Welcome to Henry W. Lawton School!
June 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Greetings from Lawton! Thank you for all of your support and efforts during this school year!
This letter contains important information for the 2024-2025 school year including information about the first day of school as well as tentative Supply Lists for 2024-2025. You will also find important Back to School information for planning purposes.
Learn with Lawton: On Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Lawton will celebrate its annual event. The purpose of Learn with Lawton is to build community partnership, increase social awareness among our students and families and most importantly, to help students bridge the gap between our community, home, and school. Our goal for the 2024-2025 school year is to continue to build positive relationships, increase school attendance, improve climate and culture, academic performance and school success.
Please note that the first day of school for students in grades Kindergarten through 5th is Monday, August 26, 2024. In order to ensure the safety of all of our students on the first day of school, please adhere to the following:
Students in grades 1-5 should arrive no earlier than 9:00 AM– All returning students will arrive for the first day of school and return to their teacher/classroom that they were in for the 2023-2024 School Year. Teachers will have the opportunity to welcome students back and will transition them to their new teacher. All students that are new to Lawton will report to the cafeteria upon entry.
Students in grades 1-2 will enter through the “D” door in the small yard. Students in grades 3-5 will enter through the “C” door in the large yard. Parents will not be permitted to enter the school building.
2024-2025 Kindergarten students should arrive at 10:00 AM– Teachers will meet their classes in the large yard. Students will enter with their teacher through the gym door and proceed to their classroom. Parents will not be permitted to enter the school building to walk students to the classroom.
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. Grades 1 through 5 will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. daily. Please note that Kindergarten will dismiss students at 12:30 the first five days of school; Monday, August 26, 2024 through Friday, August 30, 2024. On these days, Kindergarten students will dismiss through the “B” door on Lardner St.
All students will be dismissed from the doors that they enter from (see above). 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 Philadel
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.
https://www.philasd.org/studentrights/attendance-expectations/
The 2024-2025 UNIFORM Policy will function as follows:
No hoodies may be worn in the school building.
Uniforms:
Khaki uniform pants, skirts or jumpers and a navy blue or white collared uniform shirt. Navy blue or white sweaters can be worn over the uniform shirt during cold weather.
Red t-shirts and gray sweatpants are worn on days that your child has gym.
Important websites:
www.philasd.org
Have a safe and relaxing summer break! Enjoy
Sincerely,
Arnetta Imes, Principal
Erin Snee, Assistant Principal
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You can access the district’s calendar HERE.
School begins at 9:00 AM and dismissal will be at 3:20 PM for students in kindergarten and 3:30 PM for students in grades 1st – 5th.
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· Please be advised that the playground/bench area is off limits until further notice.
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4th Annual Back-to-School Celebration & Bus Tour
The School District of Philadelphia is excited to announce the 4th Annual Back-to-School Celebration & Bus Tour! From July 29 through August 17, the bus will travel across Philly hosting 7 fun-filled Mega-Events. Find the full Bus Tour schedule, latest back-to-school updates, immunization opportunities, and other important information at philasd.org/ringthebell or by calling 215-400-4000.
We hope to see you at one of the bus tour stops, and cannot wait to ring in a new school year this fall.
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School-wide Information:
School officially begins at 9:00 a.m. The gates will open at 9:00 a.m. to begin admission 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. Grades 1 through 5 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.
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 PBIS Norms. Please ensure that you speak with your child about appropriate school behaviors and expectations continuously so that they are prepared to begin 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.
The 2023-2024 UNIFORM Policy will function as follows:
No hoodies may be worn in the school building.
Uniforms:
Khaki uniform pants, skirts or jumpers and a navy blue or white collared uniform shirt. Navy blue or white sweaters can be worn over the uniform shirt during cold weather.
Red t-shirts and gray sweatpants are worn on days that your child has gym.
Important websites:
Lawton Elementary School Website
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Title 1 Parent Information
The 2022-2023 Lawton School Plan is now available for public review. Please provide any feedback here.
If you need to contact your child’s teacher, please send them a message via Class DoJo, Google Classroom, email, or phone call.
Steppers for logging in can be found here and will be provided with chromebooks.
News from Ms. Bender, Lawton School Counselor
Ms Bender’s virtual office hours will be from Monday-Friday between 10 am to 1:00 pm.
She can be reached via email at nbender@philasd.org or by phone at 267-961-3250.
You can also use this form to send her a message.
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).
We are committed to create a safe and nurturing learning environment. Students will achieve academic excellence, positive self-awareness, and social responsibility through exemplary teaching with differentiated and data driven instruction.