Linked "In" with Lawrence School

Welcome to Lawrence and the 2026-2027 school year! As you enjoy your last summer weekend before the school year starts, I know that backpacks are being filled, lunch boxes cleaned, clothes laid out, schedules reviewed and so much more! We can't WAIT to see your children arrive at the school this Thursday* morning! So, it is time to launch our year together, Lawrence Leopards! *Kindergarten families - please see the letter from your child's teacher, or below, to review your start day, since the classes are split in half for their first day in PSB. This is the first Linked “In” newsletter for the Lawrence community this school year - full of additional Back to School information, as we launch the year together. Yes, there is a LOT of information in this edition of the Linked "In" newsletter. There is lots to share when opening a new school year, so I apologize for the length. We hope that it will become a reference for all things Lawrence. As a reminder, the amount of information in this newsletter does make viewing best on laptop/desktop computers. It will also be housed on our school website for reference.

All editions of the Linked "In" will also be linked on our school website, for reference in between publications (every two-three weeks). The Lawrence School Handbook and each Linked "In" will be two of your key points of information this coming school year. Linked below, you will also find a welcome letter from our Lawrence PTO Co-Presidents for this year, Anna Hartmann and Leakhena Schechter. Our partnership with the PTO is vital on so many fronts: they spearhead community events, build partnerships between home and school, champion volunteerism and lead fundraising efforts. Make sure you check out their website and opt into communications to learn more about what the PTO does for our Lawrence community.

I know the emotions that go along with this week well; however, my family's back to school looked different this year. Both of my daughters are out west in California this fall - our youngest has begun her junior (!) year at Harvey Mudd College while our eldest drove herself cross country to San Francisco to start an job after graduating (!) from Cornell University in May. Despite being an empty nester, I still remember those days of excitement (and trepidation) as a Kindergarten mom, years ago. And, I'll warn all of you who are raising a school-aged child today: that pride and joy (and worry), doesn't go away as they age! Even at 20 and 22 years old, I sill feel the anxiety for every new milestone!

While families prepare for the first day on Thursday, I can assure you that the teachers and staff at Lawrence have been busy too, getting classrooms ready to go - as well as their lessons. Of course, a school year start is a time of uncertainty, but please know that when your child arrives at our doors tomorrow morning, there will be 110+ dedicated and compassionate staff to welcome them to Lawrence - from office staff and classroom teachers to custodians, specialists and kitchen crew to music teachers and paraprofessionals. We promise that we will give it our all to care for your children. We recognize that families are trusting us with their most prized possessions. Nurturing them is our life work and our passion.

With close to 600 students and well over 1000 adults caregivers, Lawrence has many stakeholders. Balancing the needs of this many - with diverse and unique needs, is not easy. I'm thrilled to be returning for my third year as part of such a special community and, along with my partners in leadership, Dr. Dominique Ferdinand and Mrs. Laura Horst, I will continue to listen and learn from all of you. We will always strive to foster and grow a collaborative environment, where school and home partner in the challenging, yet most rewarding work of raising our children together.

Below, I've included the important logistics for our school. Please take time during this last long weekend before our start to review and familiarize the resources/references in the Linked "In,": as well as our School Handbook. Both documents are translatable for access by the many members of our community speaking other languages at home. Routines and structures are important because they make us all feel safe and secure. Lawrence's staff will be out in full force to greet students in the morning. Remember, helpful grownup will never be far away or hard to find! So, give them hugs and tell them you care. Tell them to be brave - and know that we will do the same!

Warmly,

Vanessa Bilello

Principal, Lawrence School

vanessa_bilello@psbma.org

Homeroom Assignments: were shared on Wednesday, August 19th from the Lawrence office. They are also updated in the Parent Portal for Aspen. Click here for assistance in accessing the Parent Portal.

