Linked "In" with Lawrence School

Every fall, students around Lawrence think about setting goals for what they hope to accomplish over the school year. For some, it may be learning to read, making a new friend or mastering multiplication charts. For others, it may be to beat their personal best in a 5K, milk a cow at Farm School, master the Ukelele in Conservatory, learn to draw an axolotl in art class or tackle a 40 book reading challenge. As parents and adult caregivers visited over the past few weeks for our Open House Curriculum Nights, they may have seen some of these "hopes and dreams," as they toured the hallways and classrooms.

Our student goals are as diverse as our student body! And, we hope to celebrate some of these with all of you this year in the Linked "In" with Lawrence. Over the course of this year, through this newsletter, we hope to share out our progress towards these goals, giving families glimpses to the tremendous efforts of Lawrence educators take to develop our students - both academically, but also social-emotionally, as well as through the music, the arts and athletics.

This week, a shout out goes to the student athletes on our 5th-8th grade Cross Country Team, who, supported by their dedicated leader, Coach Abi, ran fantastic races at the Brookline Town Wide Cross Country Meet yesterday, demonstrating both Leopard camaraderie and sportsmanship, as well as athleticism! Check out a (partial!) team photo with special guest, Lawrie, below. Congratulations, also, to our 7/8th Grade Girls and Boys Volleyball teams, both of who are finding success on the court this season already! I know that our younger students look forward to the day that they can don the Leopard gear and join these teams and we encourage you to come cheer on one of our sports teams as they challenge the other PSB schools. Everyone is welcome to join in for some community building and running fun tomorrow morning, with the Lawrence Fun Run (see poster above, or the PTO website for more details) taking place on the Longwood Field!

As a school, we also set goals, creating a Lawrence School Improvement Plan, as collaborative work by school leadership and our Site Council that directs our professional learning/meeting time and establishes our overarching school vision for the year. Our staff also set their own goals: as educators, we set both "professional practice" and "student learning goals," linked to that Lawrence "SIP," and the larger PSB District goals, established by the district leadership team and School Committee. In reviewing my presentation to the PSB School Committee last week, you will note that Lawrence School has set three primary goals areas for our year ahead in the areas of Literacy, Math and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). And, as you look through it, you will note some of the many successes we've already had during this current multi-year plan!

One of the aspects of our current SEL goal that is already taking shape is the rollout of some middle school specific PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support) initiatives, aimed at building community, as well as leadership and creative opportunities for this important part of our school. In addition to our Conservatory ensembles, extra/intramural sports teams, the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) and Math Counts clubs, we've added a school newspaper, the Leopard Print, a Student Showcase, and, our version of a student council: the Leopard PAC (Principal Advisory Council) since last spring! All of these opportunities for our middle schoolers are designed to support our early adolescents in discovering their passions, enjoying time with friends and participating fully in the Lawrence School community. We are thrilled to see all the different ways our 6-8th graders contribute to the vision of "Lawrence Loyalty" over the coming year! Please check out the section below to learn more about the first Leopard PAC members of the 2026-2027 school year!

Warmly,

Vanessa Bilello

Principal, Lawrence School

vanessa_bilello@psbma.org

Several weeks ago, the Lawrence Middle School students attended grade level meetings in the auditorium during Advisory blocks to build community, discuss expectations and congratulate members of our Fall Leopard PAC! These students, nominated by members of the middle school staff - teachers, specialists, clinicians, and paraprofessionals were selected by the Middle School Team to represent their peers and work alongside Mr. MacKenzie and school administrators around several key areas: Leadership, Advocacy, Service and Spirit. They were selected as students who exemplify our school's Core Values: Be Safe, Be Responsible and Be Respectful. We look forward to sharing out information on their selected school-wide service project and spirit day in our next edition! We are grateful for them paving the way for future student leaders at Lawrence School!

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.

• Sunday, October 18th - 9:00 - 11:00 AM on the Longwood Park field - Lawrence Fun Run (PTO sponsored) Join us at the Lawrence track for a family-friendly 5K fun run or 1-mile walk/run for all ages and abilities. All participants receive a finisher ribbon! 🌈 New this year: Color Mile! Our 1-mile course will feature colorful, non-toxic powder stations for an extra-fun finish!! "Day of" registration opens at 8:30 AM!

• Thursday, October 22nd - 8:15 -9:15 AM in Lawrence Cafeteria- PTO/Principal Forum - Parents/Adult Caregivers are welcome to join school administration and PTO leadership for our first "forum" of the year. Come check in, share feedback, ask questions and catch up on all the happening of our fall start!

• Thursday, October 22nd - 6:00 -7:30 PM in Florida Ruffin Ridley Multi Purpose Room/Auditorium - Project Reboot - "More Connection, Healthier Digital Habits - A workshop for middle school parents" - see flyer below for more information on this important event!

