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LURGIO NEWS
November 6, 2015
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Dear Parents,
As the first quarter closes and the new quarter begins, it is now parent conference season. Specific information regarding the conference dates and times has been disseminated by the pods. If you have any questions regarding your conference times, please reach out to your student’s teachers. I hope that your Lurgio student has had a successful first quarter and you enjoy meeting with your child’s instructors.
Sincerely,
Ed
Important Dates
Nov. 9 (Monday)
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Boys’ & Girls’ Basketball Tryouts Begin (Girls’ 3:30-5:15PM; Boys’ 5:15-7:00PM)
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Nov. 10 (Tuesday)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUPERINTENDENT MCGEE!
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Nov. 11 (Wednesday)
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Veteran’s Day (No School)
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Nov. 16 (Monday)
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Spirit Tryouts Begin
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Nov. 25 - Nov. 27
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No School - Thanksgiving Break
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RAL Cub of the Week
Each week, teachers will nominate students for the Cub of the Week Award. Nominated students are those who have shown exceptional kindness, tolerance, and respect during the week. Each Friday, the Lurgio administration and guidance staff will review all nominees and will select the the “Cub of the Week.” The Cub will be announced in the Lurgio News.
This week’s Cub of the Week winner is Allison Garita from pod 8 East for going out of her way to socialize with and include a fellow student. It’s these kind of selfless acts that make Lurgio Middle School a wonderful place to be! Congratulations, Allison!
Bedford Substance Abuse Summit
In response to the threat posed to our community by the substance abuse epidemic, the Bedford Police Department in conjunction with the Bedford School District will host a community-wide meeting on Tuesday, November 10th from 7P to 10P at the Manchester Christian Church, 56 Old Bedford Road, Bedford (across from Memorial School). We want to thank Manchester Christian Church for graciously donating the use of their facility for this important endeavor.
The goal is to involve individuals and groups from throughout our community. The focus is to first de-stigmatize this issue to encourage parent(s), student(s), loved one(s), friends and family to seek assistance for not only those suffering from substance abuse but also for guidance in education and treatment (agenda). To accomplish this, we plan to have some gallant members of the community discuss their struggle with abuse in their families followed by a panel discussion and, most importantly, community engagement that we hope will lead to an action plan.
Anyone seeking more information about the meeting may contact the Police Department or the Superintendent's Office in person, by telephone or email. On behalf of the Bedford Police Department and the Bedford School District, we want to thank you all for your assistance and whatever level of participation you are able to offer.
John J. Bryfonski
Chief of Police
55 Constitution Drive
Bedford, NH 03110
Office: 603-792-1330
Chip McGee
Superintendent of Schools
103 County Road
Bedford, NH 03110
Office: 603-472-3755
Email: mcgeec@sau25.net
Smarter Balanced Assessment Results
Last spring, schools throughout New Hampshire (and in many other states around the country) administered a new test known as "Smarter Balanced." The tests, in language arts and math, were taken by students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11. Smarter Balanced Assessments are computer-based tests that replaced the annual NECAP assessment, although the Science NECAP remains.
Next week, the New Hampshire Department of Education will release the results. You can expect to see summary results by school district on the news and in the local papers. Our schools will mail home individual student results by the end of next week. Parents of students in grades 4 through 9 and grade 12 will receive individual score reports and letters from NH Education Commissioner Barry and the principal of your child's current school. Questions can be sent to the current school principal.
Parent Forum on Cyberbullying & Unwise Social Networking
As a part of the annual NH Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference, Sameer Hinduja, the co-director of the Cyberbulling Research Center, is presenting a FREE Parent Forum titled:
Cyberbullying & Unwise Social Networking: The Role of Parents.
Date: Monday, November 30, 2015
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Salon A, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH
Designed for parents and community partners, this presentation provides a broad overview of adolescent technological concerns, including cyberbullying and social networking sites. Foundational information on the way adolescents use the Internet and cell phones is provided first before examining cyberbullying, sexting, and unwise social networking in detail. Strategies for identification, prevention, and response are then discussed in a conversational format to allow for input and Q&A from the audience. Attendees leave equipped with an increased ability to promote safe and responsible participation in cyberspace among the youth they care for and with numerous resources to assist them towards those ends.
A Recall Message from the Nurse:
In case you are not aware, a recall was issued for ALL Auvi-Q epinephrine autoinjectors. Here is the link with instructions on what to do:
Some parents have provided me with Auvi-Qs at school. I will accept epipen replacements with the same dosing without obtaining new orders from the doctor since most orders do not specify a particular device. In the meantime, be aware that I do have stock epipens in my office. Please feel free to call with any questions. Thank you, Evelyn Chessie
Fall Photos Wanted for Yearbook
Get your pictures in the yearbook! The Yearbook Staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you have great photos of school events or you and your friends just having fun at school, we'd like to see them. Our photographers can't be everywhere. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.
