REVISED date Correction 1st Edition: 2018-2019 August Back to School
Ataglance Month at a Glance:Monthataglance

Thur, Aug 9, 2018
Back to School Orientation Grades K-5
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Cafeteria/Classroom

Back to School Orientation Grades 6-8
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Cafeteria/Classroom


Mon, Aug 13, 2018


PTO Boo Hoo Yahoo Breakfast/First PTO Meeting of the School Year
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Media Center


Tues., Aug 21, 2018
Informational meeting for Middle School Student Council 
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM 
Room 811


Mon., Aug 27 thru
Fri., Aug. 31, 2018
Book Fair
All Day
Media Center


Mon., Aug 27, 2018
Middle School Boys & Girls Tennis Try Outs
Girls Volleyball Try Outs
3:15 PM
Gym & Courts


Thurs., Aug 30, 2018
Student Council Apps due

Open House
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cafeteria & Classrooms

InthisissueIn This Issue:
Advance to the articles by clicking on the following links.

Month at a Glance
 
In This Issue

New Articles:BacktoTop
Repeat or Updated Articles:
 
Partner News:  
Articles in this section are listed at the request of the partner 
 
 
Business Partners:


New Articles:
principal

 Principal's Message

A "Welcome Back" letter from Laurel Nokomis School Principal Mr. Raymond Wilson.

orientation
Back to School "Meet the Teacher" Orientation
 
Before school starts, parents and students are invited to come and meet their new teachers and fellow students at the LNS Back to School orientations scheduled on Thursday, August 9, 2018:
  • Grades K-5 at 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria/Classroom
  • Grades 6-8 at 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria/Classroom
You're invited to come and learn how to get involved at Laurel Nokomis School and how to help your child have a successful school year. Both parents and students are welcome to attend! Everyone should begin in the cafeteria to see the class lists and visit all of our information tables, and then proceed to your child's classroom to meet the teacher. 

Calendar
School Year Calendar and Dates to Remember
 
The   Sarasota County Schools 2018-2019 District School Year Calendar is posted at this link.  Please pay special attention to important dates such as:
  • August 13, 2018 - First Day of School
  • December 24, 2018 - January 7, 2019 - Winter Break
  • March 18 - March 22, 2019 - Spring Break 
  • May 24, 2019 - Last day of school
School hours this year will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. - no change from last year.  Additional dates and events are posted on the Laurel Nokomis School calendar at this link.

Health


You Can't Start Kindergarten or 7th Grade 
Until Your Shots are Up to Date
 
A physical exam, signed and stamped by a licensed provider and dated within one year prior to registration, is required for each student initially entering a Florida school. This is proof that body systems (heart, skin, lungs) were examined. 

Updated vaccines or exemption documentation are  REQUIRED BEFORE a student can start kindergarten or 7th grade in all Florida schools.  A completed DH 680 form is required for registration in Sarasota County public schools. The form is available through your child's pediatrician and at Department of Health Sites in Sarasota (2200 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237 phone:  941-861-2900 ).   Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) sites also offer l ow-cost school physicals for $35 per child by appointment. 

Students without required immunizations or proof of exemption documentation will be sent home from public schools on the first day of school. In addition, they will not be able to ride the bus or participate in sports, band or other extracurricular activities until the school has the DH 680 form showing they have received the required immunizations or exemption. Additional information about the Florida school vaccine requirements can be found at:                                                                                                  www.sarasotacountyschools.net/departments/schoolhealth/ . In addition, a copy of the 2018-2019 Immunization Flyer is available at this link.  

Suppliesanddonations

Sc hool Supplies & Donations

School supply lists are available from your child's teacher at the Meet the Teacher Orientation event, at the LNS front office, or on this link. School supplies can be brought to your child's classroom on the first day or first week of school. Please remember that donations for ancillary classrooms like Art, Music, Computer, Gym, etc. are also needed and should be labeled with "Ancillary Classroom Supplies" when dropped off at your child's classroom. 


In addition, please take a moment to make a voluntary donation to the school. $10,000, $1000, $100, $10.... Any amount will help the school provide additional resources for our students. These donations can be submitted via cash or a check made payable to "Laurel Nokomis School" and dropped off with your child's teacher or dropped off in the school's front office. Thank you!!

Handbook
 
Updated LNS Student-Parent Handbook

A copy of the Laurel Nokomis School Student-Parent Handbook, compliments of the LNS PTO, will be available to each student. In addition, the handbook is available at this link.    Effective communication between the school and home is an essential element for better understanding, appreciation, and support of our mutual goals. The purpose of this handbook is to provide students and parents with a reference guide regarding the basic administrative policies and procedures used at the school. It does not purport to cover every possible situation that might occur. However, the information should be helpful in answering many of the questions most often asked. 