• Friday, October 23rd - 8:30 AM (Zoom/Town Hall) - PSB SEPAC Meeting with Chief Paster of the BPD - see flyer below for more information on this important event!

• Friday, October 23rd - 4-6 PM - Lawrence Fall Fest (PTO sponsored) Help us bring this seasonal celebration to life! Join the fun and connect with the Lawrence community at our Fall Fest! Afterwards, stay and enjoy a Halloween movie on the park as we celebrate the season! Click here to volunteer to help make our 2nd Annual Fall Fest a success.

• 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

• Wednesday, November 4th - Conference Early Release Days - 12:40 pm Dismissal for grades K-6th only

• Wednesday, November 11th- NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day Holiday

• Thursday, November 12th - Conference Early Release Days - 12:40 pm Dismissal for grades K-8th (7/8th may take "grab and go" cold lunch)

• Friday, November 13th - 6:00 -8:00 PM in the Lawrence Gym - Lawrence Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party for K-5th Grade Families (PTO sponsored) - buy your tickets here.

• Wednesday, November 18th - Conference Early Release Days - 12:40 pm Dismissal for grades K-8th (7/8th may take "grab and go" cold lunch)

• Wednesday, November 25th - NOON DISMISSAL - Thanksgiving Break

• Thursday, November 26th- Friday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

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, Conference Room): 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, Conference Room): Theme TBA
• Thursday, April 1st: 7:00-8:00 pm (Zoom): Theme TBA
• Thursday, June 3rd: 8:15-9:15 am (Hybrid, Conference Room): School Year Wrap Up

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!

Much of our effort around implementing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) at Lawrence has been focused on establishing clear expectations and core values (Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible). It has resulted in our school mascot, Lawrie the Leopard, who travels the building visiting classrooms, as well as a return to quarterly Community "Meetings of the Leopards," for our K-5th graders, in addition to the Leopard PAC and grade level meetings for 6-8th grades. As part of this work, we've also rolled out our behavioral matrix, as well creating systems that recognize our K-6th graders (Spotted Tickets, for example) that provide both tangible and non-tangible "reinforcers:" recognition during Meetings/announcements, Leopard raffle prizes, Mario Kart sessions and Principal of the Day opportunities.

Principal of the Day, something 3rd-5th graders can save their Spotted Tickets to earn, has given the opportunity for students to observe/help out in classrooms, give out Spotted Tickets, supervise lunch/recess and generally, serve as a leader at Lawrence. Not sure who is having more fun - the students or the "real" Principal!

• Lawrence/Longwood Park is a wonderful community space; however, families are reminded to be considering their individual child(ren)'s developmental level, in terms of levels of supervision. As a caveat, this is a public and urban park: please use discretion and always put safety first and foremost! There is NO supervision for children once the school day ends, with the only exception being those in organized groups, such as an LSA or LEDP. These staff are NOT responsible for supervising, disciplining or providing medical care for anyone other than their own students.

• At the end of the school day, children must leave the building unless they are with a teacher or participating in an after-school activity. They may not return to the building to use the bathroom or phone (unless their end-of-school ride did not arrive), get a drink, return to lockers, or look for friends.

• School grounds are public property and are available to everyone for appropriate use. Such use includes playing on the playground or sitting and talking. It is not appropriate to gather in large groups at the entrance to the school. These kinds of groups can be intimidating to young children and adults who want to enter or leave the school. Rule 1.8, Article 9, Section 1(b) of the Town of Brookline ordinances prohibits the use of skateboards and scooters on public grounds and streets. That means that these items are not allowed on or ridden on school grounds.

• After school, the Lawrence Extended Day Program has access to the playground. Individual students or groups of students should not interfere with this access.

• Appropriate behavior is expected of all students on the way to and from school. We are all members of a larger community and must respect the rights and property of our neighbors.

• We all have a responsibility to care for the Lawrence Park and Playground - please respect this space so that all can enjoy it for generations: pick up any trash, refrain from climbing trees, protect flowers and plants, maintain reasonable noise levels, and demonstrate respect for all users.

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.

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 into 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.

• Podcast: Helping Kids Deal with Stress & Anxiety While Facing Adversity w/ Katie Hurley
• How Kids Learn Resilience
• Brene Brown's Parenting Manifesto
• How to Raise Successful Kids without Over-Parenting: a TED Talk by Julie Lythcott-Haims
• Stop Doing these 8 Things for Your Kids this Year
• How to Help Your Kids Succeed in School
• ParenTeen Connect: A Resource for Supporting Middle Schoolers
• The Single Most Important Parenting Strategy
• What is SEL and Why is it Important?

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.

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.