Penguin Press News
December 14, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL BAME
Dear LPE Families,
Warm winter wishes to all of our Laurel Park students and families! Our students and teachers are finishing the last days of learning for second quarter while looking forward to Winter Break. If you are hoping to spread seasonal cheer, please see our classroom wishlists below this opening message. We hope that all of you enjoy a safe, restful, and healthy holiday season and track out!
Updates from Administration:
- 17% of our fall Virtual Academy students are returning to in-person learning at the beginning of second semester. Less than 1% moved from in-person learning to Virtual Academy for second semester.
- On Wednesday, December 16th parents should receive an email confirming their child's assigned platform for the spring semester.
- Spring classroom assignments will be shared mid-January. We are working to keep classes and teacher assignments as consistent as possible, doing everything we can to prevent unnecessary movement. As a reminder, we have communicated the importance of making decisions that work best for family life, independent from the current teacher assignment.
- Please Save the Date: Virtual Academy Supply Pick Up day will be on Friday, January 22nd. Stay tuned for pick-up times.
Kind Regards,
Raleigh G. Bame
Principal
- December 16th: Asynchronous Remote Learning Wednesday (all recorded instruction)
- *** December 21st/ 22nd: Synchronous Remote Learning Day (LIVE Instruction on this day, students not at school, both VA and Plan B are remote)
- December 23rd - January 1st - Winter Holiday
- January 4th - 22nd - Winter Track Out
- March 16th - Plan B Spring Picture Day
- March 17th - Virtual Academy Spring Picture Day
Attention 5th Grade Families
The early college application period deadline has been extended to JANUARY 6, 2021. Please see the links below for early colleges and magnet fairs.
Virtual Magnet Elementary Mini Fair, January 12, 9:30-11:00a - click here to register
Virtual Magnet Middle School Mini Fair, January 14, 9:30-11:00a - click here to register
Martin Middle School virtual tours in January are open. Please sign up at the link below if you are interested. (Some dates are full.)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4da5a92ba64-martin1
New student enrollment begins October 15 at wcpss.net/enroll
The early college application is October 15-EXTENDED to JANUARY 6 at earlycolleges.wcpss.net/apply
The magnet application is October 15 -January 28 at magnet.wcpss.net/apply
Music Notes - December 2020
New for December...Quaver Holiday Gift Suprise 2020. More information and Seasonal Music can be found in your child's Google Classroom for Music. Happy Holidays, everyone!☃❄️
Mrs. Sonstroem has been selected by WCPSS Arts to work collaboratively with two other elementary music colleagues in our district and the Quaver Ed Team in Nashville. They will be aligning Wake County's pacing guide for music with the newly adopted district-wide Quaver Music curriculum. This is a fabulous collaborative opportunity for our music teacher and she's looking forward to bringing what she's learned to students starting in Spring 2021!
STEAM NIGHT 2021 is ON!
Parents: Want to share your skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Math? Sign up for the STEAM Night! It's going to be on Thursday, March 25th. Just fill out this form to show your interest. We can help on the presenting, just email Ms. Trent at ttrent@wcpss.net.
Tiffany Trent
STEM Teacher/Tech Contact
Laurel Park Elementary School
Support my classroom through Donors Choose.
Need Tech Help? Try the WCPSS Tech Help Page
Need More Tech Help? Fill out this form.
A Message from the LPE Student Support Team
Engagement Resources
Student Support Services has created a document with resources to support you and your family with virtual and in-person learning. We have created a list of areas of support and strategies that you can use to support your child. Our contact information is included in the document, so feel free to reach out with any questions or if you need additional support.
Here is the link to the Engagement Resources document
Additional Wellness Sessions for Students & Parents
In a district-wide effort to continue to provide support to our students and families, the WCPSS Counseling and Student Services department is introducing a new series of wellness and self-care services and support sessions that are available across the district.
Community Resiliency Model Wellness Training - Dec. 1-15
This session is designed to share tools you can learn to help yourself and others during times of stress and is inclusive to all who have an interest in learning the skills to better support children and families during these uncertain times.
Register here or see the Community Resiliency Model Wellness Training flyer for additional information.
Caren MacEntee, Counselor, cmacentee@wcpss.net
Ashley Waddell, Counselor, awaddell@wcpss.net
Dr. Amy Hawkins, School Psychologist, ahawkins@wcpss.net
Rick Mendzef, Social Worker, rmentzef@wcpss.net
A Note About COVID - Symptoms Matter!
Students who have experienced at least one COVID-19 symptom, with or without being diagnosed with COVID-19, should not be in school.
Common COVID Symptoms include: Fever or chills, new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell
Students can return to school once there is no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines and they have felt well for 24 hours if they receive confirmation of an alternative diagnosis from a health care provider that would explain the COVID-19-like symptom(s).
Without confirmation of an alternative diagnosis, students should stay home until they (or a family member answering for a younger child) can answer YES to all three of the following questions:
- Has it been at least 10 days since they first had symptoms?
- Has it been at least 24 hours since they had a fever without using fever-reducing medicine?
- Have respiratory symptoms improved, including cough or shortness of breath?
Students are not required to have documentation of a negative test in order to return to school.
If students have a negative COVID-19 test, they can return to school once there is no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines and they have felt well for 24 hours.
For students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but do not have symptoms:
Students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, but do not have symptoms must remain out of school until 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test.
Students are not required to have documentation of a negative test in order to return to school. If a student develops symptoms, they cannot return to school until they meet the criteria for students who have experienced at least one symptom.
For students who have been exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms:
Students who have been exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms must remain out of school for 14 days since their last exposure, even if they test negative for COVID-19. If they develop symptoms, they cannot return to school until they meet the criteria for students who have experienced at least one symptom.
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