IMPORTANT DATES:

September 11               PTA Executive Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
September 13              Rosh Hashanah, all schools and offices closed
September 17              Family Life Parent Orientation, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
September 19              Drama Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
September 24              Drama Auditions, 3:15 p.m.
September 24              Michael Fowlin, Atholton High School, 7:00 p.m.
September 27              Back to School Night, 7:00 p.m.
October 2                    PICTURE DAY
October 5                    Progress Reports go home
October 17                  PTA Executive Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
October 19                  MSTA Convention, schools closed for students

INTRAMURAL SCHEDULE
STUDENTS MUST HAVE A SIGNED PERMISSION SLIP ON FILE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE

Football 9/11, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11

Please note: Intramurals are from 3:10 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Dear Friends and Families of Lime Kiln Middle School,

Thanks to all of you for the outstanding start our students have had this year at LKMS. In 10 days, you will be able to access your child’s grades in all subjects. Teachers will also be able to email you regarding missing work or other concerns. Thank you for your prompt response to our request for your email addresses. We have entered them in the database. When you receive the initial TeacherEase email, please respond and put in your own password.

We are in the second week of the PTA’s major fundraiser. Thanks you for your support of the magazine sales. We will continue through September. Collection days are Wednesdays and prize days are Friday.

Agenda books are a critical tool in middle school. Not only do our students write all their assignments in them, but we also use them to track their whereabouts in the building. This year, the teachers are initialing when students leave their room in the column of the date. Occasionally, we do have students who leave class frequently throughout the day. You can also check daily to see how often your student is leaving class. It is imperative that students stay in class to receive instruction. Of course, occasionally there may be emergencies and our teachers are well aware of that.

Again, I urge you to put September 24th on your calendars. Dr. Michael Fowlin will be returning to Howard County. This time he will be performing at Atholton High School at 7 p.m. Our eighth graders would benefit greatly from seeing him.

Have a great weekend and thank you for sending us such outstanding students.

Sincerely,
Brenda Thomas

INTRAMURAL INFORMATION…Intramural Football will start on Tuesday September 11th and run primarily on Thursdays through October 11th. Intramural Football will be limited to sixty 7th and 8th graders this year. Boys and girls are welcomed to play. Sign up sheets are in the lunch room. All students must sign up by 7th grade lunch on 9/10.

Intramural Football will run from 3:15-4:45 p.m. on the field between Lime Kiln and Fulton. All students must be picked up by 4:45 p.m. and have an Intramural Permission Sheet on file.

Any parents that would like to volunteer to help Mr. Jackson and Mr. Waltman please contact Mr. Jackson at hjackson@hcpss.org

A Family Life and Human Sexuality Parent Orientation will be held on Monday, September 17, 2007 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Lime Kiln cafeteria. The purpose of the Family Life orientation is to review the regulations and state mandates surrounding the program and to become familiar with course content and procedures. All parents/guardians, not just those with students in Health Education first quarter, are invited to attend since this is the only formal orientation to be held for the year. I hope to see you on the September 17!

From the G/T room:

Calling All Readers...Mrs. Spillman is currently asking students who are interested in participating in the LKMS Book Club this year to please sign up. Advertisements for this seminar has been running on the daily news show. If your child is interested in joining please have them sign up in the G/T room or see Mrs. Spillman.

Ready for Blast Off???...For those of you who may not remember or new to Lime Kiln, last year, we had a rocket team that participated in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. The goal of this competition is to design a payload which can launch a rocket 750ft in the air , carrying a raw egg remaining aloft for 45 seconds and keeping the egg intact. This year the guidelines have slighlty changed, two eggs must remain aloft for 45 seconds and return unbroken. Last year, our team experienced great success and placed eighth in the country!!!

Nine of our ten team members have moved onto high school. Mrs. Spillman is wondering if there are any future rocket scientists out there and up for the challenge. If your child is interested in participating in this team, please have your child sign up in the G/T room as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Tracy Spillman
Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher

7th Grade News
Social Studies: Mr. White: We are working on some critical thinking skills/brainteaser activities to warm up the brains after the long summer break. We will start the first soc. studies unit on Europe/Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome by the end of next week with our first map project.

