Friday, February 26, 2016

Lurgio News for February 19, 2016


LURGIO NEWS
February 19, 2016


Dear Parents,

Wow, Lurgio had a great day celebrating literacy!

I want to put a very special thank you out to our PTG volunteers, staff, and students.  I specifically want to thank Lynne Natale, Wendy Emerson, Mary Pat Snow, Kate Schoedinger, Donna Dennis, and Nate Fellman for the enormous amount of work put in to make this day a success.

Our teachers went above and beyond the call of duty to plan literacy-based lessons and activities to build enthusiasm around reading. Your kids were fantastic! As I went around the building today I saw staff and students who were excited about reading and about supporting literacy for others. All told we raised over $4,000 for literacy at Lurgio and donated over 8,100 books to the Children’s Literacy Foundation.

Thank you for your support in making the 2016 Read-a-Thon a great success.

Sincerely,

Ed Joyce

Important Dates

Feb. 22 (Monday) to
Feb. 26 (Friday)
February Break (No School)
Mar. 8 (Tuesday)
Town Voting (No School)
Mar. 18 (Friday)
Spring Dance
Apr. 2 (Saturday)
CBY Lurgio’s Got Talent Show

RAL Cub of the Week
Each week, teachers 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 is Mia Purcell. Mia’s teacher describer her as one of the kindest most helpful students in her pod. She is especially caring of her fellow students.  Mia took the lead in welcome a student who was new to Lurgio. Great job Mia.


Bedford School District Vote on Tuesday March 8
All voters in Bedford are urged to vote on Tuesday, March 8 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m at the Bedford High School gymnasium​. These are the key issues to be decided:

  • OPERATING BUDGET: The proposed operating budget is $68.3M, a 3.9% increase over this year. The increase is primarily due to personnel, health insurance benefits, and significant building maintenance.  If the proposed budget is voted down, the default budget would be $2.3M lower.  
  • SIDEWALK: There is separate article to fund the construction of a sidewalk along Nashua Road from the Bedford High School lower parking lot to the Department of Public Works parking lot. The cost would be $234,000.
  • CAPITAL RESERVES: There are two separate articles about our unused capital reserve funds.  One article would discontinue them.  The other would re-purpose those same funds for a building maintenance reserve. The total amount as of June 30, 2015 was $478,518. Together these two article would have no tax impact.
  • Additional information can be found here.​

​The total estimated tax impact of a "yes" vote on all articles would be $0.66 per thousand, which would be an increase of $198 for the year on a $300,000 home.

Grandparent’s Day Was A Huge Success- Thank you PTG
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the PTG for hosting our Grandparent’s Day. The day was a huge success with many grandparents and students enjoying a wonderful day together. This day would not have been possible without the expert planning and hard work of our Bedford Parent Teacher Group.  Thank you PTG.

Free Sports Physicals
The Safe Sports Network will be offering free sports physicals on March 16 here in Bedford. If you are interested in this excellent service, please click HERE.

Spring Sports Concussion Testing - March 17, 2016
If your student has not taken an ImPACT concussion screening as a Lurgio student and they plan on trying out for baseball or softball, please register for the concussion screening on March 17 by clicking HERE. If your student has already completed a screening at Lurgio, he/she does not need to complete it again. Furthermore, this screening is not necessary for athletes participating in the tennis club, golf team, or track and field. More information regarding spring sports will be available in mid-March.  

Lurgio Yearbook Sales
The 2015-2016 yearbooks will be on sale on Monday after the February break. Cost of each yearbook is $20, and orders can be placed online by following these simple steps:
  • Click on: “Buy My Yearbook” button in upper right hand corner.
  • Choose your school (Ross A Lurgio Middle School)
  • Enter your information (Student’s Name, Teacher’s Name, Homeroom #).
  • Online sales will be open Monday, February 29th until Friday, March 18th.
  • In-school sales (Cash or Check) will be held Monday, March 7, 2016 through Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Lion’s Den
Please check out the latest issue of the student-produced newspaper [LINK].

Media Center Resources
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.

Guidance Corner
Youth Counselor, Donna LaRue, MA, is a NH Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor as well as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.  She 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.

Positive View of Personal Future

In 2014, 78% of Lurgio middle school students reported having a positive view of their personal future.  As always, let's talk about how to reach the remaining 22%! Here at Lurgio, our staff is trained to work with the whole person.  Children that struggle academically or behaviorally receive interventions aimed at not only promoting success in the classroom, but instilling hope in the child.  In our experience, finding and focussing on the solution rather than the problem is always so beneficial. In this school, we have a community of adults who work together to see those solutions and the gems that each child brings to the world.  At home, and in the community how can you support youth so that they find their way with hope about the future?   Viktor Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning based on his experience as a survivor from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.  He said:  “There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is meaning in one’s life.   He [or she] who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”

How can both the children in your homes and in your communities find their "WHY"?

Click here for this week's article on "Positive View of Personal Future".

