Lucille Brown MS Parent Newsletter
Week of October 1, 2023

Greetings from Dr. Gaines
Families,
I hope you had a restful weekend. A huge thanks to all the parents who served as chaperones on our field trip to the Smithsonian Museum! Students and teachers had a great time, and I trust you did as well. Know that I appreciate your support.
Students received their first quarter interim report on Friday. Please review your child's Interim Report and feel free to request a conference if you have any concerns about your child's performance. Remember that student performance is denoted with one of the following for each course:
- P = Pass (Student is currently earning an 'A' or 'B''
- NI = Needs Improvement (Student is currently earning a 'C' or 'D'; comments included)
- F = Failing (Student is currently failing the course; comments included)
This week, we celebrate our custodial staff during National Custodian Appreciation Week. Under the leadership of Mr. Mario Redd, the rest of our custodial staff includes Mr. Larry Taylor, Mr. Dontraivous Booker, and Mr. Michael Miller. I appreciate them for taking care of our school and making it a safe place for our students and staff. Please join me in thanking them by saying a kind word, or you may celebrate them in your own way!
Fridays are Pink Out Fridays during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Students are asked to wear pink each Friday...let's show our support!
We look forward to you attending this month's family engagement Movie Night event to watch Disney's Coco . Please RSVP below. See you on October 4th. Doors open at 4:45 pm.
Have a great week!
Dr. Stacy Gaines
Principal
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a show of support, LMBMS staff and students are encouraged to wear pink each Friday during the month of October as part of our Pink Out Fridays.
Families, you can also do your part by spreading awareness about this disease. Some ways to do this is through reading and speaking. Take a minute to check out the online resources below to assist you in talking to your child about cancer.
- Breast Cancer Research and Information
- Pink Pumpkin Patch
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
- How to Talk to your Child about Breast Cancer
- Tools for Talking to Children about Cancer
- Helping Children Understand Cancer
- Questions about Talking with Kids About Cancer
- Kid Scope
- Breast Cancer Awareness
- Susan G Komen Website
- Participate in a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
- You are Not Alone Breast Cancer Support and Research
Our Schedule This Week
Monday, October 2nd
- B Day
- National Custodian Appreciation Week
River City vs. Brown @ Brown Soccer Game*
River City vs. Brown @ Brown Girls Basketball Game*
Tuesday, October 3rd
- A Day
- National Custodian Appreciation Week
- No Practices or Games
Wednesday, October 4th
- B Day
- National Custodian Appreciation Week
- No Practices or Games
- Movie Night: Disney's Coco
Thursday, October 5th
- A Day
- National Custodian Appreciation Week
MLK vs Brown @ Brown Girls Basketball Game*
MLK vs Brown @ Brown Soccer Game*
Cheer Tryouts*
Friday, October 6th
- B Day
- National Custodian Appreciation Week
- Pink Out Friday
- Amended Friday Schedule
- No Practices or Games
*All practices and games from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Parents, please meet your child at Door 19, our Bus Loop.
Spotlight on a Notable Hispanic American
A great video intro to Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor. For more Hispanic women taking charge today, check out this list.
IB Learner Profile Trait: Inquirer
The IB learner profile trait for the month of October is INQUIRER. Students who are inquirers are curious about the world. They can conduct research independently. They love learning and discovering new things and will carry this love of learning with them throughout life. How can parents help to develop students who are Inquirers at home?
- Encourage areas of your child’s interest by visiting the library to borrow books that explore these topics.
- Develop an understanding of the Internet. Work with your son or daughter when the Internet is being used and try to instill the understanding that some Internet sites are not reputable.
- Model being an inquirer. Admit when you don’t know the answer to a problem or a question and seek out answers in front of your child
This Week's Birthdays
Pause for Literacy
Please encourage your child to read for pleasure at least 15-20 minutes each day. Below are some books about breast cancer awareness that may be available at our school or in your local public library. If you have any questions or need any recommendations, please reach out to our school's media specialist today!
LMBMS News
Movie Night: Don't forget to RSVP below for this month's family engagement movie Night! In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be showing Disney's animation, Coco. Come for an evening of snacks and fun. Doors open at 4:45 p.m.
