The Mustang Memo

The winter holiday break for students is always a happy time because it means no school for two whole weeks! For a student with anxiety, it is especially a joyful time as they can stay home and not need to set the alarm and go to a place that gives them the most anxiety, school. For the parent or caregiver, it is also a well-deserved time off, as it can be stressful during the school year.

Any break, let alone a two-week break, can be challenging for someone with anxiety. They can find themselves in an up-and-down mood when thinking about being away from their biggest anxiety-inducing surroundings. Instead of enjoying the much needed time off, they are anticipating the break coming to an end. The negative thoughts start to creep in, and before you know it, it’s time to go back to school. They might find themselves missing out on any fun activities planned and not entirely giving themselves time to relax during the time off.

A parent or caregiver with a child with anxiety knows all too well the mental barrage of negative thoughts their child is having. They know it takes baby steps to prepare for the upcoming return of jumping back into the routine.

The following are suggestions to help prepare for the return to school after the long break.

1. To help with the transition, it is essential to talk with any school personnel involved with your child. It can be their Grade Level Administrator, the Special Education Teacher, Classroom Teacher, or their School Counselor. Let them know the difficulties the student has after a long break. This is also important to discuss with your child’s teachers at the beginning of the year. It will take time to ease them into the schedule they left behind a couple of weeks earlier.
2. Be patient while they navigate the overwhelming pressure to settle back into their routine.
3. Talk with your child and make a plan for the return of going back to school. What does your first day back look like? Will you walk them into school? Will you have someone come to your car and meet your child?
4. Make sure they are going to bed at their regular time to avoid having them thrown off of their schedule.
5. Children with anxiety need something to look forward to. It could be as small as going to the park or taking them to their favorite store to walk around.

When students miss school, they miss out on essential learning. It's very important that students are in school everyday, when able. We understand there have been some sickness going around, here's our latest daily attendance averages by grade.

• 6th: 91.10%
• 7th: 91.59%
• 8th: 91.79%

Great job, 8th grade! Parents, thank you for all that you do to get your students to school, on time, each day!

• Make school attendance a priority
• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.
• Keep your student healthy. If you are concerned about about a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.
• If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom. Help your teen stay engaged
• Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.
• Make sure your teens are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
• Monitor you teen’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs. • Support your students if you notice signs of anxiety, and if needed, seek advice from your school or health provider Communicate with the school
• Know the school’s attendance policy – incentives and penalties.
• Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.
• Seek help from school staff, other parents, or community agencies if you need support.

1. IXL is a supplement and support for the ELA and mathematics classroom for grades 6-12 and the science classroom for grade 6.
   
   

2. IXL is available to all secondary ( grade 6-12) students within the Lancaster County School District and usage is encouraged, although not required.

1. It is required that all students using IXL be required to complete the Diagnostic Test prior to skill plans being pinned. The diagnostic data is needed as a baseline for each student to show and to work on growth for individual plans to be built according to student need. Additionally, this data will be collected by the Department of Secondary Education to assist in evaluating student growth and should be completed by the last school day of September for fall courses and the last school day of January for spring courses.

1. Teachers should pin the SC standards, (and when applicable) the SC Ready Test Prep Skill Plan as well as NWEA MAP Growth Plan.

1. Teachers should monitor student data on their dashboard weekly and use it to discuss student progress in PLC meetings as necessary.

1. IXL practice is individualized to meet students where they are, therefore, teachers may only record grades from IXL when assessments have been generated using the Quiz feature.
   
   

2. Students should work to reach the proficiency level for no more than two skills each week (one per content area).
   
   

3. The goal is always 80 as the Smartscore. As soon as a student reaches an 80 Smartscore, the student’s data registers as proficient. Students should not be required to work to achieve a 90 or 100. The Smartscore is never to be used as a numeric grade.
   
   

4. On average, it takes approximately 20 minutes of focused time for a learner to reach proficiency as a middle or high school student. If a student has been working for 30 minutes and still has not reached proficiency, students should take a pause and seek additional support for that particular skill.
   
   

5. Smartscores:
   100= Mastery
   90= Excellence
   80=Proficiency

1. In order to provide expanded opportunities in the learning platform, students can also access IXL practice at home using a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers. Students should NOT, however, be required to use IXL at home.

