LMMHS EXPRESS

Second Quarter High Honors

Babich, Nicole

Barry, Erin

Brattke, Nikolaj

Bravo, Christopher

DiMouro, Rachel

Ellis, Emily

Fisher, Gillian

Frost, Nicholas

Gervasi, Sarah

Katz, Rebecca

Lane, Nika

Lillie, Ethan

Monteleone, Megan

Second Quarter Honor Roll

Spring Sports Begin March 16^th, 2009

Please be sure that all athletes have an up to date physical in the Nurse’s office.  No athlete will be allowed to practice without an up to date physical.  Any questions please contact Athletic Director, Brian Cogswell or School Nurse, Carrie Bither at 637-5560.

guidance department news

College Night set for Students in grade 11 and their parents

College Night is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st, in the Duffin Theater from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.  A panel of college admissions representatives and LMMHS Guidance Counselors Peter Andersen and Stephanie Sears will provide important information regarding the start of the college search process.  This program will be of particular interest to high school juniors and their parents; however, all interested LMMHS parents and students are encouraged to attend.

AP Testing at Lenox High School

Students taking the AP exam this spring will be provided with information on the exam schedule and test fee.  This year, the fee for the AP exams is $86.00 and the deadline to submit the exam fee is Friday, March 6^th.  Checks should be payable to Lenox High School and given to Mr. Andersen.  For families who are financially eligible, there is a subsidy available through the Commonwealth.  As we get closer to the actual date, Mr. Andersen will provide test locations.  It is very important for students to be aware of the dates and times for each of their exams because once an exam has started, an absent student has to pay an additional fee to take a retest.  Please call Mr. Andersen in the Guidance Department at 637-5560 if you have any questions regarding AP exams.

SAT News:

The SAT I & II tests will next be administered at Pittsfield High School on the following dates:

Test date                      Registration deadline

May 2, 2009                March 31, 2009

June 6, 2009                May 5, 2009

Students should report to PHS at 7:45 a.m. with a photo ID, two # 2 pencils, and a calculator. 

College bound students in grades 10 and 11 may be interested in taking SAT II subject area tests if the colleges in which they are interested require them. Make sure to check with the individual colleges you are interested in to determine which SAT II subject test to take.  Students can pick up registration forms in the guidance department or sign up online through www.collegeboard.com.  If you have further questions regarding testing, please contact Peter Andersen, Guidance Counselor at 637-5560.

Transitioning to High School 

In January, eighth grade parents and students had the opportunity to meet individually with Mrs. Spoehr to review their child’s Differential Aptitude Test. Additionally,  high school planning, potential career interests as well as post secondary visions were reviewed. 

On January 29^th an orientation program was held at 7 p.m. for parents and students entering grade nine. The program consisted of an overview of the Program of Studies, earning credits toward graduation requirements as well as an overview from the ninth grade English, social studies, and math teachers. Electives and a review of extra curricular activities were also provided. Students were encouraged to select an extra curricular activity to enhance their school experience.  Please call Nanette Spoehr with any questions regarding your student’s transition into ninth grade or email Nanette at nspoehr@lenoxps.org

Course Selection Calendar

The scheduling and course selection process for the 2009/2010 school year has begun. Starting in early February allows more time for student counseling on course selection and results in far fewer schedule changes made in September. 

We will follow the approximate timeline listed below.  Please begin to review course options and requirements with your daughter/son at the appropriate time.

In January

·        Orientation for Parents of 8^th Grade students was held on January 29^th.

In February, the following activities are occurring:

·        Program of Studies distributed to students in grades 9 through 11

·        Guidance counselor began meeting with parents of 8^th graders to plan high school course selections

·        Eighth grade assembly was held to explain high school Program of Studies, graduation requirements, and course selection process

·        Sixth & seventh graders considered taking Spanish & French

·        Faculty made course recommendations to Guidance for 8^th and 9^th grade students.

