Announcements

The 2012 Special Education Conference will be held at the Shoreline Conference Center (greater Seattle area) on March 7-9, 2012. Every year we count on school staff members and parent-teacher organizations to help us get the conference information out to teachers and parents. Email includes the conference program and poster for your review. Feel free to distribute the program to appropriate staff members and parents in your school. You may also visit the conference website at www.rehabseminars.org to view the conference details.

Click here to view conference topics and schedule.
Click here for additional information and registration form.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Open Enrollment for 2012-13 school year set for Feb. 27 to March 9

Open enrollment for the 2012-13 school year will take place Feb. 27 through March 9.  The SPS Enrollment information and all forms can be found on the Enrollment Services page on the SPS website.

All students will receive an assignment letter right before open enrollment begins. This will tell you your student’s initial assignment for next year, and will also provide information on open enrollment if you want to apply for a different attendance area or option school for next year.
Information on assignments for the 2012-12 school year is scheduled to be available on the SPS website and automated phone line (206-252-0212) on April 16. Mailed confirmation letters will be sent out the week of April 23.
Lawton will be conducting tours for prospective families.  Information and schedule can be found here.

Law ton will also host an evening open house, which is a great opportunity for prospective families and students to visit the school, meet with teachers and the principal and ask questions. Information and schedule can be found here.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Snow make-up day scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27

Jan. 20, 2012 | Audience: Families, Community, Staff | Contact: Communications, (206) 252-0200

Seattle Public Schools will hold classes on Friday, Jan. 27 as a snow make-up day.
No school was scheduled for next Friday, a professional development day for staff, but instead will be used as a make-up day for one of the three snow days this week, as outlined in the 2011-12 school calendar.   A determination on making up the additional snow days, most likely at the end of the school year, will be decided next week. Professional development for next Friday will also be rescheduled.   “It is important to get our students back in the classroom next week,” said Dr. Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent. “We know some families may have made out-of-town plans for next Friday, and we apologize for any inconvenience this causes.”
There will still be a three-hour early dismissal on Tuesday, Jan. 24 because of a scheduled furlough day for teachers and staff represented by the Seattle Education Association (SEA). That day cannot be used as a snow make-up day.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Announcement from Mrs. Cooper re: upcoming concerts.  Mark your calendars !

Choir and band
June 11th – Choir and band (tentative)

Evening grade concerts – each 6:30-7:30pm

Thurs Feb 2nd – 4th grade
Thurs Mar 8th – 2nd grade
Thurs Mar 22nd – 1st grade
Thurs Mar 29th – 3rd grade
Thurs June 7th – Kindergarten
Thurs May 31st – 5th grade

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Come learn more about McClure Middle School.  McClure is our SPS attendance area school located in Queen Anne.  Tour schedule is below.  Click here for the full flyer

Thursday, February 2^nd  – 8:45–10:20 a.m. [rescheduled from snow day cancellation]
Thursday, March 15  -8:45-10:20 a.m.
Thursday, March 22  - 6:30-8:30 p.m. Open House

McClure’s principal Sarah Pritchett will also be presenting about middle school at the Lawton PTA General Meeting on Thursday, January 19th.  Come learn about middle school and get your questions answered.

Anyone is welcome to attend these events and learn more about this great neighborhood school.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Letter from SPS re: upcoming furlough

Dear families,

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Seattle Public Schools will dismiss students three hours early due to a scheduled furlough for Seattle Education Association-represented employees. Schools will adjust their schedules to accommodate the serving of both breakfast and lunch. Students who receive District transportation will be picked up from school three hours earlier than on a regular school day. Athletic and extra-curricular events will continue as scheduled and will not be canceled because of the furlough. Please check with your after school care providers for their schedule on Jan. 24.  If you have questions about your school’s specific schedule on Jan. 24, please contact your school directly.

This furlough ½-day on January 24 is one in a series of furloughs aimed at offsetting reductions in state education funding. This will be the only occurrence of furlough time taken during the regular school day for the 2011-12 school year.

Additional upcoming key dates include:

• Friday, Jan. 27: No School – Day Between Semesters
• Wednesday, Feb. 1: 2-Hour Early Dismissal – Professional Development Day
• Monday, Feb. 20: No School – Presidents’ Day Holiday
• Monday-Friday, Feb. 20-24: No School – Mid-Winter Break

Office of Public Affairs

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Dear Families,

Seattle Public Schools will close two hours early today, January 17, 2012. All after-school activities are canceled.

Please be prepared to have your student home two hours early.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause today, but predicting the weather is not an easy task. Safety is a top priority for our students. Please monitor local media tonight for announcements about school tomorrow.

Thank you,
Office of Public Affairs

Posted in Announcements | Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

With possible ice/snow conditions in the forecast for next week, we want to remind you again about planning for winter weather, and how we communicate school delays and closures to both staff and families. We sent a similar email in November last year.

