Dear LPES Families,
Tracks 1, 2, and 3 are rocking and rolling through Quarter 3 -- even with a couple of inclement weather delays. We are happy to have our Track 4 students join us on Thursday, January 25.
At the beginning of January, our Student Ambassadors began assisting staff members with tours for prospective families. We have had four tours so far (another two this Tuesday), and I have been blown away by our students' leadership, charisma, and knowledge of LPES. Thank you to Ms. Miller and Ms. Charns for pouring into this group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders!
School Spirit Week begins tomorrow! 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 in our Spirit Weeks!
Respectfully,
Charelle Lovett, Principal
Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)
- January 22 & 25: Dancing Drums Cultural Arts Assemblies
- January 24: Happy track out, Track 3!; Staff Snack Cart
- January 25: Welcome back, Track 4!; 2024-25 WCPSS Magnetic & Year Round School Application Closes
- January 31: BAC-9 Meeting at 5:30 PM
- February 2: Quarter 2 Report Cards (Track 4), Tracks 1 & 2 Progress Reports
- February 7: PTA General Meeting @ 6:30 PM, LPES Media Center
Wake Up and Read Book Drive
For the 6th year, Laurel Park Library will be a drop-off site for book donations for the Wake Up and Read Book Drive. Wake Up and Read believes that literacy is a right and all children need access to high-quality home libraries.
From January 17-February 17, Wake Up and Read will collect new and gently used children's books for ages from birth to 12. These books are shared at schools, community centers, and childcare facilities across Wake County. Last year, LPES collected over 1,800 books to support Wake Up and Read. Let's do our best to reach the goal of 2,000 books!
A collection box is outside our media center AND next to the front doors of the school from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Monday-Friday). Learn more about Wake Up and Read at www.wakeupandread.org.
Dancing Drums Assemblies on Jan. 22 and 25
We are excited about welcoming Dancing Drum Assemblies to Laurel Park on January 22 (Tracks 1 & 3) and January 25 (Tracks 2 & 4)! Dancing Drum’s Interactive Performance Assemblies are high-energy programs that engage, entertain and inspire. Kindergarten students will participate in the “Drumming Up Character” assembly program, which will enrich our school’s character education initiative through rhythm, song, and dance. This high-energy, interactive assembly engages students through hip drum rhythms, character rap songs, and exciting dance routines about fairness, care, responsibility, and respect. The “Drumming Up World Music” assembly program for grades 1-5 takes students on an interactive musical journey to learn about rhythms from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and the United States. All students will take turns playing percussion instruments, including various types of African drums, shakers, and blocks, as they work together to showcase these fascinating musical traditions of the world. This program is funded by the LPES PTA and a grant from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Thank you to families who have supported the PTA through fundraising efforts to make this and other cultural arts programs possible!
Donate to Our Staff Snack Cart by January 23
If you are able and willing, please donate to the snack cart by January 23. The PTA is still in need of cold items (e.g., carrots, hummus, guacamole, etc.). An Amazon Wishlist was added to make donating even easier!
Valentine's Day at Laurel Park
Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to build a sense of community and promote friendship among peers. LPES students can participate in Valentine’s Day by exchanging cards during Classroom Huddle on Wednesday, February 14. Teachers will provide families with a class list with the first names of students. If participating, students must bring in one card for each classmate. (Homemade cards are a great way to show your creativity!)! LPES prefers non-food items to be exchanged (e.g., cards, stickers, pencils, erasers, etc.) but understands if small candy items are also brought into the classroom to exchange with peers. Students will not consume candy while at school for families to decide whether their child can have the sweet treat.
March 5th Now a Teacher Workday -- Mark Your Calendars!
Due to numerous schools serving as a polling site (including LPES), Tuesday, March 5th is now a teacher workday for Tracks 1, 3, and 4. No students will be on campus that day.
STEAM Night is Coming!
2023-24 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremonies
Mark your calendars, 5th-grade families! Our 5th grade moving up ceremonies will be Monday, June 3 (Track 1) at 1:30 PM and Wednesday, June 26 (Tracks 3 & 4) at 1:30 PM.
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.
