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Dear Laurel Woods Community,

We’re excited for a fun and meaningful week at school!

This Friday, March 13, we will celebrate Pi Day with activities that highlight the joy of math and problem-solving. Students will explore the famous mathematical constant π (pi) and participate in engaging classroom activities to make learning both fun and memorable.

Tomorrow, Monday, March 9, we will also be getting our 5th graders excited and motivated for the upcoming 5th Grade MISA assessment. We are incredibly proud of our students and the hard work they’ve put in all year.

If you have a 5th grader, you can help support them by:

• Ensuring they get a good night’s sleep on the nights before testing

• Encouraging them to take their time and do their best

• Reminding them that we are already proud of their effort and growth

Our goal is for students to feel confident, prepared, and supported as they show what they know. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students succeed!

We’re looking forward to a great week of learning and celebration. 🎉

Warmly,

LWES Admin

Beginning this week, 5th graders will take the MISA assessment. The grade 5 MISA test assesses the NGSS standards, including the core ideas from life science, physical science, and Earth and space science. For more information about the MISA assessment, please visit the Pearson MCAP Resource Website.

Students will take the assessment in the morning each day. It is important that students get a good night's rest and arrive at school on time in order to feel prepared.

Test Dates:

• March 11

• March 12

• March 17

• March 18

Our Grades 3–5 LEGO Robotics Workshop is officially full — thank you for the amazing interest! 🎉

But there’s still room for our FREE LEGO Robotics Workshop for students in Grades K–2. This is a fantastic chance for younger students to explore STEM through hands-on LEGO building and simple robotics activities.

Kids will build, experiment, and learn while having tons of fun! 🤖✨

Spots are limited, so sign up today by clicking on the link below.

March 2 – March 6, 2026 is the designated countywide kickoff registration period.

Registration assistance is available throughout the school day: 8:30am-3:30pm.Please visit https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/ in order to enroll your student and for more details.

Age Eligibility for Kindergarten:

• Kindergarten is a mandatory grade in the state of Maryland.
  

• Children must be five years old on or before September 1st to attend kindergarten.

• Children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2026 must have been born between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021.

• Students will be enrolled in the attendance area in which they live. Please refer families to School & Bus Locator to confirm the assigned school.

Every child who is 5 years old on or before September 1 must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver.

If you need assistance, please call 410-880-5960 or visit our front office between 8:30am-3:30pm.

Thank you for those of who you were able to join us for our February Coffee and Conversation. As a follow-up, please view this link that includes some questions that were posed as well as answers.

The Virtual Family Resource Center is open for monthly orders. The order form is available here: Family Resource Order Link. Please return reusable bags. Thank you!

Free family workshops! Check out these flyers

Howard County Office of Children March Workshops

Spanish Howard County Office of Children March Workshops

Girls on the Run is now registering for our spring session. Information below. Scholarships are available. Please reach out to the Family Resource Center if you would like to have your daughter participate and need financial assistance.

flyer GOTR SP26

Spanish

Roving Radish The market will be at Laurel Woods this week on Wednesday, March 11th from 5pm - 6:30pm

ABOVE After School Basketball Program - has opening: $175 a month. Meets every day after school until 5:15 pm. Please contact Alesia Richter with any questions

Mobile Library is returning to Laurel Woods on Wednesday March 25th from 5pm - 6pm. Students and families will have the opportunity

English Classes will be back in person starting March, 17th. Free childcare will be available. This is for returning students that registered at the start of the year. We plan to have a new class beginning in September. Registration will be in August. Look here for more information!

We truly value input from our families and community partners as we strive to grow and improve. Your feedback helps us better serve our students—so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with our LWES administrative team. Your response can remain anonymous, or you can provide your name for a follow-up phone call.

💙 Hello Laurel Woods Families! 💙

The PTO has some exciting events and ways to get involved—read on for all the highlights!

• In February the PTO was proud to sponsor a special in-school Black History Month assembly, Prismatic Magic. Students experienced an engaging laser light show that celebrated the achievements, contributions, and impact of Black leaders throughout history. It was an exciting and memorable way to honor Black History Month while bringing our school community together in learning and reflection.

• Congratulations to Maria C. and Thomas V. for winning the yearbook cover contest! Thank you to all 5th graders who created and submitted a yearbook cover entry!

