LA @Leonard MS Longhorn Connection

Vision: At LA@LMS, we foster a thriving academic culture where excellence in learning and character is evident, and every student is equipped to shape a brilliant future because here, success is our shared commitment.

Mission Statement: We educate, empower, and equip every student and stakeholder through collaborative leadership and dynamic partnerships, transforming aspirations into achievements

At Leonard, we operate with a clear destination: helping every student learn at high levels and grow into confident, capable young people. Along the way, the path may shift. Systems may tighten, new routines may be added, and adjustments will happen. What never changes is our commitment to supporting your child with clarity, consistency, and care.

Think of our work together like a GPS. When a route changes, the GPS doesn’t panic or blame. It simply recalculates and guides you toward the destination. That is how we lead at Leonard and how we partner with families. When something needs to shift, we communicate, we adjust, and we keep moving forward for the sake of our scholars.

Educate

We model for students what it looks like to learn with humility, patience, and kindness. When they see adults reroute calmly and communicate clearly, they learn that growth comes from effort and resilience. We also keep families informed so that every change has purpose and transparency.

Equip

We equip students by making sure every adjustment at school comes with support. Whether it is a new routine, an academic expectation, or a behavior expectation, we walk students through it step by step. Families can help by reinforcing these expectations at home and staying connected with teachers.

Empower

We empower students by combining accountability with encouragement. When students know they are supported by both home and school, they stay focused and confident even when the path changes. Kindness empowers our entire community and helps us build a culture where every child feels valued.

Final Thought for Families

At Leonard, we are a community that recalculates rather than reacts.
We correct without blaming.
We keep moving, even when the route changes, because your child’s success is our shared destination.

Thank you for partnering with us as we pave the way for a new era of Longhorn excellence. Your support, patience, and kindness strengthen our entire school community.

Hi Longhorn families!

Please take a moment to complete your student’s online registration and activate your Parent Portal (Focus) so you can get real-time updates on grades and attendance.

What to do (takes just a few minutes):

1. Complete Online Registration:
   https://enrollment.fwisd.org/

2. Activate Parent Portal (Focus):
   This lets you see grades, attendance, and messages in real time.

Why this matters:

• We will begin distributing the remaining uniform shirts to students whose online registration is complete.

• Parent Portal keeps you informed and helps us partner with you for your child’s success.

Need help?

Please contact Mrs. Salas or Mrs. Lopez 817.815.6200 we’re happy to assist with registration or Parent Portal setup.

Thank you for helping us pave the way for a great year at the Leadership Academy at Leonard MS!

Families can join us in celebrating by sending a positive note or shout-out to a staff member who’s made a difference! We have lots of new construction going on! Leadership Academy @Leonard MS.

Staff Shoutout!

We’re proud of our incredible staff and students who go above and beyond each week.

Help us celebrate our amazing staff this month!

12/ 4 Mrs. Datra Lonon

12/5 Mrs. Angelica Longoria

12/7 Mrs. Brenda Solis

12/9 Mrs. Veronica Garcia-Lopez

12/27 Ms. Jessica Brendza

See the great things happening at the Leadership Academy at Leonard MS. Click the link below to view the Leonard MS Photo album

General

Fine Arts and Student Activities

December 12
Winter Concert at Leonard MS
Families are invited to enjoy performances from our Fine Arts programs.

December 13
Holiday Concert in Downtown Fort Worth
Choir and band students will showcase their talents at this special community event.

December 13
ATSSB Region 30 Auditions (Alvarado JH)
Good luck to our students participating in regional auditions.

December 15
Choir Holiday Celebration
Choir students will participate in a holiday gathering with their program.

December 16
Pyramid Concert at First Baptist Church
A combined performance featuring students from across our pyramid schools.

Athletics: Basketball Season

Girls Basketball

December 8 – JP Elder (Away)
December 15 – McLean (Away)
January 7 – Bye Week
January 12 – Daggett (Away)
January 21 – Wedgewood (Home)
January 26 – Benbrook (Home)
February 2 – Kirkpatrick (Away)
February 5 to 7 – City Tournament (TBD)

Boys Basketball

December 10 – JP Elder (Home)
December 17 – McLean (Home)
January 14 – Daggett (Home)
January 22 – Wedgewood (Away)
January 28 – Benbrook (Away)
February 4 – Kirkpatrick (Home)
February 5 to 7 – City Tournament (TBD)

Families are encouraged to come out, support our Longhorn athletes, and help us build strong school spirit.

General School Dates

December 18

Student come to school End of 1st Semester

December 19 to January 5
Winter Break
Students return Tuesday January 6th
Please ensure your child returns on time and ready for a strong start to the new year.

Family Partnership Reminder

Your involvement makes all the difference! Review your student’s progress, talk about goals, and celebrate every win, big or small. Together, we’re paving the way for a new era of Longhorn excellence.

At Leonard, one of the most important skills we teach students is how to think about their own thinking. This is called metacognition, and it plays a major role in helping students become confident, independent learners.

Metacognition helps students understand what they already know, where they need support, and which strategies help them learn best. When students become aware of their thinking, they can set goals, notice their progress, and make adjustments when something is not working. These are the habits that lead to long-term academic success.

Why This Matters for Your Child

Students who use metacognitive strategies are more likely to:

• Take ownership of their learning

• Ask for help when they need it

• Stay organized and focused

• Set meaningful goals

• Use strategies that match their learning strengths

These skills support stronger academic performance and build confidence both inside and outside the classroom.

How We Teach These Skills at Leonard

Teachers help students build metacognitive habits by:

• Encouraging them to reflect on what they have learned

• Asking them to explain how they solved a problem

• Helping them set goals for improvement

• Giving them opportunities for self-assessment and peer feedback

• Guiding them to make connections between new learning and what they already know

Activities like journaling, reflection prompts, discussion circles, and goal-setting routines all help students understand their thinking and take an active role in their academic journey.

How Families Can Support This at Home

You can reinforce metacognitive skills with simple questions such as:

• What part of today’s learning felt easy, and what felt challenging?

• What strategy helped you understand the lesson?

• If you were stuck, what did you try first?

• What is one goal you want to work on this week?

These conversations help students build the same reflective habits at home that we nurture at school.

Our Commitment to Growing Thoughtful, Independent Learners

When students learn how they learn, they become more confident, resilient, and prepared for future challenges. By strengthening metacognitive skills, we are not just helping students succeed today. We are giving them tools that will serve them for life.

Thank you for partnering with us in developing reflective, self-aware learners who are prepared to thrive academically and beyond.