Regisistration for the upcoming State Assessments will begin on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Locations and dates are listed below. On-line testing will be offered as well. More information will be included in next week's Griffin's Nest!

LVS brothers, Daniel and Lawrence Dao won first place in the Douglas County Youth Enterpreneurship Challenge. Their business is called "Don't Panic AI Tutors" and offeres tutoring and workshops that aims to help students with the skills they will need for a tech driven future. They won $1,250 and qualified for the state competition in Manhattan. For more information see The Lawrence Times article.

Fourth grade student Kendall C. represented LVS at the Douglas County Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 8th. Although Kendall did not win, she was an outstanding representative of our school. The pictures show Kendall in action on stage, and with her medal and certificate for winning the LVS Spelling Bee. Way to go, Kendall!

The University of Kansas School of Engineering’s Engineering EXPO is 12-3 p.m. Sunday, February 23! Held at KU’s engineering complex on the northwest corner of 15th and Naismith, this free event is open to the community and gives kids in grades K-8 a hands-on opportunity to explore the wonders of engineering! EXPO’s theme this year is Engineering Enchantment: Where Imagination Meets Innovation. There will be dozens of fantasy-themed engineering activities and demonstrations to explore. More information can be found on our website. If you plan to attend, please register here. This is not required but helps for planning purposes. Please reach out to the EXPO team at engrexpo@ku.edu if you have any questions. We would be delighted to have you join us!

~The EXPO Team, The University of Kansas | School of Engineering

Please join KU for their next KU Public Astronomy Night Thursday, March 13, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in front of Slawson Hall at KU for some telescope observing of Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon! The will also have two planetarium shows inside Slawson, one at 7:30 p.m. and one at 8:00 p.m. The shows will happen regardless of weather. All ages welcome!

Visit them online for more information about KU Astronomy Public Nights and the planetarium and other outreach hosted by the Physics and Astronomy Department.

Presentor: Sydney Goodwin, Youth Prevention Coordinator from Willow Domestic Violence Center

When: Monday, February 17th during Advisory, 2:15-3:00 PM

Where: Mrs. Lyke's room (see your Schoology calendar)

Why: We all deserve to feel and be safe in our relationships with others

Parents, this presentation may contain sensitive topics. As always, you may excuse your child from this event.

In this presentation, we'll delve into the fundamental aspects of interpersonal violence as it relates to all forms of relationships and precisely how teen dating violence affects our community. We will explore how it begins, the telltale indicators and red flags, the cycle of violence, how online safety plays a part, and strategies for assisting a friend in such a situation. We will apply what we've learned to real-world scenarios and discuss how interpersonal violence is portrayed and normalized in popular music and the movie industry. We all deserve healthy relationships, and to combat this critical topic of teen dating violence that 1 out of 4 teens are experiencing, we have to talk about what a healthy relationship looks like and break the stigma surrounding dating violence.

See you soon!

Mrs. Lyke & Ms. Mickey, school counselors

All currently enrolled LVS High School students and their parent/guardian can now access their transcript through Parchment. When creating your account please use your personal email address; DO NOT use a school email address. You will have access to this account until July 31st after graduation or withdrawal from LVS. The LVS office will no longer be providing transcripts to current High School students, so please create your Parchment account today!

Science City at Union Station in Kansas City, MO offers free seminars hosted by STEM professionals from around the KC area geared toward 7-12 graders. Visit their web site Science City for more information.

Suicide doesn't discriminate and is the leading cause of preventable death in the US.

Be ready if a family member or friend needs help by downloading the "Kansas a Friend AsKS" app. Visit http://www.ag.ks.gov/asKS for more information.

Suicide Prevention Hotline simply dial 988!

A mystery! High and Middle School students click picture above for more information.

To register click the roller skates!

Celebrate Spring's Arrival!

K-5 students will enjoy an afternoon of engaging activities all related to Spring!

March 28th

1:00-2:30 pm

Broken Arrow Elementary (LVS Room, Playground)

2704 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS

Signup link and event details will be shared at the beginning of March.

Camp Chippewa in Ottawa offers a spring break camp March 17-21 from 7:30 a.m.-5 :30 p.m. for students in grades K-5. Activities include archery, low ropes, crafts, field games, theme games, and animal experiences. Daily themes are sports, STEAM, Nature, Wild West, and Mystery. The cost is just $25.00!

Camp Chippewa

2577 Idaho Rd

Ottowa, KS

Go to campchippewa.org to learn more or call 785-242-6797.

Mrs. Case will not be able to host Cooking Club this Friday, 2/14, as she will be at a virtual learning conference. But, she left a recipe you can try with your family for some Valentine's fun together with a yummy treat.

We will have a make-up Cooking Club on Friday, 2/21 at 1:30 pm. (note date and time change) We will be making a campfire classic in our kitchen- Banana Boats! Recipe

We will not meet in March due to parent/teacher conferences and spring break. We will be back in April!

