Panther Post
Sept. 3 - Sept. 7
Hello Lopez Families,
Welcome to the first official Panther Post of the year. This is how all of our weekly information will be sent. You will still get some direct emails for specific information during the week but I try to limit those as much as possible. For lengthy posts, I will put bold section headers to help you navigate to the information that pertains to you.
We did have a great week and I am glad to get this year on its way. We are slowly getting our district email system fixed to assure everyone receives the information, but we are not quite there yet. We will be putting all of these posts on the Lopez website under the announcements section so if you hear of anyone not getting the emails, direct them there.
ENTERING THE SCHOOL
Here are some helpful hints about out new buzz-in system:
- Through the intercom system, all visitors are to be asked to state the purpose of their visit.
- Through the intercom system, all visitors are required to show photo identification prior to being buzzed-in. Simply put your I.D. on the camera screen.
- If a person does not have a photo identification, access will be limited to only the front office area.
- It is imperative that visitors do not hold the door open for others behind them. Each visitor must be acknowledged individually through the buzz-in system and asked to NOT let in other guests.
- Once granted access, the visitor must report to the front office to be cleared through the Raptor system.
STUDENT FEEDBACK LINK
In a previous email, I discussed creating a link for students to provide feedback to make Lopez better. Here is the link below. Please talk to your kids and use the suggestions I gave to make sure their suggestion is effectively proposed.
Link to student feedback form https://goo.gl/forms/v560kRVMw5A1z5sK2. (Must be logged into NEISD google account) See attachment below titled STUDENT INPUT LINK.pdf
WATER BOTTLES
I sent out an email about only allowing clear water bottles this past week and got some interesting feedback, some in the form of derogatory verbiage among others. I ask that you read my early email about being role models for our kids and modeling feedback when walking them through the student feedback link above. (Attachment below) After all, it is just a water bottle. For clarification, here are the reasons that went into the decision:
- In my career, I have caught students on several occasions drinking alcohol from water bottles at the middle school and high school level. Although clear bottles will not stop all of that, it will limit the options.
- The loud clanks from the metal bottles can be very startling, even for me when I hear it in the hallway.
- The rule had been water only, but without the ability to monitor that properly, our custodians have been spending an unfair amount of effort cleaning up the sticky mess from sugary drinks.
- Instead of banning drinks in the classes completely, I decided on a compromise.
- This rule is regarding drinks in classrooms, not the cafeteria. If they bring insulated metal cups, they can go in their locker and they can take to them lunch.
IMPORTANT DATES
Below this section you will see upcoming important dates. Please make sure to look through them because we want everyone to be able to participate in all of the great events we have.
I look forward to the next week. Let's go out and be the best Panthers we can be!
Sincerely,
Mr. Wernli
Upcoming Important Dates
Mon - Sep 3
All day - Teacher/Student Holiday
Wed - Sep 5
All day - Success Assemblies
Thu - Sep 6
9:30 – 10:30am - PTA Executive Board Meeting - A206
4:30 – 8pm - VB 7th Home / 8th Wood
Tue - Sep 11
6:30 - 8pm - Parent Back to School night (Open House)
SHARPEN THE SAW
Lopez Families,
As we bid greetings to the 2018-2019 school year and good-bye to Summer 2018, it is good to reflect on our accomplishments. Our community is comprised of hard working, highly devoted people. As we work hard, we also take time to reward ourselves (Sharpen the Saw). Won’t you please share your experiences of how you have sharpened your saw by sending family photos of events and vacations you have enjoyed recently with Lopez Middle School?
Please share your photos, along with a one or two sentence description of the event, by emailing them to Mr. Toback at ftobac@neisd.net or by bringing developed pictures to Lopez Middle School. The pictures can be grayscale or color. They will be displayed inside the school for all to enjoy.
COUNSELING CORNER
Hello Lopez Family!
I’m Debbie Cheslock and I am thrilled to be your STAN Counselor. As a STAN ( Student Teacher Assistance Network) Counselor, I take a holistic approach to mental health serving students, parents, and faculty with social and emotional learning. I meet with students individually and in groups. I help define goals and a plan of action, teach guidance curriculum, provide parent trainings, and work with PALS and student organizations. In a nutshell, it is my mission to assist the students on their journey through middle school while developing their character education and social/emotional needs. I divide my time between Lopez and Bush Middle School. I am on campus Wednesday/Friday and every other Monday.
Please complete the survey below regarding topics students face in our world today, and how we can assist them: