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Lexington High School
Newsletter
May 2015
Volume 31, number 8
From the Principal
W
Dear Parents/Guardians,
– Laura Lasa, Principal
e have all enjoyed the positive turn in
the weather, and it has been amazing to experience how much happier and upbeat we all feel
with sunnier days and increasingly warm temperatures. I love being outdoors during passing
time, watching students enjoy the sunshine and
each other’s company as they linger a bit before
scooting to the next class. We will continue to
reinforce the fact that it is vital to pause nowand-then, even if it is only for a few minutes; the
minutes add up, creating a positive impact on our
general outlook and wellbeing.
With the official announcement that the final day
of school this year is Tuesday, June 23, I would
like to address a key aspect of the school culture that occurs during the spring each year. The
reality of the spring season at the High School is
that we all begin to feel the crunch of time. The
spring is full of the academic march to the end
of the year, a plethora of schoolwide evening
events, extracurricular activities, and family
commitments that cause time to be compressed.
It will be important for school and home to partner on common messages to students in order to
help them identify and implement organizational
and coping strategies. In some cases, we can talk
with students about items that can come off their
plate; in other cases, it is realistic that nothing
can be removed from the equation and the best
they can do is prioritize their responsibilities and
commitments.
To that end, I strongly encourage you to talk with
your children and develop a weekly chart that
identifies all of the things that need to get done,
including healthy eating, sleep and relaxation.
Continued on page 2
May
Friday
1 Freshman Semi-Formal Dance, Commons II, 7-10pm
Saturday
2 SATs (at LHS)
Mon-Fri
4-8 AP exams
Thursday
7 Bus evacuation drill 10:25-11:15
7 Prof. Dev. half day; 11:15 dismissal
7 Staff Appreciation luncheon,Commons II, 11:15am
Thurs-Sat7-9
Into the Woods, aud, 7:30pm; $15 ($10 students and
seniors)
Mon-Fri 11-15 AP exams
Tuesday12
10 am-2:25pm MCAS Math Session 1-Delayed
opening (9-11-12)
Wednesday1310:00 am-2:25pm MCAS Math Session 2-Delayed
Opening (9-11-12)
Wed-Wed13-27 K-12 Art show, central office gym (opening 5/13,
6:30pm) (open Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm)
Friday
15 Junior Prom-Burlington Marriott
15 METCO Senior Dinner, 6-9:30pm
Saturday16
Improv Troupe Show, Blackbox, 7:30pm
Monday18 LHS Film Festival, location tbd, 6:30-9 pm
Wednesday20 PTSA meeting, 7:30pm, Library Media Center
20 11th annual LHS Special Olympics
Thursday
21 Parent discussion group with Assoc. Prin. Murray,
Library classroom, 7:45-8:30am
Thurs-Fri21-22 Spring Pops Concert, gym, 7:30pm, $10
Saturday23
Jazz Nite 4 at Discovery Day, noon-3pm; Town ctr or
Commons II if rain
Monday
25 No School - Holiday; Memorial Day
Tuesday
26 Last Day of Classes for Seniors
26 Senior Student-Athlete Awards Buffet Dinner, Commons II, 6-8:30pm
Wednesday 27 NHS Induction Ceremony, 7-8pm, aud
27 LHS Lexicon Graphic Art convention, 6-8pm, Commons II
Thursday
28 World Language Awards Night, aud, 6-8pm
Friday
29 Improv Troupe Show, Blackbox, 7:30pm
Saturday
30 Sophomore Cruise, 6-10:30pm
Continued on page 7
8
The calendar was compiled in late April and events are subject to change. Call the
department involved for up-to-date information or go to <http://lps.lexingtonma.
org/Page/10 >.
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
From the Principal continued from page 1
(Believe it or not, we need to remind students that eating, sleeping
and relaxing are just as important as completing academic work and
meeting other responsibilities.)
I would imagine that our students will not have difficulty writing
down all there is to do, but many have trouble prioritizing. Together, we can help students recognize how to approach a list of to-do
tasks, whom they should speak with if it is not possible to do it all,
and how to ask for help/advocate for support that is needed. If you
feel as though your child is struggling to manage a full plate and
the situation has crossed over into concern, please do not hesitate to
reach out to your child’s counselor at school so he or she can assist
with prioritizing, identifying coping strategies, and advocating for
support.
For many of you, May is the month in which our seniors are
experiencing a whirlwind of activities that mark the end of their
high school years and/or a large number of years in the Lexington
Public Schools. Students will receive all of the information they
need about senior events in homeroom; identical information will
be provided to you by email and posted on our website. We will
continue to work with seniors to balance the feeling of academic
avoidance (“Do I still have to do work?”) and much needed fun as
they unwind from a rigorous journey to post-graduation life. As we
enter the “Senior Season” together, I have two reminders I would
like to share:
1.Seniors should work closely with their Dean on strong attendance
up until the end of regular classes and through finals. Please
note that there is not a separate schedule for senior finals; some
courses have a final, others do not, and these final assessments
are given within the existing block/class schedule.
2.At the time of this letter, the annual game called Assassins is
most likely underway. (This is a game that some senior students
choose to participate in; they contribute a monetary entry fee
that goes toward a cash prize for the winner of the game. The
game involves the use of water guns to eliminate “targets” in
the weeks leading up to graduation.) I need to urge great caution in participation in a game that has the potential to frighten
community members and create unsafe situations. In past years,
behaviors such as jumping out of bushes on private property,
entering places of business, and hanging out of moving cars have
Continued on page 4
Newsletter Policy
The Newsletter will print items directly related to the
schools and their PTAs. This includes curricular, cocurricular, and extracurricular activities which are PTSA- or
system-supported, and school-sanctioned projects. All
articles are subject to editorial discretion.
PHONE NUMBERS REFERENCE
Principal Laura Lasa......861-2320, ext. 69103
Assoc. Principal John Murray.......................... .......................................861-2320, ext. 69102
Dean Nicole Canniff......861-2320, ext. 69332
Dean Kate Hermon........861-2320, ext. 69530
Dean Scott Kmack......... 861-2320, ext. 69111
Dean Jaffrie Perrotti.......861-2320, ext. 69720
For attendance, call the appropriate
administrator for your child before 9:30
am on the day of the absence.
LHS homepage:
http://lps.lexingtonma.org/lexingtonhs
PTSA website...http://lhsptsa.org/
School Committee email:
school-com@comet.ci.lexington.ma.us
The Lexington High School
Newsletter
Editor
Jean Cole
email: jeancole@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
Next deadline:
Friday, May 22, 2015
2
Lexington High School Newsletter
PTSA News
May 2015
Visit our website: www.LHSPTSA.org
Spring Reflections
A
s we write this message, spring has finally arrived
after a long, cold, and record-breaking snow-filled
winter. It’s wonderful to see LHS students outside
enjoying the beautiful weather as they study outdoors
during free periods, eat lunch with friends in the quad, and
head to the track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts,
and Lincoln Field for sports after school.
Throughout the spring and final weeks of school, there are
plenty of academic challenges with students completing
end-of–the year projects and studying for and taking final
exams. They will attend many social events including the
Junior and Senior proms and participate in a myriad of
performing arts events and exciting sporting contests happening at LHS. Our seniors will graduate and celebrate at
the sensational All-Night Graduation Party.
As the academic year comes to a close, the PTSA and
many parent volunteers will come together on May 7 to
host the spring Staff Appreciation Lunch for the entire
faculty and staff at LHS. We celebrate the LHS community that makes everything possible for our students and
we acknowledge the invaluable contributions of each and
every member. We are extremely fortunate to have the best
team possible teaching, nurturing, guiding and supporting
our children. Lexington is very proud of our schools and
it is the exceptionally caring, capable faculty and staff that
are the backbone of our system. Every day, all year long,
our students are surrounded by dedicated individuals who:
step in with guidance when needed, teach a multitude of
subjects at a high level, keep our school clean, give medical assistance when necessary, provide key administrative
support, offer extra help and review sessions before and
after school, and give support and encouragement along
the way. Please consider helping us with this event. Details
for volunteering appear in this newsletter and are in the
listserv announcements. Whether or not you are able to
help that day, please consider showing your support and
appreciation to the special individual(s) who have made a
difference to your child or children. Send a note, write an
email, or make a quick phone call. It will mean a great deal
to those who give so much of themselves to our children!
Thank you for your support throughout the year. We look
forward to seeing you during the last few weeks of the
school year. Enjoy LHS and all that it offers our students!
– Jen Vogelzang & Kara Brandes
LHS/PTSA Co-Presidents
The PTSA can use your help!!!
As we head into spring, the PTSA will be busy helping
with many activities at LHS. If you have time to help, we
can use you at one of the following events.
• STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH - MAY 7
Please sign up for Spring Staff Appreciation Luncheon
2015. It is a wonderful opportunity to show your appreciation for the hard-working teachers and staff at LHS. The
teachers enjoy the diverse range of foods from different
cultures so please bring your favorite dishes.
We will be sending out a Volunteer Spot sign up immediately after the April break so please look for that announcement and consider making one of your favorite
dishes and/or volunteering to help on May 7.
Also, keep an eye out for additional requests for the following events:
• Junior Prom Reception at LHS before students board
the buses – May 15
• Senior Awards Night refreshments – June 2
• Junior Book Awards refreshments – June 3
• Senior Prom Reception at LHS before students board
the buses – June 4
Please contact us at <Hospitality@LHSPTSA.org> if you
are available to help.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at one of the
PTSA-sponsored activities!
– Rima Pande and Karen Kristin
LHS PTSA Hospitality Co-Chairs
3
Lexington High School Newsletter
From the Principal
continued from page 2
been witnessed by community members. The reality is
that we live in different times, and all of these behaviors
are dangerous to the participants and/or unsettling to
Lexington community members. The High School feels
strongly that the game of Assassins is not appropriate,
and it is prohibited at school. This includes the possession of water guns and use of scooters on school property. Any student who brings this game into the school
environment is risking disciplinary measures, particularly those that cause a disruption to the school environment. The faculty, staff, and administration of LHS are
committed to providing an emotionally and physically
safe environment for all members of our community,
right up to the last day of school. We will continue
to work closely with the School Resource Officer to
reinforce safe behaviors, support sound judgment, and
curtail student participation. We are asking all parents
and guardians of seniors to speak with his/her child to
discourage participation. If you become aware of incidents involving this game that are unsafe, you should
contact the Lexington Police Department.
I look forward to seeing many of you in-and-around school
at various events in May and June,
Best Wishes,
Laura Lasa
Principal
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May 2015
Success Through Connection:
How to support your child’s future
by getting involved
with the Lexington schools
When: Tuesday, May 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Estabrook Elementary School Cafeteria
Do you want to get involved at your child’s school? Are
you not sure how to do so? Come join us for an evening
discussion to find out the answers to the following questions:
• Why should I join my school’s PTA/PTO or Site Council? What do they do?
• Who benefits from the PTA/PTO? Site Council? How?
• Does my PTA/PTO and Site Council need my support?
How can I help?
• How can I participate with the PTA/PTO or the Site
Council at my child’s school?
And we want to hear from you! Bring your thoughts and
questions about your PTA/PTO and Site Council and how
we can help you get involved!
Success Through Connection is sponsored by the PTA/O
Presidents Council, School-Based Site Council Roundtable, Chinese American Association of Lexington, Indian
Americans of Lexington, LexFUN!, and the Lexington
Special Education PAC&PTA.
For more information, contact <PPCChair@gmail.com>.
LPS Homepage: lps.lexingtonma.org
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*Locations subject to change ~ check
What we offer:
Transportation is offered to all students attending
their districted school. Students in grades K-6
living more than two miles from school are eligible
to receive town-paid transportation. All other
students are eligible for fee-based transportation.
