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The Buzz at Leeds
March 21, 2022
Message from Principal Wenz
Happy first days of Spring everyone. March is National Developmental Disability Awareness Month! We would like to raise awareness about the supports and rights of people who have disabilities and celebrate their contributions to our communities and society as a whole! Inclusive practices are at the heart of the Leeds learning community.
The Leeds Community is coming together to support the people of Ukraine. Many families have reached out looking for ways they can help. This Thursday, March 24th we will have a blue and yellow day to visibly show our support. Students are encouraged to wear blue and yellow. Weather permitting, we hope to have a picture of all of our students on the playground. Students will have discussions with their classmates about what it means to be a refugee and the ways in which we can support them from afar. We have several things planned in the upcoming weeks, but to start we have the following planned:
Thursday, March 24th - Wear Blue and Yellow Day
Thursday, March 24th through Friday, April 15th - Supply Collection
Razom for Ukraine is an organization that is collecting mostly needed medical supplies. We have a box at Leeds School and we will also have a box in the community at High Five Books. Here is the link to the supplies that are most needed at this time: List of Needed Supplies - Updated 3/16/22 - Note: Any sharp object items (e.g. scissors, tweezers, etc.) cannot be dropped in the school collection box. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Kira Henninger.
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems (MCAS) for students in grades 3-8 will be taking place in April and May. This year there will be 2 sessions for each subject area. Grades 3 & 4 students will take the English Language Arts and Mathematics sessions, while Grade 5 students will take the English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science sessions. Please see below for dates for each grade level.
Stay safe and be well,
Chris Wenz, Principal
Northampton's Week of the Young Child
Saturday, April 9th at Jackson Street School
9:30-11:30 Rain or Shine
See flyer below
Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee - A Subcommittee of our School Council
The next meeting of the Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee will take place (virtually) on Wednesday, April 13, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. New folks are always welcome and encouraged to join! Please reach out to leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com for the meeting link, to join our email listserv, or with your questions/ideas. We plan to meet the second Wednesday of every month throughout the year. E&I participation is always completely flexible–you can choose to commit to as much or as little as you’d like.
The Leeds PTO will hold a Virtual Book Fair April 4-18. All purchases will benefit Leeds Elementary and local independent children's bookstore, High Five Books. As part of the book fair, you can purchase books to donate to the Leeds library, selecting from a "wishlist" of books that celebrate diversity and inclusion! Stay tuned for more information and links.
This week we’re sharing resources related to gender identity and gender inclusive support:
Gender Spectrum works to create gender-sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens. Their many resources include a helpful overview on Understanding Gender. Gender Spectrum also has a great Facebook page of videos featuring youth, parents, educators, professionals, faith leaders, and others talking about gender inclusivity.
MyPronouns.com offers resources about personal pronouns and why they matter, as well as insight on how to use gender-inclusive language across all aspects of daily life.
Locally-based Translate Gender provides an array of services and resources, including training/professional development, as well as facilitating a number of youth and family programs right here in the area. These programs include a Family & Caregiver Group for adult family members/caregivers of trans and nonbinary children, a Trans Caregivers Group, a Trans Book Club for trans and nonbinary youth, and in-person Youth and Family Gatherings.
Check out this list of books (picture + middle grade) with transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive kids portrayed--and this list that focuses on middle grade titles. Reflection Press is another great source of gender inclusive support, including books, educational materials, free materials, and more.
Lindsay Amer writes, produces, and co-hosts Queer Kid Stuff, an LGBTQ+ educational webseries for all ages that breaks down complexities of gender and sexuality through songs (and Lindsay’s best stuffed friend, Teddy!). Amer also speaks frequently on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in children’s media and education.
Gender Inclusive Classrooms is a project of local teachers Kieran Slattery and Katy Butler, who are dedicated to equipping educators with the tools they need to foster safe, welcoming gender-inclusive classrooms.
Leeds PTO - Volunteers Needed for our Spring Fundraiser!
Volunteers Needed for our Spring Fundraiser!
Our Silent Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year
and we can not do it without your help!
We need volunteers to:
- Help solicit donations
- Donate goods or services
- Create social media posts
- Help plan the end of auction celebration
- Help set-up at the celebration
- Help break-down at the celebration
This does not have to be a big time commitment. It can be as simple as sending out five donation request letters (that we will supply you with), brainstorming with the board on themes and decorations, creating a couple social media posts, etc. If this is something you can do please email Jean at jean@leedspto.org for the link.
