List of 7 news stories.

• A Message from Primary School, K-Grade 2, Leadership

  Dear Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Families,
  
  

  The crisp air of Fall has definitely arrived, and the Halloween excitement is officially in the air! We have so much fun coming up, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the whole Primary community.
  
  

  First up: Don't miss the fun tomorrow at our Halloween Extravaganza! We hope to see you there for all the spooky-good times.
  
  

  Then, next Friday, it’s time for our Primary students to get into the spirit! They’re invited to bring their costumes to school to change into for class festivities. We want everyone to feel comfortable, so please remember that costumes should be easy to change into (no hair or makeup, please!) and should not be scary or include weapons.
  
  

  Finally, we're inviting all families to join the celebration! Please line the main hallway for the highly anticipated Primary Halloween Parade at 2:45 p.m. Your enthusiastic support makes this a favorite community event!
  
  

  As the weather changes, please make sure your student has the appropriate outdoor gear to enjoy recess. There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear!

  
  

  Warmly,

  
  

  Bella Patel

  Director of Early Childhood and Primary Schools

• Important Reminders:

  • Please remember to keep all extraneous items at home. Toys, including keychains attached to backpacks, are becoming a hallway distraction.
  • Warm Layers: Students should have the necessary uniform items at school to stay warm during the school day—sweaters or sweatshirts in solid white, navy blue or forest green. Sweaters must be in a cardigan or crew-neck style with or without a Laurel logo. Laurel-branded sweaters or sweatshirts (including fleece) may be worn with the uniform as well. Outdoor gear does not have to be uniform colors and should be sent with students daily as we spend time outdoors most every day.   

• Conference Sign-up for November 7

  Primary conferences are student-led and an excellent opportunity for each student to practice her presentation skills. Teachers will help prepare the students for conferences by asking them to reflect on their own learning and school experience. They will focus on each student’s Ownership of Learning and setting personal and academic goals. Report cards will be posted to MyLaurel on November 4. To ensure these conferences are as meaningful as possible, we ask that parents come prepared by reviewing their child's report and thinking through a few questions to help guide the conversation.

   

  Registering for conferences will happen via MyLaurel. Once you are logged in, click “Resources” on the top menu bar, then click the “Conference Registration” tile. This link provides more information about how to register. You will notice that this system allows you to see all your students’ conferences simultaneously so you can better coordinate signing up for multiple conferences.

   

  Registration for conferences will close on Wednesday, November 5. If you need to change your time after that date, please contact Michelle Ramirez at mRamirez@LaurelSchool.org.

  
  

  There are no classes on Friday, November 7, but students are expected to attend their conference.

• MAP Test Reports

  As part of our commitment to supporting student growth and learning, we wanted to provide an update regarding MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing: MAP scores have now been released to MyLaurel. Just like report cards, they exist in the “Progress” tab, but under “Files” you should choose “Primary School MAP Test Results”. These scores, along with classroom assessments, benchmark data, and report card comments, provide valuable insights into your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy.

• LCRG in Community for Primary School Parents—Wednesday

  Based on parent feedback, this year we will tackle the topic of navigating technology in family life. These conversations will be anchored by LCRG’s work on disseminating research and utilizing evidence-based strategies to support girls’ development. Instead of anchoring our conversation to one specific book, we have listed a number of resources that families may choose to explore this year. There is no need to have previewed these resources prior to our meetings, and you are welcome to attend one, some, or all of the scheduled meetings: October 29, January 21, and April 22 (8:00-9:00am in the Alumnae Room). We hope to see you there!

  • LCRG’s Family tech-free BINGO
  • The Mediatrician’s Guide (and Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab)
  • Tech Without Stress website
  • Growing Up in Public 
  • Technosapiens newsletter
  • Common Sense Media
  • LCRG’s Research Brief Guiding Girls Through a High-Tech World
  • Eric Hudson (speaker for the Spring LCRG forum on the evening of April 20th)

• Halloween—Friday

  Our Halloween festivities will take place on Friday, October 31! Girls should wear their uniform to school that day and bring their costume for later. Students will be given time to don their disguises before our traditional K-Grade 5 parade begins around 2:45pm. Families are more than welcome to line the main hallways to watch the girls pass by!

  
  

  Beginning the Monday after Halloween, you can donate your extra Halloween candy by dropping it off near the Primary School office. We will send it to a local hunger center. Trick or Treat!

• Civvies Days!—Save the Dates!

  School Spirit Days: On the 1st Monday of each month, we have school. Students may wear green and white civvies and spirit wear! 

  November 3, December 8, January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4

  
  Primary Civvies Days: Usually the 3rd Wednesday of the month; students may wear school-friendly civvies of their choice! October 22, November 19, December 17, January 21, Thursday, February 12 (Valentine's Civvies), April 15, May 20