Penguin Press News
October 18, 2021
A Message from Principal Bame
Dear LPE Families,
The fall weather is upon us and our students are truly enjoying outside lunches and recess more than ever! We are continuing to navigate Covid related challenges and hope that our families know that our staff will continue to remain focused on student emotional wellness and academic rigor.
With that being said, we all want school to get back to normal, with parents/ caregivers and volunteers able to access the building. However, we are responsible for the health and safety of 840 students and 97 staff members. As principal, I do not take this responsibility lightly. While we are limiting essential volunteers to PTA board members, there are many ways that parents and caregivers can volunteer during this period of time:
- Become a member of the Laurel Park PTA. Our PTA is currently planning our Annual Trunk or Treat event and various spirit events. Consider attending General Membership meetings.
- Join us on Saturday, November 13th for our Fall Campus Beautification Day. Details and volunteer sign up information coming soon.
- Participate in Garden Club with your child. This is a fun way to spend time outside with your child and school community while also giving back.
- Donate items to your child's class from their teacher's wish list.
- Offer to help with classroom materials from home. Many times our teachers need help with cutting out and pasting materials, prepping classroom activities, and much more.
Friendly Reminders for Parents/Caregivers:
- K-2 Parents: Ensure your children have an extra set of clothes in their bookbags for accidents and emergency situations.
- All Parents: Send students to school with labeled water bottles and extra masks.
- All Parents: Encourage your child(ren) to dress in layers during cooler months.
- All Parents: Do not send sick children to school. Please help us keep students and staff safe from all viruses.
Kind Regards,
Principal Raleigh G. Bame
What is coming up?
- October 21st - Spirit Night (see below)
- October 22nd - Virtual Academy Supply Pick-up
- October 29th - Track 4 report cards sent via email
- October 30th - PTA Trunk or Treat Event
- November 2nd - No School, Workday
- November 4th - PTA General Membership Meeting 7:00 pm
- November 6th - YMCA/PTA Sponsored Blood Drive (at YMCA)
- November 11th - No School, Holiday
- November 13th - (Tentative) Campus Beautification Day (more info to come)
- November 24th, 25th, 26th - No School, Holiday
- December 23rd - 31st - Winter Break
Interested in Receiving Text Message Updates?
Interested in Receiving Text Message Updates?
Text YES to 67587 from the cell phone you wish to receive text messages on. You will receive the following confirmation message: You’re registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies. schoolmessenger.com/txt
Important: The phone number must be associated with your student in PowerSchool to receive text messages from the school and the district.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Parent Letter for 3rd & 4th Graders
In the Wake County Public School System, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered to all students in third grade and fourth grade. The CogAT measures general thinking and problem-solving skills and indicates how well the student uses these skills to solve verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal problems. The skills and abilities measured by the CogAT develop gradually throughout a person’s lifetime, but individuals vary in the rates at which they develop the skills. Because these abilities are closely related to an individual’s success in school, test results may be used in planning effective instructional programs. In combination with other relevant information about a student, scores can be used to adapt instruction in ways that enhance the student’s success in learning. The CogAT is one assessment of many that will assist school personnel in instructional planning.
Laurel Park Track 4 testing dates are as follows:
3rd & 4th Grade Track 4:
Tuesday, October 26th - Thursday, October 28th, 2021
3rd & 4th Grade Virtual Academy:
Virtual Academy students will report to Laurel Park for testing on Tuesday, October 26th
Students should be dropped off at AM carpool between 8:45 and 9:15
VA students are invited to have a free breakfast prior to testing
Testing will begin at 9:30 and will take approximately 100 minutes. Please plan to pick-up your student at 11:30 at carpool
Please complete this permission form to allow your student to take all three sections of the Cogat on the same day. The form can be returned to abarabasz@wcpss.net or sent in with your student on the day of testing
If your student cannot attend, please notify Mr. Barabasz at abarabasz@wcpss.net
The CogAT consists of three batteries, one given each day over a total of 3 days. Scores from these three batteries yield a partial composite and composite score: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal Battery.
Verbal Battery (VN): The three subtests on the Verbal Battery appraise verbal inductive and deductive reasoning skills, as well as flexibility, fluency, and adaptability in working with verbal materials and solving verbal problems. This cluster of verbal reasoning abilities plays an important role in developing skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and virtually all verbal learning tasks.
Quantitative Battery (QN): The three subtests on the Quantitative Battery appraise deductive and inductive reasoning skills as well as flexibility and fluency in working with quantitative symbols and concepts. Successful performance on these subtests requires that students have a variety of strategies for working with quantitative materials. The reasoning skills appraised by this battery are significantly related to high-level problem solving not only in mathematics but also in other disciplines.
Nonverbal Battery (NV): The three subtests on the Nonverbal Battery present the most novel problems to students. The items on these subtests use only geometric shapes and figures and require no reading and no outside fund of knowledge. All these items appraise general inductive reasoning skills as well as flexibility and fluency in using and adapting cognitive strategies.
