LPMS 8th Grade Promotion

[Anonymous]

The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

Yea, good point. I did like that the principal acknowledged what a struggle last few years were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

Yea, good point. I did like that the principal acknowledged what a struggle last few years were.

Why would the principal do that? It was a closing ceremony for THIS year. Stop being so dramatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

Yea, good point. I did like that the principal acknowledged what a struggle last few years were.

Why would the principal do that? It was a closing ceremony for THIS year. Stop being so dramatic.

I guess you haven’t attended a promotion or graduation ceremony. It’s common for the head of a school to mention things that have happened during the time that a graduating class attended the school.

In addition to a pandemic that robbed these kids of in-person instruction for more than 1 1/4 school years, canceled Outdoor Ed for some, canceled other field trips and celebrations, required them to mask for most of this year, and lead to a virtual promotion ceremony, LPMS lost a couple longtime former staff members recently, and then their current attendance secretary died suddenly and unexpectedly just a couple weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school also had virtual promotion for parents. Was that the norm this year for 8th grade?

I don’t know what most schools did, but MLK MS had a very nice in-person promotion ceremony on Monday night at Seneca Valley.

Does this mean Monday was the last day of school for eighth graders at MLK? It seems like most of the schools asked eighth graders not to come after promotion.

[Anonymous]

There shouldn't be a promotion ceremony. You didn't earn a degree. The whole thing is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

I feel sorry for your children. You think one willfully "checked out"? You have no understanding of your other twins disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school also had virtual promotion for parents. Was that the norm this year for 8th grade?

I don’t know what most schools did, but MLK MS had a very nice in-person promotion ceremony on Monday night at Seneca Valley.

Does this mean Monday was the last day of school for eighth graders at MLK? It seems like most of the schools asked eighth graders not to come after promotion.

MLK’s eighth grade field trip to Smokey Glen was the next day. Tuesday was the last day most of their 8th graders attended school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal sent out a video link today with an apology.

I have a small issue with them making a big deal with the grade based awards when kids with learning disabilities and other issues were completely failed by distance learning. Middle school was an especially tough time for younger kids juggling 7 classes remotely. Tough call since they did need to recognize the kids that succeeded. Wonder what other schools did.

I have twins. One has never struggled in school and has always had straight As. The other has disabilities, a 504, and struggles even with in-person learning. Distance learning was a disaster for that child. I feel like you can’t just ignore the kids who kept showing up to virtual classes and completed every assignment on time, despite challenging times when school didn’t seem “real.” They deserve credit for not checking out. I understand that some kids had far fewer and smaller challenges than others, but a promotion ceremony is a celebration of an academic milestone, so I think it was appropriate.

I feel sorry for your children. You think one willfully "checked out"? You have no understanding of your other twins disability.

🙄 The “checking out” comment wasn’t about my child with special needs. That dc did the best they could. My point was that even my neurotypical child, who faced far fewer challenges, had to struggle against checking out. Distance learning was hard on everyone, even the kids who don’t normally struggle. Plenty of neurotypical kids struggled with virtual classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The technical issues added to the poor outcome of the promotion ceremony. RCES had a much better ceremony for 5th grade. Who’s idea was the cruise/dance? The 8th grade family picnic? Did they ask the kids what they wanted?

The cruise has been a lpms tradition for many many years. The picnic / BBQ too. Sorry no one asked larla for their opinion.