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Providing students and parents with the important updates and report of events happening at LMS.
Calendar Reminder: Two-Hour Early Dismissal on March 26; Spring Break Is March 29 - April 2
As a reminder, Friday, March 26, is the last day of the third quarter. Students will be dismissed two hours early and attend their in-person or virtual classes as planned.
Spring break is March 29 - April 2. Also, Monday, April 5, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students. Teachers will not be available for office hours and students are not expected to complete asynchronous assignments. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
If your student is a Virtual learner, have you completed your Spring SOL Intent Form for Virtual students? The intent form will allow you to agree to SOL testing or refuse SOL testing.
7th Grade Spring SOL Intent Form for Virtual Students
8th Grade Spring SOL Intent Form for Virtual Students
If your student is a Hybrid learner, have you completed your Spring SOL Refusal Form for Hybrid Students? If you intend for your student to take the SOLs no action is needed. This form is only intended for refusals.
7th Grade Spring SOL Refusal Form for Hybrid Students
8th Grade Spring SOL Refusal Form for Hybrid Students
On Friday, March 19th a E-notify was sent asking all parents/guardians to complete an SOL form appropriate for their grade and learning status (Virtual or Hybrid). In order to properly plan for the Spring SOLs we ask that you submit your form by Friday, March 26, 2021.
Liberty M.S. Tentative Spring SOL Testing Schedule:
Virtual Students:
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Date
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SOL
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Mon, May 3
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Grades 7 & 8 Reading
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Mon, May 10
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Algebra 1, Algebra 2, & Geometry
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Mon, May 17
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Math 7, Math 7 HN, & Math 8
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Mon, May 24
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Science 8
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Hybrid Students:
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Date
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Group
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SOL
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Tues, May 11
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A-K
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Grades 7 & 8 Reading
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Weds, May 12
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A-K
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Grades 7 & 8 Math
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Thurs, May 13
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L-Z
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Grades 7 & 8 Reading
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Fri, May 14
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L-Z
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Grades 7 & 8 Math
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Tues, May 18
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A-K
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Science 8
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Thurs, May 20
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L-Z
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Science 8
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2020-21 Grading Policy Changes
In response to family feedback and student check-in results, FCPS will be seeking to lessen the stress and anxiety posed for some students who have been challenged by the virtual learning environment during the past (and ongoing) pandemic year.
FCPS will provide three additional grading changes to support middle and high school students. More information on the grading policy changes is available online.
We have had a wonderful return to the building with our in-person students. In a few rare cases, a student has come to school not feeling well exhibiting symptoms that the student and/or parent were aware of prior to coming to school. If and when a student presents in the clinic with COVID like symptoms, we have to send this child to the CARES Rooms. These rooms are to keep the child from potentially exposing other students and faculty to getting sick. Parents are then called to come get their child and have them tested for COVID which causes you further inconvenience. More importantly, it puts others at risk and requires school staff to monitor the sick student.
It is our expectation that Parents or Guardians keep your child home if they are not feeling well in ANY way. In person students with symptoms can stay home and still log into class virtually. A Parent or Guardian needs to call the office to let us know they will be logging in from home.
If your child is an in-person student, we also ask that you sign the Health Screening Commitment Form if you have not done so already acknowledging that this procedure will be followed. This honor system is an important part of our mitigation plan that requires your cooperation to prevent spread of COVID. Thank you for your support!
Please click on this link to print and sign the Commitment Form. Your child can bring it in to the front office.
Family Life Education instruction is scheduled for April 6-16 after students return from spring break. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, an opt out form is included in this mailing and is also available online for Middle School (grades 7 - 8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle. If you wish to opt your child out of FLE, please fill in the opt-out form and return it to Liberty Middle School on or before March 26, 2021. You may email your opt out request to JSCarnahan@fcps.edu
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Middle School (7 - 8). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Account information is available at your local school or online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml.
