Dear Lawrence Community,
I hope that our Jewish community members had a meaningful Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in Judaism and is dedicated to repentance, reflection, and seeking forgiveness. This weekend also marked Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, which is a major Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the power of righteousness. For all in our community who observed one of these holidays, we hope you were able to be together with family and/or friends. Speaking of special holiday periods, the PSB School Committee voted last week to mark Eid al-Fitr as a Category 1 Holiday starting from school year 2025-26.
Today, as you know, is Indigenous Peoples' Day. It is a celebration honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples. And, we are just coming to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, histories, traditions, diversity, and vibrant culture of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. And now, we are moving into yet another busy few weeks at Lawrence!
Coming up this week: Picture Day, the Annual Lawrence Japanese Fair, 7th Grade Farm School, Brookline Schools Cross Country Meet, and the Lawrence Fun Run. Then, we will celebrate with special Spirit Week during he week of October 28th, including our first K-5 Community Meeting of the year (with a special performance by the Lawrence Chorus), ArtBarn shows for K-6th students, and ending with our popular Annual Halloween Parade! Please check out the calendar below to find out more details on all these events. And, be sure to use the link below to pre-purchase your photo package for Picture Day, which helps raise needed funds for the PTO (you can still do retakes even if you pre-order!).
Goal setting is an important aspect of continual improvement- both for individuals and organizations. Our School Council- comprised of educators, administrators and parents- collaborate each year to write/revise school-wide goals, in the form of a School Improvement Plan. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing members, Alice Wong Tucker (Parent), Sally Madsen (Parent), Jessica Ullian (Parent), Kirsten Alper (ETS), Katie Grenzebeck (Math Specialist). They have collaborated with school administration over the past two years to provide school leadership and we are grateful for their support. I'd also like to thank those parents/caregivers who have offered to serve for this next term. We have filled these roles without need for an election and I look forward to introducing them in the next edition of the Linked "In."
The new Lawrence School Improvement Plan, now approved by the PSB School Committee, is designed to drive our professional work, as well as curriculum and assessment decisions. The ultimate outcome should be improved student learning- both academic and beyond. At Lawrence School our 2024-2024 School Improvement Plan has three specific areas targeted: Literacy, Mathematics, and Social-Emotional Learning. Over the course of this school year, educators at Lawrence will engage in a variety of professional learning to improve our practices, frequently focusing on the goal areas described above. This learning takes place in grade levels, academic departments, school-wide, and even district-level during our Faculty Meetings, Collaboration Time, and our Common Planning Time (CPTs). As you can see, there is a LOT that goes into the planning for instruction and student learning!
As a school, we have identified these areas of focus and hope to improve our practices in each over the course of this school year. Literacy skills are utilized across subject areas and a student's ability to read, write, listen and speak effectively have broad-reaching impact on student learning outcomes. The importance of analytical thinking and mathematical reasoning is well-known and as K-8th grade school, one of our biggest challenges is to ensure that we constantly strive to better reach and meet math learners' needs within our diverse classrooms. Finally, we are well-aware that students need to feel safe and secure in their environment (and themselves!) to be ready for learning and life. Building our students' capacity for these "life" or "soft skills" is as important as any academic skill. I look forward to sharing updates and highlights from all of these goal areas as the year goes on.
In collaboration,
Vanessa Bilello
Principal, Lawrence School
Important Beginning of Year Dates
Please contact us if you have any questions on events listed below!
Click below to view more important dates:
PSB Religious and Cultural Observances Overview
- Monday, October 14th - No School, Indigenous People's Day
- Wednesday, October 16th - SCHOOL PHOTO DAY (7th graders and their teachers will have their pictures taken from 8:10-8:50 on Monday, October 21st when they are back from Farm School)
- Thursday, October 17th - 2:30PM - 4:30PM - Lawrence Playground/Field - Lawrence Japanese Fair (Rain date October 24th) - Afternoon of Japanese food and culture experiences. Learn more about this tradition and how to make some of the treats like candy leis and kusudama!
Please note: LSA classes are canceled during the Japanese Fair.
- Friday, October 18th - 2:30-5:30, at Larz Anderson park, Brookline 5th-8th Grade Cross Country Meet - There is NO TRANSPORTATION to and from the meet! We will hand out Lawrence school jerseys on or before the day of the meet. More information shared with members of the Cross Country team by Coach, Ms. Abi.
