The Weekly Update
Week of April 29, 2024
NJSLA Testing - NJ Student Learning Assessment, First Day is May 7
The Lawrence Township Public Schools (LTPS) will be administering NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment), the state-adopted, computer-based standardized assessment. All students in grades 3-9 will be tested in English and Language Arts (ELA), and all students in grades 3-8 will be tested in Mathematics, and students enrolled in Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II will take content-specific assessments as well as the Grade 8 Science Assessment.
Testing takes place in the mornings. Please try not to make any appointments for your child on those days and please help to make sure that students arrive to school on-time.
May 7 and 8 - ELA Testing
May 14, 15 and 16 - Math Testing
May 20 and 21 - Science Testing (8th Grade only)
Middle School 101 - For Rising 7th Grade Families - Monday, May 13
Please Share with Friends and Families of Rising 7th Graders
Middle School 101 will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024 beginning at 6:30 pm. It will be in-person at Lawrence Middle School (LMS) and also live-streamed.
Middle School 101 is an opportunity for the LMS Administrative Team and District Supervisors to review the LMS academic and extra-curricular programs with our incoming 7th grade families and new families.
Please mark your calendars now for an evening that you won’t want to miss!
Date/time: May 13, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Jason Bembry, Class of 2014, Performs His Own Concertos with LMS, LIS Orchestras
On April 24, LTPS alumnus Jason Bembry (Class of 2014) composed and performed his two piano concertos in the Lawrence Middle School (LMS) auditorium!
In 2019, Jason wrote a composition for the two schools, which was performed by the Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS) 6th grade orchestra and string ensemble and the LMS orchestra as a special collaboration. Flashforward to 2024, and Jason, along with some of the LMS orchestra students, wrote and performed his second piano composition!
Both compositions were funded with Lawrence Township Education Foundation (LTEF) grants that Mrs. Melissa Clark (LIS orchestra director) wrote and received in 2019 and 2024. The second piano concerto grant was written collaboratively between both Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Debbie Harrington (LMS orchestra director). All the performers did a beautiful job bringing Jason's music to life!
Thank you to LTEF for the receipt of these grants and to Ms. Clark and Ms. Harrington for their collaboration!
(Reprinted from April 25 QuickNews)
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 6 - 10
The week set aside each year to celebrate our wonderful LTPS educators is almost here! In order to make this event a HUGE hit for our faculty and staff, we are in need of lots of small donations from our community.
Helping is easy. Please use the link below to sign up for one or more of the many items listed on the sheet. In mid-April the PTO will reach out to you to let you know where to drop off the item (s). Unfortunately, they cannot be dropped off at the schools. If you have trouble dropping off the donation, just let us know and we will arrange to pick the item up from you.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084DA8AC28ABFE3-48683237-2024#/
For those who prefer to make a monetary donation, and let us do the shopping, you can go to www.lmslhspto.com. Click the Donate button on the top of the page and then in notes, state "TAW" so we know that your donation is earmarked for the week.
Thank you for your support and generosity as we celebrate our teachers and staff.
Attention 8th Grade Families: Paperwork Due End of May for Upcoming Class Trip
Please Read
We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of some important information regarding 8th grade end-of-the year activities.
8th Grade Dance/Celebration – The eighth-grade dance will be held Friday, June 7th from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Lawrence High School Commons. Only eighth grade Lawrence Middle School students are allowed to attend. Formal attire is not advocated. School dress code applies.
During the celebration, students will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities: dancing, Mobile Game Theater, interactive photo booth and they will receive their own Class of 2028 T-Shirt. This event will be catered with a variety of hot and cold appetizers, desserts and drinks. Tickets will cost $40 per student. If your child would like a class of 2028 T-Shirt but does not want to attend the dance, they will have a chance to purchase a shirt for ($5.00). More information will come in the spring.
8th Grade Farewell Ceremony (save the date) – The farewell ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Rider University in the Alumni Gym. More information will come in the spring.
8th Grade Trip - We are excited to announce that we will be having an 8th grade trip on Friday, June 14th at Black Bear Lake in Millstone, NJ. Students will depart from the school at 11:30 a.m. and arrive back to the school at 5:30 p.m. Only eighth grade Lawrence Middle School students are allowed to attend. More details about the trip will be posted in the spring.
The trip will cost $60 per student. Please see scheduled payment plan if you wish to pay in installments. If you need other payment arrangements, please contact Jill Testa at jtesta@ltps.org. Final payment and permission slips will be due by Friday, May 31st. Please make a check or money order payable to Lawrence Middle School. Cash will also be accepted.
Payment Plan dates:
First payment of $30 due by December 22, 2023
Last payment of $30 due by May 31, 2024
8th Grade Breakfast – last day of school. More details will be posted in the spring.
Reminder - Inappropriate behaviors between now and until the end of the year (including attendance and failing grades) can result in a student losing their privilege of participating in the end-of-the-year activities.
Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Track and Field Meet - May 5
If you are interested in volunteering for Mercer County Special Olympics (Area 11) Track and Field Meet on Sunday 5/5 at Lawrence High School- set up on Sat. 5/4, please fill out the form linked below. Hope to see you there!