Auer Time @ LPMS
January, 2021
One Purpose. Your Pathway. Our Promise.
Happy New Year! Welcome 2021!
The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays. - W.C. Jones
Are you a Bill-eiver?
Pillar 1 - Teaching and Learning
Covid- 19 Procedures and Protocols
COVID-19 Contact Tracing
- As we move through the winter months, we will continue to be diligent with our protocols for social distancing and mask wearing. Please continue to encourage your child to maintain social distancing and keeping the mask on and above the nose when moving throughout the school.
- As we are made aware of positive cases, we continue to find it necessary for contact tracing within our school. When we are made aware of a positive case, we contact trace any individual that had direct contact for a cumulative amount of time of 60 minutes or more. In most cases, this translates to students that have more than one class period with the individual that tested positive. This includes the lunch period.
- Once the day of contact and affected individuals are identified, we then contact families that are affected with the necessary information regarding school attendance and when students might be able to return to in person instruction. This notification is done via a phone call and email ONLY to families affected.
- The District works in conjunction with the Niagara County Department of Health (“NCDOH”) regarding the situation, and the District provides the NCDOH with the names of all potentially affected individuals. You may hear directly from the NCDOH if you or your child(ren) are determined to be at potential risk, and you will be advised at that time if any particular steps or precautions need to be taken.
- It is important that we all continue to implement established health and safety protocols like social distancing, face coverings, good hygiene practices, and monitoring for symptoms, among other equally important preventative techniques.
- We ask the If you or your child(ren) do experience any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and contact your physician. We ask that you please respect and honor the privacy of any individual in our school community who has tested positive and, instead, focus on the measures that we know to be effective in stopping the spread of the virus.
Hybrid to Remote Learning Transition Planning
- In the event of school/district closure, we have finalized our Hybrid-to-Full-Remote Learning Transition Plans .
- The full remote learning plan for current hybrid students looks similar to our remote Mondays but there are minor changes at the Secondary level (grades 6-12).
- Parents should review this document (see link below) and carefully begin to plan should it become necessary to move to a full remote model.
- Testing thresholds are significantly relaxed in Yellow, Orange, and Red designations with a new emphasis on keeping schools open using these new testing protocols. Our goal will be to keep our schools open in the Hybrid model using the testing protocols established by the NYSDOH and NCDOH for Yellow, Orange, or Red zone designation.
- It is important to note that in the event of a school closure and move to remote learning for hybrid students, those students currently in our 100% remote model would remain in that model until at least through January 31, 2021, at the Secondary level (grades 6-12).
- Fully Remote Plan
- Learning Model Change Form
Assessment & Evidence of Learning
- The 20 week marking will be coming to a close on January 29 (2nd Quarter and First Semester) and we will be moving into the 3rd Quarter and the Second Semester.
- All grades are based upon work that the students have been asked to complete and turn in. If there is a failing grade, it is most likely due to missing assignments.
- If you would like to see what is owed or what assignments make up the grade, just log into PowerSchool and click on the number grade for the subject. This will give you a listing of assignments, quizzes, and tests that make up that grade. If you see an exclamation point next to an assignment, that means it is late or missing. Please encourage your child to get this missing work in as soon as possible for some credit.
- Grades and attendance can be accessed through the Powerschool Parent Portal at any time. A link to the portal can be accessed from our District web-page at www.lew-port.com and by logging into your Powerschool account.
- Report cards are electronic and are NOT printed (unless requested from guidance). Report cards can be accessed by using your parent created Powerschool account. If you need assistance in setting up this account or have questions regarding access, please contact the Guidance office at bvandeusen@lew-port.com or (716) 286-7208.
- After School Assistance Program (A.S.A.P.) can still be implemented through remote methods such as Zoom or Google Meet, as necessary, and based upon student availability. As a reminder, each teacher is available for office hours on Remote Mondays from 1:00- 3:10, or on Tuesday - Thursday from 2:45 - 3:10, for any extra help or assistance.
- Please reach out to individual teachers to set up a day and time for a conference as necessary. We are making every effort to maintain a process of normality during these abnormal times, and we want to make sure students have support as necessary.
2020-2021 Marking periods
Quarter 1 (10 Weeks): September 7th - November 13th
Quarter 2 (20 Weeks): November 16th - January 29th
Quarter 3 (30 Weeks): February 1st - April 23rd
Quarter 4 (40 Weeks): April 26th - June 25th
PowerSchool Tutorials
AIMS Web+ Benchmark Data
Winter Benchmark Screening called AIMSWeb+ will be administered to all students during in person instruction the week of January 26 - January 29.
