LMHS Updates

This Friday is the last day of first semester. Teachers will have until Thursday, January 23 to finalize grades; we expect to issue report cards on Friday, January 24. Parents/guardians will receive two report cards via email -- one for academic grades, and one reporting on soft skills grades (collaboration, respect, initiative, and work habits) for each class. The soft skills rubric can be downloaded below.

A reminder to parents of students in the Class of 2028 -- in order to earn credit for first semester classes, your students must not only get a passing grade overall, but they must also pass each competency category for the class. You can check the category grades by logging into Focus on the web -- NOT the phone app. If you need help with Focus, please email focus@leepublicschools.net.

All students will receive a fresh copy of their semester 2 schedule later this week.

We have been noticing a definite uptick in the number (and frequency) of students consuming energy drinks during the school day. While not specifically prohibited in school, parents/guardians should be aware of the possible negative effects of teens drinking them. Here are a few resources that you may wish to check out:

• From UCLA Health: Teens - Energy Drinks Side Effects
• From St. Louis Children's Hospital: Energy Drain
• From Johns Hopkins Medicine: What You Need To Know

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ages 12–18 consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, and avoid energy drinks entirely. Energy drinks can contain 100–200 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Consuming too much caffeine can cause:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Jitters and insomnia
• A crash
• Dependence
• Withdrawal symptoms like headaches or depressed mood
• Cardiovascular problems, including atrial fibrillation, palpitation, and tachycardia
• Renal and liver disease
• Seizures

The high school Student Council is selling Little Caesars Pizza Kits to raise money for a scholarship for a member of the Class of 2025.

They are convenient and delicious, perfect to have on hand for busy days. Just in time for the Super Bowl!

Click here (https://fundraising.littlecaesars.com/products?support=a3056188-8c97-4451-901a-419e28051789) to order today. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes to order. You can pay by credit card and the yummy Kits will be shipped right to your door by FedEx. It’s the same price to ship 1 or 2 kits, so I’m thinking you might want to get 2!

Thank you so much for your help!

As you may have seen on Facebook, one of the two LMHS comfort dogs - Maci - is in need of major surgery. Please consider spreading the word! Currently, there are two ways to help financially if you are able to:

• There is an active GoFundMe. All proceeds go directly to an account established at Lee Bank for this purpose - the Maci Surgery Fund
  
  
• There is a dine-to-donate event at Papa Joe's in Pittsfield (107 Newell St.) on Wednesday, January 22. You can eat in or take out; just mention the Maci Surgery Fund or LMHS.

A reminder that there will be no school on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Learn more about honoring Dr. King at the King Center website.

The federal government has provided free COVID test kits to the school. Any student, parent, or staff member may stop by the main office to pick up a couple boxes (each box contains two tests). These will be available while supplies last.