1/7/2024
Dear LPES Families,
Happy New Year! The third quarter is in full swing as students and staff returned to the building last Wednesday. During the quarter, teachers will begin contacting families to schedule an in-person, virtual, or phone conference about your child's academic and social/behavioral progress. We ask our teachers to facilitate at least two conferences per year -- typically toward the end of the 1st- and 3rd quarters. During the quarter, teachers and instructional staff begin discussing students' progression to attain and retain grade-level content. If concerned about advancing to the next grade level, teachers will schedule a conference with families of non-proficient students to review intervention plans, IEP progress reports (if applicable), and academic performance.
Tracks 1, 2, and 3 2nd-quarter report cards were sent home on Friday, January 5. Please look for it in your child's red communication folder, and sign and return the envelope. Track 4's report cards will go home on Friday, February 2.
Read below for upcoming events beginning with our Spirit Night on Wednesday, January 10 at Papa Murphy's Cary and Apex locations. Thank you for your continued support of Laurel Park!
Respectfully,
Charelle Lovett, Principal
Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)
- January 5: Quarter 2 Report Cards (Tracks 1, 2, & 3)
- January 10: PTA Spirit "Night" @ Papa Murphy's, Cary & Apex, 11 AM - 8 PM
- January 15: Martin Luther King Holiday, School Closed
- January 24: Happy track out, Track 3!
- January 24: Staff Snack Cart
- January 25: Welcome back, Track 4!
- February 2: Quarter 2 Report Cards (Track 4)
- February 7: PTA General Meeting @ 6:30 PM, LPES Media Center
Afternoon Walkers Safety Concern
We are noticing more and more adults meeting our walkers are standing further and further from Penguin Point (near the spirit rock). It has become increasingly difficult for the adult on duty to ensure our K-3 students have connected with an adult before they leave campus. If meeting a walker, please move closer to the Penguin Point area instead of remaining in the treeline or on the Laura Duncan sidewalk. At this time, only our approved 4th and 5th grade students may walk home alone. Thank you for your help with implementing consistent safety measures.
LPES Winter Spirit Week
Show off your school spirit by participating in our upcoming Spirit Week. Students and staff will have an opportunity to wear neon, their favorite sweater/sweatshirt, track colors, plaid, school colors, and blue and white. We love seeing students and staff participate!
Donate to Our Staff Snack Cart
PTA does a fantastic job recognizing our wonderful LPES staff in small ways. Every month, with your help and generosity, volunteers roll a snack cart to all areas of the building to bring some cheer to staff members. The snack cart took a break in December, but it is back this month. If you are able and willing, please donate to the snack cart. An Amazon Wishlist was added to make donating even easier!
PTA Fall Beautification -- Conference Room Update
Thank you, PTA, for helping to update our conference room over the winter break. The room is our main small group meeting space and is used daily by different staff members for multiple purposes. This update has gotten the staff excited to meet! :) Huge thanks to Julie Nield and Kelly McGowan who agreed to the beautification, parent Sarah Hunter for update ideas, Earl Raupach (Sarah's dad) for the wainscoting, staff member Veronica Wilson for reupholstering the chairs, and many more who helped paint and wallpaper. Spring campus beautification is on Saturday, May 4.
STEAM Night is Coming!
Middle School Updates
Visit our Middle School Updates site for information on middle schools in the area. Ashley Truskowski (atruskowski@wcpss.net) will continuously update as she receives information for the upcoming year. Please contact her if you have any questions.
Laurel Park Character Strengths
Each month, a selected character strength is highlighted in the morning announcements and discussed during your child's Classroom Huddle/morning meeting.
During January, we will focus on Conscientiousness -- You wish to do what is right, and you do your work well and thoroughly.
Friendly Reminders
- LPES Family Handbook
- Please remind your child to check the lost and found area in the cafeteria. We will donate lost and found items quarterly. The next donation is on April 1, 2024.
- Each child needs a labeled set of extra clothes to keep in their backpack or cubby. This is not just for bathroom accidents! The Front Office does not have extra clothes to give to students.
- Interested in volunteering at LPES? Register at www.wcpss.net/volunteer
- Students who arrive at school after 9:15 AM must be signed in by the parent/guardian via the QR code on the front door.