The Buzz at Leeds
Februrary 6, 2023
Message from Principal Wenz
On Friday, February 3rd our kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 students performed a mini Winter Concert under the direction of our Music teacher, Ms. Michaud. Having the families back in the building for this event was simply amazing. The performance was outstanding! We look forward to our grades 3, 4 and 5 students performance on March 24th @9:00am.
February brings many engaging activities for our students. Our trait of the month for February is kindness. Our Bee flag is hanging under our American flag to recognize Bee Kind! Additionally, we would like to recognize Black History month. Thursday, February 9th will be our 100th day of school for students in grades 1-5. Tuesday, February 14th will be the 100th day for our kindergarten classes, as well as Valentine's Day. Our monthly Leeds PTO meeting will be on Thursday, February 16th @6:30pm. We are always looking for more people to assist our PTO board members. Join us on Friday, February 17th, as we embark on our winter vacation celebrating National Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Just a reminder that we will have an early release day this Wednesday, February 8th. Kindergarten through grade 5 will be dismissed at 11:30. Kindergarten through grade 2 will have a bagged lunch or home lunch at school. Our students in grades 3-5 will be able to get a bagged lunch to bring home. We will have session 1 of preschool. Full day preschool students will be dismissed at 11:30. We will not have session 2 of preschool.
We will not have school February 20th-24th for our winter break.
With Kindness,
Chris Wenz, Principal
NPS Caregiver Survey 22-23
Please take the Survey to help us improve!
Northampton Public Schools would love to hear about your family and the relationship you have with the school your child attends.
Your responses will be kept confidential. The information collected in this survey will be aggregated and shared with school administrators and Action Teams without your email and name attached, in order to support strengthening family engagement both across the district and within each school.
After completing the survey, you will be directed to fill it out for additional children if applicable.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Here are the survey links to send to families in your electronic communications
All responses are recorded on a master spreadsheet that then can be aggregated by school. Each survey for a language other than English has their own response spreadsheet.
Caregiver Survey Link - English
Caregiver Survey Link - Spanish
Caregiver Survey Link - Kinyarwanda
Caregiver Survey Link - French
Caregiver Survey Link - Swahili
Caregiver Survey Link - Chinese
Caregiver Survey Link - Burmese
Caregiver Survey Link - Arabic
Caregiver Survey Link - Russian
COVID SNAP benefits are ending March 2, 2023 in Massachusetts
Due to recent action by the federal government, the extra COVID SNAP benefits are ending March 2, 2023 in Massachusetts. Starting in April, you will get only one monthly payment. That is your normal benefit. Get your normal amount on DTA Connect or listen to the information about your case by calling DTA at 877-382-2363.
Reminder: Unused SNAP benefits roll over month to month. Also, change the PIN on your EBT card regularly to protect your benefits!
Visit Mass.gov/ExtraCOVIDSNAP for information and to learn how you can get the most SNAP and save some of it to help after March 2. See flyer below.
Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee
Hello from the Leeds Equity and Inclusion Committee! We are a group of Leeds parents, caregivers, teachers, and staff who work toward creating a school community that honors self-exploration, meaningful relationships across difference, and every person’s dignity and belonging. The E&I Committee is a subcommittee of the Leeds School Council.
Our next monthly meeting will take place virtually on Thursday, February 9, from 7:00-8:30pm. Please email leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com for the Google Meet link.
New folx are warmly welcomed and encouraged to join meetings to get a better sense of what we’re about! E&I participation is completely flexible -- you can choose to commit as much or as little as you’d like. This might mean staying in the loop via our email listserv, attending the occasional meeting or every meeting, initiating or joining existing activities/projects, or some combination.
Find out more about the E&I committee and our past projects on our website! To join the E&I email listserv, receive updates about future meetings, or ask questions/share your ideas, please email: leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com
2023 Youth Performance Festival
Girls on the Run is Back at Leeds!
Registration opens: 2/3/2023
Program Starts: Week of 3/15/2023 Tuesdays & Fridays 2:15-3:45
Program Fee: $5-$160 Sliding Scale / Financial assistance is available to all upon registration
Contact: molly.hoyt@girlsontherun.org
Girls on the Run is an after school program.
Learn more and register today at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org See flyer below.
Winter Wear Collection & Humanitarian Aid
Winter Wear Collection & Humanitarian Aid
Leeds’ 5th-Grade
Community Service Projects continue through February, 2023
Collection Boxes in Leeds’ Lobby
Leeds’ fifth-grade classes are collecting winter wear for those in need. Here are some suggestions: Socks, Thermal Socks, Shoe Covers, Pants, Underwear, Gloves. Children and adult winter wear, new or unused gear welcome. Winter wear will go to the Ukrainian National Home. http://ukrainiannationalhome.org/support-ukraine/ (The Ukrainian diaspora community in Hartford is organizing this effort, sending winter clothes to those in need.)
International Rescue Committee (https://www.rescue.org/) If you prefer to donate money instead, we encourage you to check out this humanitarian organization that helps refugees from around the world.
We will continue to collect Personal Care Items for the Northampton Survival Center. Thank you for November’s collection!!! Many of the Northampton Survival Center’s client families lack basic necessities. The Survival Center gratefully accepts new, un-used, and individually packaged toiletries: deodorant, lotion. soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes (adults and children), toilet paper, conditioner, powder, shaving cream, razors, diapers, lip balm, feminine hygiene items, and shampoo. info@northamptonsurvival.org or check out their Survival Center Website. Northampton Survival Center video.
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Dates
- 2/6 Kindergarten Observation for prospective caregivers (2023-24) @9:00am (please call to register)
2/7 Leeds School Council Meeting @6:15pm
2/7 Parenting without Panic Workshop @7:30 RSVP: bit.ly/ECCpresents
2/8 Early Release Day - Teacher Work Day
2/9 Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee meeting @7:00pm
2/14 Happy Valentine’s Day
2/16 Leeds PTO Meeting @6:30pm
2/20-2/24 Winter Break - No School
3/9 Kindergarten Registration in Leeds Library for 2023-24 (2:30-5:00) Updated!
3/14 Finding Your Community and Building a Connected Life @7:30 RSVP: bit.ly/ECCpresents
4/11 In Our Own Words: Our Family's Experience @7:30 RSVP: bit.ly/ECCpresents
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Contact us:
Gabrielle Hollender, Early Bird/Late Bird Afterschool Coordinator
(ghollender@northampton-k12.us)
Chris Wenz, Principal
Email: sbombard@northampton-k12.us
Website: http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/leeds-elementary-school/
Location: 20 Florence Street, Leeds, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 587-1530