LMS' Sixth Grade Pawprint
June 2022
The One In Which We Say Goodbye
Throughout it all, you remained flexible, patient, and resilient. And for that, I cannot thank you enough. It has been an absolute honor to be your assistant principal this year, and I look forward to seeing you all as seventh graders on the other side of summer break. Hopefully things are even a little bit closer to “normal” when we return in the fall. Have a wonderful summer break! You have earned it!
Updates From Ms. Haynes, Our Media Specialist
Checking Students' Materials in Destiny
Did you know students can check their own Destiny account? Confused on when and if laptops need to be returned? How materials are handled if a student transfers within SMCPS?
Please see the following SMORE regarding Resource Accountability: SMCPS Issued Books, Consumables, & Technology for answers to these questions, and more helpful information regarding media!
Growing Concerns with Students Playing Games on Computers
Please remember that students should refrain from playing games on their SMCPS device! Please take time to remind your students that their school device is for instructional use only per the AUP that all parents had to review and sign at the beginning of the year.
Students should also "Accept Responsibility" for treating the device with respect! After all, the device belongs to the school, and they will be responsible for it over the course of their student careers in SMCPS! The device should not be treated as their own personal device (ie. attaching stickers, and use of personal google accounts). Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing expectations with students and our technical resources!
SMCPS Issued Technology
This year all students in SMCPS were issued a device for online learning.
Unless the student is a senior, students will keep their technology checked out over the summer.
Are You In Accelerated English Next Year? Click The Picture For Information About Summer Reading!
PAWS Behavior Matrix - One Final Review Of Our PAWS-itive Expectations!
A - Accept Responsibility - Bring all materials to class - laptop, agenda, pencil, notebooks, etc.! Take responsibility for your grades and use homeroom time to complete work and/or make up work after an absence! But above all, own your mistakes, work to fix them, and accept feedback so you can do better next time!
W - Work Hard - Don't just set the bar at completing some of your assignments, but complete ALL of them! And make sure you are always putting forward your best work, with detailed responses and answers, and then even go the extra mile of completing extension activities!
S - Safety First - This is maybe the most important quality to pay attention to! When in the building, please follow social distancing guidelines, wear your mask so that it covers your nose and mouth, and continually wash your hands!
Leonardtown Middle School's Cell Phone Policy
As stated in the Smore communication every month (please see March’s Sixth Grade Pawprint newsletter), our school policy is, “according to county policy, students may have electronics (cell phones, I-Pods, laptops, PSP’s, etc.) in school although they must be off during instructional time, as well as during lunch and recess, unless given permission by a teacher for a specific educational purpose. A phone, specifically for student use, is located in the main office at no charge to the student if an occasion arises that a student needs to contact a parent or guardian. If electronic devices are brought to school, the school is NOT responsible for investigating their loss and return.” Mr. Engel-Cope also announces these expectations on the announcements every morning at school at 7:20 am.
According to BoardDocs, “The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for creating and implementing programs and supporting procedures and guidelines that will regulate the use of portable electronic devices and wireless communication devices during the instructional day, at school-sponsored and school-related activities, and school buses. The site administrator/ designee can establish additional procedures and guidelines as needed for each site that are consistent with this policy and any companion regulations.
The site administrator/designee, including bus drivers have the right to limit the use of electronic communication devices that impede the instructional climate in the school or otherwise create a disturbance.
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) assumes no liability for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items of any student, including portable electronic and wireless communication devices; the school system assumes no responsibility for injury or damage related to malfunctioning equipment.” Thank you!
Need Technology Help? Contact SMCPS' Helpdesk!
SMCPS HelpDesk: https://helpdesk.smcps.org
Phone Number: (301) 710-5935 Option 1
Email Address: helpdesk@smcps.org
This Week's Musical Moment: "Imagine" and "Grow As We Go" by Ben Platt
And the second, song is from Platt's first album, Sing to Me Instead, and serves as a beautiful testament to this school year. "I don't think you have to leave, if to change is what you need. You can change right next to me. When you're high, I'll take the lows, you can ebb and I can flow. And we'll take it slow, and grow as we go."...Enjoy!
Leonardtown Middle School
If you need anything from us to support you during this unprecedented and challenging time, please reach out to us.
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/lms/
Location: 24015 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 301-475-0230