Chromebook Distribution: Most of our 6th & 7th -graders received their Chromebooks last week. 8th-graders who have a signed Chromebook Agreement on file will receive their device this week. If you have not completed a Chromebook Agreement for your child, please do so as soon as possible.
COVID-19 Communication Protocol: With COVID-19 cases on the rise, we anticipate this will impact our students as well. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has any of the symptoms, please notify our school nurse, Karen Davis, immediately.
Monthly Drills & Crisis Preparedness- We will conduct monthly safety drills, including fire and/or lockdown, during the month of October to be in compliance with local and state regulations. The following links in English and Spanish also provide information about crisis preparedness and procedures we will follow in the event of an emergency at school.
Movie Night: Disney's Coco
Movie Night: Disney's Coco
As part of our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, please join us the evening of October 4th to watch Disney's Coco! This is a free event; however, an RSVP is required for each attendee. The deadline to RSVP is September 30th.
Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023, 05:00 PM
Lucille M. Brown Middle School, Jahnke Road, Richmond, VA, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
RPS News
New Protocols for After-School Events- New security protocols are in place, effective immediately, for all after-school academic and athletic activities. Please review the new protocols on the RPS website at rmd.me/UEanyGgeHKL
VMFA Open Studio – Keep celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts during Open Studio! on Sunday, October 1, from 12 – 3 pm. Create clay pots inspired by pre-Columbian ceramics and explore contemporary examples from South and Central America. All ages are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Worry Doll Workshop – One more Hispanic Heritage Month event! From 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Monday, October 2, the Richmond Public Library Broad Rock Branch (4820 Old Warwick Rd) will hold a "worry doll" workshop (taller de muñecas quitapenas). Per a Mayan legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. By morning, the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries!
RPS Advisory Councils – As a reminder, applications are now open to join Superintendent Kamras's 2023-24 advisory councils. These groups advise him and the RPS leadership team, advocate for RPS, and help them achieve their goals. This year, the advisory councils will play an important role in helping develop the new RPS strategic plan, Dreams4RPS 2.0 (more details on that process soon). Please visit the RPS website for additional information.
- Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) – Apply by October 24
Parent Access to Student Records- We are thrilled to inform you about two data platforms that will provide you with easy access to your child's academic records with just a few clicks. Follow the link to access the instructions to access your student's portal accounts. rmd.me/qdCgwZEGM5s
Student Wellness and Mental Health Support – As we prepare to kick-off the 2023-24 school year, I want to remind everyone – students, staff, and families – that your mental health continues to be a top priority. Please note the resources below and remember that we love you here and you are not alone.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center provides education, advocacy, and support to Spanish-speaking individuals affected by violence. The 24/7 hotline in Spanish is (888) 969-1825.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email traumahealingresponsenetwork@gmail.com.
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 Crisis Line at (833) ME-CIGNA, or (833) 632-4462. Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
Ways Caregivers Can Support
Student success for ALL is our goal here at LMBMS. I believe with our dedication to high quality instruction, rigor, relationships, and student engagement, every student will learn to his or her full potential. I ask that you please recognize that in order for your child to be successful in school, we need your support in the following ways:
- Expect your child to attend school daily, arrive on time, and be ready for the day’s learning experience. Please provide a written note for all absences. Also, call the school so we are aware of the absence.
- Ensure your child completes all homework and other assignments and reads for pleasure 15-20 minutes daily.
- Ask your child to share school experiences with you daily so that you are aware of his/her school life.
- Inform the teacher if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject.
- Honor instructional time in each class by limiting interruptions during the school day so instructional time is maximized.
- Please read your child’s course syllabi for each class.
- Review the RPS Student Code of Responsible Ethics S.C.O.R.E. It is also listed on the district webpage.
Be in the Know
It is important for caregivers to receive real-time information from our school and division. Please use the following links to stay in the know!
- RPS 2023-24 Calendar
- RPS Direct-Sign up for the Superintendent's daily community messages.
- REMIND-Sign up to receive Dr. Gaines's weekly Sunday newsletter and RPS messages.
- RPS Website
- Lucille Brown Middle School Website