Friday, March 25, 2016

Lurgio News for March 25, 2016


LURGIO NEWS
March 25, 2016

Dear Parents,

Last evening I had the privilege of attending our the Lurgio Band and Chorus’ first annual “Music in Our Schools” concert. It was a fantastic event that showcased the talent of our Lurgio students.  
The Chorus kicked off the evening with a brilliant tribute to the music of the Beatles.  During this number the students showcased their ability to sing some very difficult harmonies and navigate smoothly through a multitude of songs.  Next, our band filled the theater with the music of the band Queen and Williams’ theme from Jurassic Park before closing the concert with a Disney Melody.  It was truly spectacular!  

We all know that great concerts do not happen by accident.  Last night’s success was a direct result of the students’ hard work, our directors’ passion for their music, and your support of music in our schools.  

Sincerely,
Ed Joyce
Important Dates

Mar. 26 (Saturday)
CBY Lurgio’s Got Talent Show
Mar. 28 (Monday)
Last Day to Order 2015-2016 Lurgio Yearbook
Apr. 08 (Friday)
Midnight Madness
Apr. 25 (Monday) to
April 29 (Friday)
April Vacation - NO SCHOOL

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 is Ali England. Ali is constantly engaging with all students and creating a positive learning/participatory environment in her classes.  She goes above and beyond to ensure that all students, regardless of ability, are included and given the opportunity to be successful.  Congrats Ali.

Destination Imagination
Congratulations to the five Lurgio teams who participated at the DI Regionals in Goffstown last weekend.  All five teams placed, with Inigo Montoya taking 1st and the Mysterious Bakers 2nd. Those first and second place finishes qualified the two teams to represent Lurgio at the State Tournament on April 2nd.  We are so proud of these super creative students and are most grateful to the adult volunteers for giving of their time over the past four months.

Free Bedford Wrestling Clinic - March 25 & March 26
All students in grades 1 through 8 are encouraged to participate in a FREE wrestling clinic hosted by the Bedford High School coaches and wrestlers. Bobby Heald, two-time NH State Champion and New England place finisher, will run the clinic as part of his senior project. Admission is free. The clinic will take place in the Lurgio Gymnasium on Friday, March 25 from 6PM-8PM and on Saturday, March 26 from 9AM-11AM. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Chris Como at cscomo23251@yahoo.com

Lurgio Yearbook Order Window CLOSES MONDAY
The 2015-2016 yearbooks will be on sale until Monday, March 28.  Don't miss out on the 152 full color pages of this year!!  Order numbers are low this year and we don’t want anyone to miss their opportunity to have their own copy.

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, March 28th.
If paying by cash or check, please turn money into Mrs. Wells in room 230 - extra order envelopes can be found in the main office.

Volleyball Clinic
Courtney O’Connell, a senior who plays for the Varsity Volleyball team at Bedford High School, is hosting a volleyball clinic from April 25-27 for girls in grades 5-8 for her senior project. The camp is about improving on fundamental volleyball skills and learning more about the game, with appearances from college and club coaches! Click on the link in the flyer to sign up!!

BHS Orientation program (AKA: BASE Camp)
BHS Freshmen Orientation
August 1-5, 2016
8:30am-2:30pm @ BHS

This opportunity will allow your student to be exposed to "life at BHS" prior to the start of school.  Teachers and Counselors have created a program that is fun, effective and informative.  Topics include but are not limited to:  
-Study skills
-Note-taking & test taking strategies
-Understanding competencies & grading
-Real World Learning hours (your child can also earn these for coming)
-Digital Portfolio & graduation requirements
-Practice with locker and walk-through using their schedules
-Finding balance and managing stress

To register or for more info:

RAL/BHS Traffic Flow
Some parents have contacted us about the traffic challenges at the end of the day.  When the Bedford Police Department is fully staffed, they have told us they will have an officer at the Nashua and Country Road intersection at the end of the school day.  In the meantime, here are five key things that parents and students can do to help.
 
  1. TAKE THE BUS whenever possible.
  2. YIELD to pedestrians at all times when on campus.
  3. PULL AHEAD.  The tighter you pull in, the more cars our lot can handle.
  4. TAKE TURNS at the main intersections when congestion is high.
  5. ARRIVE A LITTLE LATE. If you arrive 10 minutes after school dismisses, traffic has begun to clear and pick up is more convenient.

