Greetings LMS Families and Sachem Nation, We look forward to a great 2023-24 school year working together to support our students every day, in every way. As a resident of Laconia and parent of two Laconia students, I personally share your investment in our school district for all our students. Our team at LMS is dedicated to serving our community and students. There are a few important highlights we would like to share with you for the upcoming school year.
Please welcome our new staff: Dennis DelBarone, Assistant Principal; Kate Wilson, Student Services Administrator; Beverly Puntin, District Curriculum Coordinator; Heather Beane, Administrative Secretary; Tiffany Mayo, Student Services Secretary; Teagan Sault, Band and Music Teacher; Irene Stinson, 6th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies, Elise Commons, 6th Grade Science and Social Studies Teacher; and April Hackley, 8th Grade Special Education Teacher.
Starting September 5th, the school opens for students at 7:30am for breakfast and the cafeteria closes at 7:50am. Students must be in their first block class by 7:57am and our dismissal time is 2:21pm.
Students will have a passing time between classes, during which they are expected to move respectfully, responsibly, and independently to their next assigned block. During the opening week we will be meeting with students to communicate our expectations and ensure that they understand where their assigned rooms are.
7th and 8th grade students, and their parents, interested in taking a course that we do not offer within a given grade level should contact their student’s Guidance Counselor and the Administration about the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS). This scheduling assignment requires both parent and administrative approval. We seek to support the best interests of all students and thus learning opportunities that we do not offer in person may be accessible through our in-house VLACS support block.
Our Remediation/Enrichment/Targeted Instruction times will take place during two flexible blocks scheduled in the middle of the day. From 10:26 am to 11:51 am students will be scheduled in a similar model to the Sachem Support Block (SSB) used at Laconia High School. Since these times are not scheduled classes and have flexible rosters based on student need and interest, the time is scheduled in Alma Activities.
LMS is piloting an academic probation policy, page 23 of the LMS Student Handbook. Students who fail one or two classes are still eligible to participate in practices or meetings of a sport or club, but are ineligible to compete in official events for at least a week until they have raised their grades to passing.
It is our intention to partner with all families to enthusiastically support teaching and learning throughout our school community. On behalf of all of our staff at Laconia Middle School, we look forward to working with every student and Go Sachems!