Falcon Family Weekly Newsletter

This is a regular five-day week of school.

The Week Ahead:

• MAP-R: All students will test and we will follow special schedule and details below.

• This is the first day for which we will follow our regular schedule, with students reporting directly to first period at 8:15 am.
• MAP-R make-ups: Students who do not finish on Monday or miss Monday's test, will be automatically called to their make-up session.

Thursday, September 3rd:

• MAP-M: All students will test and we will follow special schedule and details below.
• Back to School Night, Family Life and Human Sexuality (FLHS) Information Meeting and Special Education Meeting: 5:15 to 8:00 pm. We look forward to seeing all our parents & caretakers. Details below.

Friday, September 4th:

• MAP-M make-ups: Students who do not finish on Thursday or miss Thursday's test, will be automatically called to their make-up session.

Looking Ahead:

Monday, September 7th: No School, holiday

Tuesday, September 8th:

• Student Picture Day
• First day of try-outs for Softball and practice for Cross Country (details below).

Friday, September 18th:

• Early Release Day, school dismisses at 12:30pm
• Mucha Musica Cantaré Assemblies

Monday, September 21st: No School, non-instructional day

Friday, October 2nd: Interim reports submitted by teachers

Thursday, October 8th: Interim reports available in Synergy ParentVue and StudentVue

Friday, October 16th: No School, professional day

Thursday, October 22nd: Night Out at the MC

Friday, October 30th:

• End of Marking Period 1
• The Spooky Shuffle Dance, sponsored by the PTSA

Sincerely,

Rose Alvarez

Principal

All students will take the MAP-R on Monday, August 31st and Thursday, September 3rd. Make-ups will occur the next day only. For the first time, MCPS has determined consistent testing and make-up dates for all schools. Learn more and access the grade-level testing calendars here.

MAP-R and MAP-M are very important tests that we use to inform instruction, determine course placement, and monitor student learning progress. They are also used as part of the criteria for selection into the high school criteria-based programs. Please read this letter with more information regarding our Fall MAP testing.

Important Reminders:

• Please remind your child(ren) to charge their chromebook and bring it to school in it's carrying case with their charging cord.
• Students should report to their testing location no later than 8:15 am. Last week, testing locations have been posted in each grade-level hallway.
• We will follow the schedule below.
• Students who are absent or do not finish their test on Monday or Thursday, will automatically be called for make-up testing the following day. There is no need to call or email to schedule make-up testing.

Please join us at Lakelands Park to meet our staff, see the building, and visit each of your child(ren)'s classes. Click here for the schedule for the evening in both English and Spanish.

This event is designed for parents and adult caregivers. Because classroom seating is limited, we encourage middle school students to stay at home. However, we don’t want childcare needs to prevent anyone from attending—children are welcome if needed.

What to Bring

• Your Child(ren)'s Complete Class Schedule with Room Numbers: You can either take a picture of their schedule from their chromebook or take a screenshot of their schedule from ParentVue. Counselors will be available to provide your child(ren)'s schedule.
• Comfortable Walking Shoes: Lakelands Park is a large school on three floors. You will be walking from class to class about every 15 minutes.
• A pen or pencil.

Parking and Transportation

• Please note that parking is extremely limited. Please walk if you live in the neighborhood. If you are driving, please park only in marked spots in our lot, within the bus loop without blocking other cars, or follow street signs to park legally. Consider arriving early to allow time for you to walk from your parking location.

• For families with limited transportation, a school bus shuttle will run as follows:

  • Pick-up at Brown Station Elementary 4:45 pm
  • Pick-up at Governor Square Apartments: 5:00 pm
  • Return shuttle will leave LPMS at 8:10 pm

Back to School Night Schedule

From 5:15 - 5:55 PM:

• Information Tables:
• Get your child(ren)'s Schedule, access translation services for the evening, and meet our counselors
• Join or volunteer with the PTSA and meet PTSA members and officers
• Activate your Synergy ParentVue activation and get help with FARMs application
• Learn about the Gaithersburg Youth Club (GYC)
• Learn about high school programs

• Family Life and Human Sexuality (FLHS) Information Meeting in the Media Center at 5:15pm: This is an optional meeting for parents, guardians, and caretakers interested in learning about the FLHS unit in our 7th and 8th grade Health courses. Please click here to access a letters about each course and opt out information:
• 7th Grade Letter in both English and Spanish
• 8th Grade Letter in both English and Spanish

• Special Education Meeting in the Cafeteria at 5:30pm: This is a meeting for parents or caretakers of students with IEPs to meet their case managers and learn about the special education program at Lakelands Park.

From 6:00 - 7:55 PM:

• Follow your child's schedule to visit each of your child's classes and meet their teachers.
• Translators available: Northwest and Quince Orchard High School bilingual students will be available to provide translation for our families for the evening. Visit the counselor's table at the main entrance to request a translator.
• Click here to see the period by period schedule.
• Thank you in advance for leaving promptly at the conclusion, so that our staff can head home to rest in preparation for a full school day with your children on Thursday.

1. Annual Verification of Information (ParentVUE)

• Please complete the annual verification of information through ParentVUE. Your contact information must be accurate and up-to-date at all times, including at least two emergency contacts.
• For help, see page 32 of this guide.
• Note: While you are there, check your child's grades. Please do so weekly to support your child's learning and academic success.

• Picture Day is Tuesday, September 8.
• You may send the order form with your child on Picture Day or place your order online using the information provided.

• REQUIRED for all students.
• Review both sides with your child, sign, and return to the main office if not already submitted to homeroom.

