Leverett: School to Home Connection

Happy January, Leverett Families!

Welcome back! We hope you all had a restful and joyful winter break, filled with special moments and time to recharge. As we step into the new year, we’re excited to kick off Semester 2 and continue growing and learning together!

Here are some important dates to keep in mind for the upcoming month:

🍎January 9- Fresh Produce from Appleseed's sent home with students in grades 3 & 4

📅 January 13 – Report Cards Sent Home
🍿 January 17 – Popcorn Day
✏️ January 20 – No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

❤️ January 21 - February 7 – Kids Heart Challenge
🌟 January 23 – Diverse Abilities Day (During the school day for students)

👥 January 28 – PTO Meeting (6:00 PM in Leverett library)

💙 Week of February 3 – School Counselor Appreciation Week
🎭 February 6 – 1st/2nd Grade Musical Performance (6:00 PM in the Leverett Gym)
☕ February 7 – Coffee with Cremo and Fitz (7:30-8:30 in Leverett library)
💌 February 13 – Valentine's Day Parties (2:00-3:00 PM)
🚫 February 14 & 17 – No School for Students

🍿 February 21 – Popcorn Day

🔧 February 27 – Math/Engineering Night at Leverett (5:30-7:00 PM)

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a fantastic second semester filled with growth, joy, and new opportunities. Let’s make 2025 the best yet!

#HEARourROAR

Diversabilities Day is our annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the diverse abilities of individuals with disabilities. It promotes inclusion, celebrates the strengths and talents of people with disabilities, and advocates for accessibility in all areas of life. The day encourages people to challenge stereotypes, dismantle barriers, and create more supportive, equitable communities where everyone’s unique abilities are valued. This will happen during encore rotation on Thursday, January 23rd.

Our 2nd through 4th grade classroom winners participated in the Leverett School-wide Spelling Bee on December 6th. Congratulations to Spelling Bee winner, Charles Sheets. He will go on to the District level Spelling Bee. We are proud of all of our Spelling Bee participants!

Hi Leverett Elementary Families!

Mark your calendars, save those dates because our school's Kids Heart Challenge program is just around the corner and YOU are invited for an exclusive SNEAK PEEK!

Go ahead and jump on our schools KHC Page: Leverett Kids Heart Challenge Page

Sign up and get logged in so you are ready to GO when we kick off our program on Tuesday 1/21!

The Kids Heart Challenge will take place from January 21st through February 7th.

• Student Arrival: 7:25-8:10 AM

• Student Dismissal: 3:10-3:25 PM

• Bus Transportation: Buses will drop off students at the school after 7:25 a.m. If you have any questions regarding your child’s bus information, contact Bus Barn at (479) 444-3095.

• Student ID Tags for Bus Riders: Students who ride a bus will receive an ID badge. Students in K-12 must swipe their ID badge when they get on and off the bus. The card will tell parents/ guardians when the bus is near their stop. Only students with a bus ID tag will be allowed to use bus services. If a student loses their bus ID and needs a new one, the cost is $5.00.

• Car Rider Transportation: Students can be dropped off and picked up in the Lower Garland Street parking lot through the car line. A Leverett staff member will be there to receive them.

• Drop-off begins at 7:25 a.m. and ends at 8:00 a.m.

• Pick-up begins at 3:10 p.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m.

• Please remain in your car at all times. A staff member will escort your child from the vehicle. Please do not let your child out of the car unless you see a staff member.

• If you arrive later than the times listed above, please go to the main office.

• Car Rider Tag: To pick up your child, the Leverett Car Rider Tag must be displayed. If the vehicle does not have a car rider tag, the driver’s license of the person picking up the student(s) must be verified through the Leverett office staff and the student’s emergency card. Thank you for helping our car rider system run safely and smoothly. Your child’s safety is our top priority.

• Walkers: Walkers will be dismissed at the playground gate on Cleveland Street. Please wait for a school staff member to bring your student to you. Make sure to have the walker tag to receive your child. Walkers can be picked up between 3:10 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. Please do not pick up your student as a walker if you are driving a car. Thank you!

• SKC: Students who are signed up for SKC will report to the cafeteria at the end of the school day.

SKC

• The Boys and Girls Club provides after school care for students. If you are interested in signing your child up for SKC, please visit their website for more information.

Changes in Student Transportation: Please notify the main office of any student transportation changes before 1:00 PM. This will ensure that your child goes to the correct location after school. Thank you for your cooperation!

Communication from Leverett Administration: Leverett administration will communicate through Thrillshare, School Status and Bloomz to update you on important information. Please be sure to sign up for alerts.If you need assistance, please contact the main office or your child’s teacher.

