LMS March Newsletter
2016
7th Grade Courage Retreat
Youth Frontiers led our LMS 7th graders in a Courage Retreat on Wednesday, March 9th. This was a day to inspire students to follow their hearts instead of the crowd, use moral courage and make responsible decisions despite their fears. We empower kids to be themselves and take positive risks that make a healthy difference for themselves, their peers and their school.
Friday, March 18 Early Dismissal
Litchfield Public Schools will dismiss two hours early on Friday, March 18, 2016. Lake Ripley Elementary will dismiss at 12:45 P.M. The middle school and high school will dismiss at 1:00 P.M.
The early dismissal is to allow students and staff to attend the funeral of Litchfield High School junior Marcus Huhn. The visitation will begin at 1:30 with the funeral to follow at 2:30 P.M. in the high school gymnasium.
Conferences
Thank you for attending our March Student Led Conference. The overall school-wide percent of partents attending was 87%. Specific grade level totals were as follows;
Grade 8 - 93%
Grade 7 - 93%
Grade 6 - 90%
Grade 5 - 73% (5th grade conferences were traditional conferences)
"Learn, Lead, Succeed"
Litchfield Middle School
Email: bsimenson@isd465.org
Website: Litchfield.k12.mn.us
Location: 340 East 10th Street, Litchfield, MN, United States
Phone: 320-693-2441
Twitter: @BeckieSimenson
Looking Ahead...
Friday, April 1- 5th Grade Field trip to the Science Museum, 6-8 Grade Career Fair
Wednesday, April 6 - 2 Hour Late Start
Thursday, April 21 - April Staff Meeting 7:30 am
April 18-22 - Reading MCAs Grades 5-8
Aptil 22-29 - Math MCAs Grades 5-8
Friday, April 29 - Mid Quarter Term 4
May 2-6 - Science MCAs Grades 5 & 8
Wednesday, May 4 - 2 Hour Late Start
Monday, May 16 - Spring Concert (6-8 Band) 7 pm
Wednesday, May 18 - Young Artists/Young Authors Conference
Thursday, May 19 - May Staff Meeting 7:30 am
Thursday, May 19 - 5th Grade Spring Program
Wednesday, May 25 - 8th Grade Field Trip
Thursday, May 26 - Spring Concert (7-8 Choir) 7pm
Wedneday, June 1 - End of Term 4 - Last Day of School for Students
Thursday, June 2 - Teacher Workday
Grade 5 News...
Thursday we are having our Root Beer Float reward for meeting our Pennies for Patients goal of $300 in one week. Students brought in and raised over $500! Great TEAM work 5Alive!
In math we are working with the Angles - measuring, making, identifying different kinds and working with protractors. We will be moving into some Geometry working with shapes and their attributes soon. Practicing and reviewing skills for the upcoming MCA tests are also being worked on. Brush up on the basics at home if you can!
Our Field Trip to the Minnesota Science Museum has been rescheduled to Friday, April 1. Experiencing the museum and the iMax movie on "National Parks" is in store for us! Students need to bring a Peanut/Tree Nut Free lunch and resealable beverage to eat on the bus. NO additional money is needed for this trip!
Mr. Sussner's 5th grade PE class is finishing Fitness Testing and playing Basic Skill Games. Soon, we will be outside for soccer, frisbee and rollerblading at the arena.
Mr. McKechney's classes are doing fitness testing. Some school records have already been broken. We are waiting for the nice spring weather to appear to get outside for some activities.
Grade 6 News...
6th - grade visual arts
All grade levels are experiencing the same medium, Clay. 6th grade clay unit is based upon the fundamentals of construction, slab, coil, cube and sphere. Look for some interesting little monsters in the near future.
PE classes are doing fitness testing. Some school records have already been broken. We are waiting for the nice spring weather to appear to get outside for some activities.
6th grade language arts students are finishing their research papers and speeches. After the break, they will study figurative language.
