Penguin Press News
April 27, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL BAME
Dear LPE Families,
Even though we all anticipated the announcement Friday that schools will remain closed for the duration of the school year, my heart was not ready for it. In fact, I just sat at my computer in tears, trying to process the total impact. Most of us love the occasional day off from school, but imagining my two children not being able to finish out the year normally, tugs on all of my emotions. As principal, I know how much our teachers miss your children. At this time, we are all grieving this loss as a greater school family.
With that being said, our school community will rise to this extra challenging situation. Behind the scenes, our staff members have been discussing fifth grade "Moving Up" celebration options, creating rising kindergarten virtual orientation plans, and planning how to amend a host of other year-end processes. As we work to create safe, virtual experiences in lieu of large gathering events, we encourage you to reach out to our PTA if you would like to contribute or offer support in any way. This pandemic may have impacted many of our typical plans, but it cannot take away the love that is shared within our community. We are going to show our kids just how much they mean to us!
In addition, our counseling team is already working on wellness lessons to support the transition back to school, once that date is announced. Ms. MacEntee and Ms. Waddell are working with our feeder middle schools to create/develop meaningful transition to middle school programming. We are all awaiting District guidance on opening the school for students to pick up personal items, yearbooks, etc. We know these are popular topics of conversation right now. Thank you for your patience!
In this newsletter, please find information on the following:
- Name That Staff Pet Game for Families
- Celebrations to share
- Social Emotional resources for students/ families
- Update from Coach Edwards
- Update from Lucky's Library/ Ms. LeSueur
- Information about 4th and 5th Grade Outlook Accounts
- Safety Patrol Applications (rising 4th and 5th)
- Specialist Team designed resources for students at home
- AIG Updates from Ms. Stone
- Food Distribution Sites
Please remember it is always best to stay informed. Additional information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can be located in the Wake County Public Health Divisions’ website.
Thinking of you,
Mrs. Raleigh G. Bame
#LPESWAKE
#Everychildeveryday
#OtherPeopleMatter
A Note from our K Team....
Mrs. Link is our 2019-2020 Instructional Assistant of the Year!
Our Student Support Team Cares
In these uncertain times we wanted to make sure to reach out to families. We have included some tips for parents to consider. Below that you will find a link to resources that the district has put together.
Here are some general tips to keep in mind during these weeks at home with your children:
Help children and adolescents think of creative ways to maintain their friendships and social connections. This may include writing emails or letters to friends, or scheduling time to use the phone or age-appropriate technology to communicate with peers. Remember that your own social connections are important as well, and make time to reach out by phone or virtually to family and friends.
Proactively reach out to schools and community organizations to support you in meeting any additional needs your family may have, such as access to meals or support services.
Click here to access Social Emotional Recommendations and Resources compiled by the district: Link to district resources
Please reach out if you have questions or need support.
Caren MacEntee - cmacentee@wcpss.net
Ashley Waddell - awaddell@wcpss.net
Amy Hawkins - ahawkins@wcpss.net
PE and Kids Heart Challenge Update
Dear Penguins and Families,
I hope that you are all doing well and feeling healthy. I just wanted to send out a quick note to update you on PE things and the kids heart challenge. First, I hope that you and your families have had a chance to go on the specialists website and try some of the games and activities I have placed there.
Please, if you can, send me a picture or a video of you doing some of the games. I would love to see them. Look for new games and a joke for the week each Monday. If you have any questions or anything you would like to share with me please send it to me through the website or my email mjedwards2@wcpss.net.
Kids Heart Challenge
I want to thank all of you and your parents for doing a great job this year. Most of the classes had a chance to finish the event before we left school. We ended up raising $8,376.79. I have ordered the prizes but as of now they are being stored in a warehouse till we get back to school. I thank you all for your understanding concerning this issue.
I hope that you all stay safe and please look at the website and try as many activities as you can. Most all of them can be done with stuff you have a home.
I miss you all!
Stay safe and be kind,
Coach Edwards
News from Lucky's Library
Stay at Home and READO!
Try Mrs. LeSueur’s reading bingo. Click here to make your own copy and challenge yourself to do the whole board!
North Carolina Children’s Book Award
Hey kids, voting can still happen! Track 1 has already voted. But everyone else can vote online at THIS LINK and view a special message from Mrs. LeSueur. You must be signed in to your school account in order to vote!
