Lightning Round: Lakeside Lightning Round - 1/3

Dr. Cook and Mrs. Wheton w Cafe Staff

Lakeside Lightning,

Grow through what you go through!

On behalf of the staff and administration at Lakeside Middle School, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year! We hope that everyone enjoyed the winter break and were able to enjoy the holidays. We are expecting big things in 2022!

We have heard your concerns about some issues at Lakeside, and we have created a plan that will go into effect in the New Year improve the safety and security of staff and students. As many of you realize, this year has been very challenging as we are educating in a pandemic and students have been out of in-person learning for the past two years. We need to re-establish a learning environment that is both respectful and conducive to learning. In order to do this, we are putting several new procedures in place that focus on the physical and mental safety of our students and staff.

To assist us with this, the district will be hiring additional security guards which will help us to address the educational needs and safety of our students. Some of the expectations we have for all students is to show up to class on time, to treat everyone with respect, to use appropriate language, to not wander the halls or try to skip classes, and to follow any rules that will keep us all safe. Any student who exhibits unsafe behavior whether running in the halls, wandering the halls, being late to class without a pass, or any other behavior that could potentially harm our students and staff will be dealt with according to our Code of Conduct. Those who continually violate our expectations will be subject to increased disciplinary consequences and potential change of placement from our school.

Therefore we wanted to remind the students about our focus on safety and security at Lakeside Middle School:

Arrival Procedure

Students are to remove hats, hoods, earbuds, cell phones and have their mask on upon entering the building.
Students are to report directly to homeroom.
The bathrooms will not be available for students until 1st period.
Students will need to ask permission to use their locker once they are in homeroom.
Students arriving to homeroom after 8:32 AM will be required to sign in at the front desk and will be marked late to school.

Bathroom Procedure (Beginning January 10, 2022)

All students must fill out a Google Document upon leaving their class for the bathroom.
Only one student at a time is permitted to leave the room to use the bathroom.
Each class will have a general pass that corresponds to the room number and hallway. It will be color coded to help staff identify the grade level.
Students will only be able to use bathrooms in the designated area.

Hallway Procedure

Students are to stay to the right as well as keep their hands, feet, and negative comments to themselves.
Students are to use quiet voices in the hallway.
There will be no running, playing, or play fighting in the hallways.
There will be no eating or drinking in the hallways.

Nurse Procedure

Any student needing to go to the nurse should have a pass with the time sent.
On the pass please make a quick note such as headache or sore throat or upset stomach

Dismissal Procedure

Students are expected to quietly walk to the right in the hallways as they exit the building for bus, car or walking.
6th Grade at 3:04 PM
7th Grade at 3:07 PM
8th Grade at 3:10 PM

Reminders (This was from Dr. Cook on 11/23/21)

All students will be required to place their bookbags, jackets and cell phones in their lockers. This will remain in effect for the rest of the school year.

Students will be permitted to take their bookbags and jackets to their last period class in order streamline dismissal
6th grade students will be dismissed from their last period class at 3:04 PM, 7th Grade at 3:07 PM and 8th grade at 3:10 PM. This staggered dismissal is implemented to ensure the safety and security of all students as they exit the building.

Water Bottles - Reusable water bottles filled with water will be permitted until we bring back the usage of water fountains. We are currently working with the district and local Department of Health to bring back the use of water fountains. Please stay tuned. Please note that other beverages will not be permitted in the building or hallways including, but not limited to Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Wawa, and any other beverages that may be purchased.

Cell Phones

Arrival - Cell phones, headphones, earbuds etc. off and away before entering the school.
During the day - We are asking students to place their cell phones in their lockers for security reasons.

Classroom

If a teacher sees a cell phone they will update the communications log and do the following:

1st offense - Remind the students of the policy and allow them to put it in the locker. Students will be provided with a pass from the teacher.
2nd offense - Take the phone and put it in a holding place on your desk for the period. Follow up with another conversation about the Cell Phone Policy
3rd offense - Phone goes to admin for the day - Will be held in the Vice Principal’s Office. Call security to escort the phone
4th offense and above - VP will process a discipline referral in Infinite Campus and the phone must be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Dismissal - Cell phones are permitted on the way out of the building.

Hallways

If a staff member sees a student with a cell phone out in the hallway, they are to do the following:

First Offense - Remind the student about the Cell Phone Policy
Second Offense - Identify the student and contact security or administration.

Military Visit to LMS

On Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021, Captain Alicyn Coulter from the United States Army visited Ms. McDowell’s classes. Captain Coulter is a native of Millville and wanted to give back to the community. She talked about her beginnings and where she is now. The opportunities the military has given her, and will continue to give her, are endless. The students were excited and had many questions. The enthusiasm can be seen in the pictures.