4/14/24
Dear Laurel Park families,
We need your feedback! The annual WCPSS Panorama Family Survey opened on April 8 and will remain open through May 17th. During this time, we ask all families to submit at least one survey response to provide us with feedback on the school environment and engagement barriers. Families are welcome to submit multiple surveys if their children have different experiences at school.
The survey is in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, traditional Chinese, Arabic, and Korean. The 17 questions can also be read aloud.
Goal 6 of our district's 2023-2028 Strategic Plan focuses on the parent and family experience. The annual Panorama Survey results will determine if 95% of families surveyed indicated low barriers to engagement and a positive school climate. Access the survey here: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/wakecounty/family/surveys?language=en
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 18: PTA Snack Cart for LPES Staff (Sign-up to donate)
- April 19: Happy track out, Track 3!
- April 22: Welcome back, Track 4
- April 22-26: Administrative Assistant Appreciation Week (Thank you, Mrs. Lorenzen, Mrs. Murray, & Mrs. Franklin!), Autism Acceptance Spirit Week
- April 25: Tracks 2 & 4 Field Day
- April 26: Track 4 Quarter 3 report cards go home
- May 1: School Principal Appreciation Day
- May 3: Tracks 1 & 2 Quarter 4 interims go home
- May 4: Spring Beautification @ 8:30 AM
- May 6: National School Nurse Day (Thank you, Nurse Heide!)
- May 7-9: Tracks 1, 2, & 4 Teacher Appreciation
- May 8: Bike, Walk, or Roll Day
- May 10: Happy Track out Track 2!; Family Movie Night @ 6 PM (LPES Field)
- May 13: Only Tracks 1 & 4 on campus
- May 14-16: Track 3 Teacher Appreciation
- May 14: Welcome back, Track 3!
- May 15: PTA General Meeting @ 6:30 PM
WCPSS Project Enlightenment Workshops for Kinders & Families
Project Enlightenment, an early childhood prevention program for WCPSS through kindergarten, offers parent workshops throughout the year. We shared the information below with our rising kinder families, but they are also great for families of current kinders. For more information: https://www.wcpss.net/domain/13965
Gifts of Gold Recognition at the NC Museum of Art
Every spring, Raleigh Arts and United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County partners with WCPSS to produce Gifts of Gold, a temporary art exhibition of Wake County student-made artwork. Fourth grader, Gabbie Flowers, represented Laurel Park at the Gifts of Gold reception on April 4. Her Cape Hatteras drawing was on display.
Congratulations, Ms. Hurry!
Congratulations, again, to Kelly Hurry (2nd grade Track 3) who was named a WCPSS Teacher of the Year finalist. The district's Teacher of the Year will be announced on the evening of May 6th.
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!
The Next Field Day is April 25
Thank you to those who assisted with Friday's Tracks 1 & 3 field day! Students and staff had a great time playing various games and interacting with one another. We look forward to Tracks 2 & 4 field day on April 25th.
LPES Spring Beautification Day -- May 4 @ 8:30 AM
Community members and families will have an opportunity to spruce up Laurel Park's grounds on Saturday, May 4, 8:30 AM - 12 PM. Bring gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows, etc. to help mulch areas and weed the garden. We appreciate your help!
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.
LPES Family Movie Night on May 10
Laurel Park families are invited to a night of fun and movie-watching on Friday, May 10, at 6 PM. Food trucks and games will be between 6-8 PM. The movie will begin at 8 PM. All activities will be outside on the field and carpool loop. May 17 is the rain date for this event.
Family Fun Night @ Salamanders Baseball
The LPES PTA is partnering with the Holly Springs Salamanders. Sunday, June 9th is Family Night. Tickets are $12 per ticket or $22 for an all-you-can-eat ticket. It is also Princess and Pirates Night and Sunday Funday, where the kids can dress up and run the bases after the game. Purchase tickets at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Laurelpark. Two dollars of every ticket will go back to the LPES PTA!
A Note from Nurse Heide
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:
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
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)
Please Charge Chromebooks for 3rd-5th EOGs!
As teachers begin to prepare for upcoming End-of-grade testing for our 3rd-5th graders, students need to get into the habit of charging Chromebooks at home so they can be used during the day. Students will be asked to bring their chargers to school closer to testing days to keep both the charger and Chromebook at school to ensure the technology is sound during testing.
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
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.
2024-25 LPES Information
Rising Kindergarten Orientation (Newsletter)
We look forward to seeing returning and new families at the rising kindergarten orientation on Wednesday, May 29th at 6 PM in our gym. This 1-hour event is geared towards caregivers. We will not have childcare for the orientation but will share information afterward.
Meet the Teacher & Supply Drop-Off
Our 2024-25 Meet the Teacher and Supply Drop-off is Wednesday, July 3 from 1:30-3:00 PM (Tracks 1 & 3) and Friday, July 26 from 4:30-5:15 PM (Tracks 4). The PTA partners with Sprout School Supplies for grade-level kits. More information will be shared about Sprout School Supplies at a later time. Next year's school supply lists are posted on the school's website.