I hope that you had a chance to read the message that I sent last night announcing our plans for the Lab Innovation Fund. The Lab Innovation Fund is Charlotte Lab School's new Annual Giving Campaign. Money raised each year will help fund many of the programs and activities that make our school special and allow us to provide a truly innovative learning environment. We depend on our families, friends, and community for their support to supplement our operating budget so that we can accomplish our ambitious goals.
Gifts to this fund are unrestricted and will be invested according to school priorities. This year, the Lab Innovation Fund will support smart technology, library enhancements, staff development & retention, facility improvements, and after school programming. You can
learn more about our plans here
.
Thanks to a number of early donations and pledges, we have already raised $69,890 (35%) toward our $200,000 goal. Please
join these donors
and make a gift at a level that is personally meaningful for your family. Your thoughtful support is greatly appreciated, and every gift matters.
More information on the
Ways to Give
is on our website. Donations can be made
in the following ways:
- DONATE BY CREDIT CARD: One-time and monthly donations may be paid through PayPal online; or
- DONATE BY CHECK: Download and print our gift form and return it to Charlotte Lab School.
Don't forget to let us know if your company will match your gift. All gifts and pledges received by May 1, 2017 will count towards this campaign. Charlotte Lab School is a registered nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent provided by law.
Please take a moment to read more about the Lab Innovation Fund on our website. If you have any questions, check out our
FAQs
or contact
Susannah Lund
, Director of Strategy and Philanthropy.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Mary Moss Brown
Head of School
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WELLNESS UPDATE FROM MRS. WHELAN
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Good evening,
Last month our students focused on self-control and this month we will be introducing Social-Emotional Intelligence. As an educator, counselor, and mom, I have realized how important this skill is in our day-to-day lives. Whether our children are in the classroom, out at recess, in practice, or on a play-date, having strong social-emotional skills allows our children to use their intuition, communicate effectively, and develop meaningful relationships throughout their lives. Over the next few weeks, I strongly encourage you to have conversations with your children about this important character trait and share with them how you have fostered your own social-emotional skills and the meaningful ways they have impacted you in the process.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
is understanding feelings and using them to inform actions.
Ways to Show Social-Emotional Intelligence:
- Finding solutions during conflicts with others;
- Demonstrating respect for the feelings of others; and
- Adapting to different social situations.
Ways to Earn Character Badges:
- Watch the movie Inside Out and write/draw about how the different characters showed social-emotional intelligence.
- Keep a feelings journal describing different feelings throughout the day. Notice any patterns?
- Do two random acts of kindness and share what happened through writing or drawing
- Read How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. Fill someone else's bucket each day for a week and share what you did.
Follow up Questions for Students:
- What kinds of things fill your bucket? How do you know when your bucket is full?
- What ways do you show kindness at home and at school?
- Name four feelings and share a time when you felt each of those feelings.
- Tell us about a time when you said something that made the other person feel mad or sad.
Character Books and Resources
Websites/Videos:
Articles:
Books:
- Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long (K-5th); about empathy
- The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo (K-5th) - about sharing your feelings
- Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (2nd-5th)
- Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern (3rd-5th) - teaches about kindness/empathy
- Junonia by Kevin Henkes (4th and 5th)
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The Q3 Curriculum Guides are now on our website under the
Parent Resources section. Hard copies will be added to your child's binder this week.
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Some of you have already heard of About Face Charlotte's Blessing Box Campaign, but you may not know that our students are going to be part of this uplifting project.
About Face Charlotte is a local organization that seeks to connect people to people in our community, elevate compassion and empathy, and encourage ongoing acts of love and altruism. They are launching their Blessing Box Campaign to inspire acts of kindness in our community.
Watch this video to learn more about the campaign.
This month, e
ach advisory group will be working with their grade level to "fill" a blessing box by writing acts of kindness on small pieces of paper.
Lab students will also brainstorm ways they can use their gifts and talents to serve others in the community outside our school. We encourage families to talk with their children about creating mindfulness around intentional acts of kindness toward others.
The goal of the blessing boxes is to help all of us develop a deeper understanding of these concepts:
- How have I been blessed?
- What are my gifts?
- What do I do well?
- How can I offer these gifts in service to someone today who really needs it?
Once filled, the boxes (1,500 in total from around Charlotte) will be returned to About Face Charlotte, and they will work to create a piece of community art with the boxes and the blessings.
If your family is interested in participating in the Blessing Box Campaign, you can request a box for your family on their
website. Or, you can contribute to the Lab School boxes by picking up some paper strips from the PTSO meeting on
Feb. 28.
Feel free to contact your child's advisor or
Mrs. Johnson with questions. And, if you are using social media, share your blessings using the hashtag #blessingboxcampaign and #cltlabway.
