

Lemur Weekly Update
Week of February 3rd

Be Safe, Responsible, Respectful and Unified
Principal's Message
Happy Sunday, Lemur Families,
One of the highlights of this week was our 100th Day of School celebration! Although I was off campus for a training that day, staff members sent me pictures and shared highlights throughout the entire day. I wish I could have been here to see the creative activities and outfits in person! Thank you to all the staff, student leaders, and families who helped make this day extra special for our students!
I’d also like to share some exciting news about an upcoming event. On February 24th, we’ll be hosting an assembly called Be the Nice Kid, led by Bryan Skavnak. This engaging and inspiring presentation focuses on the power of kindness and the importance of creating a positive, kind school environment. We’re looking forward to seeing our students learn new ways to be supportive, respectful, and kind to one another, and I encourage you to talk to your child about the message of the assembly afterward. You can find more information about Bryan on his website: Be the Nice Kid
Additionally, we are continuing our work with Project Cornerstone, a wonderful program that helps nurture social-emotional growth and positive character development in our students. Through Project Cornerstone, our school is building a foundation of empathy, respect, and kindness that will benefit our students both in and out of the classroom. It’s been wonderful to see our students practicing the values they learn through this program, and we’re excited to continue strengthening these important skills together. This program wouldn't be possible without our huge group of volunteers - thank you to those of you who make this happen!
Please don't forget about these important deadlines:
- Yearbook Special Pricing - Be sure to order a yearbook by February 7th to get the special pricing of only $15 Visit www.buytheyearbook.com and use school code 723132
- Valentine Grams - . The orders are due Friday, February 7th . Use the Valentine's Day Grams form and send in the orders/money to your child's teacher.
As I reflect on the first 100 days of our school year, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible support, enthusiasm, and collaboration of our entire school community. I’m so thankful for each of you—our dedicated families, hardworking staff, and amazing students who make every day at school a special experience. Thank you for all you do to support our school!
Mrs. Johnsrud
Mark Your Calendars
Monday, February 3rd
- Art Club 1:40pm -2:30pm
- Choir Practice 1:40pm -2:30pm
Tuesday, February 4th
- Musical Practice 2:40pm-3:45pm
Wednesday, February 5th
Thursday, February 6th
- Musical Practice 2:40pm-3:45pm
Friday, February 7th
- Last Day to order Valentine's Day Grams 💕
Upcoming Events
Student Art Display at Lincoln Art Gallery - January 9th -February 23rd
PTO Meeting - February 12th 6:00pm in the library
Be the Nice Kid Assembly - February 24th
Spring Fling Dance - Friday, March 7th 5:00pm -7:00pm
State Testing Window 3rd-5th Grade - May 5th - May 23rd
Student Leadership - Valentine Grams
Send a special Valentine’s treat to your friends for $1 each. Fill the information on the Valentine's Day Grams form. Cut out the Valentine Gram(s). Return the Valentine Gram and money to your child’s teacher in a ziplock bag (not provided). Orders are due Friday, February 7th.
100th Day of School
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
100th Day Celebration
Lemur Spirit Wear
Our PTO has partnered with a local company to bring more spirit wear on campus. Be sure to check out the Fresh Press Ink Lemur Gear Store online. Thank you to Fresh Press Ink and PTO for making Leaman spirit wear more accessible!
🍎 Reminders 🍎
Hello WPUSD Students, Staff and Families,
We are seeing an increase in the use of e-scooters as a mode of transportation to and from school. E-scooters, while convenient, must be operated within the law to ensure the safety of both riders and others. We are partnering with the Lincoln Police Department to help educate our students and families about the laws surrounding e-scooter use. Through this collaboration, we aim to raise awareness, promote safe practices, and ensure everyone understands their role in keeping our community safe.
Under California Vehicle Code 407.5(a), an e-scooter is defined as:
A “motorized scooter” is any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, has either a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding or a seat and footrests in place of the floorboard, and is powered by an electric motor.
The law also places clear restrictions on e-scooter operation under Vehicle Code 21235, including:
Riders are REQUIRED to have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit.
