IMPORTANT DATES:

October 28 Community Drum Circle, 7:00 pm

            November 3                 End of Marking Period, schools closed for students.
            November 4                 General Election Day, schools and offices closed.
            November 6            Picture Make-Up Day
            November 13                Report Cards issued.
            November 17 – 21         American Education Week
         November 24 & 25      Parent-teacher Conferences, Schools close 3 hours early
            November 26               Parent-teacher Conferences. Schools closed for students.
            November 27 *& 28     Thanksgiving Holiday. All schools and offices closed.
            December 2                  GOTTA EAT…Ledo’s Pizza, Fulton
            December 15                Interim Progress Reports issued.
            December 22                Winter Break starts.    Schools closed.
            January 5                     School starts.

INTRAMURALS

            Art Club                       In Progress.

Bridge                          In Progress.
            Imani Club                    10/28. 12/02, 1/27, 2/24, 3/24, 4/28, and 5/26.
            Intramural Soccer       10/29, 10/30

Dear Friends and Families of Lime Kiln Middle School,

The first marking period ends next Friday, October 31st. Please check your child’s grades on TeacherEase to make sure all assignments have been turned in. Report cards will be issued on November 13th.

On Friday, November 7th, your child will be bringing home a letter that will provide the information needed to schedule parent conferences online using a site called PickATime.
The student’s identification number is required to use the program. This will be attached to the letter. A demonstration on how to register for conferences using this program will be aired the month of November on the Parent Teacher Connection show. It will be aired on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 10 p.m. It will be aired on HCPSS TV, Channel 95 on Comcast or Channel 42 on Verizon.

Today, all students are bringing their pink pledge sheets for Walk for Hope, a benefit for the Dr. Leisha Emen’s cancer research through Johns Hopkins University. We would encourage you to support this important event. Students will be walking the Reservoir High School track during their related arts classes. Thank you for your support.

This month’s Principal Leadership had an excellent article on fostering self-discipline by students. While correcting misbehavior is often necessary and appropriate, the goal of developing self-discipline should always be kept in the forefront. Listed below are three more valuable tips for parents. This is the last of this series. I hope you have found them worthwhile and practical.
TIP #7: Remember that effective parenting practices must change as children grow up. Gradually transition from constant supervision and external control to allowing m,ore autonomy and independence for adolescents.
TIP #8: Communicate with your child’s teachers. Teachers usually set up similar behavior expectations in their classrooms to those found in students’ homes. Communicating early and often will help teachers and parents set consistent rules.
TIP #9: Remember that all children and adolescents make mistakes at some point. Making mistakes is part of growing up and one important way to learn how to make good choices and act responsibly.

Sincerely,
Brenda Thomas

Our students of the week are Molly Miller, Eric King, Christian Sohn, Lily Hermina, Thomas Bagley, Keelin Perry, Alex Brown and Megan Stidham.

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE, TUESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2008, LIME KILN MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC ROOM, 7PM UNTIL ABOUT 8:30PM…A community drum circle is a fun, family friendly event where everyone gets together to share their rhythmical spirit with what ever drums and small percussion they wish to use. Every one has something to offer the circle and everyone of all ages and level of experience are very welcome. Instruments are provided. Please come, bring family and friends. Find the rhythm that you didn't even know you had! See you next Tuesday, 7- 8:30pm in the music room! Nellie Hill

Date: October 23, 2008

To: Parents of Students Assigned to Buses 147 (RHS), 14 (LKMS), 344(LKMS), 74 (LKMS), 603 (FES) and 606 (FES)

From: David Ramsay, Supervisor, Pupil Transportation Office

Re: Route 29/Old Columbia Road Construction Project

Due to the road construction project in your community, our office needs to re-route several of our buses. Since we anticipate a slightly longer bus ride, please have your child arrive at their stop 10 minutes prior to the current time. We anticipate the duration of the road closure to be two weeks. Upon completion, we will resume the original bus schedules.

Thank you for your assistance. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (410) 313-6732.

On Monday, November 17, 7:00 – 8:30 pm at Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, Columbia Lisa Boarman, Facilitator for the Howard County Public School System’s School Counseling Program, will present an overview of high school offerings for advanced-level learners, as well as suggestions for scheduling these various options. A panel of Howard County students and educators will also highlight G/T and AP coursework at the high school level.

Plan to attend this session to find out how these advanced-level opportunities challenge students and enable them to tap into their areas of interest and talent at a deep level.

A schedule for each high school’s parent orientation dates will be provided to session participants.

Gifted & Talented Education Program
Parent Academies for 2008 – 2009

Interested parents and community members are invited to attend!

Date1	Topic	Location

October 1, 2008	Overview of the Gifted & Talented Program; School G/T Representative Meeting	Faulkner Ridge Center

November 17, 2008	High School Scheduling for Advanced-Level Learners	Hammond High School

January 29, 2009	Elementary G/T Education Program Showcase	Bushy Park Elementary

February 2009	Summer Enrichment Opportunities http://www.hcpss.org/gt/parent_academy.shtml	Online

March/April 2009	TBA	TBA

All Parent Academies are held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit http://www.hcpss.org/gt/parent_academy.shtml), contact the Gifted and Talented Education Program Advisory Committee at GTAdvisoryHCPSS@verizon.net or call 410-313-6800.

From the PTA:

The LKMS PTA Hospitality Committee needs your help! Our next event is the Conference dinner to be held November 24, from 4 – 5 pm. If you are interested in helping to set up, clean up or provide food or drinks, please email Moira Monk at mdmonks@comcast.net or call her at (410) 531-6752. An email has been sent out to those families who indicated interest on the PTA volunteer form at the beginning of the year; although some email addresses “bounced back.” If you did not receive the email and would like further information, please contact Moira Monk. Thanks for helping us support our wonderful teachers and staff.

Box Top$ for Education – First submission is next Thursday, October 30!! So clear out that clutter and drop your box tops in the box in the entry way near the office. Each box top is worth 10 cents and is an easy way to support our great school. For more information, and even money-saving coupons, go to: http://www.boxtops4education.com

LKMS Parents: Did you ever think, "I'd like to give the school system my 2 cents on that issue”? Well, the PTA Council of Howard County is now recruiting for just that opportunity. The PTAC is developing a Talent Bank. Parents involved in the Talent Bank would be asked to review school policies on a rotating basis. All HCPSS polices are reviewed every 3 years. Policy review committees are made up of Parents, School Administrators, Teachers, citizens and members of the Board of Education. The policies up for review this year include tobacco use, school closings, bullying/harassment/intimidation, and employee discipline. Policy review committees usually meet once or twice for an hour or so. Be part of this exciting opportunity, fill out the PTA Council Talent Skills information form that is below. You can direct any questions to your LKMS PTAC representatives, Carol Zimmerman wcrnsz@comcast.net, or Ellen Makar eemakar@aol.com.

LKMS Spirit Wear in School Sale – NOVEMBER 10th – 12th!
Spirit Wear will be on sale during all lunch periods November 10, 11 and 12th. We are looking for volunteers to come in and help with sales...and it’s a great way to see if your kids are actually eating their lunch! Please contact Andrea Keating at andrea@crewscontrol.com if you are available to help out. We will send out a reminder of the sales via e-school newsletter so that your kids remember to bring in cash to purchase some great LKMS Spirit Wear from our collection of sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweat pants, flannel lounging pants, sleeping shorts and flip flops. Inventory and sizes are limited so get great Spirit Wear while you can!

Mark your calendars for the next “Gotta Eat” night! - Ledo Pizza (11845 Route 216-Fulton-301/776-5336): Tuesday, December 2nd from 4pm-8pm (details to follow)

COAT DRIVE

Lime Kiln Middle School is supporting the PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC) and the Howard County Public School System Pupil Personnel Workers (PPW) by participating in the annual coat drive to provide students in need with winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves.

Please donate any of the following items in any sizes:

· NEW Coats, Hats, Scarves or Gloves

· Gently USED Coats (clean, no tears or damage, ready to wear)

Bring your donations to LKMS and put them in the box marked COAT DRIVE by November 7. The PPW staff would like to distribute as many of the items as possible before it gets cold. Every coat donated does find a student in need, each year. Thank you!

Contact AHS PTSA representatives to the PTACHC, Carol Zimmerman wcrnsz@comcast.net, or Ellen Makar eemakar@aol.com, if you have questions.