Leopard Pride Newsletter
September 2021
Lockwood Mission
We provide a learning community that recognizes all students as capable learners. We promote high standards, expect accountability, and celebrate success. Cooperation, responsibility, and confidence promote our goals of life-long learning and responsible citizenship.
School Information
In This Issue
- Principal Message
- School Dates and Information
- District News
- PACE and PTA Information
Principal's Message
Dear Lockwood Families,
The first 3 days of school have been so wonderful. To see all the students playing at recess, sitting tall and learning in classrooms, and hearing the sound of laughter has filled my heart with so much joy. This is what school is about. This was made possible with the support of so many parent and district volunteers as well as the Lockwood staff and safety patrol. This was definitely an all-hands-on-deck sort of week. It was not without some glitches, but overall was a very successful start to the school year. Thank you, parents, for partnering with us in starting this year off right.
I know these past 18 months has been hard on some; whereas others have flourished. In thinking of wanting all students to flourish and experience success, one way to do this is through creativity. Creativity has been called a key 21st century skill. That means it—along with skills like communication and critical thinking—will help students navigate the increasingly collaborative and information-rich world that awaits them once they leave school. The arts have been shown to boost students’ academic performance, perseverance, self-confidence, and more. Here are strategies for supporting your child’s creativity.
- Cut the screen time. Set limits on TV and iPad time. Try designating a certain time during the week when your entire family will put down cell phones and work on a creative project.
- Embrace mistakes. Children who are afraid of failure are less likely to think creatively. Teach your child that mistakes are opportunities for growth. Ask, “What could you do differently next time?” Be patient with your child—and model patience as he or she learns new skills or tries a new project.
- Encourage curiosity. Don’t squelch kids’ natural curiosity by being frustrated when your child asks lots of questions. Embrace it! Ask, “What if” questions, and encourage your child to use his or her imagination.
- Offer constructive praise... Too much praise can make a child “hooked” on success. Instead of offering general praise (“You’re so smart!”), offer specific feedback that praises your child’s effort or the process he or she used (“You found a great way to paint that scene,” or “I can tell you’ve been practicing.”) Offer non-verbal praise (a hug or a thumbs-up), or implicit encouragement by displaying your child’s work on the refrigerator.
- Step back sometimes. If a child feels constantly watched, he or she may be less likely to try new ideas. Give your child space to play on his or her own. Wait until your child is finished drawing to ask what he or she has made.
- Look for community resources. Check your local library, museum, or community center for art classes or workshops to try new creative skills. Keep an eye out for poster or story contests offered by community organizations, too. Or, try teaming up with a neighbor or friend to host an art playdate. Some projects can be time-consuming or expensive, but working together with other families can help ease the burden.
Working to find your child's creativity will not only foster independence, but will help to build collaboration skills necessary to be successful in all subjects throughout their education.
I would also like to take this time to give a huge thank you to the Lockwood PTA and PACE. These two programs have helped to feed staff during our August days, have provided the amazing volunteers who have helped to launch the school year, and provided ice pops on Friday, September 3rd to the entire school. Also, PTA and PACE were part of the think-tank along with our Sensory teachers, Sarah Rabine and Laura Bentz, and Jill Zosel (parent) in helping to design and bring to life the beautiful sensory pathway running from room 6 to the library. Jill dedicated many, many hours along with other amazing parent and student volunteers. We appreciate them so much! This project will benefit all students. This is what Lockwood does, brings everyone together. So, thank you, Gavin D. and Jessica R. for your leadership and partnerships, they are an essential part of what makes Lockwood such an amazing community for all.
I will leave you all with the following quote, "Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up," Brene Brown. I've seen the bravery in all who have shown up and am both honored and humbled to serve such a community as this. Thank you.
Warmest Regards,
Tamorah Redshaw
Proud Principal
School Dates and Information
IMPORTANT REMINDERS ABOUT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP:
Drop-off and Pick-up:
What a great first week! Thank you all for your ongoing support and patience as we get underway. We understand that getting back into the routine of dropping off and picking up your child can be an adjustment and may not always go as smoothly as we would like.
Here at Lockwood, please know that student safety is our number one priority. We continue to work to make both drop off and pick up more efficient and safe for all. With that in mind, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Just a few reminders about dropping off and picking up your child (ren):
When dropping off your child, please do not arrive at Lockwood before 8:45am. With that said, please understand that we do not start to open car doors to welcome students until 9:10am. This is to ensure that we have adequate adult supervision at the playground for morning recess and that breakfast is ready for those who are choosing to grab a breakfast.
Also, when dropping off your child, please remember that your child should be ready and independently able to climb out of the car when the door is opened for them. Once your child is out, please immediately pull forward to exit campus.
When picking up your child, please do not arrive at Lockwood before 3:45pm. School does not let out until 4:00pm. It is important that we try to not block the intersection of Locus and Lockwood.
When picking up your child, please remember to post the color coded template that indicates the the grade of your youngest child, the name (s) of your child (ren), and the name (s) of their teacher (s).
When picking up your child, remind them to look for your vehicle. Also, for students in kindergarten and 1st grade, have them practice buckling and unbuckling their own seatbelt. When a child is loaded, we need vehicles to immediately pull forward to exit campus.
When picking up your child as a walker, please look for your child. It might be useful to remember the following tips:
Have an item or token you can hold up that is easily identifiable by your child.
Once you have your child, please leave the walker pick-up zone. This allows parents to be seen more easily by our students so that they too can cross and go home.
Morning Drop-Off
For parents walking students to school, please understand that due to safety protocols and guidelines, you must say goodbye to your child at the crosswalk. You will not be able to walk your child onto campus.
When dropping students off in the morning, please use the front loop via Lockwood Road.
Please use our front parking lot when parking to volunteer. The lot on the east side is designated Staff parking and you must have a parking pass to park there.
Student Pick-Up Zones
We utilize 2 pick-up zones for student pick-up:
Front of the School via Lockwood Road is designated for K – 2nd grade students and their older siblings.
Kenmore Middle School via Carter Road is designated for 3rd – 5th grade students that do not have younger siblings. These students walk directly with School Staff to KMS and pick up begins at 4:00pm. Crossing guards and adult supervisors monitor this area.
Student safety is our top priority Please follow these procedures:
Students enter/exit vehicles from the curb side only.
Students stay within the crosswalk. Never cross between cars.
Once your car is loaded, please be patient for cars to move forward.
No cell phone use while driving in the school zones.
Students who will walk Please follow these procedures:
All walkers will line up out front.
Students will then be escorted to the crosswalk in front of the school.
Parents will need to wait on the OPPOSITE side of the street from the school to greet students (only parent volunteers who have completed a health check form are allowed on campus due to safety protocols and guidelines).
Change in After School Plans
Any change in your child’s daily routine must be validated by a note from a parent/guardian. If a note is not possible, please call the office 425.408.5800. Emailing staff is not always reliable due to absences or substitutes.
Sub Nurses for Sue Desrosier:
The Lockwood nurse, Sue Desrosier is out on leave until further notice. Filling in for Nurse Sue are Judy Harkess (jharkess@nsd.org) and Rachel Ogurkow (rogurkow@nsd.org). Nurse Judy will be working Thursday/Friday and Nurse Rachel will be working Mon/Tues. They will alternate Wednesdays. Should you have a medical question or concern around your child, please be sure to reach out to them. You may also call the health room at (425) 408-5806. Please welcome Nurses Judy and Rachel to Lockwood!
