Good Afternoon SLMS Families,

As we begin 2025 and the second semester, we are greeted once again by wintry weather and days of virtual instruction—reminiscent of this time last year. We remain hopeful that winter will ease up soon and that the worst of the weather is behind us.

I’d like to revisit the email I sent last week regarding anticipated delays when we return to in-person learning. While conditions are expected to improve by Monday, there may still be minor delays in bussing and car rider lines. Safety remains our top priority. Please continue to exercise caution in our parking lots and on sidewalks, as lingering slick spots may still exist.

To ease the transition back, students will report to their Advisory classroom on Monday morning. This will allow staff to help them get organized for the day and settle back into their routine.

The ability to learn remotely during inclement weather has its advantages, allowing us to keep students and staff safe without extending the school year. However, remote learning can also present challenges. Below are some tips to help students succeed during AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) days or while working from home:

Tips for Successful Remote Learning

1. Set Goals and Create a Plan

• Check your teachers’ Schoology pages to review assignments and expectations for the day.

• Use your planner to prioritize tasks, especially those requiring questions or direct interaction with teachers.

• SLMS AMI work is posted by 9:00 AM, and teachers are available for live help sessions from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Identify which subjects you may need assistance with early to make the most of these sessions.

2. Establish a Comfortable Workspace

• Set up a dedicated area for learning with minimal distractions. This could be a quiet corner of a room, a desk, or even the kitchen table—whatever works best for you.

3. Take Regular Breaks

• Breaks can help maintain focus. Stretch, take a short walk, play with your pet, or even enjoy building a snowman outside! Small moments of movement and fun can keep you energized.

4. Ask for Help and Stay Connected

• Don’t hesitate to reach out to your teachers via email or during live help sessions.

• If you experience power outages or device issues, let the school know as soon as possible so we can assist you.

5. Plan Ahead for Your Return

• Use your planner to note tasks that need to be completed or submitted upon your return to school.

• Follow up with teachers if you have outstanding questions or assignments from AMI days.

Teachers will monitor attendance on AMI days and will report to the attendance secretary if they believe a student is not participating in virtual learning. While students are encouraged to complete their work during regular school hours (by 3:30 PM), we understand that flexibility is sometimes necessary. Students can work at their own pace and should communicate with teachers to resolve any attendance issues.

Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and support of your students and SLMS staff as we navigate AMI days and remote learning. Your partnership is invaluable, and we appreciate all you do to support your middle schooler and our Falcon community!

Respectfully,

David Mitchell, Ed.D.
Principal, SLMS
It’s ALWAYS a Great Day to Be a Falcon!

• Archery: Monday 1/13 and Wednesday 1/15 - 7:00PM
• Chess Club: Tuesday 1/14 - 7:30AM
• D&D Club: Thursday 1/16- 3:30 - 4:30PM - Applications form https://forms.gle/fv4oBJThZykTrHwR9
• Embroidery: Tuesday 1/14 - 7:35AM
• Falcon Smart: Thursday 2/13 - 7:30AM
• First Priority: Thursday 1/16- 7:35AM
• GSA: Monday 1/13 & 1/27- 7:40AM in Ms. Whyte's room.
• LSTA: Tuesday 1/14 - 7:35AM
• Peer Mentors: Thursday 1/16 - 7:30AM

SLMS will be participating in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge on January 25th! This cause benefits the Special Olympics of Missouri. To support this amazing and unique experience join us for SLMS Polar Plunge BINGO!

BINGO Cards will be on sale at lunch Monday, 1/13 through Thursday, 1/16. You can purchase one BINGO card for $3 or two cards for $5.

SLMS Polar Plunge BINGO will be played on Friday, 1/17. Words will be read at the conclusion of each class. Play to win prizes and support the Missouri Special Olympics!

We are also accepting donations of items to use as prizes for our BINGO experience. Donations of small items or snacks are accepted. If you are able to donate any prizes or snacks for the BINGO winners - please contact caitlin.thompson@lsr7.net or david.mitchell@lsr7.net before Friday 1/17.

What do you get when you mix vampires, zombies, warewolfs, and Frankenstein's daughter with a group of human high school students? You get this year's spring play, "TRANSL-MANIA." A crazy, quirky comedy that you can be a part of! Auditions will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd-3:30-6:30 in Mrs. Beavers' room (room 518)

* We will make arrangements for basketball players to audition after your practice. DON'T PANIC!

Callbacks (if needed) will be on Thursday, January 23rd-from 3:30-5:30 in Mrs. Beavers' room (room 518)

For more information or to apply for our tech crew, please join our Schoology Group. Use code: 7C55-V27K-FBW2B

SLMS is celebrating our 25th Anniversary this year. To celebrate all of the great things that have happened over the last 25 years, all current and former staff will be invited to gather, and we are looking for donations to fill baskets for a raffle to thank them for their hard work and dedication over the years. If your business or organization would be willing to contribute anything for these baskets, it would be greatly appreciated.

