Lenox Public Schools

Lenox Public Schools received a technology grant in 2023-2024. The Rural Tech Fund just wrote an article celebrating Kate Olender's great work in implementing those funds: Tech Teaching Takes Off in Lenox, MA Kate Olender, a tech teacher from Lenox, MA, is bringing the world of coding to her students in Pre-K through 5th grade! With a passion for teaching computational thinking to young minds, she received a grant to bring KIBO robots into her classroom. These interactive robots help her students learn to build and program in a fun, hands-on way. After seeing her students thrive, Kate decided to share her expertise with other educators in her county, leading a professional development workshop on Micro:bits. You can find this article in its entirety at this link: https://ruraltechfund.org/tech-teaching-takes-off-in-lenox-ma/ Way to go Ms. Olender!

LMMHS has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report rankings as a Best High Schools awardee. Our high school was rated in the top 9% in the state and in the top 5% in the nation. Congratulations to the students and staff!

Today, U.S. News & World Report announced the 2025 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools rankings. Morris earned a Best Elementary Schools badge because they placed among the top 10% in Massachusetts and the LMMHS earned a Best Middle Schools badge because they placed among the top 7% in Massachusetts. Congratulations students, staffs, and families!

GreatSchools has announced the winners of their 2024 College Success Award, which recognizes and celebrates public high schools that excel at preparing students to enroll and succeed in college. LMMHS was one of only 1,436 public high schools nationwide to win this year's Award! Congratulations to the students and the staff!

This morning, Morris students, staff, and families participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. They walked from Lilac Park to school. Thank you to everyone who participated!

LPS wishes you a happy World Kindness Day!

Please know that there will also be collection boxes for students to make Giving Tuesday Food Drive donations at Morris and LMMHS.

Lenox Town Library Director, Katie O'Neil is our latest featured alumna. You can see Director O'Neil and all of our other featured alumni in our Alumni Corner on our Lenox Public Schools Website: https://www.lenoxps.org/page/alumni-corner You may nominated a Lenox graduate to be featured at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer54tJYBxZILuTkwB0Pc0Eks6qWZQ9fDDDIbG8W_-xy6SEKA/viewform

Morris students honoring veterans at the annual Veterans' Wave Parade.

This Veterans Day Weekend, Lenox Public Schools wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to veterans everywhere and particularly to those veterans in our community. Whether you served long ago, more recently, or are still serving, we honor your bravery, your commitment, and your dedication to our freedoms. On behalf of the entire school community, we recognize the sacrifices you have made (are making) for us. Your service has a lasting impact on our community and our country as a whole. Thank you! The winner of the best design for the 2024 Veterans Day Poster Contest was retired, disabled Army Veteran Myisha Godette from Queens, New York. The poster below was selected by the Veterans Day National Committee from over 150 entries submitted by artists ranging from school children to professional graphic designers. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1954, called for the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee to oversee national planning and coordination of the Veterans Day observance.

School Committee Vice Chair Fenton, Superintendent Collins, Principal Ames, & Phil Fogelman, the founder of Changemakers for Good™ presented this morning to a standing room only crowd of school committee members and school superintendents at the Annual Joint Conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees & Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. Their presentation was on the lessons being learned on the journey toward building a shared culture of belonging.

Lenox will be holding a Special Education Advisory Council meeting tonight, November 7, at 5:30 pm at Morris Elementary School. We will meet in the Morris Conference Room. All members of the Lenox School Community are invited to join our district Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). The mission of this organization is to work for the understanding of, respect, and support of children of all abilities in our community. The Lenox SEPAC holds informational events throughout the year in which we host experts invited to discuss, educate, and support us all on a broad cross-section of topics that speak to identified family needs and challenges. Even if you don’t wish to join as formal a member, your input and participation is key to successful programming for the year. If we understand what the community needs we will be able to best support all of our children and assist our district families as we grow together. Hope to see you there! Brian

Berkshire Health Systems has asked that information about this upcoming Blood Drive be shared with the Lenox School Community.

Congratulations to Morris Teachers - Amanda Hanlin-Hochler & Lindsay Osterhoudt - for being selected to present on utilizing data to improve student outcomes at the Massachusetts Reading Association's 54th Annual Conference: Literacy & Language: Words Empower, Inspire, and Transform! Their presentation is entitled: Data Teams in Action- From Testing to Teaching The School Community is proud of the great Data Team work that happens every day at Morris Elementary and we are thrilled that this successful approach will be shared with educators from across Massachusetts. Amanda and Lindsay epitomize the dedication of all Morris staff.

Veterans, and those currently serving in the military, are invited to attend the Veterans' Wave Parade hosted by the Morris Elementary School on Friday, November 8th.

There will be an Odyssey of the Mind informational session for Morris 5th graders on November 7th at 10:15 am

The Town Library has asked that we share this information about the upcoming pre-screening of the film BANNED TOGETHER: THE FIGHT AGAINST CENSORSHIP When: Saturday, November 9th @ 2:00 p.m. Where: Lenox Town Hall Auditorium, 6 Walker Street Cost: Free and open to the public There will be a Q&A following the screening with the Director, Kate Way

Congratulations to our Girls' Soccer Team on their win over McCann Tech 2-0 in the Western Mass Quarter Finals. Our Girls' Soccer Team now travels to the semi finals on Wednesday in Monson at 4 PM. Congratulations to our Girls' Cross Country Team for finishing 1st at the PVIAC / Western Mass Championships. A shout out to our Girl's Volleyball Team who played a spirited game on Saturday against the Mt. Greylock Mounties. The lead went back and forth across all 5 sets with the Western Mass Championship not determined until the last set, with a final score of 14-16 going to Mt. Greylock for the win. Volleyball Tournament Brackets will be released tomorrow (Tuesday).

Lenox Public Schools is celebrating Shannon O'Brien as our latest LPS featured alumna. You can find Shannon and all of our other featured alumni in "Alumni Corner" on our LPS Website under the "Family & Community" heading. Please nominate yourself, or any other LPS alumni, at the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer54tJYBxZILuTkwB0Pc0Eks6qWZQ9fDDDIbG8W_-xy6SEKA/viewform

It's School Bus Safety Week!