An Important Update from the Office
Lawrence School Family Handbook
Dear Lawrence Families,
The 2026-2027 school year is quickly approaching, so I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new Lawrence families and students - and welcome back our returning ones! As the "lead learner" at Lawrence, it it such an honor and privilege to serve this community as we guide our students to develop the respect, responsibility and resiliency they need to achieve. I am excited to partner with staff and families to provide an environment that supports growth and success for all of our students this coming year!
I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer vacation, filled with happy adventures. As we all know, once we hit August, it seems like the summer flies by! Therefore, students, teachers and staff will be back at Lawrence School before we know it. I recognize that our Lawrence Leopards (and their families!) in kindergarten through 8th grade have been eagerly awaiting the release of "class placements." As a parent, I remember the mood that hits once August rolls around and families await that all-important announcement!
PSB has moved to a common date for that publication for all K-8th schools. This year, official placements will be available within the ASPEN parent portal on Wednesday, August 19th (see key dates below for more info). As a reminder, while preliminary placements were made back in May/June by our school staff, we have not yet finalized placements. In Brookline, and especially in the larger elementary schools, we have significant enrollment changes during the summer weeks as families move in and move out of the community. This requires administration and the clinical team to make changes to rosters/placements up until school starts - and necessitates a later date for release of homeroom teacher information than many of us may remember from when we were children. Maddie Billiel, our school secretary, will be sharing communications from both me and the teacher/grade level Wednesday with homerooms.
We will also be sharing our first edition of this year's Linked "In" end of next week. Every few weeks, you can expect the school-wide newsletter from the office: Linked "In" with Lawrence School. In it, office staff and our administration team will provide needed key information for our community, as well as sharing photos, videos, resources and a look inside the happenings of Lawrence. It is a reference tool, where you can locate the key information about our school operations and have it at your fingertips. Due to the amount of information shared, it is best viewed on a computer or tablet (not as successful on phones!). Our school website has static information, but it is also updated with occasional news and bulletins, including previous Linked "In" newsletters. The Lawrence School Family Handbook (also linked below) is also wealth of important information. Please review carefully as a family prior to the school opening.
I'm also THRILLED to share the inaugural edition of the LEOPARD PRINT, a student newspaper that was produced by 6th and 7th graders last spring! A HUGE thanks to our 6th/7th grade SS teacher, Mr. Kevin MacKenzie, for helping me launch this effort! We really look forward to seeing this become a part of our ongoing communication channels - this one, straight from our older Lawrence students!
As always, it takes a village, and I'm grateful for our team who is preparing for our opening: Maddie Billiel, our stellar school secretary, has been working tirelessly alongside me all summer, as well as our custodial "dream team," Michael Jagodnik, Joel Aleman and George Kelly. The Town of Brookline has been supporting many important updates to our building (including outfitting more rooms with AC and a new roof!). Our assistant principals, Laura Horst and Dominique Ferdinand, along with our clinical (counseling) team and Educational Team Facilitator, Bridget Baird-Francescone will begin to return to the building over the next two weeks, preparing, as well. And, of course, many of our other educators are actively engaging in preparation of their own: moving and setting up classrooms, engaging in summer coursework and professional development, mentoring and new teacher activities - and much, much more! All this goes to assure you that we will be hitting the year with full energy and enthusiasm for a New Year on Day 1!
The wealth of experiences I have had in my career, as well as time as a parent, has confirmed my belief that passionate learning is built on a foundation of compassion. Lawrence is a vibrant community of learners - students and adults! One of the biggest lessons I have learned as an educator is that we must possess strong hearts and minds, but also open ears and eyes. As principal, I strive to foster and grow our collaborative environment each year - built through strong culture, clarity of vision, transparent communication, and commitment to excellence. We do this by partnering together - home and school. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make this upcoming school year a positive experience.
Warmly,
Vanessa Bilello
Lawrence School Principal
Click on the maroon "buttons" below to view each grade's individual supply list. They can also be found on our grade level webpages. If you need support with acquiring supplies for your family, please reach out to your children's guidance counselor:
- Grades K-2: Meaghan Monahan
- Grades 3-5: Samantha Mazzeo
- Grades 6-8: Shaina Martinez
Please contact us if you have any questions on events listed below!
Please review the dates below. We will add to these calendars as the year progresses. Contact the office with any questions.
September 15th - October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month!
