The Leopard's Tale - April 1

Thu, 03/31/2022 - 9:41am

A Message from Ms. Jones

Ramadan begins this weekend and extends through the evening of May 1.  As Ramadan is a time when some Muslims fast from dawn to sunset as part of their observance, we understand that we may have students that are fasting.  In an effort to be supportive to the needs of our students, we will offer an alternative place in the media center with engaging activities for them to spend their lunch period. Should your student require additional support or accommodations during Ramadan, please contact carol_cuesta@hcpss.org.
 
April 1st is the end of the 3rd marking period.  As we prepare for the final marking period, I encourage all  students to remain focused and committed to finishing the school year strong. Remember our school's motto-ROAR Responsible, Organized, Achieving, and Respectful.
 
Let's go Leopards!
 
Ms. Jones
 

LKMS Important Dates and News

  
    April 1-                   3 Hour Early Dismissal/End of Quarter 3
    April 6-                   "Gotta Eat Night" - Chipotle/Fulton
    April 7-                   7th Grade Poetry Workshop
    April 8-                   3rd Quarter Report Cards - Synergy
    April 11-18             Spring Break - Schools Closed
 
View our full calendar for LKMS News

 

LKMS News

 

Congratulation to LKMS’ Advanced Debate Team

On Friday, March 25, 2022 the Advanced Debate team participated in the annual Howard County Middle School Debate. This year’s resolution was,“Be it resolved that the production of gas-powered, two-axle vehicles should be banned by 2030 in the US.”  The affirmative team faced off against Murray Hill Middle School while the negative team matched wits with Bonnie Branch Middle School. Both the affirmative and negative teams emerged victorious!! The students researched, wrote speeches, and practiced delivery in preparation for the debate. Congratulations to the following students:  Taby Darge, Gabby Crimmins, Shalin Bahl, Xara Morgan, Anjali Krishna, Helina Nephtalem, Smrithi Kolluru, Elshaday Fasil, Suriya Kalirai, Mira Kalirai, Nikhil Sardana, Abigail Zecharias, Ismail Taj, Sia Saraiya, Leilani Ryang, Vishnu Kannan, Nikkie Kazeminezhad, Jack Willets, Akshaya Srinivasan, Jay Kapoor, Yara Aziz, Lucas Corp, Manha Ahmed, Conan Chung, Logan Aranda, and Matthew Jacob

 
And, Congratulations to LKMS Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher, Tracy Spillman, who was selected as the Howard County History Day Teacher of the Year!  Howard County Executive, Dr. Calvin Ball, presented Ms. Spillman with a proclamation on Tuesday, March 29.
We are so proud of you all!
 

COMING the month of April - Clouded Leopard Spring Break Bonanza!

The PBIS team would like to celebrate all of our students at Lime Kiln, and we need your help!   Our Snow Leopard Bonanza, just before winter break, was so successful that both the students and staff began asking if we were going to have another bonanza!  The Clouded Leopard Bonanza will take place right before spring break.  We are in search of small prizes to be raffled off to students on April 6 - 8.  Students who are ROARing (being responsible, organized, achieving and respectful) will receive raffle tickets in class for chances to win prizes for the month of March and the first few days of April.  Our Clouded Leopard Bonanza will have a spring theme.  We are looking for sports equipment and items to use outside.    Some other ideas could include books your child no longer reads, lotions, ear buds, pop sockets, small puzzles, fun school supplies, and gift cards ($5-$10) --TuttiFruitti, Target, Chipotle, McDonalds, Chick-fil-a are favorites!  Anything you want to get out of your house and think another middle schooler would enjoy!  If you are watching Marie Kondo's "Tidying Up", an item may not "spark joy" with your middle schooler, but it could "spark joy" for another!  What a great way to recycle a gently used item!    Thank you so much for your support, and we know the students will be excited for our special "Clouded Leopard Spring Break Bonanza"!

 

An Acting Experience for 8th Grade Students: 

Beginning today, Friday, March 25, and continuing until Thursday, March 31, teaching artists from the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory will visit all 8th grade English classes to work with students on scenes from Romeo and Juliet.  Students were able to select a scene from Romeo and Juliet and select a partner to work with the actors on paraphrasing their lines, analyzing their character, and memorizing their lines.  Performances, with costumes, accessories and props, will take place on Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5 in ELA class.  It’s an exciting, fun experience that exposes many students to their first acting opportunity.
 

6th Grade Student Service Learning

6th Grade Student Service Learning kicks off the week of March 28.  This year, we will be partnering with Read to Feed, an organization that helps meet basic needs in impoverished communities through generous giving. Students are being asked to read for 30 minutes a night (beyond their assigned reading for school) as part of this read-a-thon.  Students are also encouraged to locate friends and family to act as sponsors, donating financially for every book read, to help those in need. We are pleased to announce that to date, the 6th grade class has raised $1,735 for families in need.  Keep up the great work!   For more information, check out these two Google Slide presentations that explain more about Read to Feed, show how students will log their reading minutes, and how students can locate sponsors for this program.
 

Last Week to Purchase a LKMS Yearbook!

The 2021-22 LKMS Yearbook is now available to be purchased online. Packages start at $25. Last day for online ordering is Friday, April 8.
    Life Touch website: ybpay.lifetouch.com  
    ID: 14607622
All yearbooks will be delivered to the school sometime in early June.
 
 

LKMS Beginner Band Class

For the first time, Lime Kiln will be offering a beginner Band class for the 2022-2023 school year for any student in grades 6th, 7th and 8th who does not know how to play a band instrument but would like to learn! It is never too late to start!   Want to play Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, or Percussion?  Now is your chance!   Please contact Mr. Jackowski at john_jackowski@hcpss.org if you would like more details on this beginner Band class.
 
 

LKMS - Environmental STEAM Seminar - NEEDS YOUR HELP

Lime Kiln’s Environmental STEAM seminar was established about ten years ago. Our goal is to act locally to help globally. Over the years, many projects (school rain garden, an aquaculture, bird houses and a butterfly garden) have been created in and around our school to promote green behavior. The students have researched and created videos about many environmental issues that impact our world. This year, we have focused on plastic pollution and have decided to create a plastic bottle cap mural inside our school. We Need Help!   LKMS students are collecting plastic bottle caps of all sizes and colors.  As you can imagine, we need thousands of caps (water, soda, juice and even pill bottle caps). Collection boxes have been set up in the main hallway and in the cafeteria. Thank you in advance for your support.

 

Early Dismissal Reminder

When picking up your child after 2:30pm, please utilize either the LKMS lower parking lot or the Cedar Lane School parking lot, as buses begin arriving and you may run the risk of being blocked between buses.

Thank you.

 

Media Center News

LKMS is hosting a community Book Photo Challenge for the month of April in honor of School Library Month.

We are showcasing our students, staff, and community’s love of reading on the morning announcements!  The students love to see themselves and people they know!  Please use the ideas found on this link to take pictures of your student and your family reading!  Students can upload their images to Google Drive and share with Stefanie Taylor, or inbox Mrs. Taylor in the Lime Kiln Middle School Student Resources page in Canvas with the photo attached. These pictures will be shown on the morning announcements in the month of April!

Have fun reading and taking pictures!

 

StickTogether

StickTogether is a unique, inclusive stress-free group activity for learners to work collaboratively while they share quality time interacting with each other, and celebrate success together. In these extraordinary times, both educators and students need more opportunities for positive shared experiences to build and nurture the sense of a learning community.

Lime Kiln Middle School is one of the five nationwide winners for a micro-grant from StickTogether that includes: 

  • 30 Standard Sticker Mosaic Poster kits - for use in the Library, Common Area, Classroom, Cafeteria, etc.
  • Classroom - 500 Virtual Stickerboard Codes - for use by classroom teachers for in class collaborative learning
  • Plus startup and ongoing support to ensure successful implementation.

StickTogether is a colorful sticker mosaic puzzle poster kit with a beautiful reward. Like paint-by-numbers but with stickers, the image is not revealed until the puzzle is completed. Each kit includes a coded poster, color key, and 3,996 stickers, enough to complete the image with extras. A standard StickTogether poster measures 40” by 36”. Our inclusive sticker activity is for all ages and abilities and creates a safe space for sharing and collaboration.  This  42 second video shows the creation of a StickTogether Poster.  Lime Kiln is very excited to have this opportunity to build our community through this program!

 

Student Services News

Student Withdrawals to Private or Other Schools for 2022-2023

If your child will be transferring to a private school or to a school that is not the current feeder school, please contact our Registrar for assistance with withdrawing and transferring your child's records their new school.  rhonda_hill@hcpss.org 

Moving before the end of the current school year? 

  • Contact your child’s current school to update your address

    • Every family has the option to complete the current school year at the school in which they are presently enrolled or transfer to the school associated with their new address.

