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8/4/24

 

Dear Laurel Park Families, 

Our recent school scare prompted many families to contact me about Laurel Park's school safety structures and response. We are committed to ensuring all students and staff clearly understand safety rules and procedures. Students and staff follow the phrase "when you see something say something" and practice safety procedures throughout the school year. We are required to conduct monthly fire drills, one severe weather drill, and at least one code red lockdown drill annually (typically we have two code red lockdown drills each year). 

 

Schools conduct code red lockdown drills for several important reasons, primarily related to the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the entire school community. These drills are a proactive measure to prepare for potential emergencies, particularly situations that may involve threats to safety. Administration works closely with the WCPSS Security Team and local law enforcement during the code red lockdown drill. The drill generally takes no more than 15 minutes and students stay in their classrooms for the duration of the drill. After the drill, students return to normal routines and administrators unpack the feedback from the WCPSS Security Team as a way to ensure all safety measures were practiced. Families receive an email notification from me after a lockdown drill is conducted. 

 

Actual Code Red and Code Yellow Lockdowns

Schools enter into a code red lockdown if there is an immediate threat to the school. During a code red lockdown, students remain in their classroom or are moved into safe areas, and all exterior and interior doors are locked. No one is allowed to enter or exit the building. Schools enter a code yellow lockdown if there is something in the community that may pose a threat to the school, but there is no immediate threat. During a code yellow lockdown, all students return to and remain in the buildings. Activities inside the building continue as normal. 

 

Any school staff member with access to the school’s intercom can put a school in lockdown. This action is often taken with guidance from or in coordination with local law enforcement. The lockdown remains in place until law enforcement officials give administrators an all-clear announcement.

 

We understand that lockdowns, and even lockdown drills, can be upsetting for all involved, including families. Student support from our counseling team is always available following a lockdown drill.

 

School safety is a priority at Laurel Park, and I am confident our safety procedures reduce student and staff risk. Thank you for your continued support!

 

Respectfully, 

Charelle Lovett, Principal

 

Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

  • Aug. 5: First Full Day of School for Track 4 Kinders; Kinder Parents Cheers and Tears on Playground; Track 1 Progress Reports Go Home
  • Aug. 9: PTA's Donuts with Grown-ups @ 9:30 AM
  • Aug. 13: Track 4 3rd Grade BOG Testing; General PTA Meeting at 6 PM in LPES Media Center
  • Aug. 14: Spirit Night @ Shake Shack, 11 AM - 10 PM, Waverly Place
  • Aug. 16: PTA Sponsored Snack Cart for Staff
  • Aug. 19: Welcome back, Track 3!
  • Aug. 22: Fall Picture Day; LPES Open House @ 6:00–7:15 PM
  • Aug. 26: AIG Information Meeting @ 7 PM (virtual)
  • Aug. 26-Sept. 6: Fall Fundraiser with Apex Leadership
  • Sept. 2: No School, Labor Day
  • Sept. 6: REMIX Event; Happy Track Out, Track 1!

 

August 16 PTA-Sponsored Snack Cart 

Each month, our PTA -- with the help of families -- rolls a snack cart throughout the building to treat staff in a small, but mighty way. Many staff members look forward to snack-cart-day, which occurs monthly when all staff are scheduled to be on campus. The PTA asks families to donate snacks by August 15 to prepare the cart the following day for 90+ staff members. 

 

August Snack Cart Sign Up (Send snacks via Amazon)

 

Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Information from Ms. Atwell & Ms. Baker

Important Links for All Tracks/Grades:

4th & 5th Grade Fall Nomination and Testing Dates (There is also testing in the Spring.): 
  • Track 1 4th and 5th grades AIG Fall nomination deadline is August 19
    • CogAT testing is August 26-28
    • Iowa testing is August 29-30
    • Make-up testing September 3-6

  • Track 3 4th and 5th grades AIG Fall nomination deadline is September 3
    • CogAT testing is September 10-12
    • Iowa testing is September 12-13
    • Make-up testing September 16-20

  • Track 4 4th and 5th grades AIG Fall nomination window is August 19-September 3
    • CogAT testing September 16-18
    • Iowa testing is September 19-20
    • Make-up testing September 23-27
3rd Grade Universal Screening Dates:
  • CogAT Testing
    • Tracks 1 & 3 on September 30-October 2
      • Make-up testing October 7-11
    • Track 4 on October 21-23
      • Make-up testing on October 28-November 1
  • Iowa Testing
    • Track 1 on November 4 and 6 (make-up testing on November 7-8 and 12)
    • Track 4 on November 18-19 (make-up testing on November 20-22 and December 2-4)
    • Track 3 on November 20-21 (make-up testing on November 22 and December 2-6)

    •  

Message from Mr. Edwards, Physical Education

The first 3–4 weeks have gone well. We have all gotten to know each other during the first few classes. I have only seen most kindergarten classes one time, so we focused mostly on class expectations and working some on personal space and locomotor movements like walking, galloping, and skipping. In grades 1-2, we also worked on locomotor movements during a game called On the Lines, Off the Lines. During this activity, we focused on side slides and leaping. We also introduced some self-toss and catch activities. In grades 3-5, we started out working on throwing and catching skills by playing a game called Touchdowns. They worked by themselves first and then with a partner. They focused on proper throwing technique and giving their partners a target to let them know where they wanted the ball thrown to them. We will continue to work on the skills above for the next 3-4 class meetings using different games and activities.

