The Eagle Eye
Your Weekly Look at Lake Elkhorn Middle School
Greetings Lake Elkhorn Community,
We hope this communication finds you well. Today, your child's report card will be posted and available for you to view. Please take time this weekend to review your child's report card and create questions you may have for their teachers. Parent and teacher conferences will be held on November 23rd - 25th, so we encourage you to sign up and connect with your child's teachers.
Hope everyone has a restful & relaxing weekend. Stronger together!
LEMS Admin Team
Mrs. Quinn - Cluster Nurse
Mrs. Quinn grew up in Syracuse, New York, although her family’s roots are in the beautiful Adirondacks. She has a wonderful husband and two grown sons who are her pride and joy. Jack lives in Germany and is a Green Beret, while Patrick is an artist living in Rhode Island. She also has a very new daughter-in-law, Tiffany, who is Australian and lives in Ireland. Yes, it’s a long story!
At home, their household is ruled by Josie, the cat! They also share their lives with Ollie and Augi, two very sweet dogs who have made them their entire world (and vice versa!).
This is Mrs. Quinn's fifth year at Lake Elkhorn Middle School, following 40 years as a pediatric emergency room nurse. She has also had the privilege of teaching pediatric nursing at Johns Hopkins and Howard Community College. One of her greatest adventures has been traveling around the world with Operation Smile, helping provide life-changing surgery for children born with cleft lips and palates. Nursing has taken her to some incredible places and introduced her to amazing people. Her favorite country is Morocco.
She is especially excited to spend another year working alongside Mrs. Hernandez. They love caring for their wonderful students and helping keep the Lake Elkhorn community happy and healthy.
Middle school is such an exciting time, and she feels fortunate to be part of your children’s journey!
When she’s not at school, you might find her cooking and dancing in her kitchen, riding her bike on a beautiful sunny day, or floating in the lake at her camp in the Adirondacks. Most of all, she loves spending time with her boys and traveling the world to visit them.
Mrs. Hernandez - Health Assistant
My name is Xiomara Hernandez, and I was born and raised in El Salvador. My journey has been one of perseverance, courage, and dedication. I immigrated to the United States in 2004, seeking a safer and better future. I initially lived in Everett, Massachusetts, until 2017, when I moved to Maryland after getting married and beginning a new chapter in my life.
I am happily married to my wonderful husband, Domingo, who owns and operates his own construction business. Together, we have built a life centered on love, hard work, and supporting one another. I am a proud mother of two boys. My older son, Kelvin who works in Student Engagement at OMMS and my younger son, Mateo , is a fourth-grade student at TSES who enjoys playing baseball. My family is my greatest motivation and one of the most important parts of my life.
Before coming to the United States, I attended Francisco Gavidia University in El Salvador, where I studied Business Administration. Unfortunately, due to the difficult circumstances and safety concerns caused by gang violence in my country, I had to leave El Salvador before completing my degree. Although I could not finish my studies, I have never stopped believing in the importance of education and personal growth.
After immigrating to the United States, I continued pursuing my education. I studied English as a Second Language (ESL) at Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where I also completed my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
My professional journey in healthcare has given me valuable experience and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. I worked for seven years at Lawrence General Hospital, where I gained important knowledge and experience in patient care. After moving to Maryland, I continued my healthcare career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since 2023, I have also worked as a Medical Assistant at MedStar Health Urgent Care.
I truly love my job , and the opportunity to support students and their families. For me, working in a school health room is about much more than providing medical care. It is also about listening, understanding, comforting, and making families feel supported. Being able to help Spanish-speaking families overcome language barriers and communicate their needs is especially meaningful to me. Knowing that I can make a difference, even in a small way, brings me great happiness and fulfillment.
I also value the positive relationships I have built with my school nurse and the entire LEMS staff. Having a supportive, respectful, and collaborative work environment makes me feel appreciated and motivated to continue learning and growing professionally.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. Some of my favorite moments are watching my younger son Mateo playing baseball and preparing traditional Salvadorian meals for my boys. Cooking the food I grew up with allows me to share a piece of my culture and keep our traditions alive.
Looking back, I am proud of how far I have come. Leaving my country, starting over in a new place, learning a new language, continuing my education, and building a career have not always been easy. However, every experience has helped shape the person I am today.
I am grateful for the opportunities I have received, the people I have met along the way, and the ability to serve my community. My goal is to continue growing personally and professionally while making a positive difference in the lives of the students and families I serve.
Author Visit @ East Columbia Library
We had twenty students from LEMS attend an event at the East Columbia Library to hear from Nigerian author, Nnedi Okorafor. Students pictured here had the opportunity to ask questions.
Spreading Positive Messages
A bulletin board @ LEMS titled, Change Your Words, Change Your World. It shares the importance of using positive language.
Volunteer Training
Mr. Rhymes, our BSAP liaison, trained volunteers from St. John's Baptist Church. The church has been a wonderful partner of LEMS and the volunteers plan to begin supporting with supervised study next week.
Mr. Crawford and Ms. Swain excited to pie Mr. Esposito & Mrs. Glass.