Mr. Kelly: In 7th Grade Social Studies, students will begin the year by studying European Geography and History. They will learn all about the relative location and geography of Europe by creating a map of the region that will include countries, cities, physical features, water bodies, climates, and natural resources and products. We are looking forward to a great start to the year!

Mr. McMullin: Mr. McMullin and Mrs. Doan are very excited about our 7th graders.
They have done a good job so far...Keep up with those MAPS!!!

Math: Mrs. Gluck: Mrs. Gluck’s MSM II classes have gotten off to a great start! We have just begun our first unit on fractions, decimals, and percents. Mrs. Gluck’s pre-algebra classes have really been working hard the past two weeks. We have started reviewing operations with integers, and the students are so excited! You can be sure that both classes will have homework every night, and the first problem of the week will be here soon!

Reading: Ms. Eckstein: This year our goals for our 7th grade reading students are to not only learn new vocabulary but to apply it to their other classes and to life outside of school. We will also continue to increase the use of our reading strategies, analyzing not only what is written, but also what is left unsaid. Ms. Eckstein's classes wrote awesome narratives. We are really learning a lot about each other. Can't wait to see which class wins our Zany teacher facts' contest!

English: Mrs. Barrett: Welcome to Mrs. Barrett’s English Class! We have spent the first week getting to know one another and establishing a supportive classroom climate. It is wonderful to get to know everyone!
We will begin our year with a diagnostic test to determine information that we have learned. Shortly, we will be creating our first writing sample for class. Then we will begin incorporating the use of sensory detail and imagery into our writing. Furthermore, we will dive into our Circle of Stories unit! Don’t Forget! You can access your child’s homework on teacherweb.com!

FROM THE PTA…

FRIDGE NOTE – SAVE THE DATES

Thurs, Oct. 2nd Seibel’s LKMS Dine for Charity

Saturday, Oct. 27th LKMS Daedalus Book Fair

Tues, Nov. 13th Cheeburger, Cheeburger “Gotta Eat” Night

Weds, Feb. 27th Three Brothers “Gotta Eat” Night

Watch for details regarding these no-pain/all gain fundraisers in upcoming Leopard’s Tale issues.

Seibels Dine for Charity
For four weeks, from September through October, Seibel’s dining customers will be given a Charity Ballot with their check. Each customer will have the opportunity to select a nonprofit organization or local school from the ballot at each visit. That organization will receive a donation equal to 5% of the amount of the guest’s check. On Tuesday, OCTOBER 2nd, a Special LKMS Night, the PTA will get 10% vs. 5% of sales from customers designating the middle school on their ballot. Be sure to stop by and enjoy a relaxing dinner while helping to raise money for the many programs supported by Lime Kiln’s PTA.

Direct Donations - Direct Donation Letters and Envelopes came home last week and can be sent in with your child to their homeroom teacher. The PTA provides many valuable services for you and your children at Lime Kiln Middle School. To be able to provide these services, the PTA raises money throughout the school year with several different fundraisers. One alternative the PTA offers those families who do not wish to participate in fundraisers is direct donation. The PTA estimates that it spends $60.00 a year for each child on items such as helping to purchase TeacherEase, the grading program so many parents and students rely on, as well as over $10,000 worth of PTA cultural arts events such as drug and smoking awareness. Your donation is completely tax deductible and you will receive a receipt acknowledging your gift. Donations of any size are welcome, and every dollar will be used to support our students and teachers. If you have any questions, please contact Leanne Glueck, lglueck@earthlink.net, 301-604-7150.

Box Top$ for Education – Support Lime Kiln Middle School by clipping those box tops and dropping them in the box in the hallway of the school. Each box top is worth 10 cents so start clipping!!!!!

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: If you have not already sent in your membership form and payment, please do so as soon as possible. We would like to have every parent join the PTA this year. Signing up to be a member of the PTA does not mean that you are volunteering for any job within the PTA. A separate form came home for that purpose. No need to wait until Back-to-School Night at the end of the month. We want your name on our membership roster now. Please get your form and payment in today. If you have any questions regarding membership in the PTA, please contact Jeanne Lineberry at jeanne_lineberry@verizon.net or (301) 317-1766.

