hosting a complimentary screening of the documentary 13th
as part of the district’s Fearless Focus series which provides opportunities for our community to explore
issues of race, gender, poverty and other topics relating to diversity. The event will take place on
Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018 6:30 - 9 p.m. at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Performing Arts Center
located 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63124. Click on the link for more
info: FEARLESS FOCUS INFO

LADUE THOUGHT EXCHANGE REMINDER

Reminder: Join the Ladue Schools Safety & Security Thoughtexchange at
https://my.thoughtexchange.com/?lang=en#p804978209. Deadline: Nov. 26.

LMSPA BUZZ BOOK

This year, the Ladue Middle School Parent Association is providing a password-protected PDF of the Buzz Book to all LMS families. There will be a limited number of hard copies printed and available in the front office of LMS after Thanksgiving break.  Download the Buzz Book by clicking HERE and using the password: LMS1819BUZZbook

*Note on removing password protection: if you download the Buzz Book and select PRINT, but instead
of printing you choose the option to SAVE AS PDF, then you can download it without a password and
it will be saved on your computer that way—so that you don’t have to enter the password every time
you open it. Questions? Email Jocelyn and tinkerfun@gmail.com.

LHWHS IS HEADING TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

After the victory over Webb City, the Ladue football team is looking to win their first State Championship

in school history with a victory over MICDS!! That's right, an all Ladue State Championship!! Your Rams
will play at Faurot Field on the Mizzou Campus on Friday, November 30th at 7:00.  Help us fill the
stadium will Ladue High School Pride!!! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance beginning
on Wednesday 11/28 in the Activities Office from 8:00-3:00.

Purchase your State Championship apparel by clicking the link below.  The store will close on Monday
morning at 10:00 am. There is only 20 hours left to order!! Apparel pick-up will be from 4:00-6:00 on
Thursday 11/29 in the Nielson Gym Lobby!

https://laduechampionshipfootballstore.itemorder.com

Please contact the Activities Office with questions, 314-983-5406

LMSPA INFO 

PARENTS LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES- Sponsored by the LMSPA- MOVED TO JAN 17th DUE TO SNOW DAY

Lunch and Learn is an opportunity for parents/guardians to bring their own nut-free lunch to eat while listening to a presentation that hopefully offers beneficial information. The LMSPA invites all parents and guardians to attend. Let’s work together to help our children develop those organizational skills we all strive to achieve.

JENNY HOFFMAN-Recognizing Anxiety and Helping Your Child Cope-1/17 (noon) LMS Library

This presentation will help you identify common signs and symptoms of anxiety in your child and learn ways to help your child cope with this anxiety. In this lunch and learn presentation designed for ADULTS ONLY, practical strategies and mindfulness exercises will be presented. Additionally, resources within the school district and community will be explored. Jenny Hoffman is a therapist in private practice and a Professor at Washington University and Maryville University.Questions: stephaniewalker221@yahoo.com  We hope to see you there!

ARE YOU GETTING OUR EMAIL BLASTS AND NEWSLETTERS?

If not, visit our website: www.mylmspa.com. Under COMMUNICATION you will find the Register for Eblast Newsletter tab. Enter your information in order to receive important information and timely reminders throughout the year. You don’t need to do this if you already receive eblasts.

LMSPA NEWSLETTER: Please click here for the most recent LMSPA Newsletter

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. 12/5, 6:30-8 pm

           Tues. 1/8, 12-1:30 pm

           Wed. 2/6, 6:30-8 pm

           Tues. 3/5, 12-1:30 pm

           Wed. 4/3, 6:30-8 pm

           Tues. 5/7 (closed meeting for Exec Board only) 12-2 pm

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

The LMSPA Executive Board:

Co-Presidents: Marissa Rosen, Jocelyn Fundoukos

Treasurers: Aletta Martin, Laura Whalen

Secretary: Reann Ratterman

PDC Reps: Jill Settler, Becky Marbarger

6th Grade VPs- Lorie Keller, Catherine Hamlin

7th Grade VPs- Becca Dauska,Melissa Garza

8th Grade VPs- Stephanie Walker, Trish Saleeby

Fundraising VP- Julie Stappenbeck, Co-chair Denise Christen

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion VP- Lolita Flinn

Electronic Communications-  Audra Harrold

Website Coordinator- Jodi Blucher, Co-chair Lisa Hirshberg 

CALENDAR (Items in red are new)

11/28- Aladdin Kids Musical (6:30 p.m. LMS Cafe)

11/29-11/30- Aladdin Kids Musical Tour

11/29-Class Meetings

12/3-Orion Field Trip Rescheduled

12/4- CURE Mtg. (Location TBD)

12/5- LMSPA Mtg (6:30 p.m. LMS Library)

12/6-Band Concert LMS (7-9 p.m.)

