Lawrence E-mail Addresses: We are pleased to report that Lawrence employees now have new (and easy to remember!) e-mail addresses. All e-mail addresses now end in @lawrenceschool.org. The beginning of the address is still the staff member's first initial and last name. So, for example, Lou Salza's e-mail is lsalza@lawrenceschool.org. Our old exchange (@lawrence.pvt.k12.oh.us) will still work for the time being, but we encourage you to update your address books.  Our apologies to anyone who may have had trouble sending e-mails to a Lawrence staff member during this transition. We believe the problem has been remedied and look forward to our continued communications with you!

Dress Down Day: All students who contribute to the class baskets for the Benefit Auction will receive a Dress Down Day on Friday, Feb. 22. Students may bring in contributions any time up to (and including) the 22nd in order to participate.  Many thanks to the many families who have sent in donations! These generous contributions will go towards high tech silent auction items including a Wii, an iPhone and a GPS System. For questions, contact Jayne Eiben via e-mail or at 440 832-7828.

Middle School Science Fair: Congratulations to the 46 8th graders who participated in this year's Science Fair. Students had their projects judged by a Lawrence science teachers and administrators, and the following students were selected to showcase at the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair at CSU on March 11: Tim C., Brittany T., Nikko W., Justin B., Rebecca C., Dan R., Paul Z., and Raven B. "Best Backboard" honors went to Jessica B., John B., Brittany T., and Dan S. "Best Presentation" was awarded to Raven B., Nikko W., Jacob D., and Lauren M. Congratulations to all!

Lower School Book Fair: The Lower School Book Fair takes place the week of March 10-14. Parent volunteers are needed on those days, as well as for set-up on Friday, March 7. If you are able to help, please contact Mrs. Karen McKeon via email or at 440-832-7841. 

Free Parent Tech Classes: Join us on Thursday, Feb. 21 for a free parent technology course - MS Excel Advanced, from 4-5:30 pm in Room 303 at the Lower School. This course will cover advanced features of Microsoft Excel including advanced formatting, formulas, merging cells, creating graphs and creating templates. Parents, staff and friends of the school are invited to attend. For questions, contact Sally Garza via e-mail or at 440-832-7840. To see the complete list of free courses, click here.

Lifesavers Presentation: On Wednesday, Feb. 27, please join us for an evening with Bob Schuppel of The Family Center by the Falls. As a therapist who works extensively with adolescents and their families, Bob will present a special program on the topic "Helping Parents Develop and Enforce Age and Developmentally Appropriate Rules, Expectations and Consequences -- both Positive and Negative."  Bob is an excellent resource to teens, families and schools and we hope you will be able to join us for this special evening. Lawrence families (Upper and Lower) are welcome, as are friends and community guests. We will meet at 7 p.m. in the Garfield Theatre at the Upper School. For questions or to RSVP, contact Mr. Jason Culp.

  HEAD NOTES

Several weeks ago I met with senior Mya Gonick to discuss some questions she had regarding her transition to post secondary programs or college next year.  While Mya was clearly a bit nervous she was also very clear about who she was, where she had been, where she was now and what might lie ahead in terms of challenges and opportunities.  I asked her to share her feelings about this moment in her life with the hope that her feelings would resonate with the feelings of many others in our community.  I welcome Mya to this space, and your comments and reactions to this topic.

Lou Salza

Head of School

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Mr. Salza's recent columns in the Lawrence Loop have really hit home. Let me explain. In 121 days I will be graduating from Lawrence School. I've been at Lawrence for almost 1400 days (nearly 6 years, since 6th grade). Like a lot of other Lawrence students, I arrived here unsure that I could learn. One thing I knew right from the start was that learning certainly was not easy for me. Lawrence has helped me unlock some of the mystery of how I learn.

As I look to my future I can certainly say I've come a long way. But looking ahead, to the day after graduation, is giving me that same pit-in-my-stomach feeling I had when I first arrived at Lawrence. I've lost some good sleep. I've gotten into arguments with my parents. I've even had my dog Buddy walk away from me after lecturing him for 10 minutes about my future. Will anyone really care about me - after Lawrence?

When you are at Lawrence it is like being part of a big family. It is like a big family holiday meal. Everyone knows everyone else's stories. We have heard it all before. Everyone has basic respect for one another -  even if you don't really like your Aunt Mary. Lawrence is a place where you can be you. We learn, sometimes the hard way, that no one should pass judgment on anyone else.

We also have learned a large number of survival skills. I'm just not sure that those skills will work outside of Lawrence. We learn how to self-advocate at Lawrence. What happens if my college professor doesn't appreciate my self-advocacy? 

I think, in the end, that what makes Lawrence special is that I have come to understand that Lawrence is safe. Stepping outside into the big world, outside of Sagamore Hills, is making me more than nervous. I am pretty scared about the day after graduation.

Here is how I am preparing myself.  I know - and I am counting on - always having "the Lawrence family".  Today our teachers don't like us using our cell phones to IM each other. The good news after graduation is that we can keep in touch with each other via IM and it will be OK.  All of us who are graduating know that when we leave Lawrence there will be challenges ahead. But Lawrence has taught us how each of us can succeed when we face different kinds of challenges. We can carry what we know with us. We can also carry the knowledge of how we have succeeded - whether we go to college, take a job, or simply take time to find ourselves.

One thing I am pretty sure of (that really makes me nervous) is that we are not likely to have college teachers like our dedicated teachers at Lawrence. Our teachers really are amazing. I have learned so much from them. Their patience with all of us is remarkable. Could anyone have that kind of attitude anywhere else but Lawrence? The teachers at Lawrence are like your friends. I feel really connected to them. I care for them and I know they care for me. That's pretty special. 

But the next step in our lives will produce its own special opportunities. I'm just not quite sure what those will be.

And so what's it to you if I am a bit nervous?

Nervous? Me? Well, of course I'm nervous. If you are not nervous during a big transition you probably never will be.

While I know that Lawrence School will always be there for me, the class of 2008 is ready to take on the next challenge... because of the magic of Lawrence School. I would not want it any other way.

Mya Gonick
Class of 2008

Did this week's Head Notes column inspire you, puzzle you, or otherwise stir a response you would like to share? Let Lou know how you feel!  He welcomes all comments and correspondence via e-mail or phone (440-832-7820).