Principal's Message
Weekly Update August 31, 2020
Contact Information
Takiyah Benson, Assistant Principal
Richard Petroske, Assistant Principal
Ann Ferkler, 8th Grade Counselor
Kia McKinney, 7th Grade Counselor
David Gibbons, 6th Grade Counselor
Email: shepler.matthew@ccpsstaff.org
Website: lockermanms.org
Location: 410 Lockerman Street, Denton, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-2760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LockermanPRIDE/
A message from Mr. Shepler:
While our first week back with staff was like nothing I could have ever imagined, we had an amazing time and it was so great to be around our incredible staff. Our theme for the 2020-21 school year is #TheShowMustGoOn!! On Thursday, I spent the first four hours meeting with our staff virtually to provide updates and professional development related to preparing to teach in a virtual environment. We had a great time around our movie theme and we are able to laugh and enjoy each others company while following all mask wearing and social distancing protocols and procedures. A prize was handed out to the staff member who guessed how many movie references were made in my opening remarks to staff. See if you can find them all:
Lockerman Middle School is in a league of their own. We have challenges we will face this year that are bigger than the titanic. We are starting off slow, not so much fast and furious but there is nowhere to go but up from here. I know you will all be stars for our kids. I know you will shine on your not so big screen. There will be moments where you are dazed and confused. There will be times when you need someone to lean on. There will be times when you just want to scream. We are venturing on this journey together. Whether a road to perdition or a trip down the yellow brick road. I would not want to make this journey with anyone other than this staff.
As a reminder, the first day of school is Tuesday, September 8th. The first few days your child will be learning how to organize themselves and establish routines for learning via Google Classroom and Zoom. Each teacher will have their own Zoom meeting ID and Google Classroom site that your child can bookmark in their browser for easy access. It is important that your child learns these structures and routines so we can maximize the 45 minute instructional block for each class. With the Power School parent portal opening on Monday, August 31st, have your child begin checking their email for Google Classroom invites from their teachers.
I hope you find the updates within this newsletter helpful. We are working hard to communicate the most up to date information we can in a timely matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Thank You.
Matt Shepler
Principal
Student Schedule Change/Morning Announcements
A Google Classroom has been created for morning announcements, birthday recognitions, students shout outs, and Bitmoji Pledge of Allegiance. Please encourage your child to create their very own Bitmoji of themselves. More information to come on how to share their Bitmoji with me to use in our morning announcements. See my Bitmoji below as an example of how we will continue with The Pledge of Allegiance in a virtual environment. It will be fun to have our LMS students Bitmojis featured in our morning announcements.
Laptop/Supply Distribution Update
IMPORTANT UPDATE
Due to an unexpected hold up on laptop delivery to Lockerman Middle School, the laptop/supply distribution days have been changed. The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, September 3rd (8 AM- 6 PM)
Friday, September 4th ( 8 AM- 6 PM)
I apologize for the unexpected delay, and appreciate your patience. While the majority of our laptops are expected to be delivered this week, we will not have devices for everybody on Thursday and Friday. Based on responses from the 2020 Parent/Guardian Questionnaire, those families that indicated they have a reliable device, will not be receiving a laptop this week. A separate School Messenger phone call and email will be sent out to those families. You will still be able to come out and pick up your child's schedule and supplies and we will contact you directly when your child's laptop arrives.
Also:
The Parent Portal in PowerSchool will open on Monday, August 31st so you will be able to access your child’s schedule ahead of our “Meet the Teacher” Flipgrid event on Friday, September 4th.
If you are unable to access your child’s information in PowerSchool, please contact the school at 410-479-2760 or email me directly at shepler.matthew@ccpsstaff.org.
All LMS students will eventually receive a CCPS laptop unless they have not yet returned the laptop borrowed in the spring. This is a drive through service taking place in the front loop. You are required to remain in your vehicle when picking up your laptop and supplies. We are asking that you enter off of 6th street using Caroline Street when arriving to pick up your laptop.
We are in the process of organizing supplies and other items left behind for you to pick up as well. The following are items that will be being distributed:
- Laptops and chargers
- Student folders with their class schedule
- Dry Erase Pocket Sleeve w/ two markers
- Agree/Disagree and Question Stem Card
- Card stock (one side blank/one side graph paper)
- Items left behind or not picked up from last school year. This includes personal items from lockers, yearbooks and end of year awards/certificates.
- A bag of popcorn for our "Meet the Teacher" event.
CCPS is going 1:1 and your child will be required to pick up a device. Our technology department will be able to push out updates to CCPS devices throughout the year to ensure your child can access everything they need for virtual learning.
