Volume 20 January 18, 2019
Los Osos Middle School News & Updates
Welcome to the LOMS Newsletter!

HOW ARE WE DOING? Please complete the attached Customer Service Survey at anytime. LOMS Customer Service Survey


MONDAY, JANUARY 21 MLK HOLIDAY
NO SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER


Dear LOMS Families,
 
With the new year underway, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of the resources we have at our disposal here on our campus. Our school counselor, Denise Baca is here to help students with academic and personal issues. She is here for all students and is often found reassuring students who are anxious, giving pep-talks to those who need a gentle nudge, and working with students on a wide range of issues. She is also our first line of defense for students in crisis and helps to keep our campus calm. Mandee Poe is another counselor here at LOMS who runs groups with kids about all kinds of needs, including friendship, managing conflict and drug & alcohol counseling. We also have Krista Hoeckmann who runs our Friday Night Live Program here at lunch time working with kids on making good choices and adding to the positive climate at LOMS through school activities such as Red Ribbon Week. Of course, Mrs. Dinielli & Mr. Blum are always here to help students on a regular basis and look for ways to keep students being productive and positive and out of trouble. We try to catch all of our problems when they are still small and encourage our students to turn to their teachers, librarian, aides, office and support staff or any trusted adult when they have a problem. To make it easier for them, we provide opportunities to report concerns via our text-a-tip line or the school website. The text-a-tip line goes directly to me, is anonymous and is a great way for kids and parents to anonymously report any bullying, safety, or other concern students may have. Anyone can also report through the link on our school website by clicking on the “Report a Concern” tab. I hope this information is helpful to you. Have a great weekend. 

Mrs. Dinielli, Principal 
Upcoming Events
January 21 - MLK HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL

February 11 - Lincoln's Birthday HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL

February 12 - SSC Meeting 5:00 p.m.; ELAC Meeting 5:45 p.m.; PTSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

February 16 - LOMS Drama Club to Theatrefest

February 18 - President's Day HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL

February 28 - District DELAC Meeting 6:00 p.m.

March 1 - 7/8 Winter Dance 6:30 p.m.

March 6, 12, 13,15 - 6th Grade Hearst Castle Field Trip

March 7 - LOMS Open House 5:00 p.m.

March 12 - Principal's Coffee 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Staff Lounge

March 12 - PTSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. LOMS Library

March 15 - End of 3rd Quarter

March 21 - 3rd Grade visit LOMS

March 22 - Central Coast Choir Festival; 3:30-5:30 p.m. @ PAC Cal Poly

April 1-5 - Spring Break

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
SBAC TESTING WILL BE APRIL 8 - MAY 24. PLEASE REFER TO THE WEBSITE CALENDAR FOR DETAILS


View our full School Events Calendar! School Events Calendar
We are now sending out Birthday Postcards to all of our students. If your student has received a postcard and they do not celebrate their birthday, please notify Carrie Trujillo in the office and we will make sure they do not receive one in the future.
Community Events and Programs Click on the link to see what community programs are available for your families.
MEDIA TIPS FOR MIDDLE SHOOLERS

Whenever you use a social network, send a text, or post online, you're adding to your online identity. Your online identity may be different from your real-world identity — the way your friends, parents, and teachers think of you.
Trying on different personas is part of the fun of an online life. You can change the way you act and present yourself to others, and you can learn more about things that interest you. And, just as in real life, you can take steps to help you stay in control.

Things to Consider
Here are some things to consider to safeguard your online identity and reputation:

Remember that nothing is temporary online.  The online world is full of chances to interact and share with others. It's also a place where nothing is temporary and there are no "take-backs." A lot of what you do and say online can be seen even if you delete it — and it's a breeze for others to copy, save, and forward your information.

Mark your profiles as private.  Anyone who accesses your profile on social networking sites can copy or screen-grab information and photos that you may not want the world to see. Don't rely on the site's default settings. Read each site's guidelines to make sure you're doing everything you can to keep your material private.

Safeguard your passwords and change them often.  If someone logs on to a site and pretends to be you, they can trash your identity. Pick passwords that no one will guess and change them often. Never share them with anyone other than your parents or a trusted adult. Not even your best friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend should know your private passwords!

