​Mole Day is celebrated annually on October 23rd from 6:02 AM to 6:02 PM 
commemorating Avogadro's number (6.02 x 1023) which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. All chemistry students came to school baring fun and creative projects that connected to Avogadro and the 'MOLE" to Harry Potter ... take a look!

​If you are an Amazon shopper, please consider using this special link below to give Safe Grad a 0.5%  donation from Amazon of your eligible purchases. Please share with other Amazon shoppers.  
         https://smile.amazon.com/ch/06-1547344

The Lyme Old Lyme Schools are considering an expansion of our current Pre-K program to allow all age eligible students in the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme to attend.  In an effort to prepare all of our students for Kindergarten, our tentative plan is to expand our Pre-K offerings to all students in Lyme and Old Lyme and establish a universal Pre-K program based on Connecticut’s Early Learning and Developmental Standards.  We also hope to entice non-residents to move to our district, or enroll their students on a tuition basis, to enjoy this added benefit.  This tentative plan would begin in the 2019-2020 school year.  To assist in the planning process, we are asking for your input.  If you have a child that will be three or four years old by September 1, 2019, and are interested in your child being considered for this program, please complete the following survey before November 15, 2018.  Survey results will be used in both our planning process as well as in securing spots in this exciting new program.  The survey can be found on our website at http://www.region18.org/page.cfm?p=2207

Electric Boat Management Association has organized a Volunteer Tutoring Program for Middle and High School students, the program started back in 2012 as a community outreach effort.  
About 70 salaried employees at General Dynamics Electric Boat (engineers, supervisors, managers, planners, ec.) volunteer their time to offer free tutoring to students in the local towns and communities in Southeastern CT.  Most tutors support STEM subjects, but there is a surprising variety on non-STEM subjects as well.
Below find this semester’s updated tutoring list  as well as a 1-page summary of the program, and the guidelines for the program.  

The Spanish National Honor Society has reflected on the current immigration crisis occurring in the United States involving the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program and the “dreamers” that are impacted by it. The “dreamers” movement has managed issues in regards to immigration, education, and citizenship. Immigration reform is a modern issue that many “dreamers,” a group largely comprised of undocumented youth/students in the US, are greatly affected by. The fight for immigrants’ rights to stay in the US is ongoing and brutal, but we can assist them by staying up to date on legislation and by promoting organizations that are dedicated to aiding immigrants. 
 
By SNHS members:
Lexi, Sofia, Anna, Emily, Emi, Emma, Liz, Sami, & Sophia

By Taylor HudakOn the surface, this student is picture-perfect: Straight A’s, president of a club, athlete, 100 volunteer hours, works three jobs and fundraiser for numerous causes.This was me. And I thought anxiety was a normal part of my path to success.

I was organized, excelled at everything and achieved near perfect grades. I finished my summer math packet on the last day of school, before summer even began. I worried that if I got a cold or missed a day, everything would be ruined. I suffered from crippling panic attacks during which I couldn’t communicate with anyone, and my leg would shake uncontrollably.

I assumed that after completing that one assignment, winning that award or achieving high honors, I would experience a wave of relief. Instead, after accomplishing one task, I discovered three new tasks to stress about. I thought for sure I could relax once I got into college. Instead, I tacked on another four years of anxiety. I promised myself the pressure would stop once I graduated. My parents used to joke that they would throw me a party the first time I received a B on my report card. They bought me a chocolate cake after I received a C on my college physics midterm.
One day, I realized I could do less and still be OK. I decided to value myself over my schoolwork because I was tired of panic attacks. This didn’t mean I started slacking in my academics. I remained successful in school. I just found a balance, stopping work at 8 p.m., completing assignments one week ahead (not three), taking breaks and doing yoga. I still experience anxiety, and am an overachiever at heart, but in a much healthier and sustainable way.
It is not a question if overachievers will burn out or break down, but when. A recent New York Times article showcased students who required intensive therapy and medication to cope with the college application process or the fear of failure. Students are making themselves physically sick over fear of a B+. They exist in a constant fight-or-flight state over their academic performance, resulting in stomach issues, headaches, anxiety, depression and even suicide.
Although parents play a key role in helping their children seek a healthier and happier lifestyle, here are a few key points for teachers:
Encourage overachievers to do less. Tell them it’s OK to pass on an opportunity that might enhance a college application. There is always more to achieve, but it can come with diminishing returns.
Rethink extra credit. Overachievers jump on every opportunity to ensure a 100 rather than a 99, spending unneeded stress and time on already mastered skills. Limit the quantity and only offer extra credit assignments that are enriching and valuable.
Inspire students to find something they love. Intersperse these soul-fulfilling activities between less motivating tasks.
Ask students what they want you to know about them. You might be surprised at the answers you receive.
Praise effort and failed attempts, not just perfect answers and 100s. Encourage students to take risks and share their thinking, even if it might be wrong. Even if a student “fails,” there is something learned toward getting it right. Failure is often a vital stepping stone to growth and success.
Incorporate mindfulness in the classroom. Start small — maybe just a quick breathing exercise before a test.
Be honest and share times that you have failed. Remember that C you received on an English midterm sophomore year? Tell students how you overcame it, and that somehow, you still got hired as a teacher.
Celebrate. And for the student who falls short of an A for the first time, bake them a cake.
Taylor Hudak, 22, of Guilford, is a master’s student in the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program at University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. She graduated with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and secondary mathematics education from UConn in May.

