- 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 students 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 sign up here for a day and time. Please note that proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours is still required for guests to enter the building.
Cardboard Challenge
Cardboard Challenge is optional and starts now! You can begin planning and building your creation right away. Check out our flyer here. Students who choose to participate should plan to bring their creations to school on Friday, March 18th or upload a picture to their Seesaw journal.
Volunteers
We have several volunteer roles we’d love parent support for during lunch recesses. If you’re interested in volunteering at Lawton, please:
- Update/complete your volunteer application on the SPS Volunteer web pages.
- Sign up for a volunteer role here.
Health and Safety
Students with allergies. Allergy season is coming. This is a friendly reminder to email Nurse Somi (srahlbeck) and make sure you have an authorization form on file if your child needs over-the-counter allergy medication at school.
Lawton Covid Update. This week (3/7 – 3/11), Lawton sent two classroom COVID notifications.
PTA Budget Vote. The PTA Board aligns their budgeting process to coincide with the Seattle Public Schools budget timeline. A formal PTA membership approval is needed to complete the 2022-2023 Lawton PTA budget by mid-March. Ballots have been sent to all Lawton PTA members to their email address on file. Please check your email (including spam folder) to find it. Ballots are due by Sunday March 13th. If you are a member and didn’t receive a ballot please contact treasurer. And if you aren’t a member, there is still time to join. Thank you to those that have already voted!
Nutty Squirrel. It’s time for another Taco Tuesday at Nutty Squirrel. Swing by on March 22 from 3-7pm for a gelato taco (or two!) and 15% of sales will be donated to the PTA.
Check the Fence. When you drop by Lawton, be sure to check the fences for PTA news.
Upcoming Events
March 14, 15, 17 & 18 – Lawton Open Houses 2:30–3pm
March 22 – Nutty Squirrel Taco Tuesday
March 24 – Lawton Takeout: Save the Date Geni’s Ethiopian
April 1 – Literary Character School Spirit Day
April 5 – Lawton Takeout: Save the Date Damoori Kitchen (already taking orders!)
April 11 – 15 – No School, Spring Break
