Lutherville Lab Report

What's gone down & what's coming up at the leopards' lair.

June 13, 2025

Lutherville Families,

We had a week full of great closing celebrations here at Lutherville! Thank you to everyone who joined us for class picnics, celebrations, and farewells. Over the course of 6 school days between June 4 and June 11 we badged in 611 visitors to our school. What amazing support and participation this community has wrapped around these students. Thank you!

We started with Kindergarten Celebration on Tuesday, which was a delight, full of songs, poems, and a whole lot of cuteness. Our Kindergarteners brought great joy. On Wednesday we said Farewell to the 5th grade class of 2025. We are so proud of such a bright, compassionate, collaborative group of 5th graders. You are ready for middle school! On Thursday, we surprised Mrs. Hart with a "Clap Out" to celebrate her retirement. She was greeted with signs, pictures, high fives, and silly string along her way out through the building. And then immediately had to do accountability check for our final Fire Drill. Such is the life of an administrator. :)

Along with Mrs. Hart, departing teachers from Lutherville this year are Deidre Austen (IEP Facilitator), Victoria Blair (4th), Tina Smith (SEL), Cheyanna Alabi (3rd), Trevor Weigle (Art). We wish them all the best in their future endeavours! On behalf of the school staff and community, we also extend our gratitude and well wishes to our outgoing PTA Executive Board Members: Lisa Reagle, Liz Roe, Catherine Pilotte, and Board of Directors. Thank you for your wonderful contributions!

Though not without its challenges, it has been another hugely successful year here at Lutherville Lab. This week I have been reflecting on what a collective effort that has been and the choices so many -- parents, teachers, support staff, students -- make to be supportive, strive to problem-solve, and see the best in others. It is deeply appreciated.

Reminder that we DO have school on Monday, with a 1:05 dismissal and encourage all Leopards wishing one more day with friends and school family to come wrap up the year with us on Monday. This, however, is the final Lab Report of the 2024-2025 school year, so...

Have a great summer, Lutherville Families!

-Mr. McComb

Calendar Reminders

June 16 - 1:05 dismissal

Aug 21 - 4:00 - 6:00; Sneak-a-Peek at your seat

Aug 25 - 9:05 First Day of School for SY25-26

Kindergarten Celebration

Welcome New Staff!

Alison Doubet is joining our Lutherville Lab Second-Grade Team from Joppa View Elementary in Perry Hall. Mrs. Doubet is currently serving as the Staff Development Teacher at Joppa View following ten years of experience teaching students in the first and third grades. In her time at Joppa View, Mrs. Doubet has coached teachers and presented professional learning on a wide range of topics, including her practice with "flipped learning" as a classroom teacher. She has served as Technology Liaison, Broadcast Studio Facilitator, and was the 2023 Joppa View Teacher of the Year. She lives in Timonium with her husband and two children.

Sarah Becker Hopkins joins Lutherville from Campfield Early Learning Center where she has taught children in Pre-K3 - Kindergarten Art for over 20 years. Mrs. Hopkins has also served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Early Childhood Education at Towson University for 17 years. She has been a BCPS Curriculum Designer and Contributor, Presenter of a host of Professional Learning topics and community event nights, and trained docents at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Christine "Chrissy" Morrissey joins Lutherville as our IEP Facilitator from Riderwood Elementary. Mrs. Morrissey has 20 years of experience in Special Education in Baltimore County Public Schools where she has worked in Self-Contained and Inclusion settings. She served as IEP Facilitator at Riderwood and Timonium this past year and will be shared between Lutherville and Timonium Elementary Schools this upcoming year. She is pictured here with her sixth grade daughter.

Ms. Aprell Reid rejoins Lutherville Lab as Assistant Principal, joining us from Timber Grove Elementary effective July 1st. Ms. Reid served Lutherville as Principal Intern during the month February. She has served Timber Grove as AP the last three years and the ten years prior to that, taught at Cedarmere Elementary. Ms. Reid, a graduate of Towson and Loyola, is pursuing her Doctorate at Morgan State University. She is elated to rejoin her Leopard family and we are grateful to have her leadership moving forward.

On Wednesday, we sent a letter sharing our continuation of collectively contributing to communal purchasing of student school supplies. The letter outlines details and has an FAQ section. The target contribution amount is $40.00 and can be offered in cash or check (made out to "Lutherville Lab PTA") to the school office or online at the PTA Online Store (small fee applies).

This is an important practice and opportunity to live out our values as a school community and we appreciate all the support and generosity to continue this approach to collectively meet the needs of our students.

5th Grade Farewell: Work hard. Be kind. Do right.

Staffing Communication

Principals were asked to relay the following information to our communities:

As part of our annual staffing review process, allocation formulas are reviewed and applied to schools to ensure equitable and effective staffing across the district. Staffing reductions are only made when current staffing levels do not meet criteria outlined by the established formulas. Reductions in staffing are not the result of budget cuts. However, due to the current budget constraints, we must adhere strictly to the established staffing formulas.

If staffing beyond the formula is necessary, an additional review and approval process will be conducted to evaluate and support the request.

This annual process is a collaborative effort involving Human Resources, Department of Schools, Special Education, and Student Support Services, ensuring that staffing decisions are informed, equitable, and aligned with student needs.

Respectfully,

The Department of Schools' Executive Directors

Mrs. Hart will be missed.

Notes From the PTA

ALL THE THANKS

To the teachers and staff who have supported us and connected with the PTA to make our collaborations stronger, THANK YOU!

To the families who have contributed ideas and funding and time and so much more, THANK YOU!

To the students, who have brought smiles to our faces and make us hopeful for a brighter future, THANK YOU!

To the 5th graders moving on to middle school, BRAVO! You will do amazing things and undoubtedly make your elementary school alma mater proud, WE WISH YOU WELL!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer!

Until next year,

Your LL PTA