LMS Newsletter

As we begin November and our second quarter, I've been reflecting on the messages our students have shared with us over the past month. Again and again, they've reminded us how much it matters to feel noticed, encouraged, and included at school.

In October, students submitted more than 100 teacher shout-outs, recognizing the adults who make a positive difference in their school day. One student described a teacher who "always picks you back up on a day that might not be so good." I think that says a great deal about what our young people value. The impact of a caring adult isn't always something we can measure, but students certainly feel it.

Our students are helping create those experiences for each other, too. More than 100 sixth graders joined their WEB Leaders for a fall social, and our Unlocking Potential students have been giving back through community service. These are wonderful examples of students taking an active role in making LMS a welcoming and supportive place.

We also held our first Principal Advisory meeting of the year. Students spoke about the relationships and experiences that help them feel connected, while also pointing out areas where we need to improve. I appreciate their honesty and willingness to share their perspectives. Their feedback is an important reminder that building a positive school culture is ongoing work, and our students have an important role in helping us move forward.

As we begin the second quarter, we're continuing to emphasize strong attendance and arriving to class on time so students can make the most of their learning. I also want to thank the families who joined us for conferences last month. Your partnership makes a difference, and we appreciate the support you provide throughout the year.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm especially grateful for the many people who contribute to our school community. I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and the opportunity to see Cardinal Pride in action throughout LMS.

Jacob Kumor, Principal

At LMS, we believe being a Cardinal means more than showing school spirit. It means showing kindness, compassion, and respect every single day.

We are so proud of our Caring Cardinals who continue to show that when we are All In, All Together, All the Time, everyone feels seen, supported, and valued.

Keep spreading kindness, Cardinals! It does not go unnoticed.

At LMS, we take pride in recognizing the incredible character and dedication of our students. Each month, we honor those who exemplify our school’s Cardinal Pride values: respectful, responsible and safe. We are thrilled to celebrate our Students of the Month, who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on our school community. Their hard work and leadership inspire us all, and we couldn’t be prouder to highlight their contributions. Congratulations to this month’s outstanding honorees!

Malachi Horn is a fantastic choice for Student of the Month. Malachi looks for opportunities to help others feel included and valued. He uses these talents as a WEB leader to help sixth-grade students find connection and success at Legg Middle School. Additionally, he is a valued member of the Youth in Government team. In class, Malachi is engaged in classroom activities, volunteers to participate, and demonstrates a respectful attitude toward both peers and school staff. He leads by example and is a beacon of kindness in the eighth-grade hallway. For these reasons and more, Team Aura is proud to choose Malachi Horn as the November Student of the Month.

Maria Garcia Medero is a wonderful example of what it means to be a kind, responsible, and hardworking student. She consistently serves as a role model for her peers by staying focused, concentrating on class lessons, and putting forth her best effort in everything she does. Maria takes pride in producing quality work by taking her time and making sure her assignments reflect her dedication to learning. She also encourages and motivates those around her to do their best, creating a positive and supportive learning environment. Her kindness, strong work ethic, and responsible behavior shine throughout the entire school day. Maria truly makes all of our classrooms a better place, and we are proud to recognize her as Team Inspire's November Student of the Month! Great Job Maria!

Please join Team Quest in congratulating Noor Atwain on being recognized as Student of the Month! Noor consistently comes to class prepared and ready to learn, demonstrating a positive mindset and a willingness to give her best effort each day. She is friendly, respectful, and kind to both her classmates and staff, helping create a welcoming and positive learning environment. Noor goes above and beyond what is asked of her, showing initiative, dedication, and a strong commitment to her success. She takes pride in her work and consistently strives to produce her very best. Noor’s positive attitude, outstanding work ethic, and thoughtfulness toward others make her a wonderful role model for her peers. We are proud to recognize Noor Atwain as Student of the Month! Keep up the great work!

Each week, teachers recognize a student from their team who shines by demonstrating our Cardinal Pride values: Respectful, Responsible, and Safe.

Last month, we were focusing on positivity and recognizing the people who help make LMS a great place to learn. Our students noticed many of the ways their teachers bring that positivity into the classroom each day. Here are just a handful of the 100+ nominations we received from our students:

Shout outs to Mrs. Hancock!

• She always picks you back up on a day that might not be so good - Anonymous

Shout out to Mrs. Bachler!

