Extra Curricular Programs
The Laurelhurst PTA financially supports a variety of enrichment programs and services, which are not funded by the Seattle School District. Many of these services and programs would not be possible without the financial support of the school PTA. The PTA relies on the support of parents, staff, friends and the community to ensure these programs and services are available to our student body.
The Science Fair is an annual non-competitive event held each spring. It gives students an opportunity to do a science project at home and present it at the fair. It is a special evening for families to explore science together at Laurelhurst.
The Birthday Books program was started in 1993 as a way to build the library collection. Each year students and their parents are invited to dedicate a Birthday Book to the library. A special Birthday Book nameplate is placed in the book that shows the book was given in celebration of that student’s birthday (or the birthday of anyone she/he chooses) and placed in the library.
The Laurelhurst Chess Club is supported by the Chess Mates Foundation, a local nonprofit group helping schools to organize and run their chess clubs. Chess Club offers three levels – beginning, intermediate and advanced. This is an after-school activity where children learn to play chess, have fun and make new friends and even compete in local chess tournaments. Chess Club begins the last week of September and ends the last week of March.
Classic Books is an informal gathering of students and volunteer adult discussion leaders who meet to discuss great children’s literature. Each grade level group (3rd-5th grade) reads four books and holds a one-hour discussion on each book. Facilitators come to the discussion prepared with exciting, thought-provoking questions on the text. Students come having read the book and ready to share their own ideas. These discussions are based on the Junior Great Books, “Shared Inquiry” model.
One evening a month, the cafeteria is transformed into a playroom with games and activities designed for children (and parents) of all ages. Each game helps children and parents develop skills that improve their math abilities, all while they are having fun! Laurelhurst’s Math Specialist, assisted by parent volunteers, coordinates these programs to explain the games and encourage participation.
Annually in the fall fifth graders at Laurelhurst participate in an outdoor education camp at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island. Students learn about watersheds, salmon, food chains and habitats. Camp instructors lead the students through team building, cooperative and leadership activities. Parent volunteers, staff, and high school counselors accompany the students. Students show off their creativity and theatrical abilities during campfire skits and improvisations.
The Math Olympiad, sponsored by the Washington State Mathematics Council, is a state-level event for fifth through eighth grade students. It is held in various locations across the state in early May. The students participating in the Olympiad work in teams of three or four students at one grade level throughout six events. One of the purposes of the Olympiad is to provide students a special math event during which they work cooperatively throughout the entire event.
During the last week of school the PE teacher sets up a number of fun and team building activities, which allows the entire school to spend an afternoon celebrating the school year through interactive physical education activities.
Each Thursday morning before school, parent volunteers assist students who wish to set up and make deposits into a savings account with Washington Mutual Savings Bank.
Laurelhurst offers before and after school programs that introduce children to Spanish, French and Chinese. The instructors use a variety of enjoyable activities (such as games, songs and poems) to teach vocabulary. Classes begin in October and end in May. World Language is a tuition based program. Scholarships are available.