Welcome to Lawrence Together, your community podcast for Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Today's episode covers news and updates from the Lawrence Township Public Schools QuickNews, dated October 1st, twenty twenty six. Let's get started.
We begin with two observances. September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the newsletter shares a link to some great resources. October is also Bullying Prevention Month.
Here are the important dates the district is highlighting. Tomorrow, October 2nd, is the Lawrence High School Homecoming Football Game. On Saturday, October 3rd, it's the Lawrence High School Homecoming Dance, from seven to ten in the evening. On October 12th, there's a Family Workshop for elementary families on mindful screen use, and we'll share more about that in a moment. And on October 14th, students have early dismissal for staff professional development, and the Board of Education meets that day as well.
Now, let's turn to news from around the schools.
On Friday, September 18th, Lawrence High School students headed to the stadium track and turf field during their Resource Period for the annual Club Fair. With more than fifty tables featuring clubs and activities, students had plenty of chances to explore their interests, from science clubs to debate teams to environmental and charity work. Students also had time to unwind, play sports, walk the track, and enjoy being together as a school community. The district thanks the club advisors and volunteers who shared their time and enthusiasm.
Lawrence High School students also recently took part in Challenge Day, an experience designed to build connection, empathy, and understanding. Students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, listen to one another, and share personal experiences. Through activities and conversations, they discovered the common experiences that connect us, and learned to see beyond labels and recognize the person behind them. The day reinforced the importance of kindness, respect, and belonging, and was a reminder that while we all have different stories, we have much more in common than we realize.
Over in the elementary schools, students celebrated International Dot Day by wearing dots and learning about the story behind it. The day was inspired by the beloved children's book The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. It follows a student named Vashti, who believes she cannot draw until her teacher encourages her to simply make a mark and see where it takes her. Students talked about how one small idea, one brave attempt, or one simple mark can be the beginning of something amazing.
Tomorrow, October 2nd, is National Custodian Appreciation Day, and the district is shining a light on the people behind the scenes. Across all seven schools, custodial teams make sure buildings are clean, safe, and welcoming. They arrive early to prepare for the day, set up for events, respond to unexpected messes, and keep buildings and grounds looking their best, with work that continues long after the last bell rings.
At Lawrence High School, the team includes Head Custodian Chris Hernandez, along with Sam Yammine, Martha Pereira, Margaret Adu, Jose Arevalo, Vinny Brigida, Nicolle Corrielan, Chad Hooper, Odnel Louisjeune, Shawn McLaughlin, Joe Oschmyanec, Juan Reyes, and Teddy Warwick. James Sharp is Head Custodian at Lawrence Middle School, and William Perez serves in that role at Lawrence Intermediate School. The head custodians at the elementary schools are William Pamphile at Ben Franklin, Claude Amisial at Slackwood, Carlos Arevalo-Romero at Eldridge Park, and Gilder Ordonez at Lawrence Elementary School. Matt Connolly is the Custodial and Maintenance Supervisor, and Wilson Quintero is the district's Director of Facilities. To all of them, thank you for the care, pride, and hard work you bring to our schools every single day.
Now for upcoming events and fundraisers.
On Monday, October 12th, from six to seven thirty in the evening, parents and guardians of elementary school students are invited to a Family Workshop in the Lawrence High School Auditorium. Doors open at five thirty, and childcare with pizza will be provided. The featured speaker is Nina Schroder, a licensed mental health professional with more than twenty years of experience focused on the impact of addictive digital technologies on the mental health of young people. You'll learn how too much screen time can affect kids, ways to build healthy screen habits, and how families and communities can work together. The sign-up link is in the newsletter.
Lawrence Township Community Day is almost here. Join your friends and family at Village Park this Saturday, October 3rd, from one to five in the afternoon for great food, live music, free activities, and local vendors. The flyer mentions a game truck, face painting, a hula hoop session, inflatables, and a presentation at three o'clock, plus a community concert band at one o'clock.
The Lawrence High School Cardinal Thrift Sale has one date left, Saturday, October 10th, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon in the Lawrence High School Cafeteria. Entry is free, and all items are one to five dollars. Between two and three, you can fill a bag for ten dollars. Proceeds benefit the Lawrence High School Class of twenty twenty seven and Project Graduation, and clothing donations are being accepted in the high school main entrance vestibule.
Vendors are wanted for a Craft Fair on Saturday, November 21st, from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon, in the Lawrence High School Cafeteria. Vendor registration is only thirty dollars, and the newsletter has a sign-up link.
And save the date for the Lawrence Township Education Foundation's fifteenth annual Handbag Bingo, on Friday, November 13th, at the West Trenton Ballroom. Tickets go on sale in October. To be the first to hear, sign up for the newsletter at L T E F N J dot org slash newsletter.
Next, some community programs.
The Healthy Kids Running Series meets Sundays starting September 27th at Lawrence Middle School for five weeks of running, fitness, and community. Registration is online only. Runners who sign up for the full series receive a t-shirt, and everyone gets a medal on Week Five.
Girls on the Run is back this fall. The program offers a welcoming environment led by trained volunteer coaches, with a curriculum designed to build confidence, empathy, and connection. The Lawrence team meets Mondays and Thursdays from four thirty to five forty-five in the afternoon, and the season runs September 24th through November 16th. Registration is open now at girls on the run N J dot org.
Lawrenceville Main Street is looking for volunteers to help with its Fall Arts Festival, and the flyer lists October 9th and 10th. The work is fun and social, and proof of service hours is provided. Students in grades seven and up are welcome, and the sign-up link is in the newsletter.
The tenth annual Meadows Miler, a five K and ten K, takes place Saturday, October 24th, at Rosedale Park in Pennington. It benefits the Princeton Child Development Institute, which empowers children and adults with autism, and the course is certified by USA Track and Field New Jersey.
Young Rembrandts is offering drawing classes for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, on Fridays from five to six in the evening, starting October 16th, at The Community Well in Lawrenceville. Students will draw characters, patterns, and a realistic pizza, and the eight week session is one hundred seventy four dollars.
Science Saturdays invites Trenton-area youth in grades four through seven to explore science through hands-on activities, presented by Bristol Myers Squibb and four H. There are six Saturday sessions from October through March. It's free, but space is limited to the first fifty youth who register, and participants must attend all six sessions.
Also, ManaBadi offers weekly Telugu language classes for children every Sunday from September through May in the Greater Princeton area.
Looking a bit further ahead, A Dolly Parton Candlelight Experience comes to the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, at 2688 Lawrenceville Road, on Saturday, November 7th. There are two sittings, from six to seven and from eight to nine in the evening, with doors opening at five fifteen and seven thirty. The music is a classical take on Dolly Parton, and seating is first come, first served within your ticketed zone.
Finally, a few dates on the district calendar. On October 2nd, Lawrence Middle School holds its House Relays at one fifteen in the afternoon. Lawrence Middle School's Week of Respect runs October 5th through 9th, with Digital Safety Assembly on October 8th and Be a Cardinal Day on October 9th. The middle school Homework Club begins October 6th, and Lawrence Elementary School student photos are that morning. Lawrence Intermediate School Shines Day is October 8th, with October 9th as the rain date. On October 13th, it's picture retakes at the middle school and student pictures at Ben Franklin Elementary School. And as a reminder, October 14th is early dismissal for students.
Missed something on the district's television channel? Recordings of past events are available on the Lawrence Township Public Schools Rewind YouTube channel.
That's all for this edition of Lawrence Together. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update from our community. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.