📅 Upcoming PTO Events

Mark your calendars! Here are some of the awesome events and initiatives we’ve got coming up:

• 📅 PTO General Meeting – New Date!
  Mark your calendars! Our March PTO General Meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 12. We’d love to see you over Zoom!

• ☀️ Sunshine Families
  We’ll be welcoming our amazing staff back from Spring Break on April 7th with coffee and donuts to thank them for everything they do. Let’s shower them with the appreciation they deserve! Donate money here.

• 📕 Yearbook sales are open online! Use code: 15436926. Yearbooks are $28 through 3/31. From April 1st to May 1st, the price increases to $30. Don’t delay, order your yearbook today!

✨ PTO Event Recap ✨

February Sunshine Families Cart Success!
Our recent Sunshine Families event was a huge hit! The staff especially loved the soda, candy bars, and chips—definite favorites for future cheer carts! Thank you to everyone who helped make it so special.

🍕 Domino’s Fundraiser – We Did It!
We exceeded our goal and raised an amazing $1,140 for our school! Thank you to all the families who participated—your support makes a big difference!

🌯 Chipotle Fundraiser Success!
Our Chipotle fundraiser raised $282! Thank you to everyone who showed up to support the LWES PTO.

❄️ Thank You, LWES Families! ❄️
A huge thank you to the amazing families who came out to help shovel the blacktop so our students could get back outside for recess! Your time, effort, and willingness to jump in made a big difference. We are so grateful for our supportive school community—because of you, our students were able to enjoy fresh air and playtime again! 💙

Do you have photos to share with us from any of our PTO events? Would you love to see them in the yearbook? Please email photos to ptolwesmedia@gmail.com, making sure that any students who are pictured have photo release consent on file within their HCPSS Family File.

🌟 Get Involved!

Our remaining meetings this year will take place from 7-8pm on March 12th and May 16th. All meetings will be on Zoom. At our next meeting, we will share fundraising successes, upcoming events, and even more opportunities to get involved! We will also be holding a “Special Meeting” in April to fill open board positions for the 2026-2027 school year!

Looking for even more ways to lend a hand? Read on!

• Sunshine Families: Help show love to our teachers with appreciation events in March, and May.

• Media Center Volunteers: contact Sarai_Gray@hcpss.org for details.

• Would your restaurant like to host a LWES PTO fundraiser? Let us know!

• PTO Board Positions for the 2026-2027 school year - We’d love for you to join us - reach out and shadow us at our meetings this spring.

• PTO Volunteer Coordinator: can you rally a crowd to help out in a pinch? We’d love for you to be our PTO Volunteer Coordinator!

Have a great idea for an event or project? Let us know—we’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to ptolwes@gmail.com to sign up for any of the opportunities above or recommend your own!

📱 Stay Connected

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on events, reminders, and ways to be involved.

Warmly,

💙 The LWES PTO

March

• 03.12: 7:00pm PTO Meeting
• 03.13: 9:30am Sing a Rainbow - with Maryland Opera; United Way Recess Partnership Days
• 03.14:Pi Day
• 03.16: 9:00am Kindergarten In-House Library Visit
• 03.17: 11:00am Howard County Library! 3rd Grade
• 03.19: 7:00pm PTO Meeting
• 03.20:Schools Closed for Students - Eid ul-Fitr / Professional Work & Development Day
• 03.25: 5:00pm Maryland Science Center's Family Science Night
• 03.26: Clubs/groups Pictures
• 03.30-04.03: Spring Break
• NEW - April 6: Full Day for Students - NEW

For a complete list of dates and events visit https://lwes.hcpss.org/events

The LWES Early Childhood Classes are making preparations for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Beginning now applications for general education students to participate as peers through the Learning Together Program (LTP) are available. These classes include general education and special education students. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st, may apply.

In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, new applications for students turning 4 by September 1 are not available. The Howard County Public School System continues to offer Prekindergarten for income eligible children who will be 4 years old by September 1. For additional information contact the school or visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/

We have been made aware that the picture date printed on the LifeTouch order forms contains an error. Class pictures for all classes, except MINC-EL, will be taken on Wednesday, March 4. Ms. Hagarty’s MINC-EL class will take their class picture on March 26.

