In The Laidlaw Loop
Family Update- September 1, 2023
Rocking and Rolling...
Thank you for joining us last night at Curriculum Night. It was so wonderful to show off our school and we loved having you connect with teachers and visit classrooms. If you missed last night's presentation, here was the slide deck that Mrs. Dolan and myself presented. Classroom teachers should be sharing their presentations & handouts via their weekly classroom newsletter.
I've really enjoyed getting back into the classrooms this week. I spent a lot of time in 3rd and 5th grade rooms this week and loved seeing routines formed around literacy and math practices. Students are doing such a great job showing increased academic stamina as they start to feel more comfortable in their new spaces. And, the "light bulbs" were going off as students were making connections from their previous learning to new ideas. It was great to see!
Have a wonderful LONG weekend,
Renee
Student Ownership Attribute: Principal Classroom Push-Ins
Our September Student Ownership Attributes are Resilient and Perseverant. One area of focus this year is to help our students rebuild their individual and collective stamina, and we thought the topic of stamina would pair nicely with these attributes.
Our D101 definition is: Able to continue a task, in spite of being presented with difficulties or limited progress, & recover quickly from setbacks. It's a great way for us to practice using our growth mindsets and keep going when we don't succeed the first time (or second, third and so on!).
Some of the components we'll discuss at the various grade levels are:
Resilient people never give up! They keep looking for a solution, and keep on trying, even when it’s tough.
Resilient people work hard to find the next step, to look at the bright side, and to focus on how they can get better.
Resilient people like to take on a challenge and do hard things.
In order to reinforce these messages, we're utilizing the following books at each grade level:
Kindergarten: Pete the Cat, by Erin Litwin
1st Grade: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell
2nd Grade: After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again), by Dan Santat
3rd Grade: Otis, by Loren Long
4th Grade: Rosie Revere, Engineer, by Andrea Beaty
5th Grade: Nothing Stopped Sophie, by Cheryl Bardoe
We're excited to be diving back into our Student Ownership attributes and helping our students grow in these traits!
Does your student go home for lunch?
If your student goes home for lunch, Mrs. Dolan wants to remind you of the following:
1. Your student may not return back to Laidlaw any earlier than 12:25PM
2. When they exit & return:
1st Grade- Students exit out the main doors (Door 1) and return through the main doors at 12:25 PM
2nd and 3rd Grade - Dismiss at the West Gym Doors onto the blacktop, and arrive at the blacktop at 12:25 PM entering with their classes ( 2nd grade doors / Door 6)
4th Grade and 5th Grade- Dismiss out the South Doors (5th Grade Doors / Door 2) and arrive on the blacktop at 12:25 PM entering through Kindergarten Doors ( Door 3). Students will not enter the gym while lunch is taking place.
Please have students exit and enter through their assigned door. Students who arrive back to school prior to 12:25 must remain outside on the blacktop or at the front door (1st grade) until 12:25PM.
Band and Orchestra
If your child is interested in joining the 4th grade Band or Orchestra, please be sure to read the email sent out by Dawn Fiebrandt on Thursday, Aug. 24. Please contact Dawn Fiebrandt with any questions.
Join Sticky Fingers Cooking Enrichment
If you are interested in joining the Sticky Fingers Cooking Enrichment club, please click here.
Join Chess Wizards
Join Art Enrichment
If you are interested in joining art enrichment on Thursdays, click here
Interested in Cubs Scouts?
Are you interested in Cub Scouts? Please click here for info.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures- copied from last week
Please view the arrival and dismissal details below We do have one major change this year: Maple Ave (between Forest and Hampton) will be closed to traffic at arrival and dismissal times. Closing Maple Ave. during arrival and dismissal will allow for a much safer experience for our students and the supervisors who work at the corners at arrival and dismissal.
Bell Schedule
Bell Schedule
Nothing has changed from last year regarding the bell schedule.
Regular School Hours
8:40 – 11:40 a.m. and 12:30 – 3:30 p.m: Grades 1-5
8:40 – 11:40 a.m :Kindergarten (A.M.)
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Kindergarten (P.M.)
