Diamond DRUM Beat Newsletter

Lexington High School’s Mock Trial Team will be offering summer seminars this year to middle school students in order to help them advance their mock trial skills. These seminars are a week long, and three different sessions will be held at Lexington High School over the course of the summer. Below is a link to the google form that parents and students can use to sign up. 

Thank you so much, 

Lexington High School Mock Trial Team  

https://docs.google.com/formsd/e/1FAIpQLSfJhov96tyMGhVkiRV2BKGU2Hj4DFjPg0wmmTCiX_mGEnt-g/viewform?usp=sf_link

MCAS Announcement to Families 2024

We know that there are a variety of conflicts--both planned and unplanned--that may arise for various members of our community during our MCAS dates. DESE provides us a window within which we can administer the various components of the test, and our building administrators take care to minimize scheduling testing dates against known conflicts, such as our list of community religious and cultural observances. Unfortunately, we are not always able to schedule these state-mandated tests on dates that are clear for all members of our community. Families impacted by these conflicts are welcome to reach out to their building administration to discuss accommodations, including testing during the make-up window. 

Over the next two months, we will be administering the state-required Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in Science and Tech/Engineering (STE), Mathematics and Civics.   We will be testing on the following dates:

• Math (6, 7, 8 grades): Tuesday & Wednesday, May 14 & 15 

• Civics (8th grade only): Thursday, May 9 and Thursday, May 16

Important Note: Students who are absent on the testing dates or arrive later than 30 minutes to school will be scheduled for the MCAS make up sessions when they occur.

Please help your students prepare for MCAS by ensuring that they charge their Chromebooks the night before the test, get a good night’s rest, and eat a healthy breakfast.   Students may bring water bottles into the testing room, as well as a book to read, or drawing supplies to use once they have finished their test.

LPS Policy - Prayer in School

While organized prayer in the public school setting has historically been deemed unconstitutional, we do provide a private space for students and staff to engage in voluntary prayer or reflection when these activities do not interfere with their daily activities and responsibilities. Our spaces are designated in various classrooms and the main office, and students or staff seeking to use this space should submit a request to an administrator at least two days in advance.  The Anti Defamation League has some comprehensive information available on this practice on their website here. 

For additional information, please refer to this letter sent by Principal Marlon Davis on November 9th.

 Notes from the Nurses 

We hope that your child’s school year is off to a great start.  As cold and flu season is almost here, we wanted to remind you of helpful tips for when your child is sick. 

Daily Symptoms Checklist for Parents/Guardians

(please answer the following questions for each of your students)

• Fever or feeling feverish (temperature greater than 100 degrees prior to medication administration) and/or chills

• Sore throat

• New cough (not related to a chronic condition)

• New nasal congestion (Not related to seasonal allergies)

• Muscles aches

• New loss of taste or smell

• Shortness of breath

• GI Symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea

IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS YES, KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME AND ADMINISTER A RAPID COVID TEST

Please report their absence by using the google form found on your child’s school website.

Helpful Tips

- Use a thermometer to accurately measure body temperature, not the back of your hand

- For people who are awake during the day and asleep at night, the body temperature is lowest upon waking and gradually increases throughout the day (not usually over 100F), a good time to check for fever when ill is 4-5PM

- Children do not usually wake with a headache; if your child wakes with a headache, a fever may be present, please check temperature

- Avoid sending your child to school after administering a dose of Tylenol or Ibuprofen “to get through the day." Children are poor learners when they are ill

- Wash hands frequently

- Do not share food, eating utensils or drinks with family members that are sick

- If you are not able to stay at home with your sick child, please have a backup plan ready to avoid sending a sick child to school

If your child tests positive for COVID, please note this on the Diamond Absence Form.  Please refer to this link for the updated COVID Guidelines for Families. 

Please reach out with any questions or concerns. 

In good health, 

Robin Spencer and Kristen Manning 

Diamond School Nurses 

781-861-2460 option 2

Substituting for Lexington Public Schools

Are you looking for flexible, part-time work? Or a longer term substitute teacher commitment?

Lexington Public Schools (LPS) are looking for substitute teachers in grades PK - 12 at each of our 10 schools. We have one pre-school, 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and a high school.

We are hiring substitutes for both classroom teachers and classroom support personnel, in regular education and special education.

For more information or to request an application, please click on this link.

Let's stay in Touch! To be sure we can reach you and keep you informed, families should periodically review and update their contact information, found in the ASPEN Family Portal. Here families can view and update email addresses, phone numbers and emergency contacts, as well as other functions. 

• • Directions for viewing current contact information listed for your student(s) can be found here.

  • If you need to make contact information changes, here's how. The workflow should ONLY be initiated if changes are necessary.

Please note, this workflow does not make the changes automatically. All changes are reviewed and updated by district personnel. During times of high volume, updates are made in the order they are received. 

Should you need assistance with account information, changing contact information, information about the status of your contact change request, or should you have any other ASPEN questions, you can email familyportal@lexingtonma.org. You can also visit our website here.