• OPTIONAL: Due September 11. Return to the main office if you wish to complete it.

• REQUIRED: Due September 11. Please complete our online form for PG movie and digital consent: https://forms.gle/re6zCBBGNUy35Qpf7

• Apply for Free and Reduced Meals
• Or submit an online pre-payment in MySchoolBucks.
• See details in the "Important to Know" section below.

7. MCPS Student Expectations Lessons:

• Please check on your children's completion status by having them show you the "Student Expectations Training" in MyMCPS Canvas classroom.
• Students are required to complete these modules by September 25th.
• All students will earn 3 SSL hours automatically for completing the modules.

8. Join the PTSA!

It is easier than ever to see your school’s breakfast and lunch menus, along with nutritional details, by visiting the MealViewer webpage.
Families can also learn how to add money to a child’s account through MySchoolBucks. This optional online service is for parents/guardians to make prepayments with a credit or debit card to a student's cafeteria account for breakfast, lunch and à-la-carte items. Learn more.

Have you submitted your Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application yet? Apply today! A new FARMS application must be completed every school year, even if your children qualified the previous year. Access is based on household income, but it is easy to apply. Submit the online FARMS application through MySchoolApps (translations are available). Only one application is needed for all students in a household. More information
Learn more: English | español | 中文 | français | Português | 한국어 | tiếng Việt | አማርኛ

How-to videos for the online FARMS application:

Spanish Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsdCrtCIFJc&t=4s
English Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUapGLarBo

The Falcon Bucks program is a parent-school partnership to recognize our student for their efforts to create a positive climate at Lakelands.

If you are able to do so, please consider purchasing and donating items for the Falcon Bucks store. You can choose from two different ways to buy.

• Buy items off Falcon Bucks Wish List (below) at local stores. Then drop them off at our main office during regular school hours.
• Shop our Amazon Wishlist. It is sorted in order of what is needed most at the top. Items are shipped directly to our school.

Thanks for supporting this program that makes Lakelands Park Middle School a great place to be!

The PTSA believes that together we can make every child’s potential a reality—but we need more believers like YOU. We need YOU. Will you join us?

Click here to join or donate!

Direct Appeal Donation is our PTSA's primary fundraiser, accounting for about 35% of our PTSA budget. It is, quite simply, a straight-forward request for donations directly to the PTSA in lieu of more traditional fundraisers which involve selling products in exchange for a small portion of the proceeds.

With Direct Appeal, 100% of your contribution goes directly to funding the LPMS PTSA's programs and events. Please make your contribution today.

100% benefits LPMS PTSA

Zero overhead

No selling

Tax deductible

Click here to donate now!

Girls and Boys Softball and Girls tryouts and Cross Country practice begins Tuesday, September 7th. New This Year!: Sixth-grade students are now eligible to participate in MCPS middle school athletics. Boys' and girls’ softball and coed cross country are the fall sports offered.

Students interested in trying out for either of these sports must have completed MCPS middle school Athletics registration conducted through ParentVUE Portal. Fall registration is open now. Forms must be completed prior to the first day of tryouts or practice on Tuesday, September 7th.

• To be eligible to participate, students must:
• Complete the online registration through ParentVUE.
• Have a current Pre-Participation Physical (MCPS Form SR-8) on file.
• Upload the required medical clearance and complete all required electronic forms during the registration process.
• For more information on middle school athletics, visit the MCPS Middle School Athletics website.
• For questions, contact our Athletic Coordinator, Ms. Michelle Cassels, at Michelle_D_Cassels@mcpsmd.org.

Looking for your student’s bus route? It’s right on your school’s homepage.
Morning and afternoon bus routes are automatically posted in the “School Information” box on every school website. Routes are available as PDFs, so you can:

• Download it and keep it on your phone.

• Print it and put it on the refrigerator.

• Save it so it’s easy to check throughout the school year.

You can also find all MCPS bus routes on the Division of Transportation Services website, including systemwide centralized routes serving magnet, immersion and other special programs.
Find your route, save it and have it ready for the school year.
Transportation questions? Contact your transportation manager with your student ID, route number and school.

Here are the latest requirements. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is holding immunization clinics in August and September. MCPS is also planning for immunizations at the regional Back-to-School Fairs on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The Central Services homepage has been updated, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, provides new dropdown menus and guided access to pathways for families, students, staff and career seekers to explore relevant resources. Driven by analytics highlighting the district’s most frequently accessed resources, a refreshed calendar, and a news and information section are part of the new layout. This initial homepage makeover marks the launch of a broader, systemwide initiative to refresh the MCPS website throughout the school year.

MCPS is seeking input as it works to develop the 2027-2028 school calendar. Please complete this survey to share your input.

Your feedback represents an important component of the development process. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, and assessment schedules aligned to MCPS Board Policy IDA, School Year Calendar.

Take the survey.

In an effort to pay down student meal debt (and to show off your MCPS pride!), you can now purchase MCPS-branded merchandise. As the seasons change, so will the products in the online store, so check back regularly. Check out the shop.

MCPS is seeking community members to serve on the Facility Advisory Committee for the 2026-2027 school year. Committee members will share their knowledge, experience and perspectives to help inform long-term planning for MCPS school facilities. Members of this committee will advise MCPS on a variety of topics related to the community’s vision for school facilities and planning that are outside the six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) time frame, but that may require attention in the 10-15 year time frame or beyond.
If you're interested in helping shape the future of MCPS facilities, complete the application by Friday, Sept. 4.

Email: Rose_S_Alvarez@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/lakelandsparkms/
Location: Lakelands Park Middle School, 1200 Main Street, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-6450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPMSPTSA/