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Monday, October 1, 2018

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PTSA Update



PTSA Newsletter for the week of Sept. 30, 2018


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Lake Nona Middle School
  

As we open the new month of October, we wish both our boys and girls soccer teams the best of luck in their matches Monday afternoon - 2018 playoff brackets. The girls are playing away vs. Maitland and the boys are at home vs. Avalon. Please come on out and support our Knights as they have worked so hard this season to reach this point.

As for the month of September, when we look at our weekly success indicators (table at bottom) several highlights deserve mention in terms of their final weekly averages:

1) Average weekly attendance was excellent. All three grade levels easily exceeded the 95% threshold set by most schools: 6th = 96.8%; 7th = 96.7%; 8th = 95.8%. This is the single most important student performance indicator of all. 

2) Weekly tardies to school was about even across all grades at 19 students per week.

3) Weekly tardies to class was less even during September with our 7th grade Knights setting the example: 6th = 22 per week; 7th = 16 per week; 8th = 39 per week. This is an area of opportunity for October.

4) Our first Wednesday tutoring session held last week took off with 203 of our Knights participating. Great extra effort Knights!

5) Members of the administrative team remained highly visible completing over 325 formal and informal classroom visits during September. 

There are other successes (see table) such as our teacher attendance rates, but these are five we want to make certain the community is familiar with.

Thank you for looking over this issue and best wishes for a productive week ahead.

In Knights Honor,

Stephanie R. Jackson, M. Ed.
Principal, Lake Nona Middle School

Dates To Watch For

October 1 - The Giver Field Trip - 8th Grade only - Dr. Phillips Performing Art Center
October 1 - Soccer vs. Avalon (Boys) at Home (update below)
October 1 - Soccer vs. Maitland (Girls) Away (update below)
October 2 - SAC Meeting - Media Center - 5:30-7:00 PM
October 2 - GNC Spirit Day (next to Walmart)



October 3 - Chipotle Spirit Night 5:00-9:00 PM - Parent flyer and details
October 3 - Hearing Screening - Media Center
October 4 - Volleyball Try-Outs (immediately after school, see below)
October 6 - Tutoring 9:00-12:30 PM
October 10 - No Early Release
October 10 - PTSA - Media Center - 5:00-6:00 PM
October 11 - Panda Express Spirit Day
October 11-12 - Soul Shoppe
October 12 - End of First Marking Period
October 12 - Hat day
October 12 - Band Middle School Night - LNHS - 5:00-9:00 PM
October 15 - Student holiday (Teacher workday)


Knights Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th through October 15th 

LNMS will be paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Many of our students will participate in  poster projects celebrating Hispanic heritage with a handsome visual reminder of the Spanish influence on American history and culture. Students can dress in the colors of Hispanic countries on designated days and Hispanic Heritage Trivia will be a lunch time presentation. Door decorations and Latin American music are also part of the celebration.
 


Knight Visit from the Past . . .
President Thomas Jefferson (Mr. Jose Rivera - 7th grade Civics) was subbing at LNMS last week!




Knight Support Person of the Month
Ms. Berry, Custodian


Ms. Antonionette Barry, September's Support Person of the Month, with Asst. Principal Rosado


Media Minutes
By Sharon Powers, Media Specialist

Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA)
The school year is well underway and so the SSYRA Reward Card program is hopping as well. We have our first group of students who have read and already passed the tests on all 15 books! This is quite an accomplishment and definitely deserves major kudos. These amazing readers have earned rewards already and will continue to benefit from their reading throughout the rest of the year.

Congratulations go out to: 7th graders Allison Gage, Vandana Manchikanti, Gabriella Ramos, Delaney Richgels, and 8th grader Arnav Chhabra . . . 
      
. . . and welcomes go out to the new card holders:

6th grade:
  • Sebastian Mejia
  • Mia Fagan
  • Grayson Perry


7th grade:
  • Paige Hubbard
  • Chloe Gooding
  • Mia Sangria
  • Andrew Ryan Drago
  • Alaena Flores
  • Mia Sangria
  • Blaise Peck
8th grade:
  • Khadeejah Ahmed
  • Isabella Boilini
  • Fabiana Mastuantono


If you look closely, you can see the names of the five students who have by the end of September already completed the 15 SSYRA books for the 2018-2019 school year.


Mystery Mosicac
A new Mystery Mosaic has gone up in the media center. Students can earn stickers to add to the mosaic by checking out books, paying fines, and taking SSYRA books.


What do you think it is going to be?


SSYRA Book of the Week: "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
So far, my favorite book on the list! Jason Reynolds is an amazing author and I recommend anything he has written!


(Summary copied from Goodreads.com)
Running. That's all that Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But never for a track team. Nope, his game has always been ball. But when Ghost impulsively challenges an elite sprinter to a race -- and wins -- the Olympic medalist track coach sees he has something: crazy natural talent. Thing is, Ghost has something else: a lot of anger, and a past that he is trying to outrun. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed and meld with the team, or will his past finally catch up to him?