Students and parents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Handbook. Laurel Nokomis students agree to comply with all rules and regulations detailed in the Student-Parent Handbook. Ignorance of a policy or regulation will not be considered an excuse for failure to observe a policy or regulation.  The Code of Conduct and Administrative Policies and Procedures found in the Handbook are extremely important. Students and parents or guardians are encouraged to take a moment to review it in its entirety. Please feel free to contact the school office if you have any questions about the information contained in the handbook. 
Dresscode

LNS Dress Code Expectations

Please  click on this link to see a description of the updated dress code expectations for LNS students. This code can also be found in the LNS Student Handbook. It is the responsibility of the student to dress according to the dress code. We seek parent support and request that you monitor your student's daily dress. Staff members make every effort to consistently enforce the dress code. 
Arrivalanddismissal
LNS Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
 
The goal of the LNS Administration and Staff is to ensure a safe and efficient parent pick up and drop off experience. As you know, t he Sarasota County School Board is in the process of installing fences district wide to ensure the safety and welfare of the students in the district. Fences and other security measures have been installed at LNS and new security protocols are in affect.

Consequently, parents are encouraged to arrange to have their children arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 a.m. unless they are signed up to participate in our Before and After Care Program . Before and After Care Program is available from 7:00 a.m. to 8 a.m.  If you are interested in this service, please make sure that your child is enrolled prior to the start of accessing this program. Applications will be available in the front office and at the Meet the Teacher Orientation. If you have any questions, you may contact Tricia Card at 941-486-2171
 
If your child is arriving to campus between 8:00 a.m. and 8:20 a.m., he/she will need to report to one of the following:
  • Kindergarten through 4th Grade-  Report to the Gym
  • 5th through 8th Grade- Report to the Cafeteria
  • All students eating breakfast- Report to the Cafeteria
Students will be dismissed at 8:20 am from these locations and should report immediately to their classrooms. Students should be in their homerooms when the second bell rings at 8:25 a.m. but no later than the final bell at 8:30 a.m. It is important that students arrive on time and are ready to begin work at 8:30 a.m. Students will be marked Tardy if they arrive to their classrooms after the 8:30 bell. Any student arriving after 8:30 will need to enter the school through the front office. When they arrive in the front office, all students must exit and enter the school grounds out of the side door near the counselors offices. After 8:40, students need a Tardy Pass from the office before going to their classroom.   
 
Parents are invited to walk their student to the classroom  ONLY during the first week of school after 8:20 a.m.  After that time, please refrain from visiting the classroom without signing in at the front office. If you are walking your child to class during this time frame, please remember that this is not a time to have lengthy conversations with teachers. The school day does begin at  8:30 am and the schedules are very busy.  

NOTE TO ALL: As we all know, parking is VERY limited and can not accommodate everyone at once, so please consider this when you are deciding if you NEED to park and walk your child in to school. Thank you!
 
PLEASE NOTE: The speed limit around the school on Laurel Road E and Old Albee Farm Road is 15 mph during the times that students are arriving or departing.

I MPORTANT Drop OFF and Pick UP Procedures:
 

All students must be dropped off or picked up in the official car lane in the front parking lot, accessed from Laurel Road. Parent Pick Up and Drop Off from Old Albee Road is prohibitedThe gate, which accesses the back of the cafeteria, will be locked from 8:00-8:15 a.m. and 3:05 - 3:25 p.m. to prevent parents from using this loading/unloading service area as a drop-off/pickup area for students -- this is a safety hazard. Skateboards, scooters and rollerblades are not allowed on campus so they cannot be used as a form of transportation to and from school.

There are three lanes in the front parking lot: 
  1. The furthest lane from the gates (left lane) is used to exit the parking lot or to park in the parking lot in front of the office. 
  2. The middle lane is used to drive to the parent parking lot in front of the gym or to exit the drop off lanes.
  3. The closest lane to the gates (right lane) is the ONLY lane used for drop off and pick up and is known as the "Kiss and Go" Lane.