School Directory… As a reminder, please return the directory information form that that was sent home last week indicating whether you do or do not want to be included in the directory. If you can’t find the form there are extra forms in the office or you can download them from the website, http://www2.hcpss.org/lkms/pta/DirectoryPermission2007.htm

"State Seeks HSA Testimony

The Maryland Department of Education is holding public hearings around the state to listen to citizens' concerns about the new HSA tests. High School Assessments (HSA's) are tests in 4 subject areas (English, Algebra, Biology, Government) that every student MUST PASS in order to graduate high school, starting in 2009. Often the Algebra test is taken in middle school. This year, approximately 700 students in Howard County have not passed one or more of the tests, which means they will not be able to graduate until they pass. For more info about the HSA's, please go to http://hsaexam.org/what.html In general, they test basic proficiency on the subject matter, at approximately the 9th or 10th grade level. The Howard County PTA Council; the CAC (Community Advisory Committee), and school system staff will all present (separate) testimony at the hearing on Sept. 19 at Poly/Western high school in Baltimore. For more information on the hearings, go to http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/testing/hsa/hsa_reg_meet. If you would like to participate in the hearings, you are encouraged to do so!"

LKMS MAGAZINE DRIVE - The kickoff was August 29th! Please ask your child for the magazine subscription envelope and instructions that were sent home. This is our biggest fundraiser and will run for exactly 4 weeks with different incentives each week. Every Wednesday in September is order collection day in your child’s homeroom. The next collection day is September 12th. The following Friday’s are coin redemption days, where sales efforts may be rewarded with prizes. Please support your school by buying/renewing magazines and encouraging reading at the same time…they also make great holiday gifts! Any questions call Kelly Cidre 301-362-1262 (kcidre@sage-x.com).
If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Sharon Dass on 301-854-1684.

LKMS Presents

leosept72

Drama Program Parent Meeting and Auditions
The LKMS Drama Committee is pleased to report that this year’s drama program will be run by the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. This organization is the educational arm of Toby's Dinner Theatre. This year's musical production will be "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” An informational parent meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 6:30 p.m. Auditions will be held Monday, September 24, immediately after school. The performance is scheduled for the weekend of February 1-4, 2008. Inclement weather dates have been addressed. Come to the September 19 parent meeting and learn all about what the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts will offer our children this year.

For a History of the Show Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_and_the_Amazing_Technicolor_Dreamcoat

PTA Events for September and October:

SEPTEMBER

             MAGAZINE DRIVE & SPIRIT WEAR

            19    6:30 Parents Drama Meeting
         24    3:15 Drama Auditions
         27    Back to School Night

OCTOBER

Gotta Eat Night ‘Seibel’s’

         17    7:00 PTA Meeting
         27    Daedalus Book Fair

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Parents of children with special needs such as asthma, allergies, medical issues, social/emotional or behavioral issues are eligible for a free service to assist in locating licensed child care programs. Call LOCATE: Enhanced Special Needs services at 800-999-0120, TDD: 410-385-1042 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Columbia Concert Band presents a Concert for Yong People, Sunday, September 16, 2007, 3:00 p.m. River Hill High School. This is a free concert featuring music from Broadway shows. Questions, please call 301-596-9783.

The Salvation Army is taking applications for Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance. The program is designed to provide gifts for children ages 0 – 12 and food for the entire family.

Applications will be taken at The Salvation Army Howard County Service Center, 10005 Old Columbia Road, Suite P-170, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday, September 10 -Friday, September 14, 2007. There will be extended hours on Wednesday, September 12 until 8:00 p.m.

YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO APPLY:

• Valid “Maryland “ photo I.D. for ALL adults
• Social Security cards (for all household members)
• Birth Certificates for all children 0 – 17
• Proof of all income (pay stubs/DSS/SSA/Child Support, Food Stamp Letter)
• Proof of all expenses (current utilities (electric, gas, oil, water), car payment, car
   insurance, phone, childcare, cable, etc.)
• Proof of residence (Section 8, Public Housing, HUD, lease, mortgage)
• VERY IMPORTANT: If on Section 8, Public Housing or HUD – you must provide
    the following: (paper that includes the break down of your family members & monthly
    rent).

YOU MUST HAVE ALL INFORMATION TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION!
For more information, call 443-656-3376. All Howard County residents are welcome to apply – first come – first served.