• Your plans for next year (K – 4^th grade families only). Please complete THIS ONLINE FORM by May 6^th to let us know if you are returning to Lawton next year.
  

Having a good idea of our enrollment numbers helps us when building classes and assigning staff to grade levels. You are welcome to provide feedback on your student’s strengths, challenges, and learning style. We consider many factors when building balanced classrooms. While we do not take teacher requests, we value your expertise about your student. Great care and consideration is given to each child’s placement, whether you submit input or not. However, the information you provide helps us build balanced classrooms that maximize learning and success for all students.

• Your opinion on a student supply fee for next year. Lawton’s Building Leadership Team (BLT) is considering moving to a supply fee rather than individually purchased supplies. Please register your opinion on this change HERE.
  

Currently, we ask families to purchase supplies or use Yubbler to purchase kits through PTA link (supply prices range from $35 – $70 per grade level). We’ve reviewed our supply lists for all grade levels and found that we could bulk order supplies for all students for a $35 fee (paid on SchoolPay at the start of the year). Teachers have expressed a preference for having matching supplies and avoiding the start of school chaos of all students trying to bring their supplies to class. 

Childcare. We know families are doing some next year planning of their own for after school care. Below are some places that have traditionally served Lawton students:

• Lawton Boys & Girls Club (on site) 206-282-4361
• North Queen Anne Child Care 206-281-2919*
• Hilltop Children’s Center 206-283-3100*
• Kaleidoscope 206-930-6321*
• Tun O Fun (Magnolia Community Center) 206-386-4235*

*Locations historically served with bus service. This is not a guarantee of future service.

This week, SPS announced masking changes that will start on Monday. Here’s a quick overview of what is/isn’t changing at Lawton and how you can help us during this transition.

• What is changing: Starting Monday, March 14th:
  • Masking will be optional for staff and students in most settings, including yellow buses (masks are still required for those visiting the nurse’s office and while singing in music).
  • Students and staff who have been exposed (close contacts) will not be required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Close contacts will continue to be notified, but classroom-wide notifications will end.
• What is staying the same: Many layers of protection remain in place:
  • Students showing Covid symptoms must stay home; students who develop symptoms at school will be sent home.
  • Vaccination requirements for staff and volunteers remain the same.
  • Vaccines will still be available at SPS Clinics. Testing and PPE will still be available.
  • Physical distancing, strong air ventilation (HVAC), and air quality testing remain.
  • Current lunch practices will remain in place and be re-evaluated at the end of March.
• How you can help:
  • Talk to your student about your family’s masking preferences. Although we will continue to have extra masks for anyone who wants or needs one, we will not be tracking anyone’s mask usage. Any preferences you have should be communicated directly to your student. Educators will not group students based on masking preferences.
  • Talk to your students about respect for others’ personal choices. Lawton teachers and staff will be modeling and reinforcing that wearing or not wearing a mask is an individual choice. We will continue to emphasize the importance of respecting others, being kind, and making everyone feel welcome. These are essential Lawton values.
  • Stay flexible. We expect guidance on other school protocols (e.g., lunch and spacing guidelines) may continue to change in the coming weeks. If/when it does, we will communicate the changes and continue to adapt. We’ve all had plenty of practice adjusting to new rules over the past two years and will likely need to do some more.

Student Led Open House During STEAM Week. March 14-18th is STEAM week at Lawton. In addition to fun STEAM oriented activities for each student during the day, we’ll be offering afternoon open houses from 2:30 – 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. This is a chance for students to show their adults all the places where they learn at Lawton each day. If you’d like to attend, please:

1. Sign up here for a day and time;
2. Come to the Lawton main entrance at 2:30pm on your selected day; and
3. Be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a negative covid test for entry.

The annual Cardboard Challenge begins now! Read the flyer below for more information!

Below is the proposed PTA budget for the 2022-2023 school year. This budget will be voted upon during the general PTA meeting on Monday, February 28th.

Please remember that you need to be a member of the PTA to be able to vote on the budget.

Click here to join the PTA!

Please join us Monday, Feb. 28 @ 6pm for presentation of the proposed 2022-2023 budget. Discussion will be led by the PTA President and Treasurer.

See the latest Dolphin Tales newsletter for the link to the zoom call, or email website@lawtonelementary.org for the zoom information.

The budget will be sent to PTA membership by email for vote following the meeting. Only Lawton PTA members will receive and be able to vote. To become a PTA member or renew membership, click here.

On Tuesday February 8th, enjoy home-cooked Indian Food and support a Lawton family owned catering business! 10% of your order will be generously donated back to Lawton. Call/Text 425-666-8745 to order by Monday February 7th

Lawton is partnering with Blaine and Magnolia elementary schools to bring award-winning author and speaker Amy Lang for an online speaking event. She will be presenting ‘How “The Talk” Can Keep your Kids Safer.’

Please join us for this online event! See the parent newsletter for a link to register for this online event on Tuesday, Feb 8th at 7 PM.

Who is craving something sweet?! Stop by Nutty Squirrel on January 25th from 3-7PM for Gelato Taco Tuesday!

If you have an old camera that you are not using anymore, please consider donating it to the Lawton Newspaper Club! The students will be taking pictures for the yearbook this year! Help us get some nice pictures and give the kids a chance to try out their photojournalist skills!

Donations can be dropped off at the front office to Ms. Godon & Ms.Cerise, who will make sure the Newspaper Club gets them.

Thank you for helping make this year’s Newspaper and Yearbook a success!