We welcomed back our teachers this week and final preparations have begun for the virtual opening of school on Tuesday, September 8th. Please know that student schedules will be viewable in ParentVue and StudentVue on Monday, August 31st. As part of our various school support mechanisms, I ask that you consider taking an active role in the Larkspur Middle PTA. Help is always needed! Larkspur Middle recognizes that volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the educational process and encourages each parent to become involved. This past school year, we had many volunteers who logged hundreds of hours working with athletics and music programs, selling dance tickets, chaperoning dances and field trips, serving on boards and councils, and volunteering in the office and classrooms. We hope that you can assist with volunteer opportunities during the upcoming school year. Larkspur Middle held a virtual 6th Grade Student Orientation, Discover the Den, this past Thursday. Parents will have the opportunity to gain more information at this week’s upcoming virtual PTA Open House for 6th Grade on Thursday, September 3rd via Zoom meetings at 6PM and 7PM. For parents with returning students, the virtual Grade 8 PTA Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 1st (Zoom Meetings at 6PM and 7PM-limited to first 100 parents each session) and the Grade 7 PTA Open House for parents and students will be held on Wednesday, September 2nd via Zoom Meetings at 6PM and 7PM. As always, I thank you for your continued support of Larkspur Middle School. Together, staff, parents, and students are making a difference. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the administrative team if we may be of further assistance. Sincerely, Carey Manugo ADMINISTRATION Principal Briana Jennings - 6th Grade Assistant Principal

Brian Loehn - 7th Grade Assistant Principal Marcus Turner - 8th Grade Assistant Principal

Jacqueline Blair- Administrative Assistant (Last Names Ro-Z) Billie Rawls - School Improvement Specialist

Christina Bergren - School Counselor Chair Julie Spurgeon - Student Activities Coordinator

Angie Crouch - Office Manager

THE LARKSPUR PRIDE PTA Parent Newsletter

August 31, 2020 Volume 3, Issue 2

Guidance News Student Schedules: Students and parents should review schedules and verify the correct assignment of subjects. Only schedule changes which are absolutely necessary due to the following reasons will be considered: (1) 2020 summer school attendance (affecting SY20-21 schedules), (2) incomplete schedule, and/or (3) schedule conflict. Changes for the above three listed reasons should be emailed or called-in to your student’s school counselor after August 28th.

Parents seeking to enroll a new student must pick up a registration packet in the Guidance Office and schedule an appointment for registration. Guidance and counseling services are available to all students including academic, educational, career, and personal counseling. School Counselors can be reached in the Guidance Office at 648-4811.

SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Stephanie Filio 6th Grade School Counselor - Last names A-Ri Karla Galloway 7th Grade School Counselor- Last names A-Ri Chris Novakoski 8th Grade School Counselor -Last names A-Ri Angela Boyd All Grades School Counselor – Last names Ro-Z Christina Bergren AVID School Counselor/School Counseling Department Chair

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LKMS PTA President’s Notes

We are proud to announce that the LKMS PTA earned the following awards for the 2019-2020 School Year: ✓ Merit (100% Faculty/Staff Membership), ✓ Cardinal (75% Membership reached by Dec. 2019), ✓ Membership Increase (+10% from 18-19SY), ✓ Exemplary (Outstanding commitment to Students)

Thank you to all those who volunteered their time, service, and gave donations this past school year. The LKMS-

PTA truly appreciates each of you.

Larkspur Middle School PTA Board 2020-2021

Tara Campbell President Vacant Hospitality Chair

Vacant Vice President Reshamah Manley Volunteer Liaison

Elizabeth Johnson Treasurer Sandra Jackson Teacher Liaison

Keanna Britten Secretary Karla Galloway Counselor Liaison

Vacant Fundraising Chair Julie Spurgeon Student Activity Coordinator

Please consider serving on this year’s PTA, whether you are interested in serving in any open positions or

assisting with any committees. We hope you will join the PTA to further support our Lion students, staff, and

community. Dues are $7 for the year. Our goal for the year is to double last year’s membership to 500

members. Don’t hesitate to contact Carey Manugo or Tara Campbell at larkspurmiddlepta@gmail.com .

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Clinic News Required Tdap Shots for ALL 7th Graders

Legislation went into effect in Virginia this year that now requires all students entering the 7th grade to receive a

Tdap booster within 5 years of entry date. Students may NOT receive this booster before they turn 11 years old.