3:20PM - 5th Grade, 3:40PM. - 6th Grade, 4:00PM - 7th Grade, 4:20PM - 8th Grade
- Sunday, October 20th - 9AM (set up begins at 8AM) Lawrence Fun Run
- Thursday, October 24th - 8:15-9:15AM (Hybrid via Zoom/In person in Lawrence Conference Room)- School Council
- Monday, October 28th- Friday, November 1st: SPIRIT WEEK!
- Thursday, October 31st - 2:10PM - Halloween Parade
- Tuesday, November 5th- No School - Professional Development Day: Staff Reports/Closed for Students
- Thursday, November 7th - Early Dismissal K-6 (Students dismissed @ 12:40)
- Monday, November 11th- No School, Veterans Day
- Wednesday, November 13th - Early Dismissal K-8 (Students dismissed @ 12:40)
- Wednesday, November 13th - 4:00 - 5:00 PM - Principal/PTO Forum: Location - Zoom
- Week of November 18th - Family Conferences (Evening Week - talk with homeroom teacher for information)
- Thursday, November 21st - Early Dismissal K-8 (Students dismissed @ 12:40)
- Wednesday, November 27th - Early Dismissal K-8 (Students dismissed @ 12:00 - no lunch is served)
- Thursday, November 28th - Friday, November 29th - NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING BREAK
- Thursday, December 5th - 8:15-9:15AM (Hybrid via Zoom/In person in Lawrence Conference Room)- School Council
- Monday, December 23rd - Wednesday, January 1st - NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK
- Wednesday, October 9th: 8:15-9:15 am
- Wednesday, November 13th: 4:00-5:00 pm
- Wednesday, January 15th: 7:00-8:00 pm
- Wednesday, March 12th: 8:15-9:15 am
- Wednesday, May 24th 8:15-9:15 am
Conference Early Release Days - 12:40 pm Dismissal
Fall: 11/7 (K-6), 11/13 (K-8), 11/21 (K-8), 12/4 (K-8)
Spring: 4/2 (K-8), 4/10 (K-6), 4/16 (K-6), 5/1 (K-6)
Evening Conference Dates: Fall: Week of 11/18/24, Spring: Week of 4/22/25
School Council Dates (tentative, Hybrid via Zoom/In person in Lawrence Conference Room): (8:15-9:15 am) Sept 12th, Oct 24th, Dec. 5th , Jan 30th, March 27th, May 15th. (Zoom link here)
Principal/PTO Forums (Dates/times subject to change):
Coming this week - PHOTO DAY, so order your photos today!
Say Cheese!
- Wednesday, October 16th for K-6 and 8th Grade
- Monday October 21st for 7th Grade (due to Farm School)
Students will have their portrait photos taken as well as a group photo with their homeroom/advisory. All photos will be taken outside. All students will receive a complimentary homeroom/advisory photo regardless of whether a portrait package is ordered. In the event of rain, photo day will be rescheduled. Additionally a second photo day will be scheduled for anyone who is absent or would like to retake their photos.
Did you know, if you order during the pre-order window, a portion of every package goes directly to the PTO? Prices increase after the preorder window closes, so order your prints now to lock in the best pricing AND help the PTO!
Click To Order Photos Please use Code "LAWF24"
The pre-order option will be available through Monday, October 21st at 7:00am. All print orders will be mailed directly to the home addresses provided at checkout. If orders are not placed by the deadline, the student will receive a NO BUY proof card with instructions on how they can order at that point.
PLEASE NOTE, this year, any order placed after 10/21 at 7:00am, will have increased photo package pricing as well as higher shipping/handling fees and some items may not be available. There will be a makeup day for anyone who misses photo day or does not like their original photos, so please consider ordering within the preorder window if you plan to purchase. Last day to order with best pricing is 10/21.
Ordering Instructions: Visit www.haywardphotography.com then click on the blue “Prepay for Photo Day” button. Enter your school code to place your preorder: LAWF24
Independent School Applications
Each year, a small number of students apply to independent schools. Most schools require a school report, school records and teacher recommendation(s). At Lawrence, the guidance counselor completes the school or administrator report, not the principal. In an effort to manage this process efficiently, we have developed a records release cover sheet that we ask families to complete listing all the schools to which they are applying. This form is required by us whether your applications are electronic or paper hard copies. The form is attached here and should be submitted to the school no later than 12/06/24 in order to give teachers and counselors plenty of time during school hours to complete the paperwork. Please also note that pursuant to the agreement in 2020 between the BEU and the district the following procedures will be in effect:
· Brookline will be using a district created form to provide independent schools information about a student
· The teacher will submit the reference directly to the independent school. With the reference request, the family needs to provide the teacher with an email address for reference submission.