When we are expecting snow or inclement weather, a Central Office team continually monitors conditions across the District.  That includes having staff drive some of the streets that are typically more treacherous in snow and ice.  After consulting with other agencies, we decide whether to delay school by two hours or if a closure is necessary. That decision is typically made by 5:30 a.m.

You can learn if there is a school delay or closure through:

 ·         local TV and radio stations;
·         the District website at www.seattleschools.org;
·         an automated phone call you will receive; and
·         the Public Schools Emergency Communications System at www.SchoolReport.org

Staff and families will receive one of the following four messages:

1.       Seattle Public Schools: Schools open on time – buses operating on snow routes. No door-to-door service. No Preschool or Head Start.

2.       Seattle Public Schools: Two hours late – buses operating on snow routes. No door-to-door service. No Preschool or Head Start.

3.       Seattle Public Schools: Two hours late – buses operating on regular routes. No door-to-door service. No Preschool or Head Start.

4.       Seattle Public Schools: Schools closed.

Please note:  Notification of “School Closures” does not include the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Building (JSCEE).  If JSCEE is closed due to inclement weather, it will be specifically noted. The decision to close the JSCEE will be made by Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield.

Sincerely,
 Office of Public Affairs/Communications
Seattle Public Schools

Posted in Announcements | Friday, January 13th, 2012

January 2012

Dear Friends and Families of Lawton Elementary School,

Happy New Year!  I want to first say thank you to all those who helped our school out in 2011.  We are truly blessed as a school community to have such talented and willing partners supporting our school.  The work our PTA and volunteers do makes us stronger and better.  The support for programs and improvements allows us to maintain an excellent program in tough budget times.  If you aren’t a member or active volunteer consider joining PTA or talking with Helen Pitts, our volunteer coordinator, about getting involved.  If you have ideas to make our school better, come and talk with me or your Building Leadership Team Parent Representative.  Together we are strongest.

Personnel Changes and New Faces

Janine Anderson, our special education resource room teacher is going to be leaving us for health and family reasons.  Rosemary Hanson, a regular substitute in our building, will be covering Janine’s caseload from 1/16 to 1/26.  Steve Carver will be joining our faculty effective January 27th.  Mr. Carver is currently at McClure Middle School as a resource room teacher and will be finishing the semester there before transitioning to our campus.

We have hired a great duo in Annette Godon and Natalie Jensen for our front office team.  They have been working in this capacity all year, but now they are officially part of our staff!  Thank you to the interview team for working through this process on both sides of the winter holidays. 

Heidi Jahr is joining Elaine Cooper as a teaching intern in music.  Also joining us as a teaching intern is Sarah Snelling in Sarah Mitchell’s class. 

Calendar Dates and Early Releases

January and early February we have a number of deviations from our normal schedule to be mindful of.

• January 16^th is MLK day and there is no school
• January 24^th is a furlough half-day – which means we will have a noon dismissal.  We will serve hot lunch at school (but not have students come to the cafeteria with their lunch pails).  Please make sure your child knows whether or not they should get lunch at school or eat at home/childcare. 
• January 27^th is the day between the semesters and there is no school. 
• February 1^st is a 2 hour early-release day with a 1 p.m. dismissal.

 We recognize these changes to the regular schedule can be disruptive for students and families.  We are working together as a staff on January 27^th and February 1^st to strengthen our school through professional development.

I am excited to be entering 2012 with this school community as we continue our core instructional work and plan together to keep the school moving forward and upward – meeting the needs of all students through quality instruction – all day, every day. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Neil Gerrans
Interim Principal Lawton Elementary
ntgerrans@seattleschools.org
206 252-2130

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 9th, 2012

Come see your neighborhood school.  Lawton Elementary School has been helping kids learn, grow and become excited about education for 100 years.

Our tour schedule:

Thursday, February 16th (9:30 to 10:30)
Wednesday, February 29th (evening open house, times 6-7)
Thursday, March 1st (9:30 to 10:30)

Please contact Heather Bioren or Vanessa Gregory or Laura Thomas for tour information.  For school information, please contact Lawton’s secretary Laura Thomas or Principal Neil Gerrans.

Seattle Public Schools Open Enrollment runs 2/27/2012 through 3/9/2010.  The link to the SPS Enrollment Center page is found here.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 9th, 2012

After school club registration has been extended due to the snow days until Friday January 27th.  Please send in your child’s registration and payment by Friday the 27th to register your child for after school clubs and activities.  Children must have registration and payment to participate in 2nd session after school clubs.

Please note also that payment is due for the 3rd session for ZumbAtomic, Lego Animation, and iPad Animation, since this is the last registration period this school year.

The second session of most Before and After School Enrichment programs are now enrolling.  Sign up now to secure a spot for you child.  There are many popular activities for your child.  Click here to check out the full offerings and for the registration form.

