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What is the start and end time for the current 2020-2021 school year?
Our school day will be adjusted to allow for our teachers to properly engage all of our learners whether in Hybrid or Remote Learning.
Start of School (Change from a traditional school year schedule):
7:25 AM (Bell rings and students must be in their homeroom)
End of School: 1:15 PM students begin dismissing to busses/pick-up lot (Busses will leave our lot at approximately 1:30 PM)
Daily Bell Schedule for 2020-2021 – click here for the daily bell schedule
When will my child receive their schedule?
Schedules will be mailed home the week of August 10th. Schedules are tentative and could be subject to change. Students will be provided with a final/updated schedule on their first day of school.
If I choose remote learning, will my child still have their regular LMMS teachers and still be on a “team”?
Yes! All LMMS remote learners are assigned to a team and will be taught by the LMMS teachers on their regular schedule. This way, if and when our remote learners transfer back into a hybrid or in-person learning model, they will have the exact same schdedule and teachers on their regular team.
Please discuss the lockers at LMMS…
Students will only be going to lockers at the beginning of the day to drop off jackets, sweatshirts, and PHONES and at the end of the day to retrieve these items. This will eliminate the need for students to go to lockers in-between classes which will lessen hallway crowding as well as reduce the amount of “high touch” areas in our schools.
We ask that you think about purchasing a book bag that is large enough for your child to carry file folders, notebooks, writing utensils, a few binders, their Chromebook & charger, water bottle, and lunch (if necessary).
Please explain the phone policy at LMMS…
Phones are REQUIRED to be in lockers at all times! Please note that our EPSD Middle Level Discipline Policy is as follows for phones:
1st Offense – Warning
2nd Offense – Phone is confiscated and placed in office for pick-up at end of day by student
3rd Offense – Phone is confiscated and placed in office for pick-up by parent/guardian
4th Offense – Parent Conference & Administrative Discretion
- Students are able to go to the office for any emergency situation to use the phone to call home
- Students who are sick are asked to go to the nurse and have the nurse call home to a parent/guardian
What supplies does my child need to bring for the first day of school?
If you were a student at LMMS last year, you are asked to bring your fully charged Chromebook and charger along to school on the first day – and every day thereafter – as well as your book bag, a notebook, and pencils/pens. Incoming 6th grade students should just be prepared with their backpack, one notebook to jot down a few items, and pencils/pens. Your teachers and teams will inform you during your first week of school which specific supplies you will need to be successful for the year.
What will the first week of school look like?
We will be running a modified schedule the first week of school as a soft-landing/opening for our students and teachers.
- Students will be dismissed at 11:00 am on August 31st, September 1st, September 2nd and September 3rd.
- Hybrid students whose last names begin with letters A-K will attend only on Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st from 7:25-11:00 AM.
- Hybrid students whose last names begin with letters L-Z will attend only on Wednesday, September 2nd and Thursday, September 3rd from 7:25-11:00 AM.
- At this time, when hybrid students are at home the first week, they may be asked to go onto our LMMS website to view Schoology tutorial videos, Chromebook videos, Administrative Procedures & Guidelines, etc. After the first week of school, students will be required, based on teacher directives and assignments, to complete online work and participate in lessons on the days when they are not in school.
- Lunch will not be served the first week of school – August 31st – September 3rd.
How will remote learners begin using Schoology & their Chromebooks?
- Video tutorials will be posted on our LMMS Website prior to the first day of school
- Chromebook Video Tutorial – Learn how to properly use your Chromebook and utilize the many features it has to offer
- Schoology Tutorial – Find out how to login to Schoology, look for assignments, complete/turn-in assignments, and much more
- Teachers will be working alongside of all of our students to support them with the Chromebooks, PowerSchool, and Schoology platforms throughout the first few weeks of school.
Can my child bring a water bottle to school?
Students are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle to school daily. Our water fountains will be turned off during this time due to safety concerns, and we want our students to stay hydrated during their day. We are in the process of adding water-filling stations on each floor of the school for students to refill their water bottles.
Only clear water will be permitted (No Mio/No Crystal Light/No Artificial Additives)
Will students be required to wear masks throughout the day?
