Hi, Laurel Park Elementary Families!
Welcome back (officially) all tracks to the 26/27 school year! My name is Nikki Gieszelmann, and I am excited to serve as your PTA President for what I’m sure will be a wonderful year. Whether you’re a returning Penguin family or one brand new to our school, we are so glad you’re part of our awesome LPES community.

What is the PTA?
We get this question a lot! The mission of our school PTA is pretty simple: To provide an enriching and engaging learning environment for all of our students while also growing our already vibrant school community. We also support and advocate for our awesome teachers, and we cannot do so without the help of our school families. Last year, thanks to your support, the PTA was able to:

• Provide teacher mini-grants to offset classroom expenses
• Provide each student with their own LPES Field Day T-Shirt
• Fund ongoing training for our teaching staff
• Fund learning websites for our teachers to use within their classrooms
• Sponsor school clubs for our children (Chess Club, Lego Robotics, Jump Rope Club, etc.)
• Sponsor and facilitate fun family activities including: movie nights, trunk or treat, STEAM night, sneaker ball, and much more! 

Get Involved
Looking for a way to get more involved in your child’s school experience? We would love for you to join us! We have opportunities throughout the year that can accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. 

• Join the PTA: Visit the LPES PTA webstore to join and pay dues for the year: https://laurelpark.givebacks.com/shop
• Attend our first meeting: We welcome everyone to join us for our first meeting of the year on August 26 at 6:30 pm in the media center! It’s a great opportunity to meet other LPES parents and learn more about our plans for the upcoming school year. Children are welcome to join us! Girl Scout Troop 2068 will be helping to run activities for the children in attendance. 
• Volunteer: Check out our list of opportunities for ways to help throughout the school year: https://www.lpespta.org/volunteer-opportunities

I look forward to working with you all this year!  With your help, we can: Make things awesome for our kids at school, support our teachers, and have fun while doing so.

-Nikki Gieszelmann
president@lpespta.org

Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

• August 5: Tr. 4 Kindergarten Meet the Teacher / Supply Drop Off, 11 am - 12 pm (floating event)
• August 6: Tr. 4 Kindergarten First Full Day of School; Tears & Cheers for Tr. 4 Kinder families during arrival in courtyard (red tables)
• August 14: Spirit Wear orders due (https://coolschoolspirit.com/LaurelPark/)
• August 7: Tr. 1 Q1 Interim Reports sent home
• August 18: Tr. 1 AIG Parent Information Q & A Session (virtual), 6 pm
• August 19: Tr. 4 3rd-grade BOG3
• August 21: No School / Teacher Workday; PTA Snack Cart
• August 24: Welcome back, Track 3! (all students on campus); PTA Chick-fil-A Spirit Night (Peakway), 4-8 pm
• August 26: PTA Meeting in media center, 6:30-7:30 pm
• August 28: Picture Day! (make-ups November 19); Ice Cream Social, 5:30-7:30 pm
• August 31-September 11: Apex Leadership Fundraiser

Tr. 4 3rd-grade Beginning of Year (BOG3) Reading Test

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Beginning-of-Grade 3 (BOG3) Reading Test is an early-warning assessment. Administered during the first 15 days of third grade, it establishes a reading baseline and satisfies "Read to Achieve" requirements for students who score at Achievement Level 3 or higher. 

Track 4 3rd-grade students will take the BOG3 Test the morning of Wednesday, August 19. 

Ice Cream Social is coming on August 28

Our PTA sponsors numerous annual events for students and families to come together and enjoy. The first event on campus is an Ice Cream Social, with food trucks, lawn games, and ice cream from 5:30-7:30 pm on the LPES field. (This event will replace our annual movie night.) We are seeking a few volunteers for the event to help with setting up, cleaning up, and monitoring games throughout the event. Available to help? Sign up to volunteer here.

BIMAS-2 Screener Information

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all our students, we will be administering a universal screener of social, emotional, and behavioral health. Our district uses the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System-2 (BIMAS-2), a research-based screening tool. This will help all of our students thrive academically by identifying students who may benefit from additional social and emotional support and interventions.

This will not require you or your child to do anything. Your child’s homeroom teacher will complete a questionnaire about your child’s actions and emotions displayed in class during a one-week time span. 

Parents have the option to opt out of the homeroom teacher completing a screener on their child. Tracks 1 and 4 students received the opt-out form last week, and if opting out, the form will need to be returned by August 28. 

Check your calendars, Tracks 1 and 4!