Next Meeting: Friday, February 21st

Time: 1:30 - 2:00 pm

Where: Mrs. Case's Room (click here)

Pet Club will not meet on Friday, February 21st as Mrs. Mathews will be out-of-town. Good news, Mrs. Mathews has rescheduled Pet Club to the last Friday in February and March. The next meeting will be Friday, February 28th from 11:30 am - 12 pm

Next Meetings: Friday, February 28th and Friday, March 28th (last Fridays of each month)

Time: 11:30 am - 12 pm

Where: Mrs. Mathews' Room (click here)

When: First Friday of each month

Next meeting: Friday, April 4 (no March meeting due to school schedule)

Time: 12:30 pm

Students have chance to share their own musical talents and listen to others. This could include playing a song on an instrument or singing. We will also learn about some famous musicians and various musical instruments. From time to time, we may have some guest performers!

There is no need to sign up in advance. Students should use this Webex link if they choose to attend.

Check back for Elementary Field Trip opportunities.

On Friday, January 31st, our elementary students gathered to honor Kansas Day, January 29th. We had fun leaning about Kansas symbols, making airplanes to honor airplane building in Wichita, made Kansas cookies, and played pin the petal in the sunflower. We finished the day learning the song, "Home on the Range", the State song. Click picture above see see more of the fun.

School Fees for 2024-2025 have assessed been and can be paid:

• By check made out to USD497 and mailed to LVS, 110 McDoald Dr., Lawrence, KS 66044
• Online with a credit/debit card by going to Pay Fees
• Via phone by calling Cindy in our Business Office at 785-330-4375

The District Finance office now emails Fee Statements to the main parent/guardian contact of students who still have outstanding accounts.

• The subject line of this email will be "Month" Fee Statement
• If will come from Lawrence Public Schools - USD #497
• The from email address may be Notification-Do_Not_Reply@target.brightarrow.com
• Please set your email settings so this does not go to your spam
• If you need to update your email address please send it to the LVS Business Office
• See fees due and Pay on-line here

This cost savings move will replace the paper statements mailed in the past. If you do no receive an email and have not paid your fees first check your Spam Folder. Please contact our Business Office at 785-330-4375 for more assistance. Paper statements will be mailed at the end of the school year to those with outstanding balances.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LVS FAMILIES!

LVS families seeking assistance with paying fees need to complete the 2024-2025 Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Application. After completing the application please email cindy.hills@@usd497.org to receive a Consent for Disclosure form to complete the process.

A lot of qualifed families missed out on getting their fees waived last year because they did not provide the signed Consent for Disclosure Form so please do not forget this important step.

Please check out our new Help Documents:

• Links to iPad Guides for Students
• Classlink Login fix
  
• Schoology App Login Fix

If you are still having technical issues with your school-issued device contact IT by sending a work order to: itworkorder@usd497.org

You may also call IT for support at 785-330-HELP (4357).

Below are some more detailed Zoom instructions for students and learning coaches. If your teacher is using Zoom please be sure to download these for further reference.

All LVS Parents, for your student to be successful you need to create your PowerSchool Parent Account as soon as possible. The Enrollment department provided you with the information required to set up your parent account. If you did not receive the information please contact lvs@usd497.org and they will provide you with the information needed.

Please visit this page for more information.

It is important that your LVS teachers and staff have current contact information. If you have a new email or phone number please contact our office (lvs@usd497.org or 785-832-5620).

All Home/Mailing Address Changes will be made by completing the Address Change form. Home addresses changes require Proof of Residence (utility bill, lease agreement, or vehicle registration emailed to lvs@usd47.org).

Scholastic Reading Club is an opportunity for K-8 students to order books from Scholastic Book Clubs that are delivered directly to your home. When you use the LVS code to purchase books, we can offer free books to share with students.

Shop Online: http://scholastic.com/readingclub

One-Time Class Activation Code: LVYZB

Please associate your student with Marcia Riggis' “class” when prompted to connect your student to a class. Book orders are due on the 29th of each month.

Questions? Contact Marcia Riggins

Community Rewards is an easy way to donate to LVS based on the shopping you do every day at Dillons. The program does not change your own Dillons points; it just gives LVS a bit of a boost.

You're only three easy steps away from earning rewards for LVS.

1. Create a digital account using your Dillon's Card. (must have a digital account to participate)

2. Go here to search for Lawrence Virtual School.

3. Select LVS and start shopping!

Every little bit helps.

For more information visit Dillons Community Rewards FAQs.

Buy. Scan. Earn. (Yes, it's that easy!)

LVS earns cash when you purchase participating Box Top items and scan the receipt containing those items. Our goal is to earn $1,000 this year which we can use for student events.

Download the Box Tops App on your phone and start scanning those receipts.

Target is offering 40 Bonus Box Tops when you buy 4 select General Mills items. Click above for more information.

Zach Harwood: Principal

Sarah Mahoney: Dean of Student Engagement

Daiceonna Henderson: Enrollment

Cindy Hills: Business Office/Interim Registrar

Lawrence Virtual School

www.lvs.org

lvs@usd497.org

(785) 832-5620