Please review your student’s shot record. Per state regulation, we must have documentation of this vaccination

from the health care provider. Reminders about Tdap will be provided at the end of the 6th GR year.

Medication

If your child will need medication for the 2020-2021 school year, a new medication form will need to be

completed by the physician. Once the physician has filled out the medication form, please bring the signed

medication form and the prescribed medication to the clinic during the first week of the new school year. A

parent signature is also required in order to give medication(s) to your student at school.

Injuries/Illnesses sustained while not in school: Many students come to the clinic asking for treatment of

injuries/illnesses sustained while at home. Please send a physician’s note to the clinic if your child has sustained

an injury or illness that will affect them during school hours. The clinic is not equipped to handle out of school

injuries or illnesses that have not been treated and have not occurred during the school day.

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VIRTUAL PTA PARENT OPEN HOUSE Schedules

*Virtual meetings will be held at the following times for each grade level. -Zoom limit is 100 participants, so please join with your group based on your last name. -6PM – ZOOM meeting with parents of students last name A-M -7PM – ZOOM meeting with parents of students last name N-Z

*8th GRADE Tuesday, September 1st

https://zoom.us/j/99174286897?pwd=cWlKS29PNFdGNzZ2UGVLRmdOQW93QT09

*7th GRADE Wednesday, September 2nd

https://zoom.us/j/91472106648?pwd=QkhpUDV2d3NJb3pmbFQ3WUkycUFXZz09

*6th GRADE Thursday, September 3rd https://zoom.us/j/96794295511?pwd=K2Q2RjMydW5wSmV0QUpHekNCYXA4Zz09 All parents are encouraged to view the LKMS Parent Presentations starting

Monday, August 31, using the link that will be posted on the LKMS website

at: https://larkspurms.vbschools.com/home

Topics to be addressed in Zoom meetings

*PTA Welcome by PTA President *Welcome Introduction of Administration/School Counselors *Administrative -Virtual Opening/Schedule For all students

-Class Schedules *School Counseling School Counseling Programs *Technology Schoology/ParentVue/ClassLink Programs *Testing/Remediation SOL/Remediation Programs *Bus Expectations *Meals Overview *Clinic Medication/Early Release *Student Activities Athletic and Activity Programs

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Dress Code – 2020-2021 Dress guidelines are designed to promote a standard of appearance that complements the learning environment. Students are expected to dress appropriately for the occasion. In addition to the regulations in S.B. Policy 5-41/Rule 5 of the VBCPS Student Code of Conduct, the Larkspur MS Dress Code, found on the Larkspur MS website, includes the following:

1. Students must wear an appropriate face covering/mask (covering nose, mouth, and chin) while on the bus and in the school building.

2. Students must wear appropriate and safe footwear at all times. Slippers, slip-ons, flip-flops, and slides are not acceptable.

3. Students should wear clothes as they were designed to be worn (e.g. buttoned, zipped up, tucked in, or belted). Pants should be pulled up and secured at the waist (with button, belt, or drawstring). Pajamas are not acceptable for school.

4. Pants with rips or tears in them are unacceptable and not allowed to be worn. Specifically, there should be no holes or tears in jeans or pants above the knee.

5. Students may wear shorts and skirts, subject to the following restrictions: shorts and skirts may not expose the lower abdomen, upper thighs, or buttocks. Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be fingertip length. There should be NO rips/tears/holes in shorts.

6. Leggings and Yoga Pants cannot be worn as a standalone garment but may be worn under shorts, dresses, or skirts that are appropriate length. Additionally, shirts or tunics of appropriate length (fingertip length) may also be worn over leggings or yoga pants.

7. Clothing which overexposes the body is unacceptable. Students may not wear tank tops, fishnet shirts, lace, sheer shirts, or other apparel that exposes undergarments, the midriff, cleavage, shoulders or overexposes the back. All shirts MUST have sleeves.

8. Headwear of any type may not be worn. This includes bandanas, hats, visors, caps, sweatbands, and sunglasses.

9. Students may not wear lewd or suggestive clothing. Students may not wear apparel that is gang related or that advertises, glorifies, or symbolizes any illegal substances, weapons, or illegal activities for students.

10. Students may not wear jewelry or clothing that might create a safety hazard. Chains may not be worn as adornment to clothes nor should any student carry a chain.