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 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: Whisper

PTG Corner
Last week the Bedford PTG sponsored Grandparents/Senior Day at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School.  Grandparents and seniors in our community were invited to see a dress rehearsal of Wonderland and join students for a tour of the school and a luncheon.  It was a wonderful day at RAL.  Thank you to all those who volunteered their time to make the day a success!

Come join the PTG at Max’s Superhero Birthday Party at the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, March 12th at 7p.m.. Look for Batman, Superman and other heroes, even come dressed up as your favorite! Kids will have a chance to participate in the “high five tunnel” to cheer on the Monarchs players as they take the ice (just let us know on your order form).  The first 4,000 fans will get a superhero bobblehead! Tickets are priced at the reduced rates of $20/adult and $15/children under 12. Click here to download an order form and return to your school office by Friday, March 4th.  Contact Lisa Nash with any questions at lisa@eight-stars.com.

Stand By Me - May 20, 2016
Save the date!

Food Pantry Note
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Food Pantry at Bedford Presbyterian Church is a newly established resource for those in our community who are facing hunger or food insecurity.  The Food Pantry is a 501(c)3 organization that is a well-coordinated effort between 5 area churches, local organizations including the Bedford Lion's Club, the Boy Scouts, and individuals and families in Bedford. The Food Pantry is located at  Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road, Bedford, and is available to all Bedford residents.  The Food Pantry will open Saturday, January 16th, and will be open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday, and the following Monday, of each month. Hours are Saturdays, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00PM.

If you, or someone you know in Bedford is struggling with food insecurity please call Bedford Presbyterian Church, 472-5841.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Lurgio News for February 12, 2016



LURGIO NEWS
February 12, 2016







Dear Parents,

I can’t believe that we are already heading into the week before February break. The next seven days are chock full of action at Lurgio. After a preview for our grandparents on Thursday’s Grandparent’s Day performance, our school musical officially opens this evening. After that, Lurgio Spirit Week kicks off on Monday and culminates with the second annual Read-a-Thon literacy fundraiser on Friday.

Tonight at 7PM and tomorrow at 1PM and 7PM, the Lurgio Players will open the curtain for our school musical, Wonderland.  Click here to purchase tickets in advance.  Tickets are still available at the door.

Monochrome Monday begins our Spirit Week, and it’s also our first turn-in day for donations for the second annual Lurgio Read-a-Thon. All monetary donations made on Monday will earn students double raffle chances!

It’s certainly shaping up to be an exciting sprint towards February Break!

Enjoy,

Ed


Important Dates


Feb. 9 (Tuesday)
Primary Voting Day (No School)
Feb. 11 (Thursday)
Grandparent and Senior Citizens’ Day
Feb. 12 (Friday)
Lurgio Players present Wonderland (7:00 PM)
Feb. 13 (Saturday)
Lurgio Players present Wonderland (1:00 PM & 7:00 PM)
Feb. 15 (Monday) to
Feb. 19 (Friday)
Book and Sponsorship Donations Collected
for Lurgio Read-a-Thon
Feb. 19 (Friday)
Lurgio/PTG Read-a-Thon Event


Lurgio/PTG Read-a-Thon
Once again this year Lurgio has partnered with the PTG to provide students with a fantastic fundraiser that celebrates and supports literacy at Lurgio and in New England. Please consider sponsoring your child’s participation in the Read-a-Thon day of literacy that will take place on Friday, February 19. This is an all-school, all-day event in which students and staff engage in silent reading and other literacy activities while at school. Sponsorship envelopes should arrive home this afternoon, and we will begin collecting sponsorship donations on Monday, February 15.


For more information, view the student presentation [LINK], check out this flyer [LINK], and/or read this letter to parents [LINK].


Grandparent’s Day Was A Huge Success- Thank you PTG
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the PTG for hosting our Grandparent’s Day. The day was a huge success with many grandparents and students enjoying a wonderful day together. This day would not have been possible without the expert planning and hard work of our Bedford Parent Teacher Group.  Thank you PTG.


Book Buzz
Today’s Book Buzzes come from an anonymous, happy Books for Breakfast participants:


Pax by Sara Pennypacker is about a boy and the fox he has had ever since Peter rescued him as a kit.  They are inseparable.  Then a horrible day arrived: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return Pax to the wild.  Peter is left with his grandfather, 300 miles away from home, and runs away to find Pax so they can be reunited.  The chapters alternate between Peter's adventure to find Pax and Pax's thoughts trying to survive.  The ending is amazing.  If you like animal books, this one is perfect for you.


Hurt Go Happy is a Schneider Family Book Award winner about a deaf girl who's mom doesn't want her to learn sign language but to only read lips.  The girl, Joey, meets Dr. Charles Mansell and his baby chimpanzee.  What's amazing is that Dr. Mansell's parents were both deaf and as a hearing boy he learned ASL and taught his chimpanzee, Sukari, to use sign language.  He raises Sukari as a human.  This is all based on a true story too.  Joey meets Sukari and keeps their friendship secret from her mother.  Joey learns sign language and has an amazing friendship with Sukari.  This is all tested when Sukari is shipped off to a research facility in New Mexico.  It is amazing to see how Joey works to rescue the chimpanzee she loves.


