Post date: Mar 11, 2016 9:40:50 PM
I extend congratulations to our students and the arts faculty on some recent performances and exhibits. First, I give a loud bravo to members of the LHS chorus for a series of outstanding performances with the Handel and Haydn Society Period Orchestra. Several of our talented musicians had the opportunity to perform an opening number at Symphony Hall in Boston. They also joined members of the Marlborough High School chorus for a longer concert singing challenging pieces including “How Excellent They Name” from Handel’s oratorio “Saul” and Mozart’s “Ave verum corpus”. I commend the students for the many hours of practice and the dedication required for performance at this level. I thank Ms. Wardwell and the parents for their support of the musicians. Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the Handel and Haydn Society for the Collaborative Youth Concert program.
LHS art students recently exhibited their work at the Fitchburg Art Museum. The work included portraits of Lunenburg community members Peter Lincoln, Harvey Price, Jack Carroll and Don Adams. The portraits were created as part of a service learning project designed by Mr. DiPerri. Congratulations to the artists on a wonderful show. LHS artist Aimee Dennler sold one of her paintings as a result of the exhibit. Upcoming art competitions include the Fruitlands Museum’s 2016 Student Art Competition April 15 - June 19. A landscape by LHS sophomore Sophie Shapiro was accepted into the competition. Students are now preparing for the first round of the Congressional Art Competition.
Reconfiguration
Thank you to all the parents/guardians that joined us at Town Hall for the public forum on reconfiguration last week. We will post the presentation in the next few weeks. In the interim I have attached the updated FAQ (FAQ Reconfiguration as of 3-2-2016.pdf) which has additional information about the new building’s technology. The FAQ also includes the announcement regarding the Extended Day remaining at the Thomas C. Passios Building for another year. I am also attaching a graphic illustrating the second phase of the project and the impact on traffic flow on the campus this summer. LMHS Phase 2 logistics 6-15 to 8-25-2016.pdf The new building will be complete in three months, and we anticipate it being turned over to us in June. If you have questions about the reconfiguration please email lps@lunenburgonline.com.
School Lunch
On an unpleasant note—the Business Manager, School Accounting/Data Manager and I will be meeting with a debt recovery company (a.k.a. collections agency) representative next week as the next step in recovering unpaid lunch account monies. I had hoped to avoid this course of action, but given that the District’s many communications beseeching parents to resolve unpaid lunch accounts continue to be disregarded, I have no choice but to employ a more rigorous approach in collecting this debt. Please understand that failing to pay a school lunch account has a direct effect on all students. Federal law does not allow school lunch programs to carry deficit balances, the District must resolve this issue each year with funds planned for other student opportunities. Parents may view lunch account balances via the Lunenburg Web Store using their child's last name and ID number. Follow the links to the amount page and click check balance. More information, including free/reduced lunch program materials, can be found on the school district website https://sites.google.com/a/lunenburgschools.net/school-lunch-program/.
Clothing Drive
Eighth grade student Breda Page-Violette is Lunenburg’s 2016 Project 351 Ambassador and she is conducting a clothing drive for Cradles to Crayons. Breda is collecting items from March 14 to 25. Cradles to Crayons only takes clothes for children through the age of 12, or an adult size medium. Shoes can also be collected as long as they are no larger than an adult size 9. Specific clothing items needed include shirts, sweat shirts, pants, socks, and winter coats. Breda has bins at the Primary, THMS, and TCP. Please support her goal to collect 75 trash bags of clothes for children living in poverty. For those who may not be familiar with the work of Cradles to Crayons learn more at : https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=cradles%20to%20crayons
PTO Update
The PTO will be meeting March 14th 7p.m. in room #13 of the Thomas C. Passios Building. Also, don’t forget the upcoming Parents Night Out scheduled for Saturday, April 02, 2016 at the Leominster Elks Lodge, from 7:00-11:30 p.m. Please be advised that this is an ADULT ONLY fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.lunenburgpto.org/Parents_Night_Out.php
Sincerely,
Superintendent Loxi Jo Calmes
Lunenburg Public Schools
1025 Massachusetts Ave.
(978) 582-4100 x211
(978) 582-4103 fax
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