Beginning with second semester, we have had the pleasure of welcoming our Pet Partners from Project Paws. On Friday, Ezra and Penny joined us and visited the Life Skills class along with some other students. Take a look!

​Amnesty International spent two days researching various aspects of Police Violence around the world. We wrote passages, found case studies and shared images to spread awareness of this topic. Please stop by the bulletin board in the commons to inform yourself about what Police Violence is, as well as solutions for this topic.

AP Biology took 15 minutes of class for a little “dragon” genetics SEL (Social Emotional Learning). Students used dragon traits to create a composite drawing of their mythical creatures. Take a look at them in action!

On February 8, Phoebe Lampos testified via Zoom before the Public Health Committee at the Capitol in support of Senate Bill # 326, (An Act Prohibiting the Sale of Flavored Cigarettes, Tobacco Products, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Vapor Products).
To view Phoebe's testimony (which she wrote independently) along with her 'on the spot' responses, see video below.

     WELL DONE PHEOBE!

​Mr. Wang spoke to Mrs. Traver's Investment classes about the Asian Stock Markets emphasizing the Chinese markets. His presentation included the differences between the markets, a discussion about the Chinese economy, and culture. One difference between  the markets is that red means the stock is going up on the Chinese stock market and green means the stock is going down. Just the opposite of the US stock markets. Mr. Wang will be back in March to complete his very interesting presentation.

The Sustainability Committee is excited to announce that over 2000 pounds of plastic film has been collected by Region 18 in the Trex Challenge! Thank you to all that have participated! The challenge doesn’t officially end until April 15, so please continue to send in film with your students. We hope you have grown more aware of just how much plastic is out there in the world and part of our everyday lives. 

If it stretches, even a little, it’s good for trex. If it doesn’t stretch, or makes a crinkly sound or can be torn like paper, please leave it out of the trex collection. #2 and #4 plastic films are always accepted. Some examples of items that are NOT acceptable include:

• Hard plastic (produce containers)
• Compostable/biodegradable film (because these may not contain any plastic)
  
• Film that has any amount of food residue (deli bags are commonly sent in with food particles)
• Candy/ice cream/granola bar bags or wrappers
• Cellophane-type film (think floral arrangements or holiday gift bags that make a crinkly/crunchy sound)
• Prewashed salad mix bags
• Frozen food bags (frozen berry or seafood bags)
• Six-pack rings
• Pet/bird/livestock feed bags are typically (unless they are clearly marked with a 2 or 4 recycle symbol)

When sending in your film from home, please remember, it must be COMPLETELY clean, COMPLETELY dry, COMPLETELY empty and COMPLETELY free from food residue. Please remove air from pillow pack bubble wrap. When in doubt, throw it out; or you can email Taylor.karencharlotte@gmail.com.

Thanks for your continued participation in the Region 18 Trex Challenge and helping keep our planet clean!

This week's advisory lesson plan across all classes was to build community,  relationships and  have some much needed fun! Each homeroom selected some sort of fun activity or played a game like Jenga, Apples to Apples, Scattegories, or Catch Phrase to help connect us and take a moment for some much needed comic relief.  Take a look at ​Mr. D ’Aquila's freshman homeroom take a break and enjoy some fun and bonding.  Pictured is headspace, and “pair up”.  A fun Wednesday morning!

This past month, Mrs. Tamariz, a friend of the Welsh’s, presented to the Spanish National Honor Society last month. Mrs. Tamariz informed the students about how and where she traveled, as well as how she used Spanish. Mrs Tamariz was born in Mexico and grew up speaking Spanish and English. Mrs Tamariz started working in the coast guard, but now she works in global health and travels around the world helping developing countries with their health infrastructures/public health outbreaks. Currently she is based working out of Africa.

​There are so many talented, interesting and remarkable students here at LOLHS, that it’s hard to keep track of what everyone is up to. The Parent Advisory Board is looking for your help.  We are sponsoring a new link on the weekly school blog that will allow us to celebrate all of the achievements of our diverse student body.  Has your student won a horse jumping competition or landed a killer role in a community theater production? Maybe they have mastered a new skateboarding trick, run a marathon or have been invited to be an intern somewhere really cool.  We want to know.
If your student has done something exciting, interesting or noteworthy, outside of school, and you would like to share it with the LOLHS community please tap the link located below to share your student’s news. We  ask that you submit a few sentences describing the event and hopefully a photo as well.  We will then share your news in upcoming editions of the blog. The link will be accessible every week over in the right hand margin where you can click anytime to submit your news. 