The fee for 2015 – 2016 will be $300/student with
a family cap (3 or more fee based riders) of $685
if registration is completed by the May 16th
deadline. Payment is not due at registration, but is
st
website for more information and
updates prior to completing registration.
How to Register:
Click on Online Registration Link from the
transportation page of the LPS website….
Enter 8 digit student ID number(Above the
4
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
Performing Arts Department
Gold and Silver
for LHS Student Musicians
T
he 39th annual Massachusetts Instrumental and
Choral Conductors Concert and Choral Festival took
place the weekend of March 27-29 at eight sites
across Massachusetts. Over 12,800 students comprising
250 ensembles performed for panels of highly respected
adjudicators. Over 500 Lexington High School students
participated in the festival.
The ensembles were assessed on their overall musicianship
and how they responded to a variety of musical criteria during their performances. Based on their overall performances,
ensembles earned a Medal of Participation, Medal of Merit
or a Bronze (good performance), Silver (excellent performance) or Gold (superior performance) Medal.
Congratulations to the following ensembles:
Repertoire Orchestra - silver medal
Symphony Orchestra - gold medal
Chamber Orchestra - gold medal
Symphonic Band - silver medal
Concert Band - silver medal
Wind Ensemble - gold medal
Madrigal Singers - gold medal
Concert Choir - gold medal
Women’s Chorus - gold medal
Middle School Select Band - silver medal
MICCA Thanks!
T
he MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral
Conductors Association) Festival held in March was
a huge success. Over 2000 student musicians from around
the state performed on our auditorium stage. Student volunteers representing LHS music and National Honor Society
provided invaluable support for the festival, while a team
of 40 parent volunteers sold tickets, ushered and manned a
snack bar. A huge thank you to the over 50 families who so
generously donated their time and money, delicious baked
goods, drinks, and other snacks. Because of your generosity and hard work we raised over $2,500 for the LHS music
program!
Special thanks to Wilson Farm, Wagon Wheel Farmstand,
Stop & Shop, Dunkin Donuts (373 Waltham Street), Trader
Joe’s, Costco, Market Basket, Walgreens and CVS for their
generous donations. We’d also like to express deep gratitude to the LHS custodial staff, and Kevin Silvia and Carrie
Murphy from the Lexington School Lunch Program and
Papa Gino’s (Waltham).
Congratulations to our talented student musicians and the
LHS music faculty for their outstanding performances!
– Gwen Wong and Lisa Boehm, FOLMADS
(Friends of Lexington Music, Art and Drama Students, Inc.)
LHS Recognized Nationally for Commitment to Music Education
School Ranks Among Nation’s Top Schools for Support of Music Education
The National Association of Music Merchandisers
(NAMM) Foundation has announced that Lexington has
been designated a 2015 Best Communities for Music Education for its outstanding commitment to music education.
Lexington joins 388 communities across the country to
receive the prestigious award this year.
The BCME program applauds the efforts of teachers,
administrators, parents, students and community leaders
working to assure that music education is part of the core
curriculum. More than 2000 schools and school districts
participated in this year’s survey.
“These schools and districts make a strong commitment to
music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,”
said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director. “Strong, engaging programs that offer students access
to music cannot thrive in a vacuum. The Best Communities
designation and the Support Music Merit Award bring hardwon visibility to music classes, programs and departments
that are keeping music education alive in our schools.”
Now in its 16th year, the BCME program evaluates
schools and districts based on funding, staffing of highly
qualified teachers, commitment to standards, and access
to music instruction. The NAMM Foundation with the
assistance of researchers at The Institute for Educational
Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas (an
affiliate of the University of Kansas) evaluate participants
on these factors. Designations are made to districts and
schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and greater access to music education.
– Jeffrey Leonard
Coordinator, K-12 Performing Arts Department
5
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
Performing Arts Department
Into the Woods
Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9
$15/$10
Into the Woods, the musical that includes
lyrics by <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Sondheim> Stephen Sondheim and book
by <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lapine> James Lapine, blends well-known fairy
tales and characters. Beginning with the words,
“Once upon a time,” the show both entertains
and explores what it is to be human: the complexities, the struggles, the joys through these
familiar stories. As a high school production,
as it offers student actors the opportunity to
dive into rich, complicated characters who are
also funny and imaginative. Sondheim’s operatic music is timeless, beautiful and clever.
The music remains as memorable, moving and
delightful as when the production first opened
Broadway in the late 1980s starring Bernadette
Peters. The visual concept for our production
is inspired by classic fairy tale illustrations and
with set and lighting design created by a group
of seniors working for the production as an
independent study project.
Coming Soon
Thurs-Sat, May 7-9
Into the Woods
$15/$10
LHS Auditorium at 7:30 pm
8
Saturday, May 16
Improv Troupe
Blackbox at 7:30 pm
8
Thurs-Fri, May 21-22
LHS Pops $10
LHS Gym at 7:30 pm
8
Saturday, May 23
Jazz Nite 4 at Discovery Day
Cmns II if rain, noon-3 pm
8
Friday, May 29
Improv Troupe
Blackbox at 7:30 pm
8
Monday, June 1
Monday Recital - Senior gala
7:30 pm
8
Saturday, June 6
]
Congratulations to the LHS Madrigal
Singers and their excellent performance
on WGBH-TV’s new Channel 2 Sing
That Thing show. (Friday at 8 p.m.).
You’ll have to tune in to find out if they
are selected for a follow-up performance!