Smarter Balanced Assessments
This spring students in grades 3 - 8 will be taking the state test in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Please click HERE to read a letter from Mr. Joyce with more information about the Smarter Balanced Assessments.

Smarter Balanced Test - Try It Out
You can try your hand at taking a practice version of the new Smarter Balanced test here.  You will find sample questions and tutorials on how the test works.  Over the coming weeks, we will continue to share information about Smarter Balanced, how it works, and what your child can expect.

Book Buzz

From Samantha in 8 East:
Harlon Coben's Shelter is a mysterious thrilled in which a teenage boy, Mickey Bolitar, must fight to uncover the dangerous mysteries of his dad's death and his girlfriend, Ashley's, disappearance.  He does this all while battling school bullies, his mother's rehab and his uncle trying to play parent.  Mickey follows his girlfriend's trial and finds out that Ashley isn't who she claimed to be.  And neither is his father.  This book is the first in a series.  I recommend this novel if you like thrillers and mysteries.

CBY@RAL Animal Shelter Drive
CBY@RAL is hosting an animal shelter drive from March 15th-March 28th.  Check the Wish List Poster in your pod area to see what is needed.  Donations don't need to be new; they are always in need of old towels, sheets and blankets.  Boxes will be placed in homerooms/pod areas on Tuesday, March 15th.  Be sure to bring in lots of items because the homeroom  in each grade with the most donations will win the right to pie any willing teacher.  
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.

Self-Esteem

This week's article references the following quote:  “Giving children the feeling of being cared about for themselves, not just for their performance, is integral to their self-esteem.”—Richard Oberfield, M.D.

Navigating through childhood and adolescence, on the way to adulthood is wrought with challenges.  Self-Esteem can really take a hit during this bumpy ride.  Parents and other family members can foster resiliency with unconditional love.  No matter the mistakes, choices and uniqueness you observe as your child navigates their increasingly independent life, your unconditional love can provide a valuable emotional bank account as times get tough.
Click here for this week's article.

Social Media Apps
Guidance Intern Sarah Demers will be posting information about social media apps that may be popular with students. Click on the link below to access links to all apps posted about so far this year. What's that App: Table of Contents

Practical Help for Parents
Barriers to Good Decision Making in Teens
Are you often confused, surprised, bewildered, and upset with your pre-teen and teenagers' behaviors?  Do you ask yourself, "now why did he did that?" or "how could she have done that?"?  You are not alone!  And there are biological reasons for why adolescents often act in ways that do not make sense to adults.   Claudette Stone, Behavior Specialist, has attached a link to an hour-long webinar, online seminar, that provides researched evidence to explain adolescence behavior, offers some practical parenting strategies to help, and gives hope to parents of teens!

Click on the link below:


Opt in to Text Messages
If you have not signed up for text messages from the District's School Messenger system, you still can!  Just text "yes" to 68453.

​2016-17 Calendar ​
​The Bedford School Board has approved the 2016-17 School Calendar.  It can be found here.​

Spotlight on Special Education in Bedford
Are you the parent or guardian of a child who accesses special education services in Bedford?  Join us for an informational session to learn about special education services in our Bedford schools!  Meet representatives and gain insight into the different programming at each school through this panel presentation. Tuesday April 19th, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the SAU Board Room, 103 County Road.  RSVP to Robin Palis palisr@sau25.net or 472-3755 (option 2).

PTG CORNER:

Let the Madness Begin!
Ross A Lurgio is preparing for their annual Midnight Madness which will take place on Friday, April 8th.  What is Midnight Madness you ask? It is a highly anticipated event for students whereby the BHS/Lurgio gymnasium is open to its full combined capacity and filled with inflatable obstacles, oversized tricycles, and a mechanical bull. Movies are played in the cafeteria and pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, soft drinks and other concessions are available throughout the evening. Volunteers are needed each year to make this event happen. We are meeting with admin today and once we finalize the details, PTG volunteers will receive a request. If you are not on our volunteer list but wish to volunteer for this fabulously fun event, please email Sally Thomas at lurgiosally@gmail.com.
  
Stand by Me - Thank You!
The Stand By Me committee would like to send a special thank you to all those who dined out at Panera Bread on Tuesday evening in support of Stand By Me.  We cannot do what we do without the support of our parents at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School and in our community.  

We would also like to thank those students who came to support Stand By Be and purchased concessions at the "Slushy Dance".  Fun was had by all!  