Drop Off Procedures in the Kiss & Go Lane:
  1. Make sure that your child is  ready to exit your car when pulling up to the drop off area. They have their book bag, lunch box, projects, jackets, instruments, etc.
  2. Proceed all the way to the furthest open gate (one closest to the gym at gate 1) so that multiple cars can drop off kids at the same time. Please DO NOT STOP AT THE FIRST OPEN GATE. More gates have been added to allow for more students to exit their vehicles.
  3. It is encouraged that parents remain in their cars. When parents and students are walking through the parking lot and crosswalks, traffic is continually stopping, thus slowing the efficiency of the drop off line.
  4. Say goodbye and give their farewell hugs/kisses BEFORE it is their turn to exit the car.
  5. After your child has exited the car, please remain alert. There are many people, including students, parents and volunteers who may be at risk if you are not fully aware.
  6. Please yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks.
  7. Exit the parking lot. You can do this by moving to the second lane so that you can drive around the cars in the first row that are dropping off students.  Please look before entering the second lane so that you do not cut off another car already in the lane.
  • If your child needs additional time to gather their belongings or help walking to their classroom, please park your car in a parking space and walk your child to the gate.
  • PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE NEWLY LANDSCAPED MEDIANS/ISLANDS.  No cars are allowed to park in the grassy area near the gym.
 
Pick up Procedures:

To ensure the safety of the all children attending LNS, each person picking up a child MUST HAVE A CAR TAG whether picking up in a car or walking up to the parent pickup area.  
  • Each student will need a NEW 2018-2019 Car TagCar tags from last school year have expired and will need to be replaced.
  • Car tags will be issued to Approved people on each student's pick up list.  
  • Proper photo identification will be required prior to being issued a car tag.
  • You may pick up your car tag in the front office or at Meet the Teacher (August 9th) prior to the start of school. 
  • Car Tags MUST be visible when picking up your child.  
  • If you are allowing someone NOT on the approved list to pick up your child, the office must be notified in writing prior to the date.   
In order to make Parent Pick Up as efficient as possible, we encourage parents to remain in their cars. Students will be arranged by grade level outside the gym and along the parent pick up side walk.  
  • As you drive or walk up with your visible car tag, staff will call your child to the Pick Up lines. Color coded number signs (1-7) have been added to assist with clarity of the gates, especially for younger students.
  • Please be patient as some grade levels arrive later than others depending on proximity to the Parent Pick Up area.
  • Encourage your child to walk quickly when their name is called and to be alert during this time and not on their phones or engaging in socializing with friends.  
  • Please pay attention to the flow of the car line. Staff will direct you to pull as far forward as possible to allow for more students to access their cars.
  • If you walk up to the gym to pick up your child, please remain behind the gate and be patient. Please remember that the school day ends at 3:15. Staff will assist with retrieving your child in an orderly manner.  
  • If you walk up by the crosswalk, please refrain from walking near the students.  Remain by the yellow chains and staff will retrieve your student. 
  • Once you have retrieved your student, please refrain from mingling in the Parent Pick Up area so staff may supervise and access students freely.   
 
Working together, we will ensure a safe and efficient Parent Pick Up/Drop Off system.   Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in keeping our students safe.  GO LIGHTNING!      

LNS Admin 


kindergartenanxiety
Note to Kindergarten Parents:
Dealing with  Separation Anxiety

The first day of a new school, or even the first day in a new classroom, can be met with a mix of excitement and anxiety for kids and parents alike especially kindergarteners. Although it's fun to embark on a new adventure and many kindergarteners delight in the feeling of being "big," change can be scary for little ones (and their worried parents).

Start with a warm up:  Bring your child to visit the school a couple of times before the first day. A great time to practice is when you and your child come to the school for the Meet the Teacher Orientation. This is a good time for you  to ask the administration questions about the drop off and pick up routines, chat with the teacher about the typical schedule, f or your child to explore the classroom, meet their teacher and for you to talk to them about their new drop off and pick up routine.

Parents are ONLY able to walk their kids to their class room during the 1st week of school. We encourage you to walk to the class on the first two days and then use the other days to drop them off at the gym or the cafeteria if they are going to eat breakfast at school. This will allow the student to become familiar with the routine they will need to follow throughout the rest of the school year.

Some kids will cry or suffer from separation anxiety. Please try to monitor your own reactions to your child's distress.  Children are amazingly perceptive when it comes to their parents' emotions and they  may fuel the anxiety and their desire to stay close to you. Lingering at drop-off time, while understandable, is likely to backfire. Your best bet is to give your child a quick hug  and tell them you'll see them at pick-up time . Then, be on your way . Teachers know how to work with children who miss their mom and dad. We can guarantee you that it will be much harder on you then it will be on them.