Don't post inappropriate or sexually provocative pictures or comments.  Things that seem funny or cool to you right now might not seem so cool years from now — or when a teacher, admissions officer, or potential employer sees them. A good rule of thumb is: if you'd feel weird if your grandmother, coach, or best friend's parents saw it, it's probably not a good thing to post. Even if it's on a private page, it could be hacked or copied and forwarded.

Don't respond to inappropriate requests.  Many teens get inappropriate messages and solicitations when they're online. These can be scary, strange, and even embarrassing. If you feel harassed by a stranger or a friend online, tell an adult you trust immediately. It is never a good idea to respond. Responding is only likely to make things worse, and might result in you saying something you wish you hadn't.

You can report inappropriate behavior or other concerns at  www.cybertipline.org .

Take a breather to avoid "flaming."  Feel like firing off an angry text or comment? Wait a few minutes, calm down, and remember that the comments may stay long after you've regained your temper or changed your mind.

Feeling anonymous on social networks or other sites can make people feel OK about posting mean, insulting, or abusive comments. Sharing stuff or making angry comments when we're not face to face with someone can be hurtful and damage how others see us if they find out. A good rule to remember: if you wouldn't say it, show it, or do it in person, you don't want to online.

Respect copyrights.  Know about copyright laws and make sure you don't post, share, or distribute copyrighted images, songs, or files. Sure, you want to share them, but you don't want to do anything illegal that can come back to haunt you later.

Check yourself.  Check your "digital footprint." Try typing your screen name or email address into a search engine and see what comes up. That's one way to get a sense of what others see as your online identity.

Take it offline.  In general, if you have questions about the trail you're leaving online, don't be afraid to ask a trusted adult. Sure, you might know more about the online world than a lot of adults do, but they have life experience that can help.

Your online identity and reputation are shaped in much the same way as your real-life identity. But when you're online you don't always get a chance to explain your tone or what you mean. Thinking before you post and being responsible can help you avoid leaving an online identity trail you regret.
DROP OFF/PICK UP REMINDERS

The morning and afternoon traffic is becoming an issue again. The bus loading zone is for buses ONLY! This is not a drop off or pick up zone or is it a short cut to beat the traffic. When this driveway is used to cut through, it causes more of a traffic jam. Here are some tips to avoid or help cut back on traffic and prevent your student from being late to school.

  • Earlier drop off - Arrive to LOMS between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. The traffic is easy in and out at during this time. Students are welcome to go to the MPR. The cafeteria is open for breakfast. The Library is also open at 7:30 a.m. for students to catch up on homework, play a game or read a book before classes start. Plan ahead for rainy days. More students are being dropped off on these days then they are walking, which creates more traffic.

  • Use proper drop off areas - Please do not stop and drop your student in the through traffic lane. This is unsafe and creates traffic backup. The Bus Loading/Staff parking lane is OFF LIMITS for dropping off, picking up students or driving through to beat the traffic coming into the drop off/pick up zone.

  • After school pick up - Please pull all the way forward if your student is out and ready to be picked up. If your student is not out and ready for pick up, please pull into the covered parking lot, park and wait for them.

  • Be aware and courteous to others - Please put down the cell phone and be aware of your surroundings.

These reminders will help get your student to school on time, reduce traffic and congestion and keep our pick up/drop off area safe for all.

Below is the traffic flow map to use for drop off and pick up.



FROM YOUR ATTENDANCE OFFICE
Please keep in mind the first bell rings at 8:00 a.m. Students must be in their seats and ready to learn at 8:05. The cafeteria and Library are both open at 7:30 a.m. for a place for students to go if they arrive early. It is a distraction when students are walking into class tardy.

While students are highly discouraged from missing school for reasons other than illness, family emergencies or special events sometimes necessitate travel out of the area. In order to avoid penalties for missing class for these reasons, students must contract to do work during the period of the absence. Pre-Informed Independent Study Contracts must meet strict California State guidelines in order to result in excused absences.

  • Short term Independent Study (IS) needs to be a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 20 days.
  • Written request must be made at least two weeks in advance. 
  • Parent is responsible to come in person to get contract and receive the criteria.
  • Work must be returned the first day back from IS.
  • Partial attendance credit will be given for partial work turned in to teacher. 
  • If you are interested in an IS contract, contact AnneMarie in our front office at 534-2835.


