Good afternoon SLMS families,

Welcome back! I hope your family enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating spring break. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we’re excited for our students to continue learning and finish strong.

This Friday, 4/18, all 8th grade students begin state MAP testing, and we’re confident our students are ready to show what they know! Please help set them up for success by reminding them to:

• Bring Chromebooks fully charged, along with their charger

• Pack earbuds, a calculator, and something to read if they finish early

• Get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast

All 6th and 7th grade students begin testing the following week along with our 8th graders. We know testing can bring some nerves, and that’s perfectly normal. The most important message we can send students is this: Relax, trust your preparation, and do your best.

MAP Testing Schedule

Friday, April 18

• 8th Grade Science (Hours 1–3 during Advisory)

• Regular schedule for all other students
  
  

April 21–24: Math & ELA (Block Schedule) NOTE: Each student will test in his/her math and ELA hour.

• April 21 & 22: Hours 1, 3, 5, 7

• 1st hour: 8:20-9:55

• 3rd hour: 10:00-11:30

• 5th hour: 11:35-1:39 **

• 7th hour: 1:44-3:14

• April 23 & 24: Hours 2, 4, 6, Advisory

• 2nd hour: 8:20-9:55

• 4th hour: 10:00-11:30

• 6th hour: 11:35-1:39 **

• Advisory: 1:44-3:14
  
  

May 13 & 14: Algebra 1 EOC

• 8th-grade Algebra 1 students will test with their teachers during Hours 1 & 2 (regular schedule times)
  
  

A Few Additional Notes

• Backpacks: Students must keep backpacks in lockers throughout the day. To aid in helping binders make it to the finish line this year, please help us remind students to remove items not needed. Extra supplies, etc. should be stored in lockers rather than binders. Replacement binders are available in the main office for $25.
  
  

• Cell Phones: Our "off and in lockers" policy continues to significantly reduce distractions and incidents, particularly those related to social media and cyberbullying. Thank you for your continued support!
  
  

• Attendance & Engagement: Consistent daily attendance and staying caught up on classwork are key to academic success. While we understand that absences happen, being in class each day helps students stay on track and avoid unnecessary stress.
  
  

Again, welcome back, and thank you for your ongoing support of your child and SLMS. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions.

Respectfully,

David Mitchell, Ed.D.
Principal, Summit Lakes Middle School

Final Exams: May 27 – June 2

• Finals count toward students’ 80% grade calculation (tests, quizzes, projects).

• Algebra 1 & 8th-grade Modern Language courses (French 1, Spanish 1, German 1, Mandarin Chinese) will follow high school policy, with finals weighted at 10% of the final grade.
  
  

Early Final Exam Requests:

• Request Deadline: Friday, May 9 (via email to Dr. Mitchell)
  Please include a brief explanation describing the need for early finals and CC your child’s teachers.

• Early Finals Dates: May 20, 22 & May 27 (3:15 – 5:30 PM)

• Early finals are only approved for unique circumstances due to our extended school year.

Spring Dance – 7th & 8th Grade

• Date: Friday, April 18

• 7th Grade: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

• 8th Grade: 7:30 – 9:00 PM

• Tickets: $5 (sold during lunch the week of the dance)

NWEA Testing

All SLMS students will participate in Spring NWEA testing on:

• Tuesday, May 20 – ELA

• Wednesday, May 21 – Math

• NOTE: Both testing sessions will be from approx. 8:30-10:30 each day.
  
  

This is the final benchmark test of the year and provides valuable insights for students, families, and teachers. Over the next few weeks, teachers will review students’ individual growth goals based on their September and December tests. Families will receive reports once testing is complete.

Friday, April 18, 2025

7th Grade: 7:00-8:30pm

8th Grade: 7:30-9:00pm

In the spirit of building community here at Summit Lakes, we are pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for our students. We want the dance to be a special event for all eligible students. Additionally, we want to emphasize that this is a middle school dance, and not a prom-type activity. We ask for your cooperation in helping students adhere to the following guidelines for the Fall Dance:

1. Tickets are sold at the door as well as lunch.

2. Only eligible students from Summit Lakes may attend the dance or be on school grounds.

3. No limousines.

4. Students will need to bring their SLMS student ID and their dance ticket with them to the dance in order to enter the event. Dance tickets will be sold the week of the dance during lunch.

5. Formal wear is discouraged. Nice school or dressy clothes are appropriate for all students. See-through materials, bare mid-riff, backless, strapless, revealing neckline or hemline, or any other inappropriate skin exposure styles of clothing will not be allowed. Jeans free of holes, rips, and tears are acceptable. No shorts. Students who are in violation of these guidelines will not be allowed to enter the dance.

6. Students must be in attendance for no less than the last 4 periods of the school day of the dance.

7. Students may not have any un-served detentions or have been in ISS or OSS the day of the event.

8. Students must meet academic and student conduct eligibility requirements outlined in our SLMS student handbook to attend the dance.

9. Student behavior will be expected to reflect participation in a special school event. Inappropriate behavior, including horseplay, pushing, running, and fighting will not be tolerated, and discipline consequences and removal from the dance will occur.

The Summit Lakes Student Council and PTA are making plans for the dances, including decorations, refreshments, and a DJ. We appreciate your support.

• Archery: Monday 4/14 & Wednesday 4/16 - 7:00PM
• Chess Club: Tuesday 4/15 & 4/29 - 7:30AM
• D&D Club: Thursday 4/17 - 3:30 - 4:30PM - Applications form https://forms.gle/fv4oBJThZykTrHwR9
• Embroidery: Tuesday 4/15 - 7:35AM
• Falcon Smart: Thursday 4/17 - 7:30AM
• First Priority: Thursday 4/17 & 4/24 - 7:35AM
• GSA: Monday 4/14 & 4/21 - 7:40AM in Ms. Whyte's room.
• Peer Mentors: Thursday 4/17 - 7:30AM
• STUCO: Wednesday 4/16 - 7:30AM

Summit Lakes DOES NOT have a tennis club and there IS NO transportation provided to this event.

Summit Lakes DOES NOT have a tennis club and there IS NO transportation provided to this event.

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

• HOMEWORK CENTER IS CLOSED 4/2/2025!

• 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

With an increase of spring allergies and illnesses along with warmer weather and outdoor activities, 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 madelynne.ferguson@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