School Newsletter: Leverett will publish a monthly electronic newsletter with school information at the beginning of each month. These newsletters will be shared on the school-wide Bloomz app, classroom teachers’ Bloomz app, Thrillshare, the Leverett website, and the Leverett Facebook page.

• Monday Newsletter: Teachers will share a weekly electronic newsletter with the families of their students every Monday through Bloomz.

• Monday Work Folder: Teachers will send home a large envelope on Mondays that contain student work from the previous week. Please sign the back of the envelope and return to school the following day.

• Quarterly Phone Calls: Teachers will call their student’s parents at least once per quarter of the school year to update them on their child’s performance at school.

• If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress at school, please reach out to their teacher.

Are you connected to our school and your child's classroom through the Bloomz app? Receive weekly classroom updates, photos of your student learning, school-wide information, and much more in a user friendly format! Bloomz also offers translation in over 90 different languages! Need to sign up? Read the information below. If you need assistance, please contact the Leverett Main Office!

School Bloomz: Receive notifications, updates, information on events, and monthly School Newsletters!

• Instructions to download Bloomz app:

• Download the Bloomz app.

• Click "Join Bloomz" followed by "Enter Code."

• Enter the code and create your account.

• To connect to your child’s class on Bloomz, click "Add Class/Group" and enter the classroom teacher’s code (provided by the teacher).

Our Leverett Lions shine so bright! Each month, our students focus on a different character trait. Our December Character Trait was Responsibility. In January our students will focus on Respect! Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as their grade level's student of the month!

Kindergarten: Sophie Phillips

First Grade: Ahmad Mazen

Second Grade: Krystal Lucius

Third Grade: Lana Sahib

Fourth Grade: Nicola Kerr

• Music/ Art Teacher: Mrs. Reed (shelley.reed@fayar.net) Bloomz Code: JY4E4V

• P.E. Teacher: Coach Newman (shae.newman@fayar.net) Bloomz Code: GKR9Z7

• Library Teacher/ Innovator’s Workshop Teacher: Mrs. Powers (elizabeth.powers@fayar.net) Bloomz Code: XBJA6G

• Students will participate in guidance lessons provided by the school counselor each month.

• School Counselor: Mrs. Clark (erin.clark@fayar.net)

• Breakfast: 7:25-8:10 AM (in cafeteria)

• Lunch: Students in kindergarten through fourth grade eat lunch in the cafeteria. Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their student. Please check in at the main office. Parents cannot come to the classroom or recess without prior approval by the teacher and administration. Your child’s teacher will share your students lunch time.

• All students will have the option to purchase school breakfast and lunch. If you are interested in applying for free lunch, please complete the form. Students may purchase a lunch or bring their own lunch. Breakfast and lunch will be eaten in the cafeteria. Our staff cannot heat up breakfast or lunch for students.

• School Meal Links:

• Free and Reduced Lunch Application

• School Bucks (Add money to your student’s account)

• Leverett School Breakfast/ Lunch Menu

• Snack: Each grade level has a designated snack time. Please send your child to school with a healthy snack. Teachers greatly appreciate snack donations to share with students who do not have a snack.

• Water Bottles: Send your child to school with a sealable water bottle labeled with their name. All our water fountains have been replaced with bottle-filling stations.

Our Leverett Lions are off to a ROARing good start!

Leverett Lions ROAR everyday in the classroom, in the hallway, on the playground, in the cafeteria, and on the bus! Do you know how to ROAR like a LION? ROAR stands for...

Ready to Learn

Outstanding Friend

Always Respectful

Responsible Citizen

Keep ROARing, Lions!

Space for clubs is limited and will be first come, first serve. Signing up for a club does not guarantee a spot. Students who participate in after school clubs will need a permission slip completed by their parent/guardian and to have someone pick them up at 4:30 PM. Parents/ guardians must be on time for pick up and have their ID with them. An after school snack will be provided.

Clubs at Leverett:

Lego Club

Meets on Thursdays

Teacher: Mrs. McFetridge

Begins Jan. 9th.