• She always finds time to say hi to me and she's an amazing art teacher and an amazing person - Rahaf - 7th Grade

Shout outs to Ms. Eman!

• She makes my day even better. She is the best. - Malak - 6th Grade
• She makes me happy - Molok - 6th Grade

Shout out to Mrs. Johnson!

• I have asked her so many things and she has answered all of them; she has helped me so much! - Natalie - 7th Grade

Shout out to Dr. Simmons!

• For always making sure I'm on task. - Gracelyn - 6th Grade

Shout out to Mr. Brueck!

• For making learning fun through games and working with partners - Serenity - 7th Grade
• For helping me and being so nice - Natalie - 7th Grade

Shout out to Mrs. Aughenbaugh!

• She makes English enjoyable for me - Hunter - 6th Grade

• He is kind every day and comes to school with a smile that is the best - anonymous

• Mrs. Asher is a great example of positivity, she always makes sure you understand the material and always makes sure everyone has FUN in the right moments! - Carly - 8th Grade

Over 100 sixth graders joined us last month for an afternoon of games, puzzles, crafts, and a mummy wrap station! Students also enjoyed cider, donuts, and the chance to win some raffle prizes.

Our 45 WEB Leaders helped make the afternoon a fun and welcoming experience for our sixth graders.

We also wrapped up the first quarter with an ice cream sundae celebration! This special treat gave all of our sixth graders an opportunity to reconnect with their WEB Leaders, enjoy some ice cream, and spend time building relationships.

Events like these help students build friendships, strengthen connections, and feel part of our LMS community. A big thank-you to our WEB Leaders for continuing to make our sixth graders feel welcome and supported!

Cardinal Pride in action!

Students in Mr. Badersnider’s Unlocking Potential class have been putting their learning into action through community service!

Unlocking Potential provides students with opportunities to build positive connections, develop responsibility, and find new ways to engage in school. Their recent community clean-up was a great example of students working together, taking pride in their community, and making a positive difference.

Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom!

A big thank you to Mr. Badersnider and his students for showing what Cardinal Pride looks like in action!

We appreciate our School Resource Officer and the City of Coldwater for partnering with us to provide proactive presentations for LMS students on the new eBike and eScooter ordinances and important safety expectations.

As these devices become more common, it’s important that students understand the rules of the road and how to ride safely and responsibly. These presentations help students learn more about the updated ordinances, safe riding practices, and how we can all work together to keep our community safe.

Thank you to our city partners for helping educate and support our students!

Four LMS 8th Grade Bandies made it into District XI MSBOA Middle School Honor Band. The event was held at Marshall High School and featured some of the best band students from many area schools. They performed a concert on Tuesday, November 3rd for friends and family members.

Congratulations to our Honor Band representatives:

Samantha Manzer - Flute

Addison Segura - Flute

Ava Galliers - Clarinet

Mark Rayno - Baritone

Recent Accomplishments & Celebrations:

We have officially wrapped up the first marking period! Our math department enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many families during parent-teacher conferences and appreciates the support and partnership of our school community. We are proud of the hard work our students have put in so far this year and look forward to building on that progress. We are excited as we begin Quarter 2 and continue helping our students grow in confidence, strengthen their math skills, and celebrate their successes. Here's to another great quarter of learning and growth!

What Students Are Currently Learning & Working On

Math 6
In November, our 6th-grade math students will continue building a strong foundation in key mathematical concepts, including exponents, prime factorization, greatest common factor (GCF), least common multiple (LCM), order of operations, and algebraic expressions. These skills will help students strengthen their number sense and prepare for more advanced mathematical concepts.

Advanced Math 6
Our Advanced Math 6 students have wrapped up their work on graphing points on the coordinate plane and are moving into exponents, order of operations, and simplifying algebraic expressions using combining like terms and the distributive property. Students will work with both positive and negative numbers as they continue developing their algebraic thinking and problem-solving skills. We look forward to seeing their confidence grow as they take on new challenges throughout Quarter 2!

7th Grade Math
Our 7th-grade math students have completed their work on unit rates, including problems involving fractions and determining better buys. We are now moving into percent proportions, where students will strengthen their understanding of percentages and learn to apply them to real-world situations. As we continue through the quarter, students will build their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills while making connections between math and everyday life.

