NOVEMBER 1, 2016 - IN THIS ISSUE
DIVERSE BY DESIGN
I am excited to share some updates regarding recent progress with our diversity & inclusion efforts. The school has submitted our formal request to t he Charter School Advisory Board asking to amend our school's charter and implement a weighted lottery for this upcoming school year. We hope to be notified about their decision in the coming weeks, and we will be sure to share related news as soon as we have it.

I was very pleased to see new and familiar faces coming together last week at our first Diversity Committee meeting of the school year. The committee began to tackle some of the questions and needs of our current parents, students, and faculty as they relate to our efforts to intentionally create a more diverse and inclusive school community. We discussed specific actions that our school should start, stop, or change about the way we operate in order to address concerns and meet the needs of our entire community.

Some of the highlights from these discussions include:
  • Planning school events that do not require families to contribute financially;
  • Providing childcare options for evening meetings and/or volunteer opportunities;
  • Finding parking solutions when parents come to the school outside of school hours for meetings or volunteering;
  • Organizing events for families that will increase education & awareness about diversity & inclusion related topics;
  • Researching developmentally appropriate ways to talk to children about race, privilege, & gender; and
  • Evaluating our current school policies and practices to ensure they are inclusive.
As a follow up to this meeting, we will create four subcommittees that will collaborate with our faculty to address some of these needs more strategically. They are: 
  • Admissions & Recruitment: This committee will focus on partnering with organizations to recruit diverse families, as well as finding opportunities to engage with new audiences in the greater Charlotte area.
  • Education & Awareness: This committee will work specifically to plan and create opportunities for families & faculty to learn more about issues related to race, privilege, and gender in our society and discuss the implications for our school community.
  • Inclusive Community Building: This committee will work closely with the PTSO in order to ensure that current and future events planned reflect our desire to be truly inclusive and break down stereotypes about families and people from different backgrounds.
  • School Policy & Practice: This committee will collaborate with Lab school leaders and Board members to review our family handbook, school policies, and daily procedures, evaluate whether they are equitable & inclusive, and if needed, make recommendations for the school to amend as needed.
We have a great group of committee members helping move these ideas forward. But there is still time to get involved! If you would like to help with this important work, p lease use this form to sign up for the subcommittee that interests you most.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Mary Moss Brown
Head of School
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
We know it is confusing for some families when our schedule differs from the CMS calendar, so here is a recap of the schedule for next week.

Nov 8: We have school!! (And, yes, it is Election Day and CMS has a work day.)

Nov 10: We have a half-day. Students will be dismissed (after eating lunch) at noon. Note: Buses will arrive at their stops 3 hours and 45 minutes ahead of their normal schedule. 

Nov 11: School Holiday! No classes.
LOVE AND LOGIC WORKSHOP
Ever wonder what happened to your brain cells since you've had kids?  Do your kids leave you completely speechless? Or argue about things that are absolutely absurd? Most kids have mastered the art of (not-so-subtle) manipulation by utilizing all their natural resources...tears, whiny voices, slamming doors, and disrespect. They earn high marks in never listening the first time you ask them to do something! Do you experience these and other symptoms?

If so...consider A LOVE AND LOGIC® PARENTING WORKSHOP. You'll get personal attention in a small group setting and tools to help make parenting a whole lot easier. You'll learn how to give time-outs, avoid ridiculous arguments, put together consequences that you can stick to, and b uild strong, healthy relationships with your children.

Dates: Four sessions: Nov 15, 29 & Dec 6, 13.
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Location: UNCC Center City (right across the street) Room 805.
Cost: $110

There is still time to sign up.
THIS WEEK'S BLOG POST
Check out some new pictures on our blog...including our volunteers of the week!
OUTERWEAR SPIRIT WEAR
This week only, order Lab School navy fleeces and sweatshirts. Orders forms must be sent in by the end of the day on Friday, November 4.
PTSO NEWS
SHARE THE WARMTH!
This winter, in addition to our Gloves & Socks Drive, we will be collecting new and gently used coats. As the cooler weather sets in, please put aside coats (washed, all sizes) to bring in for our drive, which will begin on December 1 .

SCHOOL DIRECTORY UPDATE            
All NEW families have now been added to the directory. A confirmation has been sent to all NEW families. Please review this information for accuracy. Later this week, when all confirmations have been completed, all families will receive an ACCESS email, giving access to use the directory in full. For any question, please email Nola McClure
TUTORS NEEDED
Make a difference in the life of a CLS student! We are looking for parent and community volunteers to serve as reading and math tutors.
  • Volunteer slots available during school and after school.
  • Free parking and ongoing training provided.
  • 30 or 60 minute weekly slots available.
  • Parent volunteers are invited to use Charlotte Lab School's After School Program, free of charge, for their own Charlotte Lab students during tutoring sessions. 

Please share your talents and help further the academic success of our students. If you are interested, contact PTSO Tutoring Committee Chair Trish Moffatt with any questions at trishmoffatt@yahoo.com or (434)660-8860.

NOW HIRING 
We are looking to fill a new position of School Custodian. This position will be full time and includes benefits. Email a letter of interest to Head of Operations Shelli Merritt, and feel free to forward this job description to others who may be interested.

We are also looking to expand our network of substitute teachers. Please contact Assistant Head of School Vikki-Rose Tunick if you are interested.

