Catch Us If You Can! Trip #3!

Thunderstorms kept trying to ruin our third fieldtrip to the Blue Ridge Parkway but at each stop we stayed ahead if it!!

Humpback Rocks. MP 5.8

They had to decide as a team based on the trail map which trail to hike

I was silently praying for the 3.1 mile loop verses the 4 mile upward climb!

Whew! Answered prayers! Trail top selfies and end of trail rest break! 

We stopped at an overlook on the way to our picnic lunch! Amazing views!!

Next stop...Peach Picking!! 

And the BEST peach frozen yogurt ever!! 

We rounded out our storm evasion at the historic Michie Tavern! 

What an amazing day of memories! I think I say this every time but today was my favorite!  

Our last trip is in two weeks...look out Washington, D.C.!!  

SOL Summer Adventures Trip 2!!

Another awesome day filled with memories!!  Today we traveled to Williamsburg for a walk through the Colonial Village to Sunken Garden if William and Mary!

Of course this had to be one of the hottest days of our summer so far!! We stopped in Merchant's Square for an old fashioned Root Beer in a bottle before enjoying a sit down lunch together at Olive Garden. Each student was given a "lunch budget" and I was so pleased to see them discuss their choices! 

We wandered next door to Yankee Candle to experience the room that snows, let Santa meet an incredible group of kids and even see a couple make mold of their hands in candle wax!! 

We had hoped to have enough time to take the Jamestown Ferry but instead had to head home into a vicious storm! We had fun taking car selfies at the Rest Area!!

Thank You Louisa Education Foundation for making another memorable day possible!!

SOL Summer Adventures Trip1!!

What an amazing kick off to our Louisa Education Foundation Grant funded summer program!  Today we traveled to Richmond for a tour of the historical city then lunch in the sculpture garden at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and then on for a tour of the museum!  Amazing Day!!

Ahhh Summer!

Bored already??

Check out these fun summer projects! So what there are little kids in the pictures...make one for someone younger and...JOIN in the FUN!!  

http://www.kaixinfun.com/article/detail/310/33-Activities-For-Kids-That-Cost-Under-$10

Post a comment after you try one! 

Have an awesome summer. 

Love,

Mrs. Downey 

Phases of the Moon

Happy Friday!  For this week's Friday Flyer I have included links to an Earth Science study guide page created by students. We also put up some of our favorite review sites to get ready for the big test on Wednesday May 21st in the afternoon!

Today we reviewed the Phases of the Moon using Oreo like cookies! Students are coming home with the sheet today for additional yummy practice at home!

Don't forget to visit our review page too!  http://jdowney.wikispaces.com/EarthScienceStudyGuides. 

WooHoo: School Nurses Day!!

WOO HOO it is School Nurse Day!

Meet our School Nurse in a video interview below :) 

Note: we had to break the video up to be able to embed it and avoid YouTube which is blocked at school 

Student Introduction

Welcome Nurse Leah!!

WooHoo Google Docs!

We are excited about Google Docs!  

Tell us how you can use Google docs in a comment below!

WOO HOO!!

WooHoo Wednesday: Earth Day!

Kudos to each of the students who researched Earth Day and 

created a Digital Poster for this movie.  

Way to go - Aja - for copying each digital poster and creating this week's 

video using Movie Maker...all on her own!!  WOO HOO!!

Student/Parent Participation

Thank you to the TWO parents/students who responded 

to the "just for fun" joke on last Friday's Newsletter!    

Why does a gorilla have big nostrils?

Duncan's family got it correct!  "Because he has big fingers"  

Keith's family had a great answer too!  "To smell you better"

Thanks for "Thinking It Out" with your families boys!  

It was just for fun but also a great way to increase communication with your child.  

Newsletters are packed with useful information for academic improvement at school and home.  Don't just sign it - take the time to read it tool! :)

Happy Spring Break starting Wednesday April 16th

Check out the FREE Kindle ebooks at www.amazon.com 

WooHoo Wednesday NEW SCHOOL

We are so excited to report LIVE from the other side of the safety fence where our NEW High School is being constructed!  Now to Aja and Tatiana...

Special Guest:  Shayla
Camera Man: Malik

Student Led Conferences!!

Woo Hoo the day has come!  Students have prepared Spring Portfolios to share with parents including the following:  Writing Process Piece, Improvement, Perseverance, Pride!  Below is a mock up conference between students (the "mom" is in the pink).

Parents, please comment below about your experience at Open House tonight. :)

Friday Flyer 3.28

Happy Friday after another great FULL WEEK of school!  

Move over Nor'easter LCHS can take you!

Below is our weekly newsletter with some important reminders for the first week of April.

