Principal's Message 8/20/24

August 20, 2024

Dear LMK Families,

I hope you are enjoying the summer and spending time with family and friends.  Middle school is a wonderful time for children to explore, and many new opportunities exist here at LMK. Our team has been working to prepare for another successful year. The faculty, staff and I welcome all LMK students to the 2024-25 school year, and extend a special welcome to the families new to our learning community. 

The first day of school is Thursday, September 5th. 

Facility Improvements:

Construction projects from the bond initiative are in progress to help build the Harrison School District's future. At LMK, these include enhancing safety by connecting our two buildings with a new enclosed corridor, increasing and enhancing security cameras and door access, hardening lobby and window security, and creating a new professional development center.  

Please carefully read the following information about the opening of LMK Middle School. 

Administration:

One of our goals as an administrative team is to build a lasting partnership with families.   Two assistant principals work collaboratively with me to support all students.   Ms. Jennifer Cipolla works with students and families in the first half of the alphabet (A-L), and Mr. Scott Spector is responsible for the second half of the alphabet (M-Z). This system provides direct contact for you and a consistent approach to supporting your child’s academic and social-emotional development while at LMK.   Each assistant principal works closely with your child’s guidance counselor, team of teachers, support staff, and me.   Although we divide the grade between our two assistant principals for more focused attention, all administrators at LMK are available to all students and families. 

Instructional Program:

Please visit the LMK Guide to Learning, which includes information about all aspects of the middle school.  LMK Middle School is a fully accredited  International Baccalaureate Middle School. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) includes all students and is a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical, and reflective thinkers and to make connections between their studies and the real world.   Our four elementary schools are preparing to implement the IB Primary Years Program, aligning the transition to LMK. The MYP program continues at Harrison High School in grades 9 and 10 and prepares students for courses in the IB Diploma program in grades 11 and 12.  Our students deepen their understanding of the IB learner profile, which is embedded in our curriculum and teaching in all classes.  You can find more information about the IB Middle Years Programme on the LMK webpage.   

Students spend three years at LMK learning and experiencing courses and exploring their strengths and interests in subjects from eight  IBMYP subject groups.  Our instructional program includes team-based classes (ELA, social studies, math, and science) and classes that are cross-teamed: art, music, physical education, digital design, information literacy (grade 6), health (grades 7 & 8),  design technology, and world languages.  Support is provided through an extensive response-to-intervention (RTI) system, including data analysis from multiple sources, team-based strategies, support specialists, and our school-based support team of guidance counselors and psychologists. 

School Supplies:

Information about the use of electronic devices and other resources, including school supply lists, is available on our school website. You will find pertinent information on the LMK Middle School web page under the section titled information for parents.  Please note that students are required, as part of the school supply list, to bring their own devices (chromebooks are recommended) to school.  Our school district is committed to providing financial support for any family needing an electronic device or help purchasing supplies. If you need assistance, please contact one of our assistant principals, Jennifer Cipolla (914-630-3034) or  Scott Spector (914-630-3039). 

Locker Assignment:

Students will receive locker assignments from homebase teachers on the first day of school.  

Safety Protocols:

Safety is a priority in all our schools, and we continue to review and refine our procedures district-wide.  Our school practices numerous drills yearly, including evacuations, lockdowns, and bus safety.  Cameras have been expanded and are strategically placed throughout the building, and security staff monitor the entrances.   Parents are encouraged to download the CrisisGo app to receive timely safety notifications.  Click here for instructions about how to download the CrisisGo app.

Code of Conduct:

The Harrison School District is dedicated to providing provides a safe and orderly school environment that celebrates and protects the diversity represented in our community and actively promotes the values of dignity, understanding, and respect for others to create a sense of unity and belonging.  Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other district personnel, parents, and visitors is essential to promoting these values and ensuring a school culture where students feel welcome and safe as they fulfill their personal and academic potential. The Code of Conduct is integral to students’ educational experience at LMK.  

School Hours and Drop off/Pick Up Procedures:

School hours are 7:48 AM to 2:40 PM.  The day cycle, period schedule, and delay schedules can be found here.  Please review the safety guidelines for drop-off and dismissal to ensure your child’s safe arrival and dismissal each day.                                                                                                          

Attendance Procedures:

Our attendance office is located in the main office.  For each day a student is absent, parents should call the attendance office at 914-630-3041 by 9:00 a.m. to report the reason for the absence. If you call before 7:30 a.m., please leave a complete voicemail message, including the reason for your child’s absence. 

When students return to school after an absence, they must bring a written excuse signed by the parent, guardian, or physician, including the reason and dates for the absence.  The absence note should be given to Mrs. Bruno in the main office. A legal absence is an illness, medical appointment, family emergency, religious observance, etc.   If you are taking your child out early from school, we ask that you send them in with a note, and we will give them a pass to come to the office for pickup. This advance notice helps avoid interruptions during class.

Parents are asked not to plan vacations while school is in session. It is difficult for students to keep up with their school work when they are taken out of school for family vacations. Teachers cannot guarantee work for your child during the week that you take them out of school for a family vacation.

