Charger News
October 6, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
- OCT 9 - Schools Closed for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- OCT 9-13 - National School Lunch Week
- OCT 17 - ASVAB Testing
- OCT 18 - Unity Day - Wear Orange
- OCT 23 - Underclass Portrait Make-Up Day
- OCT 25 - Two Hour Early Dismissal
- OCT 30 - Trunk or Treat
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Happy Fall! It is amazing to think that we have reached October which also means we are halfway through the first quarter. Last week we had an amazing homecoming. I can honestly say the pep rally was one of the best. The dance was fun, safe and enjoyable, and letâs not forget that our Chargers beat Thomas Stone. It was a success all around!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Families who have not yet completed a free and reduced meals application for this year, will lose their eligibility from last school year on October 12, 2023. Students will begin being charged full price for their meals beginning next Friday. If your family relies on free and reduced meals or you believe your family is eligible you MUST complete a new application for this school year. Please do not miss the deadline. The link is: MySchoolApps - Home Page
SENIOR PARENTS, it is not too soon to prepare for graduation! ALL seniors must order their cap & gown by October 19th! Do not delay. ALL seniors must order a cap & gown. If you are ordering ONLY a cap & gown, no money is due at this time, BUT you must go online and order. Jostens also has several packages that include a cap & gown with additional items such as announcements. If you choose to order a package you are required to pay for the package. You are not charged for the cap & gown; however, they are included in the package at no cost. The cost of the cap & gown is part of your senior dues. Scroll down in this newsletter to click on the link to order your cap & gown.
ALL PARENTS, interim reports were posted to Synergy this week. Parents, please be sure you have reviewed your childâs grades. If you have concerns regarding your childâs grades please take advantage of Conference Day this coming Monday, October 9. All parents received information in ParentVue on how to schedule an appointment with your childâs teachers. Parents may schedule up to three conferences. If you are unable to attend Conference Day on Monday, please contact your childâs counselor to schedule a parent-teacher conference. There is still time for students to improve their first quarter grades. Please remind your children that they must be on time to all classes, take notes, actively participate in classroom activities, complete all assignments, and study. Learning is not passive. Students must actively engage in their learning.
In the last newsletter, I encouraged parents to actively monitor their childâs use of social media. Social media often leads to conflict between teenagers. In this newsletter, I want to urge parents to talk to your child about making good choices, engaging in positive conflict resolution and using all of the resources available to them when facing conflict with others. Please surround your child with positive role models in their community, know who their âfriendsâ are and discourage your child from fighting if they have a disagreement. Know where your child is and who they are spending their time with. As educators, every day we hear students talk about âbeing in the street.â Students talk about being in friendâs homes without adults present. Students talk about taking UBER and LIFT all over Charles County, into Prince Georgeâs County and DC without their parentâs knowledge.
Please emphasize to your child that the primary purpose of school is for learning. Socialization is important for growth, but too many of our students see school as their social scene. If your child gets on and off the bus without a book, a notebook or laptop, with only their phone in their hand, please ask your child what they are focusing on in school. Students need to know that you value their education and expect them to do their very best.
If your child makes you aware of a conflict with another student, please contact a school counselor or an administrator. It is impossible for us to help you to help your child if your child does not communicate with us. We must work together. We have school counselors, access to school psychologists, school and community mediation. Please take advantage of these resources and encourage your child to take advantage of them. And, finally, parents please pause and take a breath when your child only gives you their side of a story. Take time yourself to calmly talk to the adults in our building to uncover all sides of a situation. Teenagers are notorious for only seeing their own point of view and deflecting responsibility. Most situations in a school are not one sided. There are always two-sides and sometimes three-sides to a situation. We know you want to support your child, but supporting child also means making them take responsibility for their own actions.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Our Henry E. Lackey Parent-Teacher Conference Day is scheduled for Monday, October 9 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Conferences are set in 10-minute intervals. Teachers are limited to only 12 conference slots. All conference requests were to be made no later than 12 pm today. If you have any special requests, please contact your child's teacher.
