Welcome Parents and Students to
LAUREL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and LES PTA 

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Teachers, Staff and the PTA Executive Board would like to welcome you to Laurel Elementary School.  Our school is a Pre-K through sixth grade comprehensive school, with an approximate enrollment of 550 students. 

Laurel Elementary School offers an extensive educational curriculum for each and every one of its students.  To achieve such a curriculum, the school has provided a staff that is dedicated and committed to helping the children meet and succeed their educational needs.  One of many programs that LES provides for our children is Reading Recovery program for selected first-grade children that may need additional reading assistance.  Another program that is offered is Soar to Success.  This program is for grades 2-6.  All of LES classrooms are equipped with computers to provide students with the latest technology, and in addition, the classroom teachers have a laptop computer and LCD projector to assist with their day-to-day instructional programs.  Additional programs offered throughout the year, are Instrumental Band classes and Chorus.  While the band classes are offered to our fourth, fifth and sixth graders, chorus is now being offered to students in grades three through six.  These two programs are a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about the art of singing and music, as well as being a well rounded individual. 

The LES PTA is an active organization that provides support to the school.  Its members are parents, grandparents, teachers, school staff and community members who all share a common desire to help our children succeed.  The PTA provides many additional programs and learning opportunities for our children, such as, our Resident Artist Program and a literary magazine with contributions from students of all levels.  PTA funds provide additional assistance that our school might need, for example, books and magazines for the media center, special assembly programs, flowers and plants to beautify our school, and many more things that help towards providing our children the best education. 

Goals for the 2009-2010 School Year

• Assist LES in maintaining Green School Status
• Promote healthy living
• Maintain our PTA website and continue to communicate through email
• Achieve grants to fund a Resident Artist Program
• Meet our fundraising goal of $5,500.00
• Work towards 100% membership participation
• Maintain a good working relationship with teachers and staff
• Continue to be a voice for every child at LES
• Establish an Action Plan to achieve these goals

Past Accomplishments

• Translate all PTA documents sent home in Spanish
• Facilitate Family Game Night, Pizza Night, Welcome Back Picnic
• Create a website and communicate with parents and teachers via email
• Create good will within the Historic Laurel neighborhood by participating in events such as the Main Street Festival Parade and the Annual Flower Mart
• Awarded a $50,000 grant and raised over $16,000 in cash contributions and over $26,000 in services to build the new playgrounds
• Participated and had voice in Region 5 PTA meetings about redistricting
• Met regularly with local business, political and religious leaders to increase their awareness of LES’ needs
• Met regularly with staff to keep current with basic needs of students and their families
• Worked with local Eagle Scout to coordinate Beautification Day
• Continue to maintain grounds at LES

L.E.S. Faculty & Staff Holiday Gift Ideas.

Click on the tree to view the list.

Information regarding accessing your child's school grades via the PGCPS SchoolMax site:

Previously stated information that Parent Portal Letters would be forthcoming, please not that letters are no longer being generated by SchoolMax.  As she is now heading the Parent Portal Portion of SchoolMax, Ms. Mitchell, Assistant Principal can do a few things to help parents.  Parents can call the school at 301-497-3660 and leave a message for Ms. Mitchell if:

1) They have forgotten their usernames and she will contact them with that information.
2) They received a letter but never logged on and she can provide them with the new access key.
3) Parents can come in and she will set them up with SchoolMax Access.  Call first to set up an appointment.  It can take approximately 10 minutes.