After you drop your little one off at the school gate if you are going to drop them off in the car pick up line or in the gym there will be staff and teachers there to assist them.  Kids are grouped together by class in the gym and teachers will escort them to their classrooms. 
backpacktag
2018-2019 Bus tags 
New Car Pick Up Line Tags Available
and New Bus and Car Tags for Backpacks

Keep your eye open for these new Bus and Car Tags hanging off the backpacks of kids in the Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade and the Autism Classrooms. This will help LNS staff assist those students in their transition to and from the bus or car pick up lines.  

The Car Pick Up Line Tags are compliments of one of the LNS Business Partners:   Dr. Si McAninch, DDS, PA - Pediatric Dentist, Sarasota (www.drmcaninch.com, 2711 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL;  941-953-3535 ).  This is just another example of LNS Business Partnerships at work!!!  Please remember to thank Dr. McAninch f or helping to keep LNS students safe!!!
Bus
Bus Transportation:  
The Wheels on the Bus...
 
go round and round. If your child resides two or more miles from school and/or has special needs, they are entitled to transportation to and from Laurel Nokomis School (LNS)  as provided by the rules of the Florida State Board of Education. More than 200 Sarasota County School District buses travel about 30,000 miles each day to transport over 18,000 students. Information about bus routes, frequently asked questions and safety reminders for motorists and students are available at this link.
 
Questions or concerns regarding bus service may be directed to the Sarasota County School Bus Transportation Department at  941-486-2141. In addition, you can visit  the website to see bus schedules or to request a new stop or changeIt is important that you check the schedule every year since bus numbers, pick-up times and drop-off times are subject to change every school year . Courtesy transportation requests will be considered after the first ten days of school. 
 
If you have a  telephone and/or address change notify the Laurel Nokomis School Front Desk immediately. In addition, you can contact LNS regarding information about  late buses . If you have an emergency after hours you may call the School Board Security Desk at  941-966-7233 .   

Please be patient during the first week of school because buses will probably run late as schools, teachers, students and bus drivers get acquainted with the new bus schedule and routes for the new year.  In addition, please see this link for helpful hints for young bus riders.
  
BeforeAfterSchoolCare

Before and After School Care at LNS

To meet the needs of our working parents, Laurel Nokomis School offers Before School Care from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and After School Care from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the school's cafeteria. Adult supervision is NOT available before 7:00 a.m. If your child is not enrolled in our program they should not be on campus until 8:00 a.m.  

Students must pre-register to be accepted into this program. For the cost of the program and to find out additional information, please contact Denise Moore or Luanne Pare at 941-486-2171 if you have any questions regarding Before School Care.  
SAC1
 

LNS SAC Meetings Announced

What is a School Advisory Council? SAC is a state mandated committee to assist in the preparation and evaluation of the results of the school improvement plan (SIP) and to assist the principal with the annual school budget. For more information, please go to: florida-family.net/SAC/ or see Section 1001.452(1)(a) of the Florida Statutes.

What is the role of the School Advisory Council? The School Advisory Council is responsible for final decision making at the school relating to the implementation of the provisions of the annual School Improvement Plan (SIP). The SAC assists in the annual preparation and evaluation of both the SIP and the school's annual budget. For further information, please see: Section 1001.452(1)(a), Florida Statutes.

Who serves on the School Advisory Council?  By law, each SAC must be composed of the principal and "appropriately balanced" number of "stakeholders." These individuals must be representative of the ethnic, racial & economic makeup of the community served by the school. Fifty-one percent or more of the members must be non-district employees. This includes: parents, teachers, support staff, community partners and students.   Only students in secondary schools serve on a SAC. 

Where can I find the school improvement plan (SIP)? The office has a hard copy of the plan and it can also be found on the LNS web page under school resources.  This is a copy of the 2017-2018 SIP.

Principal Ray Wilson, Assistant Principal Heather Wasserman and Assistant Principal Christine Oliver are striving to make our great school a 5 Star School. Part of having a 5 Star School is creating a strong SAC committee that understands the needs of our community of students and are committed to creating goals, interventions and assessing the data following those interventions. There must also be an average of 80% attendance of all members with a minimum total number of 8 meetings per year. 

