Gator Family News 11/12

Vision:

Empowering today’s students to embrace tomorrow’s possibilities.

Mission:

Our mission is to foster and motivate high level learning through innovative strategies to create lifelong learners in a safe and positive environment that partners with a diverse community.

Happy Friday Gator Family!

I hope you've had a wonderful week. It's been a great week here at the SWAMP! Can you believe we are almost to the Thanksgiving Break? The year is flying by!

Next week, we will be Benchmark testing (see below for more details). I know our teachers and students have worked hard and our students are ready to demonstrate that hard work pays off. I encourage you to stress to your children the importance of staying focused and utilizing the strategies that have been taught when taking their Benchmark tests. The results provide us with the data to ensure their educational needs are met and allows us to provide the appropriate intervention/enrichment. I'm proud of the hard work our teachers and students have put in thus far and look forward to continued success!

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Blake

• 11/12--The Little Mermaid JR at 7:30 p.m.
• 11/13--The Little Mermaid JR at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• 11/15-11/19--Schoolwide water drive to support the East Texas Crisis Center sponsored by the NJHS (drop off in the library)
• 11/18--Cookies with Counselors
  
• 11/18--TLMS vs. Whitehouse MS Basketball at 5:00/6:00 p.m. at TLMS
• 11/22-11/26--Thanksgiving Break
• 12/1----Picture Retake Day
• 12/2----TLMS vs. Moore MS Boys Basketball at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• 12/3--Winter Semi-Formal Dance (More information to come)

Our Gators will be benchmark testing next week (Tuesday-Friday). All students must bring their Chromebook and charger to school Monday for benchmark testing if they have not already done so. Benchmark testing will be conducted as a shutdown, similar to STAAR testing. No deliveries or visitors will be allowed on benchmark testing days.

Tuesday: 6-8 Math

Wednesday: 6-8 Reading

Thursday: 8 Science

Friday: 8 Social Studies

Congratulations to Violet Ortiz, 7th grade student, and Marissa Boerger, School Nurse, for being recognized as the Gator Student and Staff Member of the Week!

Improving attendance at Three Lakes Middle School is a top priority this school year. There is a direct correlation between student attendance and school success, so encourage your students to attend school and discuss the importance of them being here daily.

Our attendance for the week is as follows:

Grade 6: 97.46%

Grade 7: 96.45%

Grade 8: 98.16%

Overall: 97.34%

Congratulations to our 8th graders for having the highest attendance this week!!! Continue motivating your students to attend school...it makes a difference!!!

Here are some helpful hints to help with attendance:

• Establish and stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance.
• Talk to your child about why going to school every day is critical and important unless they are sick. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, counselor, or administrator to get them excited about going to school.
• Come up with back up plans for who to turn to (another family member, a neighbor or fellow parents) to help you get your child to school if something comes up (e.g. another child gets sick, your car breaks down, etc.).
• Reach out for help if you are experiencing tough times (e.g. transportation, unstable housing, loss of a job, health problems) that make it difficult to get your child to school. Other parents, your child’s teacher, principal, social worker, school nurse, counselor, or community agencies can help you problem solve or connect you to a needed resource.
• If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure she or he has an opportunity to learn and make up for the academics missed.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." ~Helen Keller

Email: christopher.blake@tylerisd.org
Website: https://www.tylerisd.org/o/tlms
Location: 2445 Three Lakes Parkway, Tyler, TX, USA
Phone: (903) 262-2970
Facebook: facebook.com/threelakestylerisd
Twitter: @ThreeLakesTISD