On the day of the conference:
- Arrive at least 5 minutes before your first scheduled conference.
- Have the Teacherâs Name and subject of your scheduled teacher(s) available.
- Check in at the Cafeteria Entrance â also labeled âGymnasium Entranceâ.
- All conferences will take place in the Cafeteria
- Please wait in the lobby while the teacher finishes the appointment before yours.
Request for Absence Approval - Code 13
Requests for an Excused Absence for an Educational Trip or Unique Life Experience (Limited to 5 school days per school year)
A unique life experience may include an educational field trip, athletic competitions not sponsored by the school, unique family circumstances (i.e., deployed parent visit), and/or career or alternate work experience.
An educational trip is one in which either the student is actively receiving instruction through a structured program directly tied to the curriculum, or the student is actively visiting another school, program, or college in preparation for potential future enrollment. Siblings may also be excused.
A âvacationâ is not an educational trip or unique life experience.
To request an upcoming absence to be excused for these reasons, you must complete the "Parent Request for CODE 13 Excused Absence" form below at least two weeks in advance and submit it to Garcia Dixon, Supervising PPW, at gadixon@ccboe.com for Central Office approval. This form is also available on our school's website.
PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered to all 10th grade students from October 10th through the 20th. Students have already been given their assigned date and location.
National Unity Day
October 18 is National Unity Day. All staff and students are encouraged to wear orange as a way to send a message of support, hope, and unity to show that we are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Make it ORANGE and make it end!
All County Music Concerts
Come out and support our All-County Music students by attending their concerts.
- All County Orchestra Concert, Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30pm at Stone HS
- All County Chorus Concert, Thursday, October 26 at 6:30pm at Westlake HS
Trunk or Treat
Lackey's SGA is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Monday, October 30 in the upper parking lot traffic circle from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
All elementary-aged children (12 and under) are invited to attend.
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SENIOR NEWS
SENIOR DUES
Senior dues are $130 and may be paid by cash, check payable to the school or www.myschoolbucks.com to pay dues online. They are due no later than February 29, 2024. Dues include cap and gown, stole, tassel, senior shirt, yard sign, awards, senior picnic, diploma, and diploma cover.
SENIOR CAP AND GOWN ORDERS
The deadline for seniors to order announcements and/or a cap and gown is October 19. Please see the instructions below to order your graduation items. All seniors must order a cap and gown - even if you are not ordering announcements. There will not be a charge for the cap and gown order. The cap and gown, stole, and tassel are covered by senior dues ($130) and are included at no cost in the packages. There are hyperlinks for the packages and individual items.
Ordering Instructions for Graduation Cap & Gowns
The only items that seniors are required to purchase are the cap and gown. If you are interested in only purchasing the cap and gown, please click this link here:
HENRY E. LACKEY HIGH SCHOOL CAP AND GOWN.
When purchasing your cap and gown, it is important that you put the correct size.
If you are interested in purchasing one of the packages offered by Jostens which include a variety of add-ons in addition to the cap and gown, please refer to the links below:
Charger Ultimate Package- $236
Charger Platinum Package- $350
Charger Gold Package- $173
If you are interested in purchasing any of the specific senior items that Jostens offers, please refer to the links below:
Class of 2024 Gifts and Keepsakes
Once again, the only thing that is required for every senior is that you purchase the cap and gown. If you just purchase the base cap and gown, you do NOT have to pay Jostens when you checkout; the cost is a part of your senior dues. A basic tassel is included in this purchase; If you DO NOT want to purchase an additional tassel, click âNo Thanksâ and click âNext: Add Apparel.â Do the same thing for apparel, announcements, and name cards.
All items will be shipped to Lackey High School and then distributed to students at school. Cap and Gown distribution will be in May, the week before graduation.
SENIOR PORTRAIT MAKE-UP DAY
Senior portrait make-up dates are October 16 and 17. All appointment times will be during the school day, scheduling will be online. A scheduling link has been sent to parent's emails via Synergy.