Spring A Cappella Jamboree
$10/$5
LHS Auditorium at 7:30 pm
6
Lexington High School Newsletter
Calendar Continued
June
Monday
1 Monday Recital-Senior Gala, 7:30 pm
Tuesday2
9:30 am-2:25pm MCAS Biology Delayed
Opening (9-11-12)
2 Senior Awards Night, aud, 6:30pm
Wednesday3
9:30 am-2:25pm MCAS Biology Delayed
Opening (9-11-12)
3 Junior Book Awards, 6:30-9pm, Cms.II
Thursday
4 Senior Prom-Danversport Yacht Club
Saturday
6 SATs (at LHS)
6
Spring A Cappella Jamboree, aud, 7:30pm,
$10 ($5 for students & seniors)
Sunday7
LHS Graduation, Tsongas Arena, Lowell;
concert at 12:30, ceremony at 2 pm
Monday
8 Portal open for Senior report cards-June 11
Wednesday 10 Fall Student Athlete & Parent mtg, 6-8pm,
aud, Commons I & II
Friday
12 Improv Troupe Show, Blackbox, 7:30pm
Tuesday
23 Final Day Of School;1/2 day for students
Full day for staff.
_____________________
For Athletics schedules,
visit http://lps.lexingtonma.org/domain/657
Subscribing
to the LHS/PTSA Listserv
The listserv is simply the electronic mailing list of LHS
parents who want to receive updates about school activities.
Parents are not automatically included on the listserv. To
sign up go to the LHS/PTSA website <www.LHSPTSA.
org>. Click on the “LHS PTSA Listerv” tab located along
the top header and follow the directions.
We strongly encourage the parents of all LHS students to
sign up for this communication service. It’s one of the best
ways to keep informed about what is happening at LHS.
May 2015
Community Education
Calling Sophomores!!!
PSAT/SAT Summer Prep Classes At LHS
Get Ready for the All-New Tests
• Starting June 30, take week-long morning
classes in English, Writing and Math to fully
prepare for the fall tests.
• Seasoned experts offer individualized instruction so that you will learn skills and essential
test wisdom.
• You will practice tests in a supportive class and
analyze practice tests so that you will be confident taking the actual tests.
Classes take place from 9 am -12 noon and cost
$195 each. Scholarships are available.
June 30-July 3 – SAT Writing
July 6-10 – SAT English
July 13-16 – SAT Math
To sign up and and receive details:
email <www.lexingtoncommunityed.org> or
call (781-862-8043).
– Lexington Community Education
SAT Test Dates at LHS
2014-2015
May 2, 2015
June 6, 2015
LPS School Committee Information
For information and updates on the LPS School Committee, please go to their website <http://lps.lexingtonma.org/
Page/463>.
For copies of the LPS School Committee Minutes and
Agendas, please go to: <http://lps.lexingtonma.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1220>.
And to view past School Committee meetings, please go to
LexMedia <www.lexmedia.org>.
2015-2016
October 3, 2015
November 7, 2015
December 5, 2015
January 23, 2016
March 5, 2016
May 7, 2016
June 4, 2016
7
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
Nursing Office
“Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
Senior Health Records
Prior to graduation in June, seniors
will receive their health records and
cumulative folders from their building administrator. The health record
contains all medical documents
received by the school nurse while
students were enrolled in the district.
This original record will be in a manila envelope with the student’s name
on it. Please keep the health record
in a safe place after graduation as the
district DOES NOT keep a copy of
these records.
End-of-Year
Medication News
Please have your child pick up any
medications he/she may have in
the nurse’s office by the last day of
school in June. All remaining medications, including over-the-counter
medications, will be discarded after
the last class.
Before school is out for the summer, all parents of students with
life-threatening allergies will receive
a packet in the mail that must be
completed by the students’ health
care provider. These packets must be
completed and turned into the LHS
nurse’s office during the first week of
school in the fall.
Medication Guidelines for
2015-2016 School Year
• Students may not carry medications unless they have first talked
about them with the school nurse.
• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are
kept in the nurse’s office and are
available to students who have
turned in a medication permission
form signed by a parent/guardian.
• A medication permission form
signed by both a parent/guardian
and a medical provider must be
turned in to administer medications other than ibuprofen and
acetaminophen. The medication
must be in its original prescription
or over-the-counter bottle.
• A new medication permission
form must be turned in to the
nurse’s office each school year.
• Medication permission forms can
be obtained in the nurse’s office or
on the LHS website under Health
Office.
• Administration of short-term medications like antibiotics requires
only a parent/guardian signature
and the prescription bottle with the
pharmacy label.
Ask Your Nurse:
Facts About Ticks
Q: M
y son found a tick on his arm
this morning. He may have gotten
it when he took our dog for a walk
in the woods yesterday. I’m worried. Will he get Lyme disease?
What should I do?
A: First of all, don’t panic. In most
cases the tick must be attached for
24-48 hours before the Lyme disease
bacterium can be transmitted.
If you have not done so already,
remove the tick with a narrow-tipped
tweezers or other tick-removal device
available in pharmacies and other
stores. Take the tweezers and grasp
the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward slowly until
the tick mouth separates from the
skin. Be careful not to squeeze the
tick’s body. After removing the tick,
disinfect the site and wash your hands
with soap and water. Follow-up with
your son’s doctor if you have any
concerns or if your son develops a red
rash, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle
and joints aches, or swollen glands
for about a month after you removed
the tick.
Here is a little background information on ticks. There are many types
of ticks that bite people, but only the
deer tick, or blacklegged tick, which
is found in the Northeast and North
Central regions of the United States is
commonly infected and can transmit
the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia
burgdorferi, is usually transmitted
when deer ticks are in their immature
nymph stage and are tiny and easy to
miss. Nymphs, which are typically
less than 2mm in size, are most active
in May through August when people
are likely to be outdoors. Adult ticks
can also transmit Lyme disease, but
they are much larger and are more
likely to be discovered and removed
before they transmit the bacterium.
Ticks can attach to any part of the
human body but are often found in
hard-to-see areas such as the groin,
armpits, and scalp. Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever,
headache, fatigue, and a characteristic
“bulls-eye” skin rash called erythema
migrans.
If left untreated, the infection can
spread to joints, the heart, and the
nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical
findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Most
cases of Lyme disease can be treated
successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.