Science: We will be finishing a unit on Heat energy and starting a unit on different types of Waves.
Social: We will be working with WWI and the great depression and how it effected MN.
As we move into the fourth quarter in 6th Grade Reading, we will begin with a skill review unit. During this unit we will reteach and discuss reading comprehension strategies and reading skills and do some independent work using an online program, Study Island.
Grade 7 News...
7th grade visual arts
All grade levels are experiencing the same medium, Clay. 7th grade clay unit focuses on reproductive sculpture, the students are challenged to make already existing items as sculptural projects. Candy bars, food items, happy meals all are subject matter for the 7th grade students. This has proved to be as rewarding a unit as it was challenging.
In Science 7 we are just finishing up a short unit on diseases and the body's defenses and will be starting ecology after spring break!
In 7th grade math, students are finishing the percent and proportion unit. We will be starting our geometry unit soon
7th graders in Mr. Olson's English classes have started a poetry unit. They will study the different types of poems, various poetic elements, and look at how songs started as poems. 7th graders will also continue reading 3 novels a quarter and prepare for MCA testing at the end of April.
PE classes are doing fitness testing. Some school records have already been broken. We are waiting for the nice spring weather to appear to get outside for some activities.
Mr. Sussner's 7th grade PE class is finishing a basketball unit and will begin Fitness Testing and Basic Skill Games..
Mr. Sussner's 7th grade Health class is studying the circulatory system before moving on to the skeletal system. Also, we will begin our Amazing Alternatives alcohol-prevention lessons in class soon.
Grade 8 News...
8th grade visual arts
All grade levels are experiencing the same medium, Clay. 8th grade students are experiencing a functional sculpture. This is described as a sculptural clay experience with a twist… somehow or someway the sculpture has another purpose. The purpose may be decorative, or meant to hold something or have a lid that hides a negative space. These sculptures have been an interesting and enjoyable experience for all 8th graders.
Math classes are working with plotting coordinates and geometry fundamentals.
Eighth Grade students have been reading and solving the mystery in the novel Skeleton Creek. This book uses multi-media; students read, then watch videos to help solve the mystery. Students will begin reviewing MCA test taking tips when they return from Spring Break.
8th Grade Earth Science - If you dug a hole through the middle of Earth from Litchfield do you know where you would end up? Ask your 8th grader! Students are finishing up their presentations on geologic landforms including Canyons, Eskers, and Dunes to name a few. The next topic of study will be Earth's geologic time.
Junior Dragonaires will resume after spring break!
PE classes are doing fitness testing. Some school records have already been broken. We are waiting for the nice spring weather to appear to get outside for some activities.
Mr. Sussner's 8th grade PE classes are finishing Fitness Testing and Basic Skill Games. Archery will begin in early April.
8th grade Health classes are finishing a unit on mental health and will be studying the effects of alcohol and tobacco soon. Also, we will being our PowerLines alcohol-prevention lessons in class soon.
Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP 2016 National Awards Announcement
Litchfield Middle School FCCLA Chapter from Litchfield, Minnesota earned a runner-up award. The 8th grade Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) class taught students throughout their school district and community to clean their hands to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Members of the Grade 8 Exploratory FACS class visited preschool, kindergarten and elementary classrooms and taught lessons and carried out activities. Their main focus was on when you should wash hands and the right way to wash them. They designed lessons to reach many people by presenting our materials in more than one language. They also created a video for the middle and high school students on the proper use of hand sanitizer.
Activities News...
Follow us on Twitter @lmsactivities for great pictures, updates, ,cancellations, postponements, etc.
Spring Activities - Spring sports are upon us with many groups having sign - up meetings with most practices beginning after spring break. 7th and 8th graders may get involved in Boys and Girls Track, Boys Tennis, Softball, Baseball and Boys and Girls Golf. There is something for everyone. Get involved
Go Dragons!!