There was a lot happening on campus this week! We had the NJHS Induction ceremony, volleyball games, MAP Growth testing, club meetings, Choir social, and more! It certainly made us feel like school is back in session and settling into a routine.
Be sure to check out the entire newsletter for Back To School Night information, an update on lunch, ways parents can support Lamar, and more!
Upcoming Dates
Monday, Sept 5th - No School - Labor Day
Tuesday, Sept 6th - Lamar Football vs. Lively @ Nelson Field - 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Wednesday, Sept 7th - Back To School Night
Thursday, Back To School Night - Wednesday, September 7th - 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Back To School Night - Wednesday, September 7th - 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
- Parents/Caregivers will follow their students' schedule rotating to each class.
- We are going paper free this year so be sure to access your child's schedule ahead of time through the Parent Portal.
- Students will be creating a map of their classes during Scottie Seminar on Wednesday.
- Doors open at 5:30 pm so you can sign up to be a PTA member and purchase your Lamar Merch in the cafeteria.
- First bell rings at 5:45 pm with classes beginning at 5:50 pm.
- You will spend 10 minute in each class with a 5 minute passing period.
- Teachers will provide an overview of their course, grading policies, BLEND pages, etc. An opportunity for parent-teacher conferences will be communicated at a later date.
PLEASE NOTE: Space is limited in our charming school. Please consider 1 adult per student if possible. Thank you!
First Progress Reports coming next week
Teachers will be submitting the first round of progress reports next week. This is one way to receive notification of missing assignments; please see grades in Frontline/Parent Portal for most up to date grade information.
Student planners
The 7th and 8th grade student planners have arrived and will be distributed next week during Science classes. 6th graders already received theirs.
Every Monday during Scottie Seminar, students make a plan for the week and the student planner will support them with this crucial middle school skill.
Office Hours
Office Hours with teachers are held Tuesdays through Fridays from 7:55 am to 8:15 am. Students may obtain a pass from either the front foyer or their morning location. Be sure to check with your teacher for specific days office hours are held.
Lunch update
We've received a lot of feedback regarding our new lunch routines. I'm going to start with revisiting the rationale, share some positive outcomes, as well as share some updates.
Lamar has just under 1,200 students. In order to feed all students, we have 4 lunches with approx. 300 students in each lunch period. We have one cafeteria service line this year and one to two custodians per lunch due to staffing shortages. Feeding, monitoring, and cleaning up after that many students requires a system.
Teachers walk their students to the cafeteria. Students then are seated by filling in the seats a table at a time. Once all the students are seated, they are dismissed a table or two at a time to go to the cafeteria line. Each table seats approx. 50 students.
During the last 15 minutes of lunch, students may earn technology time.
Students are then dismissed to return to the classes a table at a time once all trash has been thrown away.
Benefits we've seen so far include:
- Students reporting that lunch is calmer this year and they feel more safe,
- Teachers are sharing that students return to class from lunch more ready to learn than before.
- Students always have someone to sit with at lunch and are not isolated.
- Students are being inclusive and making new friends.
- Every adult who supports lunch has commented on how much calmer lunch is this year.
Drawbacks:
-Students would like to be able to choose where the sit and with whom.
Starting next week, we are going to try allowing students to choose their own seats on Fridays. We will be monitoring how well they follow directions during the week by listening to the adults, cleaning up after themselves, and pushing in their chairs.
Volunteers
Lamar has an amazing community supporting our teachers, staff, and students. Stay tuned for information on how to volunteer in the office, at lunch, or in other ways at Lamar.
If you are interested in volunteering, the first step is completing an application with Austin Partners in Education.
Considering becoming a sub
Want to spend a day with some really cool kids? Become a sub for Austin ISD and pick up jobs at Lamar! Not only are you helping our kiddos, but you are helping teachers and staff too! Often times, there are not enough subs and teachers fill in during their conference periods. By becoming a sub, you are helping the entire Lamar Community!
Join the Scottie Team!
We are still looking to add a great member to office staff! If you love helping kids, other parents, and teachers then this is the job for you! Bilingual is preferred but not required.
Staffing Updates
Our candidate for the ELA position has accepted! Once they are onboarded we will announce their name and start date.
Openings include:
- Texas & US History Teacher (current filled by long-term sub)
- Career and Technology teacher (current filled by long-term sub)
- Special Education SCORES and SBS teachers
- Special Education teaching assistants
- custodians
- cafeteria
- Office clerk (bilingual preferred but not required)
Dropping off "forgotten" items
At this time, we are only able to accept items that students forgot to bring with them between 8:30 am and 11:00 am.
