LMS' Sixth Grade Pawprint
November 2022
The Holiday Season
I have always said that the second marking period is my favorite. Despite the initial “honeymoon phase” being over and settling into the hard work of the school year, I have always felt the work becomes much more manageable when you are counting down to the next holiday break. Whether it be counting down to Thanksgiving and looking forward to time spent around a dining room table eating turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows (my favorite!)...Whoops, sorry getting carried away there! Or whether it is turning on that holiday playlist, and listening to your favorite Christmas songs (ahem, Mariah Carey for the win) as you put decorations on the tree and wrap presents for loved ones, it gives you something to look forward to during a tough week at school.
This year, I am thrilled to be enjoying the holiday season performing in a musical, which I haven’t had the opportunity to do in almost ten years. Being part of the production has been a huge commitment, in which I have been “grounded” from being able to travel to visit family and friends this year. But honestly, being tied to St. Mary’s County this holiday season has made me realize how much I have to appreciate here at home. It has forced me to be mindful, present and incredibly conscious of my time spent with my husband and two dogs, and it has given me time to absorb the natural beauty of the weather getting a little cooler in our beautiful county. As I drove to rehearsal this Saturday morning, I found myself taken aback by the gorgeous shift in the colors of the leaves. The different hues of red, yellow, and orange, and the smell of a crisp morning air, with hints of smokiness, almost like the remains of a bonfire from the night before. I found myself humming the lines from my big Act 2 number, “It Only Takes a Moment” and reflecting on the beautiful monologue in the middle of the song, which begins with the line, “Isn’t the world full of wonderful things?” I am happy to concur that it is.
If My Student Is Absent, What Is The Best Way To Seek Out Make Up Work?
In order to seek make up work from an absence, a student should first look to see what work is posted in their courses in Schoology, and if they still have questions, please reach out to their teachers via email!
Loaves and Fishes Fall Food Drive
At LMS, We Use Schoology!
Schoology is the Learning Management System being used by SMCPS. Schoology provides students with personalized learning experiences. It allows students to keep resources and school materials available to access online, at any time. It also provides students with the opportunity to engage in their classes no matter where their learning is taking place.
In the 2022-23 school year, Schoology will be used as a teacher's gradebook and will be the one-stop-shop to access assignments and content being taught within the classroom.
Make sure that you've made checking Schoology a part of your daily routine!
Parents, Do You Need a Refresher On Schoology? Click The Presentation Below!
Interested In Being A Registered/Approved SMCPS Volunteer?
PAWS Behavior Matrix - Getting Acquainted With Our PAWS-itive Expectations!
A - Accept Responsibility - Bring all materials to class - laptop, agenda, pencil, notebooks, etc.! Take responsibility for your grades and use homeroom time to complete work and/or make up work after an absence! But above all, own your mistakes, work to fix them, and accept feedback so you can do better next time!
W - Work Hard - Don't just set the bar at completing some of your assignments, but complete ALL of them! And make sure you are always putting forward your best work, with detailed responses and answers, and then even go the extra mile of completing extension activities!
S - Safety First - This is maybe the most important quality to pay attention to! Please, please, please always consider how your actions may affect your own safety and others!
Please click the image below to further review our PAWS-itive expectations! Especially our expectations for the lunchroom!
And Be Sure To Earn And Save P.A.W.S. Tickets!
Upcoming MTSS Sponsored P.A.W.S. Ticket Events
Each grade level team will have 15 students representing them in the kickball tournament (two teams per grade) that will play each other. Students interested in playing can participate by filling out the Google form linked here!
This tournament will cost 2 PAWS tickets to attend, for our students demonstrating our PAWS expectations during the first marking period. Students may bring a blanket to sit on during the game. Students will have the opportunity to root for their grade level teams as they compete to be kickball champions!
Wreaths Across America Fundraiser
September 8th marked the 100th day before National Wreaths Across America Day, December 17, 2022. Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, wreath-laying is carried out at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. The Maryland Veterans’ Cemetery in Cheltenham is one of the additional locations where wreath laying honoring our country’s fallen heroes takes place. There are over 28,000 gravesites, of which more than half go without a remembrance wreath each year.
Leonardtown Middle School is an official sponsorship group (MD0402P) again this year. Our goal is to sponsor 250 wreaths. You can help us reach this goal by sponsoring one or more wreaths that will go directly to the cemetery in Cheltenham. One wreath sponsorship is only $15.00. There are many options available. By sponsoring a wreath, you can help to REMEMBER AND HONOR the American heroes that served. Sponsorship can be done directly by going to the link below. The link will take you directly to the LMS site and guarantee that we receive credit for your sponsorship. All orders must be received by November 28th. This fundraising opportunity is being brought to you by the MTSS committee in hopes of raising funds for student assemblies, incentives to promote the P.A.W.S. program, and to promote a positive culture at Leonardtown Middle School.
Please click on the button below to learn more about the organization and its goals, and to take this opportunity to Remember and Honor those that have served. Thank you in advance for your support.
Need Technology Help? Contact SMCPS' Helpdesk!
SMCPS HelpDesk: https://helpdesk.smcps.org
Phone Number: (301) 710-5935 Option 1
Email Address: helpdesk@smcps.org
Leonardtown Middle School's Cell Phone Policy
According to county policy, students may have electronics (cell phones, I-Pods, laptops, PSP’s, etc.) in school although they must be off during instructional time, as well as during lunch and recess, unless given permission by a teacher for a specific educational purpose.
A phone, specifically for student use, is located in the main office at no charge to the student if an occasion arises that a student needs to contact a parent or guardian.
If electronic devices are brought to school, the school is NOT responsible for investigating their loss and return.
Come See Mr. Engel-Cope Perform In A Local Theatre Production!
Hello, Dolly! Is a family friendly, cheerful, and irresistible story about the joy of living life to the fullest. Shimmering with happy songs, shining with loving scenes, and alive thanks to the charisma and personality of one of the most fabulous characters ever on the musical stage, Dolly Gallagher Levi! Widowed Dolly is a turn of the century New York City socialite turned fast talking matchmaker, who has a solution to everyone's woes. Her latest clients are Horace Vandergelder, a well known half-millionaire, and a young pennyless artist, who is in love with Horace’s niece. As she tries to cover up her own romantic desires, Dolly’s scheming soon envelopes Horace’s lovable but foolish employees, a beautiful New York milliner, and her flighty assistant.
Even if the show doesn't sound familiar, if you have seen the Disney/Pixar movie WALL-E, then you have seen my character! I play the Michael Crawford role that WALL-E is obsessed with in the movie, and he sings "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "It Only Takes a Moment"!
Anyway, you won't want to miss this Golden Age classic filled with splendid singing and high energy elaborate dancing underscored by some of the most glorious orchestrations in musical theatre history! The show runs from November 25 - December 18, and tickets cost between $17 - 20! I hope to see you there! For more information, click here!
This Month's Musical Moments: "Welcome" from Brother Bear
Quite a few Disney tunes popped into my head when I was thinking of “Thanksgiving”-ish songs, but this was one that truly felt fitting from the lesser-known Disney film Brother Bear. And who doesn’t love a Phil Collins-written jam? I hope you enjoy this fun ditty which celebrates the time that families get to spend together during special reunions, such as the holidays, and being thankful for that time.
Leonardtown Middle School
If you need anything from us to support you during this unprecedented and challenging time, please reach out to us.
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/lms/
Location: 24015 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 301-475-0230