- Wednesday, August 19th - Homeroom placements confirmed for families in the ASPEN Parent Portal. *New families may not have homerooms assigned yet, as our guidance counselors will be processing new enrollees over the coming weeks. Please be patient as they work to enroll and assign new students!
Directions: Log into your Aspen Parent Portal page. Once you log in, click on the "Family" tab at the top of the page. You'll see all of your children listed on that screen, and each child's homeroom teacher will be displayed right next to their name, making it easy to find.
- Tuesday, September 1st - 2:00 - 3:00 PM @ the Longwood Park Small Playground - Kindergarten Meet and Greet: Come meet new classmates and other K parents/caregivers! Teachers and staff will attend for part of the time, as well. (PTO sponsored event)
- Thursday, September 3rd - First Day of School!!! (K is divided by student last names for half days 9/3 and 9/4, with no lunch served; first full day for all K is 9/8)
KC: 9/3 - Last names A-H; 9/4 - Last names K-ZKG: 9/3 - Last names A-M 9/4 - Last names N-ZKO: 9/3 - Last names A-K; 9/4 - Last names L-ZKP: 9/3 - Last names A-K; 9/4 - Last names L-Z
- Thursday, September 3rd and Friday, September 4th - 8-8:45 AM at the Circle Garden - Coffee and Kleenex event (PTO) - Coffee catch-up with new and returning community members on the first two days of school
- Friday, September 4th - (2-3 PM) on the Longwood Park field - Lawrence Foam Day (PTO sponsored - see PTO Updates section below)
- Monday, September 7th - No School, Labor Day Holiday
- Tuesday, September 8th - First full day for all kindergartners (and first day of lunch for K)
- Thursday, September 10th - 8:15 - 9:45 AM Lawrence Auditorium - New Family Welcome w/ PTO & Admin - 8:15-9:15 AM for ALL new families; 9:15-9:45 AM EL/International New Families Welcome Continues (both events in Lawrence auditorium)
- Thursday, September 17th - 5:00 - 7:00 PM (rain date: 9/24) Longwood Park field - Lawrence Fall Picnic - (PTO sponsored)
- Monday, September 21st- No School, Yom Kippur (Category 1 Holiday)
- Thursday, September 24th - SCHOOL PHOTO DAY - Student photos (individual and homeroom) taken for the yearbook during the school day. More information coming soon!
- Friday, September 25th - Lawrence Leopards Spirit Day! Pull out your animal prints, spotted sweatshirts, and/or Maroon or Lawrence spirit wear to show your Lawrence Loyalty!
- Monday, September 25th - Thursday, October 1st - Costume Collection for Halloween Swap & Sale (PTO sponsored)
- Wednesday, September 30th - 6:00 - 7:30 PM - Lawrence Curriculum Open House (Grades 6 - 8) *Adults only. More information coming soon, please save this date!
- Monday, October 5th - 6:00 - 7:30 PM - Lawrence Curriculum Open House (Grades 3-5) *Adults only.Child care for ages 3-10 with PTO for the evening on a first-come, first-served basis - stay tuned! More information coming soon, please save this date!
- Thursday, October 8th - 8:15-9:15 AM Hybrid: Lawrence location TBD/Zoom - Lawrence School Council
- Thursday, October 8th - 5:30-6:00PM in Lawrence library - METCO Meet & Greet Dinner
- Thursday, October 8th - 6:00 - 7:30 PM - Lawrence Curriculum Open House (Grades K-2) *Adults only.Child care for ages 3-10 with PTO for the evening on a first-come, first-served basis - stay tuned! More information coming soon, please save this date!
- Thursday, October 8th - Friday, October 9th - Halloween Costume Sale (PTO sponsored)
- Monday, October 12th - No School, Indigenous People's Day
- Sunday, October 18th - 9:00 - 11:00 AM on the Longwood Park field - Lawrence Fun Run (PTO sponsored)
- Monday, October 26th - Friday, October 30th - LAWRENCE SCHOOL FALL SPIRIT WEEK! *Themes will be picked by our fall Middle School Leopard PAC (Principal's Advisory Council) members and shared with the community in early October!*
- Friday, October 30th - 1:15 PM - K-2nd Grade Halloween Parade - More information coming home soon!