11. Students are not permitted to carry handbags/tote bags. Handbags must remain in lockers.

Dress Code Violations: A staff member who identifies a student in potential violation of the dress code will be sent to a school administrator for a decision. The administrator’s decision is final. If the student is deemed to be in violation of the dress code, the student will be directed to call his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) from the main office phone in an attempt to correct the violation. If the student’s parent/guardian is unable to bring clothes to correct the violation, students will be allowed to borrow LKMS apparel (sweatpants/sweatshirt) if available. If the student refuses to change or clothing is not available for the student, the student will be denied entrance to class and will report to the ISS room until the violation is corrected. Additionally, the following consequences will be assigned:

• 1st offense = Verbal Warning

• 2rd offense = Administrative Detention (next available after school detention date)

• 3rd offense = Saturday School (next available Saturday detention date)

• 4th and repeated offenses = ISS

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LKMS Supply List 2020-21

General Supplies • Facial covering /Face mask (students who are slated to return for face to face

instruction)

• Earbuds or headphones (needed daily)

• 1 three ring binder (2 inches)

• 4 Dividers

• #2 pencils

• Pens (blue/black)

• Colored-pencils

• Erasers

• 3-Hole zipper pencil pouch

Subject Specific Supplies •One Spiral Notebook is needed for each core class (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies)

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GRADE 6 Schedule - This schedule was developed

to ensure consistent instructional hours for all students, whether in a Face to Face or Virtual Learning setting.

Mondays Times Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Teachers/ Staff Days *No classes will be conducted.

• Planning

• Professional Learning

• Preparation

• PLC Meetings

• Office Hours

• Extra Help Tutoring Remediation

8:55-9:35 (40 min)

Zero Bell (only for AVID students who opted for HPE)

9:30-10:00 Teacher Arrival Duty

10:00-10:30

(30 min)

Homeroom/PRIDE TIME (Breakfast/Announcements/Responsive Advisory

Meetings)

10:30-11:15

(45 min)

Core 1 Class

11:20-12:20

Lunch

12:25-12:55

(30 min)

Core 1 Class continued

1:05-2:20 (75 min)

Elective Class

2:30-3:15 (45 min)

Literacy/Numeracy Support and Enrichment

3:15-4:30 (75 min)

Core 2 Class

4:30-4:50 Teacher Dismissal Duty

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GRADE 7 Schedule (Revised)– This schedule was developed

to ensure consistent instructional hours for all students, whether in a Face to Face or Virtual Learning setting.

Mondays Times Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Teachers/ Staff Days *No classes will be conducted.

• Planning

• Professional Learning

• Preparation

• PLC Meetings

• Office Hours

• Extra Help Tutoring Remediation

8:55-9:35 (40 min)

Zero Bell (Not applicable for GR7)

9:30-10:00 Teacher Arrival Duty

10:00-10:30

(30 min)

Homeroom/PRIDE TIME (Breakfast/Announcements/Responsive Advisory

Meetings)

10:30-11:45

(75 min)

Elective Class

11:55-1:10 (75 min)

Core 1 Class

1:15-1:35 (20min)

Literacy/Numeracy Support and Enrichment

1:40-2:40 Lunch

2:45-3:15 (30min)

Literacy/Numeracy Support and Enrichment continued

3:15-4:30 (75 min)

Core 2 Class

4:30-4:50 Teacher Dismissal Duty

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GRADE 8 Schedule (Revised) – This schedule was

developed to ensure consistent instructional hours for all students, whether in a Face to Face or Virtual Learning setting.

Mondays Times Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Teachers/ Staff Days *No classes will be conducted.

• Planning

• Professional Learning

• Preparation

• PLC Meetings

• Office Hours

• Extra Help Tutoring Remediation

8:55-9:35 (40 min)

Zero Bell (only for AVID students who opted for HPE)

9:30-10:00 Teacher Arrival Duty

10:00-10:30 (30 min)

Homeroom/PRIDE TIME (Breakfast/Announcements/Responsive Advisory

Meetings)

10:30-11:45 (75 min)

Core 1 Class

11:50-12:25 (35 min)

Core 2 Class

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:35-2:20 (45 min)

Core 2 Class continued

2:20-3:05 (45 min)

Literacy/Numeracy Support and Enrichment

3:15-4:30 (75 min)

Elective Class

4:30-4:50 Teacher Dismissal Duty

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Responsive Advisory Meetings during PRIDE TIME What? The VBCPS Strategic Framework: Charting the Course includes Goal 2: “Multiple Pathways” and Goal 3: “Social-Emotional Development.” To support the framework, Larkspur MS will be holding Responsive Advisory Meetings (RAMs) to assist students with Academic and Career Planning as well as Social-Emotional support and development. What is Advisory?

