Cougar Connection

LKMS Families,

Wow! It's hard to believe that we already made it through the first quarter of the school year. The first 9 weeks of our year truly flew by. This year has been off to a great start for our students. I truly love getting to see our students thrive inside and outside of their classes every day. The students are engaged in learning and invested in being LKMS Cougars. We have more students than ever this year involved in co-curricular and extra curricular activities. If your child hasn't found something to do that they love yet, there are so many more options that they can try!

As we embark on second quarter, it's a great time for students to reset and have a fresh start. The grades start over and as of Monday, every student has an A in every class. Help us encourage your students to stay committed to their classes and work hard. Our teachers are dedicated to the success of all students and are only a phone call or email away, if you need. We are here to wrap around your students and help them learn and grow. We are looking forward to another great quarter of learning and fun at LKMS!

Best,

Dr. Lisa Stolper

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are right around the corner! We look forward to welcoming you all into our building to meet with us. LKMS parent-teacher conferences will be held the week of October 21, 2024. This fall, we will utilize several formats for conferences. Please read this ENTIRE email for more information on days, times, and how to sign-up. Please be advised that you only need to choose ONE of the following formats in which to meet with teachers. If you plan to attend drop-in conferences, there is no need to schedule zoom meetings with teachers. Likewise, if you make a zoom meeting with a teacher, you do not need to attend drop-in conferences with that teacher.

In-person conferences - Wednesday evening 10/23 and Thursday morning 10/24

Drop-in conferences are the easiest way to meet with many teachers in one stop. On Wednesday evening (10/23) from 5:45-8:30 pm and Thursday morning (10/24) from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM we will host in-person conferences (walk-in/first-come, first-served). There is no advance sign-up for Wednesday evening or Thursday morning in-person conferences. These face-to-face conferences should last no more than 5 minutes to ensure teachers have a chance to visit with all who are waiting their turn.

Conference Locations:

6th grade – Gym

7th grade – Commons

8th grade – Gym

Electives – Commons

Group conferences

Teachers will meet on Thursday after walk-in conferences with select families by grade level teams. Teachers will reach out to schedule these times with families. If you meet with teachers during the group conferences, there is no need to come to walk-in conferences or schedule a zoom conference.

Zoom conferences (by appointment only)

Each teacher will offer scheduled zoom conferences on Wednesday, 10/23 prior to walk-ins and on Thursday 10/24 after scheduled group conferences. Sign-ups for zoom conferences are now live. Please visit THIS LINK to sign-up for conference times. For zoom conferences, parents will need to sign up for a time slot with any teachers they wish to conference with. Sign-ups will close on Monday, October 21 at 3 PM. Once you sign-up for a time slot, you will need to contact the teacher directly via email if you need to cancel or change your conference time.

Zoom links for teacher conferences can be found on the same document where the sign-up links are located. I will send those out on the morning of conferences as well so they are at the top of your inbox. Please remember, zoom conferences are by appointment only – zoom link/passwords to all teacher zooms are provided for your convenience, however it isn’t meant to imply teachers are open for pop-in/unscheduled conferences. Teachers will be monitoring their waiting room and only admitting the next scheduled parent/family when it is time for that appointment. Please understand that conferences will last 10 minutes, not the full 15 minutes. This allows teachers a few minutes to get organized before the next conference begins.

If you are unable to schedule a Zoom conference with a particular teacher or their schedule is full, please consider attending in-person conferences on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Prior to coming to conferences (or registering for a scheduled conference), we recommend logging into Canvas with your student and determining where conferences would be most beneficial. We encourage students to join these conferences with parents, as this provides a great opportunity for discussion between students, parents, and teachers. We look forward to seeing many of you for our upcoming conferences.