STAND BY ME - SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016



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, March 18, 2016

Lurgio News for March 18, 2016

LURGIO NEWS
March 18, 2016


Dear Parents,

We had a great reminder this week of what a wonderful school community Lurgio is. In addition to raising money for literacy at Lurgio during the Read-a-Thon, Lurgio students also collected thousands of books for the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) to support the literacy needs of children in need. Today, we received a special thank-you note from CLiF that included several pictures of our students loading the more than seventy boxes of books into the donation van. Great job, Lurgio!

Sincerely,

Ed Joyce


Important Dates

Mar. 18 (Friday)
Spring Dance
Mar. 24 (Thursday)
Music in Our Schools Concert
Mar. 26 (Saturday)
CBY Lurgio’s Got Talent Show
Mar. 28 (Monday)
Last Day to Order 2015-2016 Lurgio Yearbook
Apr. 08 (Friday)
Midnight Madness

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 is Matt Flanagan.  Matt is a positive, hard-working student and an all-around nice, young man.  He is commended for being a leader among his peers who brings great energy to school every day.  Congratulation Matt!

RAL/BHS Traffic Flow
Some parents have contacted us about the traffic challenges at the end of the day.  When the Bedford Police Department is fully staffed, they have told us they will have an officer at the Nashua and Country Road intersection at the end of the school day.  In the meantime, here are five key things that parents and students can do to help.
 
  1. TAKE THE BUS whenever possible.
  2. YIELD to pedestrians at all times when on campus.
  3. PULL AHEAD.  The tighter you pull in, the more cars our lot can handle.
  4. TAKE TURNS at the main intersections when congestion is high.
  5. ARRIVE A LITTLE LATE. If you arrive 10 minutes after school dismisses, traffic has begun to clear and pick up is more convenient.

Smarter Balanced Assessments
This spring students in grades 3 - 8 will be taking the state test in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Please click HERE to read a letter from Mr. Joyce with more information about the Smarter Balanced Assessments.

Smarter Balanced Test - Try It Out
You can try your hand at taking a practice version of the new Smarter Balanced test here.  You will find sample questions and tutorials on how the test works.  Over the coming weeks, we will continue to share information about Smarter Balanced, how it works, and what your child can expect.

Book Buzz

Toren in 7 West:
The Tapper Twins by Geoff Rodkey is written in such a great weird way and I like it.  Kids do bad things and the girl talks about how all these things happen and the parents are terrible parents.  There are a ton of these books and they are just hilarious.  It's Claudia and Reese and the titles are like Go to War, Run for President, Tear Up New York.  They are so funny.

Jaedyn from 8 North:
I'm reading a really different book called Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone about a popular girl who keeps her OCD secret.  Her parents know but no one else.  She joins a Poet's Corner at school and that helps.  It's such a different book for me and a really important book that addresses issues kids face in school.

Lexi from 8 East:
I'm reading We Should Hang Out Sometime, and it's a funny look at a how a guy is trying to meet girls.  He is 25 years old and realizes he has never had a girlfriend.  He wants to figure out why not.  He takes a scientific approach and has all these charts and his catch phrase is "We should hang out sometime."  He has a prosthetic leg and there are scenes about that getting in his way that is humorous. It's by Josh Sundquist who also is a motivational speaker and Paralympic ski racer.  He lost his foot to cancer as a kid.  It's fun to read and I recommend it.

Abbey from 8 East:
The fact that If I Stay is both realistic and sad makes it such a good read.  author Gayle Forman does a great job making you care about Mia and her family.  They get into a car accident and the whole book is about Mia wondering if she should stay on Earth or pass to heaven.  I saw the movie and knew I wanted to read the book.

Free Bedford Wrestling Clinic - March 25 & March 26
All students in grades 1 through 8 are encouraged to participate in a FREE wrestling clinic hosted by the Bedford High School coaches and wrestlers. Bobby Heald, two-time NH State Champion and New England place finisher, will run the clinic as part of his senior project. Admission is free. The clinic will take place in the Lurgio Gymnasium on Friday, March 25 from 6PM-8PM and on Saturday, March 26 from 9AM-11AM. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Chris Como at cscomo23251@yahoo.com

Lurgio Yearbook Order Window Extended
The 2015-2016 yearbooks order window has been extended to Monday, March 28.  Don't miss out on the 152 full color pages of this year!!  Order numbers are low this year and we don’t want anyone to miss their opportunity to have their own copy.

