School News
INTENT FORM:
Any student that would like the opportunity to participate in the College Credit Plus program for the 25/26 school year, must complete and submit the State mandatory CCP Intent form by April 1st. Submitting the CCP Intent form does NOT commit you to participating in the program. However, if you do NOT submit the CCP Intent form you will not have the option to participate in the CCP program during the 25/26 school year.
No need to cook dinner on Tuesday, March 25th! Order from Chipotle between 5PM -9PM and use the code MVJGMGE. Liberty Junior receives 25% of the sale.
March 24th -March 28th
Kona Ice will be here during lunch on Thursday March 27th
Cost $3, $4, $5, and $6. A percentage of the profit will be donated to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Have a 6th or 7th grader that wants to cheer for LJS next year? Clinics are April 1st and 2nd from 4PM-6PM at LJS. Tryouts are April 4th starting at 3:30 PM.
The School Smiles dentist is returning to our school soon for dental cleanings on April 3rd. If you missed the dentist’s first visit, there is still time to get your student signed up for our upcoming visit! Please visit https://schoolsmiles.com/student-signup/ to sign-up today! A new form needs completed each school year to remain in the program, but if you have already completed a form for the 2024-25 school year, you do not need to sign-up again. School Smiles accepts Medicaid, private insurance, and offers self-pay rates for those who may be uninsured.
Don't forget to purchase your 24-25 yearbook. Yearbooks start at $25. Please use the link below to order.
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?isAdvertisementOnly=False
The code for Liberty Junior is: 9433325
The deadline to purchase is April 14th, 2025
The Liberty Jr High Student Council is once again collecting pop tabs for charity. Please start collecting, have friends and family collect and start bringing them in. The student council will do a big school wide collection and weigh in on May 3rd. The advisory class with the most collected will earn a Pop party.
Happy collecting.
8th Grade Parents. Here is the slideshow from the informational meeting about the Washington DC trip for our 8th grade students. If you have any questions, you can contact Ron Henrich at Ron.Henrich@lakotaonline.com or 513 - 604 - 0838.
Research shows that student use of cell phones in schools has negative effects on student performance and mental health. Cell phones distract students from classroom instruction, resulting in smaller learning gains and lower test scores. Increased cell phone use has led to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders in children.
In an effort to maintain an optimal learning environment for all of our students and to ensure safety and limit distractions, cell phone use will not be permitted at any time during the day except during class change. Students will not be permitted to use their cell phones in the classroom, during lunch, in the hallways during class time, or while in the office unless there is a specific health purpose for the cell phone.
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It is highly recommended that cell phones remain in lockers.
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If students have them on their person, they will place them in the classroom organizer during the entire bell (they may not have them while taking a restroom break or going anywhere in the building)
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The school and its staff are not responsible for any damage to or theft of a student’s cell phone.
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Students must properly secure and take care of their own phones.
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This also includes Smart watches or any other device that connects to a student’s cell phone.
In the event that your child must call home, a telephone will be available in the office. Health concerns can be addressed using the telephone in the nurse’s office. In the case of a family emergency, the office staff will certainly give your child a message or have him/her return your call. Students may access their cell phones prior to 7:20, during bell change, and after their day ends at 2:10 p.m.
Students will be expected to comply with these expectations. Any student who violates these expectations will be held accountable. Students may be subject to disciplinary action if their use of a cell phone disrupts the school’s educational environment. Examples of this include, but are not limited to: cheating, bullying, harassment, unlawful recording or photographing, and violating other school rules.
The following consequences will be implemented:
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1st Offense: Verbal Warning with Parent Contact
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2nd Offense: Lunch Detention with Parent Contact
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3rd Offense: After School Detention with Parent Contact
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4th Offense: Office Referral with Parent Contact
Thank you in advance for your partnership with our school and your continued support in order to provide a safe and productive learning environment that limits distractions for all of our students.
Liberty Junior Families,
Color Run Donations are due TODAY! You can access the form using this link.
You have one more week to sign your child up for an after school club (PTO club and/or District club).
It has been an amazing start to the school year. Our staff is working really hard to learn the new Math and ELA curriculum and teams meet weekly to discuss students who they want to support for Hawk Lab time. Teacher teams are sending newsletters to families to help with school/home communication. I want to give a big shout out to our staff for the beginning of this year starting off so well....great job TEAM!
#WEareHAWKS
Linda Burwinkel
AM Drop Off: If you are dropping off a student in the morning, please enter the parking lot off of Dutchland Parkway. When entering the parking lot, please stay to the right and in line with the other cars. Pull your car all the way up, so we can use the entire sidewalk as a drop off lane. All students should be dropped off in the line right beside the sidewalk. As soon as you are adjacent to the sidewalk and the line has stopped moving, PLEASE have your student exit the vehicle - do not allow them to stay in the vehicle to try to get closer to the door. This just slows the entire process and results in students being late to school. Remain in line and make a large loop and exit the lot onto Dutchland Parkway (again staying to the right). Please do not drop off students anywhere in the parking lot except next to the sidewalk. If students are walking through the parking lot, it is unsafe with all of the moving vehicles and it slows the process when students walk in front of the drop off line. You may drop your student off at school as early as 6:30 AM. I have added a map for clarification.