12/7-6th Grade Demonstration Concert

12/7- ER Day (12:40 Dismissal)

12/10-Diversity Student Leaders Training

12/18- LPAC Mtg.

12/21- ER Day

12/21- End of Qtr.

12/24-1/2- Winter Break for Students

1/3-Back to School Students Return

REPEATED INFORMATION- (The information below is a review of information already communicated. No need to read if you read my last update or received my last Parent Link Update)

LMS MUSICAL 11/28- “ALADDIN KIDS”

Our Ladue Middle School Theatre Company will be putting on Aladdin Kids at LMS on Nov. 28 in the Cafe Theatre at 6:30 pm.  Tickets will be $5.00 and can be purchased at the door.  
They will also be touring the district and performing at Conway, Reed, Old Bonhomme, and Spoede to share their hard work with the elementary students in the district. We hope to spark interest in our future stars of LMS.  Don't miss the opportunity to come see our 45 student cast and crew put on an incredible evening of singing, dancing, and magic. Thanks in advance for your support!

SCHNUCKS BAGS 4 MY CAUSE (DECEMBER)

LMS has been selected AGAIN to be a part of the Schnucks - Bags 4 My Cause program! This amazing program has helped us to raise funds in support of all the work we do and now we have the opportunity again!

As a reminder of how the program works, every purchase of the red Giving Bag with the “Giving is in the Bag” message, will generate a $1 donation to our organization. The bag retails for just $2.99 and is located on the reusable bag rack. If for some reason you do not see the rack, simply ask the store manager where the reusable bag rack is located and he/she will be happy to show you! The reusable Giving Bag can support us while also helping to eliminate paper/plastic use!

For this round we are the beneficiary at the Schnucks located at Ladue Crossing Shopping Center at 8867 Ladue Rd. for the month of December. Please share with family and friends that Schnucks has chosen us again for this exciting opportunity! The more people who learn about the program and purchase the Schnucks Giving bag during the month of December the more money we will raise!

To learn more about this amazing opportunity, please visit schnucks.bags4mycause.com. I will continue to update you in the upcoming weeks. Imagine if everyone (staff and families) purchases just ONE bag, we will receive a donation of close to $1200.00! A flyer is attached below with more information.

TRANSPORTATION  

Late Service

Late buses are provided on Tuesday and Thursday, with buses leaving LMS between 4:30– 4:40 p.m.
Five buses provide transportation for the entire district. Students may be assigned to a different bus that
what they ride at 3:10.

Bus Pass

A bus pass (click on the underlined link above) is required at those times when students must ride a
bus not covering their usual route. In order for your request to be considered, this form must be
completed and returned to Danna Anderson in the Welcome Center 24 hours prior to the requested
change. Bus passes may not be available on all routes if there is concern about having available space.
PLEASE NOTE: Bus passes will no longer be allowed on the following buses due to capacity
concerns: LMS 1, LMS 2, LMS 3, LMS 5, LMS 9 and LMS 12.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES QUARTER 2 ADDITIONS

We have several new activities starting this quarter. Just sharing the list in case you have students who
are looking for something to do after school. Here are a few that are starting: Art Club, Book Battle Club,
Diversiteam, Model UN, Partner’s Club, and Science Bowl 6,7,8. For details about any of these clubs
and all other clubs, please click on this link that is posted on our school
website: LMS After School Activities.

EARLY PICK UPS/DISMISSALS

Parents/Guardians, we understand that there will be circumstances when you will have to pick your child up early from school.  We urge you to please call ahead or email our attendance secretary, Danna Anderson, so that she can get a note to your child ahead of time.  This process helps you by having your child in the office waiting for your arrival and this procedure also helps us avoid continuously calling into classrooms and disrupting teachers while they are instructing our students. Limiting early dismissals at the end of the day after 2:45 p.m. is extremely important. Our teachers and students are learning in our classrooms until the bell rings at 3:10. The constant early dismissals occurring at the end of the day has been very disruptive. Unless it is an emergency, please help us by following the normal dismissal procedures of carpool for bus riders at the end of the day.  We appreciate your efforts in helping us make learning a top priority here at LMS. Our attendance secretary is Danna Anderson. Her contact information is below: danderson@ladueschools.net or 314-993-3900.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES-  After School Activities have begun. Activities run from 3:20-4:20 p.m. Transportation is provided for district residents via late bus. Students may attend most activities on a drop in basis. The choice is theirs. Please consider having your student participate. Click on the 2018-2019 After School Activities Link  for more information. In addition to the link on our school website, the list will be posted in the lobby.  

