I hope that everyone had a wonderful snow day! We are following CMS's decision to close school tomorrow. As you know, many of the roads are still covered, and with temperatures falling below freezing, we anticipate that the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots will be unsafe. Thank you for your support as we do our best to ensure everyone's safety.
But, enough about the weather! This week I want to share some exciting new equipment additions to the school that were made possible by several Lab families.
As you know, Lab school relies on donations -- both monetary and in-kind -- to supplement our budget. Without this additional support, we would not have the resources necessary to implement
our full vision for the school. Many of these donations come in the form of goods and services.
I wish I had the time and space (and comprehensive list necessary) to individually thank everyone who has taken the time to make an in-kind donation to Lab--from classroom supplies to furniture for our teacher's lounges to technology to cleaning services to food and much more! Unfortunately, this is currently beyond our software and tracking capabilities, and so I hope that everyone who has made an in-kind donation will accept my sincere thanks, on behalf of the entire school, for your support.
I would, however, like to take a moment to specifically recognize the following families and very generous donations that we received this year--some of which you may see around the school or hear about from your child:
Makey Makey Stem Pack
Donated by
Tresata, Lab's
Lead Technology Partner, and
the Mehta Family.
Maker activities are among the most popular at Lab, and they help
introduce students to science concepts and the practice of inventing. Thanks to the donation of a new Makey Makey STEM Pack, which includes 12 Makey Makey's, several sets of wires (varying lengths), conductive pens, and much more, students will have more opportunities (and more equipment) to work with as they explore the worlds of circuits, coding, and interactive exhibits.
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| Students use Makey Makey equipment for an interactive math game in Ms. Newswanger's Maker Learning Lab. |
Athletic Mats for the Multipurpose Space
Donated by the Kust Family
Our Multipurpose Room is a much more comfortable place for PE, Taekwondo, and other athletic activities thanks to the addition of 10 large exercise mats that cover a significant portion of the floor. The mats provide much needed padding, which also helps reduce potential injuries. We appreciate that the donation also came with a mop and cleaning solution. The room has never looked so nice!
Picnic Tables and Adirondack Chairs for the Middle
School Courtyard
Donated by an Anonymous Donor
Our middle school recently received three new, sturdy picnic tables and four Adirondack chairs for our courtyard space and students and staff are looking forward to putting them to good use when when the weather gets warmer! The addition of this furniture will significantly increase the functionality of this outdoor space for classes, advisory meetings, and lunch.
Window Cleaning!
Since before we opened the school in 2015, Hunter Window Cleaning (owned by the Parsons family) has been cleaning the school windows on a regular basis. This generous donation not only keeps our school buildings looking great, but the money we would have otherwise spent on window cleaning can now be used for instructional purposes, instead.
These are just a few of the many donations that we have received from our families this year! If you have an idea for an in-kind donation, or would like to discuss the possibilities, please reach out to me
or
Susannah Lund.
Enjoy the snow, and I hope we will be back at school on Friday!
Sincerely,
Mary Moss Brown
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WELLNESS UPDATE FROM MRS. WHELAN
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More tips for healthy living from our guest writer
Why Organic Matters
Organic foods certified under USDA regulations are produced without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones and feed made from animal parts, all of which are questionable when it comes to your health. This is especially true for children, who are especially sensitive to these unhealthy chemicals, and pregnant or breast-feeding women, who can pass on these chemicals to unborn fetuses or newborns.
Organic produce means fruit, vegetables, grains and other plant-based foods are grown without pesticides, which have been linked to liver, kidney and blood diseases, as well as cancer. Even after washing, conventionally grown produce carries much higher levels of pesticide residue than those grown organically. Finally, organic produce contains more nutrients and tastes better than conventionally grown produce.
Organic animal products means animals are raised without antibiotics, growth hormones and rbGH; and aren't fed with feed containing animal parts. Antibiotic use in animals can promote antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, while growth hormones have been linked to increased risk of cancer. Finally, from an animal rights perspective, many organic farms treat animals more humanely.
Prioritize organic for animal products whenever possible. When purchasing produce, use the
Environmental Working Group Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists, which specify which contains the highest and lowest loads of pesticide residue, to prioritize those on the Dirty Dozen list.
Learn More:
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| LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS FOR CHECKERS FAMILY FUN NIGHT |
| Come enjoy a night out with the Charlotte Checkers and Lab families on January 20! Tickets are $16 and $5 from every ticket will go directly back to the school. Purchase tickets here (before this Thursday at noon) and you will receive an electronic ticket. We hope to see you there! |
| PTSO GENERAL MEETING JAN 23 |
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Don't forget that our second trimester PTSO General Meeting is coming up on
Tuesday, January 23 at 6:30 pm
at the Lower School. In addition to a brief regular meeting, we will break into s
mall group sessions for a chance for informal Q & A (similar to the Coffee Talk gathering we had in November).
If you would like to send a question in advance, please email it to ptso@charlottelabschool.org, and the PTSO Secretary will combine all of the questions and send them along, anonymously, to the Lab staff.