Moving over the summer? 
For assistance you may contact Rhonda Hill, School Counseling Secretary/Registrar: rhonda_hill@hcpss.org
 

HC DrugFree Updates:

FREE Parenting Classes: HC DrugFree will present another series of parenting classes for Howard County parents, guardians, and grandparents starting March 30. This program will meet via Zoom for 5 classes (March 30, April 6, 27, & May 4, 11) from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Adults should plan to attend all 5 sessions. Topics include How to Prevent Drug Use in Your Family, How to Develop Healthy Beliefs and Clear Standards, Avoiding Trouble: How to Say No to Drugs, Managing Conflict: How to Control and Express Your Anger Constructively, and How to Strengthening Family Bonds. The class is free, but space is limited. Registrations will be accepted until the class is full or March 22, 2022: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ParentingClassReg For more information: Email Parenting@HCDrugFree.org, visit www.hc drugfree.org or view downloadable flier

FREE Life Skills Classes for Students: HC DrugFree is providing a highly interactive skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development for youth in grades 6-9. For slightly younger or older students, please register and we will consider each request. We encourage siblings and friends to take these classes together! These skills have been shown to help students resist substance use, violence, and other high-risk behaviors. Our instructional team consists of dedicated adults and older students sharing situations they may face in high school, college, and beyond. The next series of classes will be held via Zoom Tuesdays and Thursdays May 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and June 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Registration is required. Please sign-up ASAP as space is extremely limited! For more information: Email LifeSkills@hcdrugfree.org, visit www.hc drugfree.org or view downloadable flier.
 
Parents: If you are interested in learning more about what is happening in Howard County, the many free resources HC DrugFree and other organizations offer, or how your student can volunteer as they learn skills and receive more community service hours, then sign up for our free newsletter to get updates on events as well as information to keep your family safe and informed. Go to the bottom of our homepage at www.hcdrugfree.org.
 
Medication and Sharps Drive-thru Collection: HC DrugFree’s next drive-thru prescription and over-the-counter medication and sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens) collection will be held on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot in Columbia. Medication will be guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and the DEA. For more information visit www.hcdrugfree.org or email Admin@hcdrugfree.org or view downloadable flier Adults, teens, youth groups, and medically-trained adults may volunteer at www.hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/

 

Health Room News

Information on upcoming Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics and information on reporting positive Covid-19 test results to our school’s Health Room can be located on our website.

Mask Update

All students, staff and visitors will be able to choose if they wish to wear a mask in HCPSS buildings. While optional in buildings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts continue to recommend face masks as a precautionary measure.
Per the CDC, masks are required in healthcare settings, so students and staff must continue to wear a mask in school health rooms.
 
 

PTA News

Read the latest information in our PTA's newsletter and view our PTA’s website for upcoming events.

 

HCPSS News

The Council of Elders and the Howard County Public School System have partnered to sponsor a social studies workshops series, The Essence of US: Chronicling the Black American Experience. The series is open to any middle school or high school students who are interested. Sessions will be held virtually on the following Saturdays from 10-11 a.m.

  •     April 9 - In Search of Black Voices
  •     May 14 - Piecing Together the Bigger Picture

Additional details regarding each session are forthcoming. Students may express their interest in participating in any of the sessions via the online form.

The Council of Elders (TCOE), in collaboration with the Howard County Public School System, will host a TCOE Community Academy on Substance Abuse on March 12, from 9:00-10:30 am.  The session will provide information regarding substance abuse prevention and behavioral health within the Howard County community. Representatives from HC Drug Free will provide resources and education on prevention, risk factors, warning signs, and treatment. This session will be held virtually. Registration is required at: http://tinyurl.com/2p9dnz8f. Flyers are located here.

 

Please visit the website for all the latest HCPSS News and Information to include HCPSS’ updated academic school calendar.

 

RESERVOIR HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER SUMMER CAMPS

Come out to sports camp the week of June 27 and/or July 18 at Reservoir High School. Camp is hosted by Lime Kiln teacher and Reservoir Coach Phil Ranker as well as other certified elementary and middle school teachers in the county and state.  The camp is open to current K-8th graders and features many different sports and activities every day.  If your child likes PE, they will love camp.  Campers are split into age and ability groups to ensure that everyone has a fun and productive time.  Full day and half day options available. For more information, please visit http://rankerssportscamp.weebly.com or email phillip_ranker@hcpss.org for questions!

RIVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTERS SUMMER CAMPS

The River Hill High School Boosters are sponsoring summer camps at River Hill High School.  The camps are designed to help young athletes improve their fundamental athletic skills.  Over twenty different camps are offered this summer, including football, soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, cheerleading, art, and weight training. Weekly camps begin on June 13th.  For more information and to register, visit https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/camp.  
 

River Hill High School PTSA presents HillFest on April 6, 2022 @ 6:00-9:00pm

Join RHHS in a celebratory showcase of its exciting and diverse student community!  RHHS has over 50 clubs, organizations and activities in which students can participate.  Many of them will be represented at HillFest.  The evening will include FoodFest, where foods from different cultures can be enjoyed.  Everyone can also enjoy a multitude of displays and live performances, including dance, music, art and comedy!  HillFest offers the opportunity for our students to share their passion, talent and enthusiasm with the community.  It'll be fun for the whole family!  Admission is free. Hope you can join us!