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11/24/24

 

Dear Laurel Park Families,

When all of our students are on campus, carpool lines in the morning and afternoon may take longer than usual. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed—along with some families—that impatience is beginning to create unsafe conditions for our students. Please take a moment to review these friendly reminders, which are also outlined in our Family Handbook:

  • Pay attention to crosswalks! Many of our students and families walk to school and must cross the street at the school’s entrance to stay on the sidewalk. Since there is no crossing guard at this location, we rely on drivers to stop for pedestrians, ensuring everyone’s safety.

  • Exit safely. There is only one exit lane when leaving Laurel Park, which accommodates both right and left turns. Please DO NOT attempt to create two lanes by going around other vehicles. This is dangerous and disrupts traffic flow for cars entering the campus.

  • Morning drop-off procedures. Please remain in your car and use the carpool loop to drop off your child. Do not park in the lot and walk students to the front during morning arrival.

  • Tardiness and sign-in procedures. Students are considered tardy if they arrive at or after 9:15 AM. If you arrive at this time or later, please use the QR code on the front door to sign your child in. Teachers complete attendance promptly at 9:15 AM, and late arrivals may be marked absent.

  • Early check-out ends at 3:15 PM. Please plan accordingly if you need to pick up your child before the end of the school day.

Additionally, on Monday, our Security Officer will visit campus to speak with students for 10 minutes about safety procedures during emergencies (e.g., weather events or lockdowns) while in the cafeteria. Teachers and administrators will be present during this brief safety drill.

 

Finally, as we enter this season of gratitude and thanksgiving, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for each of you. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Wishing you a joyful and safe Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones!

 

Respectfully, 

Charelle Lovett, Principal

 

Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

  • Nov. 12-26: Go Play Save Fundraiser
  • Nov. 13-Dec. 6: Season of Giving Drive
  • Nov. 27-29: No School/Thanksgiving Break
  • Dec. 3: Spirit Night at Ruckus, 5-9 PM
  • Dec. 5: Science & Engineering Fair @ 6 PM; Lost and found donated after Science Fair
  • Dec. 6: Happy track out, Track 1!
  • Dec. 20: Happy track out, Track 4!
  • Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Winter Break, School Closed
  • Jan. 6: Welcome back, Tracks 1 & 3!

 

Help Us Spread Holiday Cheer to LPES Families in Need

As we approach the holiday season, we are reminded of the importance of community, kindness, and the spirit of giving. This year, we are reaching out to ask for your help in supporting a few of our LPES families who could use a little extra holiday cheer. These families are in need of gifts and other essentials, and they would greatly benefit from our collective generosity. To make it easier for you to contribute, we’ve set up a SignUp Genius with a list of specific items needed. Please take a moment to visit the link to view the items that need to be donated by Dec 11th. Thank you!
 

 

YMCA Before & After School During Track 2 Out

The YMCA implemented capacity in the before- and after-school programs to prioritize the safety of our students and staff. The capacity impacts the following weeks: 11/25, 12/2, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 4/21, 4/28, and 5/5. Colleen Fitzpatrick, our site coordinator, recommends registering your child as soon as you are able. If you are already registered for the entire year or for future weeks, your registration will NOT be impacted. Please email any questions to Colleen.Fitzpatrick@YMCATriangle.org.

 

The Science and Engineering Fair Needs Judges!

Our Science and Engineering Fair committee is currently seeking volunteers to judge student projects. We have twice as many projects this year as last year! Please email LPESScienceFair@gmail.com if you are interested and available to serve as a judge next week.

 

LPES families join us for our annual Science and Engineering Fair on Thursday, December 5, from 6-7 PM in the cafeteria!

 

The Science and Engineering Fair is December 5 at 6 PM

 

Go Play Save Fundraiser Ends November 26

Our annual Go Play Save Fundraiser ends on Tuesday, November 26. Please place orders and/or return books by then. Interested in making a purchase? Click here.  

 

 

Look at our new wall art!

Last week, muralist Rachel Castaneda visited our campus to bring some vibrant new additions to our school! She painted the Penguin Pledge in the cafeteria and Lucky the Penguin near the front entrance. A big thank you to our PTA for making these colorful enhancements possible!

 

 

Season of Giving Food Drive, November 13-December 6

Thank you for giving to our annual Season of Giving Food Drive sponsored by our Student Ambassadors. This year, we are partnering with the Western Wake Crisis Ministry. If your student has food to donate, please have them take it to the front table outside of Student Services (Penguin Alley). Last year, we raised almost 1,000 lbs.!  Let's beat that goal and try to raise 1200 lbs.!  
 

 

Looking for STEAM Night Activities & Presenters

Our STEAM Night planning committee is seeking interested families, staff, and businesses to provide activities during our annual STEAM night on Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. This fun event highlights and celebrates the areas of science, math, engineering, arts, and mathematics. If you are interested in coming out that night and sharing your knowledge and expertise, please complete the participation form https://bit.ly/lpessteam2025. 

 

Physical Education Reminders from Mr. Edwards 

  • Please make sure that your child has a pair of tennis/sneakers shoes at school each day. With all the wet weather in the past few weeks, there have been several more students coming to class with boots and other types of shoes that are not safe for them to participate in.
  • Please also remind them that the focus for PE class is to work on the different skills, teamwork, and making 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.

 

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

Important links for ALL families:

 

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 November, we will focus on Courage -- You have the mental and moral strength to face difficulty.

 

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)

Submit Photos to the Penguin Passport

Our students experience new and different places during track outs throughout the year. We would love for students to share their adventures with us! Participation builds community, celebrates diversity, and inspires others! Visit https://www.laurelparkespta.com/penguin-passport.html for more information.

 

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!

  

NCDOT Aviation Art Contest

This year’s theme is “Women with Wings.” Read more about the theme at the NCDOT Division of Aviation’s art contest website. We invite all students who live in or attend school in North Carolina to focus their creativity on the incredible Women with Wings, who unite in a world where the skies are a canvas of peace and friendship. Using colored pencils, crayons, pens, or paint, artists can be inspired by Women with Wings to show how women from all walks of life find liberty and inspire others through their love for flight.

 

All students who participate will receive Certificates of Participation.  Additionally, the top three entries in each age group, determined by date of birth, will be forwarded to Washington, D.C., to be judged in the national competition. The artwork of the national winners will be sent to Switzerland to compete in the international competition.

 

The 2025 North Carolina Aviation Art Contest entries must be received by Friday, January 17, 2025.