Laurel Park Elementary Families,
We are excited to welcome our Penguin families to Penguin Quest on Tuesday, October 6, from 5:30-7:00 pm! This is a floating event, so there is no set start time or order to follow. When you arrive, grab a Quest Pass and chart your own course through Laurel Park!

Penguin Quest is designed to give families a chance to explore what students are learning, participate in hands-on activities, connect with staff, and take home ideas and resources now that we are a quarter of the way into the school year. Use the map to find activities throughout the building and collect stickers on your Quest Pass as you explore.

A few tips for a great Quest:

• Stay together as a family as you travel through the building and complete activities.
• There is no required order. If a classroom or activity is full, choose another stop on your Quest Pass and come back later.
• Take your time! You do not have to visit every space. Choose the activities that are most helpful and interesting to your family.
• Most importantly, explore, learn, connect, and have fun together!

We hope Penguin Quest gives you a helpful glimpse into your child's learning and provides meaningful ways to support them throughout the rest of the school year. We cannot wait to see our Penguins and their families exploring Laurel Park together! 🐧

Respectfully,
Charelle Lovett, Principal
LPES Family Handbook
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Upcoming Events / Important Dates (Community Calendar)

• Sept. 21-Oct. 5: Tr. 3 & 4 Go Play Save Fundraiser (fully digital)
• Sept. 25: Instructional Assistant Appreciation Day
• Oct. 2: National Custodian Appreciation Day (Thank you, Maria!)
• Oct. 5: City Barbeque Spirit Night (Kildaire Farm Rd.)
• Oct. 6-19: Tr. 1 Go Play Save Fundraiser (fully digital)
• Oct. 6: Happy Track out, Track 4! (Tr. 3 & 4 quarter 1 ends); Penguin Quest Curriculum Night, 5:30-7 pm
• Oct. 7: Walk, Bike, & Roll to School; Welcome back, Track 1!
• Oct. 9: Tr. 1 & 3 1st-grade field trip
• Oct. 10: Campus Beautification Day, 8:30 am - 12 pm (Sign up!)
• Oct. 12-16: National School Lunch Week
• Oct. 16: Tr. 1 & 3 Report Cards go home
• Oct. 23: Happy track out, Track 3! PTA Snack Cart
• Oct. 24: Trunk or Treat, 2-4 pm

September 25th is IA Appreciation Day!

Our Instructional Assistants play a pivotal role in the learning and functioning of Laurel Park. We have 15 AMAZING IAs who support students in PreK, general education classes, special education small groups, and ECS classes. We appreciate their heart-work and hard work! 

Ms. Crabtree, Mr. Sicilia, Ms. Cervantes, Ms. Schafran, Ms. Ash, Ms. Magnani, Miss Hailey, Ms. Buckley, Ms. Pires, Ms. Deepa, Ms. Sherer, Ms. Van Vickle, Ms. Berentes, Ms. Wilson, and Ms. Jinny are...

P: Problem-solvers who somehow know what to do when the unexpected happens.
E: Extra hands, extra eyes, and extra patience exactly when we need them most.
N: Nurses, nurturers, and nose-wipers when little Penguins need some TLC.
G: Grade-level gurus who reteach skills, lead small groups, and help students grow.
U: Unsung heroes of lunch duty, carpool, buses, bathrooms…and all the other glamorous assignments. 😄
I: Inventors and creators of materials, activities, bulletin boards, systems, and whatever else we dreamed up five minutes ago.
N: Never afraid to jump in, whether that means classroom support, calming a student, cleaning a mess, or tackling the copier.
S: Simply essential to Laurel Park. 💙🐧

Thank you for helping us meet our fundraising goal!

During the last week in August and the first week in September, we partnered with the Apex Leadership Co. for our annual fundraiser. We met our $80,000 goal, and the money received will support: 

• School events -- Family Fun Nights, STEAM Night, & School Dance
• Clubs, which are volunteer-led!
• Student benefits -- educational subscriptions, cultural arts funding, playground updates, and field day T-shirts
• Staff benefits -- Teacher mini-grants, teacher appreciation, innovation grants, snack cart, and Conscious Discipline professional learning

New Club Alert: Dungeons & Dragons

Ms. Stephanie Atwell will sponsor our newest club, Dungeons and Dragons, which will meet every fourth Tuesday of the month from 3:45-4:45 pm. As 4th- and 5th-grade students learn to play, the club may extend the time to 5 pm. The club size will depend on the number of volunteers to act as Dungeon Masters to support groups made up of 6 students each. Ms. Atwell will contact parents directly via email to confirm acceptance into the club and meeting dates. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/dK7VLhtBdXYNz1tB7

What is Dungeons and Dragons (DnD)? Look here to find out!

Campus Beautification Day is October 10

It is that time of year again to spruce up Laurel Park's campus on Saturday, October 10, 8:30 am - 12 pm. Bring the kids, strong arms, and a readiness to pick weeds, plant flowers, and mulch. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Sign up here.

Cultural Arts Events

Did you know that a PTA parent volunteer schedules and organizes cultural arts events for all students to participate in throughout the school year? Using the Artists in Schools from the United Arts Council, students will have the following experiences:

• PreK & Kinder: Black Box Theatre
• 1st grade: Gazellephant Kids Musical (Aggregate Theatre)
• 2nd grade: HamLit Reader's Theatre
• 3rd grade: Bluegrass Music (Charles Pettee)
• 4th grade: Poetry Workshop (Michael Beadle)
• 5th grade: Fredrick Douglass Writing Club (Baba Got Bars)

Field Trips are Coming

Our students take at least one field trip each year to various parts of the local area (grades K-4) or Charlotte, NC (grade 5). We recognize that rising gas costs and the decrease in student enrollment have increased field trip prices this school year. Please contact your child's classroom teacher if you need financial assistance. We partner with the PTA to support families who need it. 

Laurel Park Monthly Character Strength

In August, we focus on the following character strength on the morning announcements and morning meeting: Creativity -- You use your imagination to make new ideas, solve problems, or create something unique.

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? Lucky's Community Pantry Wishlist

Purposity is a 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!

• October 6: Penguin Quest (Curriculum Night), 5:30-7 pm
• October 7: Walk, Bike, or Roll to School 
• October 10: Fall Campus Beautification Day, 8:30 am-12 pm
• October 24: Trunk or Treat, 2-4 pm
• November 13: Family Fun Night
• November 18: PTA General Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm
• December 3: Science & Engineering Fair, 6-7 pm
• February 17, 2027: General PTA Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm
• 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, 6:30-7:30 pm

Laurel Park PTA Information (lpespta.org)

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

NC Art Contests

NC Farm to School Contest

The NC Farm to School Contest is open to public school students in grades K-5 to create artwork featuring agriculture grown, raised, caught,  or made in our state. The deadline for entry is Friday, December 11. If interested in learning more, email Ms. Lovett at clovett@wcpss.net, and she will send you the entry information.

Aviation Art Contest

The NC Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation hosts the NC Aviation Contest annual. It is open to children ages 6-17 who live in or attend a school in NC the chance to explore different aspects of aviation. For more information here: https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/aviation/aviation-art-contest/Pages/default.aspx