Welcome to Henry W. Lawton School!
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year
We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As we embark on a new academic year, we are delighted to extend a warm welcome to all our students, both returning and new, along with their families to Henry W. Lawton Elementary School. It is with great anticipation and excitement that we begin this journey together, with a shared commitment to educational excellence and personal growth.
As we move forward, the well-being, safety, and educational progress of our students remain our top priorities. We have implemented comprehensive measures and equitable practices that promote a productive learning environment. Our dedicated team of educators and support staff have been working diligently to prepare for the academic year. With a focus on engagement and rigor to ensure that we meet the diverse needs of our students.
This year, we will continue to foster a culture of learning which involves collaboration, inclusion, and equity within our school community. We believe in the power of teamwork and the importance of bridging the gaps between home, school, and community. We encourage you to be actively engaged in your child’s education. It is also important to establish communication with your child’s/children’s teacher and other support staff. We ask that you participate in school activities and events whenever possible. By providing the support guidance, our students need they will thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
“It takes a village.”
Arnetta Imes,
Principal
What You Need to Know Now!
School-wide Information:
School officially begins at 9:00 a.m. The gates will open at 9:00 a.m. to begin admission/supervision and students will have until 9:10 to get to their classroom. Your child will be marked late if they arrive after that time. Breakfast will be provided to all students as they enter and will be eaten in class.
Dismissal will begin at 3:20 p.m. for Kindergarten and Special Education programs. Students in grades 1st through 5th will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. daily.
All students will be dismissed from the doors that they enter from. Please be sure that all pick up information is current by advising teachers and the Main Office of any changes.
Please ensure that all child care agencies are fully aware of dismissal times, procedures and expectations.
All students should be picked up promptly by 3:30 PM. We do not have staff/programs to supervise students who are picked up late. Students that have not been picked up on-time will be brought back into the building and must be picked up at the front door as the “C” door will be closing promptly. Any family that does not adhere to the pick up time will be required to meet with the principal to discuss further actions.
Academics:
The goal is to ensure that every child is challenged and experiences academic success. This cannot be done by the teacher alone; parents also play a significant role in reaching this goal. We are looking forward to working with you to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire. For additional information about curriculum and instruction, visit: Curriculum and Instruction – The School District of Philadelphia
Behavior:
All children are expected to act in a manner that will ensure safety and with consideration for the feelings of others. Students are expected to follow the School District of Philadelphia Code of Conduct (philasd.org) and the Lawton School Student handbook that includes our PBIS Norms and expectations. Please ensure that you speak with your child about appropriate school behaviors and expectations continuously so that they are prepared to begin school. Links to the behavior documents will be shared once they are distributed at the start of school.
Attendance:
Daily attendance directly impacts your child’s success. The District’s and Lawton’s goal is to strive for 95% for our average daily attendance. In alignment with the School District of Philadelphia Policy, all absence notes need to be submitted within 3 days of the student returning to school. Coming to school every day is extremely important for all students. As a reminder, students in Philadelphia are expected to be in school for a minimum of 95% of the time. That means that your child cannot miss more than 8 days of school per school year. Both excessive absences and latenesses can result in a truancy/DHS referral. Please ensure that your child is here every day at 9:00 AM.
For more information visit: Attendance & Truancy
Title 1 Parent Information:
The 2024-2025 Lawton School Plan is now available for public review.
Access the district’s academic calendar to obtain important information for the 2024-2025 school year.
If you need to contact your child’s teacher, please send them a message via Class DoJo, Google Classroom, email, or phone call.
Lawton School Counselor: Ms. Bender
Families are invited to contact our certified counselor, Ms. Nicketia Bender (215) 400-3340 or via ClassDojo to discuss their child’s academic, personal, and social growth which may potentially affect their child’s success in school.
As a reminder, the Philly HopeLine is available M-F from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. to provide counseling services for students, parents and guardians who may need additional support during these difficult times. Phone or text 1-833-PHL-HOPE (1-833-745-4673).
MISSION, VISION, and VALUES
Mission
The mission of Henry W. Lawton Elementary School is to create a safe and nurturing learning environment. Students will achieve academic excellence, positive self-awareness, and social responsibility through exemplary teaching that incorporates differentiated and data-driven instruction. Teachers will model and share best practices using effective team planning and collaboration. As life- long learners, the school staff, students, parents, and community members pledge to create an environment where our scholars will be safe, respected, and academically empowered to become goal oriented, self-motivated leaders.
Vision
The vision of Henry W. Lawton Elementary School is to educate our students to become life-long readers, creative and authentic writers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Core Values
We strive to engage in culturally responsive practices within CR-PBIS implementation to: enhance relationships between student-teacher, school-family and community, decrease disproportionality, and improve educational equity.
We follow PBIS-Norms:
We are SAFE
We are RESPECTFUL
We are RESPONSIBLE