Dear Laurel School Community,

 

Greetings to all new and returning families as we embark upon the 2022 - 2023 school year!  The Laurel staff has been hard at work preparing for your children to enjoy successful and engaging learning experiences in their classrooms. 

 

We welcome the MPCSD Transitional Kindergarten Program to Laurel School’s Lower Campus. If you are a TK family, you are encouraged and welcome to participate in any and all Laurel events and activities.  However, please be aware that specific TK information will be coming from Chana Stewart, the TK Director.  She is your go-to administrator for all Transitional Kindergarten details, questions and needs.

 

Regarding Laurel’s Lower Campus (Kindergarten-2nd grade): Linda Creighton is the Principal and Ashley Guilliot is the Administrative Counselor. At the Upper Campus (grades 3-5): Alicia Heneghan is the Principal and Leigh Wilson is the Interim Administrative Counselor.  We are excited to partner together this year now that there are dedicated administrators at each site!  Read below for important information and updates.

 

All the Information You Need

Please bookmark Laurel School’s website for all the information you need to begin the school year successfully.  In just one click, you will find:

*Calendar -- important dates like the First Day of School, Welcome Events, Back to School Night, and much more

*Transportation Options -- please consider bussing to and from school or biking & walking as it will help with traffic flow

*Hot Lunch Program - Optional for families to order (potentially free) school lunches  Application for Free / Reduced Lunch If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, you have access to much more support from the school in other ways

*Newton Center - After school childcare program provided daily until 6 PM. Click here to register for the program and/or submit a request for financial assistance

*After School Program offerings

*Laurel’s Welcome Packet

*Support the One Community Campaign - A joint fundraising effort by our PTO and the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation. A streamlined way to donate to the organizations that help make Laurel the Best Place to Spend Your Childhood!

 

Hours for Laurel School 

TK-2nd:   Lower Campus at 95 Edge Road, Atherton, CA

3rd - 5th:  Upper Campus at 275 Elliott Drive, Menlo Park, CA

 

Please note that our first day is a Thursday, and the dismissal is at 1:45 PM for the Lower Campus and 2:00 PM for the Upper Campus.

 

At the Lower Campus: drop off/pick-up along Ringwood or Edge Road is not permitted.  There will be school staff and police enforcing smooth drop off and pick up operations around both campuses.

 

At Upper Campus: drop off/pick up on Oak Court is not permitted.  Please obey the no parking signs along Elliott Drive.

 

School Supplies

At Laurel, we do not ask parents to purchase School Supplies for their children to use in the classrooms.  Family donations to the One Community Campaign allow our Office Managers to purchase all the supplies the teachers want/need.  The only items your child should bring on the first day of school is a regular sized backpack, a hearty snack, a lunch, and maybe a photo of your family or a pet to help ease first day jitters. 

 

Important Dates:

• Thursday, August 11th/Friday, August 12th: Upper Campus New Family Orientation. New families are invited to attend a group tour of the campus with Ms. Heneghan and our Administrative Counselor, Mrs. Wilson. Choose to come on Thursday, 8/11 at 3:00 PM or on Friday, 8/12 at 9:00 AM. Tours will take about 45 minutes and are optional.

• Sunday, August 14th: Kindergarten and New Family Q, A + Play at the Lower Campus. If you would like a school tour, if your child would get excited about a scavenger hunt, or if you have some burning questions, join Mrs. Creighton and a welcoming group of parent volunteers on the kindergarten yard.  Arrival time is 1:00-1:20, group tours begin at 1:20.  This is an optional event.

• Monday, August 15th around 4:00 PM: Class placements will be made available to parents.  More information will be distributed as the date approaches.

• Wednesday, August 17th: Kindergarten Meet & Greet 8:30-9:00 AM (optional)

• Thursday, August 18th:  FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!  Arrive early for a smooth beginning, and set those routines in place on day one!  

  • Remember: Thursday is always an early release day.  1:45 dismissal at the Lower Campus, 2:00 dismissal at the Upper Campus.  

  • Be sure your child knows how s/he is getting home from school: carline, arbor (parent walk in for pick up), bus, Newton, or After School Program.  

  • At the Upper Campus, many kids walk and bike home on their own.

• Thursday, September 1st:  Parents/adults-only Back to School Night in your child’s classroom (LC 5:30-6:30 PM; UC 7:00-8:00 PM).

• Monday, September 5th:  NO SCHOOL; Labor Day

 

We can’t wait to see all the happy faces when the children stream onto campus on August 18th.  It’s going to be a great year!

 

Sincerely,

 

Linda Creighton, Laurel School Principal - Lower Campus

Alicia Heneghan, Laurel School Principal - Upper Campus