Auer Time @ LPMS
March, 2021
One Purpose. Your Pathway. Our Promise.
Pillar 1 - Teaching and Learning
Learning Model Transition Process
- As we move further along in the school year, please keep in mind that any change in the instructional model for students can be very disruptive and sometimes detrimental to student progress.
- While we understand that each situation is different for each family, please be aware that movement may to and from the Hybrid model or to and from the 100% Remote model may be paused as we move closer to the end of the 2020-2021 school year in order to maintain student continuity.
- 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 25th and 30th week, respectively.
- If you are considering a change to the model your child or children are currently in, the “Learning Model Change Form” can be accessed through this Learning Model Change Form 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.
- Again, this transitions may be paused by the 30 week mark (April 23).
Survey Opportunity
As Mr. Casseri stated in my last community message, the push for a fuller classroom learning experience is gaining momentum here in WNY and across the state. Lewiston-Porter is making plans if and when NYS guidance changes.
We have a parent survey out seeking feedback on our current learning models and on a fuller and frequent on-campus learning experience. This will help us significantly as we move our plans forward. We encourage all families to take the survey.
Assessment & Evidence of Learning
- The 25 week marking period came to a close on March 5 and we are now well into the 3rd Quarter and the Second Semester. Halfway there!
- 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.
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 and complete the form for their grade level.
AIMS Web+ Benchmark Data
Winter Benchmark Screening called AIMSWeb+ was administered to all students during in person instruction the week of January 26 - January 29.
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.
Winter Universal Screening Reports for both Reading/ELA and Math will be mailed to parents describing the results as was done after the Fall Benchmark. Below is a link to the letter that will accompany the results.
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.
PowerSchool Tutorials
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.
- Niagara County Department of Health (DOH) has recently announced that it will no longer quarantine individuals on the basis that they were in “proximal contact” (in the same room for at least 60 minutes in a day cumulative) with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Therefore, Niagara County DOH will quarantine only individuals who were in “close contact” (within six (6) feet for at least ten (10) minutes and/or without a mask in the same room and greater than 6 feet for at least ten (10) minutes) with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- This change in protocol mirrors the protocol that has been in place in Erie County since late November. There has been little to no Covid-19 spread evidenced from a school quarantine and that is consistent with our monitoring of positive cases at Lewiston-Porter.
- Based on the 2% or less spread evidenced in schools statewide it appears that schools, with current protocols in place, are one of the safest places you can be.
- As we are made aware of any positive cases, we continue to find it necessary for contact tracing within our school.
- 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.
- 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 that 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.
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
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.
Pillar 2 - Leadership
Teacher Leadership
Parent resources
Connections in 6th Grade
Something fun in 6th grade NEST. Mrs. Plewa's class use NEST time to destress, using meditation bowls brought from India. The singing bowls also link to curricular concepts in science (sound waves) and social studies (religious practices.)
Art projects
- The sixth graders learned about the African Bobofing tribe and their traditions. Traditionally they honored their creator and thanked him for all he gives them through the land with these masks.
- They created owl masks in their likeness using papier-mâché.
- The eighth graders researched a creature form folklore or mythology and then recreated the creature in clay using the coil technique.
Coping with Stress
What is Stress? "Stress can be defined as the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable."
Do your students really understand stress? This 5 minutes video explains and normalizes stress and teaches breathing strategies to help students with stress.
Student Leadership
What is Builders Club like in 2020-2021 at Lewiston Porter Middle School?
Builders Club has worked extremely hard on many projects this year and each has turned out to be a great success. One project that was my favorite was World Cancer Day. It’s one of my favorites because of how much was put into it and the creativity like wearing the color that represents a certain type of cancer, making posters, and selling ribbons. We raised $300 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It was the first time we had a fundraiser for St. Jude’s. Another great project was the Giving Tree. I had brought the idea up to Mrs. Oddy to have kids donate gently used or new hats, gloves, and scarves to donate to Kids Escaping Drugs. We collected so many that we were also able to donate items to the Magdalene Project. This was a huge success! These two projects were my favorites so far not only because we were raising money for wonderful organizations, but because it brought people together and it let us have fun in a time of a pandemic.
The Recycle Team for the Lewiston Porter Middle School has been fantastic this year so far! We’ve had a lot of people volunteer to recycle to help our planet be a cleaner place for humans and animals. Builders Club would like to thank all the people who volunteer each week and all the students that take the time to use the recycle bins around the school. Keep up the great work!
Recently Builders Club has had people donate sheets, disinfecting wipes, detergent, paper towels, and other items for the SPCA and the Feral Cat Focus. This has been a huge success as well. Builders Club thanks everyone who has donated. In addition, Builders Club raised $100 for the SPCA to donate along with another $100 from Kiwanis Club of Lewiston. There are also many animals waiting to be adopted. But remember to adopt, don't shop!
The current event Builders Club is working on is Alzheimer's Awareness Week March 15-19. The idea behind this event is to have posters around the school educating people about what Alzheimer’s is and how it affects people. We are selling Pots of Candy for $2 each. Students can also paint or color a picture to give to the patients. All the donations go to the Alzheimer’s Association in Buffalo.
Builders Club this year for me has been the best and most fun experience. I think if you asked the other kids in Builders Club, they would say the same as well. Not only has it been a really fun experience, it has been an educational one too. The best quote that I think fits Builders Club is “Working together, we can do great things!”
Ribbons for a Cause.
Lunch Sales are through the roof!
Take your pick!
Giving Tree Donations collected.
Helping out the SPCA.
Recycling Club Taking Charge!
Saving the Environment one Bin at a time!
Builder's Club Recycles!
Giving Tree Donations get delivered.
Pot of Candy
Pictures for Alzheimer's patients.
SPCA Donations
8th Graders Making Music
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*
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
Pillar 3 - Community and Culture
One District One Book Update
Don't forget to register!
Attention all 6th graders:
Register now through March 8th for the Fenway and Hattie Virtual Family Fun Night! This virtual activity packed evening will be held Friday, March 12th from 6pm-8pm. The registration link is found on the One District One Book Google Classroom.
Mrs. Winslow's 2nd grade class from the PEC listens in.
Zooming with Friends!
Can you hear me ok?
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.
Birthday Treats 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.
March 29 - April 9 (Spring Break/Easter Break)
NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
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)
March 5 - 25 Week Marking Period Ends
March 29 - April 9 - Spring Break - No School
April 23 - 30 Week Marking Period Ends/ End of 3rd Quarter
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!