Accelerated Math 7/8
Our Accelerated Math 7/8 students have wrapped up their work on unit rates, including problems involving fractions and determining better buys. We are now focusing on percent proportions and applying percentages to real-world situations such as sales tax, tips, discounts, markups, and commission. After completing this unit, students will move into evaluating algebraic expressions and solving algebraic equations. We are excited to continue challenging our students as they strengthen their mathematical reasoning and prepare for more advanced concepts.

Math 8
In November, our 8th-grade math students will focus on linear equations. Students will explore slope and y-intercepts, write and graph linear equations, and use equations to solve real-world word problems. These skills will help students better understand the relationships between variables and prepare them for future algebra coursework.

Algebra I
Our Algebra I students will finish their work on solving and graphing inequalities before moving into systems of equations and inequalities. Students will practice solving and interpreting systems using different strategies while strengthening their algebraic reasoning and problem-solving skills. These concepts will help students build a deeper understanding of how equations and inequalities can be used to represent and solve real-world problems.

Something Helpful for Families:

Middle school math builds on skills students have learned in previous years, so practicing the basics and developing good study habits are important! Here are a few simple ways families can help students succeed in math:

• Ask your child to explain their thinking. Have them show you how they solved a problem and explain why they chose that strategy. Explaining their thinking helps strengthen understanding.

• Practice a little at a time. Just 10–15 minutes of math practice can help students build confidence and remember important skills.

• Encourage learning from mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning! Instead of focusing only on the correct answer, talk about what went wrong and how to fix it.

• Check Google Classroom & Skyward regularly. Encourage your child to check for assignments, review class materials, and complete missing work before deadlines.

• Connect math to everyday life. Shopping discounts, calculating tips, comparing prices, measuring ingredients, and figuring out gas mileage are all great opportunities to practice math skills.

• Ask for help early. If your child is struggling, encourage them to ask questions in class, attend available help sessions, or reach out to their teacher before a small misunderstanding becomes a bigger challenge.

Remember: You don't have to know all the answers to support your child in math. Encouraging effort, asking questions, and helping them develop good habits can make a big difference in their success!

Art classes kicked off the quarter by exploring pattern, color, and value. Students learned how to use shading and transitions from light to dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional depth in two-dimensional artwork. Through a variety of themes and subject matter, students experimented with these techniques to bring their creative ideas to life!

Artwork by Adam Fifield (6th Grade) and Aurora Lewis (8th Grade)

Congratulations to Hussein Kearse, the winner of our Strongest Bridge Building Contest in Applied Engineering!

During this project, students explored structural design, tension, compression, load distribution, and how triangles reinforce a structure. They applied the engineering design process to plan, build, test, and improve bridges designed to support as much weight as possible.

Great work, Hussein, and congratulations to all our engineers for their creativity, problem-solving, and perseverance!

Our 6th grade scientists are investigating non-contact forces, the pushes and pulls that act on objects without touching them. Students are exploring magnetism, static electricity, and gravity, and discovering how these invisible forces shape everything from the magnets on our refrigerators to the way our feet stay planted on the ground.

In 7th grade, students have been exploring photosynthesis and cellular respiration through a multi-day, hands-on lab with interactive stations. In the floating leaf disc lab, they watched leaf discs rise as they carried out photosynthesis in the light. Just in time for fall, students also examined the pigments behind the changing colors of leaves and investigated the plant structures and functions that help plants thrive. Throughout the unit, students connected everyday observations to scientific concepts to better understand how plants capture and use energy.

Our 8th graders are wrapping up their three day weather prediction presentations, where they put their forecasting skills to the test, and are now preparing for the weather unit test. Next up is Plate Tectonics, where students will explore how Earth’s continents move and the forces that drive them.

Our Legg Middle School physical education students are putting their fitness to the test! This month, students are preparing for the Presidential Fitness Test, a program with roots dating back to the 1950s that was recently reintroduced to encourage physical fitness and healthy habits among young people.

The test focuses on three important areas of physical fitness: cardiovascular endurance, upper-body strength, and core strength. Students may participate in activities such as the mile run, push-ups, curl-ups, and planks to assess their fitness levels.

While the test provides benchmarks for students to work toward, it's also an opportunity to learn about personal fitness, set goals, and recognize areas for growth. Our hope is that students gain a better understanding of their physical abilities and develop healthy habits that will serve them well beyond middle school!

