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Anna Davis, Rebekah Hill and Jess Granner hanging after their cross country race in Lyons. Photo credit: Susie Ellis.
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Volume 5, Issue 4
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Sept 15, 2014
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Newsworthy Notices
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Anna and Paige Langford speak at the advanced-training graduation ceremony for Vesta the guide dog. The sisters helped train the dog including work-out trials among the Liberty crowd.
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Students Teach Guide Dog. That very well-behaved dog you might have seen inside the school just graduated from an advanced guide-dog training program - with honors. Vesta, the dog-graduate was trained by Liberty's own Langford sisters - Anna (8th grade) and Paige (5th). As far as puppy honors: Vesta was chosen to be a breeder, which is considered Summa Cum Laude in the guide-dog program. Anna and Paige put in countless hours training Vesta. According to Anna's and Paige's mom Staci Langford, "The socialization at Liberty greatly helped Vesta prepare for her advanced training at the guide-dog campus. Thank you to all Liberty students that helped in Vesta's training!"
Emergency Test. In the event of a weather-related school closure, or a school-wide emergency, Liberty uses three ways to contact Liberty families. To find out if school is closed for the day, you may consult the local media or check our school's website - CLICK HERE. We will also notify you through an automated system called School Reach via text, email, or a recorded message. Unless you contact the school's front office to opt out of this program, School Reach will call you with a message in the event of a school closure. We will be running a test call to all families using School Reach tomorrow, Tuesday, September 16th at 2:00PM. This is only a test. We ask that you listen to the test message in its entirety. If you do not receive this test call, please contact the front office so we can get you properly connected to this emergency-notification system.
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Six LCHS students were named last week as National Merit Semifinalists (l-r) Kayla Rhoads, Lucas Elder, Teresa Hubbeling, Alex Iverson, Liz Yeh, and Nicholas Hoyer.
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National Merit Semifinalists Named. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation named thirteen high-school seniors from the Poudre School District as National Merit Semifinalists. Half of them are from Liberty. Current LCHS seniors making the top-academic list are, Lucas Elder, Nicholas Hoyer, Teresa Hubbeling, Alex Iverson, Kayla Rhoads, and Liz Yeh. Tarah Vijayasarathy also made the list. She now attends Poudre High School and went to Liberty through 8th grade. Another National Merit Semifinalist of note is Ridgeview's Quincy Van Maren who surely learned everything he knows from his big brother Mr. Tristan Van Maren who teaches English here at Liberty. Approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named nationally. From here, the seniors have a chance to compete for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million. Final awards will be announced next spring. For more information CLICK HERE. Congratulations to the local scholars upon their meritorious accomplishments. F�licitations! Bien jou� pour les examens et bonne chance pour le futur.
Junior-High Jeans Day. In recognition of their fantastic efforts to look nice, adhere to the Dress Code, and even exceed it, Mr. Lovely has announced that all LCHS junior-high students have earned a "jeans-day" today, Monday, Sept 15th. The students were told about this last Wednesday during their Lyceum. Still, a prudent parent or two might have wondered this morning when their 7th or 8th grader put on jeans whether this was really legitimate. It is. Thanks for the vigilance, and for helping our junior-high students look great at school.
Plan Now For Grandparents Day. It's Liberty's fifth year of a now-cherished tradition at both Liberty Common Elementary and Liberty Common High School - Grandparents Day! Mark the date now, and make sure we get on Grandma's calendar - Tuesday, November 25th, right before our Thanksgiving break. At the elementary school (Grades K - 6th), grandparents will enjoy a hot breakfast, entertainment, visiting classrooms, and other activities. Grandparents Day at the elementary school starts at 8:30AM and ends at 11:00AM. At the high school (grades 7th - 12th), grandparents will be treated to entertainment, afternoon refreshments, a tour of the school and activities beginning at 12:30PM and ending 3:00PM.
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Liberty Grandparents Day is coming, Nov. 25th. Mark Grandma's calendar and sign up to volunteer now.
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Volunteers Needed For Grandparents Day. The Grandparents Day Planning Committee needs more parents to volunteer as follows:
- Help set up the evening before the event at 5PM at the elementary school.
- Help set up and assist grandparents the morning of the event at 7AM, and throughout the morning, at the elementary school.
- Help set up and assist at the high school at 11:00AM, and throughout the afternoon.
- Help with event planning. We need more help in planning the best Liberty Grandparents Day ever. To volunteer for any of these tasks, please CLICK HERE to email event chair Erin Mihulka - the earlier the better.
Tutor Needed. A Liberty mom is looking for a bright and endearing high-school student to work with her elementary-school daughter. The child needs some regular tutoring help with homework, studying, and general encouragement from "a big student." The job pays. Tutoring takes place at the family's home a couple or few times per week as needed. Details about all that can be discussed directly with the mom. The LCHS senior who did this last year loved it, but she had to go off to college, and a replacement is needed now. If interested, please contact Mr. Schaffer and he'll pass your contact info along to the parent.
Art Depart Donations Sought. The Art Department is in need of a blender. If you have an old blender you would be willing to donate, it would be much appreciated. We are also in need of scrap drywall. We will be cutting it into squares about 8"x8", so anything that size or larger is usable. Contact Mr. Seiple.
Carpooling. The carpool list is available in the front office.  | |
Join our fun cross-country team in the annual Liberty2Liberty 5K Run/Walk. Photo credit: Susie Ellis.
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Liberty2Liberty 5K Run/Walk. The time has finally come! The 5th Annual Liberty 2 Liberty 5k will be held on September 27, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. (cross country races will be run earlier). CLICK HERE for the registration form, or it can be picked up from Mr. Mayer, (room 253), Dr. Robinson (room 256), or at the front office, and are due to the front office by September 19th for an early-registration discount. The registration fee is $20 if received by 9/19, but $25 after that (including race-day registrations). Please note: If you turn in your forms by the 19th, you will receive your t-shirt on the 27th when you check in. However, if forms are turned in after that, then you will get your t-shirt at a later date. Volunteers are more than welcome. If you or your student wishes to volunteer, contact Olivia Bachelet at oliviabachelet@me.com. Please come out and join us. It should be a great time to meet new and old Liberty families while bringing our Liberty community closer as a whole. TCAPs. If you didn't pick up your student's TCAP results at Back-To-School night, please stop by the front office this week and get them. 
Help us support Liberty Common School. Target will donate 1% of your REDcard purchases made at Target and Target.com. CLICK HERE to learn more about this easy way to contribute to our fantastic school.
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Contact Us
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Liberty Common High School
2745 Minnesota Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970-672-5500
Fax: 970-672-5499
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| Board of Directors | Next Board of Directors Meeting: September 18th, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. at LCS.
You may contact all members of our Board of Directors at
Sarvjit Gill: 227-4202
Joel Goeltl: 593-8556
Paulette Hansen: 282-8455
Jeff Webb: 545-9636
Bill Werst: 631-8379
Denise Benz: 420-4184
John Rohrbaugh: 225-2259
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| How to Reach Us |
Office hours:
7:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Phone: (970) 672-5500
Attendance Line: 672-5500 option 2.
Health Tech: 672-5503
Lunch Questions: 673-5503
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Picture Re-Takes
|  Picture make-up day is Thursday, September 25th during House/Order time (2:15 to 3:15 p.m.). Students who missed registration days will be able to get their picture taken for their student ID and yearbook photo at this time. Order forms will be available in the front office starting Monday, September 15th.
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| Alma Mater:
"Our Liberty"
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All hail to thee,
Our Liberty
Light from the mountaintop
For all men to see.
Freedom by choice,
Boldly one voice.
Virtue and gratitude
In common esprit.
In unity,
Prudence and fortitude
Temperance and justice
Guide our hearts verily.
On eagle wings
Ever on our journey
for patriot dreams.
Faithful and true
Red, white and blue
Humbly, we stand as one,
For our Liberty.
Wisdom will lead us home
To our Liberty.
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Secret Traditions Of Liberty
By: Bob Schaffer, LCHS Principal |   | |
Please click on this image above to watch 9News coverage of Liberty's record-breaking test scores.
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So how did they do it? That has been the recurring question in all of the media interviews we have done in the past few weeks as reporters probe for secrets behind the record-breaking academic success of Liberty's students.
The core of the answer lies in the school's classical tradition of doing what works. We draw from the best examples of history and literature, and our historical horizon goes back all the way to ancient Greece and Rome. There is no secret here.
Since the end of the last school year, the faculty and administration at the high school have been reading Tracy Lee Simmons' Climbing Parnassus. The book's subtitle is "A New Apologia For Greek And Latin."