Each week, students are encouraged to select their two lowest skills from their individualized skill plan from which to work to achieve proficiency. Teachers should, however, use their professional judgment and additional classroom data in helping to determine which skills need specific instruction, practice and refinement for their students.

Monday, Jan 6 - No School for Students/Teacher Work Day

Tuesday, Jan 7 - A Day

Wednesday, Jan 8 - B Day, Academic Challenge @ Great Falls Middle

Thursday, Jan 9 - A Day, Basketball vs York Prep @ 5:30

Friday, Jan 10 - B Day, School Spelling Bee

Monday, Jan 13 - A Day, SPARK Resumes,

Tuesday, Jan 14 -B Day, Report Cards Issued, MAP Reading Test

Wednesday, Jan 15 - A Day, MAP Math Test

Thursday, Jan 16 - B Day, Basketball vs North Central @ 5:30

Friday, Jan 17 - A Day,

Monday, Jan 20 - No School/MLK Holiday

Tuesday, Jan 21 -B Day, Boys Basketball ONLY vs Great Falls 5:30

Wednesday, Jan 22 - A Day, Academic Challenge @ Springfield Middle School

Thursday, Jan 23 - B Day, Student/Staff Perfect Attendance Celebration, Basketball @ AJMS 5:30

Friday, Jan 24 - A Day, 100th Day of School

Monday, Jan 27 - B Day, SIC/PTO @ 5:30, Basketball @ Great Falls 5:30

Tuesday, Jan 28 - A Day,

Wednesday, Jan 29 - B Day, Academic Challenge vs. Fairfield/Lewisville

Thursday, Jan 30 - A Day, Basketball vs Burford 5:30

Friday, Jan 31 - B Day, LCSD Spelling Bee

Check out these Family Friendly Standards for each grade level!

6th Grade:

1. Otoniel Valdivia Argueta

7th Grade:

1. Aniya Tidwell

2. Kianna Thompson

8th Grade:

1. Karlei Starkey

2. Alexya Donnelly

6th Grade:

1. Gabrielle Watts

2. Messiah Strain

7th Grade:

1. Kaylan Stover

2. Cheyenne Broughton

8th Grade:

1. Tayziya Wright

6th Grade:

1. Catherine Campos-Perez

2. Rasean Wilson

7th Grade:

1. Emmaly Clark

8th Grade:

1. Alexi McCorkle

6th Grade:

1. London Benson

2. Alexis Medina

3. Jacob Waller

7th Grade:

1. Ariana Murcia Rodriguez

8th Grade:

1. Makenzie Blackmon

The cost for admission to all LCSD Middle School events is $5.00. As a reminder, the clear bag policy as well as metal detectors will be enforced at all LCSD events.

Cold & Flu season has arrived with a vengeance. Please use cough etiquette. Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or cough into the bend of your arm.

These viruses are transmitted primarily through droplets in the air. Droplets are produced when someone sneezes, coughs, or even talks. These droplets "float" in the air and are picked up by someone walking by. Droplets can also land on surfaces and transmit the viruses in them. Viruses can live on solid, soft, or porous surfaces. Therefore, cold, flu, & covid viruses can be transmitted on clothing, counters, and anything we touch.

This scenario shows why frequent handwashing and surface disinfecting can decrease virus transmission.

Example- Suzy has a cold. She coughs (uncovered) out in class, swipes at her nose/mouth with her bare hand. Does not sanitize or wash them. At least 4-6 students sitting around her have been exposed to her infected droplets. With her contaminated hand she touches desks, door knobs, counters, and other students. Everyone touching surfaces after Suzy has now been exposed. The viruses are then transmitted onto to multiple surfaces & people and carried throughout the building...

REMEMBER:

Frequent hand washing/sanitizing

Cover cough sneeze

Cough into sleeve, or a tissue

If sick, stay home

If you have a fever (100.0 or higher)...Stay home.

Keep hands away from face, mouth.

Sanitize surfaces frequently with disinfectant

Again, wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!!!

Email Rosa.Hudson@lcsd.k12.sc.us for information on how to join our PTO/SIC. Get involved at SMS today!