Powerschool Parent Portal  

The Powerschool Parent Portal will open at 3:00 PM on August 25th.  You received a portal login when your child was in elementary school, which you use throughout middle school and high school.  Please make sure you use a computer to log in to the portal, because the phone App will not work until the school year begins.  If you need to reset your Powerschool account or need the information to create a new one, click here and fill out the jotform. You may also email for assistance at portalhelp@harrisoncsd.org. If you have forgotten your login information or need assistance, you may contact the portal help staff prior to August 25th.

When you log into the parent/student portal follow the prompts to fill out each form. Please complete and carefully review the forms sent electronically or on the parent/student portal as soon as possible, but no later than September 20th.  You will find the forms by clicking the icon, student information update 2024-25, on the bottom of the column on the left side of the screen. The prompts will allow you to update or confirm contact and emergency information,  and read and acknowledge important school documents.  This information is important for effective school to home communication and must be updated yearly.

Student schedules will be available on the portal starting at 3:00 PM on August 25th.   Your child’s team is referenced by the letter in parenthesis next to the homebase (for example- Room 144(K) will mean your child is on team K).  Please also note: all classrooms that begin with a 3 are located in the portables adjacent to the main building (example Room 301).  There is no third floor.

Student Schedules:

Student schedules will be available on the portal starting at 3:00 PM on August 25th. Please remember to use a computer to log in, as the phone App will not work until the school year begins. You do not need to print the schedule in advance. A printed copy of the class schedule will be distributed to students at the 6th-grade orientation and in homebases on the first day of school.   On the first day of school, students will need to know their homebase classroom found next to your child’s homebase on his/her schedule.  The letter next to the room number represents the team assignment.   If you have any questions, you may call or email your child’s guidance counselor.

Orientations:

Several important events occur during the last weeks of August.  These events are designed to inform you and your child about our programs and ease the transition to middle school.  Our orientation dates are below; additional events can be found on the District Calendar and the LMK website.  

7th/8th Grade New Student Orientation, Monday, August 26th, 9:30-11:00 AM

This orientation is only for 7th and 8th grade students who are new to LMK. We will meet in the library or outside (weather permitting) to review important information. All new 7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to attend.

6th-grade Orientation, Tuesday, August 27th, 9:30-11:00 AM 

This program is part of our transition to middle school 6th-grade orientation program. We will review schedules and help students acclimate to their new school environment. Psychologists, counselors, administrators, and teachers will be present to support your children. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend this event, but it is not a requirement. We ask that only one parent or guardian attend, and carpooling is encouraged.

Upon entering the building, students will meet with staff to review schedules, and parents/guardians will meet with school administrators.  After this session, parents/guardians will regroup with their children in the courtyard for a PTA-sponsored brunch.   Parents/guardians and their children may walk through the building to review classroom locations. We recognize that some families may be away and cannot attend.  All the orientation materials will be reviewed with students during the first week of school.

Open House:

Open House is an excellent opportunity to meet the teachers and learn about your child’s academic program. There are two open house nights at LMK, one for grade six and another for grades seven and eight combined.  Teachers provide an overview of the curriculum and class goals for the year.  The dates for the two Open Houses are below:

Grade 6 Open House, Tuesday, September 10th at 6:45 PM

Grade 7/8 Open House, Tuesday, October 1st at 6:45 PM

School Calendar:

School activities and events are listed on the district calendar.  Please note that there can be times when an event date changes.  If this occurs, we will contact you by email.  

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA):

The LMK PTA is a wonderful organization that supports our students in all aspects of the school.  Meetings are held monthly and can be found on the district calendar. These meetings are opportunities to learn about various aspects of the school.  The PTA presidents are Johanna Pryluck and Christine Farina.  You can find their welcome back letter here. We encourage you to join the PTA using this link.

Nurse:

Our school nurse is Mrs. Fiorenza, and our health assistant is Ms. Kristina Salvo. If your child has any medical concerns, allergies, or a history of medical problems, please email Ms. Fiorenza at fiorenzas@harrisoncsd.org. Please make sure your child is up to date on all immunizations. 

School Lunch:

You can find information about how to enroll and use the lunch prepayment system at Myschoolbucks.  Please note that we do not allow deliveries of any kind from any outside vendor to the school.  We recognize that a parent/guardian may drop off lunch when a child forgets; however, we have a fully functioning cafeteria that can provide lunch for your child that day.  We also do not allow students to bring boxes of donuts, pizzas, etc., to share with entire tables in the cafeteria.

Bus Transportation:

The Transportation Office will send you information if your child is eligible for busing. If you have any questions about the bus schedule, please contact Ms. Geraldine Barbagallo at 914-630-3303. 

The first day of school is Thursday, September 5th.    Your feedback is important to me; if you have specific issues that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to call (914-630-3031), email (frieds@harrisoncsd.org), or schedule an appointment with me.  When questions arise, you may contact one of our assistant principals, Jennifer Cipolla (914-630-3034, cipollaj@harrisoncsd.org), Danny Gonzalez (914-630-3039, gonzalezda@harrisoncsd.org ), or subject directors.  I wish you and your child an exciting and fulfilling school year.

Sincerely,

Scott Fried
Principal