Falcon Family Weekly Newsletter
March 31, 2024
Dear Lakelands Park Middle School Families:
This is a 4-day week. There is no school tomorrow, April 1st.
Congratulations Falcons!
- On Thursday, March 21st, LPMS hosted the Book Wars competition for our part of the school district. Great job to all of our Book Wars participants. And a hearty congratulations to the district 3 winning team, our very own, Riley, Max, Reed, and Sofia, of the team [Insert Name Here]. Yes, that's the team name! Congratulations also to Ms. Greco, our Book Wars sponsor and thank you to both Ms. Greco and Ms. Smith, Media Assistant, for hosting a fun-filled competition.
- A huge congratulations goes out to the LPMS Advanced Band for their work and dedication as they represented LPMS at Seneca Valley High School on Thursday, March 21st! They impressed the judges from the stage and in the sight reading room and earned ratings of "Good" and "Excellent!" Congrats, Band Falcons and Mr. Stuart! You make us proud!!
The week ahead...
- This is the first week of our new Cellphone enforcement plan. Watch this video to learn more.
- Falcon Flight Plan "Language to Uplift" Week: Please encourage your child(ren) to use uplifting language with their classmates and staff. LPMS is a No Place for Hate School where abusive and hateful language is not tolerated.
- This week is National Assistant Principal Week. Wednesday is Paraprofessional Appreciation Day. Thursday is School Librarian Appreciation Day. Please take a moment to thank our assistant principals, paraeducators, media assistant and media specialist for everything they do to support our children's wellbeing and academic success.
- Monday, April 1st: Price for our yearbook increases to $40. Order Your Yearbook Now to pay $35.
- Tuesday, April 2nd: Student Transfer Application (COSA) closes.
- Wednesday, April 3rd: Soccer Games versus Ridgeview, girls at home, boys away.
- Friday, April 5th: SSL documentation deadline for 8th graders. The Middle School Superintendent’s SSL Award is awarded for any middle school student who has completed the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement and is only awarded once. April 5 is the MCPS deadline for 8th graders to submit their final middle school SSL hours for this award. Visit the SSL website for information.
Looking ahead to next week...
- Sunday, April 7th: RespectFest, 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Wheaton Rec Center, earn as many as 8 SSL hours in-person and virtually starting April 1, see more details below.
- Tuesday, April 9th: Last day of Marking Period 3
- Wednesday, April 10th: No School, Professional day for grading and reporting
- Thursday, April 11th and 12: MCAP English Language Arts testing. We need your help! All students should bring their charged Chromebooks ready to test. Students who bring a fully charged Chromebook will earn a blue ticket and a chance for a donut at the end of the testing day. Also, each ticket will automatically be entered for a chance to earn a new $20 gift certificate to a restaurant of your choice.
Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a community of belonging with high expectations for everyone.
Sincerely,
Rose Alvarez (she/her)
Principal
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LPMS Upcoming Events
IXL - Help Your Child Sharpen Their Math Skills
In an effort to help improve Math skills and help prepare students for the MAP-M test, MCPS has partnered with IXL to provide a platform for students to sharpen their math skills. IXL has skill plans that target Student's present MAP-M levels. They also offer practice problems and videos that align with our Illustrative Math curriculum. Students can access IXL through the Clever Portal under the MCPS Resources folder. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to our Math Content Specialist, Ms. Shaneé Satchell (shanee_d_satchell@mcpsmd.net).
Plan for April 22 Asynchronous Learning Day
Monday, April 22 is now an asynchronous learning day and will be used as a make-up instructional day for all MCPS students. This means that April 22 will count as a school day but students will not attend school in-person or on Zoom. Instead they will complete assignments in each class in order to be marked present for April 22. Here is the plan for LPMS:
- Assignments will be posted to each class' Canvas (MyMCPS) page by April 19th entitled “April 22nd Asynchronous Learning Day Assignment.”
- Teachers will share expectations for assignments with their classes and provide any needed materials by April 19th
- Assignments for each class will take no more than 30 minutes. Given that students have 7 classes, excluding Fly Time, the work should take no more than 3.5 hours.
- Students will have 10 days following April 22 to complete the assignment in order to be marked present.
- If students need help with the assignment, they may ask their teachers during regular school hours starting on April 23.
- April 22 is professional development day for teachers and they will be engaged in their on learning. We ask that students and families refrain from emailing or contacting teachers on April 22, and wait until April 23 to ask questions. Thank you for your understanding.
LPMS Resources & Initiatives
School Cash Online
MCPS offers a School Cash Online payment system for parents and guardians to make payments for field trips, yearbooks, merchandise, and donations. If you have not registered and set up your account, we encourage you to do so today. Use this School Cash Online (SCO) link and follow the steps. Parent guides are linked below as well.
SCO Parent Guide (Español)
SCO - How to register
SCO-Auto Subscription Multi Guardian User Guide (English)
SCO-Auto Subscription Multi Guardian User Guide (Spanish)
District Initiatives & Messages
Career Day For Students Set For April 10, RSVP by April 1
MCPS will host a “Grow Your Own” career day from 9 a.m.–noon on Wednesday, April 10, at Northwest High School when students are off from school. High school students are invited to learn about job opportunities and careers available in Montgomery County and take advantage of on-the-spot job interviews. Please RSVP by April 1. Visit the Out-of-School-Time website to learn more about opportunities offered through the year.
Student Transfer Application Open Until April 2
The 2024-2025 Change of School Assignment (COSA) transfer season is open. The COSA process allows families to submit a request for their children to transfer out of their assigned home school. All COSA request applications must be submitted by Tuesday, April 2. Read full details.