Green Group - ELA - January 26
Green Group - Math - January 27
White Group - ELA - January 28
White Group - Math - January 29
We will be running a modified schedule on each of these days so that students will be able to attend each of their scheduled classes and will not miss meeting with each teacher as normal. Periods will be shorter to accommodate the screening at the beginning of each day.
As you may recall, this universal screening is given three (3) times per year to identify those students who either need additional academic support or who might qualify for advanced enrichment. This screening was given to all students in September, January and will be given again in May.
Fall Universal Screening Reports for both Reading/ELA and Math were mailed to parents describing the results. We will be sending the results to parents again after this Winter Benchmark.
The New York State Education Department requires that teachers provide clear evidence that students are acquiring the necessary skills to perform assessments at various times during their educational years. New York State also requires that teachers identify students who may require additional support in developing academic skills. Lewiston-Porter also recognizes that there are some students who may benefit from advancement in certain instances.
A percentile rank on the report indicates the student’s standing relative to other students in the same grade level. For example, if a student earned a percentile rank of 50, that student’s score is the same as or higher than 50 percent of the students in the norm group. The percentile rank listed on your child’s report is based on a nation-wide norm group.
Parents are encouraged to review individual reports and contact the guidance office or individual teachers for further assistance in understanding how scores compare to national scores. Teachers continue to use multiple tools to determine individual students' need for Academic Intervention Support in the specific subject areas of Math or Reading.
If a student needs any level of AIS, they will be placed in a WINN (What I Need Now) period to work on specific skill deficits for a period of time.
Technology Update
- NOTE Please make sure to set up your Parent Portal Account. It is your way of easily viewing your child’s progress reports, as report cards are electronically viewed and not mailed, unless specifically requested. If you need assistance with setting up an account, please contact the Guidance office.
- Don’t forget to accept invitations you receive via email to join Google Classroom! If you have a registered email address with Lewiston Porter, you should have received an automated invitation email to join Google Classroom. Please accept this invitation so your email address can be populated with your child’s Google Classroom account. This will allow you to receive notifications from your student’s teachers. This also will allow you to receive important information regarding other District wide initiatives as well.
- If you are not connected to your child’s Google Classroom already, and you did not get an automated invitation, please contact the middle school guidance office at bvandeusen@lew-port.com or (716) 286-7208. We will need to obtain your current email information so you can be registered to Google Classroom. Thank you and we look forward to working together with you using Google Classroom.
Online Coding Class Offered
Learning Model Transition Process
- As you know we have discussed with families a specific timeline for transition from remote learning to hybrid learning and hybrid learning to remote learning.
- That timeline was based on the end of marking periods at both the elementary and secondary levels which are at the 10th and 13th week, respectively.
- Based on remote teacher caseloads and number of parent/family requests to move in either direction for learning, we have developed a rolling transition process. Dr. Heather Lyon, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology and Building Principals have devised a plan and process for this transition.
- If you would like to change the model your child(ren) are currently in, the “Learning Model Change Form” can be accessed through this link directly and is also posted on the homepage of our LP website under the title, “Quick Links” along the left hand side of the page.
Attendance Reminder
- We have streamlined the attendance component for students on their asynchronous remote days.
- A grade level Google Classroom has been created, and each student has been invited to join a based upon their grade level and Green/White grouping. The classroom that has contains an assignment containing a Google Form that is sent to them each day that they are not physically in school.
- The students are expected to complete this Google Form each asynchronous day by 11:59 PM. If a student fails to complete this Google Form, they will be marked Remote Unexcused Absent.
- Please make sure to remind your child to log into the appropriate google classroom for their grade and complete the assigned attendance form.
Pillar 2 - Leadership
Teacher Leadership
Library Book Distribution has Started!
- Mrs. Pax has started book circulation for the students from the library.
- Information explaining the procedure is posted in Google Classroom and students have been given the classroom code via their ELA teachers.
- Log into Google Classroom using code- oaehyup
- This code takes you to Mrs. Pax's Google Classroom where students watch a short video on the process to check out a book.
- Mrs. Pax will then be pulling books and checking them out to students. Books will then be delivered to homerooms as soon as possible.
Student Leadership
Welcome to the 2021 National Junior Honor Society Inductees!
Attached is our first ever Virtual Induction Ceremony for the Lewiston-Porter Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society! Congratulations to all inductees! Enjoy!
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QGifg7gmQLL8wahTid8pnzKQgKyXxD8miWKydXcK7D8/edit?usp=sharing
WEB Leaders Leading 6th Grade NEST groups
- The 8th grade WEB Leaders will be pushing into NEST to play a game with the 6th graders in the coming weeks. They continue to show outstanding student leadership by modeling for our 6th grade students and leading them in WEB based activities.