Lurgio Completes Hunger Awareness Week
Lurgio Student Council would like to thank the seventh and eighth grade students for their participation in the 2016 Lurgio Hunger Awareness Week. Throughout the week of January 25th, students brought in a variety of materials for each day to be donated to the New Horizons Soup Kitchen and Homeless Shelter in Manchester.  In total, the seventh graders brought in 1,651 items and the eighth graders brought in 733 items; a whopping 2,384 items were boxed and shipped to New Horizons! On top of this incredible generosity, the students also supported New Horizons by purchasing finger lights at the January “Donation” Dance. Through those sales, Lurgio is proud to present a check to New Horizons in the amount of $510.00. What an incredible demonstration of the compassion and generosity on the part of our student body! Way to go Lurgio!


Free Sports Physicals
The Safe Sports Network will be offering free sports physicals on March 16 here in Bedford. If you are interested in this excellent service, please click HERE.


You Be The Chemist Challenge RESCHEDULED!
The YBTC Qualifying Test has been rescheduled from Tuesday, February 2nd to Monday, February 15th at 2:30 in the Media Center.  Please make note of this date change and inform your child of the change.  If you have any questions or still want to register your child, e-mail Mrs. Rockwell at rockwella@bedfordnhk12.net.  In the meantime, your child should continue to study from the study materials listed at ChemEd.


Lurgio Yearbook Sales
The 2015-2016 yearbooks will be on sale after the February break.  Cost will be $20. Information will be shared in future issues of the Lurgio News.


Lion’s Den
Please check out the latest issue of the student-produced newspaper [LINK].


Media Center Resources
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.


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.


Personal Power

When we conducted the Asset Survey in 2014, I was happy to see that 50% of the students reported they feel some control over things that happen to them.  Now it's time to work on the other 50%!!!


One important strategy is to encourage your children to serve others.  Many high schools, including Bedford High, requires community service hours be completed as a graduation requirement.  What an incredible awakening to realize you can make a difference in your community and in your world!  As your children are growing up they will really appreciate learning practical skills that will add to their independence.  It's a win/win scenario when the kids help with laundry, dinner and fixer up projects around the house!


Click here for a look at this week’s Search Institute Asset Newsletter about “Personal Power.”


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 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: Brighten


PTG Corner
This week the Bedford PTG sponsored Grandparents/Senior Day at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School.  Grandparents and seniors in our community were invited to see a dress rehearsal of Wonderland and join students for a tour of the school and a luncheon.  It was a wonderful day at RAL.  Thank you to all those who volunteered their time to make the day a success!


Come join the PTG at Max’s Superhero Birthday Party at the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, March 12th at 7p.m.. Look for Batman, Superman and other heroes, even come dressed up as your favorite! Kids will have a chance to participate in the “high five tunnel” to cheer on the Monarchs players as they take the ice (just let us know on your order form).  The first 4,000 fans will get a superhero bobblehead! Tickets are priced at the reduced rates of $20/adult and $15/children under 12. Click here to download an order form and return to your school office by Friday, March 4th.  Contact Lisa Nash with any questions at lisa@eight-stars.com.


Stand By Me - May 20, 2016
Sending a special thank you to all who participated in our Stand By Me fundraiser this past Tuesday at Sky Zone in Manchester.   It was a great success and we appreciate your support for our organization.


This month's Stand By Me meeting will be next Thursday, February 18th at 9:15 - 11:00 a.m. in the main office conference room. Please feel free to join us!


Wish Club
The Bedford High School Wish Club will be holding a fundraiser at Panera Bread in Bedford on Thursday, February 11th from 4-8.  The purpose of the Wish Club it to make wishes come true for kids with life-threatening illnesses by raising funds for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire®.  Over the last 2-1/2 years, we have raised almost $4,000!  Please come out to Panera Bread on Thursday to support a great cause!  A portion of all purchases will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.  We ask that you please print out the attached flyer and present it when you place your order.   Thank you!


Food Pantry Note
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Food Pantry at Bedford Presbyterian Church is a newly established resource for those in our community who are facing hunger or food insecurity.  The Food Pantry is a 501(c)3 organization that is a well-coordinated effort between 5 area churches, local organizations including the Bedford Lion's Club, the Boy Scouts, and individuals and families in Bedford. The Food Pantry is located at  Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road, Bedford, and is available to all Bedford residents.  The Food Pantry will open Saturday, January 16th, and will be open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday, and the following Monday, of each month. Hours are Saturdays, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00PM.


If you, or someone you know in Bedford is struggling with food insecurity please call Bedford Presbyterian Church, 472-5841.