We learned there is an incorrect 2026-27 calendar floating around the internet if you simply search for the multi-track year round calendar. You must go directly to WCPSS's website or our site to view the correct calendar. Make sure you have marked the following:

• Track 4 tracks out on Tuesday, October 6
• Track 1 tracks in on Wednesday, October 7

Interested in Cub Scouts? 

Cub Scout Pack 216 invites boys & girls in grades K-5 to join us for fun, adventure, friendship, and learning! Cub Scouting helps kids build skills through fun indoor and outdoor activities that encourage confidence, teamwork, and service. Families interested in joining are invited to visit our kickoff on August 18, 6:00-7:15, at St. Michael's Parish Center, 804 High House Rd, Cary. To learn more about Pack 216 or to contact us, please visit https://www.troopwebhostcs.org/Pack216Cary/Index.htm

Thank you, F3, for donating school supplies! (See image)

Ruck 2 School is organized by members of F3 (Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith), a free men's community fitness group focused on leadership, service, and supporting others. During this annual event, participants collect backpacks and school supplies before completing a four-mile "ruck" while carrying weighted backpacks, stopping along the way for fitness challenges. The event symbolizes the commitment to helping carry the burdens faced by students and families, reflecting F3's core belief that no one should have to face life's challenges alone.

This year's Ruck 2 School supply drive benefited four local schools, including Laurel Park! Through the generosity of F3 members and the community, Laurel Park received 19 backpacks filled with essential school supplies, including binders, pencils, notebook paper, glue, colored pencils, and many other classroom essentials to help students start the school year prepared. In addition, each participating school received a case of approximately 5,000 sheets of copy paper, providing valuable support for classrooms throughout the year.

We are incredibly grateful to F3 and everyone who contributed to this effort. Your generosity will have a meaningful impact on our students and teachers as we begin a new school year.

Renew Your WCPSS Volunteer Status for the 2026-27 School Year

Adults who were approved to volunteer in the 2025-26 school year will receive an email outlining the volunteer review process for the 2026-27 school year. Check your spam or junk mail folder. This simple process to renew your volunteer status occurs from July 1 through October 31. After October 31, the process to sign up and be cleared to volunteer will take a little longer. 

Laurel Park Monthly Character Strength

In August, we focus on the following character strength on the morning announcements and morning meeting: Responsibility -- You do what you are supposed to do and take care of your things, your work, and your actions.

Ways to Support our Families & Community

We continue to add non-perishable food items to our Lucky's Community Pantry near the school's front entrance. Have items to donate? Please bring them to the front office or place them in the pantry.

Purposity is a new platform for WCPSS that allows our school team to share the real, immediate needs of students and families in our community. Families and staff can scroll through a list of posted needs, choose one they feel connected to, and meet it in just a few clicks. 

Friendly Family Reminders

• Smartwatches and Cell Phones: The only electronic device students should bring to school is the district-issued Chromebook. Personal technology (e.g., smartwatches, cell phones) should be turned off during school hours. Parents can call the front office to relay a message to their child.
• Extra Clothing: We ask all students to have an extra set of clothes at school in case something happens. (We have limited clothes and undergarments in the office.) Please check to ensure the school set is weather-appropriate and still fits.
• Become a WCPSS-approved Volunteer (must be completed annually)
• Arriving Late / Leaving Early: Students who arrive at school after 9:15 am must be signed in by the parent/guardian via the QR code on the front door. Early check-out ends at 3:15 pm. 

2026-27 School Events -- Mark your calendars!

• August 26, 2026: General PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm in media center
• August 28: Ice Cream Social (formerly movie night)
• September 10: Fun Run Event
• October 6: Curriculum Night
• October 7: Walk, Bike, or Roll to School 
• October 24: Trunk or Treat
• November 18: PTA General Meeting
• December 3: Science & Engineering Fair
• February 17, 2027: General PTA Meeting
• February 25: STEAM Night, 5:30-7:30 pm
• April 16: Family Fun Night
• May 15: 3rd Annual Sneaker Ball (School Dance)
• May 19: General PTA Meeting

Laurel Park PTA Information (lpespta.org)

Join the PTA

Laurel Park has an active PTA that serves as our primary parent-teacher organization. Advocating for public schools and sound instruction is the PTA's priority in supporting the school with clubs, coordinating school events, beautification, playground enhancements, teacher planning days, and instructional resources. PTA members will receive a 10% discount on all spirit wear opportunities.

PTA Seeking Volunteers

The LPES PTA has a vibrant community of volunteers, but they need your help! There is a place for everyone -- whether you have a few hours a month or the capacity to take on a larger project. Click the link to learn more about available micro and mini volunteer roles. The PTA wants to continue to offer fun events for families, and they cannot do that without volunteer support!