LCMS Paw Prints Newsletter

Dear LCMS Panther Families,

Thank you all for a great first week of school. 

Please don't forget to log into your parent Skyward account to complete the Health Consent Form and, if you choose, that Name Deriviation form. Health Consent is due MONDAY 8/14.

Have a great week and enjoy the last weekend of summer!

Dr. Melissa Laudani

Principal, Lawton Chiles MS 

Cell Phone Policy

INFORMATION UPDATE: A new law went into effect on July 1, 2023 and impacts how cell phones and other wireless communication devices are used on campuses. Florida Statute 1006.07(2)(f), says “a student may not use a wireless communications device during instructional time, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes. A teacher shall designate an area for wireless communications devices during instructional time.”

This means that cell phones must be silenced and placed as designated by the teacher while in class.

This new update can also be found in our student code of conduct on page 21.  We ask for your support in upholding not only the law, but in maintaining an environment conducive to academic learning.

Carline Procedures

***Please note, if you are coming from the roundabout, there is no left turn into the main entrance of the school.  If you are leaving the main entrance of the school, there is no left turn out exiting campus. You must turn right and go around the roundabout. There are signs for both of these instances, and you can receive a traffic ticket from OPD.  

Before school:

After School: 

Bus Procedures

Bus Stops

You should now be able to access your child's bus stops in the Traversa app (formerly MyRide 360). Download the app in the App/Google Play store. Online access can be found at www.scps.us/bus-stops.

The Transportation hotline (407-320-7588) is available for parents and families to call with their school bus-related questions. The hotline will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. 

*Please note that transportation staff will be visiting all open houses at the schools. Due to the number of open houses on August 8th and 9th, there will be limited availability by phone.

Lunch Procedures

Students will be told what lunch they have on the first day of school. Lunches fluctuate as we change classes and balance the numbers, so they will not be finalized until then.  Menus can be accessed from the button at the top of this newsletter. 

Bell Schedule

Supervision starts at 8:55 am. The first bell rings at 9:25 am. The dismissal bell rings at 4:05pm. All students are dismissed at once.  The Bell Schedule can be found on the Our School page of the LCMS Website: Our School - Lawton Chiles Middle School (scps.k12.fl.us) 

Tryouts

Tryouts for the following sports will be held later this month: Boys and Girls JV and Varsity Volleyball, Cheer & Mascot, and Pantherettes Dance Team.  All students trying out for a sport must have a completed Release and Consent form with them at tryouts.  See below for dates and times. 

Please download this form if you plan for your child to tryout:

Release and Consent form

For more information regarding LCMS Athletics, please visit our website: Athletics - Lawton Chiles Middle School (scps.k12.fl.us) 

Calendar

Below, please find the calendar for this school year. Please take note of the days for the beginning and end of each of the 4 quarters.  9 week exams will be held the last week of each quarter (October, December, March & May). Please plan vacations accordingly so that students are in attendance for exams. This calendar can be downloaded here: Block Calendar

***Repeated but Relevant***

You're Invited

We Need Your Help (updated)

Now that you know who your teachers are, show them some love!

Several of our teachers have set up Amazon Wish Lists to help them set up their classrooms for the year. Please see the lists below and help where you can:

Mrs. Ricks (6th & 7th ELA) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1FMPSQV97RWD4...  

Mrs. Capp (6th gr World History) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/20O4SBPH4WW57... 

Mrs. Maher (7th & 8th gr Science) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SXKL3SQJU1OK... 

Mrs. Freund (Virtual Lab) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5HDG6ZQF8K9M... 

Mrs. Higley (6th gr ELA) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3KT1JY43MZS1S...  

Mrs. Haddox (6th gr World History & 7th gr Civics) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1B2UCNY3K4XGT...  

Mrs. Brown (ESE) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RIN4UY68D7X?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_QAmomXeYivLEG 

Mrs. Bass (8th gr US History) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2H177MPS3J9YL?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR1Of_cNN0bZIh07B-JFla9vL0TL_rBcV_mKNMO_Ihe3BBHGHIV324k0EGU 

Ms. Heckle (8th gr Science) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3PT1Q9E6SR8FC?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR2VsbiwrSVmVZckBZH4ylPjn4Nm7XAmkR_hlfofm-LS7UoJRd5dRXgdLvU 

Mrs. Frazier (8th gr ELA & US History) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3NTG1J37ACML4?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR00H1fp1Vy32e78g1HaRxkhz9MVNr6QOBTzLjWKpQD1RbflAbRu2B9dqPo 

Mrs. Edwards (7th gr Math & Intensive Math) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/29D7UZQVTW045?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Ilemsky (7th gr Civics & SGA) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/bvFnRoG?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_bOYyzFXTQKn82 

Dr. Vardas (8th gr ELA) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/178LZHDG6F5DQ?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Perez Feliciano (ESOL & AIP)  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JANA24Z6EPNC/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?fbclid=IwAR31N9OWlkxRBRSHUUzyhwp9KIAdyP-yJhMzao05SdqZRpUfc2BHAbR953k 

Mr. Bond (7th gr Civics) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/9WXNHOL2R020?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Buitrago (6th gr World History) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2AW1S469AM1AK?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Canul (6th gr Science) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2FMK08IR7Q6W4?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Knickerbocker (6th gr Science) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28QCCB143UDOL?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Ortiz-Tatarka (Theater) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FUWXKGYWXMV6?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Brady (Yearbook) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/PWZLJONSR7IY?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Brady (BETA Club) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1L4JVY1U1Y8QC?ref_=wl_share 

Mrs. Elliott (PreAlgebra & Algebra 1) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MJP59RQ56BEZ?ref_=wl_share   

Mrs. Bond (Learning Pathways) https://a.co/6OMABoL  

Mrs. Goodman (6th gr Science) https://a.co/hKTR6qY 

as of 8/11/23

Yearbooks Are Now on Sale! (updated code)

Scan code below or click the button at the top of this newsletter. 

PTSA

Join PTSA! PTSA Memberships for the 23-24 school year are now available at this link.

Please log in and purchase one for you and your Panther!  Student members receive incentives once a month during all lunches.

Don't forget that you must apply to be a Dividend every year. Please make sure that you log in and update your application for the upcoming school year - click here

For more information about PTSA, please visit their page on the LCMS Website: PTSA Page

All students attending PTA schools* sponsoring the program are invited to participate in the PTSA Reflections program. Students should submit their completed works of art in one, more or all of the available arts categories: 

• Dance Choreography

• Film Production

• Literature

• Music Composition

• Photography

• Visual Arts

This year's theme is below:

Who to Contact

Have a question or an issue, but you aren't sure who to contact? Use this flowchart below for assistance. All email addresses can be found on the Staff Directory on the LCMS Website:  Staff Directory  Lists of which administrators are over which subject areas can also be found on the LCMS Website: Administration

FEV Tutors

Our free, online Tutoring through FEV Tutors is available once again.  See the flyer below or look for FEV Tutor in Clever under "Class Tools". 

FYI - No Drop Offs or Early Check-out after 3:30 (2:30 on Wed)

Support our Business Partners!

If you are interested in advertising in the weekly newsletter, please email Melissa_Laudani@scps.us.

If you are interested in having an ad banner on our carline or Hwy 419 fence, please fill out this form: https://share.hsforms.com/1JG4T_qJIQq2TMHgRyay3dQ4amsl or call the number below. 

Pictures of these banners will also be included on the website and in this newsletter. 

Support our Banner Sponsors!

Support our In-Kind Donors!

Please support these Business Partners who have supported our school programs through an in-kind donation: