Principal Newsletter, 5/13/24
Lawton Families,
Last week was very exciting around here, with our staff spoiled by delicious food, and lovely thoughts and gifts (thank you so much to our students, families and PTA – and a special shout out to Mikelle Newer for coordinating the wonderful buffets). Our students got lots of exercise biking/walking/rolling to school on Wednesday and doing the Move-A-Thon on Friday too! This week we return to our focus on academics, with some of our classes starting state testing, and others starting final units in math, ELA and science as we start to head into the last 6 weeks of the school year.
5th grade promotion – June 18, 5-6pm
This event has been on our Family Calendar since last spring,
Parenting Support Group: Thursday, May 30th (with childcare)
We’d like to invite you to the next meeting of our parenting support group, hosted by former Lawton parent and certified coach Kate Kiely. The meeting will take place in the library on Thursday, May 30th from 6:45-7:45pm.
The group discussion will be based on the second chapter of the book “The Whole Brain Child” by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. It’s not necessary to read the book/chapter in order to attend.
New: We will provide childcare during the meeting. For questions, please contact Birgit (presidents@lawtonelementary.org).
Talent Show Tryouts
Talent Show Tryouts: Wednesday, May 22nd (K-2nd) and Wednesday, May 29th (3rd-5th)
Ms. Kinder will be hosting a Lawton talent show in June! See the attached flier for more details.
- K-2nd tryout signups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4AABAC23A4F94-49400661-k2talent#/
- 3rd-5th tryout signups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4AABAC23A4F94-49401269-35talent#/
Please note: students must be accompanied by an adult during their audition.
Lawton Elementary Named 41st Best Elementary School by US News & World Report
The US News & World Report has identified Lawton as the 41st best elementary school in Washington!
“Principal Dina Clagg, now in her second year at Lawton Elementary, expressed her exhilaration upon hearing the news for the first time. “How fantastic,” she exclaimed. “What an honor. I’m so excited to see Lawton recognized.”
Principal Clagg, bringing with her 16 years of teaching experience from Ballard High School, is leading Lawton with enthusiasm and dedication. With a student body of 335 students and potential for more, Lawton Elementary continues to prioritize excellence in education.
Congratulations to the entire Lawton
Move-a-Thon May 10th
One week left to raise funds for the Move-A-Thon!!!
- VOLUNTEER: Move-A-Thon Volunteer SignUp Genius —- We need more volunteers to help with set-up at 6:45 am on May 10th. Without set-up volunteers, it will be hard to start the Move-A-Thon on time.
- DONATE: Move-A-Thon Donation Page
- Please refer to the Move-A-Thon Newsletter emailed on 4/18/2024 for additional information
Lawton Dolphins at the Seattle Mariners!
Join us at T-Mobile Park to see our Seattle Mariners take on the LA Angels. Lawton PTA has reserved a group of reduced price tickets in section 147. The $40 tickets are limited so get yours ASAP. Funds raised from ticket sales will go directly back to Lawton for staffing and school essentials. Tickets on sale 04/19-05/05 https://ch2v-324.memberhub.com/store/items/1018669
*If you would like to sit with a specific family/group please nominate one person to buy ALL the tickets you will need to accommodate your party. This is the only way to ensure you will all be seated
Principal Newsletter, 4.29.24
Dear Lawton Families,
I want to start with a big shout out to our amazing School Counselor, Erica Barry, for organizing last week’s fun and well-attended Career Night and Volunteer Appreciation event – and to all the Lawton family members and PTA Board, who gave their time to share details about their careers with our students! On Friday, May 3 our School Spirit theme is College or Career wear!
Also on May 3 – Lost and Found items will be donated on this day, so please give the racks a check this week!
SPS Artificial Intelligence Policies
SPS recently published information about how we use AI, and teach in the new AI reality. This work is new for Lawton staff and students, but
Open PTA Role: Communications
WE need you! Want to make a lasting impact on your child’s school experience, and make a difference in the school community? Volunteer for the 2024/2025 PTA board.
In the coming weeks we will be highlighting the roles that will be open on the 2024/25 Lawton PTA Board to give you an idea of what each role entails and the duties required for each. This week we are highlighting our Communications (newsletter/social media)position
Other positions available: Co-President, Advocacy chair, treasurer & website administrator.
