Auer Time @ LPMS
May/June, 2022
One Purpose. Your Pathway. Our Promise.
Welcome to the Stretch Run!
If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
Pillar 1 - Teaching and Learning
Assessment & Evidence of Learning
- The 35 week marking will be coming to a close on May 26 and we will be moving into the final stretch of the 4th Quarter and the close of the school year.
- All current 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.
- FINAL PAPER REPORT CARDS WILL NOT BE MAILED HOME UNLESS REQUESTED. ALL GRADES CAN BE ACCESSED BY LOGGING INTO POWERSCHOOL.
- If you need assistance in setting up this account or have questions regarding access, please contact the Guidance office at ekarp@lew-port.com or (716) 286-7208.
- As a reminder, each teacher is available for office hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:45 - 3:10, or on any previously mutually agreed upon day for any extra help or assistance.
- Please reach out to individual teachers to set up a day and time for a conference as necessary. Virtual meetings or phone conferences are preferred. 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.
- 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. (See Account creation information below.)
Year End Grading
The end-of-the-year grading policy for students in grades 6-12 are the same as school years prior to the Covid.
In order for a student to earn course credit for the 2021-2022 school year, students must have a final GPA of 65 or higher to pass the course. Students will receive a final grade for the course/subject based upon their final grade point average. Cumulative average of 65% or higher for a given course over four quarters. (2021-2022 school year). The Local Final exam will grade will be averaged into the final grade for a given course.
We are confident that we will be able to use these grades to accurately measure academic proficiency, while also setting that stage for program development for the 2022-2023 school year.
If a students’ cumulative average is 64% or lower in two or more core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies, ELA), students will be assigned to summer school. They must pass summer school in order to receive course credit.
Year End Schedule
Spring AIMS Web+ Benchmark Data
Spring Benchmark Screening called AIMSWeb+ will be administered for the third and final time to all students on May 24 and 25.
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.
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.
We will also be using this data to identify any gaps in skills as well as to make recommendations for remedial help.
How do parents and students gain access to the parent/student portal?
For Parents: Attached, you will find a document containing steps on how parents can set up. See the link below for a video for further assistance. The easiest way to access the portal is through the webpage. Just click the Parent & Student Portal icon. Our district code is CSXQ.
For Students: All students will log into the portal using their current username (without the @lew-port.com) and their current password. Example 4021jsmith22 and Lp123456.
**Most students have already had this set up. All students are now active with the correct credentials. The easiest way for students to access the portal is through the webpage. Just click the Parent & Student Portal icon.
PowerSchool Tutorials
2021-2022 Marking periods
Quarter 1 (10 Weeks): September 7th - November 10th
Quarter 2 (20 Weeks): November 15th - January 28th
Quarter 3 (30 Weeks): January 31st - April 8th
Quarter 4 (40 Weeks): April 11th - June 24th
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 ekarp@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.
Attendance Reminder
- Attendance codes for all in-person instruction should a student be absent will be:
Absence Unexcused
Absence Excused
Present
Remote Present for quarantine students- Students that are absent due to a quarantine or other Covid Related issue will be marked as Other Present and students are still required to complete the work provided by teachers using Google Classroom.
- If your child is absent, please make sure to remind them to log into the appropriate google classroom for any class to see all assignments for their grade level or class.
- An automated phone call will go out to parents/guardians of any student that is marked Absence Unexcused through the first 4 periods of the school day. Please make sure to contact the attendance office via email or phone call if your child is absent.
PLEASE USE CAUTION!
Parent Pick up/drop off
There continues to be a significant amount of parents dropping students off in the morning and picking up in the afternoon. We ask that when you pull up to the school for drop off or pick up, please use the designated drop off area identified by the cones and please move your vehicle as far up as possible toward the IEC before letting your child out or while waiting to pick them up so that parents behind you can pull up in an effort to eliminate traffic backup.
Please make every effort to keep traffic flowing and to move up to the car ahead of you when dropping off or picking up. Thank you.
Pillar 2 - Leadership
Student Leadership
Lewiston Porter Middle School Musical
Builder's Club
Show of Appreciation
Builders Club sponsored a fund raising activity to raise money for the Trevor Project by selling candy bars on May 16-20.
They also incorporated "spirit week" into the Pride Week fundraiser and students were able to participate in themed days for the week.
Builder's Club Officers Nationally Recognized
Congratulations to Builders Club Officers, Andrea Beltrano, Kiersten Elliott, Riley Schmitt, and James Scully for being recognized by Kiwanis International as Distinguished Club Officers! These students were invited to present at the Lewiston Kiwanis Meeting on Wednesday, May 18. They all did an awesome job representing the Lew-Port Middle School Builders Club and we are very proud of the recognition that they received!
Be a Builder's Club Member!
Lewiston Porter Middle School Goes to Washington, D.C.!