Lunch Helpers:
With students eating lunch in the classrooms, we are asking for parent volunteers (especially in K-2nd) to help students get their lunches from the lunchroom and transition back to their classrooms. IF you are able to help out, please fill in this Lunch Volunteer form. We then ask that you please email your child’s teacher directly and let them know you have filled in the form to volunteer to help during lunch. We appreciate your support in ensuring that our students are safe, happy, and fed each day!
There are a few important dates and events you will want to mark on your calendar in preparation for the upcoming months:
District News
District Technology Device Information:
This year, all our students will have devices available to them. All Kindergarten through 1st-grade students will have access to a dedicated iPad in their classroom. All 2nd through 5th-grade students will be assigned a Chromebook that should be taken home and returned each day. Staff will be teaching students how to care for their devices and also be sure they bring their computers back each morning fully charged.
In order for students to receive their device, we need parents/guardians to complete a "Student Device Use agreement." This can be done by clicking HERE. Paper copies are also available in the office.
We are also asking families to return all Northshore devices they currently have. Students may bring the device to their school and turn it into their classroom teacher or parents may drop it off in the school office between 10 am and 3 pm. We are hoping to deploy devices to students between Sept. 7th and the 17th. We must have all devices back to evaluate them before reissuing their new device. We must also have the Student Device Use Agreements forms submitted before we can do so.
Annual NSD Required Forms:
On Friday, Aug. 27th, NSD sent information to families about the annual required forms that are accessible on ParentVUE. Families who wish to submit a Request to Withhold do so on the NSD website or by downloading the PDF, signing it and returning it to Lockwood’s main office. As a reminder, if families wish to complete this form, you must do so no later than Oct. 15th.
Forms will be accepted after the deadline, but the District cannot be responsible for the release of Directory Information if the Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information form is received after the October 15th deadline of the current school year.
Federal law prohibits school districts from releasing information found in student files without parent/guardian permission, except for what is termed Directory Information. The District does not release Directory Information for commercial or fundraising purposes but does release this information when there is a legitimate educational purpose for doing so.
If families completed this form this year on ParentVUE and submitted it to your Lockwood already, no additional action is required by you. We are in the process of updating Synergy with these forms.
Need a Hotspot?:
Before requesting a hotspot, FIRST look into the special programs offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Comcast, and Ziply to provide affordable internet access to homes. These services provide more robust internet access than a hotspot.
Emergency Broadband Benefit program: https://getemergencybroadband.org (recommend starting here)
Comcast Internet Essentials: https://www.internetessentials.com/
Ziply Community Discount Programs: https://ziplyfiber.com/community-discount-programs
If after looking into those programs, you still need a hotspot, please fill in this form: http://go.nsd.org/hotspotrequest.
Once you complete this form, the Lockwood STS, Jennie Gardino, will receive an email notifying her that a hotspot needs to be distributed. Ms. Gardino will contact you to determine how to get the hotspot home. It can be sent home with your child or you can arrange to pick it up at Lockwood.
PACE and PTA Information
Outdoor Education, Parent-Led Mini Units, in STEM and Art, Monthly Field Trips, Weekly Spanish Lessons, Guest Speakers, Family Camping, Parent Volunteers in the Classroom, Cultural Events
Parents Active in Cooperative Education
PACE at Lockwood is a choice enrichment program offered to students in grades 1-5 that provides enriched educational experiences. Want to learn more about PACE? PACE Information Night is October 19, 2021, so mark your calendar. More details to come soon!
Join the Lockwood PTA Today!
The Lockwood PTA is a group of parents, teachers, and community members who work together to provide financial and volunteer support for every child’s education. We organize community events, we fund books in classrooms, we offer grants to teachers, we help keep you informed. And we do the fun stuff too—movies nights and bingo nights, game nights and skate nights. We run after-school clubs. And we get the kids to run during Leopard Laps! We help build community—a place where all kids can thrive.
There is no wrong way be a PTA member. We have volunteers at all levels of engagement. But joining or renewing your membership now means that you support Lockwood PTA’s investment in your child and in every child. Please, renew or join us here.