LNS SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL 2018/2019
Meeting Time: 7:20 am
Place: LNS Library
Meeting Dates:

Sept. 6
Oct. 4
Nov. 1
Dec. 6
Jan. 10
Feb. 7
March 7
April 4
May 2

Volunteer
Volunteering at the School - "Volunteers Count" Program
 
As Mr. Wilson mentioned in his "Welcome Back" message, we encourage all parents to help at the school. However, before you volunteer at the school you must register with the "Volunteers Count" computer (formerly known as PALS) in the front office or online at  https://scs-datamgmt.sarasota.k12.fl.us/volunteerscount/. This is necessary if you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, lunchroom, labs, chaperoning field trips or helping at PTO events. Also, past volunteers must reactivate every year in order to help at Sarasota County Schools each year, so even if you were registered last year you must "reactivate" again this year using the same computer and your same sign-in. Please stop by the front office if you have any questions about how to register new or reactivate.

All volunteers must be district approved. Initial approval takes approximately 2 weeks. All parents are required to register or reactivate via computer each school year at the school office prior to having direct contact with students. 

All volunteers at LNS must...
♥ Always report to the school office before beginning volunteer activity.
♥Sign in to the Volunteers Count computer and record where you will be volunteering.
♥ Present a driver's license or state identification to the staff in the front office to be scanned through the RAPTOR system. They will give you a Raptor generated identification badge or a sticker that must be worn at all times on campus. RAPTOR is part of the state- and district-required security program that scans for sexual predators and offenders through a continuously updated national database.  
♥ Registering and logging volunteer hours through the Volunteers Count database is in addition to the RAPTOR system!
♥Wear the RAPTOR generated badge while on campus and during volunteer activity to ensure that the school staff and students can easily identify volunteers approved to be on campus.
♥ When your volunteer job is finished for the day, make sure to log out of the Volunteers Count computer. It is important that the school staff knows which volunteers are on campus in case of an emergency.

Security updates:
2. Level 2 volunteers will still be fingerprinted and put through the FBI criminal database.
3. Unscreened parents are not allowed to attend field trips. If a parents comes to the field trip site, the parent must sign the child out and not be with the group.


For further information, please contact:
Lyndsey Cantees
Volunteer and Partnership Coordinator
Office of Community Involvement
Green Awning Building, Room 113
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 927-9000 ext. 31500

 VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED
Events1
LNS Events in August
BooHoo

Join us for the Annual PTO Boo Hoo Yahoo Breakfast!

bookfair
Fall Book Fair!
 
On Monday, August 27 to Friday, August 31 (from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), wander into an Enchanted Forest Book Fair in the LNS Media Center! It's a whimsical place full of irresistible books kids can't wait to read so their imaginations can grow!

There's a time when a child falls in love with a book . . . and then reading. The LNS  Scholastic Book Fair may just be that "once upon a time" for your student. The books will capture kids' imaginations with a forest full of tales and inspire, "happily ever after" results!

Parents and students are invited to wander through an unexpected world that holds a book for every visitor with every sort of interest at the Book Fair sale also during
Open House Night on Thursday, August 30th in the LNS Media Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  

For our book fair to be successful, we need our wonderful volunteers!! Help is needed for the set up and break down of the fair, and during the sale. Please contact Leslie at  407-619-2669  to volunteer. Thank you in advance for volunteering and for purchasing books at the LNS Spring Book Fair! We appreciate you and hope that the fair will capture the imaginations of all our students, sending them on a path of lifelong reading because when you enter an imaginary, whimsical world of books, anything is possible.
openhouse
Open House
 
The teachers and staff at LNS kindly request your attendance at the annual school Open House on Thursday, August 30 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM . Parents/Guardians and family members are invited to tour the school and their child's classroom. Each class will have displays of the student's current work and an overview of the schedule and year ahead. Our Enchanted Forest Book Fair will be open, so make sure to stop in, buy a book, and get those AR points started!
Elementary
Elementary School News
safety
Safety Patrol 2018-2019
 
Who are those students walking around campus wearing a bright yellow safety sash you ask? Why, those fine students are our 5th graders who have earned a place on the LNS Safety Patrol! A Safety Patrol's job is to make sure students are getting where they need to be while being careful and respectful of others. They also make sure our youngest students know where to go and help them get there if they need assistance. For more information or questions regarding our Safety Patrol program, please contact Adrianna Hunt at Adrianna.Hunt@sarasotacountyschools.net
Leaders
Lightning Leaders 2018-2019
 
Congratulations to all the 2018-2019 Lightning Leaders! There will be a parent meeting and coordination of the events calendar coming in August, so keep a look out. We look forward to showing all of your great work in upcoming issues of this LNS Newsletter. For any questions about Lightning Leaders, please contact Janya Smolker at Janya.Smolker@sarasotacountyschools.net
Middle
Middle School News
Council
Lightning Council 2018-2019
 
The LNS Student "Lightning" Council will consist of students in Grades 6-8 who exemplify the Lightning Way. An informational meeting for students who are interested in joining will be held Tuesday, August 21st, after school from 3:20 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in room 811. Students may pick up their application packets at this time or from their Social Studies teachers. Students who wish to become members and those wishing to run for office must complete the application packet and hand it in by Thursday, August 30th. NO packets will be accepted after this deadline. Officer elections will be held on Tuesday, September 11th. 