If your student will be absent for any reason, please contact the LOMS Attendance Office before the school day to report the absence. If your student has an appointment and needs to leave school early, please send a note or contact the Attendance Office prior to picking your student up. It can take some time to get your student to the office to meet you.


CURRENT EVENTS AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES
LOMS GARDEN CLUB
Volunteers for the school garden are needed! John Chesnut and Mrs. Stoneman would love to have volunteers visit on Wednesdays from 12-1 in the green houses to help with the Garden Club, starting January 16, 2019.
Please check in with the office when you are on campus. Thank you.
LOMS Athletics
basketball_wood_floor.jpg
Follow LOMS Athletics on instagram @lomslions

Boys Basketball

The boys' basketball season concludes next week. It has been a very positive year, with all teams. 7th and 8th have closed out some very competitive games and picked up a few wins this week. 6th grade remains undefeated at their grade level.

Tuesday, January 22 6th/7th/8th at  Flamson . 3:30/4:30/5:30. Last 7th and 8th grame

Wednesday, January 23 to Saturday, January 26. 8th Grade Boys and Laguna/LOMS tournament.  

*****LOMS is co-hosting the 8th grade boys tournament January 23 through January 26th, and volunteers are needed to run the score table, concessions, and the entrance door. If you can help, email  pangel@slcusd.org . Even an hour will greatly help.  

Girls Basketball

The girls played on Tuesday and Wednesday this week and each team won. 7th and 8th are playing at St. Patrick and Mesa respectively, and results will be updated next Friday.

January 19th
7th @ St. Patrick Tournament.
8th @ Mesa Tournament
January 22 6th/7th/8th at home vs. Flamson 3:30/4:30/5:30
January 24 6th/7th Combo Team and 8th @ OMS. The games will be played at the S LO Nazarene  church gym. 3:30/4:30


Boys and Girls Wrestling

Practice starts mid-February. Please email  Coach Mike  for more information. Wrestling is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students. Practices and meets are held at MBHS.

Boys Soccer

We are in need of 2 full-time coaches. If you are interested please apply at  Edjoin.orghttps://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1127520



LOMS Featured Staff Member
Josh Waldman
I consider myself lucky to live in such a great community, and work at such a fine school! I am a Los Osos resident, although I'm originally from New York. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Colby College in Maine, where I learned to think across disciplines. That's why I am happy to teach Humanities, STEAM, and coach Mock Trial here at LOMS.

I'm proud to be descended from immigrants who came to this nation looking for better opportunities, and I believe firmly that education is the way that people can improve their lives. My grandfather’s advice to me was to never stop learning, and being a teacher is a dream job as it allows for that each and every day!

For the next month or so, you’ll find me working with my Mock Trial team after school. We’re working with a great staff of professionals, including a retired judge, three attorneys, a public speaking expert, and a Cal Poly student, to prepare a court case for county competition. In the case, a young person is accused of using the internet to cyberbully and then make a fake S.W.A.T. report against another young person. One team is trying to prove that the defendant is guilty, while the other is trying to show innocence. It is an intense experience for everyone involved!

When I'm not at school, you can find me hiking the hills with my fabulous family, running the trails of Montana de Oro, or reading a good book. I am grateful for the opportunity to live and work in such a great place.  



LOMS LIBRARY CORNER
How to Help the Library!

There are several ways that students and parents can help the LOMS library!


2.  Donate used books, Legos, craft/art supplies, or games you no longer want to keep or need. Even if a book isn't in perfect condition or your game is missing dice, we can work with that!

3.  Volunteer some time  in the library. Simply go to the  LOMS Library website  and click the volunteer button at the top right of this website to set up a time to come in and help.

Don't know when you might have some time available? That's OK! If you find you have even just 10 minutes while on campus to spare, stop by the library and shelve a few books. The shelving never ends and it's always so helpful when others pitch in!

