What We Do

The Lawrence PTO is a volunteer-run, registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of parents, guardians, and teachers dedicated to enhancing the school experience for students, educators, and families at Amos A. Lawrence School. We fund classroom resources, grants, and enrichment programs, and foster community through events, celebrations, and volunteer initiatives. Our mission is to ensure every student and family feels engaged, supported, and connected to the Lawrence community.

Classroom Support and Educator Grants

The PTO has established funds for classroom supplies/equipment (a.k.a. classroom allocations) that will support students and the learning experience.

Recent educator grants have supported:

  • Mathematics picture-book collections for every Kindergarten classroom

  • A student-led Chemistry Magic Show for the sixth grade

  • Virtual visits to Heart Mountain and a guest speaker from the Elie Wiesel Center, connecting literature with history

  • A real-world life-skills experience involving public transportation, budgeting, and nutritious food shopping

  • A reading challenge featuring the Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards

  • Social-emotional learning books addressing empathy, bullying, grief, family change, and learning differences

Classroom Enrichment, Field Trips and Extracurriculars

 

The Lawrence PTO funds enrichment in the classroom and beyond. Our enrichment budget includes funding for classroom experiences, field trips, and extracurriculars such as early-morning sports.

For field trips: $500 is allocated per classroom and may be used for things like bus expenses, admission fees and/or supplies that support the educational experience. (Note that Farm School and the 8th grade experiences have separate budgets.)

Community Building and Support

 

The PTO also sponsors coffees, forums and other community events that are aimed at building and growing connections among our community members.

Supporting one another is also central to the Lawrence community. If you would like to provide assistance, or know a community member who is in need of assistance, please reach out to us. Finally, there is a need-based assistance fund for students; please contact the guidance team for details.

Do you have ideas for educational/student enrichment? We’d love to hear about them! The Lawrence PTO may be able to consider a new proposal for a special project you would like to carry out to enhance the learning community experience at Lawrence. All proposals, regardless of whether there is a funding request, follow the same process outlined the proposal form. If this project is being spearheaded by faculty or staff, the proposal should be submitted as a teacher grant. 

Purpel Scholarship (For Graduating Seniors from BHS)

The Nathan Purpel Scholarship

First awarded in 1993, this scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior at Brookline High School who was also graduated from Lawrence School; a student who has demonstrated generosity of spirit and an abiding respect for the value of human differences and the many ways in which they enrich individual and community lives.

This scholarship was established to recognize Nathan Purpel's long tenure and successful Principalship at Lawrence School. To honor him upon his retirement and thank him for the immeasurable gifts he has given to all.

Application info can be found via the BHS website or here.