Grade level supply lists: can be found here . We have learned that some of the links on the webpage are still not correct, so we are working to fix this - our apologies as we adjust to the new website! Please do NOT worry if you cannot have the exact brand or items by day 1. If you purchased supplies in coordination with the PTO, stay tuned for updates from them. 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

Middle School schedules: are now updated in Aspen for family viewing, as well. Please note: with students enrolling at Lawrence daily as well as program adjustments, there may be some changes to schedules in our first weeks of school. If you have questions about schedules, please reach out to Shaina Martinez, 6-8th counselor, Maddie Billiel, school secretary, or Vanessa Bilello, principal. Please see the Updates for Middle School section below (tab at left) for more information on changes to Middle School scheduling this year.

Please visit the PTO website to learn more. I’d like to express my gratitude to both Anna and Leakhena, as well as our former co-VP and current PTO Treasurer, Laurice Chiongbian, for taking on these critical leadership roles! Please support their efforts by getting involved with the PTO in whatever capacity you can. And, please choose to "opt in" to the PTO's communications to stay up to speed on all things Lawrence Community.

Check out all the upcoming fall events here!

Please contact us if you have any questions on events listed below!

Lawrence PTO Events Calendar

PSB District Calendar

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.

• Sunday, August 30th - Middle School Schedules now viewable in ASPEN Parent Portal (see PSB help link in principal message above) - schedules subject to change in first several weeks of school.

• 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-Z

KG: 9/3 - Last names A-M 9/4 - Last names N-Z

KO: 9/3 - Last names A-K; 9/4 - Last names L-Z

KP: 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

We will certainly do more introductions in coming days/weeks, but, please extend a warm welcome to our newest staff members! There is no doubt these talented and dedicated educators will add their expertise and passion to an already dynamic team! Please welcome our Lawrence professional staff members...

Latanya Moore joins our team as our new K-8th Grade School Psychologist after years supporting students, staff and families as a psychologist in the Natick Public Schools. Also joining our Lawrence Admin-Clinical Team is Christian Andrews, who will be stepping into the role of METCO Adjustment Counselor at four of PSB's K-8s, including Lawrence. We will also be announcing soon our new part-time nurse, joining Nurse Hillary in the Health Clinic several days a week. Sandy Sicard joins Lawrence, as our part-time Educational Technology Specialist (ETS) on Mondays, Thursdays and half day Fridays (other half of her schedule will continue to be at Pierce campuses).

Isabel Kidwell will be joining our office team as a Building/Campus Aide and Lior Gamliel is joining us as our fall term Northeastern Coop student. Jack Rudden joins our team as a Grade 1 Paraprofessional, after time spent as Pierce NU Coop Intern and STAR Academy Para. Amille Bottom returns to Lawrence this fall, also as a Grade 1 Para, while pursuing her special education licensure. Jude Leape returns to our middle school team, after a term as a pre-practicum student with Hannah Bjornson, this time as a 6-8th grade Special Education Paraprofessional.

We recognize that many students may be anxious about their first day - please know there are MANY adults to assist students! If you have special concerns, reach out to the office or your child's teacher. The best thing families can do to help is ensure that their child knows their homeroom teacher's name.

School Hours:

School hours will continue to be Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm and Fridays from 8:00 am - 1:40 pm. The front door opens at 7:30 AM for students choosing to eat breakfast in the cafeteria (students must report to the cafeteria and stay there until 7:50 AM). Door around the building (see below for your child's location) open promptly for students not entering for breakfast at 7:50 AM daily.

First Day:

All students in grades 1-8 will start school on Thursday, September 3rd. It is a full day of school for ALL students, grades 1-8. Kindergarten students have a staggered start (see below), and that information has been shared with the incoming kindergarten families. All K-8 students attend full days together, starting Tuesday, September 8th, from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm.

We encourage you to talk with your child about the upcoming year, new friends, new experiences, and a new teacher. Preparing for these changes in routines and “back to school” is important for all of us - adults and children alike! We know that change is hard, but preparation, structure, and practiced routines help us all adjust to needed changes. Please reassure your child that the staff and teachers of Lawrence are excited to welcome them into the building!

