OUR VISION

• Lilburn Middle School will become a Professional Learning Community committed to working collaboratively to engage students in learning in order to actualize student potential.

OUR MISSION

• Lilburn Middle School is committed to engaging all students in learning the Academic Knowledge and Skills through research-based best practices with mastery being measured by local, state, national, and world-class standards and re-teaching/reassessing students as needed to actualize their potential.

OUR VALUES

• We use research-based best practices to engage students in learning.

• We build healthy relationships with our students, parents, and community members.

• We provide appropriate interventions to support students in actualizing their potential.

• We collaborate with our colleagues toward building a Professional Learning Community.

LSPI GOAL #1 (Content/Academic)

The percentage of students scoring in the Proficient and Distinguished categories will increase on the math, language arts, science, and social studies District Assessment Post-tests and the Georgia Milestones EOC/EOG Assessments by 2023.

As evidenced by:

• 45% of all students in grades 6-8 scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels on the GCPS District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones Assessment for English/Language Arts, and 10% of students will score in the Distinguished range.

• 50% of all students in grades 6th and 7th Grades and in 8th Grade Algebra scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels on the GCPS District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones Assessment for Standard Mathematics and Algebra, and 15% of students will score at the Distinguished range.

• 65% of all students in 6th and 7th Grade Accelerated Mathematics and in Accelerated Algebra scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels on the GCPS District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones Assessment for Accelerated Mathematics and Accelerated Algebra, and 15% of students at the Distinguished range.

• 45% of all students in grades 6-8 scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels on the GCPS District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones Assessment for Social Studies, and 10% of students will score in the Distinguished range.

• 45% of all students in grades 6-8 scoring at the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels on the GCPS District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones Assessment for Science, and 10% of students will score in the Distinguished range.

• 50% of all students taking the 9-12 Physical Science scoring in the Proficient and Distinguished performance levels; and 20% of students will score at the Distinguished level on the District Assessment and the Georgia Milestones EOC Assessment in Science.

• 40% or more of EL students will increase at least one level on the 2022 ACCESS assessment. Additionally, 50% of EL students will demonstrate growth, as predicted by the ACCESS band report.

LSPI #2 (Stakeholder Perception)

• We will improve our stakeholders' perception of our school as measured by an increase from 3.6 to 4 (weighted average of the theme scores) on the Spring 2022 parent perception survey. Further, we will have no more than 5% of students scoring in the lowest category of student engagement, based on the Spring 2022 SEI.

LSPI #3 (State Report Card)

• Lilburn Middle School’s CCRPI score will be in the top 25% of Georgia middle schools in 2021-2022.

As evidenced by LMS performance in the areas of Content Mastery, Progress, Closing Gaps, and Readiness

COVID Safety Protocols

• Complete a health assessment before leaving home. If you are not feeling well contact your grade level AP as soon as possible (Special Education Teachers contact Ms. St. James). If necessary, follow the absence/sub protocol immediately.

• Wear masks in the classroom with students and throughout the building. The current recommendation is to use the medical grade masks (not mesh masks).

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer throughout the day.

• Remember to social distance as much as possible.

• After eating lunch, students should put their masks back on before engaging in conversation with their classmates.

If you would like to share an instructional strategy (and see your name in our newsletter), please complete this form: https://forms.gle/yosN8LojrHRmC5iMA

Today's Bite Size PD strategy is featured by Mr. Dustin Alexander

Mr. Alexander was observed using all spaces in his classroom to creatively address the need for small group instruction. Mr. Alexander was spotted in action by Dr. Dillard as he was pulling students into small group instruction while using a projected activity to facilitate the lesson. Notice how all students are engaged in independent work as he meets with a small group at the Smartboard. Mr. Alexander created processes and procedures to ensure good classroom management and used his space creatively and efficiently in order to make small group instruction work for his 6th grade SS class.

Previous Bite Size PD Contributors

Quality Plus Teaching Strategy: Questioning and Prior Knowledge

Small Group Instruction: We continue to work on fine-tuning our small group instruction. Small group instruction is an expected and effective instructional strategy to be used during ELT and normal classroom instruction. See the document at the link for some additional insight into effective small group instruction. This document and additional resources related to small group instruction is located in eCLASS in the Literacy Online Communication Center (LOCC). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j70CkYF_A5vtgf-BDDGuQ1Tt9st3gED1UlTH36rJbzQ/edit?usp=sharing

NEW:

1. The 12 Days of Winter Fun are HERE!!! Please see the link for more details of the activities this month:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-0GjZRwOTii4I1QwzjHFDVERwBSIH6hp/view?usp=sharing

2. Cell Phone Policy

Several of our students are saying that they did not hear the announcements when we discussed the new cell phone expectations. Please use this document to speak with your class about it. As a reminder, during our grade-level meetings before Thanksgiving, we discussed concerns with cell phone usage and reviewed our current cell phone policy. There are some additional steps that we agreed to take to ensure that students adhere to the expectations around cell phone usage at school. We will share this with students on the news show on Monday, 11/15. Please see the document for details of this discussion:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pumjCVyB2E3rlY6nT2SvO-28D3qE_XQEF_QVZX7gl3Y/edit?usp=sharing

