Guidance

General Information

Receiving high school credit in middle school

We offer math and foreign language classes for high school credit. The student must receive at least an 80% for each semester in order to receive a high school credit in the class. High school classes are graded numerically each nine weeks and the two nine weeks grades are averaged together as a semester grade.

Immunizations

Florida law requires all 7th grade students to show proof of the following immunizations before they may attend 7th grade classes: MMR (two shots), Tdap (one shot), Hepatitis B (three shots), Varicella (one shot) or signed proof of disease. Proof of listed immunizations must be provided to the school on a blue immunization card, provided by a physician or the health department.

Grade point average calculation

Assign quality points for each class letter grade listed below. Add all the quality points together for the 8 classes (or the number of classes listed) then divide that number by the number of classes. That will be the student’s GPA.
Middle School Quality Points:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0
F = 0

Enrollment procedures

All non-Lincoln students must apply during open enrollment dates to be eligible for attendance at LCMA. The open enrollment period is in January of each school year.

If your child has been notified of his/her acceptance by the Polk County School District magnet school office, you and your student must attend a two-hour orientation prior to enrollment. Please call the school office at 499-2742 to schedule a time to attend.

Please bring the following documentation to orientation:

  1. 1. Letter of acceptance
  2. 2. Child’s social security card
  3. 3. A copy of the most recent standardized tests (ie.: FCAT)
  4. 4. Most recent report card
  5. 5. Proofs of residence:

Apartment or home lease agreement, mortgage document, or property tax report and
Current utility bill or voters registration

Student Information

Interest Inventory

Everyone has a starting point in choosing a career. You will probably change careers several times during your lifetime. Eighth graders at LCMA are administered an interest inventory test through Choices, an educational planning tool to begin this search for a career. Choices is designed to help students explore a broad range of options for the future. This process will begin in December with the administration of the test. We will conclude this process for 8th grade by planning and discussing your child’s four-year plan for high school in February. Through FACTS.org, students’ strengths and weaknesses can be identified early, when they still have the opportunity to complete a high school course of study that will help them achieve their career and educational goals.
There are many free planning tools and career connections available on the Internet for you and your students’ use.

Career Connections

Look ahead and what do you see? Will you go to college? To a vocational or technical program? These decisions will shape your future. There is no magic formula for choosing the right career. But there is something you can do to maximize your success: know yourself and the work of the world. Interest inventories and career exploration is designed to:

(1) Teach you more about yourself...
Your values(what is important to you)
Your skills and interests(what you are good at doing)
Your interests(things you like to do)
Your personality(what makes you who you are)

(2) Learn more about the world of work...
Your career options
Types of jobs available
Educational and training requirements
Employment outlook

(3) Gain the knowledge to make informed choices about your future...

Acceptance in the college of your choice
A financially sound career
A satisfying quality of life

Take the time now and throughout your life to store information on what you like, the things you do well, and the experiences you will be exposed to ensure a satisfying life plan.

Parent Information

Study Skills
Each student will be required to use his/her agenda on a daily basis. Excellent organizational skills is a vital skill to be learned in order to be successful in life. There are many helpful aids in the student agenda that include The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, a dailycalendar, log sheet, bullying section and our student handbook.

The Learning Resource Center, a United Way agency, offers individual tutoring and study skills classes to middle school students. For further information or classes scheduled please call 688-9477.

Community resources
Drug Prevention Resources Center 665-8582
Family Counseling 297-1702
Peace River Counseling Center 534-7020
Behavioral Health Services 294-7057
Camp Fire Girls and Boys 688-5491
Central Florida Speech & Hearing 686-3189
New Beginnings- Polk Community College 297-1029
Florida Child Care (Health Insurance) 1-888-352-5437
Learning Resource Center 688-9477
Polk County Health Department 688-5583
Big Brothers/Big Sisters 686-1719
Florida Pre-Paid College 1-800-552-4723 ext 1 (hyperlink to website)

Parent Library
Lawton Chiles Middle has collected a number of great informational books for parents to check out. These books and videos are located in the media center for your review and check out. Some of the titles are How to Deal With Your Teen, Don’t Stop Loving Me, Homework Without Tears, and our all time favorite Get Out Of My Life, But First Could You Take Me to The Mall. Come on by and check them out.