Meet the Teacher Update
Due to our laptop and supply distribution schedule being pushed back, our Flipgrid "Meet the Teacher" event will now take place on Friday, September 4th at 6:30 PM. Links to the Flipgrid teacher introduction videos will be sent out via School Messenger email and will also be accessible on our Lockerman Middle School Facebook page and website. As mentioned in my Laptop/Supply distribution update, each student will also receive a bag of popcorn to go with our LMS theme this year.... #TheShowMustGoOn. I hope that all of our LMS families will take the opportunity to settle in with a bag of popcorn and meet our amazing Wildcat staff.
Test the System Event
On Thursday, September 3rd at 1 PM, CCPS will conduct a Test the System event. This will be a time for teachers and as many students as possible to log into Zoom and connect for a short period. This will enable our technology department to gather data and make adjustments as needed. It will also let families go through the login process prior to the first day of school. While not all students will be able to participate, we hope to engage a large percentage of our students.
Parent PowerSchool Login Information
Caroline County Public Schools provides access to student information for parents through PowerSchool Parent Single Sign On. Students' attendance, grades, and schedules can be viewed through Power School. Follow these directions if you have not set up your Parent PowerSchool account yet.
The first time you go to the sign in screen, http://carolinecps.powerschool.com, you will need to click on the button "Create Account" and fill in the information about yourself as a PARENT.
After you successfully create your account you will add your students to your list by entering your child's:
Name
Access ID
Access Password
Relationship
(If your child does not know their Access ID and Password please email their counselor and she will give you this information.)
District Code: HJQD
You may enter information for up to 7 students when creating your account. Once you have your account created, you will use the User Name and Password you created for yourself to log in and view information for all students you have added to your account.
You can also download the Power School App on your phone!
Student PowerSchool Login Information
Your account has confidential information about you which others cannot access unless you share your login name and password, therefore, do not share your login information. Your parents can also have their own login name and password to see your information.
The district code for the Mobile App is: HJQD.
If you need your Login Name and Login Password please email your counselor or support at powerschool@ccpsstaff.org
Student Information Update Forms
New from the Nurse
I hope everyone is looking forward to starting our new school year, even though we are planning a different kind of opening. The health room staff has been busy planning for the opening of school and the return of our wildcats, even in phases. I want to inform everyone of a few key details in preparation of school opening. I feel strongly that by working together, we will be successful.
1. Immunizations- 7th grade students are still expected to have the state required immunizations prior to the start of seventh grade. We know that many children have not had recent well child care due to the pandemic, doctors offices are scheduling well child care at this time. Please contact your child's physician and determine if immunizations are needed. 7th graders need a Tdap vaccine and a meningitis vaccine. It is our understanding that online learning is not a reason for not having vaccines. The students are actively enrolled in school. Letters indicating a student's need for immunizations were mailed home in June. Please feel free to call us with questions.
2. Medications - We are requesting that routine morning medications be administered at home this year. In order to help keep our students safe we are trying to decrease the daily visits to the health room. We fully understand that some student's medical needs require daily health room visits, but if we can decrease a portion of the visits, it will benefit everyone. We are giving medications during the school day as needed. Please call to discuss your student's individual needs if you have questions.
3. Doctor's orders, medication orders or emergency plans - All are required prior to the student attending school in the building. This is the same as it has always been.
4. School Base Wellness Centers- Our Wellness Center will be open for student visits once school starts. Your student does not have to be attending school in the building to use the services. Student's who are taking part in online learning can be brought in from home to see the provider as needed. Wellness will offer in person visits, online visits and curbside visits. You must call first to set up an appointment. More information will be provided or you can call the health room with questions.
Finally, the health room will be open for phone calls and phone or zoom meetings starting on August 27,2020.
Please feel free to call. Our phone number is 410-479-2377, fax number is 410-479-3711.
LMS School Based Health Center
Did you know? The School Based Health Center (SBHC) at LMS is open and available to see your student! YES! Even though students are learning remotely, the School Based Health team is at school and here for your health and wellness needs. Please call for an appointment, 410-479-3075. The LMS SBHC is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 am until 3:30 pm & on Fridays from 7:30 am until 11:30 am.
Services Available in the School Based Health Centers:
Congestion Cough Earaches Headaches Sore Throat Strep Throat Tests Shortness of Breath Pain or Injuries Nausea /Vomiting Skin Itch/Rash Sports Physicals Blood Pressure Screenings
And so much more!!!
Remember, if your student has ever enrolled in the SBHC, then they are ALWAYS enrolled! No need to fill out a form every year. However if you have never enrolled your student, then head over to the Caroline County Public Schools website (carolineschools.org), click on Forms and scroll down to the School Based Medical / Dental Centers Enrollment Form & Information. Print it out and complete prior to your appointment.
We are here for you and willing to support your student in any way that we can. Healthy students make better learners!