On Friday, January 29, 2021, the Mock Trial team competed in the Civics First Mock Trial competition. The day consisted of two zoom trials that took place over ten hours! The defense team, led by senior team captains Kate Cheney and Ava Berry, battled Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy. Perfect scores of 10/10 were awarded to sophomore Rhyleigh Russell (witness) and senior Connie Pan (witness).  Over all, the team scored an impressive 129pts out of a possible 140 pts, securing a 20 pt. victory.  Next, the Prosecution team, led by senior Riley Nelson, battled Ridgefield HS.  Perfect scores of 10/10 were awarded to freshman Delaney Nelson (attorney), freshman Luisa Warlitz (witness), sophomore Billy Barry (attorney), senior Paige Kolesnik (witness), and senior team captain Riley Nelson. Overall, the team scored an impressive 131 pts out of a possible 140 pts, securing an 11 pt. victory.  The trials are power-matched based on scores so it’s only going to be harder the next round on February 26th. The top two scoring teams from the State will advance to the play-offs held (virtually) at the Connecticut State Supreme Court.

On Friday, January 29th, Mr. Motes and Mr. Wang, invited Olivia Turtoro, Ellie Wells, and Ana Colangelo to visit the 8th grade classes and talked about Latin and Chinese classes at the High School. They discussed the linguistic background of Latin and Mandarin Chinese and the students demonstrated and taught the incoming freshmen greetings in both languages. All incoming freshmen are required to take one year of a language and it our hope that students will get some background knowledge and be equipped to make some decisions that may impact their course selections for next year. 

Leslie Traver, Business Department Chair and Cyber Security teacher, has just been notified that she was selected as a Cyber Security Teacher of the Year.  Her award came with a letter and certificate saying:
 
"Congratulations! Teach Cyber selected you as a 2020 Cybersecurity Teacher of the Year: Passport to Cybersecurity award winner.
 

The Passport to Cybersecurity award recognizes teachers who have dedicated great time and effort to preparing for, recruiting for, and implementing a cybersecurity course at their school. Teach Cyber reported that they are recognizing Mrs. Traver for her "tenacity and dedication in preparing for a cybersecurity class at their school... This teacher’s efforts have resulted in students’ introduction to the field of cybersecurity."

The Lyme Old-Lyme Educational Foundation (LOLEF) seeks new membership!  The Lyme-Old Lyme Education Foundation in an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that raises and distributes funds to enhance or expand enrichment programs, support innovative teaching and learning, and build educational partnerships between students and community members.  LOLEF frequently partners with the LOL public schools to support innovative ideas,  but they also support other educational opportunities in the community at large as well.  LOLEF has been inactive recently  and seeks new membership to be able to reorganize and revitalize programming, fund raising and partnerships within the community. 
 
There will be an upcoming informational session via ZOOM on LOLEF and its mission.  The date is TBA.  But, if you are interested, please contact Michelle Dean at Deanm@region18.org with your name, email address and phone number.  Michelle will contact you with the date/time of the meeting. 

Please review the information below regarding our School Messenger system and and notification preferences. When notification for  snow days and/or delays are sent out, the messaging system will send to the emergency contact list. Instructions for editing the preferences are written below. 

On Wednesday, January 27, LOLHS will be viewing the film, LIKE, during our extended advisory period.
​Please see the special schedule HERE.
Students began a discussion about how they see the use of cell phones and social media impacting their lives two weeks ago.

​LYSB has made this possible for all students and is also providing a similar opportunity for the community to view the night before! This is a rare opportunity as the film is not available for viewing anywhere.

I really encourage you to take advantage of this as it is a very powerful documentary that reveals many truths. See below flyer for registration information.

​Members of the LOLHS Environmental Club recently spent a few hours after school building bluebird houses as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Old Lyme Open Space commission. The houses will be installed on Open Space properties later this winter to insure they are available for spring nesting activity. If you are interested in being part of the Environmental Club email Mrs. Fried at friedh@region18.org to be added to our Canvas course and receive announcements about upcoming activities.