The Lawrence Elementary School
The Lawrence School is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision.**
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit
www.ibo.org **Mission Statement from the IB The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
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The Lawrence School Twitter feed
https://twitter.com/MpsLawrence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Click here for more information on our IB Candidate School:
The Lawrence School Primary Years Programme
It's time for Kindergarten Registration!
Click on the following 2 documents for important information about upcoming registration, family events, and general information about Kindergarten and our school:
Kindergarten Information, Registration, and Events 2022.pdf
Kindergarten orientation 2022.pdf
Spring 2022 Lawrence School Newsletter
Congratulations to our 5th graders as the end of the year approaches. I want to thank the teachers and families for their support as we try to make the end of the year a memorable time for our students. I like to say that a school is a reflection of the community it serves, and our 5th grade community of families have shown so much support and commitment to their children and to all of the staff at Lawrence for six years! Here are a few important dates for our 5th Grade.
June 16: Grade 5 Field Trip to Science Center (9:15-1:30) June 17: Grade 5 Picnic from 12-3 pm
June 23 at 11:00 am: Promotion for Grade 5 in the library; you will be admitted at 10:45 am
Spring Concert: Monday, June 13 Your choice to come in-person or watch on zoom
Kindergarten-Grade 2 at 9:30 am Grades 3-5 & Band at 11:00 am
As of this time, Middletown Schools are mask optional, however, we do strongly encourage our guests to wear masks at our Spring Concert for the safety of everyone in attendance. Thank you in advance for your consideration. We are requesting that a maximum of 2 family members attend the in-person concert except in unique circumstances or where childcare issues exist.
Please look for the zoom link or meeting ID from Mrs. Read on Class Dojo
Safety Updates:
Lawrence School staff and students will engage in Lockdown Practice on Tuesday, June 14, at 9:45 am. Teachers will explain all of the procedures to students so that they are prepared in the case of an emergency. Our previously scheduled lockdown had to be rescheduled due to the police’s schedule. Helping students with understanding our safety protocols is emphasized.
After meeting with Mayor Florsheim, Chief Costa and Sgt. Porter, it has been determined that SRO’s will be reinstated at the Elementary Schools. Beginning Tuesday, May 31, Officer Nick Spratto will be back at Lawrence. Officer Nick has been a positive influence at our school for several years, so we are happy to have him back.
IB Official Authorization Visit:
Our official IB Virtual Authorization Visit will be June 6 & 7. The teachers and students have been working very hard for the past three years in engaging in inquiry, global-mindedness, and in students’ exploring their own voice, choice, and ownership. We are excited for this visit and hopeful that all of our hard work will pay off in being accredited as an International Baccalaureate School.
Fifth Grade Parents: We created congratulatory lawn signs for your children if you would like to purchase one. They are available at the UPS Store in Cromwell, 34-3 Shunpike Road. Signs are one-sided and $15 each. Visit the google form below to reserve yours today. Anyone who purchases one will have to pick it up at the store when ready. Link: https://forms.gle/yWnd6XVmxWtM479t8
Technology and Summer Learning for Students in Grades K-5
All children in elementary schools in Middletown are allowed to keep their IPads or Chrome books over the summer so that they can continue to access educational websites. The only students who need to return their devices are families who are moving out of Middletown. Please drop off the devices at Lawrence School if you are moving. Please call the office or email me so I can make sure someone is here to receive the device. 860-632-2158 [email protected]
If you have any questions over the summer regarding technology, the Middletown district technology department can be contacted to offer free support. Email address: [email protected], for families to contact the technology department when having technical issues with the student devices. The goal is to process requests daily, depending on the number of requests, and address concerns promptly.
Spring Registration for Incoming & New Students in Grades K-5: please complete the online registration on our website (www.middletownschools.org). Then, you can call Lawrence School to make an appointment to drop off any necessary paperwork (please see the website for a detailed list). You can call or leave a voicemail message for us at 860-632-2158 or email the secretary at [email protected].The secretary is not consistently in the office until late August, so please leave a voicemail or email and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Thank you.
Registration for Kindergarten:
Registration Steps: (If your child attended Snow Pre-K last year, please skip to step 3)
- Go to Middletown’s website and click on District Information, New or K Registration
- Create PowerSchool Parent Portal Account (If you have an older child enrolled in Middletown Schools and already have a Parent Portal Account, you add your Kindergarten student to that account)
- Log into Parent Portal Account and Complete Forms
- Upload necessary documents (If you are having trouble doing this, please read below)
Please note:
- Step 1 is the initial step. Once you submit this, it will need to be approved by the school secretary. Once she approves it, you will be notified by email and directions will be sent with a code to set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal account. Only do this one time.
- Registration Documents: If you have difficulty uploading some of the required documents, please plan to visit Lawrence School to drop off any of the necessary paperwork. Documents can be dropped off or we can make copies for you.