Yearbook
2024 Charger Yearbook now on sale! Get your 2024 Charger Yearbook! To purchase online, click the link below.
COUNSELING CORNER
Meet our counseling center staff and view more information on the services available by visiting our school website, click here.
College and Career Center
The College & Career Center provides students the opportunity to research information about careers, colleges, universities, technical/trade/career schools, apprenticeship programs, military service, financial aid, scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and job opportunities. For additional information click here or stop by and speak with Ms. Long, College and Career Advisor.
Who is part of Student Services?
Hello Lackey Charger family and welcome to the 23-24 school year. The student services department is here to help you. Who are the people in the Student Services Department and what are they all about? To help you find out, read about all of us in the paragraphs below:
Mr. Caputi is the counseling department chair and has the last names from E to K. Here are some fun facts about Mr. Caputi: he loves to exercise and to follow his favorite team, the Buffalo Bills. His advice to his high school self is as follows: try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Life changes, take things one day at a time and enjoy what you have today.
Mr. Hall: Mr. Hall is the counselor who has the last names of A to D. His advice to his high school self is: donât stress, it will all work out.
Dr. Hoy: Dr. Hoy is our school psychologist. You can come to talk to her about anything! She is here to listen. She loves to swim, bake, and read. Her advice to her high school self is to be yourself. Be kind because that will help others relate to you.
Ms. Long: Ms. Long is our college and career counselor. She loves watching her kids play sports. She has 4 dogs and 2 cats. Her advice to her high school self: donât get senioritis, you can do so much better!
Ms. Metcalfe: Ms. Metcalfe is our secretary. She loves baking and photography. She has a cat named Abby. Her advice to her high school self is as follows: donât waste your time on petty things.
Ms. Naughton: Ms. Naughton is the counselor who has the last names of S to Z. She is new to us this year. She loves working out, trying new restaurants, and watching sporting events. Her advice to her high school self is as follows: stay true to yourself and donâ t let distractions impact your future self.
Ms. Plenty: Ms. Plenty has last names L through R. She loves reading and word games. Her dog Chloe is a Yorkie/Bichon mix. Her advice to her high school self is as follows: the only person whose opinion of you truly matter is you!
Ms. Thompson is our data entry clerk is Ms. Thompson. She loves shopping and running. Her favorite food is Maryland Blue Crabs. Her advice for her high school self is as follows: start planning early for the future!
Ms. Williams is our Pupil Personnel Worker. She is here to encourage you to attend school and to do your best. She loves reading and exercising and has a pup named Blue. Her advice to her high school self is as follows: comparison is the cancer to contentment.
If you need any of us, please contact us through Synergy Bookings or call us at the school. We are here to help you!
A friendly reminder: take advantage of the parent and teacher conferences on October 9th, this is a good time to speak with the teachers.
ATHLETICS
REGISTRATION FOR WINTER SPORTS IS OPEN!
Frequently asked questions and answers:
1. What are the eligibility requirements for WINTER SPORTS?
- You must have a 2.0 grade point average (no F's) and must not have more than 4.5 days absent during the 1st quarter. All incoming 9th graders are automatically eligible until the end of the 2nd quarter.
2. What WINTER SPORTS do we offer?
- We offer BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL, CHEERLEADING, SWIMMING, WRESTLING, and INDOOR TRACK.
3. What are the email addresses for each Head Coach?
- BOYS BASKETBALL = lackey.chargersbball@gmail.com
- GIRLS BASKETBALL = jrbarnes@ccboe.com
- CHEERLEADING = LackeyChargerCheer@gmail.com
- SWIMMING = kwalter@ccboe.com
- WRESTLING = Brandon@townofindianhead.org
- INDOOR TRACK = VACANCY (please email jlush@ccboe.com for information)
4. How do I register for WINTER SPORTS?
- To access and complete our online athletic registration for WINTER 2023-2024, please visit: www.lackeyathletics.com (click on the REGISTER HERE ICON in the top right corner)
5. What do I need to do to make sure my child is registered for FALL SPORTS?
- You need to register your child for the sport that they want to play, upload a valid physical form, and sign the covid19 waiver online. If your child already played a sport in the Fall, you can simply contact Coach Lush and tell him what sport your child wants to play in the Winter or have your child visit his office and he will take care of the registration.