3. STUDENT AGENDA BOOKS:

Thank you our Health and PE Coaches, Coach Crawford, Coach George, and Coach Winters for facilitating our school-wide health initiative, Health MPowers. Through this program, each student will receive an agenda book. ALL students are expected to utilize the agenda book as a hallway pass. If you have students who do not have an agenda book, please compile their names in a list and send the list to your grade level clerk. Make sure that the agenda book is signed by the teacher who is releasing the student. Thank you to everyone who has done this so far!

4. REMIND:

Please sign up to receive messages through Remind. This will be used in case of emergency, or if there is a need for urgent communication. Text @f637g3 to 81010.

5. Please reference the updated Grading Checkpoint tool to make sure that you're on track:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_cOx-B7xuaLOpa2mx98v9xAn_RyxBgx0/view?usp=sharing

6. Preferred Names:

Parents will have the opportunity to go in to ParentVue beginning the week of November 22 to enter a preferred name for their child. Current Nicknames in Synergy will be removed prior to this option being made available to parents. Our SDMC, Brenda Badillo will make these updates as any requests are input into the system. See the attached flyer that GCPS will share with parents.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWsvtODQsKT0-YoDTLJKelXgVBUAzJ5o/view?usp=sharing

7. There is no more frustration with signing up for the various meeting locations in the building. Here is our LMS room reservation protocol:

• If you need to reserve the Media Center, Cafeteria, Collaboratory, computer lab, etc., all you need to do is to go to our LMS Training page and you will see the sign-up links for those locations.

• Don't forget to let your AP, Mrs. Markitan, and Mrs. Curry know that you plan to use the room.

• Email Dr. Dillard with the date of the event and she will add it to the calendar.

• If your event is on the weekend or during the week after the custodians are scheduled to close the building (7:45 PM), you will need to email Dr. Irish to ensure there is a plan for securing the building.

8. Feedback Wanted:

• Please complete this brief survey to let me know how the year is going https://forms.gle/D1WtA9h51koEXbQQ9

Attendance and Punctuality

• Timely and regular attendance is an expectation of performance for all LMS staff. It is so difficult right now for us to get substitute teachers and support to fill in when you are out, I am asking for everyone to do their best in being at work and arriving on time each day.

Sub Request

• Please remember to request a sub as soon as you know you will not be at work on a given day.

• All grade level teachers should submit their leave requests to their grade level AP (Special Education teachers will send the request to Ms. St.James). All requests for a Friday or for a leave request "blackout day" must be approved by Dr. Irish.

• Personal leave requests must be submitted 5 days in advance.

• If you are having trouble requesting a sub, please contact Sonia Curry as soon as possible.

• If you are going to be out in an emergency situation, send your grade level AP or myself a text message as soon as you know along with your grade level

Safety and Security

1. Classroom teachers: Please stand at your door to greet students and monitor the hallways during each class change.

2. Remember to use your classroom sign-out sheet when students are leaving the room. This helps to keep track of where students are during the day.

3. Please monitor your class when they are traveling through the halls. It is always best to develop a procedure that allows you to keep your class within your sights. It is not advisable to send them ahead because they are in middle school and may seize the moment of being unsupervised to make a poor choice.

4. Transitions: Please remind students about safety in the hallways. We are spending these first few days setting the tone for the rest of the school year. It is always easier to be highly consistent in the beginning, with the expectations that students will adopt the expectations on their own as the year goes on. Constant reminders and practicing are very normal at this time of year. Teachers should be in strategic locations to observe students in the hallways. Remember to communicate with your grade level administrator if there is ever a time that you cannot make it to your duty spot.

5. Please adhere to your grade level's lunch start and end time to ensure we protect our instructional time.

6. Students should not be bringing backpacks into the restroom, or stopping into restrooms in between classes

Safety and Security

• We care about the safety and security of all of our Mustangs. Please help to ensure the following:

• All visitors need to wear a VISIBLE name badge. Please remind visitors to sign in and out.

• Guest speakers, volunteers, and full-day visitors must be approved by an administrator prior to the visit

• Classroom doors should be locked, but open

• Windows on classroom doors should be kept unobstructed

• Make sure that all exterior doors are locked during the day- no “propping”

COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive:

• Recently, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced it is offering a one-time, $500 incentive to eligible staff members who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. To receive the incentive, eligible employees will follow a two-step process attesting to their vaccination status and providing proof of vaccination.

  • Step 1: Using the link provided in the Employee Portal, complete the form attesting to the employee’s eligibility. This link (which will be available beginning Sept. 10) appears in the top right-hand section of the portal above the Technical Support box/information. The form will be available from the 10th to the 20th of each month through the end of the school year.

