In The Laidlaw Loop
Family Update- April 5, 2024
I look forward to welcoming all families at next Thursday's Spring Celebration Of Learning Open House from 6:30-7:30PM. This is an event for the whole family. Parents are welcome to come solo or bring your leopards along with! All classrooms will be "open" for visits. There is no formal presentation to attend. This event is truly an "open house" format. Your students will be eager to show their hard work off to you. The front entrance on Forest and the Kindergarten entrance off Hampton will both be open as entry points. See you then!
The last two days, every single Leopard had the exciting experience of testing out their martial arts skills in PE class. Premiere Martial Arts was back again the last two days as a "residence" experience here at Laidlaw. Ask your student about their experiences in PE this week! Please click here for more details on Premiere Martials Arts Hinsdale. Additionally, if your student is interested, they are hosting a special open house on Friday, April 26th at their location in Hinsdale. This event is for all ages (and parents!). Info for their open house event can be found HERE.
Finally, I'm THRILLED to announce that the 2024 IAR testing for 3rd-5th graders is now complete! Thank you to all of our students for their hard work this week. If your student missed an IAR test, makeups will begin on Monday.
Happy Friday!
Renee
Parent Input Request
This is the time of year when we begin the process of creating class lists for the upcoming school year. The following parameters will guide class placement:
- All classes at all grade levels will have children representing a broad range of academic abilities, needs, and backgrounds.
- Class placement will be made based upon the development of the whole child --academically, socially and behaviorally.
Class lists are carefully constructed by current grade-level teachers and staff who work with each student, with final decisions determined by the building Principal. We take class list determination very seriously, weighing the needs of each child and striving to build balanced, productive, supportive classes. A great deal of time, thought, and consideration goes into the creation of class lists, as this is a critical element to a thriving school experience for all.
Knowing that our staff works arduously to build thriving classes, if you wish to share insight for your child’s specific needs, this is the time to do so. Parents who wish to make a statement to describe their child’s academic, social and/or behavioral needs may do so in writing. Please use THIS LINK to provide that information. Please know that this information is seen by Renee Epstein, building principal. These comments, focused on the child’s learning style and specific academic/social needs, will then be given consideration as a part of the process.
We cannot accept any requests or avoidances for specific teachers.
I will accept responses until April 28th.
Please partner with us...
In recent months there has been a huge uptick with student misuse of their Smart Watches across the school, particularly in 3rd-5th grades (Gizmos, Apple Watches, etc). It has become increasingly disruptive to the academic environment. Smart Watches are only to be used for keeping track of time or using the timer feature during the school day. Any use outside of these parameters (during the school day) will result in your student's Smart Watch being held in the office until the end of the school day.
How can you help support your student in using their Smart Watch appropriately?
1. Please refrain from texting/messaging your student during the school day. If you need to get your student a message, please send it through the main office. We promise that we will get it to them.
2. Please speak with your student about how to use their Smart Watch appropriately during the day (the ONLY actions a student may take with their watch from 8:40-3:30 is looking at the time or using the timer feature)
3. Please enable "school hour" features (if applicable) to help minimize your child's ability to utilize their Smart Watch inappropriately during the day.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that students are focused during the day with minimal distractions. We sincerely appreciate your support.
Parent Presentation-Rescheduled to April 30th
Should your schedule allow, join us for this presentation (held on April 11 at 6:30PM). It should be incredibly powerful evening full of useful tips for raising students in a digital age.
WS-OTSC Circle of Friendship Party
Register NOW for the Annual WS-OTSC Circle of Friendship Party. Details HERE
Who:
All D101 and Off the Street Club students, Grades K-5
Where:
The Corral - LTHS South Campus, 4940 Willow Springs Road
When:
Saturday, April 27th, 12:30-3:30 PM
Why:
The Circle of Friendship Party is an afternoon of brotherhood between D101 and OTSC kids. WS students will pair up with a buddy from OTSC to form a new friendship while enjoying games, DJ Maximus, pizza, cotton candy and more!
