LIVELY MIDDLE SCHOOL
WEEK OF DECEMBER 16, 2019
PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Greetings Falcon Nation,
The pep rally this week was a huge hit. We had some unique visitors come out to cheer on our athletes and students. Two assistant principals had pies in the face, and our cheerleaders were terrific.
Ms. Olson and Ms. Stilwell placed 2nd place in the Mini STEM Competition.
We are pleased to announce that Veronica Twining has been nominated as a 2019-20 LifeChanger of the Year! The LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards K-12 school employees who make a positive difference in the lives of students. Veronica is in the running for a cash prize, too!
Today Ms. Taylor’s class put on an Anthropology Museum showcase. Students were given top-secret GPS coordinates of a location and researched a location’s geography. All students created civilizations and created artifacts. Students then buried the objects, and other student archaeologists searched in the ground to find them. Students had to measure, catalog, and photograph the items they found. Students took these items back to class to uncover details about each civilization. They used clues from each of the artifacts to share information about each culture in the museum showcase.
Generation Citizen
Students went to the Austin Public Library to present their project on Community Solutions. We had three different groups represent our school. Great job Ms. Ligtvoet and Ms. Reavis for supporting our students.
Mural on Leland
I have asked a local artist to paint a mural on the Leland St. side of the school. Please see a few of the pictures below, showing the progress of the project. I have also included a draft of what it will look like when completed. Our students have been asking for more color on campus, and I know this will help fulfill that vision.
Ugly Sweater
Staff dressed up today in their ugliest holiday sweaters. Check out the fashion show below. Those are some ugly sweaters, but it is always so much fun to see everyone dressed up in their festive holiday sweater.
Evening of Wonder
Mark your calendars for January 14th Evening of Wonder, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parents will be able to go to sessions with each grade level counselor to understand the sequence of courses for the next school year. PTA general meeting will start before the Evening of Wonder, contact PTA President, Laurie Solis for more details (solislaurie@gmail.com). This event also serves as our Showcase for Prospective families and will include performances, tours and exhibits. We need student and parent helpers for the event to welcome the community. Please contact Elizabeth Northcutt-Benson for volunteer opportunities (elizabeth.northcutt-benson@austinisd.org).
Afterschool Clubs
No afterschool clubs the last week before winter break December 16th, 17th, and 18th. Late buses will still be available for all students. There is no school on December 19th or the 20th. The 19th is a DOI day for our campus and Travis Vertical Team. The 20th is a student holiday and a staff PLED (Professional Learning Exchange Day).
Attendance challenge
The attendance challenge is almost complete. Only three more days. Students with perfect attendance from December 3rd -18th can attend a special event during their 7th and 8th period on Wednesday, December 18th.
I have attached the Middle Years newsletter. I hope you find the information helpful. This edition has tips for building healthy technology habits.
Next week there are only three days of school then it is on to winter break. Students return from Winter break on January 8th, 2020. There will not be a newsletter sent next week. Please enjoy the time off with friends and family.
I look forward to the new year!
Thank you,
Stacie Holiday, Principal
Torchy's Tacos
Restore Austin
Snarf's
YEARBOOK CORNER
Decades Week sponsored by Yearbook Staff
Come to school in your best throwback clothes next week (December 16-18)! Monday dress like the 1970's. On Tuesday show off your best 1980's outfit. On Wednesday come dressed for the 1990's. Photographers will be roaming the halls and the 2019-2020 Yearbooks will be on sale everyday at lunch. The yearbooks are $30 until 12/31/19. There will be a raffle for students who purchase the yearbook to get it personalized for free. Yearbooks can be ordered online at balfour.com or you can bring cash or checks (made out to LMS) to lunch any day December 16-18.
Looking for copies of The Hunger Games series
Ms. Griesmer's reading escape room class will be reading The Hunger Games series during the second semester. We would love to borrow books that will remain in the classroom and be treated well. You can send any books (with your name on the inside cover) in with your student to room 113. Books will be returned as soon as we are done reading them.
COUNSELING CORNER
6TH GRADE
6th grade counselor Mrs Lamm has completed her visits to the 6th grade science classes. All 6th graders have had the opportunity to learn about what the high school endorsement are and that all students in Texas must choose an endorsement before leaving middle school. Over the next two years they will continue to explore the endorsements, career pathways and high school options in AISD.
More information can be found here: https://www.austinisd.org/ssig
8TH GRADE
Are you an 8th grade parent? Do you have a few questions about how transition to high school works?
Join us for pastries (bring your coffee and your laptop or phone) December 17th in the Lively Library 8-10 am. We will work through questions you might have, or just help you find clarity about this whole process. We will have a special guest to help with questions: LASA Principal Ms. Stacia Crescenzi will be with us working through our navigation to High School. High School counselors will also be present, so please come visit with us.
Things to consider:
1. What high school can my child go to? Options are……?
2. Transportation to school and from school to home?
3. Interests my student has right now?
4. What are the deadlines for applying to a high school that is not our feeder school?
5. What do applications require?
If you are unable to attend, please do not hesitate sending an email with your question(s) to:
Michelle Garcia – 8th grade counselor michelle.garcia@austinisd.org
Dates for counseling events coming up:
December
17th 8th grade parent questions over pastries – if you have already gone through the 8th grade / High school transition we could use your expertise in helping us navigate this process. Please join us in the Library.
January
8th LASA volunteers helping with application – Lib 7:45 to 8:30 (added event, if needed)
11th LASA volunteers helping with application – Lib 7:45 to 8:30
14th 5th graders visit Lively MS to see what is offered at our campus
16th Travis High School visits our campus 9:30 to 10:30 am
LBJ High School visits our campus during lunch
25th Travis Showcase at Travis HS 9 – 12 (Tour school and see what is offered there)
LIBRARY CORNER
Our latest count is over 3,600 library visits this year!
First book order: 117 books! 80 books in Spanish to build our Spanish language collection and 37 in English. Thanks to Ms. Springer and Ms. McKay and students for book selection.
Lunch Bunch: Great attendance from all lunches. Students played games created by game design students and gave feedback. So fun to collaborate!
If you are interested in being part of the Library Committee, please email me. We will plan to meet after the new year.
Hope to see you in the library soon!
Yvonne Steckel
Lively Middle School Librarian
PTA
Lively Middle School PTSA Spirit Wear and No-Fuss Fundraiser
CALENDAR
Monday, December 16, 2019
3:34p-5:15p- Girls Soccer Preseason Practice
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
8:00a-10:00a- 8th Grade Parent Coffee
6:30p-7:30p- Winter Choir Concert
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
1:00p-2:45p- December Attendance Challenge
3:00p-3:30p- Faculty vs Lady Falcon Volleyball
3:45p-5:00p- GT Club Winter Potluck
Thursday, December 19, 2019
DOI Day- No School for Students
Friday, December 20, 2019
Staff Development- No School for Students
Monday, December 23- January 7, 2019
Winter Break
Stacie Holiday
Email: priscilla.hernandez@austinisd.org
Website: http://lively.austinschools.org/
Location: 201 East Mary Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: (512) 414-3407
Twitter: @LivelyFalcons