Every year, Liberty employees read a new book together; and this one elaborates the meaning and goals of a classical education, which comports with our school's longstanding philosophy. In fact, in its introduction, Climbing Parnassus quotes the author of Liberty's K-8 curriculum E.D. Hirsch in support of traditional education.
There, Simmons quotes this passage from Hirsch's Cultural Literacy:
"Illiterate and semiliterate Americans are condemned not only to poverty, but also to the powerlessness of incomprehension. Knowing that they do not understand the issues, and feeling prey to manipulative oversimplifications, they do not trust the system of which they are supposed to be the masters. They do not feel themselves to be attractive participants in our republic, and they often do not turn out to vote."
It is reassuring indeed to see the architect of our school's curriculum so sagaciously represented in Climbing Parnassus as Simmons builds an airtight case for classical liberal education. Both he and Hirsch advocate educating children in ways that embrace the best lessons of Western civilization.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle stand brilliant against today's standards. Our students should know about them. Homer, Ovid, Chaucer, and Milton are authors our students must read. Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and Euclid revealed truth, beauty, and perfection in ways our students ought to appreciate at the youngest age possible.
If you have not yet seen the recent 9News coverage of Liberty's record-breaking ACT scores, you absolutely should (CLICK HERE). Reporter Nelson Garcia succeeded in capturing the instructional mastery of English teacher Mr. Jared Dybzinski as he led students through Liberty's traditional Grammar Launch.
Mr. Dybzinski teaches grammar the way it ought to be taught - the way the best English teachers have taught grammar for centuries: Classically.
Junior Mady Allen told the camera how a classical education empowers her and her Liberty peers. And, in reply to the persistent question about how Liberty consistently excels, we once again revealed the enigmatic answer.
There really is no secret. We do nothing innovative here. We do what is old and what has been demonstrated to work.
Nonetheless, in the broader context of American education, there are few schools around anymore that truly arm youngsters with the knowledge they will need as adults in order to live freely. Liberty does, and that is what makes the school only seem unique and innovative.
Last Wednesday afternoon, the high-school faculty gathered to discuss Climbing Parnassus at the first of five such all-staff meetings. The discussion was led by six of Liberty's founders.
Classical liberal principles from the book were underscored as reminders of why Liberty maintains some of the traditions we do. For example, a classical approach to education informs Liberty's handwriting policy, our video-viewing policy, our grammar instruction, our Latin instruction, why we memorize things, and of course, the Core Knowledge Sequence.
"Liberal education ought to aim not just at furnishing the mind with serviceable knowledge and information, nor even at habituating the mind to rational methods, but at leading it to wisdom, to a quality of knowledge tempered by experience and imbued with understanding," writes Simmons. "Liberal education civilizes. It transforms us. We are better for having run its course."
And that is the not-so-secret secret to the record-breaking success of Liberty Common School students.
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News from the Vice-Principal, Torgun Lovely
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Student Life Corner 
Are you a new student?
If yes, you are required to come to the Ambassadors Club meeting this week only. When: Wednesday 17th, 9th hour Where: The Acropolis. Why: We want to help you with some tips on how to be successful at Liberty. Also, here you will meet new people and make some friends. Donuts will be provided. Junior-High Leadership. The following Junior High students have been elected into Order Leadership for the 2013-2014 school year...Congratulations! 7th Grade
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Lannen
| Paige Moore & Morgan Webb
| McNulty
| Grace Arnett & Alexia Armatas
| Norris
| Sophia Geary & Ashley Gilbertson
| Seiple
| Megan Dillie & Gabrielle Webb
| Werner
| Riley Green & Kyle Dostalek
| Yu
| Kiara Mayes & Isabella Nielsen
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8th Grade|
Dietrick
| Vivian Bear & Madi Neighbors
| Hultin
| Mikey Werst & Alayna Schepman
| Kranz
| Bryce Poirot & Caitlin McKinnon
| Lock
| Taylor Reinke & Gillian Clouser
| Ogg
| Sydney Petersen & Andrea Schuetter
| Scarlett
| Emma McHugh & Cole Goeltl
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Homecoming.
Homecoming is right around the corner, with the festivities beginning on Saturday, September 20th. Here is a list of Homecoming activities:
Saturday, 9/20:
PowderPuff Football and PeachFuzz Volleyball games - 2pm at Everett Field
High-School-Spirit Week 9/22-9/26 (grades 9-12)
Monday= Favorite Sports Team
Tuesday= Marvel vs. DC
Wednesday= Dignitary Dress
Thursday= Disco Day
Friday= Liberty Spirit Day
Students must be clearly dressed according to the theme of the day, or they may not participate. It is not a free-dress day, but rather a school spirit dress day. Clothing must be in good condition, not tattered, threadbare, frayed, or see-through. Tops must have sleeves and must cover the shoulders, midriff, undergarments, and cleavage. Bottoms must be no shorter than three inches above the knee and not excessively tight. Leggings may not be worn as pants. No yoga pants. No clothing depicting violence or glorifying death or violence.
Friday, 9/26: Home Volleyball Game - 4pm vs. Frontier Academy
Saturday, 9/27: Home Cross Country Meet - 8:30am vs. Heritage and Resurrection Christian
Saturday, 9/27: Liberty 2 Liberty 5K - Registration 8:30 a.m., Race at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, 9/27: Home Soccer Game - 10am vs. Frontier Academy
Saturday, 9/27: Homecoming Dance - 8-11pm in the LCHS Great Hall
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The FCA at LCHS is having its next huddle, Tuesday, Sept 23rd at 6:45AM in the music room. Any and all high-school students are welcome, even those who are not athletes. Future huddles will occur every other Tuesday (with a couple exceptions), and will be announced here beforehand. FCA-LCHS is also looking for parent volunteers to sponsor a huddle by providing food and beverages for one of its meetings. If you are interested please email senior Evelyn Wagner ( ewagner@libertycommon.org).
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News from the Academic Dean, Sandy Stoltzfus
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Please review the Academic Dean section of the Monday Notes weekly for information on academic and college planning, the LCHS college visit schedule, dates and deadlines for upcoming academic and college related opportunities and exams, links to the quarterly publication of the LCHS College Planning Bulletin, and much more. Mark Your Calendar:
Event
| Date
| Location
| | PSAT Registration (details below) | 9/8 - 9/26 | College Center | Deadline for seniors to request an invitation to for the Boettcher Foundation Scholarship. Email Mrs. Stoltzfus
| 9/15
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| Freshmen Class Advising Meeting during Biology
| 9/23
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| Senior Meeting, 2:15pm, Great Hall (all seniors will be excused from House Meetings)
| 9/25
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| Class Ring Presentation, 2:45pm, Great Hall
| 9/25
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| Junior Class Advising Meetings during Physics
| 9/26
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| Sophomore Class Advising Meetings duringChemistry/CCP
| 9/30-10/1
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| Jostens Orders Due
| 10/3
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| PSAT (all LCHS Juniors-details below)
| 10/15
| LCHS
| ACT Aspire (all LCHS Sophomores-details below)
| 10/15
| LCHS
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Class of 2015 Graduation Meeting
Thursday, September 25th, 2:15pm, Great Hall
  Jostens will be on campus Thursday, September 25th for a special Senior Class meeting during House time, 2:15-2:45pm in the Great Hall. Each senior will receive an information packet containing a sample of the custom designed graduation announcement for the Class of 2015 as well as cap and gown ordering instructions. Jostens will return on Oct 3rd during lunch to take Cap, Gown and Announcement orders. A $60 deposit is requested at ordering and the balance on the account will be due at delivery in March. Liberty Common Class Ring PresentationThursday, September 25th, 2:45pm, Great HallA class ring is a wonderful symbol of your commitment to graduation and a piece of your legacy at Liberty Common. Information packets will be distributed during the Jostens Class Ring Presentation on Thursday, September 25th during 9th hour in the Great Hall. Orders will be taken on campus during lunch on Friday, October 3rd. A $50 deposit is requested and payment plans are available. All ring orders placed at school on order day will be delivered just before Christmas! Jostens Orders Due Friday, October 3rd, 11:00am (during lunch), Great HallCap, Gown and Announcements:- Jostens will return on Oct 3rd during lunch to take Cap, Gown and Announcement orders. A $60 deposit is requested at ordering and the balance on the account will be due at delivery in March.
Class Rings:- Jostens will return on Oct 3rd during lunch to take class ring orders. A $50 deposit is requested and payment plans are available. All ring orders placed at school on order day will be delivered just before Christmas!
Class Advising Meetings
Click here to for a detailed description of the 2014-2015 LCHS Academic and College Advising Program. 9-11th grade students have one meeting with the academic dean in the fall and one in the winter. Teachers share instructional time with the academic dean to allow for large group academic and college advising sessions. Fall Class Advising Meeting dates are listed under "Mark Your Calendar" at the beginning of this column.