You may still use the order forms that were sent home to purchase a class picture. Please send the completed order form and payment to school on your student’s picture day. Orders can also be placed online at mylifetouch.com using our school code: EVTGCNRBR. Click here to view the flyer.

At its February 26 meeting, the Howard County Board of Education approved calendar adjustments to ensure the school system meets the State’s required days and hours, including:

• Tuesday, March 3: Scheduled as an early dismissal, becomes a full day for students.
• Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday): Scheduled as schools/offices closed, becomes a full day for students. The State Board of Education granted HCPSS a waiver to open school that day.
• Wednesday, April 15: Scheduled to be closed for students and designated as a staff professional learning and work day, becomes a half-day for students with the standard 3-hour early dismissal and half work day for staff.
• Thursday, May 14: Scheduled as an early dismissal, becomes a full day for students.
• Tuesday, June 16-Thursday, June 18: Scheduled as inclement weather makeup days included in the 2025-2026 school year calendar, become half days for students.

Barring any additional inclement weather days, the last day of school will be Thursday, June 18, 2026. Updates to the June calendar include the following:

• Thursday, June 11–Monday, June 15: Scheduled as early dismissals, become full school days
• Monday, June 15: Last day for half day pre-K / RECC .
• Tuesday, June 16–Thursday, June 18 (last day of school): Schools dismiss three hours early with half work days for staff. June 16 will be designated for staff articulation.

Any future disruptions to the calendar due to inclement weather will require additional solutions to be communicated if/when needed. An updated HCPSS online calendar is available now at www.hcpss.org/calendar. An updated PDF calendar will be available online by Friday, Feb. 27.

This engaging opportunity invites students ages 8–14 to submit a short essay or video showcasing a creative talent or business idea, or to participate as vendor exhibitors to pitch and sell their products and services. Participants can win prizes such as laptops, gift cards, art supplies, and trophies; entries and registrations are due by March 31, with an awards ceremony on April 25. See this flyer. for details.

Monday, March 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., virtual event link here This workshop is designed for parents and caregivers who want to better understand speech and language development in children ages 5–11. The workshop will address topics including what typical speech, language, and communication skills look like during the elementary school years, where to turn if you have concerns, as well as online resources available to families. Registration is required.

Calling all young athletes ready to learn, grow, and compete! The Western Howard County Warhawks football program provides a fun, safe, and supportive environment where players of all experience levels can develop their skills and confidence. Our dedicated coaches focus on fundamentals, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership—both on and off the field.

Whether your child is new to football or looking to build on their experience, the Warhawks offer an inclusive program that emphasizes player development, physical fitness, and a true love for the game. Most importantly, we pride ourselves on building a strong football family where athletes make lasting friendships and unforgettable

See Howard County Rec and Parks Activity Guide or www.gowarhawks.com in February 2026 for registration and cost. Registration is now open.

Saturday, March 14, 2026 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Cedar Lane School

The HCPSS Special Education Resource Fair provides families with information available from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services. Get connected to: Services within HCPSS, Recreational Activities, Camps, Community Groups, Service Providers, Transition Information, Assistive Technology, Behavioral Health, Howard County Government Resources, and Much More!

This spring, HCPSS again will offer its Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions program (SPACE), a no-cost, evidenced-based training program to assist parents/guardians in helping their children manage anxiety. HCPSS will offer five SPACE groups, listed below. Each group will be facilitated by two licensed HCPSS mental health staff members.

• Two groups for parents of middle and high school students (one virtual and one in-person)
• Two groups for parents of elementary students (one virtual and one in-person)
• One group for parents of Pre-K students (ages 4 & 5)

All groups will meet weekly, starting the week of March 9, 2026 and ending the week of April 27, 2026, for a total of seven sessions. There will be no meetings the week of Spring Break (March 30-April 6, 2026). Register here

The HCPSS Family Empowerment Academy is designed to equip parents and guardians with practical strategies, resources, and insights to support their children’s academic, social, and emotional success. The academy will take place on four consecutive Saturdays- March 7 through March 28, 2026, from 9:00-10:30 AM- and will feature interactive learning experiences, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with other HCPSS families. Participation is limited to 30 participants, and registration is first-come, first-served. Attendance is encouraged for all four sessions. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Please complete the application form to be considered for participation.