Principal's Weekly Message, 12-13-24

LRMS Families,

One week remains before Winter Break. Let's make it a great one! Weekly updates are below:

1. Next week is a five-day week of school.

2. Events Next Week:

Monday, 12/16, 4pm - Basketball HOME, vs. Carroll (girls play first)
Tuesday, 12/16, 6pm - Sixth Grade Band Concert (at LRHS Auditorium)
Tuesday, 12/16, 7pm - 7th/8th Grade Band Concert (at LRHS Auditorium)
Wednesday, 12/18, 3:15pm - Art Portfolio Club
Thursday, 12/19, 3pm - Environmental Club, Courtyard Clean-up
12/21-1/5 - No School for Students (Winter Break); students return 1/6/25

3. Student Council's Wintry Spirit Week 12/16-12/20

Get ready for some festive fun! Our Student Council is excited to announce our Wintry Spirit Week, taking place from December 16-December 20. It’s a time to embrace the season, spread cheer, and enjoy some extra school spirit as we wrap up 2024. We encourage all students to participate and make this week full of wintry fun!

4. Some of you received an email from WCPSS Student Assignment last week because your student's school assignment has changed based on the new Assignment Plan for 2025-26. For example, families with Pine Hollow listed as the base school will no longer have LRMS available as a "Calendar Option" next year unless the family agrees to provide transportation.

We learned that some of these emails end up in junk/spam. Please check to see if you received this email. Then, follow the directions provided if you would like your student to stay at Leesville for 2025-26. I'll include a brief version below:

Families may submit a request to stay at their current school from Dec. 5 until Dec.19. Submit a stability transfer. Make sure you select the 2025-26 school year before attempting to submit your application. If you would like to attend your new school, you do not need to submit a stability transfer.

Questions? Contact Student Assignment: 919-431-7333 or use their online form.

5. For 8th grade families:

Mark your calendars for the Leesville Road High School Open House. This event for rising ninth graders will be 6-8pm on Thursday, February 13.

And regarding the DC Trip:
- Thanks for the great turn out on Wednesday for the DC Parent Meeting. If you missed it, please contact Mrs. Ricciuti or Mr. Russell if you have any questions.
- 8^th grade t-shirts are still for sale for 12 dollars. Chaperones for the DC trip -we would love for you to have one too! T-shirts can be ordered from School Cash online.
- 3^rd payment for the DC trip is due Friday 1/17/25 of $90.00. If you'd like your student to go, and need assistance, please let Mrs. Ricciuti or Mr. Russell know.

6. Band notes from Ms. Rekeibe:

Winter Concert: Tuesday, December 17th

Our Winter Concert is rapidly approaching! It will be Tuesday, Dec. 17th at 6:00pm for 6th grade and 7:00pm for 7th & 8th grade in the LRHS auditorium. 6th grade call-time is 5:30pm on the LRHS stage and concert dress dress for this concert is their band t-shirts, jeans and sneakers. A message will be sent once t-shirts arrive and are dispersed. 7th & 8th grade call-time is 6:30pm on the LRHS stage and dress will be their concert uniform with bowtie and cummerbund.

Admission is $7.00 adult and $3.00 for students/child, and tickets are now available for pre-order through the LRMS Band Booster website and will be available for pick-up at our concert. One purchased ticket includes both concerts. Sales will close at 5pm December 16th. Tickets may be purchased at the door after this time. Winter Concert Tickets (LRMS Band Booster Square Site)

We are in need of PLENTY of parent help to make our concert a success!

Please see the available volunteer jobs below and sign up to help! 6th grade concert start time is 6pm; 7/8th grade at 7:00pm. Volunteers do not have to pay for a ticket! See the following Sign-Up Genius for volunteer opportunities: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4FAAAD23AAF94-53077716-lrms#/

Cranberry’s Tree Farm Band Fundraiser: Saturday, December 14th

Come out and support the LRMS Band spreading some holiday cheer!

Please help support LRMS Band this Saturday :-)

~ December 14th

~ 2pm - 4pm

~ Cranberry's Tree Farm

~ 7200 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27615

Ways to support?

* Come to Cranberry's from 2pm-4pm to:

~ Listen to some of the LRMS Band students play holiday music

~ Stop by the LRMS Band Bake Sale table and pick out a yummy treat (or a few!)

~ Bake an item(s) to donate to the Bake Sale (bring to Ms. Rekeibe on Friday, 12/13)

~ Sign up link:

* Aren't able to attend?

~ Tell your friends and neighbors about our event!

7. Notes from Advanced Learning Teacher, Mrs. Maley:

If you would like to nominate your child for AIG testing in the Spring, please complete this nomination form by no later than Friday, December 20th.

AIG Pull-Out Schedule:

For your reference, here is the AIG pull-out calendar for December:

AIG Pull-Out Calendar - December
Spelling Bee Information:

All ELA teachers will be hosting classroom Spelling Bees over the next couple of weeks if they haven't already. The winners from each class will move on to participate in our school-wide Spelling Bee on January 14th. I will send home invites and new study lists for all classroom winners before the break.

8. Here are notes about YEARBOOKS from Mrs. Sinor:

YEARBOOK RECOGNITION ADS:

Recognize your 8th-grade student for their accomplishments and achievements this year with a recognition ad in the yearbook. Ready to order your Recognition Ad? CLICK HERE.

Need help with designing your Recognition Ad? Check out this Quick Start Guide.

YEARBOOK PURCHASE:

SO MANY MEMORIES. ONE LOW PRICE. Order your yearbook now for the lowest price of $35. Prices will increase after December 31st. Personalization is still available. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

9. Here are two notes from our Media Specialist, Ms. Bussell:

Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 19th, 3:00-4:00pm. Weather permitting, the Environmental Club is hosting a Courtyard Cleanup. We'd love to have adult family and community members lend a hand or two. Bring your work gloves and rakes. Donations needed: paper yard waste bags, wild bird seed and fish flake food for our pond fish. RSVP or questions, email Ms. Bussell at ebussell@wcpss.net

Got Books? Cleaning out the shelves and closets? Kids have outgrown the books at your house? Send in your gently used middle-school appropriate books anytime throughout the year to fuel our Spring Book Swap. Students can bring donations to the Media Center. Families can leave donations at the Front Desk. Questions? Contact Ms. Bussell at ebussell@wcpss.net

10. PTSA Updates:

Lion Locker Donations

'Tis the Season of Giving! Help the PTSA stock up the LRMS Lion Locker Food Pantry from our Amazon WishList!!

With a limited budget, Lion Locker currently serves about 20 students, providing self-serve meals, fruits, snacks & beverages each weekend - as well personal items as needed. Your online purchase, sent directly to the school, can help us keep the Lion Locker pantry stocked through winter! Similar items can always be purchased elsewhere and dropped off at the front office. (Contact LRMS social worker Sally Gildhaus for more information about the Lion Locker program.) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3DX88I0QGRQOT?ref_=wl_share

WINTER DANCE

Donate to the 8th grade field trip

We want to be sure that every 8th grade student who wants to attend their DC field trip has the opportunity to go. If you are able to make a donation to ensure that all students get to have this experience, please click here. We really appreciate it and so do they!