First Day - Staggered Start for Kindergarten Students:

As we have done in years prior, only half of each kindergarten class will attend on each of the first two days of school, allowing children to become familiar with their classroom, the teachers, the schedule and the routines in a smaller group setting. Kindergartners will NOT have lunch here at school on their first day of school (whether Thursday 9/3 or Friday 9/4, as shared below). Parents/caregivers should return to school at 12:00 pm to pick up their child on one of these first two days, based on the schedule below. Identify your class and then follow the half day to attend, based on the first letter/s of your child’s last name:

All K-8 students attend full days, together, starting Tuesday, September 8th from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm. Tuesday 9/8 will also be the first day of lunch at school for Kindergartners.

Arrival for the ‘26-’27 School Year:

There are multiple entrances for students and staff to use when arriving to and exiting the building. Students must arrive at and leave from their assigned entrance every morning and when school is dismissed.

• Students should arrive between 7:50-8:00am, and not sooner as they will have to remain outside even during the colder weather. Staff who monitor the doors will need to leave their doors exactly at 8am to start servicing students. They will not be able to keep doors open and let students into the building even if students are just feet away from the door.

  For students who arrive at the building at 8:00 a.m and after regardless of their assigned entrance, they will need to enter the building through the main entrance on Francis Street in order to check in at the main office and receive a late pass.

  
  

  There are multiple entrances for students and staff to use when arriving to and exiting the building. Students must arrive at and leave from their assigned entrance every morning and when school is dismissed. Students in grades K-2 will meet their teacher at a determined location close to their assigned door. Teachers in grades K, 1 and 2 will communicate with their classes directly about meeting locations.

  
  

• Where do I go on my 1st Day of School?

• Front Door on Francis Street: KG, 4MC, 4R, 6A, 6M, 6YS, 6S, 7A, 8D (KG walk to classes on the first floor. Grades 4-8 travel up to the second and third floors via the center staircase.) (Door 1 has name of school and address above the double doors)

• Playground entrance near cafeteria: KC, 3M, 3P, 3W(Grades K- 4 travel up to the first and second second floors via staircase.) Door # 4

• Playground entrance near the bike racks: KO, 1P, 1L, 5B, (KO goes down to the basement. Grade 1 walks up stairs to their first floor classrooms. 5B travel to the second via the staircase) Door #3

• Side Entrance on path between Francis Street and Newell Rd. 2A, 5E, 5N, 7LM, 8B, 8H, 8A (Grades 5-8 travel to the second and third floors via the staircase) Door #13
  Classroom Door-1C (Door # 2), 2G (Door # 10)

• Back Door by Courtyard: 1GS, 2W, 7M (2W can enter and go down the stairs, 1GS can enter the building, take left and go to class on first floor, 7M will use the center stairwell to second and third floors based on location of first period) Door #9

• Back Doors off of Newell Road across from tennis courts: KP, 4C & 4W (KP Door #6) and 4C & 4W will enter at the adjacent door (Door #7) closer to the alcove near their rooms and use the stairwell to the second floor.

Late Arrivals/Tardies: Starting each day in class on time helps set the tone for learning all day. Please, work together with your child to establish strong morning routines at home that allow you to ensure that they are ready to start their day at Lawrence by 7:55 am. It is very important that students arrive in time to go to their lockers/cubbies and then get into their classroom by 8 am. Therefore, the doors to Lawrence will open at 7:50 am each morning for your child to enter. Students (and families) should plan their morning to arrive no later than 7:55 am so that students can be in their classroom, with materials and ready to learn, by 8:00 am. Students will be marked tardy if they after 8:00 am. Staff monitoring the doors will leave them at 8 am sharp so they can begin their day with students. Since doors will be locked at 8 am, anyone arriving after that time must go to the front entrance to be checked in late and receive a tardy pass from the office.