Program questions may be addressed to Brian Scherer BTScherer@fcps.edu or Laura Bellis LJBellis@fcps.edu, FLE lead teachers at Liberty Middle School. Parents may also contact Instructional Services at (571) 423-4550 or Carrie Reynolds, Health and Physical Education Coordinator, at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.
Liberty and Families: Partnering and Making Connections
Conversely, differences between people may cause tension at home, in school or in society. If we think negatively of someone, we may act negatively towards them. Explain to your child that there is usually more than one way to interpret a situation or why someone reacts as they do. Talk about ways to view a person’s characteristics. Might there be positive traits that contrast with negative ones such as: open minded and direct, gentle, curious, determined, standing up for beliefs, and calm. Learning about their own positive character strengths, is one of the things that we teach students at Liberty Middle School during our Unity Time together. We encourage our families to recognize those positive character traits in your children and in others. Seeing the positive traits in people makes it easier to get along, cooperate and accomplish things together.
Positivity is a key personal characteristic in school success. For more on social emotional learning, check out FCPS school counseling services.
School photos were taken on all five days of last week. If your student missed these chances to have their photo taken, please mark April 12 on your calendar for Photo Makeup Day. A link to sign up for a photo appointment time will be published after spring break. There is no cost to participate. Students will be given a complimentary Liberty Middle School photo ID which our students have been really excited about receiving.
English 7 students are reading Ray Bradbury’s classic science fiction short story, “A Sound of Thunder.” Lively discussions about time travel and dinosaurs can be heard in the classroom!
 Liberty Middle School shares our own version of March Madness with our Figurative Language Competition. English 7 students are submitting figurative language captions for three images. Students will vote on their favorites and the winners will receive a treat! (Below)
 On Friday, March 19, Liberty Middle School students participated in a directed drawing activity hosted by Victoria Jamieson, co-author and illustrator of When Stars are Scattered. It was the perfect way to end our Unity Time school wide reading experience. Here are a few of the drawings that our students created with encouragement from our guest author, Victoria Jamieson. (below)
 
Spotlight on Science 8 Project Based Learning (PBL) Winners
In Science 8, students were asked to synthesize all they had learned about elements and the Periodic Table by ultimately creating their own original element. Each unique element possesses the scientifically reasoned power to mitigate or solve a current global issue. Through this competitive PBL, students were given the opportunity to apply their scientific knowledge, stretch their creative thinking muscles, and put on their critical thinking hats. We are so proud to share with you the top 3 winners selected by the Science 8 CLT. Top Honors go to: Trinity Serrano, Rebekah Stone, and Grace Sutter.
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Return to School Family Resource Guide
The information in this guide will help families know what to expect as children return to school. The guide includes steps families will need to take at home in preparation for the return to school. Please take time to review the information!
A Family Guide for 2020-21 Return to School
In this issue:
- Adaptability
- How to Stay Motivated
- Coloring Sheet
- National Puppy Day
- Goal Tracking Sheet
- Virtual Zen Den/ Resources
- Coaching a Growth Mindset
- St Patrick’s Day Activities
- Journaling Prompts for March
March Newsletter, Click here
Food Resources from FCPS
For the most up to date information on meal distribution locations and schedule, please click the link below!
FCPS Meal Distribution
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Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions regarding resources like food and family assistance, please contact Angie Huber, School Social Worker at aahuber@fcps.edu
Or visit our Social Worker Page HERE
Weekly Progress Reports from SIS
In order to receive the weekly progress reports (assignments, grades) from FCPS, you must ensure that your data in SIS ParentVUE is accurate and complete. Please visit this page for additional information - Parent SIS Account Overview
Helpful Resources
Principal: Adam Erbrecht | AWErbrecht@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Gregory Hall | GHall3@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Natalie Lissy | NSLissy@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Collin Whitt | CTWhitt@fcps.edu
Director of Student Services: Renee Pete | ERPete@fcps.edu
 From Left-Right: N. Lissy, R. Pete, A. Erbrecht, G. Hall, C. Whitt
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