4.  Shop at  Smile.Amazon.com  make sure you have  Los Osos Middle School PTSA selected as your charitable organization! The PTSA reimburses the library for funds that are put towards Friday Workshop and Multicultural Club. You can use  Smile.amazon.com  as you would normally use Amazon, but with every purchase you make on Smile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your materials to the organization you have chosen. Every little bit helps!
Counseling Update
LOMS PTSA UPDATES
Please join us for the next PTSA Meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the LOMS Library!
LOS OSOS MORRO BAY MUSIC BOOSTERS
Music Boosters supports both LOMS and MBHS music programs. They raise funds for student field trips, competitions and music supplies. There are several opportunities to support these programs.

Ongoing Fundraising
Do you shop at Ralph's or shop on Amazon? If so, follow these links to register your accounts and purchases. Once registered, a small percentage of all your purchases made at Ralph's and Amazon will automatically generate a donation for MBHS and LOMS music programs.
*Ralph's cards must be registered yearly after Sept. 1st for your purchases to count in the program. Please re-register your card if you did so last year.

MindFul SLO



We received much-needed rain this week, and what a joy it was to see, feel and smell! The beautiful landscape that surrounds us seems to be a stark contrast to the current issues being discussed and debated in various forms (eg., news, social media, and over lunch). One of our many responsibilities is creating opportunities to engage our kids in tough talks. They can be tough because they are about complex issues or challenging topics, or because we feel that they stretch us beyond our comfort zone.

This week, we’d like to open a conversation on vaping. Though challenging, it’s important to find ways to address it (and other harmful behaviors) with our
families. A wonderful way to begin is by being more aware of the issues, learning from the experts, and exploring what our kids know, think, and feel. We had the honor of talking with a class of 8th graders about their ideas for red ribbon week. Why do kids start experimenting? Several students shared that many kids lack a connection to others and themselves. From their perspective, kids who experiment may be doing so as a way to connect with others, to fit in, and to have a sense of belonging. When we have a strong sense of self and feel connected, we can see from a wider lens and beyond ourselves. Being self-aware means we can take a step back and see if something is really going to help me be who I want to be. Developing self-awareness also enables us to ask, “Does this help me get to where I’d like to go?” or “How does this choice fit with my value set?”
In How to Talk With Teenagers About Vaping , Psychologist Lisa Damour suggests that “Instead of leading with facts, consider starting with genuine curiosity. Setting judgment to the side, ask, ‘What’s your take on e-cigarettes?’ or ‘Do you know kids who are vaping?’ or something along those lines. Finding out what adolescents already know and think about vaping, or any other hazardous behavior, does two things at once. First, it shapes how the rest of the exchange might go. If your teenager wrinkles her nose and says, ‘I tried it and thought it was weird,’ you’re having one conversation; if she responds slyly, ‘Lots of kids are doing it — I don’t see why it’s a big deal,’ you’re having another. Second, asking teenagers what they know about any topic increases the odds that they’ll want to hear what we know about that topic, too” (The New York Times, February, 2018).

Vaping has been a topic of conversation among parents and kids. Many students do not understand the harmful effects of vaping or realize that they are inhaling nicotine. As Dr. Skyler Kalady, assistant professor of pediatrics and medical director at the Cleveland Clinic explains, “The developing brain is a lot more susceptible to addiction, and nicotine is highly addictive,” (NYT, February, 2018). The 4 young teens interviewed in the video share their experiences and provide powerful insights that echo what we’ve heard from parents, teachers, and students, and the attitudes depicted on social media.
Students are having conversations with peers and navigating its presence as part of their daily landscape. Whether our teens use or not, all students can benefit from knowing how best to navigate the behavior they see on campus and process the feelings that arise. Research has made evident that parents and educators benefit from information and students benefit from having time and space to talk about topics that are important to them. It’s easier said than done, so we’ve found helpful resources to inform and guide us in this important conversation:

   Vaping in Schools: ‘Juuling’ Is Popular Among Teens Despite Health Risks (PBS, 9:11 mins)
   JUULERS AGAINST JUUL (Students Against Nicotine, 6:24 mins)
   Tip Sheet for Parents (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) offers guidelines and talking points for engaging with teens.

We were glad to learn that “It’s OK for your conversation to take place over time, in bits and pieces,” as that seems to be the way many of our conversations happen in our busy days. Time and face-to-face connections are precious commodities.


Perfectly imperfect, connectbewell.org
Los Osos Middle School | 805-534-2835 | Fax 805-528-5133 | loms.slcusd.org