Dismissal:

• Kindergarten, first grade and second grade students will be walked out via the same assigned doors (above) and dismissed to their caregivers.

• Grades 3-8 students will walk to meet their caregivers at assigned doors or walk home when dismissed by their teacher. *6-8th will retrieve their personal electronic devices from Middle School Cell Phone lockers at @ 2:30pm in assigned location

Information for Parents/Caregivers:

• If for any reason you need to pick up your child(ren) during the school day, please come to the main entrance on Francis Street to sign them out.

• When you arrive you can ring the bell and share your name, your child(ren)’s name(s), their homeroom(s), and the reason they need to be dismissed. A member of the front office staff will then connect with staff in the building to have your child(ren) dismissed. Children in Kindergarten - Grade 2 will be walked down to the main lobby to connect with the adult waiting. Children in Grades 3-8 will be dismissed independently from their classrooms, check in at the main office and walk out through the front entrance with the adult waiting. Students are welcome to return to school after an appointment, but should sign back in at the office so that their attendance is recorded accordingly.

• NO STUDENT may be dismissed before the end of the school day without an adult waiting outside for them.

What do I if my child is going to be absent?

Contact our absence line at (617) 879-4343

What if my child forgets an item at home?

Building responsibility for their materials is a major part of the K-8th student education! We encourage families to set routines together to create the expectation that students arrive ready for their day (see the Resources section below for ways to build these in your family structures. And, we recognize that sometimes families need to bring a forgotten item to school.

This year, we are putting into place a drop off station in the vestibule/main lobby. This is for both security, student privacy and to smooth logistics for the office team. Once ringing our bell and identifying your purpose for visiting, leave a sticky note with the item on the side table in the vestibule entrance. Please note: we will not be calling classrooms immediately to minimize classroom disruptions. Large instruments can still be delivered onto the instrument rack in main lobby.

What about lunch?

FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS: Free meals are available to all students once again this year, due to MA state funding. No documentation/application is needed to receive these benefits. Only complete, reimbursable meals are eligible (1 meal, with milk, per lunch period). Single milks, double meals, etc. are NOT FREE and will be charged accordingly. See the Updates from the Cafe section for more info.

How can I get involved? Lawrence Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)

Families are encouraged to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization)! It is a great ways to become part of our community at Lawrence - and is an extremely important supporter of our school! You can find links to this organizations here.

The PTO provides students in our elementary schools with a variety of enrichment programs during the school year to enhance and support classroom instruction. THE PTO also helps organize parents/guardians to volunteer at Lawrence - whether you are available weekly or for special events, please reach out to the PTO to learn more. The PTO counts on your membership to support activities in the schools that are enjoyed by all. For more information, please visit the PTO website.

Volunteering

As a reminder, any volunteers do need to have an up-to-date CORI on file in the office. Check with the office for details. Volunteer opportunities are frequently coordinated through our PTO.

Security Reminder - School Doors

Just a reminder that we ask for everyone’s support to prevent ‘tailgating.’ While holding the door open for others is a polite thing to do, it can be a security risk in our schools. Please do not hold the door open for others; we kindly ask that all visitors pass through our buzz-in system at the main entrance to the school.

• First day routine: PLEASE TELL YOUR STUDENT TO REPORT TO THEIR HOMEROOM CLASSROOM FOR THE FIRST DAY ON THURSDAY! Students will get printed copies of their weekly schedule in homerooms. Student schedules are now active in the Parent Portal on Aspen for families looking to review schedules prior to our start Thursday.

• Snack/ Lunch:

  • Snack -“Working Snack”-- bring a nut-free, nutritious snack that can be eaten quickly in the first few minutes of a class. We will have a designated snack time mid-morning (7/8th and mid-afternoon (6th), based on the lunch period.

• Supplies: Check out the links/communication from the grade level teams for more info. Information is also linked in website on grade level pages.