If you need childcare, please RSVP to
ptso@charlottelabschool.org
and indicate the number of children you'll drop off. Space is limited so please RSVP by
Thursday, January 18. The cost is $5 per family (cash only, please) and healthy, nut-free snacks will be served (if your child needs more, please send it).
Parking will be available at the Hal Marshall Annex lot at
618 N College St for this event. This lot is located just a block from the school. The best way to get there is to travel across the train tracks on E. 9th street, take a right at the light onto College St. and enter the lot on your right. IMPORTANT NOTE: The county staff have agreed to let us use their lot only on certain days and AFTER HOURS! Please do not park in this lot during the day, and be sure to park there only when you read in our e-newsletter that we have been given permission.
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LAB SOCKS
We have a limited supply of Lab socks available for $15/pair. Socks will be sold at the upcoming PTSO meeting. If you
can't make it, please email Kristi Sweeny
to reserve your socks. They are available in size small (youth shoe size 12-5) and medium (women's shoe size 7-10/ men's shoe size 6-9).
* Co-Chairs for the Boys Dance (March 9)
* Co-Chairs for the Girls Dance (March 23)
* Co-Chairs for School Supplies
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Girls on the Run & Let Me Run After School Programs
We are looking for parent volunteer coaches to help with our Girls on the Run and Let Me Run (boys) after school programs. Programs are open to kids in grades 3-5 and will be led by one Lab staff person plus 2-3 parent volunteers. The season runs from Feb-May, and
our participation is contingent on our ability to recruit volunteers before Jan 26. Please
email Susannah Lund if you would like more information about volunteering or want to get involved.
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| LAB CHESS TEAM TOURNAMENT RESULTS |
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Sixteen members of the Charlotte Lab School Chess Team competed in the CMS Scholastic Association Grade Championship Chess Tournament on December 16, 2017.
Here are some highlights for the team:
- 2nd grade -- 4th place team, Bora Eskinazi, 9th place individual
- 3rd grade -- 2nd place team trophy, Everett Gilman, 13th place individual.
- 4th grade -- 4th place team, Berk Eskinazi, 10th place individual.
- 5th grade -- 1st place team trophy, Jake Baugh 1st place individual! City Champion!
In addition, the mental toughness award went to Garrett Raynor for giving 100% in back-to-back games, and the sportsmanship award went to Mac Bacon for consistently displaying chess etiquette and class during his tournament play.
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- MAP test score reports will be sent home in your child's green folder on Friday, January 19.
- Help morning carpool run more quickly by volunteering. We need more parent volunteers to help. No need to sign up in advance; arrive before 8:00 am and you will be done by 8:15 am--an easy and important way to lend a hand!
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There are a lot of upcoming field trips! Remember, if you prepaid for field trips, just circle "prepaid" on the permission slip. And even if you prepaid, we still need a signed permission slip for bus trips.
If you have not yet prepaid and wish to do so, you can pay online at
K12paymentcenter.com
or send in cash or check. You can send in $25, $50, or $75, and you will receive an accounting by trimester of your remaining balance.
Take a look at our upcoming trips:
| Date |
Location |
Grade |
| Jan 19 |
Junior Achievement - JA Biztown |
4th Grade |
| Jan 22 |
Discovery Place Planetarium |
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| Jan 23 |
Discovery Place Planetarium |
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| Jan 24 |
Discovery Place Planetarium |
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| Feb 6 |
Children's Theatre - And in This Corner, Cassius Clay |
4th Grade |
| Mar tbd |
Raptor Center |
4th Grade |
| Mar 13 |
Children's Theatre - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe |
3rd Grade |
| Apr 11 |
Children's Theatre - Madagascar Musical Adventure |
1st Grade |
| Apr 23 |
Scrap Art Music |
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| Date |
Event
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Time |
| Sat, Jan 20 |
Checkers Spirit Night |
6:00 PM |
| Tue, Jan 23 |
PTSO General Meeting |
6:30 PM |
| Wed, Jan 24 |
New Families Open House (K-5th) |
6:30 PM |
| Mon, Jan 29 |
Mama Ricotta's Spirit Night |
4:30 PM |
| Mon, Feb 5 |
New Families Open House (6th-7th) |
6:30 PM |
| Feb 7 - 9 |
2nd grade COGAT Testing |
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| Wed. Feb 7 |
Time Out Youth Parent Presentation |
6:00 PM |
| Mon, Feb 12 |
2nd grade COGAT Testing make-ups |
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| Tue, Feb 13 |
New Families Open House (K-5th) |
6:30 PM |
| Tue, Feb 13 |
2nd grade COGAT Testing make-ups |
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| Wed, Feb 14 |
2nd grade COGAT Testing make-ups |
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| Wed, Feb 14 |
Valentines Class Parties |
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| Fri, Feb 16 |
School Holiday-No School |
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| Mon, Feb 19 |
President's Day-Holiday |
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| Tue, Feb 20 |
Teacher Workday-No School |
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We have a new feature in our weekly enewsletter thanks to our Student Recruitment Committee. Each week you will find a list of family-friendly events happening in and around Charlotte and even more reasons to Explore CLT.