Direct link to upload: https://images.schoolannualonline.com/403293603
If you have any questions or have a large number of photos you would like to contribute, please contact Mrs. Dennis (dennisd@sau25.net) or Mrs. Wells (wellsj@sau25.net)
Annual Yearbook Cover Contest
Once again this year we will be holding a cover contest for the front and back cover of the yearbook. If you are interested in creating a design, the design must include the following:
- Completed on an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of paper (portrait/vertical)
- Our school name - Ross A. Lurgio Middle School
- The school year - 2015/2016
- This year's yearbook theme: "The SHAPE of Things to Come"
- The Lurgio Lion logo
- Can be hand drawn, computer generated OR a combination of both – MUST BE COLORFUL
- Artist name should be on the back of your submission
- Submissions are due by Friday, November 20 3pm to either Mrs. Dennis or Mrs. Wells
All submissions will be published in the yearbook. Two winners will be chosen by (one for the front cover, one for the back cover) and the two winners will each receive a FREE yearbook!!
Book Buzz
Reagan from 7 North recommend The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld:
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This book has such a likeable protagonist who is in a dystopian future but relates back to our time. His writing style is straightforward where he doesn't dally on the details so therefore it's so action packed. The scene where at the end where Tally is at the Smoke and is captured by the Specials is so action packed. It is such a great scene how she escapes. I've read the Pretties and look forward to reading theSpecials. The action makes these books amazing.
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Julia from 7 North wanted to share I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore:
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I've read the whole series because I like the action and the theory that no one knew there were aliens hiding among people on Earth. It's cool to think there actually could be. These are aliens that were hiding from their enemies while on Earth. These aliens aren't what you'd think they'd be: they're human! There are good aliens and enemy aliens that don't look like humans who are trying to hunt them down. I like all the action.
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JC from 7 South Mike Lupica's likes Million Dollar Throw:
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I'm a Tom Brady fan and a Patriot's fan so this book was great for me. The main character, Nate Brodie, is such a good football player that everyone calls him Tom Brady. He has a chance to throw one pass through a target at halftime in the Patriots Thanksgiving night game. And Nate's family needs the million dollars. The stress of the whole thing gets to Nate. The story behind the throw is so captivating and the details Mike Lupica puts in are so good. I like sports and can relate to this. I like to watch football, basketball, and sometimes baseball, but I play lacrosse. Mike Lupica needs to write a lacrosse book! I like Mike Lupica's books so much I even own a couple by him. He's a great writer."
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Megan from 7 North likes the Michael Vey Series by Richard Paul Evans:
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This is for kids who like fantasy and series. One kid named Zeus can throw lightning bolts. Thirteen kids have these electrical powers and Michael Vey is one of them. He has an electric current running through him and therefore is magnetized and has power to shock others. Some kids battle a corporation called Elgen trying to take over the world with the remaining electric kids. The story is so awesome and the writing is so suspenseful with these near death experiences for Michael Vey who you grow so attached to as a reader. The fifth book came out over the summer and I'm just at the the beginning of that. There will be seven books and I feel like a lot of kids would love this series as much as I do.
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Rachel from 8 North likes TABNOF:
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That stands for This Book is Not on Fire by the YouTube stars Dan and Phil who are these wonderful nerdy guys who are nerdy and cool. They share their internet life so this isn't a story but a collection of all these sections: short stories, quizzes, graphs, so fun. I'm obsessed. It's more like a magazine but it's a book. They go to Japan and tell about it. Then it gets far fetched-- like their trip to Las Vegas. No one could believe them getting kicked out of a casino and chased by the government. It's fun to read because you don't have to read it in any particular order.
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Roisi from 7 North loves Swear to Howdy by Wendelin Van Drannen:
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My teacher last year read this book to us and I had to read it myself and I just couldn't stop reading. I feel like I could connect with Rusty and I could be friends with him. He is loyal and likes to play pranks. I couldn't believe the things that happened in this book. The car accident took me by total surprise. The secrets and the action are what makes this book so great. I want Wendelin Van Draanen to write more, and more, and more!
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And Mary Pat Snow shared Mike Lupica’s Fast Break:
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Mike Lupica's books appeal to everyone since it's the story that grips the reader and this is no different. This is his latest book and readers meet a foster boy named Jayson who makes a bad decision stealing a pair of basketball sneakers. He is then put in a new foster home and is angry about dealing with a new home, new school, and new teammates. Basketball helps him deal with his issues. This is set in North Carolina and Jayson has a chance to play on the Duke basketball court in a game. Try this or any of this other books. We have all of Mike Lupica's books in our library!
