What does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion look like in practice at Laurence School? The stories below will give you an inside look!
Prior to Spring Break, 5th grade enjoyed a presentation from Malini Raj, Head of Strategy for Multicultural Community Banking at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. She shared life lessons, how she overcame challenges and gave some advice for our future leaders.
In honor of Cesar Chavez Day on March 31st and as part of their global education study of Mexico, our 4th grade students learned about civil rights and labor activist Cesar Chavez. Students wrote their own rap songs about civil rights and what it means to them. Click "Read More" to watch a video of their songs!
Women's History Month has been front and center in all of our classrooms this month. Last week we shared how one of our 4th grade classes integrated women's history into a persuasive writing lesson, and this week we are sharing more stories from Kindergarten and 5th Grade!
In correlation with our Gold Rush unit and Women's History Month, students read and learned about Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, otherwise known as "One-Eyed Charley." Charley served as the first woman stagecoach driver during the 1850's. Orphaned as a child, she disguised herself as a man to make a living. After reading about her life, the students wrote persuasive paragraphs discussing whether Charley was right or wrong to vote as a woman before it was legal. Click on "Read More" to read some of our students' arguments.
March is Gender Equality Month -- the inspiration for this month's school-wide read aloud. Our classrooms are also focusing on Women's History Month this March, so be on the lookout for more about that on social media and in the Backpack News later this month!
Laurence once again celebrated Read Across America on March 2nd by sharing stories that truly reflect "reading across America," highlighting multiple perspectives and cultures. Mystery readers visited classrooms virtually to read some wonderful titles from our library to our students!
Students in 3rd through 6th grade had the pleasure of visiting with Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine. He was one of the nine Black students who enrolled at Little Rock Central High School, a formerly all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Click on "Read More" for student reflections on this incredible visit.
In conjunction with Black History Month and our American Heroes unit in Social Studies, 2nd graders are doing an author and illustrator study of the award-winning Pinkney Family with an emphasis on Jerry Pinkney.
Fifth grade is very excited to announce a partnership with our new sister school, Engilang'et Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania. Click on "Read More" to learn about this new school and watch some of the video messages our new friends from Engilang'et have sent our students.
This year, we are adding a new dimension to our celebration of Black History Month. In addition to school-led classroom activities, members of our Parent Association DEI/Global Garden Committee have created a new community-wide component, which will help our Laurence community honor Black history using technology in a fun and interactive new way.