| 1/19 |
$5 Friday: Dance and Cirque (Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center) |
| 1/19-1/20 |
Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical (Duke Energy Theater) |
| 1/19-1/27 |
The Imaginators (Children's Theatre) |
| 1/19-1/28 |
Snow White (Armour Street Theatre) |
| 1/20 |
NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day (NASCAR Hall of Fame) |
| 1/20-1/28 |
Mr. Popper's Penguins (Children's Theatre) |
| 1/20-1/28 |
Balloonacy (Children's Theatre) |
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Mark your calendars for a Dining Night Out at Mama Ricotta's on Monday, January 29. Mama Ricotta's will be hosting Charlotte Lab School from 4:00- 8:30 pm, and 10% of sales will be donated back to our school making this an easy and fun way to have dinner and raise money. Mama Ricotta's is located at 601 South Kings Drive in Charlotte. Come out, bring friends and the entire family to dine in or carry-out and support our school. Hope to see you there!
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Unfortunately, it is cold and flu season, and we ask that you keep in mind the following school policies when assessing whether your child should come to school:
- Students must be fever-free and no vomiting for 24 hours; and/or
- For bacterial infections (pink eye, ringworm, strep), prescribed medication must be administered for 24-48 hours before returning OR provide a doctor's note stating the child is able to return to school.
Contact the Front Office with any questions.
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All are welcome to attend our Lab School family engagement night focused on developing conversations with students around family diversity and supporting these ideals outside of the classroom. Assistant Director of School Outreach, Time Out Youth Center, Rebby Kern, will be joining us.
- Who: Parents/Guardians at both LS and MS
- Date: Wednesday, February 7, 6-7:00 pm
- Where: Lower School, 301 E 9th Street
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| The new after school semester has begun. In addition to the T.A.P.S. program, we have a limited number of vendors providing after school classes at Lab. Please sign up directly with the after school provider:
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Lab Middle School has
SPIRIT
!
We are excited to announce that Charlotte Lab Middle School has a spirit rock! Families are invited to "rent" the Spirit Rock and paint it in honor of Lab related activities: birthdays, announcements, celebrations, recognizing an awesome staff member, or showing spirit for our sports teams. Reserve your date(s), pay for the rental, and find
sign-up details here
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Go Lions!
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Want your kids' candid picture in the yearbook? Have great photos from a school related activity? PLEASE upload it on the
ReplayIt app
. Download the app once (you will need it as long as your child is registered at LAB School) and upload your photos as you take them. Please tag the children in the photos and their grades. And, don't worry! There is still time to
order your yearbook here
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We have posted
this month's Lunch menus. The Pizza Fundraiser (with pizza from Domino's or Papa John's) will now be the last Friday that we are in school, each month.
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Lunch payments can be made at
K12PaymentCenter.com
. I
t is not necessary to order your lunch in advance; however, if your child requires a special meal (gluten free or vegetarian) please let
Mrs. Malone
know in advance.
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If you are making a change to your child's afternoon dismissal, please make sure to complete the online transportation form NO LATER THAN 2:00 pm. After 2:00 pm, you must call the school and let Ms. Fulcher (LS) or Ms. Clinch (MS) know.
And don't forget, e
arly dismissal ends at 3:00 pm. If you arrive after 3:00 pm, you will be asked to wait to pick up your child until regular dismissal at 3:30 (LS) or 3:45 (MS).
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Don't forget to like Charlotte Lab School on Facebook. There is also a Charlotte Lab School Parents Page. This page is managed by parents and not visible on Facebook for security reasons, so if you want to join the group, please email the page administrator Nicole Bowen, and she will invite you to join.
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Please note that on days that your child is sick or absent, we ask that you email his/her homeroom teacher and our Front Office Managers
Stefanny Fulcher
(Lower School) or
Lauri Clinch
(Middle School) before 8:30 am. A note from parents (and a doctor's note, if applicable) is necessary and should be sent immediately and no longer than 3 days after the absence.
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Be sure to sign up for Remind 101 and receive last minute reminder texts from Lab. Just text the correct code (below) to 81010. Be sure to sign up for the Entire School messages, plus the relevant grade levels and after school if applicable. Standard text rates do apply.
Entire School - @Fk2c2Kindergarten - @bea6hFirst Grade - @2a34d2nd Grade - @8g9ccd3rd Grade - @48h4474th Grade - @hea665th Grade - @43gf3d6th Grade - @4dha6After School - @labschoola |
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Parents are invited to celebrate their children's birthdays at school, and we ask that you follow these policies:
- Parents may join their child for lunch and bring a small treat to share with advisory to celebrate their child's special day.
- Birthday celebrations must be arranged IN ADVANCE with the child's advisor so that he/she knows when to expect you and can plan an alternative treat for those children who might not be able to enjoy what you bring.
- All treats must be NUT-FREE
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