Last week, LMS had the following attendance rates:

6th - 94.07%

7th - 91.72%

8th - 91.79%

It is our goal as a school to attain a 95% attendance rate. As such, for the months of January & February, we will be hosting a Winter Grade-Level Attendance Challenge! On the first day of the week, we will pull two random names for prizes from the grade level with the highest attendance rate for the weeks prior. Those students whose names are pulled will have had to have attended a full week the week before and be in attendance to accept the prize! Time to get your attendance on Jaguars! We just know your attendance will be PAWS-itively phenomenal!

The next school dance on January 20th is sponsored by the Science Department. I will be held immediately after school.

Please note that attending a school dance is a privilege. As such, the privilege of attending may be revoked by school administration. If the privilege is revoked, students will be informed by their homeroom teacher or by an administrator. In accordance with our school dance policy, students who have received more than one referral, assigned 2 or more days of ISI, or an out-of-school suspension since the last dance, will not be permitted to attend the dance.

1. Tickets are on sale to students with signed permission forms only.

2. All school rules and regulations apply to school dances, including dress code and cell phone policies. If phones are seen out, they will be confiscated until the end of the dance. If necessary, parents may be called to pick up any student not following dance policies.

3. All students must be picked up by 4:00 p.m. Late pick up beyond 15 minutes will result in no permission to attend the next dance.

4. Dances are open to current LMS students only – sorry no guests!

5. Parent involvement is welcomed. Please consider registering as a volunteer. Contact the main office for details on how you can volunteer for this dance or other LMS events.

Is your student interested in a leadership opportunity? If the answer is yes then the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Legislative Session is the place to be. Workshops that delegates will attend focus on advocacy and legislative business that will allow them to learn about how the legislative process works and discover how they can become involved.

Throughout the day, five qualified candidates from across the state will be campaigning for the position of 2023-2024 student member on the State Board of Education (SMOB). As a member school of MASC, delegates vote on which two candidates MASC will recommend to the Governor for his final appointment. Each candidate will deliver a speech of his or her composition and will participate in a question and answer period. During this time, delegates of the General Assembly will be able to ask candidates questions regarding their experience, platform, goals, ideas, and other appropriate topics that will help distinguish the top contenders.

Event Date: Saturday, February 11, 2023
Location: Wheaton High School (Montgomery County, MD)

Registration closes: Monday, January 23, 2023 (to allow LMS time to get all material and payment to the state)

Cost: $30 per student

Transportation: St. Mary’s Association of Student Councils (SMASC) will cover the cost of transportation.

Attending Adviser(s): Mrs. Payne. Please email tjpayne@smcps.org if interested.

• PTA Meeting on Wednesday, 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the media center

• Stay tuned for some PTA-sponsored spirit nights over the next few months.

• Memberships are $8/adult or $15/family and $7/teachers & staff. You can also register online at https://lmspta20.memberhub.com/store Become a member and support the school!!
• https://www.facebook.com/LeonardtownMiddleSchoolPta

The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), Department of Maryland, Inc., is sponsoring an Americanism Essay Contest “What Does Patriotism Mean to You?” for students in grades 3-8.

Three awards in each of the groups will be presented in each Unit, District, and Department, with prizes at each level. First place Department winners will be sent to the National Competition. The contest time frame is November 1, 2022, to February 1, 2022.

Group I — Grades 3 & 4 (150-250 words)

Group II — Grades 5 & 6 (250-300 words)

Group III - Grades 7 & 8 (350-400 words)

Students must get the printed copy of their cover letter AND essay to Mrs. Sheehan in Room 106 by January 31, 2023.