PM Pick Up: Upon arriving to school, please park your vehicle in a parking space. Your child can walk to your car in a parking space. If people do not park their car in a parking space and just form a line, it blocks other vehicles from leaving their parking space. Please be courteous to others and park you vehicle. Thank You!
Come and join us at 6:00 PM in the HUB at LJS. PTO talks about upcoming events in the building and parents can help out in a variety of ways!
2024 - 2025 PTO Meetings start at 6:00 PM on the following dates:
Aug. 12
Sept. 9
Nov. 11
Jan. 13
March 10
May 12
AM Drop Off: If you are dropping off a student in the morning, please enter the parking lot off of Dutchland Parkway. When entering the parking lot, please stay to the right and in line with the other cars. Pull your car all the way up, so we can use the entire sidewalk as a drop off lane. All students should be dropped off in the line right beside the sidewalk. As soon as you are adjacent to the sidewalk and the line has stopped moving, PLEASE have your student exit the vehicle - do not allow them to stay in the vehicle to try to get closer to the door. This just slows the entire process and results in students being late to school. Remain in line and make a large loop and exit the lot onto Dutchland Parkway (again staying to the right). Please do not drop off students anywhere in the parking lot except next to the sidewalk. If students are walking through the parking lot, it is unsafe with all of the moving vehicles and it slows the process when students walk in front of the drop off line. You may drop your student off at school as early as 6:30 AM. I have added a map for clarification.
PM Pick Up: Upon arriving to school, please park your vehicle in a parking space. Your child can walk to your car in a parking space. If people do not park their car in a parking space and just form a line, it blocks other vehicles from leaving their parking space. Please be courteous to others and park you vehicle. Thank You!
From this day forward, we proudly declare ourselves as HAWKS, an acronym that reflects our core principles and aspirations.
H - High Expectations: At the heart of our community, we uphold a commitment to excellence. We set high standards for ourselves and each other, fostering an environment where growth and achievement are not just encouraged but expected. Together, we strive for greatness in every endeavor, pushing boundaries and surpassing our own limitations.
A - Accountability: As HAWKS, we recognize the importance of individual and collective responsibility. We hold ourselves accountable for our actions, decisions, and the impact they have on those around us. By fostering a culture of accountability, we build trust and ensure that our community thrives through transparency and integrity.
W - Welcoming: Inclusivity is our strength. We embrace diversity in all its forms, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere where everyone feels valued and respected. Together, we celebrate our differences, understanding that a welcoming community is a strong and united one.
K - Kind: Kindness is the cornerstone of our interactions. We believe in the power of compassion, empathy, and understanding. By choosing kindness, we create a positive and supportive environment where individuals can flourish, and relationships can thrive.
S - Safe: Our commitment to safety extends beyond physical well-being. We prioritize emotional safety, ensuring that each member of our community feels secure expressing themselves authentically. By fostering a safe space, we cultivate an atmosphere of trust and openness.
As HAWKS, we embark on a journey of shared values and common purpose. Let us soar to new heights, supporting each other, and creating a community that exemplifies High Expectations, Accountability, a Welcoming spirit, Kindness, and Safety. Together, we are HAWKS – strong, united, and ready to embrace the future.
Summer School Registration for Original Credit Courses will close on Friday March 7.
“In some way, I’m trying to bring back a lost art,” said Liberty Junior School art teacher Stephanie Gauer, who kicked off her semester course with a lesson in cursive. At the surface, students were learning how to sign their name. But digging deeper, Gauer’s budding artists gained a whole host of other skills and knowledge that will serve them well - future artists or not.
Administrators from the Lakota Learning Team will be hosting important information sessions at both high schools during their 2025/2026 course registration nights. Sessions will cover Alternate Credit Options open to students entering 7th-12th grades as well as our College Credit Plus Program.
Summer school registration for original credit courses and junior school math advancement assessments is now open.The last day to register for original credit courses is Friday, March 7. The last day to register for the math assessments is Friday, April 25. Review the "Program Offerings" tab on the Summer School webpage for information on each course and how to sign up.
Lakota's 2025 Secondary Summer School will run May 27 through June 27. Original credit and credit recovery courses for high school will be offered virtually this summer with the option for both Zoom and in-person help sessions. In-person help sessions will be held at Lakota East Freshman located at 7630 Bethany Lane.
Summer School registration opens Jan. 7. We will not be accepting non-Lakota students into our summer school program this year.
Liberty Junior Families,
All students have completed their ELA and Math benchmark testing and are working to complete their Science benchmark this week. We ran a testing schedule similar to the schedule we will run for state testing for ELA and Math. Teachers are working on meeting with students to share their results along with setting individual goals for State testing in April. We will work with students during academic support on their deficits shown with the benchmark. Staff and students are working hard to ensure all students are learning the content. If you have any questions regarding your child's benchmark test, please contact your child's teacher.
Please try to schedule any appointments around the state testing dates. If you have a planned absence on any of the testing dates, please email me @ linda.burwinkel@lakotaonline.com so I can plan a make up test for your child. State testing will be on the following dates:
ELA - April 1 & 2
Math - April 8 & 9
Spring Break - April 12-20
Science - April 23 & 24
#WEareHAWKS
Linda Burwinkel