BOE Seeking Community Feedback for the Next Superintendent
The Montgomery County Board of Education is launching a nationwide search for the next superintendent of MCPS, who will assume the role on July 1. The Board invites input from the community to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive search. The vital characteristics of the next superintendent will be collected through multiple channels including a general Feedback Form, a survey to Surveys to students, staff and families, which was released on March 13 and community engagement events during the first week of April on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday April 2, 3 and 4.
Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Opens March 1
Prekindergarten and Head Start registration begins Friday, March 1, for the 2024-2025 school year. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024, and families must be income-eligible to apply. Families can register their children online or in person. If your child was 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2023, you may still register for Prekindergarten/Head Start for the remainder of this school year. Click here for how to register.
For more information about eligibility guidelines, required documents or how to register online, call 240-740-4530 or visit the MCPS website.
District Upcoming Events
Come Out to the Next Youth Climate Summit April 13
Attention middle and high school students! MCPS is hosting the 3rd annual Youth Climate Summit from 8:30 a.m.–3:35 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Tilden Middle School. Read more.
Game Changer Conference Set for April 20; Essay Contest Deadline: April 10
Calling all parents/caregivers of young male students Grades 4-12! Register your student for the spring 2024 Game Changer conference and help empower and ignite their path to success. The conference will be held on Saturday, April 20, at the Universities at Shady Grove, 8 a.m–2 p.m. Transportation may be available through MCPS from your area. Registration closes Wednesday, April 3. Spaces are limited.
MCPS Earth Day SSL Opportunity, April 22
Build the first MCPS farm, and earn SSL hours while giving back to the Earth!
- Students may earn 4.5 SSL hours for participating. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be provided.
- To learn more, please click here.
District Opportunities & Resources
The Importance of Reading by Third Grade
Fifty years of national research has indicated that a student’s ability to read by the end of third grade is paramount to future success. Reading by Grade 3 is the second milestone on the MCPS Pathway to College, Career, and Community Readiness. Watch the video and learn more about steps parents can take to help their children at home.
FREE English Classes Available to MCPS Parents
The Class to Community (C2C) organization offers free English as a Second Language (ESL), GED and college prep, and digital literacy classes. Visit the C2C website for more information.
To The Point: The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
Watch the latest episode of To the Point to learn about the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and how it plans to positively impact MCPS and school systems across Maryland. Janine Bacquie, MCPS director of the Division of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, is the show’s featured guest. The Blueprint is landmark education legislation designed to transform public schools in the state of Maryland over a 10-year period. The Blueprint has designated five focus areas, or pillars, which are: Early Childhood Education, High-Quality and Diverse Teachers, College and Career Readiness, More Resources to Ensure All Students Are Successful, and Governance and Accountability.
Update On Districtwide Approach to Educating, Preventing and Addressing Hate-Bias
MCPS convened an action team to work with internal and external stakeholders to develop a Districtwide Approach to Educating, Preventing and Addressing Hate-Bias to build on the district’s foundation to combat incidents of hate-bias. This framework and group’s work will be shared with the Board of Education on Tuesday, March 19. Click here to watch a video message
Other Resources and Events
George B. Thomas Saturday School
MCPS Parent Academy
Gaithersburg Youth Club
LPMS Digital Handbook & Future Events
Future Events
Tuesday, April 9th: Last day of Marking Period 3
Tuesday, April 9th: Soccer Games versus Kingsview Middle at 3:20pm, boys at home, girls away
Tuesday, April 9th: PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm
Wednesday, April 10th: No School, Professional day for grading and reporting
Thursday & Friday, April 11 & 12: English Language Arts MCAP testing for all students
Tuesday, April 17th: Isaac's Poultry Market PTSA Restaurant Night, 5 - 9 PM
Wednesday, April 18th: Marking Period 3 Report Cards available on Synergy ParentVue and StudentVue
Thursday, April 18th: Report Cards distributed at the end of the school day
Monday, April 22nd: Asynchronous Learning Day, no in-person or Zoom classes
Thursday, April 25th: Soccer Games versus Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle, boys at home, girls away
Wednesday, May 1st: Soccer Games versus Poole Middle, girls at home, boys away
Monday-Friday, May 6th-10th: Staff Appreciation Week
Monday & Tuesday, May 6th & 7th: Social Studies MCAP testing for 8th graders
Tuesday, May 7th: Soccer Games versus Hallie Wells Middle, boys at home, girls away
Thursday, May 9th: Last day of after-school activity busses
Thursday & Friday, May 9th & 10th: Mathematics MCAP testing for all students
Tuesday, May 14th: No School, Primary Election Day
Wednesday, May 15th: Spring Orchestra & Jazz Concert
Thursday, May 16th: Spring Band Concert
Friday & Saturday, May 17th & 18th: Spring Musical: Into the Woods
Tuesday, May 21th: Spring Choral Concert
Wednesday, May 22th: 4th Marking Period Interim Reports Available on Synergy
Monday, May 27th: No School, Holiday
Friday, May 31st: Music Department Trip to Hershey Park
Tuesday, June 11th: 8th Grade Cruise & Evening Celebration
Thursday, June 13th: Last day of school, early release day
Monday, June 24th: Report cards mailed home
Planning ahead?
Click here to see the 2024-2025 MCPS Calendar for next school year.
Contacting Us
Email: Rose_S_Alvarez@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/lakelandsparkms/
Location: Lakelands Park Middle School, 1200 Main Street, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-6450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPMSPTSA/