The Raven Report
Loch Raven Technical Academy
“Learn, Respect, Teach, Achieve”
8101 LaSalle Road Towson, MD 21286
Mrs. Stacey R. Johnson, Principal
Phone: (410)887-3518 Fax: (410) 821-6398
Ms. Wanda Frazier, Asst. Principal—Grade 6
School Webpage - http://lochraventech.bcps.org
Mr. Bryan O’Connor, Asst. Principal—Grade 7
Ms. Dareise Jones, Asst. Principal—Grade 8
Dates to Remember
December 4 & 5 - Interims
Distributed
December 5 & 6 - WST Production,
7-9pm
December 10 - Parent Conference
Night, 4-6 pm/PTSA Mtg, 6pm
December 12 - Professional Dev,
Schools Close 3hrs early
December 15-18 - Winter Art Shows
and Concerts, 7pm
December 24-Jan 2—Winter Break,
Schools Closed
January 5 - Schools Reopen
January 14 - PTSA Mtg, 6pm
January 19 - MLK Jr. Holiday,
Schools Closed
January 23 - 2nd Marking Period
Ends, Schools Close 3hrs early
January 26 - Professional Dev,
Schools Closed
Contact Information
Main Office: (410) 887-3518

Mrs. Polk, Office Sec.

Mrs. Rider, Bookkeeper

Mrs. Fishpaugh, Principal’s
Secretary
Guidance:
(410) 887-5655

Mrs. Moyer, Secretary

Mrs. DeShields, Counselor

Ms. Frankle, Counselor
Health Suite: (410) 296-3270

Ms. French, School Nurse
Cafeteria:
(410) 887-3524

Mrs. Hammond, Manager

PTSA: Angelique Griffin, President
From the Principal’s Desk
Student Success Is Our Priority
We just completed the first quarter of the school year and we are quickly approaching the middle of the second quarter. During this time of year, it sometimes is difficult for our students to focus. The holidays are upon us and it is
an exciting time for them.
Our first goal is to ensure that we are doing all that we can in the classroom to
engage our students. Our teachers work hard to make sure that we capture the
students’ attention and motivate them so that they are interested in the material being taught. This has been our goal for quite a while here at LRTA and I
believe that we are getting better and better at it.
We also are going to remind our students of our school routines. Please take a
moment and review the student agenda book with your child so that they are
mindful of the rules and routines of the school. I will be facilitating a session
for our students one morning via our morning announcements in order to remind our students about our procedures.
The most important goal is to ensure that we keep the lines of communication
open between home and school. This way we can be sure that the expectations
are clear. We also want to ensure that all of our parents and guardians feel comfortable calling the school if there is ever a concern. Please feel free to reach out
to us by phone or email, we will respond. We have been using Connect Ed quite
a bit this year sending out phone calls and emails about various events, programs and reminders. We are also on twitter now, @LochRavenAcad, follow us
so that you can see the many positive things going on here at LRTA.
I recently sent home letters to the parents/guardians of any students who I am
concerned about in reference to their academic progress. If you received one of
those letters please give Ms. Krafft, my secretary a call to schedule a meeting. I
want to ensure that we have supports in place for any students who are struggling academically. If you didn’t receive one of those letters and you are concerned about your child’s academic progress, please feel free to call your child’s
team leader or assistant principal; they will be able to set up a conference for
you.
We expect, as you do, that all of our students do their best and to work to their
fullest potential. We are here to help and support them in any way that we can.
Since our next newsletter will come out after the holidays have ended I want to
wish you and your family a wonderful and joyous holiday season. Please enjoy
your time with your family and friends.
Lost & Found
Due to the overwhelming amount of lost and found items that accumulate in the office and the lack of space to store
these items, items will only be held until the end of each month. A Connect-Ed message will be sent home at the
end of each month to remind parents to have their students check the office for any lost items before the end of the
month. After this time, all items remaining will be donated.
December 2014/January 2015
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
10/2
10/3
A
B
12/1
12/2
12/3
12/4
12/5
C
D
A
B
C
12/8
12/9
12/10
12/11
12/12
D
A
B
C
D
12/15
12/16
12/17
12/18
12/19
A
B
C
D
A
12/22
12/23
12/24
12/25
12/26
B
C
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
12/29
12/30
12/31
1/1
1/2
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
Schools Closed
1/5
1/6
1/7
1/8
1/9
D
A
B
C
D
1/12
1/13
1/14
1/15
1/16
A
B
C
D
A
1/19
1/20
1/21
1/22
1/23
Schools Closed
B
C
D
A
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
Schools Closed
B
C
D
A
Safety Reminders

Please remember that you may not drop students off before 7:45am. There is no adult supervision outside and students
aren’t allowed to enter the building until 8:00am.

Parents and Guardians are encouraged to come and visit their child’s classes at anytime. Please note that to ensure the
safety of all of our students all parents and guardians will be escorted to and from your child’s classroom by a LRTA
faculty or staff member.

When visiting LRTA, please remember that you must have state issued photo identification in order to obtain a visitor’s
pass. As with all other BCPS schools and offices, we utilize the Raptor system and must scan your I.D. or at least see it
in order for you to be permitted to pick your child up or to obtain a visitor’s pass.

Please report directly to the main office when visiting Loch Raven.

Parents and Guardians may not interact with other students while visiting LRTA.
“PBIS at LRTA”
Loch Raven Academy’s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports) Program has
sponsored a wide variety of activities for those students earning their Raven Reward Points.
A chance to get outdoors and play kickball with friends, Wear-a-Hat Day, and Select-YourOwn-Seat Day are just a few of the many exciting rewards that students have earned this
month. Ask your student to see their Raven Rewards Sheet? Are their points adding up?
Students have also been busy meeting on a monthly basis with a member of the LRTA Staff
in their Mentoring New Leaders Groups. October found students exploring the facts and
myths about bullying, while November found students breaking down R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
This year we are excited to have both parents and students joining our PBIS Committee.
Students have submitted applications to have their voices heard regarding positive incentives for all. Stay tuned to hear which of LRTA’s students are selected!
Math Help
There are two math clubs at LRTA that can help improve math skills and that can give students who love math and math challenges an outlet for that passion. The is a “24” club which
also culminates in a county-wide tournament. “24” incorporates logical reasoning, computational skills, and competitive spirit. We are also trying to start a “Math Counts” club which is
more diverse in the content but it is a great way to work with others in the math content
area. If you are interested in joining one of the math clubs, please email Ms. Larkin
Performing Arts Magnet News
On December 5, 2014 all of the Performing Arts Magnet will be attending the Towson University
Dance Company’s special school matinee Legends. Full of gusto and charm, Legends highlights
America's golden jazz era. Choreographers Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Vincent E. Thomas, and
Runqiao Du create a series of soulful vignettes to a collection of music by Nina Simon, Etta James,
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and other 20th Century icons.
Jazz Band
The LRA Jazz Band has begun after school rehearsals on Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 4:10
PM. If you are interested in joining the Jazz Band, please contact Mr. St. Pierre in room 105.
Inspirational Choir
The LRA Inspirational Choir has begun after school rehearsals on Tuesday afternoon from 3:00 to
4:10 PM. If you are interested in joining Inspirational Choir, please contact Ms. Epps in room 102.
Winter Concerts
Please come out and support our extremely talented students!!!
Monday, December 15, 2014 7:00 PM/LRA Gym
6th, 7th & 8th Grade Performing Arts Magnet
Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 7:00 PM/LRA Gym
6th, 7th & 8th Grade Strings
Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 7:00 PM/LRA Gym
6th , 7th and 8th Grade Chorus, Inspirational Choir
Thursday, December 18th, 2014 7:00 PM/LRA Gym
6th, 7th and 8th Grade Band, Jazz Band
LRA and Wishing Star Theater
present
LRA and Wishing Star Theater will be presenting LRA/Wishing Star Dinner Theater production of “The Fairy Tale Network.” Dinner and a show is the way to go!!!
The production of “The Fairy Tale Network” will be performed:
Friday, December 5th
6:00 PM Dinner, LRA Cafeteria
7:00 PM Show
Saturday, December 6th
6:00 PM Dinner, LRA Cafeteria
7:00 PM Show
$10 Tickets include dinner and show!
*******Tickets may be purchased at the door on the night of the
performance or the ticket form that is attached.
MENU: veggie/meat lasagna, salad, roll, assorted drinks and dessert
If you are interested in helping out, please contact Ms. Prizzi at 410-887-3518 or
[email protected]. Thanks you for your support of the arts at LRA!!
LRA & Wishing Star Theater
DINNER THEATER
Tickets may now be ordered.
Ticket Price - $10.00 per ticket for both Dinner and the Performance
Participant’s Name:
Telephone Number:
Student’s Homeroom:
Parent’s Name:
Number of Tickets Ordered @ $10.00 each
Performance
Payment Included
(# ordered x $10.00)
Friday, December 5, 2014, at
6:00 PM
Saturday, December 6, 2014,
at 6:00 PM
Total Tickets
Ordered/ Payment
Dinner seating starts at 5:45 PM
Dinner will be served starting at 6:00 PM
The Performance starts after dinner.
- PLEASE NOTE ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE MADE IN CASH OR BY MONEY ORDER.
