• Dear Lawrence School Students and Families:

• 
  Welcome to Lawrence School!  We are very excited for the school year and the opportunity to work together in support of all of our students.  I encourage our faculty to communicate with families regularly and I would also encourage you to reach out with questions or concerns regarding the overall student experience this school year.  Over the course of the year, you can expect a weekly communication email with important Lawrence School news items as well as information on upcoming events and activities.  This message will usually be shared on Friday Evenings.  Since this is our primary form of communication, please ensure that we have your most updated email address logged in your child’s PowerSchool account.

• 
  At Lawrence, we recognize that the junior high years are a challenging stage in students’ lives.  They are faced with many new social, emotional and academic challenges.  The foundation for independent learning that students develop during their time in 7th and 8th grade will continue to serve them going forward and will be paramount in guiding future academic decisions and seizing opportunities as they arise.  For this reason, the Lawrence School staff continuously works at providing a rigorous and positive learning environment where students feel comfortable to grow as individuals, learners and responsible young members of our community. 

Students adhering to our core values of Pride, Respect, Responsibility and Compassion is a daily expectation.  The Lawrence School Handbook, which is available through the Lawrence School website, describes school procedures and policies, as well as the many opportunities available to students and their families.  In addition, the handbook will be a resource addressing specific questions that may come up over the course of the year.  It is important that both students and parents read and understand its contents. 

This year, we will continue our focus on student and staff safety and have been working to improve our practices and staffing to ensure that everyone can feel safe in their learning environment.  In an effort to ensure that all students feel welcome at school, we will also continue to build upon last year’s introduction of restorative practices.  And, of course, we are always working to improve our instructional practices through reflection and professional development.  

We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with your children.  The students in this community are incredible and have unbounded potential, which we will work to nurture over the course of their time at Lawrence.  Please feel free to reach out to me at any time if you would like to talk more about life as a Lawrence School Bulldog.  Thank you!

Sincerely,
Thomas Bushy - Principal