This is a quarterly communication tool intended to ensure that students and parents are well informed of scholarships updates, upcoming college fairs, college planning events and resources, college entrance exam information, financial aid information, summer program resources, and more.
Local and State-Wide College Fair Information (CLICK HERE)
Upcoming College Visits. 9-12th grade students should sign up for college visits through their Naviance accounts. Student usernames and passwords are the same for Powerschool and Naviance. Be sure to watch weekly for updates, many colleges are still planning their 2014 fall visitation schedules. For the most up-to-date list, please check your Naviance account. Parents may email Mrs. Stoltzfus for a Naviance Log-In. New students and freshmen have not yet received access to their Naviance accounts; they may sign up to attend college visits in the College Center.
All college visits are held in the College Center, room 122, unless otherwise indicated.
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College
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Date
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Time
| Location
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Adams State University
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Mon September 15, 2014
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11:00 AM
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| | In-State College Fair | Mon September 22, 2014 | 6:00 PM | Rocky Mountain High School | |
Hillsdale College
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Tue September 23, 2014
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11:00 AM
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| Colorado School of Mines
| Wed September 24, 2014
| 10:30 AM
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| John Brown University
| Wed September 24, 2014
| 11:00 AM
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| The University of Alabama
| Wed September 24, 2014
| 12:30 PM
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| | Christian College Fair of Colorado | Wed September 24, 2014 | 6:30 PM | Resurrection Christian School
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Tulane University
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Thu September 25, 2014
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11:00 AM
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Whitworth University
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Thu September 25, 2014
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11:30 AM
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Swarthmore College
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Fri September 26, 2014
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12:15 PM
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| Discover Duke
| Sun September 26, 2014
| 12:15 PM
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Double Tree Denver Tech Center
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The University of Arizona
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Mon September 29, 2014
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11:00 AM
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Pacific Lutheran University
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Mon September 29, 2014
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2:45 PM
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| | University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, Emory, and Notre Dame | Thu October 2, 2014 | 7:00 PM |
Renaissance Boulder Flatiron, Broomfield
| Tufts University
| Fri October 3, 2014
| 12:00 PM
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| University of Colorado at Boulder
| Thu October 9, 2014
| 8:00 AM
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| Stanford University
| Thu October 9, 2014
| 10:00 AM
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College of the Holy Cross
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Thu October 9, 2014
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11:00 AM
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| | The Evergreen College | Fri October 10, 2014 | 2:45 PM |
| Santa Clara University
| Tue October 14, 2014
| 2:00 PM
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DigiPen Institute of Technology
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Tue October 14, 2014
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2:00 PM
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Room 117
| Davidson College
| Tue October 14, 2014
| 2:45 PM
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| | Out-Of-State College Fair | Tue October 14, 2014 | 6:00 PM | Poudre High School | Seattle Pacific University
| Wed October 15, 2014
| 2:45 PM
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Grinnell College
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Wed October 15, 2014
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2:45 PM
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Room 242
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Purdue University
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Wed October 15, 2014
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2:45 PM
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| Cornell College
| Wed October 22, 2014
| 11:00 AM
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Upcoming Assessments
Oct. 15, 2014 PSAT/NMSQT 7:45-11:00 A.M.
Liberty Common High School (periods 1-4)
All LCHS juniors are required to take the PSAT on October 15th; therefore, juniors do not need to register. This is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and a practice SAT. It is free for all juniors. Juniors should begin their preparation by picking up a copy of The 2014 Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT (or click here).
Sophomores and freshmen may choose to take the PSAT. The cost is $15 and registration will begin September 8th in the College Center. Sophomore or freshmen wanting to gain experience with standardize testing before their junior year should consider taking the PSAT. Sophomores who sign up for the PSAT will still take the ACT Aspire (see below).
Oct. 15, 2014 ACT Aspire 11:30 A.M -2:45 P.M.
Liberty Common High School (periods 5-8)
The ACT Aspire (previously titled Plan) is required for all LCHS sophomores in order to assist them in their preparation for the ACT national undergraduate college admission exam. ACT Aspire results will provide an ACT predicted score and suggestions for growth.
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Notes from the Athletic Director, Dan Knab
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This Week in Jr. High Sports:
Jr. High Soccer
9/15 4pm @ Frontier
9/17 4pm @ Union Colony
9/18 4pm KQA
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Katherine Bowes executes an over-hand serve in the jr.-high game against Denver Christian. Photo credit: David Bowes.