NO PERSONAL CHECKS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
Ticket order forms and payment can be returned starting Monday, November 17, 2014. Return the order
form and the payment in an envelope to Ms. Prizzi in room 104.
All seating is RESERVED seating.
Seating is on a first come/first serve basis.
Tickets will be distributed after December 2, 2014.
Limited Seating is available for those patrons with special needs.
Please note any special seating needs on this order form.
Visual Art Magnet and GT art students will attend the Philadelphia Museum of Art on
November 21st, to view various works of art centered on clothing, costume
and culture in order to prepare for their spring fashion show and gain inspiration for their future art making endeavors.
During the month of October, Patapsco High school seniors visited Loch Raven Tech Academy to demonstrate their mastery learning by teaching a lesson to our 7th and 8th grade magnet students. They introduced a lesson on
color using paint sticks to create paintings of balloon animals that they
made and brought with them to LRTA.
Please join us for a fun event featuring the works of LRTA art students from grades 6 thru 8 th.
Please plan to attend this creative event and to give a “shout out” to our talented students.
Save the Date:
Wednesday, December 17th from 5:30 until 7:30 pm.
Mrs.Chenowith’s Art Studio
8th Grade Visual Arts students have been exploring ways to capture a likeness in a self-portrait.
They are analyzing and exploring ways that facial features can by drawn by focusing on observation
skills and the art elements. Students rated their drawing ability at the beginning of the year and are
now selecting the “best fit” activities that will advance them to the next level. They select activities
that meet their learning style and appropriate level of challenge- drawing from a mirror, with a video,
from step-by-step illustrations or by trying a more challenging media like brush and ink. To further
their personalized learning and to allow for more choice, they will develop their own creative prompt or
theme to develop into a unique self-portrait that is personally meaningful. Students are using multimedia tools to collaborate on research, share resources and provide peer feedback.
Visual Art Magnet grade 6
Students just completed their first painting which featured a favorite object, drawn from multiple perspectives. They explored ways to create implied movement and depth in their composition by using a
variety of aerial perspective techniques. There works will be featured in the Winter Art exhibit. Students are currently working on creating a poster design for the 2014-15 Magnet Schools of America
poster contest. Students worked in teams to research the MSA pillars in order to develop possible
themes for their poster. Using the internet, they collected visual references to help them develop ideas
and to gain inspiration. Next they will plan their text & image layout using Adobe Photoshop. We
hope to reclaim a winning entry this year.
Visual Art Magnet grade 7
Magnet artists have been exploring portraiture by using a wide assortment of techniques and materials:
cross contour and contour line, exaggerated color, wire, marker, paint, printmaking, collage and assemblage. The variety of approaches has been very challenging and has made students more reflective regarding their possibilities for art making as well as personal preferences. Students have been looking to
various untraditional artists such as Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Giuseppe Acrimboldo and several
contemporary artists. Next they will explore various drawing materials such as charcoal, and ink for a
more detailed portrait image.
Ms. Selzer’s Art Classes
8th Grade Visual Art Magnet students have been studying the importance of body language and symbolism to express an idea through their self-portraits. This year, students will be focusing on manipulating more challenging media while successfully representing themselves. They will also
be studying human proportions (of not only facial features, but also, the upper limbs and torso in
order to realistically convey the mood through body language). We have studied a wide range
of artist exemplars including Rogier Van Der Weyden, Alice Neel, and Egon Schile, to name a
few.
7th Grade Art students are also studying self-portraiture. This year, they are being challenged to create a
self-portrait that shows an emotion through facial expression in addition to successfully representing themselves with accurate
proportions and values. We have studied the contemporary portraits of
Wiley Jenny Saville, Gustave Courbet and many more. Students will
artists like Kehinde
complete rigorous
exercises including contour line drawings, value studies, anatomy lesrules of proportion. By the end of this unit, students will have a thorsons, and studying
ough understanding
of how to accurately portray themselves visually.
Mrs. Mk’s 6th Art Classes
Students have been investigating the forms found in facial features. They have drawn from observation
