The generosity, creativity, and kindness of the Lawton community have been on full display this month! Thank you for coming together to support families that needed a little extra help this season. There will be many smiling faces because of the kindness and support you showed.
We hope the next two weeks give you time to relax and enjoy the people you love. We’re looking forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, January 3rd.
Safety Update
Given local and national events, we know safety is top of mind this week. As part of Lawton’s Building Safety Plan, we conduct monthly emergency drills so that students and staff can practice for the unlikely event of a real emergency. Yesterday, teachers held classroom discussions with their students about what to do during a Lockdown. The purpose of these discussions and safety drills is to teach our students appropriate emergency procedures without causing alarm or fear.
Counselor Update
Every six weeks, our counselor Erica Barry rotates through all Lawton classrooms to do a social emotional learning lesson. Here’s a summary of the latest lessons by grade level:
- K: We learned how to take a Meta-Moment, manage big feelings, and calm down. We talked about what it means to be our “best self” and read the book Big Bear Hug to illustrate how we can solve problems using our strengths.
- 1-2: We talked about the difference between small problems and big problems, and introduced Kelso’s Wheel of Choice as a tool to solve small problems. We talked about each strategy on the wheel and when it might be used.
- 3-4: Kelso’s Choice in action! We worked in teams to engage with a variety of problem scenarios and find appropriate strategies using Kelso’s Wheel of Choice. 4th We talked about the words we choose when solving problems, and how to choose words that diffuse conflicts. 4th graders got to show off their drama skills by acting out their problem scenarios and Kelso strategies.
- 5: We talked about problem-solving in more complex friendship situations and how to “talk it out” in a way that diffuses conflict. We talked about how our personalities impact how we choose to solve problems, and we how sometimes need to venture outside our comfort zones to find the best strategy.
All 1st – 5th grade students were given a Kelso wheel to keep as part of the lesson series.
Health Updates
We are excited to have so many students vaccinated or in the process of getting vaccinated. A few clarifications about what does/doesn’t change with vaccination status.
No Change: Rules on symptoms at school and testing to return. Please keep your students home when they are sick. The front office will continue to send students home if they have Covid symptoms. Current SPS policy requires any student with symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, to follow this flow chart .
This means that any one symptom lasting more than 24 hours, any combination of two or more symptoms, or any of the “left side” symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, muscle/body aches) requires a negative Covid test before returning the school. This is the safest way since we’re seeing breakthrough cases and testing is the only sure way to rule out Covid.
Change: Quarantine requirements when a student is a close contact. Student vaccination status does change the quarantine requirements when student is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid. If they are fully vaccinated and do not show any symptoms, they do not have to quarantine. If they are not fully vaccinated, then they would have to quarantine for 7 to 10 days regardless of symptoms/no symptoms.
Lawton Covid Update. This week (12/13 – 12/17), Lawton sent zero classroom COVID notifications.
Thank you for your partnership keeping our community safe – we’re looking forward to a healthy and happy 2022!
PTA Fundraising Opportunities
Minted. 20% off orders of cards and gifts and they’ll donate 15% back to our school! Visit Minted.com and use code FUNDRAISELAWTONELEMENTARY.
AmazonSmile. For every eligible purchase, .5% goes back to Lawton. Click here for more information.
Nutty Squirrel Community Kit. $5 of each kit purchased will be donated back to Lawton. Available in stores and online at www.nuttysquirrel.com until December 31st.
ACME Farms & Kitchen. Order a holiday kids box or one of their signature meal boxes and 10% goes back to Lawton! Click here to order and enter LAWTON at checkout!
Upcoming Events
12/17 – 1-hour Early Dismissal
12/20 – 1/2 – NO School, Winter Break
January 7 – Spirt Day (Pajamas)
January 11 – Save the Date for Lawton Takeout dinner with Plaza Garibaldi
January 17 – NO SCHOOL, MLK Holiday
January 23 – Save the Date for Lawton Takeout dinner with Baked in Bosnia
