The Eagles Express

Principal's Update

HMS Families,

As you have likely seen in recent updates from LPS, there is a $120 Million No Tax Increase Bond Issue and Levy Transfer on the upcoming Tuesday, April 4, 2023 ballot. To find out more about these issues, we would encourage you to visit the Bond Information portal that is available on the Liberty Public Schools website, which can be accessed by clicking here.

In addition, we wanted to share with you the upgrades that would take place here at Heritage Middle School, if approved on April 4. They would include:

Significant upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the school. Interior upgrades would include updating spaces that are currently not well utilized. Exterior upgrades would include masonry work, replacement of existing windows to increase efficiencies, rooftop upgrades, and more. In all, HMS would receive approximately $7 million in renovations.
A new HVAC system for improved heating/cooling
Upgrades to our restrooms throughout the building
Safety and security enhancements
Potential learning space upgrades as part of the innovative learning allowance
New technology cable installation throughout the building
Upgrades to existing elevator
Installation of LED lighting throughout the building

If you have any questions regarding anything related to the $120 Million No Tax Increase Bond Issue and Levy Transfer, you can share them on the LPS engagement portal Let’s Talk. Finally, more information regarding the April 4 election, including absentee voting and other election day reminders can be found on the Clay County, Missouri Board of Election Commissioners website. We encourage you to vote on April 4!

Also, this week is a full one, so I hope you all have a great last few days before we get to kick off spring break. The Parent Teacher Conference Link will close at 7:00 tonight, so if you have not signed up and would like to get a time slot to meet with any of your child's teachers, please do that before 7:00. Please click here if you'd like to get yourself a spot! And a big thank you to everyone who signed up to drop off snacks/goodies for the teachers for conferences! Those two nights are long and we appreciate you all thinking of the teachers and supporting them!

Here's to Week #29!!!

Best,

Dr. Allegri

Weekly Highlights...

This Week's Schedule

As a reminder, there will be a 1 hour early release on Wednesday 3/15, a 2 hour early release on Thursday 3/15 and no classes on Friday, 3/17. We will then transition into spring break during the week of March 20 - 24, 2023. Classes will then resume Monday, March 27, 2023.

Clearance Spirit Wear!! Buy Now!!!

HMS STUCO is doing some Spring Cleaning! That means big savings for you and your child should you need some HMS spirit wear! Until we run out of merchandise, we will be running a sale on t-shirts and sweatshirts! Check the graphic below for more information. Orders will be first come first serve. There will be a booth in the Commons at Parent-Teacher Conference this week as well. If you order online, please send in payment with your student and then we will send the order home. Click here to order.

Yeabook Sales - Last Call 3/29.

Last day to purchase yearbooks March 29th. The cost is $15. You can purchase a yearbook online by going to Heritage Middle School website, then half way down the page you will see an icon for yearbook. That will take you to the online store.

Intramural & Clubs (OFF Week)

We will let you know when our next day is for after school activities.

New Diversity & Inclusion Line Released

LiberTees has officially rebranded to LTown Tees! Check out our new design to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Go to LTownTees.lps53.org to select your size, color, and place your order. If there is a color or style you would like that is not listed on our website please email us at LTownTees@lps53.org. (pic below)

Summer School

Parents and Students, It is hard to believe, but we are quickly approaching the end of the school year, and therefore the start of Summer School! Enrollment for high school summer school opened March 1st at 1pm, and will close Monday, May 1st. You can find information and a link to register for classes on our website. High School Summer School Dates: June 5 - June 29 (Mon - Fri) *No School Monday June 19th

Worth Repeating...

Upcoming Screenings

Just a friendly reminder to parents that throughout the year we do screenings that are recommended and guided by the district. We will be conducting and continuing with these as staff and student schedules permit. The ongoing screenings are vision, hearing and scoliosis. Please refer to the parent handbook for details on screenings during the middle level.

Vision screenings are done using the spot vision screener. It is a camera type device that takes an image of the students eyes using an auto refractor light requiring no verbal response.
Hearing is done using a headphone set. We test 3 different tones all set to the same volume.
The procedure for screening scoliosis is a simple one: the nurse will examine the student's exposed back while he/she stands straight and again when he/she leans forward. Screenings will be performed in the locker rooms to provide as much privacy as possible. Parents will be notified of abnormal screenings. If your student is uncomfortable exposing his/her back, we recommend the student wears a tight fitting tank top under clothing.