• Personal Electronic Devices: Please see the section above for more information on our expectations around PEDs.

• Lockers: Students usually go to their lockers at the start of the school day, before and after lunch, and at the end of the school day. With over 200 students in the halls between classes, it is very difficult for students to use that time to get things out of their lockers. We will have ongoing discussions with students about how to manage their materials.

• Locks on Lockers: Families may choose to purchase locks for their child’s locker. We ask that the student either give a duplicate key to their homeroom teacher, or share the combination with the staff (in case of emergency, or when someone’s bag strap accidentally gets stuck!)

• Chromebooks: Middle Schoolers will be issued a Chromebook and charger in the first few days of school to use for school work. More info to come soon!

• Schedules: As a reminder, for the 2026-2027 school year, 6-8th grade students at Lawrence will no longer be assigned to academic “cohorts,” that travel together to four primary academic blocks each day. Instead, students will be mixed among the academic blocks, across the different subjects. This change is designed to provide a fresh opportunity for students to interact with a wider variety of their peers, fostering new social connections and encouraging a greater diversity of perspectives and learning pairings within their classes. Students will continue to also mix for Conservatory, World Language, art and wellness (PE at 6th, PE and health for 7/8). All students will still be assigned to a homeroom section with one team member as their dedicated “homeroom teacher,” who will also be their Advisory teacher. Therefore, the "Homeroom/Advisory" section assignment for 6-8th students is limited to 2-6 academic blocks (45 minutes) per week.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope you and your family had a fun and restful summer. As always, the summer break seems to have flown by, and I am excited to welcome your children back to school. Please read carefully and consider bookmarking this email for future reference.

Required Physical Exams:

New physical exam reports are required for the following groups (if not already submitted):

• All new students (including Kindergarteners, unless submitted during registration)

• Rising 4th graders

• Rising 7th graders

Important details:

• Exams must be dated after 9/15/2025

• Must be completed by a licensed U.S. physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant

• Expired physicals will not be accepted

• Please email physicals to:
  ➤ hillary_janowski@psbma.org
  
  

Required Vaccinations for Rising 7th Graders (Due by September 2, 2026):

• Tdap Booster

• Meningococcal (MenACWY) Vaccine

Recommended (Not Required):

• Influenza Vaccine

Medication Guidelines for 2026–2027:

If your child requires medication at school (including EpiPens, inhalers, or over-the-counter medication), the following is required:

• Medication must be in the original, pharmacy-labeled container

• Dropped off by a parent or guardian (students may only bring EpiPens or inhalers)

• Accompanied by updated physician orders and parent/guardian permission. There are new forms this year and they can be found HERE on the PSB Health Services Webite.

• No medication can be accepted without complete documentation

• All required forms are available on the PSB Health Services Website

To ensure your child has access to their medications on the first day of school, I strongly recommend:

• Emailing completed paperwork as soon as possible

• Dropping off medication at the clinic before September 3

Submitting Medical Paperwork:

You may submit forms in the following ways:

• hillary_janowski@psbma.org

• Fax to: 617-741-7303

• Drop off in the nurses' mailbox in the main office

Clinic Hours & Medication Drop-Off Appointments:

I will be available in the clinic for paperwork questions and medication drop-off on the following dates:

• Monday, August 17th
  

• Tuesday, August 18th

• Monday, August 24th

• Tuesday, August 25th

• Monday, August 31st
  

• Tuesday, September 1st
  

• Wednesday, September 2nd

Please email to schedule an appointment in advance so I can ensure availability.

Student Illness and Absences:

• Please do not send your child to school sick

• Refer to the PSB Health Services Website for guidance on when to keep your child home

• Notify the clinic if your child is absent due to illness (especially for absences lasting 3 or more days), has an injury, is having or had a medical or dental procedure.