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PICK UP

For safety reasons, if picking up your student from an after school activity prior to the 4:20 bell, please stop by the Welcome Center so that he/she can be checked out of the building. Once you notify the office that you are here to pick up your student, the Activity Coordinator will have the student sent down ASAP. We appreciate your assistance with this as it helps us tremendously with attendance monitoring and reporting.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY CARPOOL

PLEASE NOTE: We are asking parents who pick up students from after school activities to please pull into a parking spot or pull over to the outer curb until your student comes outside at dismissal. This allows the curb nearest the school to remain open for bus arrival. We have to get five (5) late buses into our parking lot and parked. Buses will be unable to pull into the circle drive to park because cars are stopped in the middle of the lot or parked right in front of the school. We thank you in advance for your assistance.

BUILDING EXPECTATIONS REMINDERS

Please take a minute to review the building expectations and procedures that are listed below. It is my hope that by sharing expectations in my update, families will become aware and can work in partnership with us to establish an optimal learning environment and ensure the safety and well being of students while at school. These expectations are also in our LMS Student Handbook, which will be sent home with ALL students the first week of school and is posted on our school website. ISTRONGLY encourage families to read the handbook. We will cover key items at school, but the follow up should occur at home. This way both students AND parents/guardians have a solid understanding. Here is a link: LMS Student Handbook 2018-2019

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS

Did you know that there is a method to the madness for how we dismiss students at the end of the day? Please take a minute to click here: Afternoon Dismissal Procedures and review what we will be sharing with students. It is extremely important that all students follow these procedures. Doing so allows us to get everyone (bus riders, carpool, and walkers) home safely and in a timely manner. Parents, please DO NOT circumvent these expectations. It creates major safety issues and puts students in a situation where they are not complying with school expectations. Should you have a special circumstance, please contact your child's grade level principal so an accommodation can be made. 

BREAKFAST PROCEDURES

We are fortunate to serve breakfast in the mornings for LMS students. Students wanting to purchase breakfast should report to the cafeteria immediately upon arrival to school (do not go to lockers or class first). If arriving before 8:02, regular breakfast will be provided. Students arriving after 8:02, will be served “grab and go” items. Breakfast is not considered “social time.” Students participating in the breakfast program are expected to eat as quickly as possible and head to class.    

ELECTRONICS AT SCHOOL 
Please remind your student that electronics, including cell phones, headphones/earbuds, speakers, etc. should remain out of sight for the duration of the school day from 8:10-3:10. This includes lunch. If these items are seen, they will be confiscated as noted in our LMS Student Handbook. 

Technology devices are not allowed in restrooms or locker rooms. Students should not use the Internet or other digital communication devices to create disrespectful or harassing messages, take pictures or videos or make recordings of others without permission, or send or post materials that threaten or raise concerns about violence against others. All of these activities will be considered a violation of our school district's code of conduct which can be found on pages 30-33 of our Student Handbook, which will be sent home with each student the first week of school.

We strongly encourage families not to send personal technology devices to school unless requested by the classroom teacher for educational purposes. These requests will be minimal now that students have Chromebooks. It is our recommendation that technology devices technology devices brought to school are stored in a locked locker during school hours. Note: If there is an urgent message that your child needs to have, please contact the office and we will get the message delivered as soon as possible.  Thank you for your help with this matter.

MORNING DROP OFF/AFTERNOON PICK UP

For safety reasons, students should not be dropped off prior to 7:30 a.m. We do not have any adult supervision prior to 7:30 and our building is locked. Students who arrive prior to this time will have to remain outside. Parents/guardians of students consistently on campus in the mornings without supervision will be contacted by administration.

At the end of the school day (3:10), students should either ride the bus home, walk, get picked up, or participate in the TAS (Teens After School) Program. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after school supervision is unavailable after 3:30 unless special arrangements have been made with a staff member to supervise in their classroom. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, after school activities are provided from 3:10-4:10.  Students who stay after for activities should be picked up at 4:10, no later than 4:30. As in the morning, parents/guardians of students consistently on campus in the afternoons without supervision will be contacted by administration and may also be taken to TAS and charged a fee.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THIS as we want to avoid students having to sit outside in extreme hot and cold weather conditions. 

More specific information about traffic patterns for dropping off and picking up has been provided in earlier updates and below. Please take time to review these procedures as well, which are noted in the REPEATED INFORMATION section of this update, especially if you are dropping off on Monday. MAPS are also provided for those who need a visual. Parents, please DO NOT circumvent these expectations. It creates major safety issues and puts students in a situation where they are not complying with school expectations. Should you have a special circumstance, please contact your child's grade level principal so that an accommodation can be made.

TRAFFIC REMINDERS (Returning families: Please note afternoon dismissal change)

The following is a reminder to some, and new information for others, regarding our morning and afternoon traffic patterns and drop off/pick up procedures.