Students in 6th grade English classes have completed their first Response to Literature after reading the short story “The Treasure of Lemon Brown”. This is the building block for future writings they will have throughout the year - they did a phenomenal job with this concept!

Students have also been preparing for the novel Refugee by taking a ‘trip’ to various time periods to understand life and the struggles that were faced during those specific time periods. Students will be reading and discussing this novel over the course of next month, as well as applying concepts learned through cross curriculum in their World Studies class. Upon completion of the novel, students will have the opportunity to showcase their learning and understanding through a fun and engaging mini-project: The Choice Board. Rather than have every student do the same project, they will choose their method of delivery. This provides students with an opportunity to be in control of their project, as this is not one size fits all! This project is always a fun way to end the marking period, and it also serves as a way for students to showcase their talent and learning!

In 7th grade English, students are diving into the verse novel The Crossover by Kwame Alexander! Over the upcoming weeks, students will explore key literary concepts, including symbolism, point of view, figurative language, and character study of strengths and weaknesses. As they read, students will analyze how authors use words, imagery, and poetic techniques to communicate meaning and develop characters. Students will put their learning into practice by creating their own “Ode to” poem, using figurative language and poetic elements to celebrate a person, place, object, or idea that is meaningful to them.

In 8th Grade English, students are finishing up their first class novel and will be ending the unit with a fun book-based project. Next up: a true classic, The Outsiders!

Our Social Studies students are exploring the world around them, learning about ancient civilizations, and developing an understanding of our nation's government.

In 6th Grade World Studies, students are investigating the factors that influence climate around the world, exploring different climate types and where they are found. 7th Grade Ancient History students are diving into Ancient Egypt, examining the big ideas that shaped this fascinating civilization. Meanwhile, 8th Grade U.S. History students have begun an in-depth study of the U.S. Constitution, building their understanding of the foundational principles of our government.

At Legg Middle School, we believe students have an important perspective to share about their school. While academic information helps us understand how students are learning, listening to students helps us better understand their experiences and how we can continue improving.

On October 13, 21 student representatives joined us for our first Principal Advisory meeting of the school year. Our conversation focused on belonging, connectedness, and what helps make LMS a positive place to learn.

Students shared several things they appreciate about their school, including supportive teachers, positive relationships with peers and adults, engaging classroom experiences, and the WEB program's role in helping students feel welcome and connected.

Students also identified areas where we can improve, including addressing hurtful language and feelings of exclusion among peers, while ensuring that schoolwide expectations are applied fairly and consistently.

We appreciate our student representatives' willingness to speak openly about their experiences. Their feedback is helping inform our ongoing conversations about schoolwide expectations, positive relationships, and how we can provide more consistent support for students throughout the school day. Our goal is to ensure that every student feels safe, respected, and connected at LMS.

At our next Principal Advisory meeting on November 17, we'll continue the conversation by asking students to reflect on what they're thankful for at LMS and what they hope never changes. Understanding what students value about their school is just as important as identifying opportunities for improvement.

Student voice is an important part of how we continue learning and growing together at LMS.

Coldwater Community Schools has created a new Multilingual Family Information Hub to help families stay informed and connected to our schools! This resource includes helpful videos in Arabic, Spanish, and French, along with school calendars, early release schedules, important contact information, and reminders about school procedures. Families can also find information about upcoming events and opportunities to connect with our schools.

We encourage families to explore this new resource and check back as additional information is added throughout the school year.

Visit the Multilingual Family Information Hub

The Polar Bears Swim Team is diving into a new season! Practices begin Monday, November 9, at 5:00 PM in the aquatics center, but we are always welcoming new members. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just looking to build your skills, stamina, and confidence in the water, there’s a place for you on the team. Students interested in joining should reach out to Mr. Smith for more information or stop by the main office to add their name to the sign-up sheet. We can’t wait to see you on the pool deck!

November 7 - ML Parent Meeting - LMS Cafeteria - 10:30 AM

November 11 - Early Release

November 18 - Early Release

November 25 - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:05 AM

November 26 & 27 - No School

December 2 - Early Release

December 9 - Early Release

December 16 - Full Day - No Early Release

December 18 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 11:05 AM

December 21 - January 3 - No School

January 4 - Classes Resume