The LMS Express
April 26, 2025
Hello all,
Students and teachers came back this week after a much needed break, and everyone jumped right back into the swing of things. Baseball and softball teams played their first games of the year, the upper field is open again for recess (always a good sign!), and the beautiful weather this week helped keep moods high around school.
There are a lot of conversations happening on the various transitions that will be taking place over the next few months. As the middle school of the district, LMS coordinates with the elementary schools, Grantham Village School, and the high school to make sure everyone is getting where they need to be and knows what they need to know for next year. We enjoy this role, and we look forward to welcoming our new students next year. That's not to say we won't enjoy these last few weeks with our current 8th graders, they will certainly be missed!
Thanks for having a look at this edition of the LMS Express.
Be Well,
Tom
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, 4/29 & Thursday, 4/30 - NWEA Testing
Thursday, May 8th - LMS PTO Meeting, 6:30
Tuesday, 5/13-Thursday, 5/15 - NHSAS Testing
Friday, May 16th - GVS/LMS Dance/Activity Night, 6:00-8:00
Tuesday, May 20th - NHSAS Science Testing, 5th & 8th grades
Monday, May 26th - No School, Memorial Day
Friday, June 6th - 8th Grade Dinner/Dance, 6:00-8:00
Wednesday, June 11th - Step-Up Day
Friday, June 13th - LMS 7th & 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony, 9:45-11:00
Friday, June 13th - Last Day of School, 11:30 Dismissal
NHSAS Testing in May
LMS Students will take the annual NHSAS tests in May. Reading, Writing, and Math will take place May 13th through 15th. Science will take place on May 20th. Makeups will take place on May 21st and May 22nd.
Yearbooks on Sale Now
If you would like your student to receive a yearbook, but need some financial assistance, or if you would like to donate a yearbook to an LMS student that needs some financial assistance, please contact Tom Harkins at tharkins@sau88.net.
LMS PTO News (Teacher Appreciation Week is coming soon!)
Teacher Appreciation Week takes place in early May. To help support LMS Teachers through our "Stock the Break Rooms", please click here: LMS PTO Stock the Break Rooms 2024/2025.
- Thank you to those who participated in our spring garden sale! For those who have ordered live plants or seeds, we'll be in touch to coordinate delivery or pick up May 8-10.
- Due to lack of available space, we've had to cancel plans for a potential 5th grade activity night.
- Elections for our board positions will happen at our May 8 meeting! Please join us at 6:30 in the LMS cafeteria or on Google Meet to cast your vote.
Thank you,
Lebanon Middle School PTO
Taylor Soule Visit
LMS Students were treated to a visit from a former LMS student and professional basketball player, Taylor Soule! Taylor was a great guest, and students were excited to meet her, get autographs, and take pictures. Her visit was documented in a news story on WCAX. To see that story, you can click here.
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Book Club Spotlight: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Adding to the resources provided in the previous two newsletters, here are two more for parents and caregivers looking to learn more about ideas presented in The Anxious Generation book. Whether or not you have checked out the other resources, we hope you consider taking a look at one or both of these.
5 Strategies for Parents to Free the Anxious Generation by Good Inside and the Anxious Generation Guide for parents by the author of The Anxious Generation and Dr. Becky Kennedy. Provides strategies for creating boundaries and developing independence in children. Approximately 3,500 words.
Andrew Huberman and Jonathan Haidt Highlights: Guiding Youth in Smartphones and Media This interview covers much of the information and ideas in The Anxious Generation, but adds the perspective of Huberman, who is a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology. 2 hours.
Gymnastics Performances
The Lebanon Gymnastics Team put on another great show this year! Many thanks to all the gymnasts and their coaches!
Pine Team News
Mrs. Lemelin's class
Sci-Fi stories
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Students in Ms. Lemelin's wrote and illustrated short sci-fi stories.
Moment before disaster
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Alien on a supercomputer
Parker walking into Hinds Vill Middle school, ready to start the day..
Mrs. Proper's class
Food chains
Students in 5th grade are learning about food chains in Science. During this activity, students had to identify the different components of the food chain for the given "organisms."
Mrs. Duford & Mrs. Lavigne's Class
Fifth graders in Mrs. Duford's and Mrs. Lavigne's writing class capped off their science fiction unit with readers theater performances. The sci-fi plays were written in partners and performed with the help of classmates.
Mrs. Lenning's Class
Visit to the Cara Romero exhibit at the Hood Museum
Oak Team News
Language Arts
Students in Oak Social Studies are diving into their Civics Unit by presenting the Preamble to the United States Constitution.