Our school day for 2018-2019 will be 8:10 am to 3:10 pm.  

If you plan to transport your child to school by car in the morning:

• Please be aware that students cannot enter our building until 7:30 am when someone on duty to monitor the front doors and lobby.
• Students may be dropped off at the front of the building prior to bus arrival (they typically begin appearing around 7:45 am).  Please follow the designated traffic flow arrows as you enter our campus from either Conway or Clayton roads.  
• There will be staff members at locations 1, 2 and 3 to help with traffic flow and supervision.  Please follow their directions.  
• After buses begin arriving, car traffic will be routed to the rear of the building.  The person at location 2 will notify drivers.
• Please proceed down the right-hand drive all the way to the Maintenance Building (end of fencing), then circle back to the rear of the building through the parking lot, staying to the right.  Students will be dropped off at the designed area (ONLY along the sidewalk) and enter the building through the east back door to the Gym.
• Cars will then exit the campus using the lower drive (two-way traffic) onto Clayton Road.  Please, please, (and please) turn right onto Clayton Road.  A left-hand turn onto Clayton, at this time of morning, is potentially dangerous and causes a backup for cars attempting to exit our campus.  

If you plan to pick up your child from school by car in the afternoon:

• Please be aware that buses begin lining up in our front Circle Drive around 2:45 pm.  Cars parked in the Circle Drive have the very good chance of getting blocked in as more buses arrive.  If you have the need to pick up your child before dismissal, I would highly suggest parking in one of the marked parking spaces in the lower drive.
• Cars will be directed to the back of our building to form a “carpool line” as indicated in the second photo.  Please drive all the way down the right drive to the Maintenance Building.  If there are students on the parking lot (fenced in area), please wait at the gated entrance until students leave.  Then, pull into the lot on the LEFT side and begin a line at the recycling bins (along the fence INSIDE the parking lot).  When the line reaches the gate at the back, begin a new line just to the right of the existing line.  This should keep the lower drive from backing up and blocking cars wanting to leave. A staff person will be located at area A to assist with this.
• At dismissal, students who rides buses will be dismissed first at 3:20, while students who are picked up by car and those that walk will be held in the classroom (until about 3:20 pm).
• Please do not instruct your child to leave the lobby with bus riders and walk through our lots to meet you at your car.  This is potentially dangerous as students do not always watch for traffic. It also puts the child in an awkward position as he/she is not following school rules and can be assigned a consequence for not doing so.  If you need to pick your child up before buses leave, please notify your student’s grade level administrator and meet your child at the front of the building so that he/she is accompanied while walking through our parking lot.  Students are NOT to exit through the doors near the Gym or in the 6th and 8th grade halls.
• Buses are typically loaded within 10 minutes of the 3:10 pm dismissal.  Once buses are released, then the staff member at location A will signal cars to approach the front of the building.  Students waiting in the classroom will then be released to be picked up by car.  Most students are gone by 3:30 pm.

If your student will ride a bus to and from school:

• Please make sure your student knows his/her assigned bus number.
• Bus riders will have a maximum of 10 minutes after the 3:10 pm dismissal to gather their belongings and exit the front of the building.
• Students must check the “bus board” located near the Circle Drive at the end of the sidewalk leading from the Main Lobby doors to determine the location of their assigned bus.
• Students should board the bus quickly, rather than loiter in the front of the building.

Bus passes:

A temporary bus pass may be used for a student to ride home on a different bus.  Passes are available on the district website and in the Welcome Center and must be completed and approved BEFORE the date of use.  Drivers should be given a copy of the completed and approved bus pass as the student boards the bus.

Thanks for your patience with all of this.  It is much easier to verbalize than to communicate in writing.  Everyone typically gets the hang of this within the first fews days of school.  Our goal is to get students delivered and picked up safely, while also trying to keep traffic flow moving.

STUDENTS/PARENTS CUTTING THROUGH PICARDY LANE

When school is in session a number of cars are tempted to cut through Picardy Lane (northeast corner of Conway/Warson) causing traffic to back up at this intersection. We are asking families for assistance as a courtesy to the residents in this neighborhood. Please do not use Picardy Lane as a cut through to get to the school in the mornings. We have been advised that there will be police presence in that neighborhood to deter those who use it as a means of avoiding the intersection at Warson and Conway Roads.  

SPECIAL TREATS FROM CHARTWELLS

Our building policy does not allow consumption of food by others for safety reasons and to promote healthy living. Chartwells Food Service is offering treats for purchase to families that want to do something special for a birthday or other milestone.  We appreciate Chartwells for providing alternative options to families that want to have celebrations at school during lunch shifts. 

That’s all for now. Take Care! 

Dr. T-J

Principal, Ladue Middle School