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, March 28th.

If paying by cash or check, please turn money into Mrs. Wells in room 230 - extra order envelopes can be found in the main office.

CBY@RAL Animal Shelter Drive
CBY@RAL is hosting an animal shelter drive from March 15th-March 28th.  Check the Wish List Poster in your pod area to see what is needed.  Donations don't need to be new; they are always in need of old towels, sheets and blankets.  Boxes will be placed in homerooms/pod areas on Tuesday, March 15th.  Be sure to bring in lots of items because the homeroom  in each grade with the most donations will win the right to pie any willing teacher.  
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.

Self-Esteem

This week's article references the following quote:  “Giving children the feeling of being cared about for themselves, not just for their performance, is integral to their self-esteem.”—Richard Oberfield, M.D.

Navigating through childhood and adolescence, on the way to adulthood is wrought with challenges.  Self-Esteem can really take a hit during this bumpy ride.  Parents and other family members can foster resiliency with unconditional love.  No matter the mistakes, choices and uniqueness you observe as your child navigates their increasingly independent life, your unconditional love can provide a valuable emotional bank account as times get tough.
Click here for this week's article.

Social Media Apps
Guidance Intern Sarah Demers will be posting information about social media apps that may be popular with students. Click on the link below to access links to all apps posted about so far this year. What's that App: Table of Contents

Practical Help for Parents
Barriers to Good Decision Making in Teens
Are you often confused, surprised, bewildered, and upset with your pre-teen and teenagers' behaviors?  Do you ask yourself, "now why did he did that?" or "how could she have done that?"?  You are not alone!  And there are biological reasons for why adolescents often act in ways that do not make sense to adults.   Claudette Stone, Behavior Specialist, has attached a link to an hour-long webinar, online seminar, that provides researched evidence to explain adolescence behavior, offers some practical parenting strategies to help, and gives hope to parents of teens!

Click on the link below:

Opt in to Text Messages
If you have not signed up for text messages from the District's School Messenger system, you still can!  Just text "yes" to 68453.

​2016-17 Calendar ​
​The Bedford School Board has approved the 2016-17 School Calendar.  It can be found here.​

From the Border to Our Corner - A Law Enforcement Perspective on Substance Abuse
On behalf of the Bedford Police Department, we are pleased to let parents know about a screening of a video produced jointly by FBI and DEA entitled “Chasing the Dragon” concerning the many aspects of substance abuse.  

​The screening will be followed by a round table discussion and Q and A from audience.   Panelists will include Bedford Police Chief Bryfonski; NH Senator Kelly Ayotte; DEA Special Agent in Charge, Jon DeLena; FBI Special Agent in Charge, Scott O’Donnell; NH State Police Chief, Robert Quinn; and President, NH Chiefs of Police, Robert Cormier.

DATE: March 24, 2016
TIME: 7 PM – 9 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM – space is limited)
PLACE: SERESC (Southeastern Regional Education Service Center)
29 Commerce Drive, Bedford NH 03110​

PTG CORNER
To all parents of students at Ross A.Lurgio Middle School:

We need your help!  Please consider donating goodies to the Books for Breakfast Cafe.  It is a highly attended group of students who meet each Friday morning in the Media Center to share their love for literacy.  We have been asked to assist with breakfast treats one Friday each month.  Thank you those parent volunteers who have signed up to help.  We are still in need of items and if you are able to help, the link to the signup is:


If you would like more information about the Books for Breakfast Cafe, or if you would like to come to one of their meetings to see what they are about, please email Lynne Natale at lynatale@aol.com.

Stand by Me - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
The Stand By Me committee is holding a fundraiser at tonight's "Slushie" school dance.  Our Stand By Me Student Committee along with parent committee members will be volunteering their time selling slushies, candy and soft drinks. Money earned from concession sales this evening will be used to fund this year's event.  Students, please show your support as you enjoy all of the treats we have to offer!  

Our Panera Bread Fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, March 22nd from 4:00-8:00PM. In order for the Stand By Me Committee to benefit, you MUST show a copy of the flyer.  Please print it out or show a copy of the flyer on your phone or other electronic device. Here is a link to our Panera Fundraiser flyer.  Thank you!

Stand by Me: Save the date - Friday, May 20, 2016

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.