Continued on page 9
8
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
Visual Arts Department
Annual K-12 Art Exhibit
Wenesday, May 13 – Wednesday, May 27
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Artwork will be exhibited from all classes
Opening May 13, 6:30-8:00 pm
Central Office Gymnasium
146 Maple Street
Lexington
Third Annual comic book
convention, LEXICON!!
Friday, May 27, 2015
6:00-8:00 p.m. in Commons II
Illustration Club is proud to present Lexington High
School’s Third Annual comic book convention, LEXICON!! The event will take place in Commons II at LHS
on Friday, May 27, from 6-8 p.m. It is free and open to all
Lexington residents and cartooning enthusiasts. This will
be a fun, family friendly venue for Lexington residents to
meet many of the best artists at the high school and also
get an insider view into how illustrations and comics are
created in the professional art world. There will be art
demonstrations as well as comics and artwork for sale by
students and special guest professional artists.
Nursing Office Continued
A number of steps can be
taken to avoid tick exposure:
• Wear light-colored clothing so
ticks can be seen easily.
• Wear a hat and a long-sleeve shirt
buttoned at the wrist. Tuck socks
into pants.
• Walk in the center of trails to
avoid brushing up against vegetation. Do not sit directly on the
ground, use a towel or blanket.
• Check for ticks every few hours.
Perform a full-body tick check at
the end of the day.
• Apply an insect repellent on
exposed skin that contains at least
20% DEET. Lightly spray clothing
with products containing permethrin
but avoid contact with skin. Always
follow product instructions.
• Remove ticks as soon as you see
them. Do not touch them. Use a
tweezers and do not crush the tick
until it separates from the skin.
To learn more go to:
http://www.acacamps.org
http://www.cdc.gov/Lyme/
Minor Emergencies: Splinters to
Fractures, Philip Buttaravoli and
Thomas Stair, Mosby, Inc., 2000.
Students with
Life-Threatening Allergies––
Are You Ready for College?
Eating on Campus
• Ask to see the food allergy policy
• Meet the food service director and
ask for a tour of the kitchen (find a
person to go to if a problem arises)
• Check out eating options and/or
preparation food in your dorm room
• Discover any possible food issues
and work to solve prior to classes
starting
Dorms and Social Life
• Have a conversation with your
roommate prior to the start of
school, discuss allergy needs,
triggers, seriousness, and possible
need to use an epipen
• Determine if this roommate situation will work for you
• Get to know and establish your
RA’s role related to your allergy
• Make a plan to keep safe regarding parties, events and eating out
Dating
• Open communication related to
allergy, using an epipen
• Safe kissing - check out video
<https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=CX8qdoEDodg>
References:
http://www.foodallergy.org/ http://
offices.holycross.edu/healthservices/
food-allergy
As always, we welcome your ideas,
questions and comments.
Janet Foley, RN x69913
Susan Kaftan, RN x69919
Kristi Burns, RN x69913
Phone: 781-861-2320
Confidential Fax: 781-861-2611
9
Lexington High School Newsletter
PTSA News
PTSA Slate of Executive Board
Officers for 2015-2016
The Nominating Committee of the Lexington High School
PTSA is pleased to recommend the following slate of
candidates for the PTSA Executive Board election. We are
grateful to these individuals for volunteering their time on
behalf of our children and the school community.
Candidates for these positions will be voted in at the start
of the PTSA meeting on Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30 pm,
by the general membership. Nominations for any position
can also be made from the floor on the night of the elections. Any PTSA member is eligible, by either nominating oneself or having someone nominate you before the
membership holds its vote.
Co-Presidents (2 positions): Kara Brandes, Kathleen Lenihan
Vice-Presidents (4 positions): Katie Cutler, Deb Rourke,
Shubhra Chandra, Leslie Forg
Treasurer: Beth Briggs
Secretary (Executive): Jenny Richlin
Secretary (Recording): (Open Position)
Look for additional volunteer opportunity updates in the
listserv announcements!
Please contact Shubhra Chandra <shubhra_chndr@yahoo.
com> if you are interested in volunteering for either an
Executive Board position or a committee chair position.
Thank you,
May 2015
PTSA Forum - May 20, 2015
LHS/PTSA Annual Meeting & Forum
Wednesday, May 20
7:30-9:00 p.m.
LHS Media Library (Rm 147)
The PTSA welcomes LHS Principal, Laura Lasa, and LHS
Associate Principal, John Murray, as speakers for our last
meeting of the year. Whether you are an incoming family
or a seasoned LHS parent, this is an opportunity to come
hear from our school leaders on topics relevant to LHS and
your student. Come listen to a year-end wrap up and hear
about what’s new for the next school year!
This is the PTSA annual meeting which will include (in
addition to the speakers):
• Presentation of the slate of officers by the Nominating
Committee, and election of PTSA Officers for 2015-16
• Discussion & Vote - PTSA Budget for 2015-16 Fiscal
Year
• Also accepting voting ballots for the LHS School
Council Members (NOTE: This is the last day to submit ballots.)
All current and incoming LHS parents are welcome to attend. All parents Grade 8 to 11 may vote for School Council Members. However only PTSA members may vote for
the election of PTSA officers and next year’s budget. [See
pages 14-16.]
– 2015 PTSA Nominating Committee:
Shubhra Chandra, Jen Vogelzang, Ying Zhang
Visual Arts Department
LHS Film Festival
2015 Tenacity Challenge artwork
on display at LHS
Please stop in and see the 2015 Tenacity Challenge banners on display in the glass gallery case across from the
gym. The AALS students did a tremendous job with the
artwork this year. Special thanks to Monique Schramme
and Brittney Carbone for their help with the students and
their pieces.
