Penguin Press News
May 3, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL BAME
Dear LPE Families,
We are celebrating our wonderful teachers and instructional support staff during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! This week our fabulous PTA put together themes for VA and in person students to follow. Please see the image embedded below for more information. I am one proud principal!
We are speeding right along, entering a new month of teaching and learning. Please know that we are awaiting further information on Virtual Academy details in order to finalize our staffing plans, schedules for the 2021-22 school year, and classroom placements. A few friendly reminders:
- Do you need to change transportation during the school day? Please make sure that you contact the front office by 3:15 pm each day. Do not email the teacher with changes the same day of the change. Our front office number is 919.290.2333.
- Please send an extra change of clothes to school in case of an emergency. We are no longer allowed to pass out clothes because of bathroom accidents or recess incidents.
Virtual Academy 2021-22
The final numbers for Laurel Park by grade level:
Kindergarten = 5
1st= 3
2nd = 7
3rd = 9
4th = 8
5th = 12
Repeat Announcements
- Kindergarten Orientation will be held for rising Kindergarten families on May 26th at 5:30 pm. This will be a live, virtual presentation that we will record for families that may not be available to attend.
- Our Penguin Newcomers Orientation (rising 1st - 5th) will be on June 7th at 5:30 pm. This will be a live, virtual presentation that we will record for families that may not be available to attend.
- Virtual Academy - 5th Grade Moving Up Carpool Ceremony: Friday, June 18th (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
- In Person - 5th Grade Moving Up Carpool Ceremony: Monday, June 21st (12:30 - 1:20 pm)
Track Change Requests/ Track Assignments for New Students
- Disclaimer: At this time we are planning for a multi-track year round schedule for the 2021-22 school year. However, please be aware that track changes will be considered only after we understand the impact of our Virtual Academy enrollment.
- All students who were in attendance during the 2019-2020 school year are still assigned to the track they were on prior to this school year. If your child is new to LPES this school year and you need to know your assigned track for 2021-22, please contact Mrs. Murray (Data Manager) at emurray3@wcpss.net
- Families who submitted track change requests, rising kindergarten families, and families that were new to LPE this year will receive their track assignments on May 14th.
Did you know?
Every Penguin Press Newsletter is available on our LPE Website under News. If you want to refer back to information throughout the year, this is a great place to find it!
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Raleigh Bame, Principal
- May 5th - Asynchronous/ Remote Learning Day* (live morning meeting)
- May 19th - Asynchronous/Remote Learning Day* (live morning meeting)
- May 26th - Asynchronous/ Remote Learning Day* (live morning meeting)
- May 31st - Holiday
- June 21st - Last Day of School
Mrs. Benner's Art Updates - April 2021
Hi families and friends,
Our school is participating in a creative fundraiser with Art to Remember that allows you to purchase keepsake products customized with your child’s art. There are over 60 products and many are less than $15. These make great gifts and a percentage of every purchase goes right back to our school. Click on the link below and enter your child’s name to search for your child’s artwork. Then, have fun shopping!
https://arttoremember.com/school/6lcx88
Thank you for supporting our school!
Mrs. Benner
State Testing Update for Virtual Students
State leaders have determined that we will administer End of Grade (EOG) testing to our 3-5 students this school year. While we are early in the process, we are tentatively planning to utilize WCPSS scheduled Asynchronous days in May to test our Virtual Academy (VA) students whose families wish to participate. All 3-5 grade VA students would take their reading EOG on Wednesday, May 19th. All 3-5 Grade students would participate in the math EOG on Wednesday, May 26th. Using Asynchronous days will help our school community manage classroom availability for testing and provide Virtual Academy students an opportunity to participate in the test while fewer students are in the building.
Fifth grade VA students are also required by the state to take the Science EOG. The date of that test administration has not been determined, but it will follow the reading and math exams. We do not anticipate having an asynchronous day in June for the exam, so it is likely that VA students would join in person students to take the science exam.
Virtual Academy families, please complete the survey provided to share your intentions about whether your child will participate in testing. WCPSS does plan to offer transportation to eligible bus riding students. Please use the survey to help us determine how many of our students require yellow bus transportation. If you have more than one child at Laurel Park, please complete the survey for each student.
Students on Plan A that are currently attending school daily, will also take the appropriate grade level EOGs at the end of May or early June. This will provide all LPES students regardless of learning platform an academically equitable opportunity to participate in the EOG. We will provide further updates when the testing schedule is complete. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Barabasz, Assistant Principal at abarabasz@wcpss.net or at 919-290-2333. Thank you for your continued support through this unprecedented school year.
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