- Tuesday, November 3rd- NO SCHOOL - MA Election Day & PSB Professional Development Day: Staff Report/Closed for Students
Conference Early Release Days - 12:40 pm Dismissal
Fall: 11/4 (K-6), 11/12 (K-8), 11/18 (K-8), 12/3 (K-8)
Spring: 4/8 (K-8), 4/14 (K-6), 4/29 (K-6), 5/5 (K-6)
*All staff will designate evening conference times, in addition to the Early Dismissal time. This is a dedicated week, TBA, during the Fall/Spring
School Council Dates: (Thursdays @ 8:15-9:15 am - Hybrid, Zoom & Location TBD) - October 8th, December 10, February 11, April 8, June 10
Principal/PTO Forums:
*These forums will alternate formats (zoom/in person), with the hopes of connecting with members of our adult community. Each forum will include a different, timely topic of interest related to the Lawrence School. Dates subject to change.*
- Thursday, October 22nd: 8:15-9:15 am (Hybrid, Library): Fall Feedback - Join the PTO leaders and school leadership to discuss the start of the school year: what worked, provide feedback, ask questions about upcoming events, connect with school/PTO!
- Thursday, December 3rd: 7:00-8:00 pm (Zoom): Theme TBA
- Thursday, February 4th: 8:15-9:15 am (Hybrid, Library): Theme TBA
- Thursday, April 1st: 7:00-8:00 pm (Zoom): Theme TBA
- Thursday, June 3rd: 8:15-9:15 am (Hybrid, Library): School Year Wrap Up
Coffee and Kleenex
Sept 3rd & 4th: 8AM
A warm welcome for families dropping off on the first days of school. Stop by the circle garden after drop-off for coffee, conversation, and tissues if needed!
Foam Party
Foam Party: Friday 9/4
Kick off the school year with bubbles, laughter, and lots of fun! Join us for foamtastic fun from 2–3 PM on the field. No tickets or registration required; just show up ready to play! We suggest sending goggles, a towel, and/or clothes you don’t mind getting foamy.
Lawrence Fall Picnic
Fall Picnic: Thursday 9/17
Join us for our kickoff community event of the year! Bring a blanket and enjoy a night of community fun with connect with old and new friends.
Click here to volunteer and help make PTO community events a continued success!
Halloween Costume "Swap & Sale"
Have any gently used or new Halloween costumes or accessories you no longer need? Donate them to the collection bin in the Lawrence School lobby all week, Monday–Friday (9/28–10/2).
Find a new-to-you costume for just $1 each on Thursday & Friday (10/8 & 10/9).
♻️ Help us keep costumes out of the landfill by giving them a second life within our school community.
👉 Sign up to help: Volunteer Opportunities
Lawrence Community Fun Run
Sunday, October 18th from 9-11 AM, join us for this annual event! This is a family-friendly 5K fun run and 1 mi walk/run for all ages and abilities. Get active with others from the Lawrence community! There will be finisher ribbons for all participants. NEW THIS YEAR: 1-Mile COLOR RUN 🌈 !!!
Fall Fest
More info coming soon! If interested in supporting the PTO with this event, please click here!
K-5 Glow Party
Join us the evening of November 13th for a fun-filled Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party for all K–5 Lawrence students and their families! Light up the night with music, dancing, games, and glowing fun. Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase, along with Lawrence logowear-including white T-shirts you can decorate and wear right on the dance floor!
👉 Sign up to help: Volunteer Opportunities
From the Brookline Teen Center: 4th & 5th grade Programming this Fall!
Over the course of the school year, opportunities from the Brookline Teen Center (BTC) will be posted in our Linked "In" with Lawrence newsletter. We hope that your children will take advantage of this amazing space, supported by the committed BTC team and through their wealth of programming options, designed specially for various age groups, from pre-teen through the teen years.
Here's one just for Brookline 4th and 5th graders:
We’re excited to announce that 4th & 5th Grade Programming at the Brookline Teen Center (BTC) is returning for the 2026–2027 school year! Starting Thursday, September 10, 2026, students in 4th and 5th grade can spend their afternoons at the BTC with opportunities to have fun, make new friends, and explore a variety of activities.
Drop-In Hours:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:30–6:00 PM
Cost:
• $300 for 10 passes
• $30 for a single day
Students can enjoy:
- Free food & snacks
- Open gym & recreational sports
- Music studio lessons and access
- Art projects and creative activities
- Local field trips & special evening events
- A welcoming community and opportunities to make new friends
We would love to have your 4th or 5th grader join us!
Sign up today using the QR code on the flyer or contact us for more information.
617-396-8349 or info@brooklineteencenter.org
We look forward to spending the afternoons with your students!