Another great year of the LNS Lightning Council is already being planned. Events include participation in Fall Festival, organizing dances, a fundraising 5K, and so much more! We encourage all Middle School students to make the most of the school year by getting involved with their Student Council. For any questions about Lightning Council, please contact Mollie McBride at Mollie.McBride@sarasotacountyschools.net
speech
Speech & Communication Club
 
LNS is happy to announce the continuance of our fun and educational club titled, "Speech and Communication" for the  Middle School Students. Many technological advances have created new opportunities for online learning and various  forms of enhanced written communication, but the core of many successful future careers and private activities will also  require very solid oral/verbal presentation skills.  This Club is being sponsored by Middle School English Literature teacher, Ms. O'Connor, and two PTO-Parents and Club  Advisors, Mr. Clay Taylor and Tim Montgomery. The Speech and Communication Club is open to all LNS Middle School  students. 

The Club Leaders seek to identify a smaller group of motivated students who may already exhibit special talents in the  area of verbal communication. The Club will create a fun, highly vocal, "hands-on" communication environment and the  active tasks will include occasional homework to research and prepare various individual oral speeches that will be  delivered by every student at every Club meeting.  The students may also earn certain special awards and prizes based on the occasional assessments the individual  student presenter receives from his or her peers in the Club audience, not just from the adult advisors. We look  forward to welcoming more new members in the Speech and Communications Club for the 2018-19 school season

Any student in LNS Middle School wanting to develop better verbal presentation skills and learn the HOW-TO's of  handling the stress of speaking in front of others should fill out a membership application form here and plan to join  us for our first meeting on Thursday, September 6 th in Classroom 601 at 3:15 p.m. For more information about the Speech & Communication Club, please contact Pamela O'Connor at Pamela.OConnor@sarasotacountyschools.net
Cell
Cell Phone Rules
 
The 2018-2019 school year will begin with new cell phone rules that apply to every student. Beginning on day one, cell phones need to be turned off and tucked away in purses or backpacks and not visible at all, not even in one's pocket. As soon as students arrive on campus, they must put away their cell phone and are not allowed to use it again until the end of day or during lunch only if they have earned the Lightning Pride Award later in the year. First offense will be a warning and second offense will be a confiscation of the device and a call to parents. Please have a conversation with your student about these rules and appropriate use of their cell phone at school.
Music
LNS Music News
Orchestra
LNS Orchestra & Band
 
Check back next month and every month for dates and information about our fantastic LNS Orchestra and Band students and their wonderful performances throughout the year.
Sports
LNS "Go Lightning" Sports News
Interscholasticinterscholastics  
LNS 2018-2019
Interscholastic Athletic Program 6th, 7th and 8th Grades  

Laurel Nokomis School Interscholastic teams compete with other middle schools in Sarasota County.  All 6th, 7th and 8th graders who meet the following requirements are eligible to try out for the teams listed below.
 
REQUIREMENTS:   
 - 2.0 or higher Grade Point Average. 
 - Completed Middle School Student Athletic Packet.
 - Physical/athletic screening forms are included in the Athletic Packet (valid for one year to the date of the physical).
 - Active medical insurance. School insurance may be purchased through "School Insurance of Florida." Applications are available at school or online at www.schoolinsuranceofflorida.com
- Students must be younger than 15 years and 9 months.
- One year of eligibility per grade level.

  *All forms completed and returned to Coaches Theros or Marisi before try out date.  

Boys and Girls TENNIS try-outs will begin August 27*
Girls VOLLEYBALL try-outs will be August 27*
               
 * All dates subject to change pending weather conditions and/or schedule modifications.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Theros, Athletic Director or Coach Marisi at LNS (941-486-2171). 
 
Intramurals
LNS Intramural Information 2018-2019

The after school intramural program meets two days a week and is open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders who wish to learn/practice their sport activity of interest. Students must have a completed Athletic Packet turned into coaches Theros or Marisi before they may participate. One form is good for the entire school year.

Athletic packets may be downloaded from the LNS Athletics web page. Physical/athletic screening forms are included in the packet (valid for one year to the date of the physical).
 
