The Lawrence Elementary School
VISION:
The Lawrence School is an inclusive community that supports and values the academic, social, physical, and emotional development of every student. We create a safe environment and foster mutually-supportive relationships among all stakeholders so that all children can maximize their potential in order to succeed as global citizens.
Principal’s Corner
Principal’s May Newsletter
Coming up on Wednesday, May 29, our annual Young Author’s Night will take place from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. I hope all families can drop by to see your children’s work and to celebrate the efforts of all of the students at our school. In addition, our cafeteria will be filled with books as we have our annual BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE book sale. The book sale will start at 5:00 pm and end around 7:00 pm, so if you would like to stock up for summer reading, please drop by the cafeteria. Thank you to Parent Kelly Weisenberg for organizing the book sale.
Our students in grades 3-5 are finishing their state tests this month. The Smarter Balanced Test in Language Arts, Math, and Science is given annually to students and emphasizes the growth children make from one year to another. We encourage all children to try their best, persevere, and take their time, as these tests are untimed. Results of the tests usually are sent to families in late summer.
Celebrate National School Nurse’s Day & Walk or Bike to School Day
National School Nurse’s Day is Wednesday, May 8. Please join in celebrating our amazing Nurse Kathy, who gives so much love and support to the children at Lawrence School.
When I think of Nurse Kathy, I think of two words: altruistic and active. Kathy is incredibly giving, as she consistently organizes food drives to support the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. She is also incredibly active, as she frequently rides her bike or walks to school. What a coincidence then that National Walk or Bike to School Day is also the same day as National School Nurse’s Day. We will unload buses at the start of the circle to give our bus students a little more exercise than normal. All students will do one loop around the school for some exercise to support this special day. As a family, you can choose to walk or bicycle to school too. Thank you for your support.
Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10
Our amazing PTA is sponsoring all of the festivities for teachers this week. The teachers and I greatly appreciate the kindness, support, and love you show us every day. Thank you! The PTA is wondering if any families would like to donate a gift for the Teacher Appreciation Raffle on Friday, 5/10/19. Please contact Erin Langford, PTA President, at (860) 878-8009 or via email at erinh1972@hotmail.com
Spring Concerts Approaching
Our next concert will be held on Friday, May 31st, 2019. All of our students have been working very hard learning songs from movies and television. For this show, students will only be performing once so please come at your assigned time. Since the concerts are only in the morning, we want all children to stay in school after they perform. All students will still have more than a half day of school after the concert has concluded.
Performances
All students K-2 will be performing at 9:30 am
All students in grades 3, 4, 5 & band will be performing at 11 am
Please send your student(s) to school in neat, dressy clothing on concert day. Also, don’t forget to ask your child/ren to perform their concert music for you at home. This is a great way to keep informed about what is being learned in music class and will help them to practice! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Mrs. Scala scalaf@mpsct.org
Lawrence School Band Upcoming Rehearsal
As you have probably heard, our Spring Concert is coming up on May 31st! We are going to have our “dress rehearsal” (where the whole group practices together) on Wednesday, May 29th.
All band students will need to bring their instruments and music, even if it isn’t their normal lesson day. The 4th grade will meet from 10:00-11:00, and the 5th grade will meet from 11:30-12:30. We will be using Mrs. Scala’s classroom, so please bring music stands if you have them!
I look forward to seeing you at our concert on May 31st!
~Ms. Otto
Physical Education Update
Greetings from PE! Although short and wet, April was a great month. We have just wrapped up our volleying and striking units that was met with excitement and engagement. We learned some new games like Line Ball, Batter Up, and a huge favorite for students in grade 3-5: GAGA Ball. As we near the end of the school year, I can’t help but notice the growth in my PE friends- physically, mentally, and socially/emotionally. They all have worked really hard this school year.
We will wrap up the year with students learning and honing our cooperative skills through various activities. On June 6th [June 7th rain date] we will hold our school wide Fun in the Sun Field Day. During this day, students in K-5 will spend the day engaging in several fun activities that will allow them to display teamwork and school spirit. We will need as many parent volunteers as we can get to make this a successful event. Information will be sent home in Tuesday folders.
SNEAKER REMINDER: It is very important for students to have sneakers on days they have gym (safety). If your son/daughter wears sandals/boots/shoes/non-sneakers to school on the day they have gym, please SEND sneakers in their backpack. Thank you.
Grants Awarded to Lawrence School Tied to Science
The Community Foundation of Middlesex County is supporting a grant opportunity created by the Connecticut Science Center’s Outreach Program that is running multiple hands-on lessons for students in grades 4, 2, 1, and K. The topics excite children to become inquirers and thinkers. Children get to explore many topics with staff from the CT Science Center. All of these topics are tied to the science curriculum for each of those grades. The CT Science Center is wrapping up its visits to Lawrence this month. On behalf of the appreciative teachers and enthusiastic students, I want to thank the CT Science Center and The Community Foundation of Middlesex County for their support of education and valuing the joys of curiosity and exploration.
Attendance: If your child is absent from school for any reason, please provide a handwritten note to excuse your child’s absence. This note should be sent to your child’s teacher or the school office. Thank you for your help with this!
PTA UPDATE
Square 1 Art Fundraiser – The deadline for online orders is on 5/6/19!! This will ensure that you get free delivery to the school. If completing a paper order, please make checks payable to Square 1 Art and send them into school by Monday, 5/6/19. These items make great gifts!
New Britain Bees Game Tickets – The deadline to purchase tickets has been extended to 5/10/19. This is going to be a fun day! Don’t miss out!