Knight Athletics



In the Playoffs!
Our boys and girls soccer teams clinched their spots in playoff last week, continuing our Knight tradition. Only the top three teams from each cluster advance and even though our boys suffered a tough loss on Friday against Freedom Middle School, we still get a chance to redeem ourselves in playoffs. Our ladies defeated Freedom 2-0 ending their regular season with a record of 6-1. Attached is our soccer playoff bracket if you would like to follow our soccer teams playoff journey.
 
The boys played at home last Wednesday against Wolf Lake (below) and the girls play Monday at Maitland Middle School. Please wish our Knight athletes and coaches the best of luck if you see them in the hallways or out in the community as they have been working extremely hard.



Soccer Update
Boys soccer advances to the Sweet Sixteen! After a scoreless 40 minutes of play and a five minute overtime, our Knights ended up defeating Wolf Lake in penalty kicks.
 
Boys play at home on Monday against our former rival Avalon Middle School at 5:30pm.
This is not a game you want to miss!

Girls play Monday at Maitland Middle School after having a bye this past week.

2018 Volleyball Try-Outs
Volleyball try-outs begin Thursday, October 4th immediately after school. Every student must have a cleared OCPS sports physical packet and at least a 2.0 G.P.A. to try-out.

Thank you,

Irimar Hernandez, Athletic Director


Special Event



Weekly Success Indicators
Key indicators that directly or indirectly impact student achievement  
 
Success Indicator
Aug. 24
(5 days)
Aug. 31
(5 days)
Sept. 7
(4 days)
Sept. 14
(5 days)
Sept. 21
(5 days)
Sept. 28
(5 days)
Classroom visits by members of the LNMS administrative team (both formal & informal visits)
125
164
77
87
81
82
ProgressBook login-ins by LNMS families
650
821
834
949
824
867
Teacher attendance rate
99%
98.0%
99.0%
98.0%
97.0%
97.0%
Attendance rate - 6th
NA
97.6%
96.8%
96.4%
97.0%
97.0%
Attendance rate - 7th
NA
97.3%
96.5%
97.4%
96.0%
97.0%
Attendance rate - 8th
NA
96.0%
95.7%
95.6%
96.0%
96.0%
Tardies to school - 6th
NA
22
15
20
18
23
Tardies to school - 7th
NA
23
14
17
19
24
Tardies to school - 8th
NA
23
14
26
14
25
Tardies to class - 6th
NA
31
15
25
21
27
Tardies to class - 7th
NA
15
8
17
14
23
Tardies to class - 8th
NA
8
25
45
13
41
School bus arrival rate - mornings
100%
90%
90%
95%
98%
95%
School bus arrival rate - afternoons
85%
85%
80%
85%
90%
95%
Library book circulation - 6th
634
209
130
169
102
99
Library book circulation - 7th
63
178
128
110
159
99
Library book circulation - 8th
37
30 
24
30
22
NA
Tutoring - Tues.
---
---
---
New
43
81
Tutoring - Wed.
---
---
---
---
New
203
Tutoring - Thurs.
---
---
---
New
78
95
LAN School Tracking
(goal = 15)
---
---
---
New
9
10

Credit: Mrs. Wood, Assistant Principal
 

Monday's Motivational Moment!
 
A LESSON IN TEAMWORK FROM THE GEESE

Why do geese fly in a V? First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back into formation when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest (up to 70% greater flying range!). Research shows that pelicans that fly alone beat their wings more frequently and have higher heart rates than those that fly in formation. It follows that birds that fly in formation glide more often and reduce energy expenditure. (By the way, the reason that geese honk is to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.)

The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Flying in formation may assist with the communication and coordination within the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.

Finally, and many may not realize this, but when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls, two geese will follow it down to help and protect it. They will stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again, then they catch up with the flock or launch with another formation.

----------

A reminder for Monday. I had mentioned at the outset of this week's edition that our young Knight athletes will be competing on the soccer fields. They have practiced terribly hard throughout the soccer season and have exhibited some marvelous traits relating to teamwork (much like the geese above) along with fine sportsmanship. Please consider coming on out to support them. It would mean a great deal to the students and their coaches.


Mrs. Jackson, Principal
Lake Nona Middle School
Sunday, September 30, 2018


Leadership Team

Principal: Stephanie Jackson stephanie.jackson3@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Damian Rosado damian.rosado@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Cheryl Wood cheryl.wood@ocps.net
Assistant Principal: Lindsey Herold lindsey.herold@ocps.net
8th Grade Administrative Dean: Steven Berson steven.berson@ocps.net
7th Grade Administrative Dean: Tangala Butler-Wilson  Tangala.Butler-Wilson@ocps.net
6th Grade Administrative Dean: Wanda Perkins wanda.perkins@ocps.net

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Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS-Lake Nona Middle School is forbidden without written consent.  Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Lake Nona Middle School. Please contact Ms. Cheryl Wood (assistant principal) at cheryl.wood@ocps.net with any questions.