May means PASS testing in schools across the state. While high stakes testing does not in itself indicate the successes and/or failures of schools, it is an important measure for which we must prepare and then perform. We need parental support on several things:

1. Students need to be in attendance every day of PASS. We are expected to test everyone and the state does not understand when we don’t.
2. Students need to come in well rested each day of testing. Please go the extra mile in getting students to bed on time during these days.
3. Students need nutrition to be at their best physically during testing. Have your child eat breakfast at home or have them eat free of charge here.
4. Discuss with your child the importance of doing their best. You may want to try to offer your child some incentives for doing well and reward them when they do.
5. Simply be encouraging and send your child to school in a good frame of mind during this time. The less stress students are under the better they will do.
   

Once PASS is over we battle trying to keep students engaged and under control. We will have almost four full weeks of school after PASS this year. Our focus will continue to be on learning through continued teaching right up until the last day of school. Please help us by respecting the need for students to be present in school and engaged in what teachers have them doing. The last days will be crucial for students as we prepare them for next year and the years after that. June is right around the corner but a strong finish can make the difference between a good or great school year.

Rhett Harris, Ed.D.

Principal, LMS