Please reach out to Tracey Rausenberger, our school nurse, with questions.

Heritage Middle School Theater presents:

The Addams Family

Young @ Part

Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice

Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Performances:

April 13, 14 & 15
7:00pm
Heritage Middle School Auditorium
Tickets $5 (can be purchased on HMS website)

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Summer School Enrollment Opens Wednesday, March 1, 2023

It is hard to believe that the LPS summer school enrollment window officially opens in less than a week! Families will be able to begin enrolling your child(ren) beginning Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Notes came home with students on Friday about this. The portal to register students (grades K - 12) will open at 1 p.m. on March 1. This year's summer school program will take place Monday, June 5 - Thursday, June 29, 2023. Please note that the deadline for both transportation and the Kid's Zone program will be Thursday, April 6, 2023. To find out more information regarding the 2023 summer school program, click here. We will also be sharing a reminder next week when the registration portal officially opens.

No Tax Increase Bond Issue and Levy Transfer Issue Information

Our team is in the process of sharing information about the upcoming April 4, 2023, $120 million No Tax Increase Bond Issue and Levy Transfer Issue with the LPS community. There will be two in-person community meetings held, the first on Tuesday evening, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mid Continent Public Library - Woodneath Library Center, located at 8900 NE Flintlock Road.

We will then offer a morning meeting coming up Thursday morning, March 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the Liberty Public Schools District Administration Center, located at 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO.

If you are interested in finding out more information about the Bond Issue and Levy Transfer, we encourage you to visit our Bond Information Portal that is available on our website, and can be accessed by clicking here. In addition, be looking for our 30 Things to Know About the April 4 No Tax Increase Bond Issue and Levy Transfer series on our Facebook page, which begins Sunday, March 5, 2023.

3rd Snow Day and Beyond:

Because LPS has used two of our traditional snow days, any more school cancellations where families receive a call from Mr. Ackerman, our students and staff will still conduct school virtually so we do not have to make up the snow day.

Students should log in to Canvas to access their lessons for the day.

Work will be posted on Canvas by 8:00am
Most teachers will choose to post their assignments on Canvas for students to do at their own pace (we know that there are often other home obligations on snow days).
Students in need of additional assistance can seek help from teachers (teachers will advertise their “office hours” on their Canvas pages).
Work should not exceed 30-minutes a class. If there is a zoom session scheduled, teachers will make students aware and it would take place during their natural class time slot as if they were in school.

Immunization Clinics

Keeping your child immunized is important to their health. Clay County Public Health Center provides thousands of immunizations to children from all over Clay County each year. The Clay County Public Health Center Registered Nurses will be offering all required and recommended school immunizations for all middle and high schools in the Liberty School District. To be eligible for the school immunization clinic the student must be in middle school between the ages of 11-14 or in high school between the ages of 16-18. Clay County Public Health Center accepts and will bill most major insurance plans including Medicaid. Students without insurance or insurance that doesn’t pay for vaccines can also receive the vaccine at no cost during the school immunization clinic. If your child is covered through insurance, you must enter the information on the registration form. Without including this information, there may be delays with processing the form, resulting in the inability to see your child at the clinic. The dates and locations for these clinics are listed below.

Liberty Middle School-Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Liberty Academy-Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Liberty High School-Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Discovery Middle School—Thur. March 30, 2023 Tuesday, March 23. 2023
South Valley Middle School— Thur., March 30, 2023 Tuesday, March 23.2023
Liberty North High School—Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Heritage Middle School—Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Mark Your Calendars: 8th Grade Dance

More details to come, but in case you wanted to mark your calendars...we will have our 8th Grade Dance on Friday, May 19th from 6:00-7:30 at HMS. This will be for only HMS 8th graders, no visitors allowed, and students cannot be from any other grade.


Mrs. Jennifer Selock Assistant Principal jennifer.selock@lps53.org 816-736-5380	Dr. Reagan Allegri Principal reagan.allegri@lps53.org 816-736-5380	Mr. Ryan Dahm Assistant Principal ryan.dahm@lps53.org 816-736-5380