·        Faculty counseled students in grades 10 & 11 on course pre registrations.

·        Pre Registration for courses will be mailed to parents

·        Parents may call with any course selection concerns

In March:

·        Initial master schedule constructed

In April:

·        Course conflicts resolved, master schedule finalized

Scholarships for Seniors

Scholarships are arriving daily. Please have your senior stop by Guidance to see what is available to them.   The Town of Lenox Scholarship was mailed home in late January and will be due March 28^th, 2008. It is very important that all seniors complete this application and return it to Guidance.  Reminder:  Students who are submitting applications are asked to please give the Guidance Office at least a 10 day notice for any information that must accompany a scholarship.  Please note: additional information on local and national scholarships is available by accessing the LMMHS Guidance website: www.lenoxps.org

CONNECT to a career with a professional internship

Many types of internships are available to juniors and seniors.  It is a great way to gain practical experience to list on a resume or college application.  Students may do an internship for one or two semesters and up to three hours a day.  Grades are determined through attendance and participation, the mentor’s evaluation, a weekly journal, and quarterly projects.

Students may also intern after school and earn academic credit that will appear on their transcripts.  This is especially for students whose schedules are full of classes, but who still want practical experience in a field they are interested in studying further.

Applications are available in the Guidance Office and are now being accepted for the 2009-2010 school year.  Applications are due May 1, but students are strongly encouraged to turn them in early.  Please talk with Ms. Sears at 637-5560 x 1202 or ssears@lenoxps.org

VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

On January 30, 2009, Mrs. Spoehr took 20 interested students currently in 8th and  9^th grade to tour the vocational facilities at Pittsfield and Taconic High School. Currently, Lenox students interested in pursuing vocational career pathways must either enroll in the Pittsfield programs in 9^th or 10^th grade.

The students were able to see all of the programs offered:  culinary arts, health assisting, auto body repair, auto body repair and refinishing, small engines technology, electronics, horticulture, cosmetology, maintenance facilities management, carpentry, graphic communications, manufacturing technology, and metal fabrication & joining technologies. We were served a delicious lunch prepared by the culinary arts students at Taconic High school in their Epicurean room.  We all left with a new appreciation of vocational careers that are available.

Student who elect to pursue the vocational program at either school need to fill out an application which may be obtained in the Guidance Office through Mrs. Spoehr. Interested students will have an opportunity to shadow at either high school and parents will be encouraged to set-up a meeting with a school official to discuss the programs. Students who are accepted into the vocational programs will become full-time students at either Pittsfield or Taconic High School and will earn their high school diploma from Pittsfield. Lenox students who are accepted into the vocational programs will be transported by the town of Lenox to and from  school each day. A letter of intent to attend the vocational programs must be sent to the Superintendent, Marianne Young by April 1^st, 2009.  

Anyone with questions concerning the vocational program should contact Mrs. Spoehr in the Guidance office at 637-5560 or email at nspoehr@lenoxps.org

Health services

Vision and Hearing:

All students are required to have a vision and hearing screening each school year.  If your child fails the vision or hearing test the first time, they will be retested at a later date.  Cold, headaches or simply a bad day can affect the testing.  If your child fails the second time, a letter will be sent home with a form to be completed by a physician or vision or hearing specialist.  We know that if your child can hear and see well, he/she can learn better.

Immunizations:

A reminder to parents of 6^th grade students that the following immunizations are required for students entering 7^th grade.

• Hepatitis B series completed
• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)#2
• Td (tetanus, diphtheria, within 5 years

Also, physical exams are required during grade 7.  Please keep these requirements in mind when you schedule examinations with your child’s physician.

Scoliosis:

Scoliosis screening is required for students in grades 6 through 9.  This screening is to detect early signs of curvatures of the spine.  This is done during physical education classes in the nurse’s office.  Scoliosis screening will occur during the months of February and March.

If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse at 637-5560.