If you have any questions about the process please do not hesitate to contact Secretary Christine Kohlsaat, your child's guidance counselor or your child's teacher.
With school return, we also see the return to all sorts of viruses and illness. As a reminder, all our school nurses follow all the current health this district/town have established and are currently in place for all of the schools, in terms of reporting out to families. As an individual school, we do not establish these policies, but follow those that are decided by the public health officials. For more information on Health services, check out the district webpage, put together by the Public School of Brookline Health Services - there is a lot of excellent information there. If you have specific concerns or questions, please reach out to our school nurses or the district team.
Making Good Humans is the section of our newsletter where we will share out a variety of resources: videos, articles and websites that can support our goal in meeting the social-emotional needs of all students - by working together as an adult community focused on the idea that compassionate learning is built on a foundation of compassion.
The Cafe @ Lawrence School!
At this time, students will have assigned seating (by table for 3-8 and by seat K-2). in the lunchroom. Observations and feedback has demonstrated that assigned seating, determined by staff, decreases anxiety for many students. While certain grade levels may mix seating between homerooms over time, staff at Lawrence is committed to fostering a safe lunchroom environment for all students. Student's lunchtime is consistent each day, and for most grade levels, they will be in the cafe with the majority of the students in their grade, and possibly one other grade level. We will share more information regarding the expectations within the cafe in future editions of the Linked "In" newsletters.
Student Meals
All students can access their meals by going through the serving lines in their school cafeteria. Lines are set up with dual pin pad and barcode scanners, with the goal is to provide students with multiple ways to register their meals at the POS (register). K- 5 students will receive an ID card prior to the start of the school year. Each ID card will include a student pin and a barcode scanner. Either can be used to access their account. It will be useful for students in lower grades to start memorizing their pin as this will be used as they move through the system. Middle school students will use their pin which is their LACID and can be found in each staff portal. Students in middle school are encouraged to memorize their pins for this to be successful.
Breakfast:
The Food Services Department is committed to working with schools and principals to help assure that all students have a chance to start their day with a healthy breakfast. Their goal is to serve at least 70% of the students in attendance breakfast each day. Breakfast is available in all schools starting at 7:30 am. Grab and Go breakfast carts will be available at the entrance for students to grab on their way in.
Lunch:
A Free lunch is available to all students. All schools now have a salad bar where students can access fresh fruits and vegetables most of which are locally sourced. Student lunches do include milk. Students need to take a lunch to receive a free milk. There will continue to be hot/cold lunch options - and this year, with the numbers of students and limited space, students are asked to stand in one of two lines: the hot lunch line OR the cold lunch line. These will be labeled at the entrance to the cafe. Students bringing from home will enter the cafe through the "exit" door to go to their assigned lunch table.
Monthly and weekly menus will be posted outside the cafeteria for review. Lawrence will review the basic lunch options on announcements Monday morning. Middle school teachers are asked to post the monthly menu in visible locations in their classroom. K-5 staff are asked to review the lunch choices (hot vs cold) from the monthly menu during their classroom Morning Meeting. Families are asked to review menus at home, to assist in choice-making, especially with younger students. These efforts will help cut down on time spent in line, since it will help students make their choice before entering the cafe.
Our school website has static information, but it is also updated with current news and bulletins. Every few weeks, you can expect the school-wide newsletter from the principal’s office, Linked "in" With Lawrence School. As a reminder, with the Linked "In" With Lawrence School Newsletter, the office and admin team will share out needed key information for our community, as well as sharing photos, videos, resources and a look inside the happenings of Lawrence. It is a reference tool, where hopefully you can locate the key information about our school operations and have at your fingertips. The Lawrence School Family Handbook is a wealth of important information, as well.This newsletter is distributed to families via email and can also be found on the school’s webpage. We can't wait to share the great things happening at Lawrence each month!
In addition to the above school-wide methods, please communicate openly with your child’s teacher(s). Each teacher has an email address and voice mailbox. You can find their contact information on our school website.
- Linked "In": Back to School Edition
- Linked "In": 9/15/2024
- Linked "In": 9/29/2024