July 20, 2023
Dear Laredo Families,
Welcome back to another exceptional school year! My name is Jennie Todd and I am the proud principal of Laredo Elementary School. If I have not yet had the chance to meet you, I look forward to it this year. I am a parent myself, as I have two daughters; my oldest will be a senior in high school this year, and my youngest will be a fifth grader. I can understand some of the struggles of parenting during times like these and want to first extend a sincere thank you for all that you are doing to support your students. Though we know it’s important and worth it, the work is sometimes hard. At Laredo, we truly aim to be as supportive to you as we possibly can be. Last year we worked to build community partnerships that can benefit you and your students. This year, we will continue that work, and will be re establishing our Parent Teacher Organization and including that parent group in school decisions. Above all, please know that we will listen. Our ultimate goal is to serve your children in reaching their greatest potential, and we know the value of working alongside you to help them achieve.
Last school year brought definite challenges, and also remarkable success. We were able to launch several initiatives that directly impacted your students:
-
The Newcomer Project: supporting students who are new to our school and the country
-
Laredo Student Ambassadors: where students helped welcome new students to the school and give them a friendly face
-
Playworks: a recess game curriculum to help students play safely and have fun at recess
-
Results Learning: additional tutoring support (will occur during the school day this year)
-
Equity Committee: a committee of teachers committed to increasing equitable practices at Laredo
-
Parent English Classes: Evening classes for parents interested in learning English
-
PRIDE Tickets and the School Store: Incentives for positive academic and social behavior
-
Social Emotional Learning Block: A dedicated time each day for students to learn about their feelings and how to interact with their peers
-
Restorative Conversations: Supported conversations for students who are experiencing conflict with other students or adults
This year, we are excited to introduce an instructional model that means your students will learn to read and write while learning science and social studies! They will also engage in deeper mathematical concepts and reasoning. Your students are brilliant thinkers and will be able to show that in many ways moving forward.
23-24 School Year General Information:
-
We will continue with our soft start this year, meaning students are welcome to come to school beginning at 7:45am. All students will be offered free breakfast each school day.
-
Please ensure that you fill out free/reduced lunch applications, as lunch will no longer be free to every family without that form.
-
Masks are not required at school. Wearing masks is up to individual family choice.
-
Please do not bring or send birthday or holiday treats to school. Celebrating is important, and each teacher will celebrate your child in class. Any treats brought to school will be saved and sent home at the end of the day.
Get Involved!
We are seeking family members of Laredo students to join our PTO and have a greater voice in decisions made for Laredo students. If interested, please contact Adriana Abundio in the office at 303-366-0314.
Welcome back, Laredo community! We are excited to continue working and growing with you.
Sincerely,
Jennie Todd
Principal