The Spark Newsletter
February 2, 2024
Leaman Junior High School
832-223-5200 (phone)
Michael Semmler, Principal
https://www.lcisd.org/campuses/leamanjh/home
Note from the Principal (Mr. Semmler)
What a great week!
Dear DLJHCharger Families,
We are in Benchmark Testing season. I wanted you to know that we appreciate your cooperation in working with us to avoid taking appointments on benchmark testing dates. We have all of those dates listed in our newsletter for this upcoming week and the week after.
We will be posting STAAR testing dates for April in next week's newsletter. We want to be proactive and start early with our communication for those dates. The campus will be in lockdown during that time and we want to avoid any students being pulled out for appointments.
Thanks for your understanding with this. If you have any questions, please e-mail me.
Sincerely,
Michael Semmler
Principal of Leaman Junior School
Leaman Junior High Admin Team
Leslie Spencer, 8th Grade Assistant Principal - Alpha A-Om leslie.spencer@lcisd.org
Lisa Cirella, 7th Grade Assistant Principal - Alpha A-Om lisa.cirella@lcisd.org
Karl Carlton, 7th & 8th Grade Assistant Principal - Alpha On-Z kcarlton@lcisd.org
Brandy Franks, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor - Alpha A-Gr brandy.franks@lcisd.org
Azure Gaines, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor - Alpha Gs-Om azure.gaines@lcisd.org
Latoya Session, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor - Alpha On-Z lsession@lcisd.org
Kevin Kracker, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor 504 - kkracker@lcisd.org
Sylvia Rodriguez, Counselor Assistant / Registrar srodriguez@lcisd.org
Derek Foster, Boys Athletic Coordinator derek.foster@lcisd.org
Nicole Smith, Girls Athletic Coordinator nsmith@lcisd.org
Leaman JH - Benchmark Testing Schedule
Leaman Junior High Community,
Benchmark testing is an opportunity to do a "run-through" for the real STAAR testing in April. Students will go to the same classrooms they will go to for the real test, and be with teachers who will be with them in April as well. Some reminders for parents:
1) Try to schedule personal appointments around these benchmark testing dates. If a child is absent, they are then pulled later to do makeups and may miss class time to do so.
2) During the real STAAR testing, we are locked down from the time the test starts (9:30 AM) until most of the students finish and have had lunch (2:00 PM). We will be following this same process during benchmarks. If you have a conflict, contact me directly for a benchmark in advance because we cannot accommodate the day of the test.
Here are the dates. When a grade level is mentioned, that grade level is locked down while the other grade level has a regular class day. You can check out your child whenever you want on a day they are not testing even though the other grade level is holding a benchmark test.
1) Wednesday, January 31st - 8th Grade Reading
2) Thursday, February 1st - 7th Grade Reading
3) Tuesday, February 6th - TEA Field Test for 8th grade Reading
4) Wednesday, February 7th - 8th Grade Science
5) Thursday, February 8th - 8th Grade Social Studies
6) Tuesday, February 13th - 7th Grade Math
7) Thursday, February 15th - 8th Grade Math & Algebra 1
If you have any questions regarding testing, please e-mail me and either I will answer your question/concern, or I can get you in touch with the classroom teacher who can give you more specifics regarding that specific test.
Sincerely,
Michael Semmler
Principal
Student of the Week
A-GR
Emy shows responsibility and respect by making sure all classroom material is organized and all classroom tech devices are charged before the bell rings. Emy honors the social contract that we have for our class , specifically the 2 statements that say, "We will respect the classroom environment" and "We will help each other".
GS-OM
Rose Ismail was nominated by Ms. Ducote,
I nominate Rose because she has been showing the caring and responsibility traits in my science class. She is always picking up after herself or putting things back where they go. During the Pig lab, she made sure everything was cleaned and set up the right way for the next class. For the Caring trait, she has taken it on herself to help a EB student and making sure she knows what is going on and advocates for her if she doesn't alert me that she needs help or clarification.