Chili’s Night – We are back at Chili’s on 5/22/19. Save the date!! More information will follow in the Tuesday folder the week before the event.
Yearbook Orders – Order your yearbook by Monday, 5/13/19!
Please join in thanking Parent Amy Strickland for all of her hard work and time that she puts into creating a beautiful yearbook. We appreciate all your years of help!
Lawrence Families and Teachers Care: last month we donated 151 pounds of food and this week we just sent over another 259 pounds of juice and canned goods to support the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Thank you to everyone for their support!
Important Upcoming Dates
5/6 Early Dismissal at 1:15 pm for all students
5/6 – 5/10 Teacher Appreciation Week
5/6 Square 1 Art Orders due
5/8 National School Nurse’s Day & Walk or Bike to School Day
5/10 Daily Morning Fun Run ends Thank you to families and students who participated
5/10 Last Day to order New Britain Bees tickets from Lawrence School Game is June 9
5/13 Grade 3 Field Trip to Wadsworth Mansion Rain date is 5/15
5/13 Yearbook Orders due
5/15 All-City Strings Festival 7:00 pm at Middletown High School
5/16 School Governance Council meets at 5:00 pm, PTA meets at 6:30 pm
5/18 Unified Sports Field Day Teams arrive at 9:30 am
5/18 Middletown Kids Health & Safety Day 10:00 – 2:00 on Main Street, Community Health Center
5/20 Early Dismissal at 1:15 pm for all students
5/22 PTA Fund-raiser CHILI’s NIGHT OUT
5/23 State of Education in Middletown; Schools of the Future MHS Auditorium 6:00 – 7:30 pm
5/27 Memorial Day No School
5/28 Grade 4 Field Trip to the New England Air Museum
5/29 Young Author’s Night (5:00 – 6:00 pm), Mini Book Fair (5:00 – 7:00 pm)
5/31 Spring Concert K-2 students perform at 9:30 Gr. 3-5 perform at 11:00
6/6 Field Day Rain Date is 6/7/19
6/12 Last Day of School Students dismissed at 1:15 pm
#ALWAYSABULLDOG #2018/19
It is time to order your yearbook!
The deadline for yearbook orders is Monday May 13, 2019
NEW FOR 2018-19 – Are you interested in purchasing* a ¼ of a page to make a special note to your favorite student (s)? Is it their first year at Lawrence or their final year at Lawrence and you want to help congratulate or celebrate on a great year??
The kids truly smile when they see special notes from family and/or friends!
Please submit your message (with or without a picture, your choice) to lawrenceschoolyearbook@gmail.com and your ad will appear in the 2018-19 Yearbook! You may submit your message/picture hard copy or via email.
Want to order online – please use this link: https://lawrence.fluidmedia.com/communities/2666/commons
Any questions – please contact Amy Strickland 860-918-6416 or at the email above – I will send a confirmation of order
Yearbook Order Form
Student Name (s): ________________________________ Grade/Teacher (s): _______________________
Parent email ________________________________ Phone # _____________________________
Quantity: _____ @ $20.00/ea
¼ Page Ad: $15.00/ea. ____ Yes No
If Yes – please complete the following: Picture: Yes or No If yes, how will you submit? Hard copy or via email to lawrenceschoolyearbook@gmail.com
Message (please print): ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Pay by cash or check. Please make checks payable to Lawrence School PTA. Attention: Yearbook
*Funds raised are used by the PTA for school activities and field trips.
Social and Emotional Learning Opportunities
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEWSLETTER
We emphasize the importance of students being able to recognize their emotions and to learn strategies on how best to regulate their emotions. The staff has been trained in the RULER, a strategy from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (ei.yale.edu).
R Recognizing Identifying emotions in ourselves and others
U Understanding Knowing the causes of emotions (why do we feel the way we do)
L Labeling Knowing feeling words to help us communicate feelings accurately
E Expressing Learning how to display our feelings and act in the school setting
R Regulating Developing strategies to manage our feelings
Your children will be coming home and will most likely be using some of the vocabulary and strategies we teach at school. You may hear about the META-MOMENT or TRIGGERS or your children may talk about breathing techniques and strategies. We will send home for you copies of the strategies and vocabulary we use so that you can also reinforce this at home if you so choose. Thank you.
MISSION STATEMENTS:
- We foster students’ emotional intelligence because we believe social-emotional learning is key to the development of the whole child.
- We cultivate a growth mindset among students, families, and staff because we believe in the value and importance of perseverance, varied learning dispositions, goal setting, and reflection.
- We foster a safe and welcoming environment that promotes a school community of supportive, empathetic, and cooperative individuals who are socially responsible.
- We engage learners by purposefully planning lessons that encourage inquiry and critical thinking, value student interest, and promote collaboration and discourse.
- We value a comprehensive arts and physical education program that enhances the core curriculum and allows students to explore, experience, and appreciate world cultures, while encouraging creativity, curiosity, and healthy movement.
- We provide rigorous challenges so students take ownership of their learning as they use reasoning and thinking skills and academic risk-taking in order to develop creativity, perseverance, and recognition of their role in the global environment.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
The Middletown Board of Education is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, civil union, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or past or present physical or mental disability in any of its education programs, activities, or employment policies. All educational programs and offerings, including vocational education and extracurricular activities, subscribe to this policy. Marco Gaylord, Director of District Operations, has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the district non-discrimination policies and may be reached at 311 Hunting Hill Avenue, Middletown, CT 06457; phone (860) 638-1485.