JOHN HOPKINS TALENT SEARCH 

Recent ERB/CTP IV standardized test results reflect the high level of achievement of Laurence students.  Over 80% of incoming 5^th and 6^th grade students received a nationally normed score of 96% or higher on the math and/or verbal section of the ERB test to qualify for the “Young Students Talent Search Exam” (SCAT) sponsored by Johns Hopkins University.  We are pleased to share that twelve  students were honored for their exemplary test results on the SCAT, many of whom attended the CTY (Center for Talented Youth) State Awards Ceremony in May 2009.  Having twelve students “represent the L" at this prestigious event is truly a wonderful accomplishment for all.  Of special note, 5^th grader Dylan S. was honored for second place in the state of California for the verbal SCAT score and 5^th grader Lewis F. was honored for first place in the state of California for his verbal SCAT score. In addition, Lewis F. earned the "Top in Country" award for SCAT verbal score, one of only seven fifth graders in the nation to receive this honor.

2009 All Schools Elementary Honors Orchestra at UCLA

Four Laurence students qualified for the 2009 All Schools Elementary Honors Orchestra at UCLA, a collaboration of the city’s finest elementary school music students.

California Student Media Festival

Jordan., a 6th grade student, earned the distinction of being honored as a Grand Prize Winner in the elementary school division of the California Student Media Festival for a film entitled A Day To Remember. This film chronicled the Lowman School visitation in which students with significant physical and emotional disabilities were embraced and welcomed with open arms by their Laurence School 6th grade buddies.

Second Grade Student Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro to Help Feed Hungry Children in Africa

In December 2007, 2nd grade student Keats became the youngest person to ever climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet) in Africa. Keats reached the summit in an effort to raise awareness for the Jane Goodall Institute and the Kids of Kilimanjaro, organizations designed to protect chimpanzees and their habitats and to provide essential nourishment for the hungry children in Africa.

LAURENCE WINS HIGHEST HONORS AT THE WORDMASTERS CHALLENGE!

Two teams of students representing Laurence School recently won highest honors in the WordMasters Challenge.  The WordMasters Challenge is a national language arts competition entered by 230,000 students annually consisting of three separate meets held at interval during the school year.  The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking.  The children are given a list of 25 challenging words (considerably higher than grade level).  Students learn the definitions of these words and then are challenged to use the words to complete analogies, enhancing their critical thinking skills by learning how to think both analytically and metaphorically.
 
Both the fourth grade and the fifth grade finished in the top ten in the first challenge meet!  The fourth grade tied for eighth place in the nation, among 718 school teams (37,000 children) competing at this grade level and in this division! At the same time, the fifth graders tied for seventh in the nation against 729 competing teams (39,000 children)!

Three cheers for the students in both these grade levels and the 4th and 5th grade classroom teachers, Sharon Green, Lonnie Ngo, Fran Goodsite, and Mary Chen who worked so hard to achieve this outstanding result.  They are all, indeed, word masters!