Schedule Change Updates
Elective schedule changes concluded this week. The only changes we will make moving forward are level changes (advanced to on-level, algebra to grade-level math, etc.). All other schedule change requests will not be honored at this time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Caught in the act
Caught in the Act, a positive reward system for students who are "caught" doing something good, begins Tuesday, September 6th. Students can earn a Caught in the Act slip for positive behaviors that teachers and staff see in class, in the hall, before and after school, during lunch, etc.
We will draw names for each grade level every Friday, beginning September 9th, and students will receive a prize!
Examples of when to give a Caught in the Act:
- Helping another student
- Helping clean up without being asked
- Reporting suspicious behavior
- Doing a good deed
- Turning in a lost item
- Being polite and respectful
- Exhibiting leadership skills
- And many more!
Gifted and Talented Nominations
The Gifted and Talented nomination window is now open. Parent nomination forms can be found here http://www.lamarmiddleschool.org/lamar-gifted-and-talented-program on the Lamar MS website. Nomination forms must be emailed to the GT Coordinator, ann.kestner@austinisd.org, by October 7th.
GT Referral and Screening Process
All campuses in Austin ISD offer Gifted and Talented screening in grades K-12 based on referrals received by the Campus GT Advocate.
Parents and caregivers can submit their child’s name to the Campus GT Advocate to be considered for the Gifted and Talented program. The Campus GT Advocate can provide more details.
Referral Dates for SY2022-23:
-
September 19-October 7 for grades 3-12
Announcements from teachers and staff
Book Club from Ms. Dietz
Latina girls in grades 6 - 8 are invited to participate in a special Somos Escritoras Book club October 2nd - Nov 5th.
From Lamar Courtesy Fund
Lamar community, want to help our teachers and staff in an easy, fuss-free way? Please donate to our Courtesy Fund!
You’ll be helping sponsor birthday cakes 🍰, flowers for important life events 🌷, and even a meal or two🍴.
As little as $5 goes a long way. Donate now at:
https://austinisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/26329/63/False/True
Yearbooks-Past and Present
Yearbooks are ready to be purchased for the 2022-2023 school year!
View the flyers below to see how to purchase your Lamar 22-23 yearbook through an easy online website.
Note: Yearbooks previously purchased for the 2021-2022(LAST YEAR) school year will be distributed through Scottie seminar over the next two weeks.
Shrek : The Musical
Reminder for all that want to be a part of the 2022-23 Lamar Musical- Shrek Jr:
Sign up for an audition date 9/13 or 9/14, fill out the Audition Form, and prepare for the audition using the songs and sides found under the Shrek Jr tab at lamarchoir.com.
Students that would like to be on the backstage running crew, pick up a CREW application packet outside Ms.Easter's Theatre Room 604.
Have a question? check out all the information at lamarchoir.com
Contacts: le.easter@austinisd.org OR michel.kennell@austinisd.org
Creative Writing Majors
Hello, Creative Writing Majors! The first Creative Writing Major meeting (for Creative Writing Major students only) is Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 3:55-4:30 in the library. All majors are required to attend. Email rachel.dietz@austinisd.org or catherine.vouvray@austinisd.org with questions. See you Tuesday!
Theatre Arts Booster Club Meeting- First Tuesdays of the Month.
This Tuesday 9/6 in room 604 at 6pm.
Parents of Theatre Arts students are welcome to join us.
Email susannepringle@gmail.com or le.easter@austinisd.org for more information
Help spread THE Bark
The Bark is now distributed through AISD's School Messenger. Be sure your settings allow for campus messages. You can check your settings under "My Messages" in the Parent Portal.
Click here for a step by step tutorial.
Announcements from PTA
Merch Coming Soon for slae on September 7, 2022 at Back to School Night.
Secret Pals
Please help us support our Lamar Staff and sign up to be a Secret Pal!
Congratulations to our Cross Country Team!
Lamar Cross Country team ran their first race of the season this week at the Del Valle XC Invitational. Under gray skies and in the mud, all of the Scottie runners did an amazing job on the trail. Coming in first place in the girl's 8th grade division was Sascha Polonski. Way to go! Congratulations to all the runners!!!
More XC News: Beginning this coming week, all practices are now on B-Days. Meet at 7am at the Lamar Track. Contact Ms. Rowland with any questions: virginia.rowland@austinisd.org