The Lawrence Elementary School
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Principal's Corner
Principal’s Newsletter for February 2021
Lawrence School’s students, families, and teachers have a lot of caring in their hearts! What makes me so proud of our community is how we support one another. In our most recent Amazing Grace Food Pantry Collection, we collected 406 cans and boxes of non-perishable food for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. We want to thank you for your support and genuine CARE for others.
We also celebrated the 100th Day of School on Tuesday, February 9. Students were asked to brainstorm 100 Acts of Kindness as a class or grade level. Thinking of ways that we can show kindness toward others at school, at home, and in our community and neighborhoods is always a goal!
International Baccalaureate Update
Our IB Word of the Month for February is Principled. Talking to the students about making good choices, being honest and trustworthy, and taking responsibility are several of the key components to Principled. On the morning announcements, quotes that spark reflection and conversation are shared that tie to Principled. Here are a few to spark dialogue at home:
“The time is always right to do what is right.” By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking.” By J.C. Watts
“Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” By William Shakespeare
Celebrating Black History Month
Throughout February, students are learning about influential Black Americans who have had a positive impact on our country and the world. We just learned about Sarah Boone, who created the patent for the modern day ironing board that many of us use every day.
I want to encourage students to research other influential Black Americans and to share what they have learned with their peers throughout the school. Any student who writes a paragraph about the person they researched will have the opportunity to share their research on the morning announcements. Please encourage your children to participate. I have received several excellent paragraphs so far.
Parent Conferences in March
Parent Conferences are right around the corner on Wednesday, March 10, Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12. I want to strongly encourage all families to either attend the parent conferences or conduct a phone conference with your child’s teacher. This is a great opportunity to hear how your child is doing and to work with the teacher on how to help your child improve. There will be early dismissal on those days at 1:00 pm and lunch will be served.
Notes from the NURSE
Greetings, Families! Just a few reminders as we prepare to welcome our youngest students back into on-site learning. We will continue illness prevention strategies that include: wearing masks, maintaining a distance, washing our hands frequently and keeping our school environment as clean and safe as possible. Before sending your child off to school:
1). Provide updated physical exams and immunization records as well as medications and updated medication administration authorization forms to the school nurse.
2). Ensure your child leaves the house with clothing that is appropriate for cooler weather. Mask breaks and recess will continue to be outdoors as long as the temperatures are within reasonable limits.
3). Grades K - 1 students should have a change of clothing (pants, socks, undergarment, top) in a Ziplock/plastic bag in their backpack in the event they are dirtied while at school.
4). Please keep your child home if they are sick and call the school to let us know not to expect them in the classroom. To excuse your child’s absence from an in-person day, please provide the school with a handwritten note.
Thank you for all you have done to help get our school community back on track for full-time schooling!
School Governance Council Updates
Our SGC met in February to discuss ways to support families with remote learning. One of the pieces of data we reviewed were strategies that our students from grades 2-5 used to help them with learning remotely. These are ideas from our students:
- frequent breaks throughout the day
- finding a quiet space to work
- having music on in the background helped some students
- having a support person (parent, sibling, grandparent, baby-sitter) around to ask for help when needed
- Alexa/Echo Dot reminders on when zooms are scheduled
- sensory items (pet, favorite stuffed animal, putty, etc.) easily accessible
- having noise cancelling headphones
As many students get ready to return to Lawrence School 4 days a week starting on Monday, March 15, the SGC and staff will be sending out helpful ideas and activities to get students ready for the return. Some routines will be changing based on having a majority of students returning, but the emphasis will remain on safety.
Social-Emotional Strategies:
A focus at Lawrence School is in helping students to be able to recognize their feelings and to help them learn strategies to self-regulate and respond appropriately to triggers. Communicating their feelings in a constructive way is emphasized, and the Meta-Moment is shared with students.
We discuss that all of us – every student in the school, every teacher, every parent – we all have triggers, something that may get us angry or upset. Learning to recognize our triggers and the triggers of others helps us with our emotional responses. Taking the time to stop and think about the best way to respond to a peer or adult when one is triggered is emphasized.
Sample Strategies: Take 3 deep breaths, Get a drink of water, Count to 10, Go to the Calming Corner [take a break], Draw, Write, Read a Book, Think of a Place/Person/Pet that makes you happy, Talk to someone you trust, Squeeze or hold a comfort object, Positive self-talk
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.
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.