– Sean Hagan
Visual Arts Coordinator
May 18 at 6:30 PM
May
18
(location tbd)
10
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
PTSA News
All-Night Graduation Party
Stop & Shop A+ Program
Earns Funds for LHS
I
The Stop & Shop A+ Rewards Program has come to a close for the
2014-2015 school year. The program
which ran from October to March has
announced the total CASH earned by
registered schools.
Principal Lasa will soon be receiving a check from the corporate office
of Stop & Shop for $1,508 for our
school! A huge thank you to the 212
participants who designated LHS as
the beneficially of your reward points
AND used your Stop & Shop card
when doing your regular grocery
shopping. These Stop & Shop customers; parents, teachers, relatives,
friends, and other Lexington residents;
were responsible for raising this
money! Anyone who shops at Stop &
Shop in any state is eligible to designate an A+ school. Stop & Shop
corporate gave away $2.5 million to
schools. More and more schools are
participating each year. Thank you for
helping us get our share! You can designate up to two schools on one card.
If you have children at other Lexington schools, you may be interested to
know that the nine Lexington Public
Schools combined earned $8,452!
t takes a village to throw this party.
Now in its 29th year, the All Night
Graduation Party (ANGP) celebrates
graduation with a huge, fun and safe
all-night party for LHS’s newest alumni. This year the LHS Fieldhouse will
be transformed into “Back to the Future II”, with clock towers, Deloreans
and some really fantastical decorations
which go back to the future of 2015.
Volunteers plan the event, stage the
event, staff the event, and tidy up
when it’s finished. There are over 120
chaperones that will help bring the
Fieldhouse to life during the party.
Beginning Sunday evening, June 7th
through early Monday morning, June
8th parents of Freshmen, Sophomores
and Juniors are invited to join the festivities and volunteer for a few hours
-- an opportunity to have fun and do
good! Plus, it’s your only chance to
get in and see this wonderful event.
There are many ways to pitch in: preparing food, decorating, volunteering
to chaperone, and Senior parents get a
chance to see the Fieldhouse by helping with clean-up.
You can find all the details at VolunteerSpot: <http://tinyurl.com/LHSANGP2015> Sign up before it’s too
late!
There is another way to help if you
are unable to volunteer. We rely on
donations because ticket prices do not
cover the cost of the party. To contribute, you may send a check payable to:
“LHS Graduation Celebrations Committee” to Kris Maeda ANGP Treasurer, 54 Munroe Road, Lexington 02421,
or take the easy way and donate online
via PayPal <http://tinyurl.com/LHSANGP-Donation>. (You don’t need
your own PayPal account to donate.
Follow directions in the lower lefthand corner of the PayPal screen.)
Thank you for your generosity in
helping to create a fabulous and safe
celebration for our graduates.
– Georgia Harris
2015 ANGP Senior Chair
Dear LHS Parents,
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8) is coming up, so now is
the time to personally thank your students’ teachers and educators for their dedication to your children throughout the year. The
Staff, Teacher Appreciation and Recognition award is the perfect
gift for you! Purchasing a STAR award not only honors LPS
teachers and staff members, but also supports LEF grants in all
nine of Lexington’s public schools.
Ordering an LEF STAR award is easy. Just go to <http://www.
lexedfoundation.org/donate/star-awards> and fill out the STAR
form. Order your STAR awards by April 27 to ensure teachers
receive them during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Thank you for your support!
11
Lexington High School Newsletter
T
May 2015
M
Economics Students Move On
State Debate Awards
he Economics Club team, which is entirely student
run and consists of students teaching each other
economic theory and facts, has done well in regional competitions this year. The team of David Wu, Meghan Logan,
Raymond Gong and Soumya Ram reached the finals of
the Harvard Competition recently, defeating Harker (CA)
in the quarterfinals and Mounds View (MN) in the semifinals before falling to Nashua South in the championship.
David Wu took top individual honors and Raymond Gong
finished fifth overall.
any members of the Lexington Debate Team
received individual and team awards at the MA
State Tournament, and the team as a whole won the overall
Sweepstakes Championship.
Also in April, the same team of students won the Massachusetts State Championship in the National Economics Challenge and will now compete to be one of the four
teams invited to New York City for the National Championship finals. Lexington’s first team has won the state title
each of the past three years and went to the national finals
two years ago. As a result of finishing in the top four on
the semi-finals LHS’s first team is moving on to the national finals (where Mounds View and Harker await LHS
for a rematch along with Carmel, IN).
In other news, a team from LHS that was entered in the
Euro Challenge has been selected as one of 25 semifinalists from around the country to compete in NY City on
Thursday April 30. The team of Phil Bonmassar, Ryan
Leung and Stephen Mock produced a 15-minute video presentation on the problems facing Cyprus’ banking industry
and on possible policy-based solutions. For the semi-finals
the team will present live to a panel at the New York Federal Reserve Bank and then field questions.
– Bill Cole
I
Novice Policy Team Awards
1st Place -- Manu Gunnala/Kevin Lu
2nd Place -- Rajeev Raghavan/Chris Jun
Semifinalist -- Jennifer Lo/Catherine Lee
Semifinalist -- Sanjna Krishnan/Sophia Zhang
5th Place -- Marertu Girma/Sahana Sreepraka
Varsity Policy Team Awards
1st Place -- Richard Huang/Manu Meel
2nd Place -- Anthony Wong/Matthew Liu
Semifinalist -- Michelle Chong/Lali Devadas
Semifinalist -- Sabrina Zhang/Mandy Quan
5th Place -- Zack Schnall/Ruth Zheng
6th Place -- Ravi Raghavan/Jonathan Dare
Novice LD Team Awards
Semifinalist -- Reed Weiler
Quarterfinalist -- Nikki Kim
Quarterfinalist -- Cynthia Chen
Octofinalist -- Nicholas Newton-Cheh
Octofinalist -- Vasanth Venkatasami
Varsity LD Team Awards
2nd Place -- Linnea Warburton
Semifinalist -- Jungwan Kim
Varsity PF Team Awards
1st Place -- Tolga Bozkaya/Christi Lee
Octofinalist -- Max Saltman/Adam Harrington
– Sheryl Kaczmarek
Math Team News
n February, approximately 100 LHS students competed
in the prestigious Nationwide AMC (American Mathematics Competition). Forty-two of these students qualified
for and competed in the second level of this competition,
the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination) in March. Eight of these students qualified for the
third level exam, the USAMO (for Juniors and Seniors) and
the USAJMO (for Freshmen and Sophomores). This competition is a two-day (4.5 hours/day), six-problem essay/proof
competition. The USAMO qualifiers were one of approximately 270 students nationwide and the USAJMO qualifiers
were one of approximately 230 students nationwide.
