* * * STUDENT FEATURE * * *

Each month we will feature a student and a project they (and we!) are proud of.

Jasmin Vasquez, Class of '22

"I chose to create the LGBTQ board because I have friends who are part of this community and I wanted to show my support. It was important for me to make something that represents the LGBTQ community and for each individual voice to be heard. I want people to understand the community and accept them for who they are, human beings. I wanted this board to symbolize happiness, kindness, and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. At the end of the day we are all human, and we should all love one another instead of hating one another."

* * * STAFF SPOTLIGHT * * *

Arianna Drummy, Transition Counselor

Where were you before you came to LPS?

Before LPS I was working at the College Internship Program in Lee, MA as a student advisor. My role was to support young adults with learning differences with executive functioning, parent communication, medication management, and budgeting

What is your favorite part of being an educator?

My favorite part about being an educator is learning from the students, and having a positive impact on their academic journey. 

Why did you get into education?

My degree is in Youth Development which is a combination of education, social work, and non-profit studies. I got into education to empower students to use their voice, and take ownership of their education. 

Read on...

* * * PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT * * *

Enrichment

What is Enrichment at LPS? You may hear your student talk about “enrichment” and wonder, what class is that? Enrichment is period 3 every day and starts at 9:20. At the beginning of enrichment, students can go over to the cafeteria to pick up a free breakfast or a snack or students can also bring in a snack from home. Students eat their snack in their enrichment rooms where the first thing that staff do is read the daily bulletin. This is information specific to each building (Middle or High School) that includes information about fun happenings coming up (“Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin”), changes in routines, staff absences, what amazing lunch is offered today, upcoming Student Council events and more. This is an opportunity to answer any day to day questions and offer student support.  

Read on...

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, November 8: All School Student Council Food Drive begins

Tuesday, November 9: MCAS Retest Math, Session 1

Tuesday, November 9: Speaker Series: What happens to children

with disabilities? by Dr. David Stein, 6:00 PM (virtual)

Wednesday, November 10: MCAS Retest Math, Session 2

Wednesday, November 10: Virtual Presentation for Parents: Bullying Prevention & Intervention Plan, 9:00-10:00 AM

Thursday, November 11: No School, Veteran's Day

Tuesday, November 16: Virtual Grade Level Meeting for 8th Grade, 6:00 PM

Tuesday, November 16: Virtual Book Fair begins

Tuesday, November 16: MCAS Retest ELA, Session 1

Wednesday, November 17: MCAS Retest ELA, Session 2

Thursday, November 18: Partners in Education meeting, 9:00 AM

Friday, November 19: Student Council Food Drive ends

Friday, November 19: High School Student Council event at Monster Mini Golf, 7:00 PM

Wednesday, November 24: Early Release, 11:00 AM dismissal

Thursday, November 25: No School, Happy Thanksgiving

Friday, November 26: No School

Thursday, December 2: Winter Fair

Friday, December 3: Wear your Blue/Green shirt!

Thursday, December 9: Parent Advisory Group meeting, 9:00-10:00 AM

Thursday, December 9: Virtual Grade Level Meeting for 9th Grade, 6:00 PM

* * * LEADERSHIP BLOG * * *

By: Susan Smith Powers, Dean of Students & Student Support

Catching Your Kids Being Good!

One of the hallmarks of our program is our commitment to our community core values which include respect, honesty, courage, compassion and responsibility. All members of our school community are expected to demonstrate behavior consistent with these core values. We believe that these core values are fundamental to a supportive, safe and orderly school environment. Many of our students, especially our younger ones, are still learning about our core values and how they apply to everyday life.

One of the ways we teach and reinforce our core values is by “catching kids being good”, which reinforces positive behavior. As an educator with a background in child development and clinical counseling and almost three decades working with adolescents, I’ve learned that the best way to increase positive behavior is through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement focuses on what the student is doing right rather than on what the student is doing wrong. This increases the likelihood of the favored behavior being repeated. Positive reinforcement helps motivate students to do better in the future. They also understand that their good behavior results in positive consequences such as rewards or even mere positive praise. This teaches them the value of personal responsibility, self-discipline as well as pride for their accomplishments.

So how do these “Good Citizen Slips'' (GCS) work?

Read on...