Students, based on our EPSD Health and Safety Plan, will be required to wear a mask:
- Students must have a mask on from the time they arrive at their bus stop or before they exit a drop-off vehicle, to the time students leave their bus stop or are inside a pick-up vehicle.
- Students must wear masks at all times in school (unless proper physician’s documentation is presented and the child’s 504 or IEP is updated through the Special Education Department).
- Students will be able to receive a mask break when:
- Given teacher permission
- At least 6 ft social distancing
- While eating lunch
What will lunch look like this year?
Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria as well as both LGI rooms located directly across from the cafeteria. Students will be socially distanced by 6 feet and will all be facing the same direction while eating.
Nutrition Inc. will be preparing hot and cold lunch options for our students which will be prepackaged and safely served individually to all students. Utensils, condiments, waters/milks, etc. will also be prepackaged and handed to students by staff members to ensure safety regulations.
What will the classrooms look like ?
Right now, our LMMS rooms are set-up to hold approximately 15 students all with 6 feet of socially distanced space between desks. All extraneous furniture has been removed, with the exception of the teacher’s desk, in order to accommodate our students in the safest possible manner.
How will 6th Grade Orientation Work?
Each year, we look forward to the opportunity to welcome our incoming 6th graders to Lower Macungie Middle School in August for their orientation. This year is no exception, though ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic will require us to modify the format of this event. The informational portion of our orientation, normally presented by the principals, will be recorded and shared virtually. 6th grade teachers are busy preparing Flipgrid videos, which will also be posted virtually, so that they can introduce themselves to the students, provide a snapshot of their subject area curriculum, and suggest classroom materials. Although we will be unable to gather onsite, this format will allow students and their families to access this information from anywhere at any time – and review material as needed. Videos and other materials will be launched on our website on Monday, August 17th to view at your convenience.
We know that a key component of our orientation is the building tour during which students are able to walk the building, identify specific landmarks and familiarize themselves with classroom location. We can assure you that our LMMS building houses all 6th grade core classrooms in one main hallway on the first floor, and all teachers and staff will be available to assist students for the first few weeks while students become comfortable with their daily schedules.
Can I change my child’s learning environment from Hybrid to Remote?
Families are welcome to make a shift in their child’s learning environment every three weeks. If you would like to change your child’s learning environment, please reach out to your child’s guidance counselor or grade-level administrator:
6th Grade Administrator: Mrs. Heather Slatoff – hslatoff@eastpennsd.org
6th Grade Counselor: Mrs. Lisa Shirvinski – lshirvinski@eastpennsd.org
7th Grade Administrator: Mrs. Sallie Yencho – syencho@eastpennsd.org
7th Grade Counselor: Mr. Blake Boyer – bboyer@eastpennsd.org
8th Grade Administrator: Mr. Rodd Luckenbill – rluckenbill@eastpennsd.org
8th Grade Counselor: Mr. Mike Nytz – mnytz@eastpennsd.org
LMMS School Office: 610-395-8593
When will our students be able to pick-up thier Chromebooks and any necessary materials (if fully remote)
In an effort to organize the distribution of Chromebooks and materials, to both hybrid and remote students, the middle level will be following the distribution/pick-up schedule listed below:
Hybrid Students
ALL Hybrid 6th Grade and New 7th & 8th Grade Student Chromebook Pick-Up Schedule:
Monday 08/24 8am – 11am: Last Names A-F
Tuesday 08/25 8am – 11am: Last Names G-L
Wednesday 08/26 8am – 11am: Last Names M-R
Thursday 08/27 8am – 11am: Last Names S-Z
Evening Pickups:
Tuesday 08/25 5pm – 7pm: Last Names A-K
Wednesday 08/26 5pm – 7pm Last Names L-Z
Remote Only Students:
Wednesday 08/26 5pm – 7pm – Pick-Up Chromebooks and Textbooks
Friday 08/28 8am – 11am – Pick-Up Chromebooks and Textbooks
Returning student, who already have a Chromebook, will pick up thier textbooks during the same timeslots that remote learners will be picking up their Chromebooks.
