Principal's Weekly Update for Jan. 4, 2026
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Happy New Year, LCMS Bobcat Parents and Families!
I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. May 2026 be filled with joy, happiness, and learning! I am looking forward to our Bobcats returning to classrooms on Wednesday to begin the second semester!
Wednesday, January 7th will be an A day. Sixth grade students will begin a new exploratory class in the wheel, and seventh and eighth grade students will begin a new elective unless they are taking a year-long class. Students can check out their PowerSchool Student Portal to see which class they have next!
Start 2026 With a Clean Backpack and Refreshed School Supplies
Before returning to school on Wednesday, I recommend that students set aside some time to clean out backpacks and refresh school supplies such as pencils and paper. I encourage you to check in with your child and ensure they have a clean set of gym clothes and a pair of athletic shoes for their PE class. Also, having a fully charged Chromebook will be a great way to begin the New Year!
Clubs on Thursday, January 8th
We will have clubs at the end of the day on Thursday, January 8th! This is such an exciting time for our Bobcats where each student is involved in their unique activity, so we ask that parents and families avoid picking up students for an early dismissal after 2:15 if possible, since students will be in clubs.
Report Cards Sent Home Friday, January 9th
Report cards will be sent home with students on Friday, January 9th. Remember that you can view your child’s grades, attendance, and tardies live in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please call the school if you need assistance logging in. As we begin the new semester, families, I encourage you to discuss high expectations and healthy habits with your child. A good sleep schedule with a regular bedtime, healthy nutrition, and reasonable and responsible phone/device usage are all important parts of growing up.
Administrators will be meeting with students during health classes on Wednesday and Thursday this week to discuss the high expectations and responsibilities of our learning community, including making good choices and thinking before speaking and acting, which are all parts of being a good Bobcat citizen.
Learning Materials for Remote Learning Days
Prior to winter break, LCMS teachers guided students on how to make five days of learning materials available offline, ensuring they are prepared for the possibility of Remote Learning Days, should they become necessary. This includes using Google Slides, Docs, Sheets, PDFs, and videos offline, so the Internet will not be required to complete assignments on Remote Learning Days.
To make it easy for students to find their assignments, we used a consistent naming convention: Remote Learning Day (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Subject (Math, English, Social Studies, Science, etc.)
Students starred these materials in their Google Drive so they can use the Starred filter in Google Drive to find them easily.
Again, all assignments are designed to be completed without Internet access, ensuring that students can continue learning regardless of connectivity.
Resources are intended for use only if the school division calls a Remote Learning Day. Please do not use them unless such a day is announced.
Please reach out to your child’s teachers with any questions you might have as we proactively prepare for the possibility of Remote Learning Days.
ParentGuidance.org
Louisa County Public Schools has partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health Resource Center, ParentGuidance.org.
ParentGuidance.org is a website that was developed to help parents, guardians, and caregivers with parenting advice from the top clinicians and experts who offer guidance around issues related to the most common challenges parents face today: anxiety, social media use, school avoidance, bullying, and more.
It offers on-demand, anonymous courses and resources from experts who can help parents address common concerns, improve family relationships, and support their child's overall emotional well-being. The content is created by licensed therapists and experienced teachers! ParentGuidance.org wants to give parents and caregivers the tools they need to create a loving and supportive home for their children. Find the tools that you need to support your family, in English or Spanish, completely free.
Again, Happy New Year, Bobcat families! Thank you for all of your support of our school and community, always, and I am looking forward to starting the second semester strong on Wednesday!
If you have any questions, or if we can help in any way, please call our office at (540) 894-5457.
Amanda Harper, Ed.D.
Principal
Louisa County Middle School