Science
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7th graders are studying the muscular system and its relationship to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
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LHS Senior Day of Service
On April 2nd, LMS had the privilege of hosting some LHS seniors for their "Day of Service". This great group (many LMS alum's) spent time with a wide range of our students. Some read with 5th graders, others hung out in Science classes, and a large group visited 7th & 8th grade advisories to discuss high school and the importance of focusing on academics and getting involved. Thanks to all the seniors and those "behind the scenes" at LHS that made this happen, especially McKeanna Teevens!
Maple Team News
Science Class
7th Grades Exploring Muscles and Bone
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8th Graders learn about air pressure
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Spruce Team News
Lebanon Middle School Spruce Team 6th Graders Explore Dartmouth College
On a recent field trip, the 6th-grade students of the Spruce Team from Lebanon Middle School had the exciting opportunity to visit Dartmouth College and explore its rich academic resources. The day was filled with hands-on learning experiences across multiple departments, giving students a deeper understanding of various subjects.
Students rotated around the campus visiting a variety of places. At the Haldeman Arctic Studies Center, students studied the fascinating movement of glaciers—using slime as a fun, interactive tool to model and understand the process. In the Rauner Library, they explored the history of the written word, learning about ancient manuscripts and the evolution of written communication.
The groups also visited the Hood Museum, where they viewed artifacts from ancient civilizations, gaining insight into cultures from around the world. At the Thayer Engineering Makerspace, students worked on circuitry projects, putting their problem-solving and collaboration skills to the test. In the Life Science Greenhouse, students had the opportunity to explore plants from a variety of biomes, gaining a greater appreciation for biodiversity and ecological systems. In addition to professors and department members teaching, Dartmouth college students took time out of their day to work with students at several of the stations.
To cap off the day, the students participated in team-building activities on the green at the center of Dartmouth's campus, strengthening their bonds and communication skills in a relaxed and beautiful setting.
As a special treat, Dartmouth College generously provided lunch for the students, teachers, and parent chaperones at the campus cafeteria, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy a well-deserved break together.
This memorable visit not only gave students a glimpse into the world of higher education but also sparked curiosity and creativity in a variety of fields. A huge thank you to Dartmouth College for their warm hospitality and for providing such an enriching experience for our Spruce Team!
Veggie Donation
Ms. Rzemien's advisory was given a green gift this week: seedlings of tomato, eggplant and bell peppers! Courtesy of Hannah and Sophia's father, Carl Porter, from his greenhouse. Students were able to choose plants to take home and enjoy!
News from Mrs. Davis's class
Earth Day Celebration
Students reading and acting out the Lorax for Earth Day
Wood Shop News
Wood Shop Race Day!
5th and 6th graders have worked hard for several weeks to convert a simple block of wood into a superfast dragster. They learned some basic physics lessons about aerodynamics, friction, and drag before designing, shaping and painting their cars in preparation for the big race. Students used some basic hand tools and a few power tools to create their masterpieces.
A bracket was created and students raced to the last one standing! Today's winners were:
5th Grade
!st Place - Jackson Desrosiers
2nd Place - Aadhi Eedula
3rd Place - Aarti Palaniappan
6th Grade
1st Place - Gage Truell
2nd Place - Braylen Stoutenburg
3rd Place - Leyla Wolcott
The top 3 from each class will get to race their cars again at the end of the school year to find out who has the fastest car in the school!
Art News
Paper mâché
Mr. Masi’s 5ᵗʰ Grade Art Class is bringing their original characters to life by creating paper mâché masks! This hands-on project marks the final step in their character creation unit, where students transform their drawings into three-dimensional works of art.
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LMS Arcade
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Mr. Masi’s 6ᵗʰ, 7ᵗʰ, and 8ᵗʰ Grade Art Classes are putting the finishing touches on their custom-designed video games before they go live on the LMS Arcade! Students are currently testing their own games and playtesting each other’s creations to make sure everything runs smoothly.
SAU 88 News
Superintendent's Update
Dartmouth's Alliance For Children of Color
Hannaford Helps LMS!
LIttle Bellas
LMS PRIDE Spotlight
The "P" in LMS PRIDE is for Perseverance.
"We continue to try even when something is difficult.."
You can see the full LMS Mission Statement by clicking here.
Thanks for reading Issue #22 of the LMS Express!
You can click here for past issues of the LMS Express.