School insurance may be purchased through "School Insurance of Florida," applications are available at school or online at www.schoolinsuranceofflorida.com
 
Boys and Girls Intramural Basketball will begin October 1st and be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the month of October.

*All dates/times subject to change.
 
   
Sarasota County School District News
District
Parent/Student Portal Guide
 
The Sarasota County Schools CrossPointe Parent-Student Portal provides up to date  student performance information. Information on your child's class grades, homework  assignments, and daily attendance is available online, and can be emailed to you. Get your questions answered with this quick "How To" guide
Health1
School Health & Nutrition News
 Menus
 

The School Board of Sarasota County serves nutritious meals each school day. Student breakfast is $1.00 in elementary and $1.25 in middle school, and lunch is $2.25 in elementary school and $2.50 in middle school. Reduced meal prices are $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch in elementary and middle school. All meals served meet nutrition standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bucks
Pay for Your Child's Lunch Online
 
Did you know that you can make convenient online manual or automatic secure payments for your child's lunch online using your credit / debit card at MySchoolBucks.com (formally known as MyLunchMoney.com)?   You can also:
-view your child's account balance
-receive automatic balance alerts
-set up automatic recurring payments
-track and review meal history to see what food your child purchased at lunch
-create low balance alerts
-make payments with the new mobile app (available on MySchoolBucks.com
Please remember, there will be a $1.95 convenience fee  for each separate payment you make to your child's account and the maximum amount for each transaction is $120.  If you do not have access to a computer you can still make a payment to your child's MySchoolBucks account by calling 800-479-3531. 

Sign up now!  Registering for your FREE account is easy at MySchoolBucks.com. Create a secure account and never worry again about sending cash or checks with your student(s) to school again.  If you have additional questions you can contact 1-855-832-5226
Medicalmeal
Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations From
School Cafeteria
 
DID YOU KNOW....If your child has a disability as defined by the Americans with Disability Act and that disability prevents your child from eating the regular school meal, the school will make substitutions prescribed by a medical professional at no extra charge. The school is not required to make a substitution for a food allergy unless the allergy meets the definition of disability. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a handicap, please contact the school nurse at Laurel Nokomis School.

Applications for reduced-price meals are available from the office or from your child's homeroom teacher. Applications and additional important information about the meal program are available online at https://scsfr.sarasota.k12.fl.us/fma/.

PTO1
The PTO Report
Board

The LNS PTO

The Laurel Nokomis School PTO (LNS PTO) is composed of parents, teachers, staff, and friends of LNS who:
  • volunteer for the purpose of enhancing the educational environment of LNS students, 
  • encourage academic, social and personal excellence and development of our students, 
  • foster an atmosphere of cooperation and communication within the school community through partnerships with the School and 
  • provide support to our teachers and administrators so that they can provide the highest quality educational services to our students. 

The LNS PTO accomplishes its purpose by planning, funding and implementing diverse activities and programs at the school that enrich the lives of students and families at LNS and throughout Sarasota County.  PTO volunteers help raise funds and give their time to support extracurricular programs, provide needed equipment and put on fun programs for our students and staff. 


 

PTO Board Members for the 2018-2019 school year: 


 

President:  Amy Sligar
President:  Mary Wescoat
Vice-President:  Leslie Pampinella
Vice-President: Valerie Cho
Vice-President:  Yvonne Watson
Vice-President: Pamela Taylor
Vice-Pres. of Business Partners:  LaToya Price-Childs, Gina Jones & Katy Balon
Vice-Pres. of Communications:  Kim Forsch
Vice-Pres. of Membership: Kathryn DeNinno
Past President: LaToya Price-Childs
Treasurers:  Gina Jones &  Katy Balon
Secretary: Jasynda Davis
Middle School Liaison:  Tim Montgomery
Staff Liaison:  Dawn Blaszczyk
SAC/5 Star Liaison:  Christie McKinney
Runathon:  Amanda Johnson &  Katrina Otchet
Fall Fundraiser:  Mary Wescoat
Holiday Shop:  Kelly McClintock

The PTO Board of Directors would like to welcome you back to School!!!  They are excited to be involved in the LNS Community this school year and committed to build on a wonderful foundation of involved parents and a caring community. They will need lots of volunteers  to chair or volunteer and assist on different activities to make this the best year yet! Please become involved! You are invited to attend the LNS PTO meetings where you can meet other parents and find out about things happening at LNS and how to get involved.  
PTO Meetings are tentatively scheduled on:
August 13 (8:30 AM Media Center  at BooHoo Yahoo Breakfast)
Sept 12 (6:30 PM:  Media Center)
October 17 (3:30 AM:  Teachers Lounge)
November 14 (3:30 PM:  Teachers Lounge)
January 16 (3:30 PM:  Teachers Lounge - Staff requests, committees forming)
March 6 (8:30 AM:  Teachers Lounge - budget, calendar, & Board Nominations)
April 10 (6:30 PM:  Teachers Lounge - Vote budget, calendar, & Board )

If you have any questions regarding the LNS PTO, please contact them at laurelnokomispto@gmail.com or ask a Board member when you see one!