ON-Z
Mohammad Saleem was Nominated By Ms. Melson
Mohammad is an exemplary student and consistently displays all of the pillars: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. He is a wonderful conversationalist and he always makes sure that laptops are put away correctly. His peers look up to him as a leader and he is so kind. Mohammad would make a wonderful student of the month.
National School Counseling Week
Leaman Counselors are Back-to-Back CREST Recipients
Congratulations to Leaman Junior High for back-to-back excellence! The counseling team won the Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) Award for the second year in a row for an exemplary program. The team was selected for leadership and advocacy in serving students, campus, district, and community. Winners are recognized at the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) annual conference later this month. Leaman JH Counseling Team Kevin Kracker Azure Gaines Brandy Franks Latoya Session
Course Selection Schedule
Be The One!
Be the One- Recognizing the Amazing Staff at Leaman Junior High
Think for a moment about the fantastic staff at Leaman. Who is going the extra mile? Nominate a teacher or staff member that you would like to recognize for their hard work below. You can fill this survey out for as many staff members as you'd like.
Results will be shared each week. Thank you for taking the time to send a little love to our staff!
Valentines Day - No Student Delivery Reminder
Annual Big Event (Event to support the Fulshear Athletic Booster Club)
LCISD Teacher Job Fair (March 2nd, 2024)
Student Badges
As part of the dress code requirements for the 2023-2024 school year, each student is required to wear a school ID Badge. Each student is given a new badge at the beginning of each year (or when a new student registers). Badges must be worn on a lanyard, around the neck all day. Student pictures must be visible and not covered.
If a student has forgotten their badge, they have an opportunity either to purchase a new badge ($5.00) or wear a sticker badge. Sticker badges will receive the consequence of 1-day lunch detention and $1.00 fine, place on the student's account for every printed sticker badge.
We are Hiring - Join the Team
Fulshear Strom Dance Team Try Out Meeting
988 Crisis Lifeline
PBIS Rewards and Donations
PBIS Expectations & Rewards - PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. One large piece is explaining expectations upfront. Another piece is rewarding students when we see those focused on positive behaviors. 3 campus-wide expectations posters are placed throughout the campus and added below.
We are using LiveSchool this year and your student can log through Classlink on the LCISD webpage (at the top) to start to explore what this is all about. They do NOT need a phone to do this. It can be done on a laptop or computer.
Parents if you are interested in donating to the PBIS school store the following list is a great start. We accept all donations both monetary and items. Student will begin being able to purchase items during lunch with their LiveSchool points.
Click below to order donations:
You can drop them off in the front off or have them mailed to the school.
Birthday Shout Outs
Did you know you can give your student a Birthday Shout Out over the announcements? You can purchase a shout out for $5 through School Cash. All shout outs must be made at least 5 days in advance. Thank you and happy early birthday to all our students.
Leaman Athletics
LEAMAN JR HIGH Track & Field/Cross Country Spirit Wear 2024
The 2024 Leaman Track and Field shirt and hoodie are available online until 2/11.
Please support our track program
https://leamantrack2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Online ordering for LEAMAN JR HIGH Track & Field/Cross Country Spirit Wear 2024 ends on Sun, Feb 11, 2024 (11:59 PM CST)
Leaman's Online Pay System
Cell Phone Reminder
"A student who refuses to turn over his/her electronic device when asked by a school employee will have a disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, ranging from a minor major offense to an expellable offense. The use of a mobile telephone or any device capable of capturing images of any violation of the student code of conduct is strictly prohibited while at school or at school-related or school-sponsored events."
Inappropriate Use of Cell Phone Practice Consequences
"If an individual uses a phone to video individuals in a private setting (bathroom/locker room) or compromising situation, then it will be coded a "State Jail Felony.
Car Rider After School Pick Up
Canvas Information
Did you know that LCISD has created a dedicated page that explains Canvas. This is where you can find details on how to log in, videos on how students and parents can utilize Canvas, how to create a parent login and find parent support.
Check it out!!! https://www.lcisd.org/students-parents/canvas/canvas-information
Leaman Counselors
Below you will find information from the Counselors and activities happening on campus.
Leaman Counselors present lessons through Character Counts