In The Laidlaw Loop
Weekly Newsletter: August 26, 2022
Dear Laidlaw Families,
What a week! I absolutely loved the vibrant energy that flowed through Laidlaw all week. On Monday and Tuesday this week, all staff participated in two staff development days that included team building activities, LOTS of Laidlaw specific meetings, and some incredible professional development trainings at the district level. Wednesday was an exciting day for our entire Laidlaw community. A huge shout-out to mother nature for gifting us with such a beautiful day to welcome our Leopards back into the building. Thanks to PTO for the adorable "1st Day Of School" signage in both the front and back of the building. I loved seeing so many smiling faces in those frames.
My favorite part of the week so far were my visits from our newest Laidlaw students (our Kindergarten classes) and my visits into our veteran students' classrooms (our 5th graders!). Mrs. Fera and Mrs. Coleman led Kindergarteners on a "tour" of Laidlaw from the vantage of Pete The Cat. Students visited many important areas of our school during their walk, including my office. Mrs. Fera and Mrs. Coleman reminded students that the Principal's office is a safe & welcoming space to be. Their smiles in the pictures below say it all!
It was exciting to push into Mrs. Cushman's, Mrs. Shannon's and Mrs. Moody's classrooms to hear teachers working with students to remind them about common 5th grade expectations and about specific ways 5th graders can be respectful, responsible, and safe at school. Our 5th graders brought up many good questions inquiring how they can start to best prepare this year for their transition to McClure next year. I was so impressed that many students are already thinking this way! I loved watching 5th graders reunite with classmates they may not have seen all summer and enjoyed being part of some of their community building activities. I even got to play a rousing game of silent ball with two of the classes during a brain break :-)...
I look forward to seeing families this evening at our annual Laidlaw ice cream social from 5:00-6:30PM. Additionally, parents, mark your calendars for Laidlaw's Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 6 from 6:00-7:30PM. Details for curriculum night will be shared later next week.
Inclement Weather Drop Off
Curriculum Update (Going SLOW to go FAST)
Here at Laidlaw and across District 101, we are deeply committed to creating healthy, effective, thriving classroom communities as the number one priority to start the year. Classroom teachers and specialists work hard to front-load specific, explicit learning about what success looks like, sounds like, and feels like in the classroom, so that our students know what is expected of them and how to thrive within their classroom. We focus on social skills, the value of relationships, and the importance of respectful, responsible, and safe behaviors; our goal is to map out the expectations, purpose, and value of the communities we create. More than anything, we want our students to start the year feeling safe, comfortable, connected, and confident that they can thrive.
With this priority in mind, we intentionally go SLOW with our focus on academics in these first weeks of school, such that we can create successful environments and experiences for our students, and then go FAST as we get into the realm of academic rigor. Your child might report feeling like they are spending quite a bit of time on procedures and routines, team-building and getting-to-know-you activities, games and structured play activities; that is spot-on, and exactly our goal. You (and your child!) can expect that the pace with academic learning goals will ramp up as we move towards the end of September and into October; at that point, they will be ready for all that we bring to them, and will be ready to excel!
You will hear quite a lot more about the curriculum, pacing, and classroom expectations during our curriculum night on Tuesday, September 6.
Volunteering At School Soon?
Volunteering or entering the building soon? A few reminders:
Check in with Mrs. Stetler in the Main Office
Trade your government ID card for a visitor lanyard (red) - we will be tight on this one, so please be sure to bring your ID card... even if it seems goofy as we know you! One for all and all for one!
Head directly to your designated location, and directly back to the office
Trade your lanyard back for your ID
Thank you for your support as we keep our students and staff safe at school.
Band and Orchestra Info (4th & 5th Grade Students)
Hello 4th & 5th Grade Parents,
Last year we met all 4th & 5th grade students and introduced them to the Band & Orchestra program. This year, students have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument! Please read through all the information below and let us know if you have any questions.
If your child is interested in joining the Band or Orchestra, you can register either online or in person. On Tuesday, August 30th parents are invited to an optional informational meeting at 9 am OR 6 pm at McClure. If you prefer to register in person, after the informational meeting we will be available to answer questions and help with the process.
Parents wishing to register online, please read through the slideshow and follow the registration and instrument rental instructions.
All links will be turned off on Thursday, September 1st at 9 AM. Be sure to complete all 3 steps below Please do not register until your son or daughter has made a final decision..
Orchestra Instrument Sizing Guide (needed to complete instrument rental)
Just in case you need a refresher, these links can help your son or daughter make a final choice on the instrument they want to learn. We also highly recommend looking up instruments on YouTube to help aid in the decision making process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.
Stacey Block Dawn Fiebrandt
Orchestra Director Band Director
sblock@d101.org dfiebrandt@d101.orgEnrichment Update
Bell Schedule
Exciting news: We are returning to our pre-pandemic bell schedule. Please carefully review the schedule below.
Regular School Hours
8:40a.m – 11:40 a.m. and 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. (Grades 1-5)
8:40a.m – 11:40 a.m. (Kindergarten AM)
12:30p.m – 3:30 p.m. (Kindergarten PM)
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
12:25 p.m--bell to line up and enter school
12:30 p.m--Tardy Bell
3:30 p.m.--Afternoon Dismissal Bell
Lunch Volunteers Needed
Laidlaw is looking for recess volunteers to support at lunch. As we did last year, we will be setting up a weekly schedule and pairing parent volunteers with grade levels during recess. The time commitment is 11:40-12:25, and we are looking for a weekly commitment (for example every Tuesday, or every Monday/Friday). One option that worked well last year for some parents was to split a day with another parent. Volunteering in our lunch room is a fantastic way to connect with the school community. Please contact Emily Haight (ehaight@d101.org.) if you are interested!
Arrival & Dismissal
Please review the map attached below that outlines the procedures for drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. It is important that even on the first day of school, everyone abides by these expectations. Thank you in advance for helping arrival/dismissal run smoothly.
Just a reminder that the bell to line up for school rings at 8:30am, with students entering the building at 8:35am. Staff supervision will not begin until 8:25am, so please be mindful of this as you drop children at school or they walk to school on their own. When students arrive at school, they should report directly to their designated doors and line-up. They should not play at the park, unless it is before 8:25am and they are with a parent or caregiver. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and in making sure everyone’s day starts out safely!
Right At School (Before & After School Care)
Indian Guide Information
Elementary School Handbook
Important Dates
Wednesday, August 31: (7:00-8:30PM): PTO Virtual Orientation for Room Parents
Tuesday, September 6: Laidlaw Spirit Day for Students; (6:00-7:30PM): Curriculum Night for Parents
Thursday, September 22: Picture Day