If you have a donation, please contact Ibby Griffin at elizabeth.griffin@LSR7.net and we can come pick it up. If you would rather drop it off at school, it can be dropped off at the front office with a note that it is for Ibby Griffin for the 25th anniversary celebration. It may also be mailed to the school to the attention of Ibby Griffin.

Do you know any high school students who are in need of A+ hours? SLMS is looking for tutors on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:40-3:15. Please contact Ms. Thompson at caitlin.thompson@lsr7.net if you or anyone you know is interested in helping tutor our SLMS students!

Dear SLMS Families,

I want to remind our families that all LSR7 students in grades K-8 are to be accompanied by an adult while attending district evening activities. This includes middle school athletic competitions, both indoors and out, which begin at 4:00pm.

SLMS will provide Falcon Fan Days during our fall, winter, and spring sports seasons. Falcon Fan Days are an exception and allow students with signed permission slips to stay after school and attend our home contests without their parent/guardian in attendance. Students participating in Falcon Fan Days will have some supervised time after school followed by attending the contest and sit in our designated student section. Students who are signed up will receive a ticket for a hotdog + water/pop or water/pop + candy at our PTA concession stand. Students are always encouraged to attend our athletic events to support their fellow falcons with a parent or guardian.

24-25 Falcon Fan Day Dates:

• Volleyball - 9/16

• Cross Country - 9/30

• Football - 10/8

• Wrestling - 11/20

• Girls Basketball - 12/5

• Boys Basketball - 1/14

• Track - 4/22

We are proud of the many outstanding and successful extracurricular activities that our students participate in and we want families and students to be able to support and enjoy these events safely.

Thank you for your support with this expectation. We appreciate your partnership.

Respectfully,

SLMS Administration

At SLMS students are expected to complete all assignments on time and submit on the date they are due. Homework is given as practice to assure that students are building the necessary skills to master course objectives. We believe that meaningful work should be completed prior to taking any assessment. Our goal is to ensure that all students are reaching the desired grade-level standards that have been established for each course.

Students will have a set amount of passes for missing/incomplete homework per subject. When all passes have been used for that subject area, students will be assigned a before or after-school Homework Center. This is an opportunity to complete missing homework and get help from teachers. Students should report to the LMC with missing assignments to work on when assigned to the Homework Center.

Homework Center Hours: - Located in RM 510

• AM: Monday - Thursday (7:30-8:10)

• AM: Friday (8:30-9:10)

In the case that your student is absent during a test in a class, they will be given the opportunity to take the test in the Testing Center. This is a proctored environment to provide the student with an ideal testing environment.

Testing Center Hours:

• AM: Monday - Thursday (7:30-8:10)

• Monday - Rm 520

• Wednesday - Rm 520

• Tuesday/Thursday - Rm 613

• AM: Friday (8:30-9:10) - Rm 511

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With an increase of fall allergies and illnesses starting the health room would like you to send your students prepared. Your student is always welcome to carry a water bottle and lozenges with them in the building. We are unfortunately unable to provide every student with water bottles and lozenges, so it is best to send these items with your student daily. We have multiple water filling stations throughout the building, so a reusable water bottle is a great investment!

In order to ensure that transportation needs are met, we ask that you follow the below processes for end of day transportation changes:

• If you need to communicate a transportation change with a student, we ask that you notify the main office prior to 3:00pm. This allows us time to reach your student with the message, as students begin dismissing at 3:13pm.
• It is difficult to check students out between 3:00pm-3:15pm, as many activities occur during Advisory at the end of the day, and students are often moving between locations in the building. In order to ensure that you are not waiting, or late to appointments - please pick up your student prior to 3:00pm if you need to leave before 3:15pm.
• If you need a one-day bus pass for your student to ride home with a friend on a different bus - we need written permission from both families prior to 1:30pm the day of in order to arrange this with transportation. Written permission can be emailed to courtney.mitchell@lsr7.net.

We appreciate all your help and understanding in helping to ensure that all of our Falcons have a safe and timely dismissal.

LSR7 is now hiring school bus drivers. No experience needed, and the opportunity includes paid training, full benefits and pay starting at $20.03 - $28.05 per hour based on experience. Have a vested interest in supporting students?

Apply to be one of our district's greatest assets.

Call 816-986-4287 for more information.

Email: firstname.lastname@lsr7.net
Website: slms.lsr7.org
Location: 3500 Southwest Windemere Drive, Lee's Summit, MO, USA
Phone: 816-986-1375
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summitlakes
Twitter: @SLMSFalcons