Membership
Membership Drive

You would not believe all the stuff that the LNS PTO does to help our school! Please check out this flyer to see just some of the many things the PTO did last year to make our school one of the best. Join the PTO to help make a difference, stay informed about things happening at the school, and to have fun! You can help as much or as little as your schedule will allow and the meetings are always optional.

Membership is an annual $10 donation for the entire family. 100% of the monies raised go back directly to support the needs of our school, teachers and students.  Membership forms are available via this link  and can be dropped off at the LNS front desk.
 

website
New LNS PTO Website & Facebook Page

The LNS PTO Board of Directors is excited to announce that there is a new Laurel Nokomis School PTO Website and Facebook Page! You can access the web page at   LNSPTO.digitalpto.com .   Please check the web page on a regular basis because the site will be updated often! The webpage will be integrated into the LNS web site later this month and you will be able to access it through the schools web page at sarasotacountyschools.net/schools/laurelnokomis/  by looking on the front page for a gray box that says "Website Menu".  When you click the box you will see a listing for "PTO".  When you tap PTO you will open the PTO web page.   


In addition, you can access the new Facebook Page at this link https://www.facebook.com/LNSPTO/

newsletter
LNS School Newsletter

Want to stay up to date on upcoming events, deadlines, messages from the Principal, staff, student organizations, PTO and more? If so, you will want to subscribe to this monthly Laurel Nokomis School newsletter. Click this link and then scroll down to the "Subscribe to our Newsletter" button on the left. Did you sign up and receive the newsletter last year?  You are one step ahead! You don't need to complete another form. Your email address remains in the  system until you unsubscribe or opt-out. Don't worry...your email address will not be published, shared or sold.   

If you are interested in serving on the LNS PTO Communications committee, please send an email with your contact information to LaurelNokomisNews@gmail.com

spirit
Show Your School Spirit!


On Sale at Meet the Teacher Day and all throughout the year!! Be sure to pick up our latest spirit wear fashions starting as low as $10 from Katy Balon at  kdqb02@yahoo.com.

partnerPartner News:
The Laurel Nokomis School PTO is in the process of securing business and family partners to support the school for the 2018-2019 school year.  If you are interested in being an LNS Business Partner or know a business or someone that would like to be a LNS Business or Family Partner please contact us  at laurelnokomisdonation@gmail.com

In addition, if you would like to team up with  the Sarasota County Schools  System to provide resources to schools throughout the district, you can get more information on the County's  TeamUP portal at this link.

rRepeat/Updated Articles
OngoingFundraiserOngoing Fundraising Campaigns:

Are you supporting LNS through these NO additional cost fundraisers? PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL and Share this information with Family and Friends! 


Box Tops
 
Collect everyday labels from groceries to earn points and funds for our school PTO. Labels should be submitted to your child's homeroom teacher. 
    

Amazon
 
Help support LNS by going to Smile.Amazon.com and designating Laurel Nokomis PTO as your charitable organization. After that the Amazon Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to LNS on Amazon shopping done through the AmazonSmile portal. It costs you nothing and your Amazon shopping experience will be the same (wish lists and preferences carryover to the portal).






















BusinessPartnersBusiness Partners:

Laurel Nokomis School  
1900 Laurel Road E
Nokomis, FL 34275
(941) 486-2171

Visit our website at  
for more information about what's happening at the school.
 
The Sarasota County School District Web contains a lot of important information.  Please visit the  Laurel Nokomis web site for a list of important links on the Sarasota School District web site.  


  Did you miss the last Laurel Nokomis e-Newsletter?
The newsletters are posted on the LNS web site in the third column on the bottom.
If you or someone you know would like to receive the Newsletter, you may sign up for future newsletters by completing the attached form.
All comments, suggestions or requests to submit information to this newsletter should be emailed to

This issue of the LNS Newsletter was created 
and edited by:  Kim Forsch & LaToya Price-Childs 

 Principal Ray Wilson
LNS Principal