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Lurgio Wrestling Program Canceled for the 2015-2016 Season
Lurgio Middle School has been unable to hire a qualified wrestling coach for this season. Unfortunately, we cannot have a team this season. If you are interested in the wonderful sport of wrestling, please click [HERE] for a flyer regarding the Manchester YMCA wrestling program.
Spirit Tryouts Date Change - Tryouts Now on November 16
Lurgio Middle School has changed Spirit tryouts from Monday, November 2 to Monday, November 16. It has come to our attention that many cheerleaders are still in the midst of their fall seasons, so we have decided to delay the start of the Lurgio Spirit season. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Watson.
Guidance Corner
Youth Counselor, Donna LaRue, MA, LADC, LCMHC posts a weekly, helpful parenting newsletter article, as well as other relevant material on her website. Check out Ms. LaRue’s webpage for more information about drug abuse prevention as well as past asset newsletters by clicking here.
Peaceful Conflict Resolution
This week I'm sharing the final of five assets in the 'Social Competencies" Asset Type. So far we've explored Planning and Decision Making, Interpersonal Competence, Cultural Competence and Resistance Skills. This week we'll focus on Peaceful Conflict Resolution. This article offers advice on how teens should not avoid conflict, but instead develop skills to resolve it peacefully. Click here for this week's article titled “Peaceful Conflict Resolution"
Social Media Apps
Guidance Intern Sarah Demers will be posting information about social media apps that may be popular with students. These informational pages can be found weekly in the Lurgio News; you can also find a backlog of them on the Guidance webpage. Here is a link to this week’s app of interest. What's that App: Ask.fm
BHS Theater Company to Present Shake It Up.
“C’mon Everybody” and join us for Bedford High School’s Fall Musical, “All Shook Up,” starting Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bedford High School Auditorium. This hilarious, jukebox musical features 25 of Elvis Presley’s greatest hits and tells the story of how a hip-swiveling, motorbike riding roustabout comes to a small, Midwestern town and transforms it with love and rock n’ roll. It’s family friendly and fun for people of all ages!
Show dates are November 12, 13, and 14 @ 7 p.m.; November 15 @ 2p.m.; November 20 @ 7 p.m. and November 21 @2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased online at seatyourself.biz/bedfordhigh or at the door.
PTG CORNER - LOTS GOING ON.....PLEASE READ!
GIFT CARDS
The holidays are just around the corner, are you looking for the perfect gift for a friend, neighbor or teacher? The PTG Gift Card sale is now underway. We have lots of retailers including local businesses such as The Purple Finch, Canvas Roadshow, T-Bones, Zin Zen Yoga, Copper Door and Wicked Good Butcha! How does it work? For every gift card you buy, a percentage of the value of the card is donated by the sponsoring retailer to our schools while 100% of the value of the card that you purchased is available for you to spend! Click here to download an order form today. ORDERS DUE: Monday, November 9, 2015 for Pre-Thanksgiving/Hanukkah Delivery.
ORDERS DUE: Friday, December 4, 2015 for Pre-Christmas Delivery.
GIFT WRAP
Looking for gift wrap or other gift items? The Gift Wrap & More fundraiser will be ongoing online through December. Simply go to www.meadowfarms.com and enter code 1032028 to start shopping.
BEDFORD PTG INVITES YOU TO THE 2015 “ANNUAL SKI & SKATE SALE EVENT”
Bedford High School Gymnasium – Saturday, November 21st, 2015 (9:00am-2:00pm)
Save HUGE on new and used winter sports equipment & apparel!
Mark your calendar to join local vendors bringing top name brand equipment both new and used along with our tremendous consignment inventory of ski and boarding equipment, skates, and winter apparel and outfit your entire family for the upcoming season!
Whether you are in the market for new equipment or simply want to sell your own, this sale is for you. Experts will be available to help fit the right ski, board and boots to your ability! So grab a treat from our bake sale and have fun shopping this TREMENDOUS sale event!
Drop-off equipment for consignment: Friday November 20, 2015 (5:00pm – 8:00pm)
***VISIT http://www.bedfordptg.org for additional sale details and add your items to our sale and tag them from home using our easy online scanning system!
Stand by Me: Save the Date - Friday, May 20, 2016
Come and join us at our next SBM Committee meeting! We will be getting together to discuss this spring’s event at 9:15AM on Thursday, November 19, 2015 in the RAL Conference Room. We would love for you to come and see what we are all about!
Media Center Resouces
Lurgio’s Library Media Generalist, Mrs. Snow, invites you to visit the Digital Resources and Databases website and explore the variety of resources available to the Lurgio Middle School Community 24/7. Username and password for these resources is “lurgio”.
These databases are the kind of quality resources that the Library Media Center strives to provide the students of Lurgio Middle School as Mrs. Snow works to support the RAL curriculum, promotes information literacy and digital citizenship, and spreads the love of reading.
