Lutherville Lab Report

Lutherville Families,

What a packed couple of weeks we've had at the Lab! Clubs have been humming along, learning continues to roll forward, and the energy is bumping!

It was wonderful this week to have our students together to see our 5th graders perform. And what an amazing job they did. The band and orchestra both performed more songs than many elementary schools perform by spring, and it is always beautiful to see every student playing an instrument. Our entire 5th grade came together in harmony on the chorus. Together, they performed more songs than a middle school chorus concert I attended where they students get 80 minutes every-other-day (ours get 55 minutes once per week!). Kudos to all involved. Our students are so talented and hard working. And I don't believe there is a better music education to be had in a Baltimore County elementary school.

Winter break is almost here! We hope to see all our Leopards on Monday and Tuesday, which both do count for attendance, and we have both fun and learning on deck. Our Leopards won't want to miss it! :)

In partnership,

-Mr. McComb

During our PTA Young Entrepreneur Initiative kick-off, every student engaged in an activity to design a product prototype with Play-Doh and then share what made their product needed, special/unique, and how they would market it.

January 5 -- Schools Reopen

January 13 -- Lego Night!

January 16 -- 1:05 dismissal, end of MP2

January 19 -- Schools closed
January 23 -- LL Spirit Day

This month, the Maryland State Department of Education updated their "Similar Schools" comparisons, which shows how a school, in this case Lutherville Lab, compares to schools with similar student characteristics: grade space, race/ethnicity, economic disadvantage, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.

This is another lens onto the excellent work that the teachers and staff are doing with students at Lutherville, in partnership with our community. We hope that you, too, take great pride in the work we are doing together!

The 5th grade choir, band, and orchestra, put on 3 WONDERFUL shows for our students and families this week! Kudos and gratitude to Mrs. Tunion, Mrs. Vincent, the 5th grade team, students, and families for thei reffort

As a reward for reading the most minutes and raising the most funds, respectively, Ave W. and Mercedes H. each got the opportunity to pie Mr. McComb in the face during the in-school concerts on Monday and Tuesday

Volunteers and visitors are both vital to our operations and events here at school, but there is a big and important difference in the role. While visitors focus on experiencing something alongside only their own children, or viewing an event in which their children are participating, volunteers directly engage students other than their own, and as such must complete volunteer training annually and be on the approved list prior to the event. This process can take time after submissions, which is why we have been encouraging completion since August and must be submitted at least one week prior to events.

The Process:

1) Complete the Orientation Video and receive your certificate.

2) Complete the Volunteer Application, attaching your certificate.

3) Await receipt of your approval via email.

Volunteers:

• Play a role at class parties
• Have a role at class picnics
• Run a station at Sports Day
• Run a station at Colonial Day (5th)
• Chaperone children on field trips

Visitors:

• Observe learning at American Education Week
• Appear as a mystery reader
• Present at Career Day
• Attend Kindergarten Celebration
• Attend 5th Grade Farewell
• Attend a class party or picnic to celebrate with your child.

The distinction -- if you are attending an event in which you'll be working with or supervising children other than your own, then volunteer training must be completed. Teachers may only select folks for these roles from approved volunteers, so it is recommended that you not wait until something comes around that you would like to volunteer for; other eager parents who are approved volunteers may be ready to pounce on that opportunity while you are awaiting approval.

As we head into the winter months, we want to provide an important reminder regarding our Virtual Inclement Weather Day Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has given local school systems the option to repurpose inclement weather days as virtual school days. Our plan is to transition to virtual school days after three inclement weather closures.

After three full-day closures (none have occurred as of 12.19.25), when inclement weather is forecasted, BCPS leadership will monitor the weather forecast and families will be notified if BCPS will transition to virtual learning that day. Students will be reminded to bring devices, chargers, and other instructional materials home. Staff will also be asked to prepare lessons and materials.

Maryland Holiday Light Spectacular @ the Timonium Fairgrounds - Please use discount code LLAB10 to save 10% off your ticket purchase AND another 10% is donated to the Lutherville Lab PTA. Feel free to share the code with anyone you know. Visit https://mdholidaylights.com/ to purchase tickets and get more details.

LL PTA General Body Meeting 1/8/26- Please save the date to join us on January 8, 2026 four our next General Body meeting to discuss and plan for our 2026 events and initiatives.

Upcoming events:

More about the Young Entrepreneur Initiative (YEI): Entrepreneurship may sound like a big word, but at its heart it’s about skills that matter for every child’s future—creativity, innovation, problem solving, motivation, communication and more. These are life skills that help students thrive in school, at home, and in any career path they choose.

Our Young Entrepreneur Initiative is a series of five engaging events designed to bring these concepts to life:

• Kick-Off Event (12/5/2025 during school): All students explored entrepreneurial ideas through hands-on activities that sparked curiosity and creativity.
• Three After-School Workshops (winter 2026): Small-group sessions where students dive deeper into entrepreneurial skills, practice problem-solving, and learn how to turn ideas into action.
• Lutherville Community Entrepreneur Fair (3/22/2026 1-4pm): The culminating event where students step into the role of entrepreneurs. They’ll showcase their work alongside local businesses, gaining real-world experience while celebrating the spirit of our community.

This initiative is about empowering students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and build confidence in their own ideas. By connecting families, teachers, and local businesses, we’re creating a vibrant learning experience that strengthens both our children and our community.

If you are able to volunteer to help with planning or assisting with the YEI events in 2026, please email LuthervilleLabPTA@gmail.com or DQuinn16@gmail.com.

LEGO night - 1/13/2026 - Please see the attached flyer for more details about Lego night! Perhaps a Lego set as a holiday gift may be the perfect set to build among friends in the New Year!

Book Drive: January 2026 - Please also see attached flyer for more details. Our Book Drive precedes our Book Fair to ensure that every single student receives a new book of their choice in February.

Please find previous Lab Reports via the following links:

Dec 5

Nov 7, 21

Oct 3, 17
Sept 5, 19
Aug 22

June 13th, 2025 (with links to 24-25 Lab Reports)

June 7th, 2024 (with links to 23-24 Lab Reports)

June 9th, 2023 (with links to 22-23 Lab Reports)

June 17th, 2022 (with links to 21-22 Lab Reports)

Website: https://luthervillees.bcps.org/
Location: 1700 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-7800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuthervillePTA/
Twitter: @LuthervilleLab