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Jr. High Volleyball
9/17 4pm @ St. Joes
9/20 HCA Tournament
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Liberty fans came out to support the jr.-high-girls volleyball game against Denver Christian. Photo credit: David Bowes.
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This Week In High School Sports:  | |
Junior, Josh Van Vleet is a leader on the soccer team. Photo credit: Susie Ellis.
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Men's Soccer 9/16 4pm @ Estes Park 9/18 4pm @ Faith Christian 9/20 10am Jefferson Academy
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Sydney Otto spikes the ball in the womens' game against Prairie. Photo credit: Susie Ellis.
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Women's Volleyball 9/16 4pm Union Colony 9/19 4pm @ Dayspring
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Senior Will Werst at cross country meet in Lyons. Photo credit: Susie Ellis.
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Cross Country 9/19 @ Ft. Collins HS  Season Passes can be purchased at varsity home games. $65 - Family $44 - Individual Individual Games:
Adults: $5 Seniors/Students: $3 Employees/Board Members +1/Veterans/Children Under 5yo: No Charge Thank you to all of our sponsors! We appreciate your support! GO EAGLES
CLICK HERE to access the our webpage.
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Alumni Update: From Megan Davis (LCHS '13) attending Sheridan College in Wyoming
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  Hey y'all! I'm writing you from Sheridan, WY (brrrrr)! I'm attending Sheridan College (go Generals!) this year, and so far it's been great. Okay...I've only been here for three days, but the food is really good, and I live next door to the library; that's pretty great. My official classes begin pretty soon, but my theology class from John Paul the Great University has already begun, and I love it! My roommate (who also went to Liberty until the 8th grade), and I moved in in record time. We unloaded, unpacked, and organized in under three hours. Trust me when I say that the less you can bring, the better! Sheridan College is a two-year school in Sheridan, Wyoming which is about six hours north of Fort Collins. We have already accidentally ended up on our way to Montana trying to get to the store, so when I say north I mean it! The campus is beautiful and mostly brand new. One of the best things about this school is its size. Sheridan is a small town, and the college is tiny. My average class size is about eleven, and my entire residence hall houses about thirty girls. Coming from Liberty, this was of huge importance and a very influential factor in deciding where I wanted to attend.  | |
Art classes at Liberty helped refine Megan Davis' (LCHS '13) appreciation of fine Sheridan, WY street sculpture. Her dorm-room interior-decorating skills seem to have been acquired someplace else.
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Now, considering the short time I've been here, I don't have too much wisdom to share, but I might just have enough. The first word I can offer you is to explore if you are not familiar with the area. Grab some cash and a friend, and make it a goal to explore the town until you find a neat coffee shop to stop at; however, unless you want to end up looking through dark windows like me, don't begin this endeavor on Labor Day. Nothing like a national Sabbath to crush your dreams of quaint caffeine fixes. The second, set time aside for things that are important to you and to regroup; search out a faith community and join clubs you are passionate about. My new parish has become my biggest comfort; I actively sought it out even before moving in, so I was able to get to know some of the community and the priests beforehand. I am really blessed to have a few hours every morning for Mass and prayer. Third, get involved. Okay, any of you who know me probably can't believe I just suggested social activities, but I have learned. Introduce yourself to people; they feel just as awkward about living in a house with a bunch of strangers as you do. Offer to help people move, ask questions, invite people for lunch, etc.; it's worth it! I hope you are all well at home, and I can't wait to come back and visit! Pax Christi, Meg Davis
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Classical Manners for the Modern Youth
|  From the 1934 high-school textbook
Good Manners used in "Household Science" class of that day:
"Rule No. 108. The Table. For a large tea, the dinning-table is used for the food, or a table may be set at one end of the living-room. In warm weather, the table may be on the porch or on the lawn. Wherever it is set, the table must be an object of decoration as well as service. Use a pretty, white cloth, or colored cloth, or doilies. Candles in a darkened room are attractive in cool weather. In summer, sunshine is preferable to candles. The flowers in the center of the table should suggest the color scheme of the tea. On the table are plates, or in a separate pile. The teaspoons are arranged in an orderly row close to the plates."
