What’s Happening

It’s the time of year when we are planning for the year ahead. We would appreciate family feedback on two key things: Your plans for next year (K – 4th grade families only). Please complete THIS ONLINE FORM by May 6th 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

We are going to keep this newsletter short as we send you off with our wishes for a safe and fun Spring Break. Your student brought home the following this week: Student newspaper made by our 4th and 5th grade newspaper club Covid testing kit for testing the last day of Spring Break (blue instruction sheet included) We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday, April 18th. Lost and Found Last call for lost and found. All unlabeled items remaining at the end of the day will be donated. Lawton Book Drive Contribute to our Spring Book Drive on now through May 31st by clicking this link. Health Updates Spring Break Test-to-Return Supplies. Each student bought home a Covid testing kit this week (instructional video HERE). Please help us have a safe and

It was fun to see book characters wandering our hallways today – what a great way to kick off literacy month! While every day is a great day for reading, we encourage you to join us in celebrating books a little extra during the month of April. Ways to support literacy month at home: Submit a picture of your student being “caught reading” for us to display on a hallway bulletin board. Email photos to kmcerise. Contribute to our Spring Book Drive on now. Check out one or more of the books nominated for a Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award this year. Do a family read aloud. Kids are never too old for this! Click here for some ideas. Talk to your 4th or 5th grader about their Reading Odyssey. Which genre is their

Spring is here! Along with longer daylight in the evening and the cherry trees blooming at Lawton, students this week had the opportunity to participate in the traditional Pacer Test in PE. During the Pacer Test students run back and forth between 2 points trying to increase their pace with each line run. Ask your student about their experience with the Pacer Test this week. Health Updates from Nurse Somi Allergies and inhalers. If your student needs an inhaler or has developed allergies since you last updated our school records, please email Nurse Somi so that we have the forms and current information on file. It’s helpful if daily allergy meds are managed and administered at home. Staying home when sick. A friendly reminder that sick students need to stay home, even if they test

There was plenty to celebrate at Lawton this week! Our cherry trees are blooming, we loved having families visit for student-led tours, downstairs leprechauns caused mischief in classrooms on Thursday, and the week was filled with fun STEAM activities (including moon pies for “Pi Day”)! Looking to continue the science, tech, engineering, art, and math fun at home? Check out the frog jump activity we sent home, try to memorize The Pi Song, do the math to double your favorite recipe, or choose a science or math-themed movie to watch together. Volunteers We are looking for volunteer support for during lunch recesses. If you’re interested, please: Update/complete your volunteer application on the SPS Volunteer web page. Sign up for a volunteer role here. In addition to regular volunteer screening (background check, Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention

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.

Students and staff alike brightened our school with neon today. Monthly school spirit days are just one way we build community across the school. We also can't wait for next week when students will get to start singing again in music class. Ask your student what they most look forward to singing. Visitors and Volunteers We are excited that SPS has started allowing building visitors and volunteers. We know many of you have never seen the inside of Lawton and we want you to have a chance to do so. 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

We hope you all had a healthy and happy break. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, February 28th. Just a short and sweet newsletter this week with reminders to help us have a safe and smooth return to school. Email lawton if your student will be absent or late. Arrive on campus between 7:40 and 7:50. Supervision starts at 7:40. Students enter the building when the bell rings at 7:50. Students should be in class by the 7:55 bell. Keep your student home if they have any Covid symptoms. Give them a home test (and send a picture to lawton) or email to request a drive-up rapid test at school. If you traveled over break, follow lawton. Find some neon for Spirit Day on Friday, March 4th. Thank you for