Dear Families:
Even a quick look at this week's enewsletter will let you know what a busy month we have ahead. I am going to keep my message short today, and I have just one request:
Please consider volunteering to help with one of our upcoming events.
Many of you have heard me, or another member of our staff, talk about how important our parent volunteers are to the success of the school. We truly could not do what we do (or do it as well as we do) without the ongoing support of you, our amazing families! We are not a school that just encourages parental involvement; it is essential to our model, culture, and vision.
As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has donated time to the school. Whether you are a regular volunteer or contributed to a single event, you have been an integral part of our community. I am so thankful for your involvement and hope that you will find time in the coming month to continue to support the school and to find personal rewards from your volunteer activities.
For those you you who have not yet found the time, or best way, to volunteer at Lab, I hope you will take a look at the long list of volunteer needs in the coming weeks of school (see links in this enews to multicultural night, beginners day, testing proctors, staff appreciation, and book fair--just to name a few) and commit to helping with just ONE THING! Your time and talents will be deeply appreciated.
Finally, please mark your calendar for our annual volunteer appreciation breakfast on Friday, May 19 at 8:15 am. An i
nvitation will be coming soon. (The best part--you won't be asked to volunteer to help!)
Thanks again for all that you do. Only 6 weeks to go, and together we will cross the finish line of another amazing year at Lab.
Sincerely,
Mary Moss Brown
Head of School
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WELLNESS UPDATE
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Please check out these two important updates from our Wellness Team.
For All Parents: Cubes and Spinners, and Slime... Oh My!
What began as a well-intentioned strategy specifically designed to help students with ADHD, the use of fidget cubes, spinners, therapeutic putty, etc. has become a popular trend at Lab (and apparently all over! See this
recent article from Money magazine, or for a more humorous take on one mom's experience, check out this
Scary Mommy post).
While we definitely support any strategy that meets a student's specific learning needs, we understand that the use of these objects has become more toy-like and is creating a number of distractions for students and teachers. As such, we would like to ask parents to thoughtfully consider whether your child truly benefits from the device. We also request that you discuss your child's use of the device with his/her advisor and/or Mr. Singh and develop a plan for when the device will be helpful and when it might be distracting. Please also let your children know that teachers will be limiting use of the devices for any child not specifically in need of one through an IEP or 504.
We will also be putting in place and discussing with students the following guidelines for the use of these devices:
- Fidget devices should not take the place of note-taking during lessons; note-taking is an important skill that students need to practice, and the process of hand-writing notes helps students to better learn the content;
- Fidget devices do not require collaboration or competition; their use should be private and subtle (if they are truly needed);
- Fidget devices and slime may not be shared, traded, sold, gifted, or purchased at school;
- Lab is not responsible for any lost fidget devices;
- Students may not bring in home-made "slime" or other putty-like substances due to student allergies and general messiness of the substances. (This is also a good time to point out that many of the "slime" ingredients may contain toxic substances, so please exercise caution if your child is making slime at home.)
- Unless a student has a 504 or IEP which specifically includes a fidget device as a strategy, he/she must put the item away at a teacher's request.
For Parents of 4th & 5th Graders.
All 4th and 5th grade students are attending a presentation on "Kids' Brains & Screens: How Social Media and Video Games Affect Your Child" this Friday, April 28 from 11:40 am-1:00 pm at UNCC. Parents are also invited. Please check your child's green folder for more information.
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| FINAL DAYS OF THE LAB INNOVATION FUND |
We are nearing the end of our annual fund campaign, and we need your help to raise the remaining $35,350 of our $200,000 goal.
Raising this money before the end of the school year is essential to providing many of the resources and program enhancements that we have planned at Lab. Money raised this year will enable us to invest in additional technology, library expansion, staff development & retention, facility upgrades, and after school programming. You can read more about our plans on our website. Please consider making a gift, today.
To date, just over 40% or our families have made a donation. By the time our campaign closes, we hope to meet (or exceed) our year-one participation rate of 85%, and we can't do it without you!
Time is running out; please do your part to support Lab! |
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GIRLS 4th & 5th GRADE CHORUS
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The Lab 4th & 5th grade chorus attended the Carowinds Festival of Music last week and brought home an EXCELLENT rating (3 on a scale of 1-4) along with a commemorative plaque to hang at school. This is such an honor! Only 3 or 4 of the 39 groups received plaques. Thanks to Ms. Borgnis for leading the chorus all year and to all of the parent drivers and chaperones who helped make this event happen.