If you have any questions about the CogAT Test, please reach out to our Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Teacher, Ms. Amy Stone at astone@wcpss.net. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Mr. Adam Barabasz
Assistant Principal, Laurel Park Elementary
2022 Prospective Family Tour Sign-up
Bullying Prevention - Unity Day 2021
This Wednesday, October 20th, we will be celebrating Unity Day. Please wear orange (or red/yellow) to show that we unite around kindness, support, and inclusion.
At Laurel Park, daily Positivity Project lessons taught by classroom teachers help reinforce kind and respectful actions in our students. In addition, Mrs. MacEntee and Mrs. Truskowski teach Guidance lessons on bully prevention to help students understand what bullying is and what to do if they or someone they know are harassed &/or bullied. Please see the following link & attachments for more information on bully prevention:
Social Learning Updates - October 2021
In Social Learning class, students are learning about the size of their problems. Kindergarten and 1st graders learn the difference between small, medium and big problems. Second and third graders are learning about how the unthinkable, glassman, causes someone to overreact to the size of the problem. Fourth and fifth graders also talk about the size of the problems and expected reactions with problem solving.
As social detectives, we try to figure out the size of the problem before we react and make sure it matches.
PTA Updates and News Section
DATE: Saturday 10/30/2021 (no rain date)
1:00 - 2:15 - TRACKS 1 & 2
2:30 - 3:45 - TRACKS 3 & 4
LOCATION: Laurel Park Elementary School
What is a trunk or treat DRIVE THRU?
This is a socially distanced, COVID friendly modification to our annual Trunk or Treat! Vehicles will come through Parade style to look at the decorated trunks. Cars will be parked on the carpool road, along the side. Parade cars will drive one way past the parked trunks. Everyone must stay in their car and maintain social distancing. (no walkers).
Parade Cars may decorate and people are encouraged to dress up during the drive through.
I would like to decorate my trunk, how do I make that happen?
We need decorated trunks to make this event successful!!! Click here to sign up to: decorate your truck! There will also be a prize for the best decorated trunk! Those wanting to decorate a trunk must sign up ahead of time and be prepared to stay between the times of 1:00 - 3:45.
Pictures will be taken of all the trunks and posted to the PTA FB page. The trunk with the most “Likes” at the end of the event (4:00) will receive a prize!
Sign up here: Trunk Sign Up
If I decorate my trunk, may I arrive early to decorate?
Yes, you may arrive at 11:30 to set up but no later than 12:45.
I would like to hand out “treats” to our trick or treaters!
Families with decorated trunks may pass out treats to the parade cars. We are encouraging alternatives to candy and food so that we can include all students and promote healthy choices. Some ideas are pencils, erasers, stickers, tattoos, small toys, and glow sticks.
Be prepared to see at least 100 kids.
Only families with parked decorated trunks may be out of their vehicle. All other parade attendees must remain in their car.
What if we can not attend?
No problem! You can still view the trunks on the Laurel Park PTA Facebook page and “like” your favorite!
How can I volunteer to help at Trunk or Treat?
We need some great volunteers to help make our event a success. Volunteers can help with a number of jobs from set up/clean up , to handing out maps/instructions. From assisting with directing traffic and managing social media. If you could help, please sign up on the link below.
Volunteer Sign Up
What should I expect during games and activities?
We are hoping to have some vendors set up and hand out marketing material and treats in between decorated trunks. But unfortunately this year there will be no other activities as participants must remain in their cars.
Event Schedule
11:30 - 12:45 Families may arrive to decorate their trunks.
Volunteers will direct cars where to park.
**Parents-please keep your children with you.
1:00 - 2:15 TRACKS 1 & 2 may arrive to drive thru the carpool loop, parade style
2:15 - 2:30 Volunteer Break
2:30 - 3:45 TRACKS 3 & 4 may arrive to drive thru the carpool loop, parade style
3:45 - 4:30 Clean Up
PTA Reflections Contest
If you have any questions or are unable to submit the project online, please email laurelparkesreflections@gmail.com
BOOK FAIR
Board & Brush Creative Studio is not your typical paint & sip shop. Our workshops teach you how to take a raw piece of lumber and turn it into a finished farmhouse project - step by step.
Register for the IN-STUDIO event, minimum 24 hours required:
https://boardandbrush.com/apex/events/laurel-park-elementary-spirit-night/
For a HOME KIT to paint at home.
Order and Pick up between October 17 - 23
https://boardandbrush.com/apex/shop/gallery/bb-home-kits
To be purchased between October 17 - 23. They can be purchased with or without paint. Customers can use any paint they have at their homes for these projects.
Please type in Laurel Park Elementary in your order so it counts toward our event.
Positivity Project Resource for Families
P2 for Families is an easy and effective way for families to discuss the importance of character strengths and positive relationships. It is differentiated for grades Pre-K – 2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each character strength follows a 1-1-3 model: 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to drive conversations around character at home.
Please choose your child’s grade level found at the link below:
Do you know your child's email address?
Want more answers to tech questions?
Go to Students and click on Remote Learning Resources and FAQ on the Laurel Park Website.
Parent and Student Tech Guides (WCPSS)
Grocery Store Rewards Cards
Laurel Park Elementary School
Website: wcpss.net/laurelparkes
Location: Laurel Park Elementary School, Laura Duncan Road, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: 919.290.2333
Twitter: @LaurelParkElem