Student Highlight
- Check out this performance from one of our talented 6th grade Students. Sonatina by Beethoven
In Case you Missed it.........Happy Holidays from our Music Department!
Don't forget about the Yearbook!
Want to help make this year's yearbook memorable??
Submit your own remote/hybrid at home learning photos with us! Learning spaces, projects, anything at all! We’d love to use them in our book in a unique spread!
Visit this link to share your photos with us!
https://images.jostens.com/415573939
*If asked the school ID is 415573939*
Pillar 3 - Community and Culture
Redefining Student Success Team
- As part of the District wide Strategic plan implementation, the Lew-Port Redefining Student Success team is currently looking for stakeholder response to this question, “What’s the single most important student trait that leads to individual student success?”
- The team is hoping that sometime over the next week you take just one minute or less to respond by visiting this link where you will share your one word or phrase answer. (Please note, the first prompt you will receive will ask you for your name. Please feel free to use an alias if you prefer not to include your real name.)
- After the responses have been collected, “word clouds” will be created from each stakeholder group to show the responses. That information will also be used by the Student Success Team for their next-steps in our Strategic plan process. We thank you in advance for taking the time to help us reflect and grow.
Birthdays and Celebrations
- Looking to do something special for a birthday or special treat for a student? Our cafeteria staff can help.
- Orders for birthday treats and special occasions can be placed for students through our kitchen liaison, Anna Thomas. As you are aware, students aren't able to bring in treats or food items due to Covid - 19.
- If you would like to place an order, there is an updated birthday and celebration menu on the website. Anna would like you to know that they are also happy to work with parents if you would like to order something different or special for their child as well.
- If you have any questions, please feel free to contact athomas@lew-port.com or call the high school and ask for extension 7288 and she will be more than happy to help.
Calendar Updates
- Currently, the State Education Department is allowing all synchronous and asynchronous days to be counted toward the 180 days of required school. This gives us many days available beyond the required 180 days of instruction.
- In terms of the school calendar, we have three (3) weeks where there would be a change in the schedule; please make note of these changes.
Week of February 15th (President’s Day Week):
Monday, 2/15 - President’s Day Non-Instructional Day - No Student Attendance
Tuesday, 2/16 - President’s Day Non-Instructional Day - No Student Attendance
Wednesday, 2/17 - Virtual Learning (Remote Monday Schedule)
Thursday, 2/18 - Green Group Attends
Friday, 2/19 - White Group Attends
Week of May 24th (Memorial Day Holiday Break):
Monday, 5/24 - Virtual Learning (Remote Monday Schedule)
Tuesday, 5/25 - Green Group Attends
Wednesday, 5/26 - White Group Attends
Thursday, 5/27 - Memorial Day Holiday Recess Non-Instructional Day - No Student Attendance
Friday, 5/28 - Memorial Day Holiday Recess Non-Instructional Day - No Student Attendance
*Memorial Day Federal Holiday is Monday - 5/31
Remote Monday Schedule
- Students are asked to log in and meet with their teachers on Remote Mondays based upon the schedule below. Teachers will be using this time to meet with classes and to set the change for the week.
- Students in grades 6-12 students (Green Group, White Group, and Daily Lancers) will engage in synchronous learning with teachers following a modified daily schedule:
Period 2 - 9:00-9:25 (Grade 7 Exploratory)
Period 3 - 9:30-9:55 (Grade 8 Exploratory)
Period 4 - 10:00-10:25 (Grade 6 Exploratory)
Period 5 - 10:30-10:55
Period 6 - 11:00-11:25 (Grade 6 Exploratory)
Period 7 - 11:30-11:55 (Grade 7 Exploratory)
Period 8 - 12:00-12:25 (Grade 8 Exploratory)
Period 9 - 12:30-12:55
Teacher Office Hours by Appointment - 1:00-3:00
Upcoming Dates/Events (Subject to change. Please use other sources to confirm/verify)
January 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 26 & 28 - AimsWeb+ Winter Benchmark - ELA
January 27 & 29 - AimsWeb+ Winter Benchmark - Math
January 29 - 20 Week Mark Ends
February 15 - President's Day - No School
February 16 - President's Day Extended - No School
February 17 - Virtual Monday Schedule
February 18 - Green Group Attends
February 19 - White Group Attends
Lewiston-Porter Middle School
Website: www.lew-port.com
Location: 4061 Creek Road, Youngstown, NY, USA
Phone: 716-286-7201
Twitter: @LewPortMS
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! @LewPortMS and if you see something great with our students or staff, share it with us using #lewport!