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| PTSO GENERAL MEETING - FEB 28 |
The third-quarter PTSO General Membership Meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 28 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The agenda includes the following:
- Social Media/Technology Presentation with Dee Lanier
- Discipline Policies and Systems with Melissa Markle
- Roles and Responsibilities of the CLS Board with a Board Member
- Blessing Box Campaign Update
- PTSO Finance Update
- 2017-18 PTSO Volunteer Interest/Opportunities
- Spirit Wear Sale
If you need childcare, please RSVP to [email protected] and indicate the # of children you'll drop off. Space is limited so please RSVP by Wednesday, February 22. The cost for each child is $5 (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 enewsletter that we have been given permission.
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The PTSO is hoping to have two fun Spring events -- one for the boys and one for the girls -- where students can invite a special someone as their guest (parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc.). We have volunteers to chair a girls dance, but we are still looking for someone to chair and develop the boys event. This would be a great job for a LabDad (or two)!
We would also love to have a Talent Show this spring so that students can showcase their special skills and abilities. We have a group of volunteers willing to work on this event, so all we need now is a committee chair to take the lead.
Contact Sue Hawes by Wednesday, February 15 if you're interested in one of these opportunities to help create exciting new events for our school! Without more volunteers, we will not be able to host these events for our students.
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We are in need of uniforms in larger sizes (7-12) including tops, pants, and navy sweaters/fleeces. If you have any to donate (new or gently used) please let us know. Drop off your donations at the front office.
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| CAR-RIDER LINE & LUNCH VOLUNTEERS |
| Please consider helping with the lunch service by signing up here. We appreciate your help--whether you have time for one day or a regular commitment. |
| Have you noticed that the car-rider line is moving more quickly? That is because of our fabulous morning volunteers. You can help keep the line moving by volunteering with morning carpool. Sign up to let us know you are coming. |
| WIRED CHILD BOOK CLUB FOR PARENTS |
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The last chance to join our
Wired Child book club is Feb 13.
Melanie Hempe from the Families Managing Media will be coming back next week for the final session. All parents are welcome to attend. Even if you missed the other sessions and/or haven't read the book, we are sure you will enjoy the discussion.
Wired Child Book Club Details:
- Remaining sessions: Feb 13
- Time: 8:30-9:30 am
- Location: UNCC Room 806
- $5 per session, please bring cash or check to the meeting.
- RSVP: Let us know you will be attending by sending an email to Meegan Whelan.
We also want to let parents know about an upcoming workshop hosted by Families Managing Media. The event takes place on Feb. 24 in Matthews, and
more information can be found here.
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As a follow up to our message last week that the school will not be hosting any camps this summer, we are passing along information on UNCC Center City's summer camp programs as a possible option for families.
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| Mon, Feb 13 |
Wired Child Parent Book Club (last session) |
8:30 AM |
| Wed, Feb 15 |
Middle School Open House - New and Returning Families |
6:30 PM |
| Fri, Feb 17 |
President's Day - Holiday |
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| Mon, Feb 20 |
President's Day - Holiday |
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| Tue, Feb 21 |
Teacher Workday- NO CLASSES |
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| Thur, Feb 23 |
Grades 4/5 Girls Book Club |
10:55 AM |
| Thur, Feb 23 |
Middle School Panel Discussion |
6:30 PM |
| Tue, Feb 28 |
PTSO General Meeting |
6:00 PM |
| Fri, Mar 3 |
Last Day of Trimester 2 Enrichment & PE Classes |
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Don't forget to order your yearbook. All yearbook orders are due by Tuesday, February 14. The easiest way to order is through the Jostens secure website. Yearbooks are just $25 plus tax. Don't miss out!
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As mentioned above, save the date for our Middle School Panel Discussion on Thursday, Feb. 23. Additionally, if you would like to be part of our panel discussion, or if you have a middle school that you would like to see included, please email Counselor Assistant Andrea Miller.
All requests for transcripts and student records must be made in writing to Front Office Manager Stefanny Wilches. Please allow 2 weeks for processing. Requests for references should be made directly with the teacher or staff member.
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Boo boo ice and peanut-free, healthy snacks are needed in the front office. If you are able to donate any of these items, please drop them off to
Stefanny Wilches in the front office. You may also pick up a donation receipt at that time.
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Continue to save your
Box Tops
this semester! Every box top counts towards money for our school!
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Sign up for text reminders using
Remind 101
. By subscribing to the Whole School AND
your child's grade level
, you will receive up-to-date text reminders of need-to-know information. Simply text the correct code to 810-10. Standard text rates do apply.
- Whole School - @Fk2c2
- Kindergarten - @2a34d
- 1st Grade - @8g9ccd
- 2nd Grade - @48h447
- 3rd Grade - @hea66
- 4th Grade - @43gf3d
- 5th Grade - @4dha6
- After School - @labschoola
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