The Lawrence staff is here to support a healthy, safe, and successful school year for your child. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Warm regards,
Nurse Hillary

hillary_janowski@psbma.org

At this time, students will have assigned seating (by table for 3-8 and by seat K-2). in the lunchroom. Observations and feedback has demonstrated that assigned seating, determined by staff, decreases anxiety for many students. While certain grade levels may mix seating between homerooms or move to open seating over time, staff at Lawrence is committed to fostering a safe lunchroom environment for all students. Student's lunchtime is consistent each day, and for most grade levels, they will be in the cafe with students in their grade, and usually one other grade level. We will share more information regarding the expectations within the cafe in future editions of the Linked "In" newsletters.

• BREAKFAST MENU
• LUNCH MENU

Student Meals

All students can access their meals by going through the serving lines in their school cafeteria. Lines are set up with dual pin pad and barcode scanners, with the goal is to provide students with multiple ways to register their meals at the POS (register). K- 5 students will receive an ID card prior to the start of the school year. Each ID card will include a student pin and a barcode scanner. Either can be used to access their account. It will be useful for students in lower grades to start memorizing their pin as this will be used as they move through the system. Middle school students will use their pin which is their LACID and can be found in each staff portal. Students in middle school are encouraged to memorize their pins for this to be successful.

Breakfast:

The Food Services Department is committed to working with schools and principals to help assure that all students have a chance to start their day with a healthy breakfast. Their goal is to serve at least 70% of the students in attendance breakfast each day. Breakfast is available in all schools starting at 7:30 am. Grab and Go breakfast carts will be available at the entrance for students to grab on their way in.

Lunch:

A Free lunch is available to all students. All schools now have a salad bar where students can access fresh fruits and vegetables most of which are locally sourced. Student lunches do include milk. Students need to take a lunch to receive a free milk. There will continue to be hot/cold lunch options - and this year, with the numbers of students and limited space, students are asked to stand in one of two lines: the hot lunch line OR the cold lunch line. These will be labeled at the entrance to the cafe. Students bringing from home will enter the cafe through the "exit" door to go to their assigned lunch table.

Monthly and weekly menus will be posted outside the cafeteria for review. Lawrence will review the basic lunch options on announcements Monday morning. Middle school teachers are asked to post the monthly menu in visible locations in their classroom. K-5 staff are asked to review the lunch choices (hot vs cold) from the monthly menu during their classroom Morning Meeting. Families are asked to review menus at home, to assist in choice-making, especially with younger students. These efforts will help cut down on time spent in line, since it will help students make their choice before entering the cafe.

As more and younger students are given personal electronic devices at home, we want to remind families of our expectations for these devices at school. Lawrence’s protocols are designed to follow the PSB School Committee Policy on Personal Electronic Devices, adopted in April 2025. Lawrence School strives to create a positive learning environment where students can focus on their academic and social development. We believe that it is in the best interest of students to have a complete break from social media and the distractions of personal technology use during the school day. Therefore, these guidelines outline expectations for responsible management of all personal electronic devices while at school.

• Students may not wear smartwatches or keep personal electronic devices on their person during school hours.
• All cellphones/smartwatches must be fully turned off and stored during the following times:
• School hours (from the beginning of the school day until the end of the school day)

• During all classes, specials, and homeroom

• During lunch, recess, and in the hallways during transitions of the school day

• During school assemblies, field trips, and school-sponsored after-school activities (like Homework Club, intrumurals, etc.)

• 6-8th Grades:

• All devices will be stored in school-provided “cell phone lockers” maintained by school staff. All middle school students will turn their devices into their first period teacher for secured storage OR the main office staff, if arriving tardy to school. They will be returned at dismissal.

• Middle school will send home a Google form for parents to indicate what devices students will regularly be bringing to school with them (or indicate if they do not allow students to bring a device to school). Families can anticipate communication from school if a child indicates that they do not have a device on a given day.

• K-5th Grades:

• Devices must be stored in student backpacks at their cubby/locker.

