1.29.26 SeĂąora Audayâs 6th grade World Language classes recently visited the LMS Library to learn about Adinkra art and its cultural origins.
Adinkra symbols come from the Akan people of Ghana and CĂ´te dâIvoire in West Africa. Traditionally stamped onto cloth and used in ceremonies, these symbols represent important ideas, values, and proverbs. Each design carries a powerful meaning connected to community, character, and life lessons.
During their visit, students explored several Adinkra symbols, including:
â¤ď¸ Sankofa â âGo back and get itâ (learning from the past)
đł Aya â Fern (endurance and resourcefulness)
đ Dwennimmen â Ramâs horns (strength with humility)
After learning about the history and symbolism behind these designs, students created their own Adinkra-inspired symbols using clay, carefully shaping patterns that reflected meaningful qualities and personal values.
This lesson blended language, history, culture, and art, giving students the opportunity to connect creativity with global traditions.
1.14.26 Last week, Mr. Harrison and Mr. McKaig hosted the written round of the Spelling Bee in the LMS Library, giving students a focused space to demonstrate their spelling and vocabulary skills.
The National Spelling Bee is designed to help students improve spelling, expand vocabulary, and develop strong English language skills that last a lifetime. Students in grades 3â8 compete in school-level bees, with champions advancing to the Boulder Valley Regional Event sponsored by BVSD. Regional winners then move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, scheduled for May 2026.
Weâre proud of all the students who participated and put their word power to the test!
01.16.26 Library Morning Announcement
Good morning, Pirates!
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, our school is creating a Hands Across the School mural đâ
The mural will begin in the Pirate Triangle and travel up into the library, symbolizing what history has always shown us: libraries are safe havens and places that welcome all people in our community.
As Coretta Scott King once said, âLibraries are essential to a democratic society.â
This mural is our way of showing unity, inclusion, and respect, values Dr. King stood for and that we live out here every day. As we work together to create this mural, let's remember the words of Dr. King,
 "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.â
01.12.26. The library is buzzing as students work on National History Day (NHD) projects with Mr. Mischke and Mr. Simpson!
⥠This yearâs theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform
Students are diving into moments in history that sparked change and how people responded.
đ NHD is all about research, critical thinking, and creativity as students explore history through exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, and more.
The library is here to help with books, databases, and research support every step of the way. Stay tuned for project highlights!
12.12.25. Each day, the library transforms into a buzzing makerspace as students in Robotics class bring their ideas to life. Robotics at LMS is all about problem-solving, engineering, creativity, and teamwork. Students learn how to design, build, and program robots that can complete tasks, respond to challenges, and navigate obstacles.
It is inspiring to see how creative and industrious our students are as they test their designs, adjust their code, and collaborate with one another to make their robots work. The space is filled with brainstorming, troubleshooting, and lots of excitement as projects come to life.
Weâre proud of the inventive thinking and perseverance these students demonstrate at LMS...engineers in the making!
12.05.25Â This week, students visited the library to meet with counselors Jen Ryan, David Auday, and Kristen Lewis, who shared strategies for managing stress, preparing for finals, and understanding what to expect during the last week of school before break.
Students shared many common stressors, including:
đ Finals
đĽ Peer pressure & friendships
đ Homework & keeping up with grades
đ Feeling too busy or overwhelmed
đŤď¸ Being an introvert in a busy school environment
They also shared ways they currently cope, such as exercise, music, drawing, and laughing.
đŻ Strategies that can help when stress or anxiety builds:
đŹď¸ Try deep breathing or grounding exercises
âď¸ Break big tasks into smaller steps or make a simple checklist
đś Take movement breaks...walk, stretch, get fresh air
đ Set aside a quiet moment each day to reset
đŹ Talk with a trusted adult: a counselor, teacher, or family member
đ Keep a healthy sleep routine to support focus and calm
Counselors also reviewed how to prepare for finals, how to organize study time, and what the last week before break will look like so students can feel confident and supported.
11.20.25Â This week in the library, students explored how literature and art express emotion and gratitude. We read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and looked closely at both the story and the illustrations, discussing how the artwork reflects moments of joy, sadness, kindness, and gratitude, and how the images and words made us feel.
To extend this conversation, I shared a mini-canvas created by Rhode Island artist Mary Gazda, which inspired our follow-up activity. Students then created their own mini watercolor artwork to gift to someone in gratitude, using art to communicate emotion.
We reflected on Mary Gazdaâs message:
âArt has the power to touch our souls, to inspire us, and to bring us togetherâŚâ
This lesson helped students see how art and literature work together to help us connect with our own feelings and those of others.
11.19.25Â Ms. Volkmarâs 8th grade Multimedia students recently participated in an exciting Junior Achievement marketing event, where teamwork, creativity, and innovation took the spotlight.
Their challenge?
To work collaboratively with their teams to create a brand-new popcorn flavor, design a marketing proposal, and pitch their concept complete with name, branding, and promotional pieces aimed at a teen audience. Students were encouraged to think big, be bold, and make their product stand out.
All proposals were reviewed and judged by executives from Oogieâs Gourmet Popcorn, a Denver-based company, who were impressed by the creativity and effort students brought to their work.
đ Congratulations to the winning team:
Jett Fowler, Rory Jasiak, Kenna Forrester, and Tomer Basevitch
Their innovative flavor concept and marketing strategy earned top honors!
11.18.25Â On Tuesday, November 18, LMS 6th graders had the incredible opportunity to meet Rodman Philbrick, author of Freak the Mighty, in a live virtual author visit. Students heard directly from the author about his writing process and the inspiration behind the story theyâve been reading and discussing in class.
A huge thank-you to Christopher Harrison for making this visit possible, and to Mr. McKaig and Mr. Harrison for hosting the event and helping create such a memorable experience for our students.
11/06/25. Building good digital habits starts with conversations at home! The LMS Library is sharing Family Activity Cards from Common Sense Media to help families talk about online life in fun, authentic, and meaningful ways.
These short activities are designed to spark curiosity, empathy, and connectionâwhether your discussions go deep or just get you thinking. The goal is to encourage sharing (for kids and adults!) and to remind us that weâre all in this together as we learn how to navigate the digital world responsibly.
10/31/25. Dictionary.com has chosen â67â as its Word of the Year for 2025!
Even though itâs technically a nonsense term, itâs made people smile around the world. This unusual choice reminds us that language doesnât always have to be serious, sometimes itâs about connection and a shared sense of fun.
So hereâs to words (and numbers!) that bring people together because even something as random as â67â can make us all feel a little more united.
10/31/25. This yearâs Library Pumpkin Decorating Contest was filled with creativity and imagination! Every entry showed incredible effort and creativity. After all the votes were tallied, the winning pumpkin was The Lorax by Hazel Booher and Annabelle Fero, 8th graders! đ
Want to see more of these amazing designs?
đ Visit Whatâs Happening in the Library for more photos and highlights from the contest!
"I think it would be good if when people see each other, they say 'Biixooo3e3en', which means 'I love you' in Arapaho," Ava says.
Making Connections This Week!
Ava Hamilton, Arapaho Climate Activist and Tiff Boyd from Classroom for Climate Activist Visit LMS!
Both Banned Books Week and the Louisville mural use powerful artâwhether words or imagesâto reach peopleâs hearts, spark conversation, and protect the right to think freely.Â
Over the years, Ava has worked across different communities in Boulder County â as well as throughout her vast network of connections in the Native American community â to convey the importance of indigenous knowledge. An avid historian of Arapaho culture, Ava is constantly seeking new information and knowlege about the history of her people, and how it relates to her presence in this place on Earth.Â