6. What is a valid physical form?
- Your physical is valid for one calendar year. For instance, if your child had a physical on October 20th, 2022, and it is on file with us, they are medically eligible to play sports for us until October 20th, 2023. As of October 21st, we would need you to upload a new physical into our system.
7. What do I do if I am having problems with the online registration process?
- There is a "Registration Cheat Sheet" on our website. If that does not help, please email Coach Lush (jlush@ccboe.com).
8. When is the first parent meeting?
- Our first parent meeting is on Tuesday, November 7th at 6:00 in the auditorium.
- 6:00 - 6:45 = Meet in the auditorium with Coach Lush to discuss the upcoming Winter Sports Season.
- 6:45 - 7:30 = Break-out sessions with the Head Coach of the sport that your child wants to play.
9. When is registration due?
- All student-athletes must be registered by Monday, November 13th at midnight in order to be eligible for the first practice.
10. When does practice start?
- Our first practice date is Wednesday, November 15th. Each Head Coach will provide you with a calendar for the season at the meeting on the 7th.
11. WHERE CAN YOU LOCATE ALL OF OUR INFORMATION AND UPDATES?
- On our Twitter Account (@LackeySports)
- On our Facebook Account (Lackey Athletics)
- On our website (www.lackeyathletics.com) If you hover over the tab, "MORE," it will give you a dropdown menu that will give you anything and everything that you need to know about Athletics at our school. There is a tab that is specific to FALL ATHLETICS 2023-2024. It will be changed to Winter once we move into that season, but the information is generally the same.
ATTENDANCE
- The Attendance Secretary is not responsible for robocalls. They are auto-generated and go out for excused and unexcused absences.
- To check your studentâs absences, go to ParentVUE and look under âAttendanceâ. If your student is marked absent, and you know they are present, please reach out to the teacher directly in ParentVUE.
- Students are only allowed 4.5 absences for extracurricular eligibility each quarter. If absent, they need to be bring a note from a parent, doctor, etc. in a timely manner.
- Attendance notes need to be submitted within 5 days of absence to be excused.
- Please clearly print the student's FIRST and LAST name, student ID number, and include the dates absent. All notes must have a parent's signature.
- Requests for administrative approval of absences must be sent to the respective grade level administrator at lease 2 weeks in advance.
Absence notes and attendance concerns should be submitted to Ms. Mullins, Attendance Secretary, at mmullins@ccboe.com.
REMINDERS
- Deliveries for students are prohibited. Per the county's parent handbook, students are not allowed to receive outside food deliveries. Deliveries from Grub Hub, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. Food deliveries of any kind will be turned away by our main office staff. Deliveries of balloons, cakes, flowers, etc. for students will be stored in the main office until dismissal.
- Dropping off lunches:
- Parents may drop off forgotten lunches in the main office.
- Parents may drop off lunch for their child only.
- Parents may drop off food or drink during LUNCH PERIOD ONLY.
Early Dismissal: If a birth parent or legal guardian (appointed by the courts) is sending someone to pick up his/her child early from school for any reason, he/she must send a written note/email indicating who will be picking up the student and giving consent. Upon receiving the note from the birth parent or legal guardian, the school will then verify its authenticity and check ID of the adult who signs the student out of the building.
- Emergency Contact: Listing an emergency contact does not allow the individual to pick up a student at any given time in a non-emergency situation without prior written authorization from the birth parent/legal guardian (per the Charles County Public Schools Handbook: Emergency Card (2023-2024) Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools, pg. 2).
- Free Breakfast is available for all students each school day from 7:10-7:25 a.m. MyPaymentsPlus is available to monitor your student's lunch account balance and spending.
- CCPS 24-hour information line is available301-934-7410 or 301-392-6656, or website at www.ccboe.com for school closing information.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).