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2/16/24

 

Dear Laurel Park families, 

Over the past two weeks, we showed love to our school counselors and bus drivers. Many 4th and 5th graders volunteered to read to K-3 classes on Feb. 7th for World Read Aloud Day. Valentine's Day provided students with an opportunity to show their love to one another. Along with appreciation came celebrations:

  • Stella H. (4th grade) won 1st place at the state level for her PTA Council Art Reflections film production submission! Laurel Park is excited about hosting the Wake PTA Art Reflections Student Awards on Saturday, March 2, from 12-2 PM. See below to RSVP to support Stella and other students across the school district. 
  • Kelly Hurry (2nd Grade Track 3) is a WCPSS Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist! We are so proud of Ms. Hurry, her intentional instruction with each of her students, and her ability to facilitate and lead conversations with our School Improvement Team. Ms. Hurry and the 19 other semi-finalists will be recognized at the March 5th school board meeting. 

Next Monday and Tuesday are non-student days for traditional calendar schools. Tracks 1, 3, and 4 students have school on Monday and Tuesday. 

LPES loves our LPES families!

 

Respectfully, 

Charelle Lovett, Principal

 

Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

  • February 5-March 1: Olivia Rodrigo PTA Fundraiser
  • February 20: Spirit Night at Alpaca, 2 PM - 9 PM 
  • February 24: Spirit Night at SodaBox in Apex, 11 AM - 8 PM
  • February 29: Wake Up and Read Book Donation ends
  • March 4-15: LPES Book Fair, open 4:15-4:45 PM daily for families to shop (March 5, 12-2 PM)
  • March 5: Teacher Workday
  • March 6: Track 4 SSA Information Session @ 7 PM
  • March 7: STEAM Night 5:30-7 PM

 

Field Day Volunteers Needed!

Mr. Edwards is excited to partner with the PTA and Taylor Family YMCA for our upcoming field days. Volunteers are needed to run the varying activities as grade levels rotate. Please sign up to volunteer here. We are looking for at least 50 adults to volunteer for each time slot each day.

 

Field Day Sign Up

 

LPES Book Fair Begins March 4th

Our annual book fair will begin on March 4 and run through March 15. The book fair will be open to families to shop from 4:15-4:45 PM daily (except on March 5th the fair is open 12:00-2:00 PM). Volunteers are needed throughout the book fair to assist students and families with their purchases. Sign up to volunteer here.

 

Reading is a Blast! Book Fair

 

Silent Auction on Olivia Rodrigo Tickets!

The Olivia Rodrigo concert tickets are still on auction for the March 8th show. All proceeds earned from the silent auction will go to the Laurel Park PTA. Scan the QR code or go to https://app.memberhub.gives/3d6e2a/Campaign/Details . The silent auction ends on Friday, March 1st.

 

Olivia Rodrigo

 

2024-25 Track Change Request

If you are seeking to request a track change for the 2024-25 school year, complete the form for EACH child attending Laurel Park Elementary. While school administration would like to grant all requests, state class size limits, keeping families together on the same track, the collapsing of Track 2 for next school year, and other variables must be considered when assigning students to tracks/classrooms. This form documents a request for a track change for the 2024-25 school year and does not guarantee a seat on a particular track. Track change requests must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024. If you do not wish to request a track change, you do not need to complete the form. Track change request form: https://forms.gle/YLoGb4mMH1sqHuhLA

 

STEAM Night is March 7th! 

Our annual STEAM Night is on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 5:30 - 7 PM. STEAM Night is designed to celebrate and inspire students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. It provides an array of hands-on activities and demonstrations for students and their families to explore, engage in, and learn from. The STEAM Night Planning Committee is still looking for individuals, groups, and businesses to provide interactive and hands-on activities (https://bit.ly/lpessteam2024). Completing the form confirms that you will be at our STEAM Night. Contact Tiffany Trent (ttrent@wcpss.net) or Alison LeSueur (alesueur@wcpss.net) if you have any questions.

STEAM Night is March 7th

 

We Need Help To Fix Our Outdoor Classroom!

Did you know Laurel Park has an outdoor classroom in the back corner of the large playground? Over the years, the space has become less of an outdoor classroom and slightly more hazardous. We need help with finding a permanent solution to fix or replace the space's cement block foundation. This also includes fixing some of the drainage issues. Please send any landscape/small construction contacts to Julie Neild, our PTA president, at lpesptapresident@gmail.com.

 

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) Nomination Windows & Info Sessions

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is an accelerative practice in WCPSS that allows students to show mastery of an elementary or middle school course. Acceleration is the practice of assigning students to a higher grade level for a single subject to provide access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities. Students must meet qualifying SSA criteria in grades K‐7 to take advanced academic content in Mathematics or English Language Arts. Nominated students for SSA will be assessed at school based on their current grade level. Depending on their grade level and subject, this could include a multiple-choice test and/or a writing sample. Students can be nominated for SSA testing by either their teacher or parent/guardian. If interested in SSA for your child, please speak with your child's classroom teacher or email Amy Stone at astone@wcpss.net.. 
 
SSA Family Informational Meetings 
These meetings will be virtual at 7:00 with our SSA Coordinator, Amy Stone, at https://meet.google.com/yqk-skim-efd
  • Track 4: March 6
  • Track 2: March 27
SSA Nomination Windows (Nomination Form)
  • Tracks 1 & 3: February 21 - March 5
  • Track 4: March 11-22
  • Track 2: April 1-12
SSA Testing Windows
  • Tracks 1 & 3: April 1-12
  • Tracks 2 & 4: April 22 - May 6
 

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 February, we will focus on Integrity -- You are honest and have strong moral principles.

 

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. Early check-out ends at 3:15 PM. 

 

Upcoming WCPSS Events

The Office of Equity Affairs is hosting Dare to Dream: African Americans and the Arts on February 22, 6:30-8 PM, at Southeast Raleigh High School. Please RSVP for the event.

 

Black History Event @ Southeast Raleigh

 

Wake PTA Council Reflections Student Awards

Celebrate Reflection winners, including our own Stella H., on Saturday, March 2 from 12-2 PM. Please RSVP for the event. 

 

Art Reflections Student Awards