Congratulations to the following students who qualified for
the USAMO: Noah Golowich, Zachary Polansky, and Mat-
thew Weiss and the USAJMO: Maggie Zhang, Morgan
Daciuk, Angela Gong, Peter Rowley and Albert Zhang.
Also, congratulations to the eight students who competed
in the State Math Meet recently. They did an incredible job and placed first in the State, 16 points above the
second-place team.
Team members: Noah Golowich, Zach Polansky, Alan
Qiu, Matt Weiss, John Guo, Louie Golowich, Peter Rowley and Evan Fang.
If you see any of these students, please congratulate them.
Now, on to the New England Meet [early May].
–Wendy Cordero
Math Teacher / Math Team Advisor
12
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
World Languages Department
English Department
German Study Trip Award
Where We Are: Poems from Lexington
High School’s Class of 2017
Please join me in congratulating Austin Fowlkes in receiving the Szombathy-Toth Scholarship. Austin will spending
three weeks in Germany this summer––all expenses paid.
About the Szombathy-Toth Scholarship
For the last two years the AATG offers one full need-based
scholarship to an African American, Native American, Hispanic, or other minority student of German. This scholarship covers all program costs, domestic airfare, and some
spending money. This scholarship is provided through a
generous contribution of the Szombathy-Toth family.
The AATG German Summer Study program includes a
home stay with a German host family, classes at a Gymnasium, and excursions to places of cultural and historical
significance.
– Heidemarie Floerke
LHS German teacher
German Study Trip Award
Please join me in congratulating Sylvia Van Der Weide
(LHS ’15) in receiving the PAD/ AATG Study Trip Award.
Sylvia was chosen from a pool of applicants from across
the nation. She will be spending four weeks in Germany
this summer, all expenses paid by the German government
and the AATG. Students participate in a two-week school
and homestay program, they also attend a special international seminar for two weeks, and participate in excursions
to places of cultural and historical significance.
To be eligible to apply, students must score in the 90th
percentile or higher on the National German Exam, have
a minimum of a B average, and be 16 years old by the
December 31, 2015. Students must be US citizens or permanent residents, and not live in a household where regular
conversation is in German, and must not have visited a
German-speaking country for more than two consecutive
weeks since the age of six.
About the Study Trip Award
For over 50 years, the Federal Republic of Germany, through the
Auswärtiges Amt and its Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, has
supported the AATG/PAD Study Trip Awards.
– Heidemarie Floerke
LHS German teacher
T
he Student Publishing Program has announced its
fourth poetry book, Where We Are: Poems from Lexington High School’s Class of 2017, will be available for
pre-order later this month, featuring rare glimpses into the
hearts and minds of nearly 450 LHS sophomores, sharing
what inspires, worries, piques and matters most to them––
an authentic look at where they are right now as unique
individuals. Where We Are will also feature a foreword by
former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and work from
Robert-Frost-Medal-winning poet X.J. Kennedy who cites
The Student Publishing Program as “the most remarkable
gift to student writers that anyone has offered in America.”
Founded in 2002 by LHS Grad Anthony Tedesco and
LHS English Teacher Karen Russell, and developed over
the years with funding and guidance from the PTSA, The
Student Publishing Program (SPP) is a school-fundraising
English Literary Arts curriculum that brings the nation’s top
poets into the classroom through on-demand mobile video
to help teachers give students the skills they need to find
and express their own creative voices and demonstrate their
academic merit––to themselves and to the community atlarge––beyond data-driven assessment. SPP then publishes
and promotes their compositions in an online literary magazine and in a print book available in bookstores nationwide,
with SPP giving 100% of profits from book sales back to
LHS to support English Language Arts.
Travel Award Scholarship to Puerto Rice
I am pleased to report that LHS junior Isabel Bernhard has
won a Bertie Green Travel Award Scholarship to Puerto
Rico this summer. “Each year 24 travel awards are awarded
to high school juniors who are members of The National
Spanish Honor Society. The students travel to a country or
region of the Spanish speaking world for a period of 10-14
days; the departure date for the trip is generally scheduled
for mid-July. Only one application per chapter is accepted,”
according to the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
– Teresa Cordova
School Council Information and Ballot on pages 14-16
13
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
School Council Election
LHS School Council Election Ballot 2015
Cast Your Vote for TWO Parent Representatives to
the LHS School Council
The LHS School Council is made up of parents, students,
faculty, administrators, and community members. It is
responsible for long-range planning at the High School,
including the annual school improvement plan. There are
five parent representatives on the LHS School Council.
There are two (2) openings for three-year terms beginning
in the fall of 2015. Candidates for these opening are listed
below.
If you are a current 8th-, 9th-, 10th- or 11th-grade student’s
parent or guardian, you are eligible to vote. This complet-
ed ballot must be brought to the Wednesday, May 20
PTSA Forum (7:30 p.m., in the LHS Media Library,
Room 147) or received through the mail by that same date.
•Votes may be cast online <https://docs.google.com/
forms/d/1tGKuCMerwvFPflyDrT-II18qtxZHxLyQiVHIm4oHbdo/viewform?usp=send_form>
• Paper ballots must be signed to be valid.
Candidates for School Council are (in alphabetical order):
Medha Dave, Sharon Kendall, Rina Kodendera, Elise
Niiler Rowley, Pamela Tames.