  • Step 2: Prior to the 24th of the month, your school or department contact will communicate information on your location’s process for Step 2, which involves verification/proof of vaccination. If Step 2 is not completed by your location’s deadline each month, your incentive payment will not be processed until the next pay period. Please note that proof of vaccination can be verified with a hard copy or photo of either the employee’s COVID vaccination card or record of vaccination.

  • Note that this incentive is being provided to the following staff members who meet eligibility requirements:

• All benefit eligible, full-time employees

• Contracted cafeteria staff (If the employee is a SPUR employee they will get information through SPUR)

• Contracted speech language pathologists

• Retirees (This group will receive .49% of incentive to reflect their .49 work schedule.)

• Substitute Teachers (Eligible substitutes will receive an email once they have met the eligibility requirement of working a minimum of 45 days this school year.)

PREVIOUS REMINDERS:

Go to the link to see the previous updates

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bZaE9jK7tN-2uhKUsDG1JaRZ8YyOnCzKULlaOw8xzvY/edit?usp=sharing

Upcoming Professional Learning:

Literacy Boot Camp

In this three-hour intensive workshop, participants will plan for small group literacy instruction for the upcoming quarter. Teachers will select choice sessions based on their professional needs and interests that focus on various types of small group methods and topics. Participants will examine the foundational AKS for the upcoming quarter and have an opportunity to observe and develop lessons, plan for small group instruction, and consider assessment items and practices to address the varying needs of their students.

What: Q2 Literacy Boot Camp

When: December 4, 2021(8:30 AM – 11:30 AM)

Where: Zoom Participants should register for course # 27296 in PD&E by November 19, 2021.

Sadlier Vocabulary Training

GCPS will offer a virtual training opportunity for all language arts teachers on the newly adopted Sadlier Vocabulary resource on January 5, 2022, in the afternoon. More details will be coming in December.

Ready, Set, Science Bootcamp

• This professional learning provides an opportunity for teachers to grow in their understanding of the Science AKS and Phenomenon Driven Science Instruction. Participants will engage in activities to help support their understanding of the science AKS, science and engineering practices, science formative assessments, and our newly revised small group lessons.

• What: Ready, Set, Science Bootcamp

• When: September 23, December 9, February 3 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

• Where: Discovery High School

Required Online Training Videos (PD & E or eCLASS Training Page):

1) All staff members are required to read and sign off on the LMS handbook. You can access the handbook and the sign-off by navigating to the LMS Training Page (Due September 2)

2) Test Administration and Security (DUE - August 31)

3) Safety and Security Compliance Training (DUE-September 25)

4) HR Compliance and Ethics (DUE - November 1)

5) Security Awareness (DUE Date - November 21)

1) Monday, November 29

• ELT (Period 1)

• 8th grade High School Selection process

• Readers Rally 4:30 p.m. Media Center

• Hanukkah (Day 1)

2) Tuesday, November 30

• ELT (Period 2)

• Chess Club - Room 8.193 8:15 am to 8:45 am

• GoSTEM 4:45-6 p.m.

• Tutoring Connections 8:10 a.m.-8:50 a.m.

• 8th grade High School Selection process

• Hanukkah (Day 2)

3) Wednesday, December 1

• ELT (Period 3)

• LYLA Club meeting- 5:45

• 8th grade High School Selection process

• Professional Learning at ISC- Dr. Irish

• Boy Scouts to visit 6th grade

• LYLA meets until 5:45 PM

• Tutoring MA & SS 8:10 a.m.-8:50 a.m.

• Hanukkah (Day 3)

• Tutoring MA & SS 8:10 a.m.-8:50 a.m.

4) Thursday, December 2

• ELT (Period 4)

• Tutoring ELA & SC 8:10 a.m.-8:50 a.m.

• 8th grade High School Selection process

• GSMST Information Session (at GSMST), 7 PM

• Hanukkah (Day 4)

5) Friday, December 3

• 8th grade High School Selection process

• Advisement SEL Lesson

• Connections B

• Hanukkah (Day 5)

6) Saturday, December 4

• Rest and Relax!

• Basketball Game @ Summerour

• City of Lilburn Christmas Parade

• Soccer @ home vs Five Forks Boys at 10/girls at 11

• Hanukkah (Day 6) / Rosh Chodesh Tevet

Coming up next week:

Informed with Irish, Holiday Grams, CFA Spirit Night, AP Professional Learning, Concerts, Bball games

Have a Supercharged and Laser-Focused Week!

Additional School-Wide Newsletters:

Technology Newsletter (D.Brown):

https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/techteamnewsletter/home/vol-ii-sept-2021

PBIS Newsletter (Maresh):

https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/lmspridepackpbis/pride-pack-post-newsletter_1

Connections Newsletter (Byrd):

https://sites.google.com/g.gcpsk12.org/connectionsnewsletter/home

Special Education Newsletter (St.James):

Coming Soon