GMTMA Bookmark Contest News

Congratulations to 4th grade student, Samantha Gunton, whose bookmark was selected for Honorable Mention in the Greater Mercer TMA's Safe Routes to School Bookmark Design Contest! Many entries were received, and the committee members said it was very difficult to pick a winner.

Visit the GMTMA website to see all the winning bookmark designs.

Rising 7th Grade (Save the Dates)

Please see below for some important dates for rising 7th grade students (and their parents/guardians):

• May 20th:  Middle School 101 – Curriculum Night (Academic Course Guide) 7:00 pm - Learn about the Middle School curriculum from the secondary instructional supervisors

• June 10th: LMS Goes to LIS – Rising 7th Grade Student Orientation (for students only)

• June 12th: Rising 7th Grade Parent Orientation, LMS Auditorium
  10:00 am - 11:15 am

• August 26th: Rising 7th Grade Orientation
• Student Orientation is from 9:00 am - 11:30 am
• Parent Orientation is from 10:30 am - 11:30 am

4th Grade "Walk This Way" Town Council Meeting

In October, all of our 4th grade students participated in "Walk This Way," which is a pedestrian safety program. The students walked around the community and completed a survey about what they observed during the walk. Some of the 4th grade students worked with Mrs. Heller, the 4th grade House Leader, to review the surveys and compile a report.

On Tuesday, April 21, those students presented their "Walk This Way" findings to the Town Council.

This was a great opportunity for our students to get involved in their community. Thanks to Mrs. Heller for coordinating this presentation and to our students for their hard work.

Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast

Bus drivers & Hootie's Helpers

Our bus drivers were treated to breakfast in the cafeteria today by the 6th grade community service leadership club, Hootie's Helpers. Along with their faculty advisor, Ms. Potocny, Hootie's Helpers served breakfast to our bus drivers to show how much we appreciate them getting our students to school safely each day. It looks like everyone had a great time!

CJMEA Honors Band

CJMEA Honors Band Members

On April 18th, 2015, twelve  students from LIS, along with their director, went to Rahway 7th & 8th Grade Academy in Rahway, NJ to participate in a 1 day band festival.  These students were nominated by their director, Mrs. Allison Kershner, based on their performance in the LIS Concert Band.  Once nominated, students were selected and placed into one of 3 Bands – the” Red Band”, the “White Band” and the “Blue Band”.  Students received acceptance letters and music a few weeks before the festival so they had time to practice.

It was a very exciting day for everyone. Students were placed in ensembles of up to 100 performers from around Central New Jersey.  Everyone was seated next to a student from another school whom they did not know, and all students worked together to rehearse and put on an amazing concert at the end of the day.  What great teamwork!  The students and Mrs. Kershner had an amazing experience and are looking forward to doing it again in the future.

LIS Jump Rope & Hoops for Heart Events

Jump! (photo credit: Rick & Peg DeFalco)

Thanks to Mother Nature, the LIS Jump Rope for Heart event had to be rescheduled twice! It finally happened on Thursday, March 19.

131 4th & 5th grade students participated in Jump Rope for Heart and they raised $15,629.90 for the American Heart Association.

Hoops for Heart happened on February 26, and our 6th grade students raised $7,600.00 for the American Heart Association.

Owen Boggs (4th grade) was the top fundraiser for Jump Rope for Heart. He raised $900.00! Eric Maest was our top individual fundraiser for the 3rd year in a row! This year, Eric raised $3,280.00 for Hoops for Heart. For last year's Jump Rope event, Eric raised $2,205.00, and when he was in 4th grade, he raised $1,400.00. Eric holds the school record for individual fundraising and according to Mr. Boggs's Blog, this has earned him the nickname "Big Money."

Owen Boggs & Eric Maest (top individual fundraisers)

Our grand total raised between the two events is $23,424.00, which is a new school record! Thanks to our Physical Education department for coordinating these great events, and thank you to all who fundraised, participated, and attended.

Fun facts:

• Highest fundraising 4th grade class = Ms. Steiner's ($1,610.00 raised)
• Highest fundraising 5th grade class = Ms. Bradley's ($960.00 raised)
• Highest fundraising 6th grade class = Ms. Tarasov's ($3,682.00 raised)

CJMEA Honors Orchestra

CJMEA Honors Orchestra Members

Sixteen students from LIS went to East Brunswick HS this past Saturday to participate in a one day orchestra festival.  Our students worked with other students from various schools throughout central NJ (all participants had to be nominated by their director). They rehearsed in the morning/early afternoon and put on a concert at the end of the day.  The students did a great job representing LIS - they even made some new friends in the end.

Musical note pretzels!