LP Brown Newsletter

Welcome back to the 2023 school year! I hope that you all had a restful break. I know I am excited to have students back at school.

Through the months of January and February, students will get to engage in a variety of learning experiences focused on issues of equity, and social justice in connection with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month. Teachers will approach these topics with varying degrees of complexity, based upon the developmental needs and readiness of our students.

This instruction supports our social/emotional instruction, which teaches students how to live in a diverse world and take care of themselves and each other. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly with questions.

Respectfully,

Mr. Shaughnessy, Principal

Exciting news! We have added a classroom at 4th grade! Previously, we had 2 classrooms and each classroom had 29 students. In an effort to reduce class size, I have found a way to add a classroom teacher to the mix.

I am happy to introduce Amelia Ferrell. Amy is a veteran teacher with 15 years teaching experience. She has taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades, along with being a teacher/librarian. Most of her career has been spent in the Wenatchee school district, with the last few coming out of the Hoquiam School District. Ms. Ferrell has 5 adult children, some biological and some adopted. She is in the process of relocating from Ocean Shores.

We are really lucky to have found such an amazing teacher for this open position in January. Please join me in welcoming Amy to the LP Brown teaching staff!

As we return from Winter Break, we are making some adjustments to our master schedule.

Previously, the following grades went to recess and lunch together: Kindergarten/First, Second/Third, Fourth/Fifth.

Beginning now, the following groups will move together to recess and lunch: Kindergarten/First, Second/Fourth, Third/Fifth.

The rationale behind this move is to spread things out on the playground a bit. Students at second and fourth grades have different interests on the playground and will use the space differently. This lends itself to less competition for equipment and spreads kids out more evenly across the playground. It also puts our older students in a position where they can mentor and help the younger students when there is interest in being helpful. As you may have noticed, kindergarten and first grades will stay together. This is because, as they are our youngest students, we need to keep them together for safety reasons.

My hope is that this move will help to reduce conflict and help kids really get the full benefit of each of their three recesses during the day. As we make this change, we will be doing extra training with students and increasing the monitoring on the playground to ensure things go smoothly.

We want to give a big shout out to everyone who gave to the holiday giving tree. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to support 72 LP Brown Families in need for a total of 189 family members! Thank you!

No School: January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Early Release @ 1:25 PM on January 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

We are having two different assemblies this year, as students will be at the center of this assembly, presenting work they do in their classrooms. Parents are welcome to attend.

Third through Fifth grades will have their assembly on Friday, January 13th at 1:30 PM.

Kindergarten through 2nd grades will have their assembly on Tuesday, January 17th at 1:30 PM.

Do you have a student receiving support through an IEP or 504 plan? Please join the newly restructured Olympia Schools Supportive Education Council (OSSEC) on the third Wednesday of the month throughout the school year for resources, community building, and a welcoming space to share ideas!

OSSEC is similar to a PTA/PTO for families, students, and staff supporting OSD students with disabilities from birth through post-high school, but without any fundraising or volunteering requirements usually associated with a PTO. We have planned a mix of social events and informative meetings, including a focus group session to help inform the OSD school board’s equity policy, a resource fair event with community partners, a sensory-friendly family movie night, and more!

Our next meeting is a caregivers’ class with local parenting coach, Emily McMason, on January 18th 6-7:30pm on zoom . Emily will be focusing on answering questions submitted by our community members that apply to our unique parenting situations. Questions can be submitted here. Please email olyssec@gmail.com with any questions, follow us on Facebook, and join our email list here to get monthly meeting reminders and zoom links.

The Olympia Education Foundation provides support to families in need. With their support, we can help with:

• Rent and utility bills

• Clothing and shoes

• Eye exams and prescription glasses for students

• Transportation

• School supplies

• School-related expenses

• Internet through Xfinity and so much more…

Our new Family Liaison this year is Genevieve Carnes (gcarnes@osd.wednet.edu). Please reach out directly to her if you need assistance of any kind.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, January 18th. You can attend in person in the library at LP Brown Elementary School, or through Zoom by clicking the link below.

Attending this meeting will be OSD School Board Vice President, Hilary Seidel.

Zoom Link

A big "thank you" to those of you who helped support our LP Brown teachers and staff appreciation week! We were able to fill the staff room with goodies and treats for the week before winter break and heard some appreciation from staff!

Friendly reminder to set your Amazon Smile account and BoxTops for Kids app to "LP Brown Elementary PTO" to help earn money for our school!

• January 18- PTO meeting- OSD School Board Vice President Seidel to attend

• March 29- PTO meeting

• May 1-5 Teacher Appreciation week

• May 31- PTO Meeting
  
• June 8, 2023: Boosterthon Fun Run!!