(students who are accepted into Lego Club will receive an email by Jan. 7th)

Chess Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Mrs. Davis

New session begins on Jan. 28th)

(click here to sign up. Signing up does not guarantee that your student will be able to attend. You will receive an email by Jan. 21st if your student is accepted into this club)

School Beautification Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Ms. Stewart

Meets on Tuesdays

(will resume in March for same students currently signed up)

Pokemon Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Ms. Stewart

Open to students in K-4

Begins on January 14th

(click here to sign up. Signing up does not guarantee that your student will be able to attend. You will receive an email by Jan. 10th if your student is accepted into this club)

Leadership Club

Meets on Mondays

Grades 3 & 4 only (Only for Students on Leadership Team)

(will resume on Jan. 13th and be held EVERY Monday)

Environmental Literacy Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Mrs. Davis

Hip Hop Dance Club

Meets on Thursdays

Teacher: Mrs. Reed

Grades 3 & 4 only (12 week club)

(click here to sign up. Signing up does not guarantee that your student will be able to attend. You will receive an email by Jan. 17th if your student is accepted into this club. Club begins on Feb. 6th)

Arts and Crafts Club

Meets on Wednesdays

Teacher: Ms. Lyons

Grades K,1, and 2 only

(click here to sign up. Signing up does not guarantee that your student will be able to attend. You will receive an email by Jan. 17th if your student is accepted into this club. Club begins on Feb. 5th)

Are you interested in starting an after school club? Please email Ms. Cremo at christie.cremo@fayar.net. All clubs are required to have a Leverett staff member sponsor and supervise for student safety. Thank you!

Your child's attendance is critical to their success at school. Parents and Guardians, please be sure to submit a note if your child needs to be absent. Notes can be sent to school by student or shared electronically through email Mrs. Thomas (meredith.thomas@fayar.net).

For an absence to be considered excused, you must:

-Provide the Child's Name

-The date(s) of the absence(s)

-Excuse for why they are absent (see list of possible excused absences below)

Notes must be submitted within 5 days of the absence

Possible reasons for absence to be considered excused:

-Note from parent that the child is sick (can be used for first 6 absences per semester)

-Doctor's (Medical/ Mental Health) or Dental note

-Death or illness in immediate family

-Observance of recognized holidays observed by the student's faith

-Student appointment at a government agency

-Participation in FFA, FHA, or 4-H sanctioned activity

Parent written excuses can only be accepted for the first 6 consecutive absences per semester. Once a student has reached 6 absences, parent-written notes can no longer be accepted per attendance policy.

Please review the following actions that will occur upon the following absences:

3 Unexcused Absences: Bloomz note, 3 Day Letter, and/or phone call reminder from school.

5 Unexcused Absences: Phone call, Attendance letter, and attendance plan & meeting (if notes are not received within 5 days)

10 Total absences: Phone call, 10 Day Attendance letter, and attendance plan & meeting. Possible DHS referral.

15+ Total absences: Review of attendance plan and meeting with School Administration and School Social Worker. Possible DHS and/or Truancy Court Referral.

If a student misses 17.5+ days of school they are considered chronically absent for the school year.

Tardies/ Early Release: Having your child arrive at school on time and stay all day is critical to their learning. Our students learn from 8:00 AM-3:10 PM. Excessive tardies and early releases will affect your child's attendance record and may require an attendance plan if deemed necessary by the principal and/or attendance committee.

-If your child arrives between 8:10 to 10:00 they are Tardy for the AM

-If your child arrives between 10:01 and 11:40 AM they are 1/2 day absent for the AM

-If your child leaves school between 11:41 and 1:30 they are 1/2 absent for the PM

-If your child leaves after 1:30 they are Tardy for the PM

Your child's attendance is recorded daily in ESchool. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's attendance, please call the Leverett Main Office at (479) 444-3077. Thank you!

Although we understand that illness occurs, we encourage all students to be present at school as much as possible. Please reach out to administration at any time if you have attendance concerns for your student.

School Wide Attendance Goal: : Leverett Lions Strive for Five or less Absences for the school year!

Our Leverett Lions compete weekly to see which grade level will have the best overall student attendance.

Our goal is for all grades to have 95% or more of their students attend school daily. Each week, we announce the grade level who had the best attendance for the entire school. The grade level with the best attendance will have a blue ribbon by their grade on the attendance bulletin board outside of the courtyard. At the end of the month, the grade level that has the most blue ribbons will receive an incentive. In addition, any grade level who has 95% or higher attendance each week will receive an incentive at the end of the month regardless of the number of blue ribbons they earn.

Grade Level Attendance Winners:

At the end of each month, we will recognize the grade level with the best attendance for the month. This is tracked weekly on the attendance bulletin board across from the courtyard.

Class Attendance Recognition: At the end of each month, the class with the overall best student attendance will receive an attendance reward poster to hang outside of their door, and receive an incentive.

Individual Student Recognition each Quarter:

Students will receive incentives each quarter for maintaining 5 or less absences during the school year.

Happy birthday to our students born in the month of January. A birthday certificate will be sent home with your student this month. We hope you enjoy your day!