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News Worth Repeating
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 Join the Liberty Common Forensics Team. Did you know that "forensics" does not just mean crime-scene investigation? In fact, it is also used to refer to the art and study of speech and debate. If you're interested in learning more about debate, impromptu speaking, or poetry recitation, join us! If you would enjoy writing and presenting your own original oratories, join us! If public speaking makes you nervous and uncomfortable, and you'd like to learn some strategies for overcoming that anxiety, join us! Participation in regional forensics tournaments will be encouraged, but is not required. The Liberty Common Forensics Team is open to 6th - 12th grade students, and practices will be held every Tuesday after school. If you have any questions, please contact Christi Seidman at christiseidman@gmail.com or Natalie Scarlett at nscarlett@liberty.org.
 7th & 8th Grade Trip to Washington D.C. LCHS is opening this trip to students in the 7th grade, as there are sixteen 8th grade students who have expressed interest thus far. All 7th & 8th grade students who would like to go on a Spring Break trip to Washington D.C. led by the Honorable Bob Schaffer should send an e-mail to Mr. Lovely expressing their interest. If there are 30 or more such students, LCHS will proceed with planning the trip. Expressing interest is not a commitment to attend the trip.
 LCHS Chess Club Forming. It's time for LCHS to up its game in the world of chess. We have lots of great players and talent at the school already, and fantastic coaches. This year, Dr. Robinson and working with area chess master Mr. Zach Bekkedahl to put together a chess program and a competitive team that will run the board on any other school's chess team. By the way, authentic chess masters like Zach are kind of rare, so you're probably not likely to get this sort of opportunity again. Zach has worked with Liberty students in the past, and believes LCHS is capable of developing a second-to-none program. Any chess-loving students, or even newbies who want to get started, in grades 7 - 12 are invited and urged to join on Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 in Dr. Robinson's room. CLICK HERE for more details, and a registration form.
 Hot Politics! The "Hot Politics" Club is an ongoing guided discussion about current political events. Hot topics in the news are broken down to analyze how basic philosophical, economic, and Constitutional principles apply to the issues at hand. Participants will be able to ask questions, form opinions, share perspectives, and debate the prevailing political questions of the day. Local and statewide political leaders will be invited to participate from time to time. The Hot Politics Club is led by Mr. Schaffer and takes place in The Curia during 9th period on Thursdays. Seeking Job Shadow Partners. As students consider potential college majors and career options, one of the best ways to explore their career fields of interest are through job shadows. Students often have a general idea of their field of interest, but do not understand the breadth of options within a given field or the daily expectations of a given job. Students are encouraged to network with their own friends and families in pursing job shadow opportunities. In addition, students are invited to make their requests for job shadows to Mrs. Stoltzfus.
As a diverse parent community of professionals, we invite you to consider allowing an LCHS student to shadow you on the job. A typical job shadow is a half-day commitment. Mrs. Stoltzfus will not schedule job shadows, but will provide parents of students requesting a job shadow with the contact information of the willing professional(s). Please keep an eye on this section and contact Mrs. Stoltzfus if you, or someone you know, is interested in being an LCHS job shadow partner.
Current job shadow requests by the class of 2015:
Business Management and Administration: Hospitality Management (Event Planning), Economist, Financial Analyst, Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Sports Management Education: Elementary Education, Music Education Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, and Computer Health Science: Physician, Surgeon, Nurse, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, and Sports Medicine Human Services: Social Worker Public Safety: Firefighter, Law Enforcement Law: Paralegal, Lawyer, Judge Science: Zoology, Physics Transportation: Airline Pilot
28.63 ACT Celebration. LCHS Principal Bob Schaffer is asking for parent volunteers to form up a committee to plan, fund, and execute suitable celebrations, perks, meals, pomp, and merriments throughout the school year to fittingly recognize the LCHS Class of 2015 for its record-breaking ACT composite score. To volunteer, please email Mr. Schaffer.
Observe Traffic Laws Around LCHS. No U-Turns. No jaywalking. Yield to pedestrians. These and other traffic laws are too-frequently ignored lately during pickup and drop-offs. For the safety of our students, please adhere to local traffic laws and to our pickup and drop-off guidance. Please CLICK HERE to view it.
Engineering Donation Request. The LCHS engineering classes and clubs are in need of sewing machines, either new or used in good working condition. If you have any that you or your company would be willing to donate,
Mrs. Lannen (klannen@libertycommon.org) would be thrilled to hear from you!
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The two flat-screen TV school-news monitors displayed at LCHS were donated by parents. We could use six more. The one pictured here is currently wrapped in plastic to keep it clean during the summer construction.
