• LeopardWelcome to Lawrence and the 2025-2026 school year! It is an honor and privilege to serve the community as we guide our students to develop the respect, responsibility and resiliency they need to achieve. As I’ve shared before, twenty years as a parent and 25+ years as an educator has confirmed my belief that passionate learning is built on a foundation of compassion. My dedication to this philosophy is at the forefront of my work as an educator. I care deeply about the physical, emotional, and intellectual safety and well-being of every student in our school. Working alongside talented and dedicated staff/teachers over the past year, as well as contact with students/families, affirmed that this is a place that shares this vision. Lawrence is a vibrant community of lifelong learners - students and adult, alike.

    One of the biggest lessons I have learned as an educator is that we must possess strong hearts and minds, but also open ears and eyes. With close to 620 students, over 110 staff/teachers, and well over 1000 adults/caregivers, Lawrence has many stakeholders. Balancing the needs of this many - with diverse and unique needs, is not easy. But, along with my partners in leadership, Dr. Dominique Ferdinand and Mrs. Laura Horst, I will continue to listen, observe and learn from all of you. We will always strive to foster and grow a collaborative environment, where school and home partner in the challenging, yet most rewarding work of raising our children together.

    Part of this commitment includes sharing out a Lawrence School Family Handbook. It is designed to be a comprehensive guide to help navigate the exciting journey of the school year. Within these pages, you will find essential information about our school’s procedures, resources and values. The main sections include: Daily Life/Academic Information (such as drop off/pick up routines and updated Technology/Personal Electronic Devices protocols), Behavioral Expectations and links to PSB’s Code of Conduct, as well as a section full of key state and School Committee policies/links. We believe that a clear understanding of these will help create a positive and productive learning environment. Whether you are a student, parent/caregiver, or staff member, this handbook will provide valuable information about the expectations, resources, and support systems available. We encourage you to read through this handbook and refer back to it throughout the year. It is our hope that this resource will assist your family in making the most of your experience at Lawrence and contribute to a successful school year.

    A strong partnership between families and educators results in an environment conducive for growth and learning. Our partnership with the PTO is vital on so many fronts: they spearhead community events, build partnerships between home and school, champion volunteerism and lead fundraising efforts. Please visit the PTO website to learn more. I’d like to express my gratitude to our PTO leadership for taking on these critical leadership roles. Please support their efforts by getting involved with the PTO in whatever capacity you can.Open communication and a relationship built on trust are essential components to a successful school-parent partnership. I encourage you to establish a positive relationship with your child’s teachers and our Lawrence School community. As Helen Keller so eloquently stated, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

    I look forward to working with you and your child during the 2024-2025 school year!

     

    Sincerely,

    Vanessa Bilello (she/her)

    Principal, Lawrence School

     

    SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: 

    Vanessa Bilello, Principal 
    email: vanessa_bilello@psbma.org

    Dominique Ferdinand, K-2 Assistant Principal
    email: dominique_ferdinand@psbma.org

    Laura Horst, 3-5 Assistant Principal
    email: laura_horst@psbma.org