We are excited for the Everywhere Bookfest, coming May 1st - 2nd! A virtual gathering of kidlit authors, illustrators, and books that will bring the book festival experience to young readers everywhere. https://everywherebookfest.com/
4th and 5th Grade Outlook Accounts
4th and 5th graders recently got an Outlook email account which can be found when they sign into WakeID. This week for the STEM assignment, Ms. Trent created a video for them to watch explaining that this email is for school use only and should not be used to sign up for things such as games or activities that are not school related. This is a monitored email account and can be taken away if misused. We want this to be a tool for those students to communicate with their teacher and other students about school related topics.
Ms. Trent will be hosting special e-mail training for 4th and 5th grade students every day from April 7 - May 1 at 12:00. Go to https://bit.ly/lpesspecialsite and look on the current specials assignment under STEM to get the Google Meet code. Please make sure you are signed into the WakeID Portal so you can join the Google Meet. If you are not signed into WCPSS, I will not let you in.
If students cannot make this time, or just want to meet up with Ms. Trent, feel free to sign up for an open time most days at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Tiffany's Tech Time Sign Up
As a reminder Ms. Trent has created a website that answers most questions parents have. This Frequently Asked Questions page (https://bit.ly/lpesfaq) is updated regularly, so keep referring to it for answers. Also, another great help is WCPSS Family Tech Support. You can call or fill out a form for someone to help you.
One problem that I have seen over and over again, is that people are not signed in to WCPSS correctly. Here is a sheet on how to do that on all devices.
Tiffany Trent
STEM Teacher
Laurel Park Elementary School
Teachers Questions are in the Master Everything.
Parents FAQ are here: https://bit.ly/lpesfaq
You checked the FAQ pages and still need some tech help?
You can contact WCPSS Family Tech Support or
Fill out this form for Ms. Trent to help you.
Safety Patrol Application Process (Rising 4th and 5th Graders)
Dear rising 4th and 5th grade Students and Parents,
We are happy to announce that Laurel Park is accepting Safety Patrol applications for the 2020-2021 school year!
Below is a video introducing Safety Patrol for next year. Please note: I was able to open the video on my phone and PC without issue, but on a MAC I had to first download it and then open/play it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xz5IlGO70rxVdqijrXfqqBCvg8aNC861/view?usp=sharing
Safety Patrols are our 4th and 5th graders who assist other Laurel Park Penguins during arrival and dismissal. Their duties include opening and closing car doors during morning carpool, taking students out to the cones for afternoon carpool, holding bus numbers as students get to the right bus, and putting the flag up and down each day.
If selected, your child will be assigned 1-2 positions each week for the semester. These assignments will not change from July-December. We have chosen to do the assignment per semester next year to accommodate families changing schedules (and because we know some students do different activities/sports in the fall versus the spring). Additionally, safety patrol officers get very excited at the beginning of the year and the excitement tends to lessen as the year moves on. On the application, we have asked you to provide all the days your child is available to serve as Safety Patrol and if selected, we will make 1-2 assignments per week for July-December based on the availability you submitted. We will ask for availability again in November/December in order to create a schedule for January-June.
Remember, this assignment will last the entire semester, and it is expected that your child be at their assigned post every week EXCEPT when they are tracked out or sick. Morning duty starts at 8:40 a.m. and afternoon duty will end at approximately 4:05 p.m.
If you are interested, please complete the google form application, which is linked below. It consists of 2 parts. Part 1 - Complete the information page of the application. This allows you to let me know your commitment and availability. Part 2 - Write an essay stating why you would be a good Safety Patrol candidate. YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SAFETY PATROL UNLESS THIS ESSAY IS SUBMITTED!
Once you have submitted your application and essay, two things will happen. 1) I will be contacting your parent(s) to confirm that they know that you have applied and understand the commitment on your (and their) part if you are selected. And 2) I will be asking your current teacher to complete a Teacher Recommendation form. Teacher recommendations will help to determine who is selected for Safety Patrol.
Please complete this application no later than Friday, May 8th.
https://forms.gle/uSJsNiqEknFRprTD8
We can’t wait to give our Penguins this exciting leadership opportunity! Safety Patrol members will be notified before the end of this school year through email.
Important points to remember:
Safety Patrol lasts for the entire year (assignments are by semester) and will begin the week of July 13th (tracks 1, 2, 3) and August 3rd (track 4).
