The Lawrence Elementary School
Follow us on Twitter @MpsLawrence!
The Lawrence School Twitter feed
https://twitter.com/MpsLawrence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Principal's Corner
Principal’s Newsletter for February 2020
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 Amazing Grace Food Pantry Collection, we collected 1012 cans and boxes of non-perishable food for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. The food weighed 952 pounds! This was a special collection to celebrate the 100th day of school on February 7. We want to thank you for your support and genuine CARE for others.
The State of Connecticut just released some excellent news related to Lawrence School: we have just been named a School of Distinction for 2019. This is the third year in a row that our school has been recognized. Not only does our school rank higher than the state average in most categories, but we have been especially recognized for the growth our students make. This achievement is due to the genuine partnerships that exist among our committed families and dedicated teaching staff, as we all help every one of our students reach their potential. Our students work hard and strive to reach their individual goals. All of us in our community have an important role in this recognition, so THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!
Reading Challenge: To celebrate Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2, Lawrence School students are being challenged to participate in our 1-week Read-a-Thon starting on Monday, February 24 and ending on March 2. All students need to do is list the title of the book they are reading and list the number of pages read. They will return their logs to their teachers. The students who participate will be recognized. Our reading challenge will culminate in our annual Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Party, which is Monday, March 2, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. I hope to see you there.
The spring book fair is scheduled for March 9 - 13, 2020. We are in the beginning stages of planning and preparing for the events and activities and are looking for a few volunteers to help out. If you are interested in helping at the book fair, please contact Parent Kelly Weisenberg via email at mikekellyluke@gmail.com. We will need help during the week of the book fair to set-up the media center, work the cash register, help visitors on the Grand Lunch day, and clean/pack-up at the end. So, keep an eye out for more information. THANK YOU!
International Baccalaureate Update
Our Kindergarten students just finished their first IB unit, Where We Are in Place and Time, with a visit from the Connecticut Historical Society. They compared the clothing, household items, and school supplies of the present and recent past to Colonial era items. In addition, family members were invited to come in and present what life was like when they were a child. Students learned how to compare and contrast, use a Venn Diagram, and ask WH questions. They will begin their second unit in mid-March.
Our First Grade students will be starting their next IB unit, How the World Works, by inquiring into the Central Idea "Living things need natural resources to survive and grow". They will explore life cycles of plants and animals and how human activity can affect plant and animal survival. We are excited to bring a presentation from a guest speaker in to share information about plants and animals. The students will also be learning the Spanish words for parts of plants and stages of particular animals in their life cycles.
Our Second Grade students will be starting their next IB unit, Where We Are in Place and Time, by inquiring into the Central Idea "People's actions and beliefs shape our world". They will explore how the actions taken by people in the past can affect us today. As they learn about several historical figures, they will determine what characteristics lead to someone taking action and they will define what it means to be a hero. Finally, they will apply their new learning to exploring how contemporary children and adults are making a difference in our community and around the world.
Our Third Grade students will be starting their next IB unit, How the World Works, by inquiring into the Central Idea - "Structures exist in our world". They will explore different types of natural and man-made structures such as physical attributes of animal adaptations, architectural styles, and the structure of non-fiction texts. Their learning will involve discovering different types of structures, their causes and how structures help them in their daily lives. Students will have an opportunity to create a fictional animal and provide it with structures to help it survive in a chosen environment.
Our Fourth Grade students will be starting their next IB unit, Where We Are in Place and Time, by inquiring into the Central Idea - "Human migration is a response to challenges and opportunities". They will explore the push/pull factors of migration in the past, present, and future in the United States and around the world. Students will learn about multiple perspectives involving the movement of people across the regions of the United States and the world. They will analyze factors which will impact their own decisions about where they may want to live in the future.
Our Fifth Grade students will be starting their next IB unit, Sharing the Planet, by inquiring into the Central Idea - "Human advancement can cause conflict with other living communities". They'll explore how the colonists of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern colonies had different perspectives from members of their home countries and indigenous people. They will investigate how scientific advancements can impact the environment and ecosystems and what is our responsibility to take in other perspectives to mitigate conflict.
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
Black History Month
Each morning, the students learn about an influential Black American who has 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.
News from the Art Room
Save the Date!
The Middletown District Art Show will be on display at Wesleyan University from March 7th-15th.
Invitations for students whose art will be on display will be handed out after the February break.
Check the Lawrence School Art webpage for grade specific curriculum and additional art show information.
Go to the Middletown Home Page. Click on the staff directory circle. Type, Alison Kaye, in the search bar, then click search. Under her name you will see a small globe icon, click on this and you will be brought to the Lawrence Art page.
Smarter Balanced Practice for Families
Information on how families can access Smarter Balanced practice tests can be found on our website: (https://www.middletownschools.org/)
- Click on the blue circle that says Curriculum and Instruction
- On the left, click on State Standardized Testing/Assessments
- Click on Smarter Balanced
- Click on Click here for Smarter Balanced Practice & Training Sites. Note: You do NOT need to enter your name, just hit the sign in button and the test will appear as a guest sign in. Just pick the grade level. If you have trouble with your browser, see below.
- Click on the box in the top left that says Take the Practice and Training Tests
- Make sure the button next to Guest User is toggled to ON
- Click on the green Sign In button at the bottom of the page
- Choose the grade level and click on the test you wish to practice. There are options for Math and ELA practice tests and practice performance tasks. Science (NGSS) can also be practiced (near the bottom of the page), but it is only Grade 5 level.
Looking for Preschoolers 3-5 Years Old
A Family & Consumer Science class is being offered to high school students with a child care concentration. The students will be given the opportunity to work with 10 preschool aged children to teach them in a nursery school program.
PRESCHOOLERS HAVE TO: BE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY
BE AT LEAST 3-5 YEARS OF AGE BE POTTY TRAINED
HAVE AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
THE PRESCHOOL IS FREE!
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED OR KNOWS ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL KRISTEN HAMILTON at bluedragonsprek@gmail.com OR CALL 860-704-4500 EXT. 4022
THE PRESCHOOL WILL RUN from End of October 2020 - June 2021 School Year
It is offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30am-12pm.
It is located at Middletown High School (200 LaRosa Lane).
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.