The month was another busy one at Laureate Park Elementary. We competed, celebrated, inducted, introduced, and dedicated.
Our Longhorn students were busy competing in a variety of challenges this month: STEM challenge, spelling bee, and Level 1 Oration Contest. Three of our students represented Laureate Park Elementary at the Southeast Learning Community STEM challenge. Angelina Chenault took home the gold and is the first place champion! Congratulations to our 2019 Spelling Bee participants! Fifth grade student Olivia Venezia is our 1st place winner and will represent Laureate Park at the OCPS Spelling Bee. Our fifth graders competed in the 5th Grade Level 1 Oration Contest. The classroom finalists delivered powerful speeches about “Challenges Youth Face.” We are proud of our 12 finalists. Congratulations to our 1st place winner, Olivia Venezia.
This month, we also celebrated literacy, our diverse culture, and Black History Month. Our Longhorns celebrated their love of books during Literacy Week with author visits, storytime with the Orange County Library, flashlight reading, buddy reading, and an AR challenge. Our student body celebrated their diverse cultural heritage during Diversity Week by wearing traditional attire from their home countries, learning about different countries, and ending the celebration with a party complete with food from different cultures. For Black History Month, our students researched, read stories and presented information on African American leaders.
In February, Laureate Park Elementary inducted 75 of its 4th and 5th graders into the National Elementary Honor Society. This event celebrated student commitment to the NEHS pillars, which are scholarship, leadership, responsibility and service. Special thanks to Mr. Peter Luu and Ms. Carin Nagy for speaking to our students and families at the induction ceremony. Congratulations to our NEHS members and their families!
This month also saw the introduction of a new program to Laureate Park Elementary: Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students). Our Longhorn Dads are enjoying volunteering in our school and classrooms and making a positive impact on our students.
Finally, the Laureate Park PTA held its formal dedication ceremony for our playground sunshade. There were lots of people to honor and thank for making this important feature of our outside play area a reality. Our students love the new sunshade!