UPCOMING EVENTS
LabMoms Night Out - 11/3
Join LabMoms on Nov 3 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Wine Loft at 2201 South Blvd. The Wine Loft will donate 10% of all food and beverage purchases during the evening. Last year, we had such a great turnout that we have decided to make it an annual event. New this year, Erin McDermott Jewelry will join our event and donate 25% of the sales of her products to our school. Erin has been designing jewelry in Charlotte for the past 8 years and her jewelry has been featured in Real Simple Magazine & Southern Living. All of her jewelry is handmade using semi-precious stones -- great to wear everyday or dress up for an evening out on the town.  If you are u nable to make it , feel free to shop online at www.erinmcdermott.com & checkout with the promocode = labschool. You will receive  free shipping and 25%  of the proceeds will still be donated to the Lab school. 

Kids' Brains & Screens Workshop - 11/7
Families Managing Media presents Kids' Brains & Screens on Monday, November 7 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the school. This is a seminar for parents focused on equipping families to successfully manage their childrens' screen use, including facts, tips, and solutions. We will also cover the brain science behind screen use, the developmental impact of screen entertainment on children, and strategies to manage video games, social media, and smartphone misuse and addiction in your children's lives. For more information, check out 
www.familiesmanagingmedia.com. Please email Meegan Whelan if you plan to attend.  This is a free event. 
Leroy Fox Dining Night Out - 11/9
The next Dining Night Out is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 at Leroy Fox (705 S. Sharon Amity Rd., 704-366-3232) from 4:00-11:00 pm. Leroy Fox will donate 10% of sales, so take a break from cooking and enjoy dinner out with Lab friends!
 
Toys & Company Fundraiser - 11/5-11/12
Just in time for the holidays, shop at Toys & Co. (242 S. Sharon Amity Rd.) during the week of November 5-12. Mention that you're shopping to support Charlotte Lab School at checkout, and the school will receive 20% of the accumulated purchases! Remember to promote this to your friends and family!!
STUDENT PORTRAITS
A HUGE thank you to Mandy French for her amazing photography skills. She took all of our student and staff portraits and class pictures, and we can't wait to see them. Keep your eyes open for an email from Mandy French Photography, which will include a link to your proofs and information on how to order prints. Every order includes a free class picture. If you qualify for financial assistance and would like to request a free print, please contact Shelli Merritt. Emails will be sent no later than this Friday. Please contact Mandy French if you do not receive an email or require a hard copy proof.
SNACK DONATIONS - STILL NEEDED
Next time you are at the store, please consider picking up some snacks for our families in need.  We are currently looking for bulk cheerios, granola bars, and other items to replenish our snack supply. All snacks must be nut-free and should be delivered to the front office. 
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Don't forget!
  • No after school on Nov 10 (half day) or 11 (holiday)
Strings, Anyone?
Would your student like to learn to play the Violin? Community School of the Arts is starting group violin lessons at Lab on Fridays after school. The cost is $20 per session (plus CSA registration fee and violin rental).  

Intramural Cross Country for 4th and 5th Grades
We have secured a great coach for this program, and it starts  November 7. We'd love more runners to join us. The cost is $75 for the quarter-long class.  

Please email  afterschool@charlottelabschool.org for more information on either of these classes.
CALENDAR-AT-A-GLANCE
First Week of November Parent/Teacher Conferences Begin
Wed, Nov 2, 2016 CLS Board Meeting 5:45 PM
Thurs, Nov 3 LabMoms Night Out 6:00 PM
Fri, Nov 5-12, 2016 Toys & Co. Fundraiser
Mon, Nov 7, 2016 Kids' Brains & Screens 6:00 PM
Tue, Nov 8, 2016 Election Day
Wed, Nov 9, 2016 Kindergarten Open House 6:30 PM
Wed, Nov 9, 2016 Leroy Fox Dining Night Out 4:00 PM
Thu, Nov 10, 2016 Half Day - Classes End at Noon
Fri, Nov 11, 2016 Veterans Day - HOLIDAY
Tue, Nov 15, 2016 Love & Logic Workship Begins 9:30 AM
Tue, Nov 15, 2016 Walk In Conference Night 4:00 PM
NEWS WORTH REPEATING
Yearbook Cover Contest - There is still time! Artwork is due by Nov 10 to the Art Room in the "Yearbook Cover Contest" box. Additional info was sent home in your child's green folder. Several finalists will be chosen for this year's yearbook. 
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Loving our Lunch Volunteers! If you can help any day from 10:45 am-12:45 pm, your child(ren) will eat free that dayIf your child eats lunch at school, we hope you will consider volunteering regularly for this job. Sign up here.
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The Box Tops race is still going on and we are doing great as a school! Continue to send in your Box Tops, My Coke Rewards and Labels for Education. Every penny counts for our school!   
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Join Yoga in the Park every Thursday at 8:15 am & 9:30 am in First Ward Park. (We are working with UNCC to have an indoor space when the weather doesn't cooperate.) For more info or to RSVP please email Sue Hawes at sue@madebymode.com.
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We still need fun photos of all our students for the yearbook! Please upload your photos from Lab School events to the app ReplayIt. You can download the app from the app store on your smart phone. We are also looking for volunteers for the Y earbook Committee--specifically 3rd and 4th grade. These people will be in charge of collecting information about their grades throughout the year. If you are interested please email Zoe Balsamo at zbalsamo@me.com .

Sign up for text reminders using Remind 101. By subscribing to the Whole School AND your child's grade level, you will receive up-to-date text reminders of need-to-know information. Simply text the correct code to 810-10. Standard text rates do apply.
  • Whole School - @Fk2c2
  • Kindergarten - @2a34d
  • 1st Grade - @8g9ccd
  • 2nd Grade - @48h447
  • 3rd Grade - @hea66
  • 4th Grade - @43gf3d
  • 5th Grade - @4dha6

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Charlotte Lab School
301 E. 9th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

info@charlottelabschool.org

General Info: 704-464-3830

 

Teaching and Learning for the Next Generation