On Wednesday LOLHS, Wellness Day proved to be quite a success. After the academic classes finished at 11:15, students and staff selected from a myriad of  workshops - each, in their own way, having a focus on health and wellness. Participants came away with at least one strategy that can be used on a daily basis... whether it was learning how to create with food or words, movements or sounds, all participants were challenged to take the time to think about how we can be more mindful of our health and wellness. There were over 36 workshops in which to participate. Take a look at some pictures of students and staff in action along with the workshop list and presenters. It was an incredible day full of great energy and enthusiasm that was made possible because of the efforts and expertise of various community members. 

It is an effort to encourage students to express their values as an individual, LOLHS' Spectrum Club created buttons to give away on Friday before school and during lunches. The goal of this campaign is to create an increased sense of community and acceptance. By wearing buttons that illustrate what we each stand for, demonstrates this community and acceptance within LOLHS.

The Lyme Old Lyme Schools are considering an expansion of our current Pre-K program to allow all age eligible students in the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme to attend.  In an effort to prepare all of our students for Kindergarten, our tentative plan is to expand our Pre-K offerings to all students in Lyme and Old Lyme and establish a universal Pre-K program based on Connecticut’s Early Learning and Developmental Standards.  We also hope to entice non-residents to move to our district, or enroll their students on a tuition basis, to enjoy this added benefit.  This tentative plan would begin in the 2019-2020 school year.  To assist in the planning process, we are asking for your input.  If you have a child that will be three or four years old by September 1, 2019, and are interested in your child being considered for this program, please complete the following survey before November 15, 2018.  Survey results will be used in both our planning process as well as in securing spots in this exciting new program.  The survey can be found on our website at : http://www.region18.org/page.cfm?p=2207.

Participants are invited to browse a mock bedroom that is filled with items that can be easily used to hide drugs and paraphernalia.
Followed by a presentation to:

• Understand the types of inexpensive, easily accessible products available.
• Recognize the warning signs of drug use, both obvious and hidden.
• Practice skills for having tough conversations with young people in your life.
• Learn about resources in your community.

 This program is free and open to the public.
Join us on October 29th for a presentation that no parent should miss.
 
Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau
Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition

Two LOLHS teams competed against more than 50 other teams including Hopkins, Taft, Sacred Heart, Guilford, and Ledyard at the Sloane Physics Laboratory of Yale University on Saturday.  Departing about 6:55 AM Team Quark consisting of Captain Hannah Morrison, Josh Liefeld, Ran McTigue & Connie Pan and Team Lepton consisting of Captain Rachael Larson, Ethan Carrion, Jackson Warren and Nikolai Stephen-Zumbaum competed in a pentathlon of physics challenges.  These included the Battle of the Bands -  determining the spring constant of a rubber band using potential energy;  Slow your Roll - maximizing the coefficient of friction as a ball rolled down a track;   The Wings of Time - using the Bernoulli effect with a pitot tube to determine fluid velocity; A Fermi Quiz - using common sense and mathematics to produce a reasonable estimate like that which Nobel Laureate, Enrico Fermi,  was famous;  and the Gravity of the Situation - determining the period of a variable acceleration physical pendulum.  The teams also enjoyed a short lecture explaining the 2018 Nobel prizes in physics and an exciting series of outsized physics demonstrations.  Although we were not in the top three ranked spots, the students had a great time.