Dear Laurel Park families, 

April is upon us! I am unsure if I have a favorite time of the year, but April and May make the top of my list because there are ample opportunities to share appreciation and gratitude to LPES staff members who do so much for the school community. Please join me in sharing your gratitude on the following upcoming days/weeks:

• April is Occupational Therapist Month (Heather Muller)
• April 1-5: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (Adam Barabasz & Jessica Canaday)
• April 4: School Library Media Specialist Day (Alison LeSueur)
• April 22-26: Administrative Assistants Appreciation Week (Karen Franklin, Becky Lorenzen, & Elana Murray)
• May 1: School Principal Appreciation Day
• May 6: National School Nurse Appreciation Day (Heide Cassimatis)
• May 6-10: National Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Laurel Park will celebrate Tracks 1, 2, & 4 teachers from May 7-9 and Track 3 teachers from May 14-16.

 

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” — William Faulkner

 

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

 

Respectfully, 

Charelle Lovett, Principal

 

Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

• April: Occupational Therapist Appreciation Month (Thank you, Ms. Muller!), Autism Acceptance Month, Arab American Heritage Month
• April 1-5: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (Thank you, Mr. Barabasz & Ms. Canaday!)
• April 4: School Library Media Coordinator Day (Thank you, Ms. LeSueur)
• April 5: Tracks 1, 2, & 3 Quarter 3 Report Cards Go Home
• April 8: Partial Eclipse begins around 1:58 PM
• April 10: Tracks 1 & 3 Spring and Class Pictures
• April 12: Tracks 1 & 3 Field Day

 

Lucky's Bedtime Stories Returns!

Lucky's Bedtime Stories returns during Ms. LeSueur's final few months as our media specialist. Join teachers and staff virtually on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM for a few bedtime stories. Use the Google Meet code lpes reads to access the storytime. We ask that you use your child's WakeID Account to access the Google Meet. 

 

 

A Note from the Nurse, Heide Cassimatis

Hello Laurel Park Families! Spring is upon us, so you know what that means. That’s right, health plan updates and renewals! As your school nurse, I will be reaching out over the coming weeks to touch base about your student’s health plans and whether any changes need to be made for the 24-25 school year. I am required to speak to a parent or guardian to reassess your student’s health care needs before I can renew any health plans. I do understand that it can be hard to take a phone call while at work. If this is the case, please return my call and leave a message letting me know how best to reach you.

 

If you have a student who has medications at school, a new 1702 form will be required when the new school year begins in July. Your doctor may complete the 1702 form anytime after April 1, 2024, and it will be valid for the 24-25 school year. For your convenience, I have included the link for the 1702 form: https://www.wcpss.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/5175/1702_parent_request_and_physicians_order.pdf

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can be reached at 919-524-1894 or hcassimatis@wcpss.net

 

Here’s to a happy and healthy spring!

Heide Cassimatis, BSN, RN, NCSN

 

Annual Panorama Family Survey Opens April 8

WCPSS will launch its annual Panorama Family Survey on April 8. This year, families may complete the survey through May 17th. Helping students do their best in school requires a team effort. Families, students, and schools all play important roles in this process. Our goal is to ensure students have positive school experiences, and your feedback helps us to achieve that goal. More information to come. 

 

Partial Eclipse on April 8

On Monday, April 8th, the partial eclipse will begin around 1:58 PM and peak at approximately 3:15 PM when the moon obscures about 82% of the sun. When watching a partial eclipse, students and staff must wear ISO-certified eclipse glasses at all times while facing the sun. There will be no outdoor recess after 1:50 PM. Since ISO eclipse glasses must be worn, teachers will decide whether their class will go outside or watch the live NASA eclipse broadcast. They will be in contact with families if they plan to view the eclipse outdoors, how to opt out of viewing the eclipse, and where to purchase glasses. 

 

Get Your 2023-24 Yearbook!

Our wonderful PTA opened yearbook sales for this school year. Please scan the QR code or go directly to Strawbridge's yearbook ordering site to place an order. All orders must occur by April 12. 

 

 

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.

 

 

PTA Snack Cart Sign-up

Our next snack cart for staff, organized by the PTA, is Thursday, April 18. Please sign-up and have items brought or shipped the school by April 17. Thank you! April snack cart sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044CA4AF29A3FA7-45357328-november#/

 

Autism Acceptance Spirit Week

Autism acceptance is highlighted and celebrated during April. Our next Spirit Week, April 22-26, will celebrate people with autism and have targeted conversations during morning meeting/classroom huddle. See the schedule below. We hope everyone can participate!

 

 

3rd-5th EOG Testing Dates

The testing window for 3rd-5th graders is the last 10 days of school. We will give the initial subject test on the days below, and make-up testing days will follow after.

• Track 1:
  • Testing window: May 20-June 3; retesting for certain students June 4-5
  • May 21: Reading
  • May 22: Math
  • May 23: Science (5th grade only)
• Tracks 2, 3, & 4:
  • Testing window: June 12-26, retesting for certain students June 27-28
  • June 12: Reading
  • June 13: Math
  • June 14: Science (5th grade only)

 

2nd-5th Grade Families, Please Charge Chromebooks! 

We love that we are part of a school district where students have access to technology to enhance learning. Our 2nd - 5th grade students are expected to take their Chromebooks home daily to charge for them to be used the following day. Our classroom teachers are finding that more of their students are returning to school with Chromebooks not charged, which interrupts the activity flow. Teachers do have a few spare chargers in their classrooms, but not a class set. Please help by reminding your child to charge their Chromebook when they get home. 

 

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.

 

5th Grade Moving Up Ceremonies

Our 5th-grade families are already planning how to celebrate their children moving up to middle school. Please mark your calendars! Our 5th grade moving-up ceremonies will be:

• Monday, June 3 (Track 1) at 1:30 PM
• Wednesday, June 26 (Tracks 3 & 4) at 1:30 PM.

 

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 April, we will focus on Kindness -- You use your words and actions to better the lives of others. 

 

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.
• 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. 

 

WCPSS PreK Application Event -- April 6 from 9 AM - 1 PM

The Wake Pre-K Collaborative Partners will host a community Pre-K application event on Saturday, April 6 from 9 AM until 1 PM at The Early Learning Center, 5008 Memory Road, Raleigh.

 

Pre-K is free for eligible families. The child must turn 4 by August 31 and must reside in Wake County. Families can visit wakesmartstart.org/prek to learn more. The April 6 event will provide families with support in completing the application. Staff will also be available to offer developmental and language screenings. Parents should bring the following:

• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Proof of Wake County Residency (Copy of current utility bill OR current lease)
• Most recent documentation of all family income (one month worth of paystubs (two months worth if paid monthly), 2023 1040's OR 2023 W2's.