]
Please see biographies of the candidates below. [
Biographies of School Council Candidates
Medha Dave
I would like to be considered for the opportunity to be
a volunteer parent for LHS School Council next year. I
believe the School Improvement Plan is one of the most
effective and measurable ways to make a community-specific difference in education. I have been a school council member at an elementary school in Newton during
2011-2012 school year. I have been a Lexington resident
for four years and have one child in 8th grade at Clarke
and one child in first grade at Bridge. I have a Masters
Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from
University of California and have certificates in Technical
Management and Program Management. I worked as an
engineering manager at a telecommunications company
for over ten years. I have tutored high school and college
students and was employed as an instructor at ITT Technical Institute. I worked with Literacy Volunteers of America to teach English as a second language in urban areas.
I believe my interest in teaching, background in management and desire to help our community will enable me
contribute to the school council as a parent volunteer.
Sharon Kendall
I am seeking election as a Parent Representative for the
LHS Site Council for a 3 year term. My daughters graduated from LHS in 2010 and 2012. My sons are members of
the Classes of 2017 and 2018. I have volunteered extensively in the schools working with principals, teachers, and
parents. I am presently on the Student Health Advisory
Committee (SHAC) and recently worked on a subcommittee for the Parent Academy held in March. I was on the
LHS PTSA board (2009-1012) and served as Co-President
my final year. I’ve been Coordinator for the Stop & Shop
A+ Rewards Program, and chaperone for the All Night
Graduation Party. I also served on a town committee called
the Ad Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study which
was instrumental in increasing town wide bus rider-ship by
decreasing bus fees. At Hasting, I was PTA Co-President
for 2 years, piloted the Safe Routes to School program,
volunteered for BBY, and served on the Principal Search
Committee. I am interested in expanding my volunteer
efforts to the Site Council and working collaboratively
Continued on page 15
Ballot on page 16
14
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
Biographies of School Council Candidates Continued
with teachers and students in addition to the principal and
parents. I attended the March Site Council meeting and
learned about the beginnings of developing the next School
Improvement Plan, and want to be an active member of this
process. My interests include student safety and wellness;
teacher morale; and supporting the learning needs of all
students as well as improving way to help students in terms
of academic advising and counseling.
Rina Kodendera
It would be a great opportunity for me to serve on the LHS
School Council. I have a son in the 11th grade at LHS
and a daughter in the 7th grade at Diamond. We moved to
Lexington two and a half years ago. As a family we have
moved a few times as our jobs have taken us to different
cities and countries. As a result our children have been part
of five school systems. I bring my learnings from the experiences at these schools.
I used to be an active member of the parent committee in
Chicago. As part of this group I helped enable a leadership
program that got implemented at the elementary school
and was run by the parents. Professionally I have a “Corporate Learning” background and have most recently lead
the global learning team of 40 people for an IT Consulting
company head quartered in Boston.
At Lexington I have participated in various parent and
school discussions at both the high school and middle
school levels and would like to be part of this productive
community and contribute my best.
Elise Niiler Rowley
I moved to Lexington in 1996 with my husband Michael.
My children, now in 12th and 9th grades, attended Community Nursery School, Bridge Elementary School, Fiske
Elementary School, and are currently students at Lexington
High School. Through my perspective as the parent of a
senior and freshman, a long-time community member, and
school volunteer, I believe I can make a fresh, thoughtful contribution to the LHS School Council. Throughout
the years, I have served as a volunteer in the schools in a
variety of different ways, including the Board of Directors at Community Nursery School and the PTA Board at
Bridge Elementary School. I currently co-lead the weekly
LHS parent discussion group. For the past two academic
years, I have led a group for parents of juniors/seniors going through the post-secondary planning process. I have a
bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s
degree from UCLA. I am currently a graduate student
at Lesley University in the School Counseling program.
My previous work experience includes Russian language
teacher and student financial aid counselor. I attend Grace
Chapel, where I sing in the choir.
Pamela Tames
I submit my candidacy for LHS Site Council in the hope
of contributing to the LHS community as I have at Diamond and Estabrook and in my profession as a lawyer
and leader of nonprofit organizations. My husband, David
Jesurum, and I have lived in Lexington since 1998. Like
many residents, we were drawn to the town for its many
positive attributes, including its vibrant nature and quality
schools. We have 3 children: Max and Jake Jesurum, who
will enter 9th and 11th grades at LHS in the fall, and Kate,
who will continue at Estabrook. Over several years, I have
volunteered in many school and school-related activities.
Examples of my capacity and commitment to serve as
an advisor, as a leader, as an educational support, and as
an organizer include: membership in the Estabrook Site
Council (2008-10); membership in and co-chairpersonship
of the Diamond Site Council (2012-15); board membership
with Lexington Playcare Center (2005-07) and Lextended
Day (2013-15); and co-chairpersonship of Estabrook Math
Olympiads (2008-12, 2014-15) and of the Estabrook 5th
Grade Barbecue (2012).With your vote, I will apply what
I have learned through these myriad activities in service of
LHS. Thank you for considering me for election to the LHS
Site Council.
ballot
on next page
15
Lexington High School Newsletter
May 2015
OFFICIAL LHS SCHOOL COUNCIL PARENT BALLOT
Must be received by May 20, 2015
Vote for NOT more than TWO:
The two (2) receiving the highest number of votes to each serve for a term of three (3) years ending
in June 2018.
Candidate Name:
Parent #1 - Vote
Parent #2 - Vote
Medha Dave
Sharon Kendall
Rina Kodendera
Elise Niiler Rowley
Pamela Tames
Parent Voter Information:
Voter Signature:
Parent Print Name:
Home Address:
Ballots must be signed to assure proper vote count!
Mail Ballot to: Kara Brandes, 3 Davis Road, Lexington MA 02421
Must be signed and received by May 20, 2015 or brought to a LHS/PTSA forum by that date!
16