It is essential that students arrive on time to school so they can be present for all instruction. The following policy will be implemented for students who arrive tardy to 1st hour:

• Teachers begin their classes at 7:51 and every late arrival creates an interruption that takes away from the learning environment - and students often miss key instructional elements when they arrive late.
• We will closely track tardies (beginning the week of August 19). When a student reaches their 4th late arrival to school a notification email will be sent to parents. On the 5th late arrival (and subsequent late arrivals) the student will be assigned a morning or afternoon detention to be served within the same week.
• The tally for tardies will reset each quarter**** (new tardies will start being tracked for 2nd quarter on Monday, October 14)

Each month the LKMS staff identifies two students at each grade level as the "Students of the Month." These students consistently display the LKMS virtues of being kind, responsible and safe. In addition, these students are leaders and role models amongst their peers. A huge congratulations to each of our September students. We are so proud of each of you!

At the end of each quarter, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app. However, a concluded course remains visible through the Canvas website by selecting ALL COURSES and then PAST ENROLLMENTS.

How do I view my child’s report card?

• Log in on ParentVue.

• Select the student’s name

• In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card

Each new quarter, classroom teachers will publish the next quarter’s Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.

Important dates for families:

Please note: The dates are subject to change based upon calendar updates or technology needs.

Our first career cafe of the year will be on October 31st. This career cafe will be about medical care for senior citizens. This will take place in the library. Students can sign up in student services with Mrs. Prelogar.

If you are interested in being our guest for a future Career Cafe, please email Anne Dummitt at amdummitt@bluevalleyk12.org and/or fill out this Career Cafe Interest Form .

Enroll in this course: https://bvusd.instructure.com/enroll/73CN87

The Family Resources Canvas Course is now available for Blue Valley families. This course is designed to help families navigate Canvas, whether beginning or looking for a reminder. Additionally, the course includes Canvas guides for Observers (the role assigned to parents).

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

Thank you for joining our staff for Back to School Night. We were pleased to see such a great turnout and appreciate your partnership in helping launch the school year. Our staff has been hard at work creating and sharing structured expectations for our school community along with how we are going to teach and reinforce them in all settings. You may have seen our visuals or graphics during your visit. Click here to read a few points about why these are important to our school.

The PTO has 2 very exciting events planed for the 2024-2025 school year and we need your support! We’re looking to our community and area businesses to partner with us to help give back to our amazing school! Many of you might have a company match program if you donate on a personal level! In return, your business or name will be featured in our digital and print advertisements for the events. Please email lkmsptopresident@gmail.com for questions on your 501c(3) donation or visit our website for the various sponsorship levels.

https://lakewoodmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/12574

The LKMS PTO is now on Facebook! Please follow us for PTO news and school information! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565738816285&scrlybrkr=96814e09

Save the Date for Fall Cougar Night on Friday, November 8 from 6-8 PM! The theme is "Cougar Kingdom." We hope to see all of our students there!

It is time for us to start a new school year and another great year of JYBC baseball. Please read below for the details of the club.\

Google Sign Up Form: https://forms.gle/rT4y6y6WGYLpvu6t9

Jaguars Youth Baseball Club 2024/2025

The Blue Valley West high school baseball coaching staff would like to invite the youth baseball players in the BV West community to join our youth baseball club. Please read the details of the club below:

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Jaguars Youth Baseball Club is to provide the opportunity for youth players, grades 1 through 8 (ages 7 thru 14), in the BV West community, to develop character, respect for others, respect for the game, learn the basic fundamentals of baseball from the BV West coaching staff and players, and have fun playing baseball!

*Please note that this club will not organize teams for competition in games and/or tournaments. The intention of this club is not to take the place of your current club or summer team.