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 9th, 2012

BLT December News

At the BLT monthly meeting on Dec. 5, the sub-committees reported on their progress. The Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) subcommittee had met and discussed creating a tool to help teachers
track how they are doing in implementing specific reading, math, writing and science strategies. The professional development subcommittee shared that they had met and developed a schedule to plan professional development activities in May for summer offerings, in June for fall offerings, in September for
winter offerings and in January for spring offerings. The discretionary budget and the decision-making subcommittees will be meeting in December.

Next Principal Gerrans talked about a small pool of principal discretionary funds for which he requested input from the BLT on how to direct the funding.  Dr. Gerrans also discussed the opportunity for Lawton to be a pilot school for online MSP (Measurements of Student Progress for grades 3 – testing this spring. Some benefits are that Lawton would receive extra training and be able to adapt to this form of testing in
advance of the state’s requirement that all schools move toward online testing.  Nine schools participated in 2011 and the experience was positive. While students would have ample time to get to know the test format through demonstrations and tutorials, some BLT members expressed concern about students, especially third graders, not knowing how to type, which might negatively affect their test taking. Dr. Gerrans was going to solicit additional input and make a decision by Dec. 15.  We concluded with a brief discussion of ideas for an early dismissal day in January.

For a copy of the Dec. 5 meeting minutes, click here. Our next BLT meeting will be Jan. 9. As always, if you have questions or comments, please contact any one of the BLT members. Happy holidays!

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 9th, 2012

Lawton’s Annual Math Night (Click here for full flyer)
January 26^th 6pm-8pm
Come support your school PTA

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 9th, 2012

Starting this week, the classes will be rollerblading in their P.E. classes and this has been a highlight in P.E. for as long as I’ve taught at Lawton.  The full flyer, schedule and volunteer schedule can be found here.

I wanted to inform all the families of important information they will need to know while we do rollerblading. Unfortunately, Mrs. Dial who is also teaching P.E. this year is not qualified to teach this unit. In order to allow for all classes to have the opportunity to rollerblade, the 2nd -5th grade classes will have P.E. with me on a rotating basis in the mornings. The K-1st grade students will have P.E. on their regular days and times as they only have me for P.E. and they will rollerblade from January 9th – January 31st.
A schedule of when the 2nd – 5th grade classes have P.E. is on the next page.

All students will either be introduced or will be reviewing the basics of rollerblading skills and safety. Even if your child already knows how to rollerblade, he/she will have to participate in the beginning lessons
that cover basic skills and safety.  During this unit, all students are required to wear a helmet and safety pads (elbow, wrist, and knee pads). The only way students do not have to wear a helmet or safety pads is if a waiver form (sent home in the fall and on the last page if needed) was turned in. Though I strongly recommend that your child wears all protective gear, ultimately, it is your decision. We have helmets at school but they are shared among the classes so if you do not want your child to wear a school helmet, please send a helmet to school.

Two things that will be very helpful for your child to know is his/her shoe size and to wear socks.  These two things will make getting their equipment much faster.

Students who have their own rollerblades are allowed to bring them to school but responsibility is on your child. Anything brought from home must be labeled and put into a bag. Students will be allowed to store
their equipment in the gym but only if it’s in a bag. It is recommended that you do not use the plastic grocery bags as they rip quite easily.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

In order for the K-2nd students to get as much rollerblading time as possible, volunteers are needed to help them with their equipment and it will be a whole new experience for the kindergarteners. If you are
interested and are able to help out with any of the classes listed on the third page, please send either an email to me at clparks@seattleschools.org indicating which day(s) and times you are available or simply fill out the form and send it in. NOTE: Anyone can volunteer for any of the K-2nd classes.

Thank you,
Cheryl Parks
Lawton P.E. Specialist

Posted in Announcements | Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars    -    Saturday Enrichment Program

The Robinson Center is generally known as a center for gifted education, but we are widening our doors, via our Saturday program, to welcome all students who are interested in fun and challenging math and writing. Our next session starts January 14, and registration has already begun. These classes are open to everyone, and some financial aid is available.

Our goal is to offer students fun and inspirational math and writing classes that deepen students’ educational experience. Please feel free to contact Dr. Maren Halvorsen with any questions.  Click here for flyer.

Maren Halvorsen, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Robinson Center for Young Scholars
Transition School * Saturday Program * Summer Programs
http://depts.washington.edu/cscy
(206) 685-3928

Posted in Announcements | Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

State of the District

When:  Thursday January 5th at 7:30pm
Where:  Coe Elementary  at 2424 7th Avenue West, Seattle WA

With Interim  Superintendent Susan Enfield, School Board President Michael DeBell and 36th  District Representative Reuven Carlyle

Are you interested in Education  and learning about the State of the District? Are you interested in knowing more  about the search for a new Superintendent for SPS?  Are you interested in  knowing more about how work in Olympia affects our schools?  If so, please join  session sponsor schools Coe, Hay, Blaine K-8, McClure Middle School, & Queen  Anne Elementary for an informative discussion and a Q&A  session.

All parents and community members  are encouraged to attend!

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Posted in Announcements | Monday, January 2nd, 2012