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Flat-Screen TVs Still Needed. With the expanding school building at LCHS, we're in need of six more flat-screen TVs. The two we already have in the school were donated by parents, and are used to scroll school news, student recognitions, and other messages to our students throughout the school day. It's a very efficient way to communicate to students and it really cuts down on classroom disruptions. This project is not our highest priority for annual budgeted funds. However, the screens add a very nice touch to the school and are appreciated by all the students, faculty and staff as a way to provide instantaneous school-wide communication. We can live without them, of course, but we would live much better with them. If you have a screen to donate, or know where we can obtain more at no expense to the school, please help.
9th Hour Clubs/Extra Help. At the end of every day, there is a 30 minute period from 2:45 to 3:15 dedicated for students to receive extra help from teachers and/or to participate in academic extracurricular activities (click here to see the schedule). Students may choose which club or extra help session they would like to attend each day. Some clubs require an extra out of school commitment, but others are offered on a drop-in basis. Students who are not in good academic standing (one or more grades below 70%, or at a teacher's discretion) are required to attend 9th hour extra help sessions, and will need to submit weekly reports of their 9th period attendance to Assistant Principal Lovely. Students leaving early must be off the premises by 2:50 PM. They may not loiter across the street, in cars, or on the school property. Students in good academic standing who choose to leave at 2:45 may not return to LCHS to reenter the school or obtain rides. Students that act inappropriately while departing early will forfeit this privilege. All students must be out of the school building by 3:30pm at the end of the school day unless they are participating in an adult-sponsored activity.
Skiving Defined. Liberty's ninth-hour options are a great opportunity for students to get extra help in their studies. Students falling behind in their grades may be required by their instructors to attend 9th-hour study clubs, or zero-hour (morning) study sessions. Such students who are required to attend, but fail to show up for these sessions will be given a conduct violation. The proper term for skipping these supplemental study sessions is skiving. If you see this new category in a homeward violation notice, it means your student has skipped something he or she was required to attend at school. "Skiving" also applies to failures to show up for lunchtime ransom duty and detentions.
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 What's Happening at LCHS |
Mark Your Calendar:
Sept 18
| BOD Meeting, LCS 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
| Sept 22
| Public Information Night 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. LCHS Great Hall
| Sept 22 - 26
| High School Spirit Week
| Sept 27
| Liberty2Liberty 5K Run/Walk
| Sept 26 - 27
| Homecoming Weekend
| Sept 29 - Oct 8
| October Count
| Oct 16
| BOD Meeting, LCS 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
| Oct 20
| Internet Safety Night 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., LCHS Great Hall
| Oct 21
| Instrumental Concert 6:30 p.m., LCS Gymnasium
| Oct 23
| Choral Concert 6:30 p.m., LCHS Great Hall
| Oct 24
| No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
| Nov 3
| Public Information Night, LCHS Great Hall 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
| Nov 13
| Jazz Concert, LCHS 6:30 p.m.
| Nov 14 & 15
| High School Musical 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., LCS
| Nov 20
| BOD Meeting, LCS 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
| Nov 25
| Grandparents Day
| Nov 26-28
| Thanksgiving Break
| Dec 11
| Holiday Concert, 6:30 p.m. Location TBD
| Dec 17 - 18
| Final Exams
| Dec 22-Jan 2
| Christmas Break
| Jan 15
| BOD Meeting 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. LCS
| Jan 19
| No School - Martin Luther King Day
| Jan 26
| Public Information Night 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. , LCHS Great Hall
| Feb 13 - 16
| No School - Professional Development Day/Presidents Day
| Feb 20
| BOD Meeting 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. LCS
| March 10
| Instrumental Concert 6:30 p.m. LCS
| March 16-20
| Spring Break
| April 3
| No School - Good Friday
| April 6
| Public Information Night 6:30 p.m.
| April 10
| Spring Gala - Fundraiser 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.
| April 16
| BOD Meeting 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. LCS
| April 30
| Onward & Upward Night 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
| May 12
| Awards Concert 6:30 p.m., Location TBD
| May 19 - 21
| Final Exams
| May 21
| BOD Meeting 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. LCS
| May 22
| Last day of school, 1/2 Day
| May 22
| Graduation, Location & Time TBD
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CLICK HERE for the 2014-15 school calendar. CLICK HERE for the 2014-15 lunch menus. |
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