Dear LMS Families, 

As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, every student plays a powerful role in shaping Leonia Middle School’s culture and reputation. Words and actions matter—they directly impact how safe, respected, and connected each of us feels in our community.

At LMS, we are committed to building a school where kindness, inclusivity, and respect guide how students interact with each other and with staff. These expectations will be emphasized throughout the year, and we ask for your partnership in reinforcing them at home.

Here’s how you can help right away:

• Talk with your child about kindness. Remind them there is never a reason to make fun of others—whether for height, weight, appearance, skin tone, race, identity, religion, sexual orientation, or personal interests.
  
  

• Encourage inclusion. Urge them to welcome others into conversations, groups, and activities.
  
  

• Remind them that teasing is harmful. School should be a place where everyone feels safe and supported.
  
  

• Share this quote in your conversation: “Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” —Ian Maclaren. It’s a powerful reminder that empathy goes a long way.
  

If a student’s behavior falls short of our expectations, we will partner with families to address concerns and apply our Code of Conduct, as outlined in the LMS Student Handbook, so that students understand the real impact of their choices.

📖 To support you in this, a visual of our Code of Conduct (presentation) from the official Student Handbook has been provided so you can familiarize yourself with our approach to student conduct—what we consider violations of our Code of Conduct and how we investigate matters related to student behavior.

🎧 For those who prefer a more auditory experience, we’ve also turned the Code of Conduct presentation into a podcast. Reviewing the presentation and listening to the podcast will give you meaningful insight into how we “do school” at LMS.

Tomorrow, you will receive a letter regarding Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB). These investigations are essential to protecting the well-being of every student and ensuring our school remains a safe place to learn.

Together, let’s make 2025–2026 a year where every student is recognized not just for what they achieve, but for how they treat others.

*This is a podcast, so it is audio-only.

With Lion Pride,
 Ms. Aprel King
 Vice Principal
 Leonia Middle School