October 6, 2006
		There is no school on Fri. Oct. 13 due to NEOEA Day. Students in grades 7-12 who would like to play basketball must have a physical completed before practice starts on Wed. Nov. 8. Forms were sent home this summer; if you need another form, contact Ron Messer at x2410. The SAT Test will be administered on Sat. Oct. 14. For more info, see Mr. Petrulis. Mrs. Perillo's class dissected a very large mushroom she found hiking in Cortland, OH All parents are invited to our first auction planning meeting on Tues. 10/17 at 1:30 pm. Please stop by and learn more about our annual fundraising auction. Please RSVP to Rebecca Hamilton at x3107. Please note that Lawrence middle school students will not be allowed to attend the CCIS social at Hawken on Fri. Oct. 13. Host schools require staff chaperones which Lawrence is unable to provide since school is not in session that day. Adam H (right) and his brother Middle school student Adam H. and his brother Joshua (who attends University School) are featured on the cover of this month's Cleveland Family magazine. Consider advertising your business, or placing a personal message to our athletes, in the Athletic Boosters Club program guides. If interested, contact Ron Messer at x2410. Robbie, Eric & Victoria The following Upper School students have been named "Student of the Month" for September : Robbie M. (grades 7-8), Victoria P. (grades 9-10) and Eric G. (grades 11-12). Great work, students! Spirit wear is currently on sale. Upper School families can log on to www.lawrencevip.org to  view info. For Lower School, contact Pat Feith at x1124. Orders for Lower School are due Oct. 12, and Upper School is due Oct. 11.		School Safety in the News - Head Notes Lawrence Homecoming Game & Dance All Lawrence families are invited to the annual Homecoming game on Fri. Oct. 20, as the Lawrence Lions soccer team takes on the Grand River Eagles. Homecoming King & Queen will be announced at the game. On Sat. Oct. 21, students in grades 9-12 are invited to the Homecoming Dance, from 7-11 pm in the Lawrence gym. Tickets are $20. High School Parent Meetings - Technology Parents of students in grades 9-12 should attend one of these meetings regarding Lawrence School's one-to-one tablet computer program: Tues. Oct. 10 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Mon. Oct. 16 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm, or Wed. Oct. 25 from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Please RSVP to Sally Garza, Director of Technology at x2140. All parents of high school students are asked to attend. Lower School Grandparents Day - next week Grandparents of students whose last name starts with L-Z are invited to Grandparents Day next Thurs. Oct. 12 from 7:30-8 am. We will enjoy, coffee, juice and pastries in the gymnasium. Please RSVP no later than Mon. Oct. 9 to Pat Feith at x1124. Standardized Testing Day - High School Wed. Oct. 18 is Standardized Testing Day for grades 9-12. Freshman will take the EXPLORE, Sophomores will take the PLAN, and Juniors will take the PSAT. There will be no school for seniors on this day. Students in grades 9-11 will dismiss early, between 11 am - 1 pm depending on test times. We encourage parents to pick up students at this time; however, community service options will be available for those who need to stay the duration of the day. Class Trips - Mandatory Meeting Upper School parents (grades 7-12) are asked to attend a mandatory Class Trips meeting on Mon. 10/9 from 3:15-4:15 or 7-8 pm. We will review itineraries, costs, and other specifics of the exciting trip that Lawrence has planned for your child. For questions, call Tracy Pedaline at x2124. Market Day Update Thanks to those who helped raise $277 from Market Day last month.  This month, Lawrence will receive a small freezer if we have 14 more customers and 10% more in sales than we did in Sept.  If you order for a family member or friend, please register that person as a separate customer in Oct.  Columbus Children's Theatre Workshop Lower School students will once again participate in the Columbus Children's Theatre writing program. On Thurs. Oct. 12, actors from the CCT will begin to work with students on creating short stories that can be turned into plays. "Into the Light" Thank you to Upper School students who raised over $300.00 for the Suicide Prevention Education Alliance and their 3rd annual walk “Into the Light" last weekend.  SPEA uses funds raised from the walk to sponsor suicide prevention awareness programs in high schools throughout Northeast Ohio – including Lawrence School.  Thanks to everyone who helped us make a difference in support of this important cause. Head Notes The news of school violence in three different settings this past week raises the spectre of one of the most devastating situations my imagination can conjure.  I know that you feel the same.  Sending a child into a school setting - any setting - is sending them into the unknown, and the responsibility for the safety and well being of children is on the short list of issues which keep educators awake at night.  No matter how hard we try, we cannot see what is inside the mind and heart of another individual.  So what can we do? At Lawrence, first, we work as hard as we can to know each student and to maintain an environment of trust.  We hope our students know that there is no subject they can not bring up with a member of the staff and receive a respectful audience.  In addition, we offer our staff much more than ordinary training in how to recognize and respond to subtle signals that all is not well with a student.  Because our students trust the staff, respect the school, and because they want to feel personally safe, we are sometimes approached by students who are concerned about the well-being of one of their fellow students.   We are alert all day every day to assure that everyone within this community feels safe, welcome and supported.  And we have the expertise to offer professional intervention when it is indicated. In addition, Lawrence School maintains a Emergency Operations Plan which provides strategies for dealing with emergency situations either within our building or demanding that everyone evacuate the building quickly.  We started in September expanding this plan to include the Upper School campus and our upper school staff will be trained in the implementation of that plan before students occupy the building. All of our efforts are just that - best efforts to assure that the unthinkable never happens.  If, at any time, you or your child has reason to believe that any member of our school community is in need of special support and assistance, PLEASE notify us immediately.  Providing for the well-being of each member of Lawrence School helps keep our entire community strong. - Mimi Mayer Head of School