Click on the Comments below to see what your child has to 

say about finishing their novels and book blogging in two weeks!  

Join the discussion and comment with a positive shout out to them too!  

WooHoo 3/14

Woo Hoo Let's Celebrate!  

This past week parents were invited to share a WooHoo about their child.  

Check out what they had to say! Thanks to those who responded to the question (and didn't just sign the slip) and for the kiddos who handed their slips in on time despite a snow day!

Fantastic WEEK of School!! 3.14

We have had a fantastic FULL WEEK of school!! WooHoo! Check out the great things we have accomplished this week in our Friday Flyer.  Please don't forget to sign and comment in the parent section.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Downey :)

WooHoo Wednesday 3/12

Woo Hoo it is Wednesday and our producer, Aja, has a special guest today!  

Aja has invited Mr. Downey, LCMS Principal who will be the LCHS Principal next year, as a guest on this week's show!  We had to clip the video length in order to post it on our blog so our last "woo hoo" is cut out but the kids did it in ONE TAKE today!  That is a huge WooHoo!!

WooHoo Wednesday - Grolier Online!

Woo Hoo it is Wednesday and we are excited to share a new resource we have been exploring at school.  

www.grolier.com  This is an Online Encyclopedia!

Kudos to Mrs. Smith our librarian who showed us the ropes in a visit to the library!  

Coming home this week attached to the Friday Flyer 

is login information to access this great resource at home!

Student using Grolier in ROAR Block 

Friday Flyer 2.21

Happy Friday!  Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend! 

WooHoo Wednesday 2.18

Check out our Skills!  

WooHoo Wednesday 2/12

Happy Woo Hoo Wednesday!!  

Wondering how to spend your time during our Snowmageddon?  

Apply for the Summer SOL Adventures program!!  

Watch this quick promotional clip by LCHS students!  WOO HOO!!

For More information visit our website:  http://jdowney.wikispaces.com/SummerSOLAdventures   

Summer SOL Adventures!

SUMMER SOL ADVENTURES!

I am excited to share an awesome summer opportunity with you!  

The Summer SOL Adventures day trip program is a locally grant funded program for Louisa County High rising 9-11^th graders.  The goal of this program is to offer LCHS students a FREE opportunity to expand their critical thinking skills, reading comprehension, and ultimately their confidence through a series of summer field trips led by LCHS instructors.  Each adventure will foster a learning experience that will support necessary Virginia SOL skills, and help bridge the summer learning loss gap many students experience.

Opportunities are limited.  Only 10 student spots available!  

Click here to view the information webpage and download a PDF application 

http://jdowney.wikispaces.com/SummerSOLAdventures

OR see Mrs. Downey in N12 for a copy.  

Join the adventure!  Apply today!

Friday Flyer 2.7

What's that you say...a FULL Week of School!! Woo Hoo! 

 We had an excellently digital week!  Check out our news below.  :)  

Digital Learning Day 2014

Help us make a difference in the future of education by joining us this February 5th for Digital Learning Day!  In today's interconnected world, the way students learn is increasingly reliant on digital technologies. This doesn't just mean having the newest resources and gadgets, it means fully integrating digital learning throughout the entire educational experience. In order to fully prepare students for success in college and a career, schools and libraries everywhere need to embrace digital learning. We can't prepare every child for the digital future without your support. Help us build the wave of innovation this February 5th by ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn in an innovative, digital environment!  Visit www.digitallearningday.org to promote your participation in Digital Learning Day!  

Here is a word from the SOL Academy: Literacy (yes this includes digital literacy!) in our Weekly Woo Hoo Wednesday Video! 

Monday Mailer 2.3

Well geesh the past few Friday Flyers have been bumped due to snow but we still have AWESOME things to share with you so we did a special edition Monday Mailer today!

Don't forget to check back on Wednesday for our weekly Woo Hoo Wednesday video!  This week it falls on National Digital Learning Day so we will be highlighting some of our favorite digital learning activities here at LCHS!

Back in Action!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Our first Friday Flyer of 2014 is hot off the press today!  Our snow day last week delayed our first release of the new year.  I hope that everyone is off to a healthy start!  I'm having trouble uploading the image at this time so I will attach it to the weekly email as well.  As always though the paper copy comes home with your child each Friday!

Enjoy the long weekend.  The public library is closed but there are some GREAT resources online to read and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his dedication to American society.

Check out this link to listen to his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. 

(Thank you Wendy Craig, LCHS Librarian for sharing)

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm 

 Did you know as a child, Martin Luther King Jr. told his grandma that "...One day I'll turn this place upside down".   His dream started as a young child but with determination and desire he achieved his dream.  Set aside some family time to dream this weekend!

Yours in education,
Mrs. Downey :)