and visual aids in order to describe the various details in eyes, ears, noses and mouths. Videos have been
studied to explore how other artists handle the same material with different approaches. Students have explored how guidelines and placement is important to the development of accuracy in drawing portraits. The
goals of these studies are to gain skills and confidence drawing parts of the face and head. Students will be
applying these practices in order to produce realistic self-portraits using their observational skills and a mirror. The students will also create an innovative doorway to the realistic image, along with a narrative which
guides the viewer through an introspective story of the artist.
FALS Group
Students completed large collages of the Orioles mascot. The students worked diligently to maintain using
cut-out magazine pieces to complete the specific edges for the contour shapes within the design. They also
applied textured rubbings of fall leaf
shapes to trim the large display.
The group also completed a mini version of a Mariam Shapiro inspired dancing character using watercolor
paper coated with tissue overlay to create clothed figures. They have mobile –type physical movement so
that they can be viewed from multiple side.
The latest assignment is taking the group through a multi-faceted 3 dimensional cube which demonstrate a
personalized selection of colors, shapes, lines varying from side to side. The students experimented with
sponging textures on another side. The additional components used over these layers will give specific
choices of their favorite foods, toys and sports. The inside holds a special surprise, because it is lined with
handmade marbled papers done by our group. We are very excited to share the work of our group within our
gallery space.
From The Kindness Campaign at LRTA
"Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and
the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people." - Dennis Prager
If you have a concern about how your child is being treated at LRTA, please reach out. We
can't help if we don't know. The Kindness Campaign is about providing information, support
and outlets for our students so that we can ensure that LRTA is a kind and supportive learning environment for all.
SCIENCE NEWS
6TH GRADE
The sixth grade science students are beginning their “Energy, Electricity, and Magnetism” unit. They
are currently investigating the difference between potential and kinetic energy, and exploring the
various forms of energy. They are also making circuits in class to show the flow of electrical energy,
known as electricity. How can they incorporate light bulbs into their circuit and have it still work
when one light bulb is removed? Students will find out!
7TH GRADE
The seventh grade science students have finished studying cells and tissues and will be dissecting a
chicken wing to examine how the different tissues work together to allow the chicken’s wing to move.
They are finishing their zoo projects and will be beginning the “Change Over Time” unit to determine
if a WOLF should be allowed to enter a dog show. This is not as easy of a question as it may seem.
8TH GRADE
The eighth grade science students are now starting to explore the magical world of Chemistry! They
will not only become familiar with the elements on the Periodic Table and see how the Periodic Table
of Elements is organized, but they will also be preparing themselves to answer questions such as
“What makes up all matter?” and “How can different mixtures be separated?” As they progress
through the unit, they will engage in various laboratory investigations and demonstrate lab safety as
they explore chemical properties and chemical reactions.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE MAGNET
The 6th grade conservation science magnet students are taking a break from beautifying and maintaining the courtyard, now that the temperatures have gone down and winter is quickly approaching.
They are currently investigating and learning everything there is to know about the beach, such as the
composition of the water, surface currents and waves, tides, El Nino/La Nina, what causes the sea
breeze, and even tsunamis!
The 7th grade conservation science magnet students are taking their expert weather forecasting and
reporting to the morning announcements! Our new weather reporters are responsible for reporting the
weather each morning to the school, live from our own TV studio. Wish them luck!
The 8th grade conservation science magnet students are continuing to manage the school-wide paper
recycling program. They are busy going around the school and emptying the paper recycling bins
each week for recycling. After they collect the paper, they weigh it and put it into the proper recycling dumpster to be picked up. So far, they have collected over 2,000 pounds of paper from our classrooms for recycling! In the classroom, they will be classifying living things and are preparing to dissect and compare various aquatic organisms.