November 12, 2024 Newsletter *special edition*

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November 12, 2024

From the Principal’s Pen

Dear Laurel Hill Families,

We hope everyone had a nice, long weekend and found a way to thank a Veteran for their service.  We will host a Parent "decaf" Coffee tonight at 6:30pm in the staff lounge.  Our November PTA meeting will be at 7 pm this evening in the library.  We hope you can join us for both!

We kindly ask that you fill out a new survey for the reminder of the Early Release Mondays this school year.  The remaining 3-hour early release dates for Laurel Hill are November 18th, February 10th, March 10th, April 21st, and May 12th.  Please fill out one survey for each of your children.  Thank you for your support in completing this as soon as possible.  

Also, a brief reminder that nominations for outstanding LHES staff are due this week!  Please see the additional information below.

Sincerely,

Janice Dalton, Principal

Addison Smith, Assistant Principal

Thmeaka Traylor, Assistant Principal

Calendar reminder graphic

Save the Date:

November 12: Parent "decaf" Coffee @ 6:30pm- Staff Lounge

November 12: PTA Meeting 7pm Library

November 18: 3-hour Early Release (school ends at 1:05pm)

November 19: FLE parent preview @ 6pm (virtual)

November 19: Chipotle Spirit Night 4-9pm

November 20-21: Bowling Nights


Parents Need To Know

Did you know Laurel Hill has a journalism club?

Discover the latest news and stories about the Laurel Hill community through the student-led journalism club and the new “Laurel Hill Ledger.” Our student journalists and videographers capture school activities and interviews and edit their pictures and videos together. Student work is aired on the school’s morning news show and posted online to the “Laurel Hill Ledger.”

 

Upcoming Student Experience Survey 

Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All classes in grades 3-6 will be selected to participate. However, all students in participating grades, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey in selected classes during the school day between Monday, December 2, and Friday, December 13. Any student may take the survey at home, if preferred. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

 

FCPS Employee Awards 2024-2025 Nominations

We are excited to invite you to join us in this year’s FCPS teacher recognition program! Do you know a teacher who goes the extra mile, inspires students, or brings a special spark to our school? Now is the time to show your appreciation and shine a spotlight on their dedication.

To nominate a teacher, just share a brief paragraph that explains how they stand out, using specific stories or examples that highlight their impact. The deadline for nominations is November 15th, 2024.  Thank you for taking the time to honor the outstanding educators who make Laurel Hill such a special place. We can't wait to read your nominations and celebrate the incredible contributions happening in our classrooms every day.

Submit your nomination here: https://forms.gle/TS29HPZYsEE2Z69TA

 

Native American Heritage Month

During the month of November, people all over the United States celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions of Indigenous people globally year-round, and these celebrations are an opportunity to honor these important stories. To support teachers to this end, FCPS Social Studies created the Native American Heritage 180 Resource document specifically curated for social studies classrooms.

 

📋 Permission Forms

Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed. Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. See how to use the tool

 

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow stronger in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

 

LHES PTA

Please check out the NEW PTA newsletter.  This is a great source for details for upcoming events and how you can support our school!   If you have not yet joined the PTA, please visit https://lhes.givebacks.com/  and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lhespta.

Amazon Teacher Wish lists 

Yearbook order form- Deadline 4/4/25, $21.00


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