LCMS Newsletter
September 2021
Note from Kelly Hatton, Principal
Hello, Las Colinas' Families,
Thank you for being our partners in creating an amazing year for our students! We were hoping to be beyond Covid-19, but we are here, together, making the best of another interesting year. I send my deepest sympathies to our families who have struggled due to this illness, and I look forward to a time when this virus is in the past. Thank you for working with us to keep our students' safety and well-being as our top priority.
This school year is proving to be a step in the right direction for us! Our students are busy in their inside and outside classroom settings, learning and thriving. Our sports' teams are starting back up, and our in-person clubs are getting organized as we speak. We will have both our intervention and tutoring plans to share with you soon, and we are starting to provide some on-campus ASB (Associated Student Body) activities and events for our students to have fun with and enjoy.
With gratitude,
Kelly Hatton, Principal
Mustangs Around Campus
Students and staff have continued to adapt to the safety guidelines this year, and have continued to thrive even under the most unique of circumstances. Everyone is making the best of things. Because we now have new outdoor learning spaces, many teachers look forward to continuing with the trend of getting kids outside! Both inside and outside, our Mustangs are awesome! Photos below are of our first days of school, first staff meetings of the school year and grade level orientations.
Las Colinas Mission and Vision
This year, we invite all of our school partners to work together as a team to create Las Colinas Middle School mission and vision statements.
As a starting point, as a staff, we started to brainstorm words that describe our LCMS community, and we came up with the below descriptions. We are very proud of our school, and look forward to working with you all to create our mission and vision statements.
Academics at Las Colinas
Instructional Plan - Goals
We are rebounding from over a year of interrupted learning
We will start (& continue) by building relationships
We will embed Restorative Practices
We will build connectedness (ex. Clubs, sports, RJ)
We will educate 5 days/week, M-F
DOK - We will intentionally incorporate levels ¾
We will Plan through a PLC lens
We will be intentional with time
We will focus on what students need to know (ex. pre-assessments)
We will have kids set goals and self-assess (PLC questions for kids to ask themselves)
We will support students’ SEL needs (ex. Social Emotional Screener, Second Step SEL curriculum, small counseling groups, counselor classroom visits)
We will create ways to support struggling and advanced students (ex. Tutoring, 6 intervention classes, data analysis, differentiation)
Sports
Our coaches and student athletes are excited that sports are returning to the Las Colinas campus!
Flag Football: We are excited that we are continuing with Flag Football tryouts this week to prepare for the upcoming season! Please note that at this point we will not be able to have spectators on campus for tryouts, practices or games. Thank you for your understanding of our commitment to keeping our students' "bubble" as small as possible, and; therefore, keeping them as safe as possible. Masks will be worn on the sidelines and whenever reasonable (but are not expected to be worn outside when playing). As information is updated throughout the year, we will continue to share it with you. (By the way, boys AND girls are encouraged to try out for Flag Football, so please encourage your interested players.)
Cross Country: Thank you for helping your students turn in physicals and all paperwork! When all necessary paperwork has been submitted to the coaches and physicals have been cleared by district nurses, then practices may take place for those students. Practices are Monday and Wednesday from 3:15 – 4:30 pm. We will be participating in one meet this year and that meet will be our home meet. It will be held on October 15, 2021 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm.
Basketball: We will update you soon regarding our plan for basketball. Any indoor play would include mask wearing while playing, and we would not be able to have spectators on campus at this point. However, our athletes and coaches are eager to play, so we are working out a plan.
Social-emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum - SECOND STEP
Progress Reports & Report Cards
In order to show you and your child how your student is progressing, progress reports are posted in Parent Connect during each quarter. At the end of each quarter, your child will then have their report card grades posted in Parent Connect
Quarter 1 Progress Reports - Posted to Parent Connect 10/08
Quarter 1 Report Cards - Posted to Parent Connect 10/29
Quarter 2 Progress Reports - Posted to Parent Connect 12/10
Quarter 2 Report Cards - Posted to Parent Connect 1/28
Quarter 3 Progress Reports - Posted to Parent Connect 3/11
Quarter 3 Report Cards - Posted to Parent Connect 4/22
Quarter 4 Progress Reports - Posted to Parent Connect 5/20
Quarter 4 Report Cards - Posted to Parent Connect 6/16
The Quiet Moment
LC teacher, Linda Kimball, has embedded "The Quiet Moment" into her classroom for several years. She has been inspiring our team to learn more about it. LC teacher, Robin Belvedere, organized a mini workshop through "Saving Lives Camarillo" for teachers, and many teachers are excited about providing this mindfulness opportunity to our students. Students have received a brief introduction about it, and some classrooms are beginning to provide students (& staff) with a "quiet moment." To learn more about "The Quiet Moment," please read below and see the parent letter and brief video. Thank you!! We are excited to help our students to manage themselves in a calm way.
Per Alyson Lucas of "Saving Lives Camarillo," "The Quiet Moment is very simple, it is simply one minute of quiet reflection within the classroom, typically with the lights turned off, where students breathe, reflect, and rest with the guidance of their teacher. Personally, I have been touched by the student testimonials that I have heard through talking to LCMS students. It takes a total of three minutes out of teaching time and can be an everyday practice within classrooms, or even employed when a classroom discusses something emotionally heavy, gets rowdy, or is preparing for an exam."
Standing Ovation Award
Important Information
(Click "buttons")
"Coffee with Kelly"
Please join us Friday, Oct. 1 from 8:45 - 9:30 am (New date from previously shared.)
We look forward to meeting our new families as well as old friends, and we enjoy welcoming families we have not seen in a while! Each month, you are invited to gather with Principal Hatton to discuss campus topics. At this point, we will continue to meet virtually. The next "Coffee with Kelly" will take place on Friday, Oct. 1 from 8:45-9:30 am. A Zoom link will be emailed out to families as we get closer to the date. Your input is always incredibly valuable to our school. Please join us!
PTSA
JOIN US October 13th!
Please join us!
Hello Las Colinas Families.
Our Las Colinas PTSA continues to work on supporting our students, teachers and staff.
PTSA Meetings will be on Zoom for now. All are welcome at all meetings!
Meetings this year are again the SECOND Wednesday of each month @7:00 PM.
Las Colinas PTSA:
Our PTSA’s new leader for the 21-22 school year is Amanda Searle, and she asked that I please share the meeting information below with you.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9987006149?pwd=b29yM0hLMk15L08rcHVaNmh1WlIzUT09
Meeting ID: 998 700 6149
Passcode: 3gs1mt
Look for us on Facebook- Las Colinas Middle School PTSA & Instagram - Las Colinas PTSA For more information e-mail:
Important Dates:
9/22 Early Dismissal 2:05 pm
9/22 Virtual Back to School Night, 6-7:35 pm via Zoom
9/23 Make-up Picture Day
10/01 Coffee with Kelly, 8:45-9:30 am via Zoom
10/08 Progress Reports Viewable in Parent Connect
10/13 PTSA Meeting, 7 pm via Zoom
10/21 Student of the Month Celebration
10/25-10/29 Red Ribbon Week
10/29 Report Card Q1 Viewable in Parent Connect
11/11 Veterans Day - No School
11/22-11/26 - No School
Communications
*Weekly Parent Emails
*Monthly Newsletters
*LCMS Website
*Monthly "Coffee with Kelly"
*Twitter Updates of Campus Happenings
*Facebook Updates of Campus Happenings
*Instagram Updates of Campus Happenings