Please reach out to the school secretary, Mrs. Mosca, if you need help with any of the following:
- You have not received an email saying your registration request was approved
- You are having trouble setting up your account
- You cannot remember your login and password
- You need help adding your Kindergarten student to your Parent Portal Account
- English is not your first language and you think you may need support in completing the registration
- Any other questions regarding registration
Mrs. Mosca: [email protected] Lawrence School: 860-632-2158 Ext: 0
NEWS FROM DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICE
1). All medications and medical devices must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than the close of the school day on June 23, 2022. Items left behind will be disposed of per State of CT Medication Administration regulations.
2). Updated physical exams and immunization records are due prior to entry in Kindergarten. Please be sure to complete and sign the first page (blue form) and submit to the school nurse at your earliest convenience to avoid delays in the start of the new school year this coming Fall.
FIELD DAY is almost here! It will be held on Friday, June 10. On field day children are encouraged to bring a water bottle with their name on it, wear sunscreen, sneakers and appropriate clothing for the weather. We will be having outdoor activities for most of the day and a big key to having fun will be appropriate and comfortable clothing.
We are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to Wes Ruimerman at [email protected]. Volunteers will be able to sign up for a specific time slot (8:45-11:30, 2:00-3:15). Volunteers will be assigned a station to facilitate. Volunteers should arrive between 8:45-9:00 a.m. and sign in at the office. At this time we will go over the stations and make sure you are ready to go. ☺ In addition, there will be written directions posted at each station. The morning session will begin around 9:15 a.m. and conclude at lunchtime, around 11:00 am. Thank you for your help!
Cooking Around the World
You might be aware that I secured a significant grant to implement a Cooking Around the World project to build global awareness and a sense of community for our families after the isolation of the pandemic. We have two FREE meal kits available: one from Puerto Rico featuring rice and pigeon peas, and one from India featuring a coconut almond cookie. Each kit has vegan ingredients in order to be as inclusive as possible, and the cookie kit is also gluten and dairy free. The beans and rice kit also includes a $10 gift card to Stop and Shop for families to purchase the perishable ingredients.
Next week on June 1, we'll be giving out free meal kits to our families so that they can have a family cooking experience at home. There will be a padlet link for families to share their experiences if they would like. Families can also draw a picture, write a note, or send in a photo that I can put up on display. Please sign up below if you are interested.
If you haven't already signed up for our FREE meal kits for our Cooking Around the World event, please go to: https://bit.ly/Cookingsignup There is also a paper sign up sheet in the Tuesday folders for families who prefer to sign up that way. There are 100 kits of each recipe and sign ups will be first-come, first-served.
Denise Kraft (she/her), IB PYP Coordinator
Office: 860-632-2158 ext. 1918 [email protected]
IMPORTANT DATES:
June 8: New Kindergarten Families Event, Tours 5:30-7:30 pm
June 10: Field Day we are looking for volunteers
June 13: Spring Concert 9:30 am K-2 concert
11:00 am 3-5 concert
this will be in person (ideal max of 2 people per family or on zoom)
June 14: Lockdown Practice at 9:45 am
June 16: Grade 5 has Field Trip to Science Center
June 17: Grade 5 Picnic from 12-3 pm
June 20: NO SCHOOL
June 22 at 8:00 am: Volunteer Breakfast & Recognition
June 22: Reports cards sent home electronically in afternoon; please check Power School
June 23 at 11:00 am: Promotion for Grade 5
Families may join their students in the library for the celebration; you will be admitted at 10:45 am
June 23: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Parent Pickup Dismissal starts at 12:50 pm
Update from Music
Back in the summer of 2020, as teachers prepared for what was to be a unique and memorable instructional year, Middletown Public Schools purchased supplies for take home music kits. However, the supply chain shortages that affected much of the economy did not spare the musical instrument trade and as such, the supplies for these kits did not arrive until spring 2021. It’s taken a little bit of time to put together, but I’m pleased to send home a musical instrument kit with each of our students this spring. In your student’s kit you will find:
- A pair of rhythm sticks
- An egg shaker
- A red solo cup (for drumming and cup games)
- A dry erase card with staff lines printed on it
- A dry erase marker
While we won’t be using these supplies in an instructional setting, below are some online resources where students can access fun games and play alongs with which they can use their kits:
- Musicplayonlin.com
- Login as a student and use the access code r052840.
- Youtube Channels
I hope you and your students enjoy making music at home. You are your students’ first and best music teacher. Elizabeth Read
General Music Teacher
Lawrence School
VISION:
The Lawrence School is an inclusive community that supports and values the academic, social, physical, and emotional development of every student through an engaging and relevant transdisciplinary curriculum that fosters students as collaborators, communicators, thinkers, and global citizens.
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, risk-taking, goal setting, and reflection.
- We foster a safe and welcoming environment that promotes a mutually-supportive school community of empathetic and collaborative individuals who are globally responsible, curious, and action-oriented.
- We engage learners by purposefully planning lessons that encourage inquiry and critical thinking, value student interest, and promote collaboration and discourse among all students.
- We value a balanced and comprehensive arts and physical education program that enhances the core curriculum and allows students to explore, experience, and appreciate world cultures and language experiences 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.