Preparing for school year success

Lemonade and popcorn were served in the cafeteria of Lawrence High School, as parents and students moved from station to station and received information geared to help them prepare for a successful school year at the district’s first Summer Send-Off.

Like the setup of a school science fair, poster boards with information on the district’s capital improvements, social emotional learning, food allergies, transportation and more were on tables throughout the cafeteria on Aug. 27. Classes at Lawrence begin on Sept. 4. “This is the time for parents to set a correct course for the school year,” said Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen. “It’s a good chance to discuss how to handle anything that may interfere with that.”

Audrey Scott attended, accompanied by son Xavier, a seventh-grader, who like many kids his age, wasn’t excited for the summer to end. Scott said that some of the information was helpful, but more, “seemed geared towards parents with children who are just now entering the district.”

At one station the district’s director of facilities, Craig Cammarata, spoke about the planned capital improvements. The board he stood in front of included information on the middle school auditorium, which is being remodeled, a new playground at the Lawrence Primary School at the Number Two School (where the kindergarten is now housed, along with the first and second grade) and vape detectors in the bathrooms of the high school. “We want to show that the district is actively pursuing upgrades,” he said. “Everyone’s really working hard … on beautification, updating the security and making the district more user friendly.”

Another table featured Kristine Franks, who previously worked in the library at the Number Two School but is now a volunteer on the district’s food allergy awareness committee. She explained to the parents that Lawrence schools is a food allergy aware community, while handing out lollipops to the children. “Dr. Pedersen and the whole community have been very supportive,” she said.

Pedersen’s secretary, Jessica Brown, helped to create many of the boards that decorated the room, and showed a portion of parents how to “stay in the know,” and sign up for updates from the district. “The goal is to open the lines of communication,” she said. “They get to meet the staff and start to build some successful relationships.”