▪ A set time for students to meet with a teacher in a smaller group than a traditional class size ▪ All students would, ideally, be in advisory at the same time of day and all teachers would have their own

advisory group ▪ High schools have been experimenting with advisory this year ▪ Besides Academic and Career Planning, our focus will be supporting students’ social and emotional

growth. Why have an Advisory?

▪ RAMs are the middle school version of Morning Meetings, of which many VBCPS elementary school students should be familiar

▪ An ideal time for students to learn about the culture of the school and build a relationship with a trusted teacher or staff member

▪ Support students social and emotional growth ▪ Provide a structured time to talk about academic and career planning in a more meaningful way ▪ Teach organizational, study, and learning skills necessary for success

When will Advisory be held? ▪ LKMS will hold Advisory during PRIDE TIME every morning before Block 1 (all grades).

Typical Schedule of an LKMS LION (Same sequence as virtual schedule) *Only when a return to school is authorized by VBCPS* This year, LKMS will follow a 4X4 block schedule (75 Minutes per core class). Under the 4X4 schedule classes meet every day for 75 minutes for an entire semester. At the end of the semester, students will complete the year-long requirement of seat hours. Students will have one of two core class combinations first semester and the second combination second semester: English AND Science OR Math AND Social Studies Breakfast can be purchased in the hallway. Upon arrival to school, students need to get their Breakfast Cards from their Homeroom teacher. Each student must present his/her Breakfast Card to purchase breakfast. Every grade starts the day with a brief Homeroom period that starts at 10AM. As part of Homeroom and prior to Bell 1, there will be a 30-minute period called PRIDE TIME (see below) Students will take one elective class each semester. • Health & Physical Education • Exploratory Elective (changes quarterly /semester) unless enrolled in Band, Chorus, or Orchestra. *Students may not be eligible for an elective if they are assigned to Independent Reading. All students have a daily 60-minutelunch tied to their Bell 2 classes. Bell 2 teachers will have Lunch Cards for their students. Each student must present his /her Lunch Card to purchase lunch, which will be eaten in with their Bell 2 class.

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Technology Reminders

• Secondary school schedules will become available beginning Monday, Aug. 31, and continue to be posted throughout the week. Parents may view student schedules in ParentVue and students will have access to their schedule through StudentVue. If you have questions about these schedules, or about accessing ParentVue or StudentVue, please contact your home school for assistance.

• ClassLink, the new launchpad for student and teacher applications, will be live Monday, Aug. 31. Students will log directly into the ClassLink launchpad for easier access to Schoology and other applications teachers may assign. Please know that we are working very hard to align students to their teachers and some resource applications may not be available for the first few days of school.

• Update your email address and phone number with your student’s school either through ParentVue or by contacting the main office at your child’s school. It’s important that this information be correct and confirmed so that important AlertNow messages are successfully delivered. Any changes to your contact information must be made through your child’s school.

• Reminder: Thursday, Sept. 3, teachers will post a welcome message in their Schoology Welcome or Course Information folder by 2 p.m. Please have your child(ren) log in to their Chromebook at that time and open Schoology to verify they can see their courses for the new year. There may not be any assignments yet; however, there should be a welcome message with the first day of school information. Based on the schedule the student received, if there appears to be a course missing, please contact your home school.

• Parent Schoology Handbook – How to Guide

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hCTa-6akUkm5WSVk4HMV7_1th-UdEfl7otFVyAEPL2Q/template/preview?usp=sharing

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Chromebooks

• Students should use their Chromebooks that were issued by their elementary schools last year.

• If you are new to VBCPS and do not have a Chromebook, or if you have lost any component of the device, please contact our Technical Support Technician (TST), Mr. David Parrish, to request a Chromebook.

