The LMS Express
September 6, 2024
Hello all,
We have started off the year strong here at LMS! The start of the year is a unique time in schools during which it can feel like we've been out of school for a very long time, and simultaneously somehow feel like we never left. It's been fun seeing friends greet each other after some time away, and seeing people create new bonds with each other as we all grow and expand our horizons.
This week's LMS Express has a lot of information - thanks for having a look.
Be well,
Tom
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, September 10th - Picture Day (more information below)
Wednesday, 9/11 - Friday, 9/13 - NWEA Testing, Grades 5-8 (more information below)
Thursday, September 12th - Instrument "Petting Zoo", 6:00p-7:00p
Thursday, September 12th - LMS PTO Meeting, 6:30p in the LMS Cafeteria
Friday, September 27th - LMS Team Unity Day
Tuesday, October 1st - Early Release - Professional Development
Thursday, October 17th - LMS Open House
1st Day Assembly
On the first day of school, the entire LMS student body and staff gathered in our Linda J. Preston Gymnasium for a Welcome Assembly. It was a dynamic way to start things off, as anyone in that room could see what great potential there is within our school building.
We recognized the 8th grade class as the leaders or our school, celebrated students that won LMS Pride awards at the end of last year, and talked about how each of us play a role in determining what type of school LMS will be this year. Dr. Rooney also discussed some of the different way we'll be supporting students throughout the year, including behavior scales and systems to recognize students that go above and beyond.
We also reminded students of our "off and away" electronic device policy. If a student is seen accessing an electronic device during the school day, it will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day. LMS students will always be permitted to use a school phone to call a family member. We appreciate the support of our families as we work to provide students with a personal device-free learning environment during the school day.
Picture Day
NWEA Testing
7:30 Start Time
News from the Oak Team
Learning about elections in Ms. Wood's 8th grade Social Studies class
*
Google Classroom tutorial in 8th grade Language Arts
*
Senior Server Information from Mr. Armstrong
*
Working hard in AG1
*
More Pics of Oak Students!
New Staff (take 2)
Jamie Brooks has joined our staff as the new Media Literacy Specialist. She has taught for 6 years, most recently as a 4th grade teacher at Mount Lebanon School right here in Lebanon. Jamie loves reading, spending time with her husband and dogs, and crafting. She also enjoys running and is currently in training for a half-marathon! Her favorite genres are mystery & thriller, and while she doesn't have a favorite book, she does have a favorite animal - the pigeon. Jamie wants to assure all former MLS families that she is not lost here at LMS, she belongs :) Welcome to LMS, Ms. Brooks!
Alicia Patch has joined LMS as a new paraeducator. She has been teaching for 8 years, she enjoys spending time with her three children, reading (both fiction & non-fiction), and participating in outside activities. Her favorite football team is the Carolina Panthers, and she's excited to start this new adventure at LMS. Welcome to LMS, Ms. Patch!
AM Drop-off & PM Pick-up
Thank you to all the folks dropping off and picking up students! The new traffic pattern has gone well so far, and that's on account of all of you sticking to the plan, being patient, and taking care of our students.
A couple reminders:
-Please maintain a safe driving speed on all the roads around the school, including Prospect Street Extension. There are a lot of students that walk to and from school along that road, and we all want them to get to their destinations safely.
-Please pull up as far as possible in the car loop when loading and unloading student(s). This will help keep the traffic moving, and get everyone to where they need to be as quickly as possible.
-For those with a little bit of flexibility, the backup of cars is generally cleared out by 2:38 or 2:39. If you arrive then, it's very likely you won't have to wait in a line at all to pick up your student(s).
You can click here for information about the new traffic pattern, and here for a video with more details.
On a related note, the City of Lebanon is looking to hire a crossing guard to help students as they walk to school. If you know of anyone that might be interested in this position, please share this link with them, or provide them with the phone number to Lebanon's Human Resources department - 603-448-0683.
Student Registration - Alma START
Thanks to everyone that has completed the Alma START process. If you have received an email with this message:
Update for (Student's Name) at Lebanon Middle School in Returning (or New) Students 2024-25. The process outcome: Update Sis Information, has been reached.,
then you are all set! If not, please follow these instructions:
To complete the required District forms, such as student registration, photo permission, internet permission, etc. for your student, go to sau88-lms.getalma.com and log in with your username and password (generally firstname.lastname format). If you forgot your password, you can reset it from the login screen. If you are having trouble logging in, please reach out to Nikki Small at nsmall@sau88.net or call the school.
Once you log in, click the link under your LMS student that says "Alma Start Forms & Tasks". The link will take you to Alma Start to begin your back to school forms.
Some District forms such as free and reduced lunch applications will still be completed on paper and will be sent home on the first day of school. Please read through the Alma START information carefully. Accurate completion of this student registration ensures that you will receive calls and emails from the School/District for school cancellations, upcoming events, and emergencies as well as ensuring that your child will have internet access while in school. If you do not have a computer or internet access at home, access is available at school, the SAU, and at the public libraries.
If you have any questions, you can check out a tutorial on our website under Parents > Alma and by clicking here.
From the LMS Nurse's Office
We are off and running in the nurse's office! Thank you to the parents/guardians who have already sent in important health information for your students. Having clear and up to date information helps me keep your student the safest as they navigate through middle school. If you have not had a chance yet to get information to me, it is not too late! I update student health records all year long.
If your student is diagnosed with any allergies, asthma or seizures, please make sure that I have their updated action plans for their health condition, as well as the medication that is prescribed to them. Please know that action plans need to be updated every year.