Bell Schedule
8:30 a.m.: Bell to line up
8:35 a.m.: Bell to enter school
8:40 a.m.: Tardy Bell
11:40 a.m.:Morning Dismissal Bell/Lunch Bell
12:25 p.m.:Bell to line up and enter school/End of Lunch
12:30 p.m.:Tardy Bell
3:30 p.m.:Afternoon Dismissal Bell
Message from Mrs. Dolan Regarding Lunchtime
We are so excited to resume lunch in the same fashion that we did last year. Students who choose to stay at Laidlaw for lunch will eat between 11:40 am-12:25 pm; part of this time will be spent eating in the gym, and part will be spent playing during lunch recess. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders will eat first; 4th and 5th will eat second. Families have the choice to have their student(s) come home for lunch (11:40 am-12:25 pm). Students who go home for lunch may not return to school until 12:25 pm. Please CLICK HERE to complete a quick Google Form to let us know your lunch plans. This form will not “lock” you into a permanent choice, as we understand plans may change, but it does give us a starting point for developing accurate lunch attendance records. The safety of your children is always our highest priority. To ensure safety, it is important that there are minimal changes to the lunch schedule once it is set moving forward. Please complete this form ASAP.
Students in grades 1-4 will be sitting by classroom tables at lunch to start the year. 5th graders will have assigned seats at lunch to begin the year. This ensures that we can take some time to make sure all students know the lunchroom expectations and are able to follow them so that we have a safe experience for all students during our busy lunchtime process.
Additionally, are you interested in volunteering for recess duty this year? We greatly appreciate the help. If so please click here.
11:40:
Grades 1, 2 & 3 eat in the gym
Grades 4 & 5 outside for recess
12:05:
Grades 1, 2, & 3 outside for recess
Grades 4 & 5 eat in the gym
Questions about lunch? Please email our Dean of Students, Carrie Dolan at cdolan@d101.org
Smart Watch Use
Smart Watch Procedure:
We know that many of our students come to school with gadgets, including phones and Smart Watches. While these are helpful tools for communication outside of school, within the school day we expect our students to remain focused on learning. Smart Watches are allowed at school, but can only be used in their non-interactive capacity as a simple clock.
To ensure that our learning environment is Respectful, Responsible, and Safe for all students, we do not allow Smart Watch use in the building or on the grounds between 8:30am line-up and 3:30pm dismissal (except for use as a clock/timer); this mirrors our expectations for cell phone use. Again, students may wear a Smart Watch, but it is to be on school mode or not in use during the day (other than for telling time).
We know that many students use their Smart Watches to communicate a need home to their parents/guardians; instead, we emphasize with our students the need to communicate via the trusted adults on site to help them navigate situations with peers, health issues, or other concerns. We also note that when devices are used in school, it is often a parent who is the one calling or texting their child; please don’t be that person. Should you need to reach your child, please contact the main office to help us emphasize the value of connecting with our trusted adults.
If a student is observed using their Smart Watch at school other than as a simple watch, we will take the following progressive steps:
For a first instance, the staff member will remind the student that devices are not to be used at school.
For a second instance, the staff member will ask the student to put the device in their backpack/locker.
For a third instance, the staff member will take the device to the office for the duration of the day; parents will be contacted for device pick-up and to problem-solve as partners to eliminate usage at school.
Thank you for helping keep our focus on learning!
Service Opportunity
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
Curriculum Night: 8/31: 6PM-7:30PM
Labor Day (no school): 9/4
Spirit Day: 9/5
LL Walk to School Day: 9/15
Map Testing Begins: week of 9/18 for 2nd through 5th graders
Picture Day: 9/26
Fun Lunch: 9/29
Family Fun Run 9/30
Laidlaw PTO Information
Registration is now up for the Laidlaw 5K and Fun Runs. Register Today!
https://raceroster.com/events/2023/77339/laidlaw-elementary-school-5k-and-fun-runs
Limited Time Spirit Wear Sale - now thru 9/8
Click here for NEW Laidlaw Spirit Wear options!
Garden Club registration begins on September 5th. More information in flyer below. (Feel free to link to pdf below)
And, please add these into your Upcoming Events section:
Friday, 9/15 - PTO Walk to School Day
Saturday, 9/30 - PTO Laidlaw Family 5k & Fun Run
Saturday, 11/11 - Casino Night