• Please plug in the device and allow time for a full charge. • Once the device is fully charged, please have your child log in to the Chromebook. Student

passwords were not reset, so the password your child used in June is still valid. If the password has been forgotten, please contact your home school, and the office will connect you with a technology support technician who can assist you, or contact the Customer Support Center at (757) 263-1111 M-F, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Please note that as of Aug. 31, the Customer Support Center’s hours will be extended to Mon-Thurs 7:30 a.m-6:30 p.m. and Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Please test the microphone, speaker and camera on the Chromebook. Microphones may stop working; therefore, having earbuds with a microphone as a backup device would be helpful.

LION SUCCESS TIPS

• Bring your Chromebook to school every day with a full charge.

• Handle your Chromebook with care. ▪ Don’t store papers or other items in your

Chromebook or case. ▪ Leave your case on your Chromebook. ▪ Close the lid when you walk away. ▪ Use two hands to carry from the bottom. ▪ Keep food and drink away from the Chromebook.

• VBCPS will be using the Securly technology program to manage and monitor student activity on Chromebooks and the VBCPS internet access channel.

• Be a good digital citizen.

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Food Services Update

As summer comes to a close, so does the summer food service. The final day of meal distribution for the summer will be Monday, Aug. 31. There will be no meals distributed at any schools or neighborhood sites between Sept. 1 and Sept. 7.

Tuesday, Sept. 8, marks the beginning of the school year and our usual food service, however, because we will be virtual for at least the first two weeks, the online ordering module through School Café will replace serving lines. All meal orders will be ordered using this app and processed at the student’s home school for pickup. Please review this short video or this step-by-step demo for an overview of how the online ordering app works. You will be able to place your order the day prior and up to 9 a.m. the day of your meal pickup. Meals must be picked up daily. Pickup times are between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For safety reasons, all orders must be placed online, and no walk-up orders will be accepted.

For those new to the school division, School Café is the online and mobile app that Food Services has been using for the last few years to publish menus and nutritional information, and to process free and reduced lunch applications. It also serves as the parent tool for placing money in student accounts. School Café has now added an online ordering module to its dashboard. This account is free to all students and can be accessed or created HERE. The mobile app can be downloaded for free through your phone’s application store. You only need your child’s student ID to set up the account. This number is given during school enrollment and used for library checkout and other services as long as students are enrolled in VBCPS. Your school registrar can provide this number if needed.

If students were eligible for free meals last year, their status remains free through Oct. 20 unless a new application is submitted before that date. The same exists for reduced meal status. Paid meals are still $1.40 for breakfast and $2.85 for lunch.

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The following schools will be on the federally-funded Community Eligibility Program (CEP) for the 2020-2021 school year: Bayside 6, Bayside Elementary, Bayside Middle, College Park Elementary, Diamond Springs Elementary, Holland Elementary, Lynnhaven Elementary, Luxford Elementary, Newtown Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Point O'View Elementary, Rosemont Elementary, Seatack Elementary and Bettie F. Williams Elementary. These schools will be providing breakfast and lunch to ALL students at no cost, with no applications necessary. Student participation is critical to maintaining this program, so we encourage all students at those schools to take advantage of this great program by eating both meals daily.

Parents and guardians, please note that the school site has the CEP eligibility, not the individual student. If parents need application award letters for any reason, they will need to submit an application. If they transfer to a non-CEP school, they have 10 grace days to get an application submitted and processed.

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Questions may be directed to Julie Spurgeon, Student Activities Coordinator

mail to: julie.spurgeon@vbschools.com

Student Activities and Sports 20-21

All middle school sports fall under the auspices of the Virginia Beach Middle School League

(VBML). The competition guidelines and formats are aligned with the Beach

District (composed of all VBCPS high schools) and the Virginia High School League (VHSL).

At this time, the middle school sports season is slated to start in December 2020 due

to the impacts of COVID 19 on schools. As with all school programs, athletics

guidelines can change (due to COVID 19) and additional information will be

provided to students and parents when the Beach District and Middle School League schedules are

finalized.

Students will need a VBMSL Sports Physical, administered after May 1, 2020 and on

file with our Student Activities Coordinator, to participate in any athletic activities for the 2020-2021

school year.

Clubs/Activities

Clubs and activities will be conducted virtually until a return to face to face

instruction is authorized. Additional information about clubs and activities

will be provided during daily announcements and parent newsletters.

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EMBRACE the LKMS PRIDE!

Larkspur Lion PRIDE Perseverance - Respect - Integrity - Determination – Excellence