The pick-up location for LMMS will be in the main lobby of our school by the auditorium. Parents/Guardians, please park in the main parking lot and look for the (Auditorium-Gym-Cafeteria) Entrance. Only students will be allowed into the building and masks must be worn at all times.
What might the hallways look like during transition times?
Due to hybrid students being split alphabetically on different days and numerous families opting for Remote Learning at this time, our hallways will be substantially less crowded than normal. Students must be wearing masks in the hallways and will be instructed to walk down the RIGHT side of hallways at all times and social distancing to the best of their ability. Teachers will be monitoring hallways in-between classes to ensure the safety of all students & staff members.
How will we know which Wednesdays our students will go to school since they could switch every week?
Great question! A monthly calendar is posted on our website for families to use as a reference for what days the Hybrid A students will go to school and what days the Hybrid B students will got to school. Not only will Wednesdays be tricky, but on short weeks (4 days) or holidays, sometimes the A and B days will change as well. Click here for the calendar!
Since students are switching rooms, are desks being sanitized regularly?
Yes – the EPSD facilities department is providing each school with disinfectant wipes for desks in-between classes and for any high-touch surfaces in the classrooms per our East Penn Health and Safety Plan. Deep cleaning will sometimes occur throughout the day depending on the location, and other deep cleaning will need to be done in the evening by our facilities staff after the students have left the building.
Discuss the outdoor use of space…
We have mapped out 7 major areas outside at LMMS that teachers are able to use as “outdoor classrooms” when their curriculum, objective, activity, or assessment can be met utilizing an outdoor space.
Discuss instrumental practice & lessons…
As U.S. schools and colleges debate how to reopen amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, band directors and musicians are wondering when—or whether—music can be played safely. After following newest research, LMMS is working on a schedule to continue string and percussion practice/lessons on a normal schedule. Woodwind and brass practices/lessons will take place in smaller groups (10-12 students) and be held in outdoor spaces only while students are still socially distancing. Of course, if our band and orchestra students are fully remote learners, our music teachers will be setting up virtual practices and lessons with them as well.
Why did my Remote student receive a scheudle just like the Hybrid students?
As stated above, all LMMS remote learners are assigned to a team and will be taught by the LMMS teachers on their regular schedule. This way, if and when our remote learners transfer back into a hybrid or in-person learning model, they will have the exact same schdedule and teachers on their regular team. In addition, when they are learning at home, the teachers listed on their schedule are the teachers that will be delivering synchronous learning (live learning via conferencing) & asynchronous learning (at a student’s own pace) to our remote students at various times. Remote students will also be expected to follow a normal school day from 7:25 AM – 1:15 PM and may be required to join their live class during first period (7:35 AM) or during any period throughout the day.
What is the earliest time that I can drop my child off at school?
7:15 AM – Students should remain in cars until the main gym/auditorium doors are opened by an LMMS teacher. Please do not drop-off children and leave – we do not want students congregating together outside without proper supervision and/or social distancing.
Is the Teacher/Student calendar up-to-date?
The 2020-2021 Teacher/Student calendar is up-to-date at this time. If changes need to occur to the calendar, they must first be approved by the EPSD Board, and then we would update and repost for families.
Will there be staff availalbe to help 6th grade students being dropped off?
Yes! At least 4-5 staff members will be outside in the drop-off area in the morning. In addition, there is a staff member greeting students at the door and numerous staff in our lobby and hallways the first few weeks of school to support our students.
If students are coming by bus, there are also numerous staff members outside by the busses and at the door to greet and support students. Once students enter the doors by our art hallway, there are lots of teachers to help show them the way!
Will Chorus take place indoor or outdoor? Will students be required to wear masks to sing?
At this time, based on the most recent studies related to aerosol spread during musical performances, students can sing indoors if spaced at least 6-ft apart, and they are wearing masks. At the secondary level; however, where voice control and breathing become central to a choir rehearsal, our chorus students will be participating in outdoor areas and spaced 6ft apart without masks. Of course, we will continue to be in touch as new guidance becomes available.