Longhorn Loop
Vol. 8 Issue 20 | December 19 - January 7

Important Links
Peach State MS Championship
Location: East Jackson High School, Commerce, GA
Course: 3000 Meters - The course is located on the campuses of East Jackson High and East Jackson Elementary Schools. The course is spectator friendly as it is 90% viewable. It is rated as a fast course.
As the Season Wraps Up
31 runners competed in 7 meets this Fall. Some of the courses had athletes running through creeks and jumping over hay bales! Jonah Bradley and Miliani Ojimma were the Lanier Middle School top boys and girls finishers in the Gwinnett Country Championship. Both the girls and boys team had consistent team results, finishing in the middle of most meets. All runners improved throughout the season and had fun cheering for each other. The 8th graders plan to carry on this year's progress into high school and the 6th and 7th graders look forward to making our middle school team even stronger next year.
ParentVue Grade Alerts
Parents now have the option to be notified in the ParentVUE mobile app if their student’s grade fall below a preset threshold. Follow this link for more information.
A Request | Parent Square
We would like to urge you to disable the digest option in your Parent Square account settings for Lanier Middle School. Many of our communications are time-sensitive, and we don’t want you to miss any important updates. Your attention to this matter will ensure you stay informed and connected with all school activities and announcements.
Thank you for your consideration!
Friday Night Lights
Last Friday night, your Lanier Longhorns (3-4) lost to the nationally ranked Milton Eagles. Despite the loss, our players battled and kept their heads held high throughout the game. I am very proud of the way our Senior Leaders stayed positive as they encouraged many of our younger players towards the end of the game. There is a lot of football left to play as we finish up our tough Region Schedule with John's Creek, Roswell, and Seckinger. On Friday we travel to John's Creek for an opportunity to get back in the win column! Thank you to everyone who has supported us at the games thus far this season! Please check out the link below for highlights from the game and a few players who had outstanding performances:
Next Up
Game 8
Friday, October 11th
Lanier Longhorns @ John's Creek Gladiators
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Table Talk
Each week we will post a question for students to discuss with their adults over the weekend. Questions can be funny, serious, or thought provoking, but each week provides a new occasion for a family discussion. Students will have opportunities to write about some of these topics as well as earn extra credit in language arts for their participation.
This Week's Table Talk Topic
If you could only choose one talent, would you rather be funny, smart, a good singer, or a strong athlete? Why?
Deeper Dive
Outline the path to college, but let your teen follow it.
When college application deadlines loom, some parents simply take over. They write essays, contact teachers for references, and more. But success in college takes responsibility, and applications are the first step. Set your teen on the right path by making an appointment to visit a school counselor together. Create a list of required tasks and deadlines. Then, have your teen check it regularly to stay aware of exactly what needs to be completed and when.
AI is Here Let's Talk About It
Building Trust in Technology used in Education
- Reducing Fear and Misconceptions: Understanding AI can help alleviate any fears or misconceptions there might be about technology in education. This builds trust and openness towards new educational tools.
- Encouraging Innovation: When individuals see the benefits of AI, they are more likely to support innovative teaching methods and tools that can enhance student’s learning experiences.
By staying informed about AI in education, we can play a proactive role in academic success for student's helping with their overall development. This knowledge empowers us to support, advocate, and engage effectively with the educational community.
WEEK AHEAD
Monday, October 14
Basketball Tryouts | October 15 - October 18
Wednesday, October 16
Semester 1 Interim
All students will take their Semester 1 Interim exams during periods 1 and 2 on Wednesday, October 16th
Reminders:
- Charge Chromebook the night before
- Bring both their Chromebook and power adapter to school
Yearbook Information | Oct. 16 Deadline
Thursday, October 17
All students will take their Semester 1 Interim exams during periods 3 and 4 on Thursday, October 17th
Reminders:
- Charge Chromebook the night before
- Bring both their Chromebook and power adapter to school
Early Release | October 23 & 24
Conferences
Community Service Opportunity
LHS and LMS are joining forces to hold a food drive to benefit the North Gwinnett Co-op. The food drive is a competition between the Lanier Cluster and the Seckinger Cluster.
The food Drive will run from October 21st- October 31st.
This food drive will be one of the 'volunteer' opportunities that our students can participate in to receive the Community Service Award for the year.
To earn credit counting towards the Service Award, students will need to bring in a minimum of 3 items for the food drive. Peer Leaders will be at each elevator collecting items during the food drive window.
Non-perishable food items only.
Particular Items that are Needed:
- Boxed Cereals
- Kid-friendly Snacks
- Canned Pineapple
- Canned Peaches
- Canned Pears
- Applesauce
Join the Team! LMS PTSA Needs Your Support
Use the QR Code or click the image to sign up today!
Thank you for supporting Lanier Middle School!
Another Way to Support Lanier PTSA | Get Your Lanier Spirit Wear Here
Use the QR Code or click the image to sign up today!
Thank you for supporting Lanier Middle School!
Sugar Hill Empowerment Program
The city of Sugar Hill extends an invitation to Lanier Middle School students for another session of the Sugar Hill Youth Empowerment Program. Last year Lanier Middle School played a crucial role in the success of last year’s program, and we are eager to build on that momentum for this year’s sessions.
The program is set to begin on Thursday, September 26th, and will continue every other Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Our goal remains the same: to equip young people in our community with essential life skills that are not commonly taught in traditional education. This session, we’ll be covering topics such as understanding the stock market, becoming a community leader, and basic car maintenance.
We believe that this initiative could once again be incredibly beneficial our students in the Sugar Hill community and look forward to seeing you there on the 26th.
Tutoring Schedule
At Lanier Middle School, mornings are an excellent opportunity for students to receive extra support in their core subjects. With that in mind, for the 2024-2025 school year we will target each core content area on a specific day of the week. If your student needs additional support or needs assistance in a Connection class, they can see their content teacher to arrange an additional day that works with the teachers morning schedule. In order for students to attend morning tutoring, they need to arrive at 8:05 AM.
New: Technology Fines to be Implemented for the 24-25 School Year
Beginning with the 2024-2025 )school year (Effective July 1) GCPS will be implementing fines for damaged and lost Chromebooks and power cords. Please discuss the importance of taking care of the equipment that has been issued to your student.
*A device could have multiple damaged components such as broken hinges as well as a cracked screen, this would result in a fine of $50. $25 for each damaged component.
Free & Reduced Lunch
ParentSquare App
Currently we have about 37% of our families using the Parent Square App. This is a great and easy way to stay connected to all things Lanier and GCPS. Consider downloading it this weekend.
Want to See More Great Things Happening at Lanier Middle School?
Keep up to date with all the great things happening at Lanier Middle School by joining our social media platforms. See the Bottom Banner of this newsletter for Links to our Twitter, Facebook pages OR see the "Let's Be Social" section of the Lanier MS Homepage for links to all our social platforms including Instagram and our YouTube Channel. It is here you will see many more pictures and videos of all the activities and events happening here at LMS!