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| MULTICULTURAL NIGHT @ LAB |
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Join us on
Monday, May 15 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
at Charlotte Lab School for Multicultural Night! This experience will allow you to get a taste of the cultures from around the world that are represented by members of our school community. You and your family can take a self-guided tour through the stations prepared by Lab faculty and parents to learn about many cultures and about how our cultures influence all of us. You can also help support our Cultural Studies department by donating books related to any culture (in English, Spanish, Chinese or other languages) to build our resources for teaching and learning.
If you wish to share a 1-minute 'showcase'
(keep it simple!) about your culture, heritage, or travel experience, please read the following information carefully and let us know that you are able to participate by sending us your RSVP. Students are encouraged to participate in the showcase with their families.
RSVP using the form that went home in last week's green folders.
We also need some parent volunteers to assist with set up and clean up at the event. Please
sign up here
if you can help.
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We have a variety of upcoming events at the school, and we need your help. If you haven't volunteered yet this year, please try to make time in your schedule to assist with one of the following activities:
Staff Appreciation Support
- May 1 - 5. Help say "thanks" to our awesome staff. Sign up here.
Beginners Day and Orientation Day Volunteers
- May 2 & 4 from 8:00-10:30 am. Welcome students and parents. Sign up here.
Book Fair Volunteers
Proctors for World Language Testing
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A few important notes about after school this week:
- Rugby will have a double practice this Friday, April 28, 4-6:00 pm;
- Children's Theatre on Thursdays has ended. If you still need after school coverage, your child will be in regular after school for the remainder of the year; and
- Soccer Shots ends Wednesday, May 10.
Also, please keep in mind that there is no after school on May 5 (half-day), Thursday, May 25, and the last week of school (June 5, 6 & 7).
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| Apr 25-May 12 |
MAP Testing (see schedule) |
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| Wed, Apr 26 |
POSTPONED: Talent Show |
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| Wed, May 3 |
Middle School Parent Orientation Night - New & Returning Families |
6:30 PM |
| Fri, May 5 |
Classes until noon - Half Day Teacher Work Day |
noon |
| Fri, May 5 |
Knights Spirit Event |
7:05 PM |
| Fri, May 5 |
Girls 4/5 Choir Sing National Anthem at Knights |
7:05 PM |
| Tue, May 9-12 |
Book Fair |
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| Tue, May 9 |
General Meeting - PTSO & Diversity Committee |
6:30 PM |
| Fri, May 12 |
Muffins with Mom |
7:45 AM |
| Mon, May 15 |
Multicultural Night |
6:30 PM |
| Tues, May 16 |
Multicultural Night - Poster Session |
7:45 AM |
| Tue, May 16 |
Chipotle - Midtown |
4:30 AM |
| Fri, May 19 |
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast |
8:15 AM |
| May 23, 24 & 26 |
EOGs |
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| Fri, May 26 |
Teacher Workday- FACULTY RETREAT - NO CLASSES |
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| Mon, May 29 |
Memorial Day - HOLIDAY |
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| Fri, Jun 2 |
Report Cards Home |
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| Mon, Jun 5 |
Kindergarten Showcase |
1:00 PM |
| Tue, Jun 6 |
Year End Carnival & Field Day |
all day |
| Wed, Jun 7 |
Last Day of School |
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Since we have implemented summary billing, you will not receive a separate notification for upcoming field trips. To assist with your planning, this calendar captures upcoming field trips.
| Fri, April 28 |
8:45-10:45 |
CLT Bilingual Preschool |
Outreach Program |
Select 4th grade students |
| Fri, May 12 |
10:30 - 12:30 |
Harvey Gantt Museum |
Guided Tour |
Castro (3rd) |
| Fri, May 19 |
8:45-10:45 |
CLT Bilingual Preschool |
Outreach Program |
Select 5th grade students |
| Fri, May 28 |
8:45-10:45 |
CLT Bilingual Preschool |
Outreach Program |
Select 4th grade students |
If you have a 2nd, 3rd, or 5th grader, please send in your field trip money as outlined in the March 2, 2017 letter.
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We are unable to hold the Talent Show as planned on April 26. We plan to reschedule the show for a later date, however it will likely be structured as an opportunity for students to perform for their classmates during the school day.
If you have any questions, or would like to help with the Talent Show in its new incarnation, please contact Lab parent
Brittany Vanderlinden
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Please be sure to come and
check out the Lost and Found items waiting to be claimed.
We will be donating all unclaimed items on April 30.
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Spring Testing Schedule can be found here.
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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.
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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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