• Permitted use:

• Students may use devices with the teacher's permission for educational purposes.

• During designated times, such as before school or after school, students may use their devices.

• Accommodations are made for documented needs, as described in an IEP/504 Plan.

Conservatory (4-8th): Room assignments and the staff teaching various classes are still being finalized. We will share out information on this with all of you in the next edition of the Linked "In," for reference. Below are the times for Conservatory this year. PLEASE - make sure that your child shows responsibility by bringing instruments (if they need one) each week for these times.

4th Grade TUESDAY 12:55-1:40PM

5th Grade THURSDAY 12:55-1:40PM

Middle School (6-8) TUESDAY/THURSDAY FROM 1:45-2:30PM

Town-Wide Music Groups (extracurricular options):

Our Performing Arts Department offers five Town-Wide Music Groups:

• The Town-Wide Concert Band is open to all 6th through 8th-grade students with some prior experience on a wind, brass, or percussion instrument and bass players and meets on Mondays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in room 363 at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. For more information, email rick_stone@psbma.org.

• The Town-Wide Jazz Band is open to all 6th through 8th students with some prior instrument experience on any instrument and meets on Mondays from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm in room 363 at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. For more information, email rick_stone@psbma.org.

• The Town-Wide Orchestra is open to all 6th through 8th students with some prior experience on violin, viola, cello, or double bass and rehearses Monday evenings from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm in the Roland Hayes School Auditorium. For more information, email john_ferguson@psbma.org.

• The Brookline Youth Orchestra (BYO) is open to more advanced students who play violin, viola, cello, or double bass and is by audition or recommendation. BYO rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm in the Runkle School Multipurpose Room. For more information, email john_ferguson@psbma.org.

• The Town-Wide Chorus, Voices of Brookline, is open to all 5th through 8th grade students who love to sing. Rehearsals are Mondays from 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm in Room 1440 at Driscoll School. For more information, email lauren_cecchini@psbma.org.

The Town-Wide groups are a great way to advance as a musician, have a lot of fun, meet other students with common interests from all schools in the district, and each of the groups perform at least twice a year and participate in special field trip performances. The Performing Arts Department will be sending out more details at the start of the school year, and you can contact the K-12 Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator, Kenny Kozol, with any questions at kenny_kozol@psbma.org.

• Podcast: Helping Kids Deal with Stress & Anxiety While Facing Adversity w/ Katie Hurley
• How Kids Learn Resilience
• Brene Brown's Parenting Manifesto

Our school website has static information, but it is also updated with current news and bulletins. Every few weeks, you can expect the school-wide newsletter from the principal’s office, Linked "in" With Lawrence School. This Back-To-School edition is lengthy, due to the amount of information that needs to be shared with families. This newsletter is distributed to families via email and can also be found on the school’s webpage. We can't wait to share the great things happening at Lawrence each month!

In addition to the above school-wide methods, please communicate openly with your child’s teacher(s). Each teacher has an email address and voice mailbox. You can find their contact information on our school website.

Translations and accessibility options are available at the top of the page.

• Amharic: የትርጉም አማራጮችን ለማግኘት እዚህ ጠቅ ያድርጉ

• Arabic: الرجاء الضغط هنا للترجمة العربية.

• Simplified Chinese: 点击这里查看中文翻译.
  
• Traditional Chinese: 點擊這裡查看中文翻譯.
• French: Cliquez ici pour accéder aux options de traduction
• Haitian Creole: Klike la a pou tradiksyon kreyòl ayisyen an.
• Hebrew: אנא לחץ כאן לצפייה במסמך בעברית.
• Japanese: ここをクリックして日本語の翻訳にアクセスしてください.
• Korean: 한국어 번역을 보시려면 여기를 클릭하십시오.
• Portuguese: Clique aqui para a tradução em português.
• Russian: Нажмите здесь, чтобы получить доступ к русскому переводу.
• Spanish: Haga clic aquí para acceder a la traducción al espa