If your student has an injury that would limit their activities, please let me know of that as well, and send me any supporting information that you receive from their health care provider.
Reminder to all 7th grade parents/guardians~ the state of NH requires all 7th grade students to have a physical and Tdap vaccine. The Tdap vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. For more information on the Tdap vaccination, go to https://cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/tdap.html.
Thank you, and I'm looking forward to a great year!
Athletics & Co-Curricular News
Art Club Registration Now Open
Art Club registrations are now open via Arbiter Sports. Art Club meets every other Thursday starting September 12th. For more information please reach out to Mr. Renninger.
*Please note there is a cap on the number of students for Art Club*
Math Team Registration Now Open
Math Team registrations are now open via Arbiter Sports. Math team meets every Wednesday starting September 18th. For more information please reach out to Ms. Lopez via email sfields@sau88.net
Fall Sports Updates
--The LMS Field Hockey team opened up the 2024 season with a 10-0 home win over Claremont on Wednesday 9/4. Eight different LMS players scored in the contest which were Summer Therriault, Ava Swain, Paisley Rancourt, Claire Swope, Izzy Parker, Andrea Calderon Rios, Carlene Papa and Kate Clary. Taegan Schurk collected her first career LMS shutout in goal. Next game is Monday 9/9 at Windsor with a 5pm start time. Find the complete regular season schedule HERE.
--The LMS Football team also opened up the season with a 24-14 home win over Mascoma last Wednesday night under the lights of Emmerton Memorial Field. Carter Manning scored two rushing touchdowns behind an offensive line anchored by Jefferson Fowler and Connor Martin. Next game is Wednesday 9//11 at Bellows Falls with a 6pm kickoff. Find the complete season schedule HERE.
LMS Athletics Is Hiring!
The LMS Athletic Department is hiring coaches! Please see our current vacancies below.
2024-25 Winter Season:
Boys Basketball Assistant Coach
2025 Spring Season:
News from the Pine Team
Students in Mrs. Proper's science class had to complete a stem challenge of using a rubber band with strings attached, to stack 6 cups into a pyramid. This challenge allowed students to communicate with each other and learn to work together.
LMS Podcast
"New to LMS this year is our Podcast co-curricular! This activity will start on 9/19 from 2:35-3:45. Students from grades 5-8 are welcome to attend. Topics that may be discussed will be student life, interviewing community partners, and interviewing teachers. Once a group is formed the group will decide on what each episode will be about. Students will learn recording skills, how to mix/master on an audio interface, how to advertise and publish a podcast, and much more! If you are interested in signing up, you should see Mr Terry for a permission slip. I've attached one here if you would prefer to print it out and return it to Mr Terry in room 117 (Band Room). Permission slips must be signed and returned before a student may participate in this group. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Terry at cterry@sau88.net."
Celebrating SAU88 Greatness
At the district meeting to kick off the 2024-2025 school year, students from each of the Lebanon schools presented something as a way to celebrate their greatness. Nahira Abreu Ortiz, one of our Maple Team 8th graders, gave a phenomenal speech in English and in Spanish, representing LMS in a remarkable way. Nice work, Nahira!! Bien hecho!
Music News
There is still time to join the LMS Choral Program! If your child likes to sing, this is the place for them!! Fifth and sixth grade chorus meets during LMS Block on X days and seventh and eighth grade chorus meets on Y days! We meet on the stage.
The chorus syllabus can be found here. Please email Mrs. Garnham with any questions (ygarnham@sau88.net)
LMS Woodworking
Wooden Ink Pen Fundraiser
Students taking woodworking at LMS have the option of participating in our efforts to continue to provide valuable and authentic woodworking experiences at LMS through our Wooden Ink Pen Fundraising.
Those students who have finished the required work for their class are welcome to continue their learning by creating other projects within the time frame and their ability while they are in the wood shop. Those projects sometimes require that extra materials be purchased that cannot always be anticipated. For this reason, we began the wooden ink pen fundraiser, the proceeds of which go into a fund that supplements the purchase of materials and equipment in the wood shop.
Students can learn to make these beautiful pens with the understanding that they will be made available for purchase at a cost of $15. If a student makes 3 pens, they can keep one at no cost.
This is a completely optional activity and in no way is reflected in their grade for the class.
We hope to have as much participation as possible and welcome all to purchase one of these beautiful, hand-crafted pens. They make great gifts!!
Thank you,
Dan Schachtner
Woodworking Instructor
Meal Information
LMS Program of Studies
We've made a few changes to our Program of Studies - please have a look here!
PTO Information
LMS Arcade Contest
Create a video game using SCRATCH and have it showcased and played on the LMS ARCADE! Mr. Masi, Mr. Warren, and Mr. Schachtner have teamed up and created this awesome opportunity for LMS students to be creators of video games.
Those of you who play video games know that a good video game has a creative and engaging narrative (Language Arts skills), awesome action (Math and Science: Physics), fun and challenging gamification (Social Studies: economics and psychology, and sociology), aesthetic and cool graphics (art), and great sound effects and soundtrack (music). Great video games incorporate all the core subjects middle school students work hard on throughout the day and much more!
Here is your chance to make a video game of your own!
Click here for a full description of the contest.
Click Here to see the requirements and deadlines for the contest.
Pics
Free Fun at UVAC
CCBA News
Ice Cream!
An ice cream truck visited LMS while the teachers prepared for the year. Mrs. Robin Zito, celebrating her 30th year in Lebanon schools, was VERY excited :)
Thanks for reading Issue #9 of the LMS Express!
Principal @ Lebanon Middle School