 

Just a few reminders: Please make sure that your child has a pair of tennis/sneakers shoes at school each day. This will help to keep everyone safe during our class time. Please also remind them that the focus of PE class is to work on the different skills and make improvements each week on those skills and their overall wellness. We all can be successful at this if we make sure to listen and watch the demonstrations before each new activity and then use our practice time during class wisely. If all of us do this, we will all improve and have a lot of fun together.

 

Have a great week, Mark Edwards

 

LPES Open House is August 22 @ 6 PM

Families are invited to attend our Open House on Thursday, August 22 at 6 PM. Open House is a time for our homeroom teachers to share information about their classrooms (managerial and instructional) and answer any questions you may have. This year, our homeroom teachers will host two 30-minute teacher sessions -- at 6 PM and 6:45 PM. In the past, we have had sessions about AIG, social-emotional learning, and beginning-of-the-year assessments, but we will not hold those types of sessions this year. Our AIG teachers, Ms. Atwell and Ms. Baker, will conduct a virtual information session on August 26 at 7 PM. We will also have a Curriculum Night in the Spring. 

 

Open House on August 22 at 6 PM

 

Dental Screening on September 4 (Kindergarten Only)

Annually, our School Health Dental Hygienist looks for healthy smiles by providing dental screenings. (Please refer to the WCPSS student/parent handbook.) Good dental health is important to a student’s overall well-being and affects a child’s success and performance in the classroom. School Dental Hygienists use a flashlight to provide a quick visual screening of the student’s teeth. This is not like a dental exam by a dentist. During the dental screening, the School Dental Hygienist follows all CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines. A letter with the screening results will be sent home in the student’s school folder ONLY if your child has questionable or obvious dental needs. If needed, children with obvious dental needs may receive an additional follow-up screening by the School Health Dental Hygienist later in the school year. Parents/guardians may contact their child’s principal to opt out of dental screenings. If you have any questions, please contact the school’s dental hygienist, Heather Lisk, RDH, at 919-621-2482 or hlisk@wcpss.net.   

 

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. In August, we will focus on Responsibility -- You are accountable for something within your power.

 

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. 

 

 

Laurel Park PTA Information (laurelparkespta.com)

Join the PTA

Laurel Park has an active PTA that serves as our primary parent-teacher organization. Advocating for public schools and sound instruction is the PTA's priority in supporting the school with clubs, coordinating school events, beautification, playground enhancements, teacher planning days, and instructional resources. PTA members will receive a 10% discount on all spirit wear!

 

The PTA board is currently seeking feedback on ideas for new clubs at LPES. They are also looking for different event coordinators for the 24-25 school year including Advocacy Chair and Yearbook Coordinator.

 

The first general PTA meeting will be on Tuesday, August 13 at 6 PM in the LPES media center. 

 

Tears & Cheers for Track 4 Kinder Families

Join representatives from our PTA under the shade structures on the playground after morning drop-off on your child's first full day of kindergarten. This is a perfect time to meet other kinder families. Light refreshments will be provided. 

 

 

Donuts with Grown-ups! Learn about the LPES PTA

Swing by LPES on Friday, August 9 from 9:30-10:15 AM. Have a donut and mingle with families while learning about the PTA, annual events, and ways to support. This is an adult-only event.

 

 

August 14 Spirit Night at Shake Shack (Waverly Place)

 

 

Back to School Reminders

Get Approved to Volunteer!

We are asking all parents/guardians to complete the WCPSS volunteer application at wcpss.net/volunteers. Families who were approved to volunteer in the 2023-24 school year received an email on June 1 outlining the simple volunteer renewal process for the 2024-25 school year. Please renew your volunteer status during the renewal window, July 1-Oct. 1. 

 

2024-25 Free/Reduced Lunch Application

You can apply for free or reduced meal prices for the 2024-25 school year. Prior year meal benefits carry over for the first 30 days of the next school year. See https://www.wcpss.net/free-reduced-meals for more information about free or reduced meal prices.

 

New Bus Delay Notification System

Starting the 2024-25 school year, families of bus riders will be sent text and email notifications in the event of bus delays or cancelations. These messages will be sent as soon as transportation staff learns of a disruption. The system is designed to more quickly notify parents so they can make alternate arrangements when necessary. You can still track your child’s bus using the Here Comes the Bus app. There will also be a link on our school website that will display bus delays.