COVID Update
COVID Vaccine Clinics in March
We encourage everyone to be vaccinated - and to be up to date with their booster shot.
Walk-in COVID Vaccine March 2022 -- Pfizer (age 5+), Moderna, and J&J
Elks Lodge
17 Spring Street in Florence
Mondays 2-6pm &
Fridays 10am-2pm
and
Thornes Marketplace
150 Main Street in Northampton
Thursdays 2-6pm &
Saturdays* 12-3pm
*March 12, 19, & 26
We are coordinating home visits for COVID vaccine (boosters or first/second doses) to homebound individuals in Hampshire County.
If you are someone or know someone who would require a home visit to receive a dose of COVID vaccine, please use THIS link to send us some basic contact information. A nurse from our team will follow up with a more detailed phone call to gather information about previous vaccine doses and scheduling information.
Again, for home visits, use this link or https://forms.gle/5sH5NzRrcYnqwTNx9
We will follow up with individuals and typically be able to provide a home visit within about a week, sometimes sooner.
Please keep your guard up against COVID.
Katherine E. L. Kelly, MPH, MSN, CNP
(she/her)
Public Health Nurse
City of Northampton Health Department
COVID Vaccine Clinic Information:
https://www.northamptonma.gov/2219/Vaccine-Clinics
Direct office line: 413-587-1216
Mobile (google voice): 413-341-6716
Main Health Dept Line: 413-587-1214
MCAS - Grades 3 through 5 Students
Also, there is a link to our school report card based off of last year's MCAS.
Grade 5
- 4/7 & 4/8 English Language Arts
- 5/3 & 5/4 Science
- 5/17 & 5/18 Mathematics
Grade 4
- 4/5 & 4/6 English Language Arts
- 4/12 & 4/13 Mathematics
Grade 3
- 4/13 & 4/14 English Language Arts
- 5/19 & 5/20 Mathematics
VINS - Volunteers in Northampton Schools, Inc.
- Please contact Candy Tauscher.
- Phone: 413 552-9447
- Email:(vinsvolunteer@gmail.com).
- Her office is currently being occupied at Ryan Road, so she is working from home.
- You will need to complete the application form, provide a copy of your current vaccination status and complete a CORI check. Here is a link to the forms. Even if you have been a past volunteer, you cannot volunteer without Candy receiving a copy of your vaccination status. You may NOT provide it to the school, it needs to go directly to Candy. If you have not had a CORI check done before or if it is more than 3 years old, you will need to complete that paperwork. Also, she goes over protocols that must be adhered to. If you contact Candy, she will be able to assist you.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Dates
3/21 LEAP Monday classes
3/21 Girls on the Run begins (2:10-3:40)
3/22 COVID Testing
3/23 Girls on the Run (2:10-3:40)
3/24 Wear Blue and Yellow to support Ukraine
3/25 Grades 1-5 Report Cards go home
3/25 LEAP Friday classes
3/28 LEAP Monday classes
3/28 Girls on the Run (2:10-3:40)
3/30 Girls on the Run (2:10-3:40)
4/1 LEAP Friday classes
4/4 LEAP Monday classes
4/4 PTO Virtual Book Fair begins and runs through 4/18)
4/5 MCAS Grade 4 ELA
4/5 Leeds PTO meeting @7:00
4/6 MCAS Grade 4 ELA
4/7 MCAS Grade 5 ELA
4/8 MCAS Grade 5 ELA
4/8 LEAP Friday classes
4/9 Northampton's Week of the Young Child @JSS 9:30-11:30 Rain or Shine
4/11 LEAP Monday classes
4/12 Leeds School Council Meeting @6:15
4/13 MCAS Grade 3 ELA
4/13 Leeds Equity & Inclusion Meeting @6:30
4/14 MCAS Grade 3 ELA
4/15 LEAP Friday classes
4/18 Last day for PTO Virutal Book Fair
4/18-4/22 April Break - No School
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Contact us:
(sharondewitt@northampton-k12.us)
Laura Ziomek, Administrative Assistant
Gabrielle Hollender, Early Bird/Late Bird Afterschool Coordinator
(ghollender@northampton-k12.us)
Chris Wenz, Principal
Email: sharondewitt@northampton-k12.us
Website: http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/leeds-elementary-school/
Location: 20 Florence Street, Leeds, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 587-1530