Lutherville Lab Report
What's gone down & what's coming up at the leopards' lair.
November 17th, 2023
It was a great week at The Lab and we were so glad to welcome so many of you for American Education Week! If you were able to make the time to join us it is much appreciated and either way -- we are grateful for your partnership and look forward to connecting with you for a fall conference. It's also been a great week of Read-A-Thon! We're so proud of the fantastic work our young readers are doing. Let's finish strong!
Please note that next week only has one day for students -- Monday, November 20th. On Monday, we will continue our recognition of Native American Heritage Month with a school-wide read-aloud of "We are Water Protectors" by Carole Lindstrom, winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal.
Fun Fact: last week's newsletter was the 100th Lab Report! And I'm not sure why, but it garnered the most views as well -- over 500. In this season of gratitude, please accept mine for your engagement and support. It is an honor to serve your families. In recognition of this milestone, the fact of a one-school-day-week, and the anticipation of a "turkey coma," we're giving the Lab Report writing staff the week off next week. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Calendar Reminders:
11/21: School Conference Day, School Closed for Students
11/22: Thanksgiving Break Begins
11/27: School reopens
In partnership,
-Mr. McComb
Scenes from the Week
Hour of Power!
During Monday's professional learning day, our faculty met and commited to launch an innovative plan to provide some additional personalized learning during the school day to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders during their extra rotation time on Thursday and Friday afternoons from 2:00 - 3:00. We are calling it a "Power Hour" and it will run from the return from Winter Break until we go out for Spring Break. We believe this opportunity will help grow all our students, and we need our community's help!
We are seeking partnership in multiple ways to make this program happen for our amazing students:
- If you're available, volunteer to come in and play a game or activity with students!
- Helping to prepare materials in the month of December (at school or from home)
- Donating funds for books for some students, or snacks
We are working with our higher education partners at Goucher, Loyola, and Towson to find future teachers excited for additional opportunities to serve students, but are also open to connections with family members, retired educators, and community members who would like to work with 3-4 students to support their learning activities. All volunteers will complete BCPS Volunteer Training and Background Checks.
Mitten Tree and Toys for Tots
It is hard to believe that the holidays are quickly approaching. For Lutherville Lab, it is a time to remember children that need our help. We are continuing our tradition of the MITTEN TREE. We will collect NEW mittens, hats, gloves, and scarves to decorate our tree in the lobby. These will be donated to a shelter in our area. The mitten tree donations will run from Monday, November 27th-Friday, December 15th. All sizes are needed.
We will also collect toys for children through Kids Helping Hopkins. We need NEW unwrapped toys. Please do not send in plush toys or stuffed animals. Please consider sending in items for the Mitten Tree or a toy for Kids Helping Hopkins. Our children have gained so much from the experience of giving to others. The toy drive will take place from Monday, November 27th-Friday, December 8th.
Thank you so much in advance for your donations.
Wishes for a wonderful holiday season,
Mrs. Kiewe- School Counselor ikiewe@bcps.org 443-809-7835
Lutherville Lab is Hiring!
Additional Assistant, Level 1:
- Pay: $18.00/hour, same hours as students
- Under the direction of the classroom teacher or special educator, who is the case manager for students with Individual Educational Programs, assists special and general educators by providing non-instructional support and assistance to students with moderate disabilities to meet requirements necessary for participation in the school environment. Performs other duties as required.
- More info here, Job ID 20062
Additional Assistant, Medical Needs, Level 2:
- Pay: $20.00/hour, same hours as students
- Under the direct supervision of the special educator, who is the case manager for students with Individual Education Programs, assists special and general educators by providing support and assistance to individual students with moderate to severe disabilities to meet requirements necessary for participation in the school environment. Performs other duties as required.
- More info here, Job ID 20063
FINAL DAYS OF READ-A-THON!
As of 10 am this morning, we were at $8,345 which is 69% of our fundraising goal. We appreciate any and all help that you can provide to bring us closer to the $12,000 that will be put to use for many amazing winter and spring projects - everything from leopard t-shirts for all students to cultural assemblies to field trip support to more movie nights and more!
Also, the students are doing amazing with their reading dedication - 68,786 minutes, 75% of the goal set of 91,000 minutes. Please do not forget to record their minutes by 11 pm on Monday, Nov 20th.
Lastly, thank you to our sponsors - David Ross Orthodontics, Fully Promoted Branded Apparel & Promotional Products and Team Krause Real Estate. Their donations allow us to keep more of the money we raise!
LAST READ-ALOUD - GOOGLE MEETS - MON NOV 20TH AT 7 pm
We had 75 families tune in this week and can't wait to see if we can break our record of 89 families last week! Remember, the code is LLreadaloud, using your student's device or using their BCPS login info on your device.
BOUNDARY STUDY SURVEY & PUBLIC COMMENTS - RECOMMENDATIONS TO COME
We had terrific attendance at the Boundary Study info sessions this week and are grateful to the families who took the time to come. The Boundary Study survey asks you to rate each Map A-D with your overall opinion toward each one (strongly agree/agree/disagree/strongly disagree). And while it could be quite easy to strongly agree with all map options because they do not change our school's boundaries, we want you to be able to provide a more meaningful vote. Therefore, the PTA and Equity Guiding Coalition are working together to compose a "voting guide" based on the feedback that we heard at the public info sessions this week. This will come to you as a flyer the week after the Thanksgiving break. Please feel free to vote and/or make public comments at your leisure, just know more information is coming!
ONGOING: SUPPORT FOR TEACHER & STAFF LOUNGE
We would greatly appreciate your support (through Venmo and donation of supplies) in helping us keep the staff lounge stocked as we head into the end of the last stretch of the year before winter break.
Click here for the SignUp Genius options.
NOV 29TH PTA MEETING CANCELLED
We recognize that this fall has held a very full schedule for many of us and as we head into the end of November and soon embark on December, the PTA board members will be leaning into a season of rest, gratitude and time with our families. We imagine you hope to be enjoying much of the same, Our goal is to be less encumbered by the "extras" that sometime come with too many events, meetings and to-do items at the end of the calendar year.
Therefore, you'll be hearing from us less after Read-a-Thon and Thanksgiving...not because we don't care but because we do! We thank you greatly for all of your support, participation and thoughts with everything PTA and school related this fall. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, however! We wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!
SAVE THE DATE - TUES DEC 19TH FROM 6-9 PM:
Skate Night! More details to come
Contact Information
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