If interested please contact the Nominating Committee:
Sign Ups for Staff Appreciation Day!
It’s time to show Lawton Staff our LOVE!
Staff Appreciation Week is May 6th to 10th and we need lots of donations and a little parent help to show our teachers and staff just how much we love them!
In collaboration with a few of our amazing Lawton family-owned businesses, the Lawton PTA will be providing a coffee cart on Monday and catered lunches for all staff on Tuesday (Plaza Garibaldi – Libier Sandoval) and Thursday (Made in Mom’s Kitchen – Ramandeep Talwar). Lands of Origin: African bakery @Pike Place (Meeraf Mamo) is donating desserts on Friday.
Earth Month Opportunity
The PTA has teamed up with Ridwell to celebrate Earth Month and provide you with a one-time opportunity to drop off or send in your *plastic film*. Date and details of a one-time drop off (or send in) at school will be arriving soon but it will be the week of May 13-17 at school. Please start collecting your *clean and dry* plastic film for this event -see our school’s program link below – let’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle together!
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Congratulations to our yearbook cover art winner, T.T.! All the art this year was so fantastic; we don’t envy our K-3rd graders for having to choose just one! 📚
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Girl Scout Troop 41696, in partnership with the Lawton PTA, (and MES & Blaine), continues their Food Drive now benefitting low income seniors in the Magnolia neighborhood! They are assembling Thanksgiving Dinners in a Bag and are asking for the following:
🛍️2 gallon ziploc bags
🦃Cans of turkey or chicken
🍲Boxes of stuffing mix
🥔Bags of mashed potatoes
🥘Packets of gravy
🥫Cans of green beans
🍇Bags of cranberries
🥐Muffin/scone/biscuit mix
🧈Spray oil
🥣Rectangle baking trays
Drop off donations this week in one of the blue bins!
Lawton Elementary School PTA
It’s SPORTS DAY at Lawton! Go Sports! ⚽️🏀🏈⚾️🥎🏐🎾🏉
Fall Fest tonight! See you there, Dolphins! 🐬🍁
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Lawton’s PTA (and MES & Blaine) are partnering with Magnolia Girl Scout Troop 41696 for a holiday Food Drive! From now through December 11, Girl Scouts will be collecting specific donations to provide to local families and seniors experiencing food insecurity. 🚨Now through Friday Nov 6, the Girl Scouts are asking for donations of: 🎂Boxes of cake mix 🍰Jars of frosting 🥤12oz cans of lemon lime soda 🕯️Birthday candles 🍽️Disposable cake trays 🛍️Medium/large birthday bags These will be assembled and donated to the Ballard Food Bank as “Birthday Cakes in a Bag” in honor of GS founder Juliette Gordon Low’s
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Fall Festival is Friday! 🍁 We can’t wait to see you there, Dolphins!
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Happy Halloween from all our dolphins! 🎃 Magnolia Village Trick or Treating tomorrow from 4p-6p. Be safe and have fun! 👻
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Look familiar? 👀
All Lost & Found items that have not been claimed by Friday Oct 30 will be donated! Come take a peek by the end of the week!
Lawton Elementary School PTA is at .
Our Yearbook Cover Art Contest is on now! ✨
Our K-3rd graders will vote this week to choose which 4th/5th grader masterpiece will grace our 2026-2027 yearbooks. 🎨
Lu loves them all! How to choose?! 🐬
Lawton Elementary School PTA
You AUTumn sign up to volunteer at Fall Fest! 🍁 We’re in need of lots of FALLunteers! 🍂 Sign up to help on Konstella.
Lawton Elementary School PTA
Lawton Students Speak Up! 🗣️ After rumors circulated in our 4th and 5th grade classrooms that there would be no Halloween celebrations at Lawton this year (since Halloween is on a Saturday), our impassioned students wrote a letter to Ms Clagg, the staff, and our PTA. Ms Clagg’s response: “When I received this letter, I beamed with pride. As a former high school Social Studies teacher, this kind of civic action on the part of 10 and 11 year olds embodies my core values as an educator: to develop thoughtful, well-rounded citizens who engage in productive discourse and positively contribute
