In The Laidlaw Loop
Family Update- November 3, 2023
As always, Halloween was a blast. Huge shoutout to all of our PTO parent volunteers who made the classroom parties a huge success. Also, thanks to all of the parents who made time in their day to join us along the parade route! Halloween always signals the start of the holiday season, so be on the watch for so many fun Laidlaw happenings to celebrate the season coming your way.
Next week is an important one for Laidlaw! We are honoring D101 Veterans at our Veteran's Day Assembly next Friday at 10AM. This event is limited to students, our Veteran honorees, and parent volunteers only; however, I'll make sure to snap lots of pictures and share in next Friday's newsletter. We ask that all students wear red, white, and blue next Friday if they can.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Renee
Students in Action this week
There is nothing better than a Halloween parade and attending classroom Halloween parties. Lots of pictures below to enjoy from the FUN this week! :-)
Attendance Matters
Attendance matters and we want your students in school. Make the most of classroom opportunities! When students are not in school, they miss opportunities to participate in classroom activities and socialize with their peers. By attending school each day they are not sick, students are more engaged in learning. Please use the guidelines below to help you determine when it is appropriate to keep your student home. If your student is well, we want them in school.
Picture Re-Take Day-November 8
Please click on this website for picture re-take day ordering. Please see the details below.
Review 360 Screener
As is our annual practice, students in grades 3-5 will complete the Review 360 social-emotional screener next week. It is a short questionnaire that is used to help identify students who may be at risk of internalizing social-emotional issues. This brief screener will be administered in their classrooms with their teachers. As also is our practice, we will follow-up with students and families as necessary after.
COGAT Testing: 3rd and 5th grade
Students in grades 3 and 5 will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of November 13. I will share detailed class schedules out next week.
The CogAT Test measures the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student compared to age mates and grade mates. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.
The CogAT measures three different cognitive abilities.
• The verbal section measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of English words, to understand them and to make inferences and judgments about them.
• The quantitative section measures a child’s understanding of basic quantitative concepts and relationships.
• The non-verbal section measures reasoning using pictures and geometric shapes. This section reduces the impact of language on the student’s score.
• The composite score is a total score for all three batteries.
Parents will receive these assessment results as soon as they're available for distribution.
November Student Ownership Attribute: Being Collaborative
Our D101 definition of COLLABORATIVE is: collaborative people are able to work together to produce or create something, and to work with someone else on a project or to solve a problem.
Some of the components I will be discussing when I push into each classroom this month are:
Collaboration is all around us - in our partner work, our group work, team sports, families, EVERYWHERE!
Collaboration helps us put together strengths and skills from different people - we are stronger when we think and work together!
Collaborative people are open to ideas and often learn new things and have great experiences working in new ways
We will discuss these talking points in connection with the following grade level texts:
Kindergarten: The Little Red Fort, by Brenda Maier
1st Grade: Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathmann
2nd Grade: Up the Creek, by Nicholas Oldland
3rd Grade: The Little Red Pen, by Janet Stevens
4th Grade: Boxitects, by Kim Smith
5th Grade: Someone Builds the Dream, by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Lang
Although this is our collective focus for the month of November, we’ll always be practicing being COLLABORATIVE throughout the year, and will be using these skills as a part of our December focus – being a GLOBAL CITIZEN! Stay tuned for more information about GLOBAL CITIZENS next month!
Reminder: Pets at Dropoff/Pickup
This is a friendly reminder that pets are not allowed on school property, (on the blacktop, on the front grass of school, on the stairwells) especially at drop off and pickup time. Please be mindful that some of our students have a fear of animals and it can be dysregulating at arrival and dismissal for some students to come in contact with animals. Thank you for your attention to this.
Sign-up for Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, November 20th 9:00-12:00, 1:00-5:00, 6:00-8:00 (20 minute sessions) In-Person
Tuesday, November 21st 9:00-1:00 and 2:00-6:00 (20 minute sessions) Virtual
Kindergarten Fera Only - Friday, November 17th 12:30-3:30 (20 minute sessions) In-Person
Again this year, Laidlaw will be using PTC Wizard, an online Parent Teacher Conference sign up system.
The scheduling window opens Wednesday, November 1st at 8:00am and will close Friday, November 17th at 12:00pm
Please refer to the instructions below to schedule your conference.
Access PTC Wizard: https://app.ptcwizard.com/laidlawes When the window opens November 1st at 8 am, follow the wizard to complete your conference schedule.
If you have already registered for PTC through another building, you do not need to create a new login.
You may change your conference times up until the window closes on
Friday, November 17th at 12:00pm
Please Note Group Conferences:
· If your child sees a Resource or Intervention teacher and you would like a One on One conference please schedule through the PTC Wizard. If you want multiple staff members to sit in on your child’s conference, please call the office at 708-246-7673 to schedule. (before calling the office, please confirm with your child’s teacher exactly who needs to sit in on the conference. Due to busy schedules it is not always possible to add teachers at a later time.)
Please contact Mrs. Walker with any questions at ewalker@d101.org or
708-246-7673. Thank you.
Sticky Fingers Cooking Class- WINTER
Please click here if you are interested in signing up for the winter session of Sticky Fingers.
Art Enrichment Class: WINTER
Please click here to signup for the WINTER Draw & Paint class at Laidlaw.
Right At School Opportunities
If you would like more information about the Right At School before and after care program, please see the included flyer or visit their website at https://rightatschool.com/.
2023-24 School Calendar
Please find the 2022-23 calendar HERE
Upcoming Dates
Nov 8: Picture re-take day and Marla's lunch (ordering info above)
November 14 - Book Fair (AM)
Book Fair w/ Loved Ones Open House (PM)
November 17 - Fun Lunch
Laidlaw PTO Information
Casino Night - November 11th (7-11 pm)
Don’t miss out on a fun night out with neighbors while supporting our school. Click here to purchase tickets TODAY!
Book Fair/Loved Ones Open House - November 14th
Students can shop during the day with their class, after school with a guardian and NEW THIS YEAR, during the Loved Ones Open House at night. Click here for more details! Parent volunteers needed for Book Fair and Loved Ones Open House!
Fun Lunch - November 17th - Volunteers still needed in Hornbeck, Roth and Moody!
The next PTO Fun Lunch will feature entertainment by the famous Jesse White Tumblers and pizza for all students. Two volunteers/classroom are needed. Click here to volunteer!
Word From WSFEE
Do you have a Big Idea and just don't know where to start? WSFEE is here to help - contact grants@wsfee.org and we can help you through the grant writing process. Grants help support everything from school and classroom libraries to STEM supplies to buddy benches and lunch tables. Remember to visit wsfee.org or follow WSFEE on Facebook or Instagram (@wsfee_d101) to hear about events, donations and sponsorship opportunities throughout the year.
Sent from my iPhone
Western Springs Community Happenings
Please click here for a list of Western Springs community happenings including:
-Library Night