IS IT COLD or FLU?

It is definitely cold and flu season and many of us wonder how the two differ.  As we have

all experienced, cold symptoms have gradual onset and are characterized by the following symptoms:

• Malaise (feeling of being run down and tired)
• Low-grade fevers
• Headache
• Watery eyes
• Runny nose with clear discharge
• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Sore or scratchy throat, hoarseness
• Lessened ability to taste and smell
• Nonproductive cough

Symptoms of the flu typically have a sudden onset and include the following:

• Muscle aches, often severe
• Malaise
• High fever and chills (103-105 degrees)
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Nonproductive cough
• Nausea and Vomiting

The best prevention of colds and flu is frequent hand washing!

EIGHTH GRADE BABY PICTURES

    A number of eighth grade students still need to bring in either a baby or a toddler picture of themselves for the middle school yearbook. Would you please have your son or daughter either bring one in or e-mail a photo no later than February 25^th to either their homeroom teacher or to Mrs. Barber at  abarber@lenoxps.org.  Just as soon as they are collected and scanned, they will be returned to the students.  If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to the e-mail address above.

If you have any sports activities, field trips, etc., pictures for the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders that we can use for the middle school yearbook, the middle school yearbook committee would certainly appreciate them.

job shadow day

On January 30^th, sixty sophomores from Lenox High School participated in Job Shadow Day, an event held across the country where thousands of students visited businesses to observe people in various fields of interest.  Our students traveled to twenty-nine businesses in Lenox and the surrounding area. 

As a part of their English classes, the students identified their strengths and selected careers of interest.  They were then matched up with willing employers.  The students talked about their expectations for the day, asked questions of their workplace hosts, and followed up with thank you notes.

This is the fifth year LMMHS has participated.   On their evaluations, 82% of the students thought that they might pursue careers in the fields they shadowed.  One student remarked that “I found out what it takes to do this job.”  Other comments included “people here really seem to love their jobs”, “I need to work on my leadership skills”, and “It was a lot better than I thought it would be”.  Even students who discovered that they would be better suited in another field seemed to value the experience.

Job Shadow Day is one part of the Career Preparatory Program at Lenox High School.  As juniors and seniors, students can participate in internships in which they earn academic credits and gain practical experience for college or a future career area.  Internships can occur during or after school.  For more information about this program, please contact Stephanie Sears in the Guidance Office.

Many thanks to the following local businesses for their support:

Pignatelli Electric

Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital

Motorcycle Medic                    South Street Veterinary

Campoli & Monteleone

Lenox Internal Medicine

Family Flowers

Paul Rich & Sons

Classics Day

On Thursday, January 22nd, 30 Latin students of Latin II, III and AP headed to Mount Holyoke College to participate in the annual celebration of the classics, Classics Day, sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Classics Association.  The day began with a series of workshops ranging from classical architecture and weaving to Cleopatra.  Then the games began.  Lenox students competed in all areas: costume, art, certamen and oral interpretation.  Wilson Baer came in second place in the oral competition reciting by memory and in meter a poem of Catullus.  The advanced Latin team consisting of Wilson Baer, Jenna Rush, Cam Zinchuk and Miranda Cohen came in third place in the final round of competition.  Art awards went to Jessica Ahrens for her mosaic, Kaylee Miller and Pam Barry for their clever poster comparing ancient Rome and Washington DC., and Jared Miller and Colin Rosen for their military model. Mount Holyoke served their usual great lunch with their legendary garlic bread.  Finally, we were treated to a middle school comic interpretation of the "The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships," the story of Helen of Troy.  All agreed it was a great day and students are already planning their strategies for next year.

join us for a night of entertainment

The LMMHS Music department presents the musical “The Boy Friend”

The LMMHS Music Department is presenting “The Boy Friend”, a musical by Sandy Wilson, on Friday, March 13 and Saturday March 14 in the Duffin Theater. The shows will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“The Boy Friend”, written in the early 1950’s, is a lighthearted spoof on the musical comedies of the 1920’s. Our production features Marina Lane as Madame Dubonnet, the head mistress of a finishing school for girls; Ava Lindenmaier as Polly Browne, a starry-eyed girl at the school; Chris Herr as Tony, Polly’s suitor; and Wilson Baer as Percival Browne, Polly’s father. The role of Polly was originally performed on Broadway by Julie Andrews and was her first introduction to American audiences.

Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

WEB ART GALLERY  

www.artsonia.com

Our school is testing out a membership to Artsonia.com (www.artsonia.com), the largest online student art museum. Artsonia showcases artwork from thousands of schools around the world. Artsonia’ s goals are to develop students’ pride and self-esteem, increase their multicultural understanding through art and involve parents and relatives in student education and accomplishments.

In accordance with our school policy, student artwork may be published on our

school’s web gallery on Artsonia. As a security feature, Artsonia requires the parent to pre-approve all comments before they are posted on the website. This is one of many examples of how important your child’s safety and privacy are to us at Lenox, and also at Artsonia.

This is a unique, safe and exciting educational opportunity for the students. Comments on your child’s artwork: one of the most exciting features about being published on Artsonia’s Art Museum is that friends and family can leave a nice comment for the artist and become a fan club member of the artist.

Artsonia preserves students’ privacy and anonymity by listing the artwork only under the student’s first name and a number – last names are never revealed. Artsonia will only display comments on student artwork with parental permission, and therefore Artsonia will email notifications to you when new comments are available for review.

Please feel free to send any comments that you may have to Karen Romeo-Leger (kromeoleger@lenoxps.org), as we are testing out this membership and would appreciate hearing from you!

Complete details on Artsonia’s terms and conditions can be found at www.artsonia.com/terms.

Local photographer mentors Lenox Student

On January 17^th, senior Nick Dixon’s photography exhibit opened at the Storefront Artist Project in Pittsfield.  Nick had been working with freelance photographer, Lisa Vollmer, in the school’s internship program.  Nick was one of six Berkshire County high school interns practicing in the program.

 Sportsmanship Winners

Lenox senior Matt Lagarce has been chosen by the county basketball officials as this year’s sportsmanship award winner for the Southern Division in boys’ basketball. Lenox boys coach Brian Cogswell will be presented with the coach’s sportsmanship award for this season by the officials as well. Both will be honored at a banquet in early March given by the official’s board. Congratulations!!

“Share Your Stories”

On Thursday night, February 5^th,   parents, school and community representatives came together at the Lenox Community Center to informally discuss and collaborate ideas involving the use of the internet (i.e. facebook and You Tube) and strategies for hosting a drug-free and alcohol-free party. It was a great opportunity to share parenting strategies that work.  Due to the success of the first meeting, another meeting will be planned for late March or early April. 

A REMINDER TO PARENTS OF SENIORS

Parent Message Ads for the High School Yearbook are due by Friday, March 13^th.  Please refer to the letter that was sent on January 26^th and mail info., along with your check, to

Ms. Gernat  ASAP.   Thank You.

Assemblies for students on bullying and cyberbullying

On Wednesday, February 11^th, Assistant District Attorney Matt Fontaine conducted a one hour assembly for the entire middle school on bullying, texting and cyberbullying.  In the afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Robert Kinzer presented information to the high school (grades 9 -12) on the same subject matter and included a discussion on sexting and the serious consequences that can result. In the evening, ADA Robert Kinzer also gave an in-depth presentation to interested parents in the Duffin Theater on cyber safety.  It is important for our community to work together to address these serious issues.  Please talk with your students about these assemblies and share your ideas and impressions.  The District Attorney’s office will be providing hands-on follow up training for parents in the spring.

Seventh Grade acrylic paintings are currently on display at the Lenox Post Office and at the Superintendant's Office.