Staff:
Club Manager: Joe Allison (Program/Catching/Base Running Instructor) JBallison@bluevalleyk12.org
Club Assistant: Alex Lahasky (Hitting/IF Instructor) ALahasky@bluevalleyk12.org
Club Assistant: Jeff Ashen (Pitching/OF Instructor) JAshen@bluevalleyk12.org

CLub Assistant: Matt Shipley (Pitching/IF Instructor MBShipley@bluevalleyk12.org
Club Assistant: Travis Holehan (Hitting/Catching Instructor TPHolehan@bluevalleyk12.org

Club Assistant: Dana Harrison (Hitting/OF Instructor) DCHarrison@bluevalleyk12.org

Yearly Club Membership: $125
Benefits include:
- BV West Hat (Nike, Black/w Red Bill - Handed out at the Winter Camp Date)

- BV West T-Shirt (Red)

- 4 Camp Dates

Fall Camp - Monday, November 25th , 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Winter Camp, Saturday, December 21st, 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Spring Camp 1 - Wednesday, March 19th, 1:30 - 3:00 PM (During Spring Break)

Spring Camp 2 - Wednesday, April 9th, 5:30 - 7:00

- Opportunities to work with current and past Jaguar players as well as the Jaguar coaching staff
- Youth Recognition Night at our home varsity game - TBD

- Access to BV West Pre-Season Team Zoom Sessions (Dates/Times TBD, Will start after Thanksgiving)

Thank you and we are looking forward to working with the youth in our BV West community!

MIDDLE SCHOOL WRESTLING IS A SPORT AT PLEASANT RIDGE AND LAKEWOOD! YOU WILL BE COACHED BY WRESTLING COACHES OF BLUE VALLEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL. THE ATHLETES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE BASICS OF WRESTLING AND COMPETE AGAINST OTHER LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS. DURING PRACTICE BOYS WILL PRACTICE WITH BOYS AND WRESTLE BOYS AT THE MEET. DURING PRACTICE GIRLS WILL PRACTICE WITH GIRLS AND WRESTLE GIRLS AT THE MEET. THE PRACTICES WILL LAST AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES EACH DAY DIRECTLY AFTER SCHOOL AND WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE BLUE VALLEY WEST WRESTLING ROOM. THE SEASON WILL LAST FROM OCTOBER 16th TO NOVEMBER 2nd.

Any specific questions about the team, meets, or practices please contact Randy Lowe. Email RLOWE@BLUEVALLEYK12.ORG

Monday, October 14

• Cheer practice 7:00-7:45 AM
• Yearbook club in room 302 (7:30-7:45 AM)
• Diversity council in room 165 (3:00-3:30 PM)
• Homework help 3:05-4:00 (library)
• Soccer club in room 205
• Football practice 3:00-5:00 PM
• Volleyball Jersey Turn-in (3:15-4:15 PM)
• XC Jersey Turn-in

Tuesday, October 15

• Music program pictures (band, orchestra, choir)
• Cheer Practice 7:00-7:45 AM
• Jazz band @ 7:10 AM
• AI Club in room 161 (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Chess club in room 106 (3:00-4:00 PM)
• D&D club in the library - 6th grade (3:00-4:00 PM)
• 3D club in room 138 (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Comics club in room 304 (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Newspaper club in room 107 (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Football practice (3:00-5:00 PM)
• Volleyball turn-in jerseys

Wednesday, October 16

• STUCO in room 203 (3:10-3:40 PM)
• D&D club in the library - 7th and 8th grade (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Service club in room 303
• Football practice (3:00-5:00 PM)

Thursday, October 17

• Jazz band @ 7:10 AM
• Homework help 3:05-4:00 PM (Library)
• Garden Club 3:15-4:00 PM (Room 106)
• Science Olympiad in 8th grade Pod 3:10-4:00 PM
• Soccer club in room 205 3:05-4:00 PM
• Nail club in room 305 (3:00-3:45 PM)
• Football practice (3:00-5:00 PM)

Friday, October 18

• Football practice 6:15-7:15 AM

Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24 - Parent-Teacher Conferences

No School Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25

These messages are sent from an unmonitored account. If you have specific questions, please email Lisa Stolper (lostolper@bluevalleyk12.org) or Dylan Owings (dowings@bluevalleyk12.org).