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a program that we have implemented here at the Middle School that looks to inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the program, girls develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. All girls come together and run a celebratory 5k at the end of the season. Good luck to our students who will be participating in the GOTR 5k Race on Sunday, June 5th @ UB North Campus Alumni Arena. We know that each participant will represent our school with doing their best! Thank you to our teacher leaders/coaches for getting our students ready for the run! Good luck ladies!
Pillar 3 - Community and Culture
Cell phone usage in School
As in most social issues, you may already have had conversations with your child regarding appropriate behaviors in school and the importance of appropriate use of cell phones/electronic devices and the ramifications of misuse. We are confident that you are working with your child to address and discuss appropriate cell phone usage and we appreciate this partnership.
Technology is an important resource at Lewiston-Porter and this is why we provide every student with a Chromebook for use in the classroom, thereby eliminating the need for students to supply their own individual devices, including cell phones, apple watches, and AirPods for use in the classroom or instructional environment.
With this in mind, cell phones will not be permitted for use in any classroom (including NEST and WINN periods) during school hours unless specifically allowed by the classroom teacher. Students will be allowed to check their phones during passing time and in between classes, as passing time permits. Cell phones must be kept out of sight or in lockers during school hours. In addition, a teacher may have a safe, designated spot in the classroom where they ask students to store their cell phones for the period.
Consequences for not complying could result in, but are not limited to, the following:
Cell phone/electronic device confiscation for the remainder of the class period and placed in a designated spot in the classroom or learning environment.
Cell phone/electronic device confiscation including the cell phone/electronic device being placed in the office for the remainder of the day. Teacher will communicate with the family to inform them of the device being sent to the office. Students can pick up the device before leaving the building for the day.
Cell phone/electronic device confiscation with administration communication with the family to inform them of further consequences and potential cell phone restriction for a number of days.
Please see link below for more details sent to families prior.
Addressing Building issues
As per previous notifications and the community messages sent out by Mr. Casseri, we continue to address specific issues that we have noticed in recent weeks regarding student behavior and insensitive statements and actions. As in most issues, we appreciate the conversations that are having with your child, and we are confident that you are working with your child to address and discuss these things as a family, but it is appropriate to bring them to light as a school community so that we can address them as a team.
We understand that the demands and pressures that the return to daily attendance and increased academic accountability may be a struggle for some students. We have support for students who need it. If you think your child is someone who would benefit from school-based support like counseling, please contact your child’s school counselor to arrange a meeting to discuss options. In addition to support, we also have expectations. It is important to reiterate student expectations and to address specific action steps that will be implemented immediately. These will help us to reset the stage for teaching and learning moving forward.
We know your time is valuable and you may not have a chance to carefully read this letter in one sitting. Here are the highlights that you should be aware of:
- Tik Tok Challenges: We ask that you please speak with your child and remind them that this “challenge” is criminal behavior, not an innocent prank. Please dissuade your child from participating in Tik Tok Challenges and be aware that children who do will face disciplinary consequences.
- Dress Code: Please review the Student Code of Conduct with your child. Students should dress appropriately for school; appropriate dress does NOT include hats and hoods in school.
- Backpack Use: Please prepare your child to use their assigned lockers since backpacks will no longer be allowed to be in the classroom starting on January 3, 2022.
- Cell Phone Use: Cell phones will not be permitted for use in any classroom during school hours unless specifically allowed by the classroom teacher. CELL PHONES ARE NEVER ALLOWED IN THE BATHROOMS! Use will be limited to before or after school, during passing time or during lunch. All cell phones must be kept out of sight or in lockers during school hours or they will be confiscated.
- Vaping: Lew-Port has a zero tolerance approach for the possession and use of vaping devices at school. Students found in possession of these devices or using these devices at school will receive a school suspension for the first offense with subsequent suspensions if violations persist.
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.
Mental Health Association Presentations
Our Guidance office will be scheduling some push in presentations from the Mental Health Association of Niagara County. Staff from MHA have been coming into health and physical education classrooms to facilitate presentations around various topics such as:
- Social media
- Bullying
- Mental health 101
- Anxiety
- Conflict resolution
The Mental Health Association in Niagara County, Inc. is funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health, the Niagara County Department of Mental Health, the United Way of Greater Niagara, the United Way of the Tonawanda's, grants, memberships and voluntary contributions.
Parent resources
Upcoming Dates/Events (Subject to change. Please use other sources to confirm/verify)
May 24 - ELA Spring Benchmark AIMS Web
May 25 - Math Spring Benchmark AIMS Web
May 27 - Memorial Day Break - No Students
May 30 - Memorial Day - No Students
June 1 - 8th Grade NYS Science Performance Test
June 6 - 8th Grade NYS Science Written Test
June 7 - Early Release Day - 1:14 Dismissal
June 15 - June 23 - Final/Regents Exams - Half Day Schedule
June 20 - Juneteenth Holiday - No Students
June 23 - 8th Grade MUD Ceremony - HS Auditorium
June 23 - Last Day for Students
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!