Morning duty begins at 8:40. You cannot be dropped off earlier than 8:40.
Afternoon Duty will end by 4:05. You need to be picked up at 4:05
Not everyone that applies will be selected.
You must show Penguin Pride in all that you do.
Supplemental Resources for Academic and Specials Classes
New help for parents and students! You can go to students or academics on the LPES website and click "Remote Learning Resources and FAQ" to get answers to many questions and resources. Go straight to https://bit.ly/lpesfaq for answers. It continues to be updated daily.
You can also visit StudentTechHelp.wcpss.net or call our Help Desk at 919-694-8100 (the HelpDesk will be staffed to take calls weekdays from 7:00 am -5: 00pm).
If any adults want to volunteer to help WCPSS get hotspots ready for families without internet in their homes, sign up at https://activategood.org/operationaccess/. This will be happening Thursday - Wednesday of next week. Social distancing precautions will be used.
Food Distribution Sites Open March 17
With the announcement of school closures from March 16 through at least March 27, we want to inform you of food access options throughout Wake County during these unprecedented times.
A number of schools and community centers will serve as food distribution sites for Wake County families beginning Tuesday, March 17.
- Families may pick up food at the locations and times indicated below.
- Food will be distributed by volunteers at curbside to minimize safety concerns.
- The food will be placed in safe and sanitized food containers.
- ID is not required to pick up food.
Currently, the following sites will be offering lunch and breakfast for pickup for students aged 18 and under - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, Monday through Friday, beginning March 17:
- Poe Magnet Elementary School, 400 Peyton St., Raleigh
- Rogers Lane Elementary School, 201 N. Rogers Lane, Raleigh
- Creech Road Elementary School, 450 Creech Road, Garner
- Wendell Middle School, 3409 NC Hwy. 97, Wendell
- Zebulon Magnet Elementary School, 700 Proctor St., Zebulon
- Millbrook Magnet Elementary School, 1520 E. Millbrook Dr., Raleigh
- Briarcliff Elementary School, 1220 Pond St., Cary
- Pine Acres Community Center, 402 McLean St., Fuquay-Varina
- PAVE SE Raleigh Charter School, 3420 Idlewood Village Dr., Raleigh
- Wake County Human Services Northern Regional Center, 350 Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Washington Terrace Apartments, 1951 Booker Dr., Raleigh
- Raleigh Millbank Apartments, 1500 N. Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh
- The Oaks Apartments, 3911 Water Oak Dr., Raleigh
- New Hope Village Apartments, 4321 Grandiflora Lane, Raleigh
- Casa De Luna Apartments, 3918 Bonneville Court, Raleigh
- Juniper Level Baptist Church, 9104 Sauls Road, Raleigh
Confirmed Community Sites provided by Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church will have lunch for pickup available to any students aged 18 and under:
- First United Methodist, 117 S. Academy St., Cary, Mon.-Fri., 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
- Chatham Forest Apartments, 880 Glendale Dr., Cary, Tues. and Thurs., 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p .m.
- Apex First Baptist, 419 S. Salem St., Apex, Mon. and Wed., 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Arbors at Cary Apartments, 200 Wrenn Dr., Cary, Mon.- Thurs., 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Crosstimber Apartments 900 Golden Horseshoe Cir, Morrisville, NC 27560 - Mon.-Fri. 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Mobile Market Locations and Times is available to all community members:
- Abundant Life Cathedral, 4400 Old Poole Road, Raleigh, Fourth Saturdays (beginning 3/28/20)., 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Bread for Life Mobile Market at Zebulon Boys & Girls Club, 1320 Shepard School Road, Zebulon, Third Saturdays (beginning 3/21/20) 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Community Helpers Service Center, 111 N. First Ave., Knightdale, Drive-thru, Thursdays (beginning 3/19/20), 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Martin Street Baptist Church, 1001 E. Martin St., Raleigh, Second Saturdays (beginning 4/11/20), 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Praise Temple Mobile Market, 1329, U.S. Hwy 70, Fourth Saturdays (beginning 3/28/20), 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Wake Forest Baptist Church, 107 S. Ave., Wake Forest, Third Tuesdays (beginning 3/17/20), 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We are grateful for the outreach from many of our parents and community members asking how they can help. We ask that you take any food donations to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle or Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.
If you would like to volunteer to support our work with food access and food security, please fill out this form and we will contact you soon.
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