Learn more about the event and REGISTER HERE!
We are also in need of volunteers to make this event run smoothly - please register using the links below:
Adult Volunteers Register HERE
High School Volunteers Register HERE
Junior High Volunteer Register HERE
Last but not least, we are collecting donations for Off the Street Club's Camp Closet. OTSC has a summer camp located in Wheaton, IL, and most kids do not have the means to arrive at camp with the essentials (think sheets, swim suits, sunscreen, etc.). Therefore, the club hosts a “Camp Closet” where the kids can go shop for items needed for camp.
CLICK HERE for the OTSC Camp Closet Amazon Wish list.
Upcoming Spanish Dance Unit
¡Hola familias!
The Spanish dance unit is on the horizon, and the Spanish team wanted to reach out to make you aware of the expectations for students. The Spanish dance unit is an exciting one in which students get the opportunity to experience a different culture and learn a new Spanish dance each school year from grades 1-5. The unit is a quick one. Students have about 2 weeks to learn the dance (about 4-5 class periods) and then they perform this dance at an all school assembly. In order to learn the dance steps properly, we need student cooperation and participation during all practice sessions which take place during Spanish classes. Students are expected to have voices off when directions are being given, maintain personal space, and be respectful of their teachers and classmates throughout the class period. We don't anticipate any problems, however we feel it is important to share our plan if anything arises. Students will be given one warning for misbehavior above and beyond a redirection or repeated directions, and a parent will be contacted regarding the misbehavior. If a problem persists a second time, the student will be asked to sit out of the dance unit and will be given an alternate written assignment to complete about the history and culture of Spanish dance during any remaining practice sessions. Expectations will be explained to students on the first day. Thank you for your support during the Spanish dance unit.
If you have any questions, please contact Karin Davey (kdavey@d101.org), Jen Elder (jelder@d101.org), Marina Nemeth (mnemeth@d101.org) or Amy Wilkin (awilkin@d101.org). ¡Gracias!
McClure's Musical
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 2023-24 calendar HERE
Upcoming Dates
4/18: Spring Open House/Celebration of Learning- 6:30-7:30PM
4/24: Early Dismissal Day: 11:40AM dismissal
Laidlaw PTO Information
Staff Appreciation Week May 6th - 10th
"In Our Laidlaw Era” festivities will include daily raffle drawings featuring prizes donated by local businesses, special treats and meals for our amazing teachers and staff.
Please help make our whole staff shimmer:
1. Sign up here to provide food/beverage donations throughout the week.
2. Click here to make a year-end monetary donation* for all Laidlaw staff. Contributions will be evenly divided among the 65+ staff members at Laidlaw, including the 20 classroom teachers/aides. Envelopes with cash will be placed in ALL staff mailboxes at the end of Staff Appreciation Week (SAW).
*Please note, this is the final monetary solicitation of the year, completely optional and will serve as both SAW AND YEAR-END gifts. In the past, room parents collected voluntary contributions for teacher/aide cash gifts to be given on the last day of school. Room Parents will NOT be collecting money at the end of the year, however families are welcome to give individual gifts should they choose. The PTO Governing Board is piloting this change in an effort to decrease the number of monetary solicitations at the end of the school year.
D101 Screening Greeters Needed! District 101 is kindly asking Laidlaw parents to welcome incoming students and their parents to the D101 screening at All Saints Episcopal Church on Wednesday, April 24. Click here to sign up!
Upcoming PTO Events
Wednesday, May 1 - 2024-2025 School Supplies Sale Begins
Week of May 6 - Staff Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 7 - Flower & Plant Sale Pick Up
Friday, May 17 - Field Day
Friday, May 31 - School Supplies Sale Closes
Word From WSFEE
Western Springs Community Happenings
Please click here for a current list of Western Springs community happenings and offerings!