E-scooters cannot be operated on sidewalks, except as may be necessary to enter or leave adjacent property.
No passengers are permitted on an e-scooter.
Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet.
Additionally, California Education Code requires schools to take responsibility for student safety during their travel to and from campus. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in incidents involving e-scooters, some resulting in serious injuries. To address these safety concerns and ensure compliance with the law, e-scooters will no longer be permitted on elementary and middle school campuses starting in January. All high school students riding an e-scooter to or from school must have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we know that e-scooters are a popular gift item and mode of transportation for students. While they can be a fun and practical choice, we ask families to consider these laws and safety guidelines before allowing their use.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep safety at the forefront as we head into the new year.
Sincerely,
Kerry Callahan
WPUSD Superintendent
Congratulations, Leaman Artists!
We are excited to announce that a handful of Leaman Student Artists have been invited to participate in the Lincoln Youth Art Show this year. We encourage our families to view the art pieces which will be displayed at the Art League of Lincoln Gallery.
Dates: January 9th - February 23rd
Location: Art League of Lincoln Gallery: 580 6th Street Lincoln, CA
Come by to support our Lemurs and other local youth artists. Congratulations, again, Lemur Artists!
Visit the Art League of Lincoln website for hours.
Leaman's First Musical - The Lion King
We are thrilled to have our first musical at Leaman this year. A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Bartlett, Mrs. Fosson, and Ms. Van Perre for making this happen. The work has just begun, and they've already put in countless hours into planning, auditions, etc. I was able to catch a quick glimpse of some of the auditions, and wow! We have a talented group of students at Leaman!
Reid Bartlett: rbartlett@wpusd.org
Megan Fosson: mfosson@wpusd.org
Jasmin Van Perre: jvanperre@wpusd.org
Yearbooks - On Sale Now!
Order your yearbook here: www.BuytheYearbook.com and enter our school code - 723132
Student Safety
Safety Protocols -Student safety is a top priority and I've been working closely with our district and site staff to ensure that we have all safety measures in place. Recently, we had schoolwide "hold" drill and made sure that all components of the plan were successful. To learn more about the safety protocols on campus, please take a look at the Standard Response Protocol Handout for Families
Bikes & Scooters - We are so fortunate to live in a neighborhood where students can ride their bikes to school! Families - we need your help to make sure students are following the safety rules while they ride to and from campus. As a reminder, e-scooters are not permitted on elementary or middle school campuses.
Student Chromebook Service Plan
WPUSD is offering a Student Chromebook Service Plan for families to purchase to cover damage or replacement of the student’s Chromebook for the school year. For more information or to register, click here.
Volunteer Information
For questions regarding becoming a volunteer, please reach out to cmeijer@wpusd.org and jhess@wpusd.org
Attendance Corner
What is considered an excused absence?
By law [EC § 48205], excused absences are: illness (fever 100° or more], persistent runny nose (not allergy related), vomiting, diarrhea, medical/dental appointments), death in the family, specific religious reasons, required appearance in court, and exclusion from school for contagious disease.
How do I clear my child's absence with the school?
It is important that you communicate with our front office when your child is absent. There are several ways to clear an absence:
- If your student is absent, you will get an automated attendance text/email via Parent Square. Simply reply to that with the reason of your student's absence.
- If you call before 7:30AM you can leave a message on our attendance line at 916-916-409-2402.
- You can email cmeijer@wpusd.org and jhess@wpusd.org (Please email both of our school clerks)
- If you are unable to do any of the methods above, you can call our school between 7:30-4:00PM an office staff member will answer. Due to the number of incoming phone calls and limited staff we ask for this to be a last resort option.
- It is extremely helpful for the teacher to know about any absences, but communicating directly with your child's teachers does NOT clear an absence.
What can I do if my child needs to be out of school for a length of time?
If you are planning to have your child out of school, please request a Travel Study from our front office. A Travel Study does not replace a teacher's instruction, but it does allow students an opportunity to continue learning while they are not at school.
- Inform the front office of the planned absence as soon as possible. Travel Studies require school notification no later than five school days in advance. We always appreciate ample notice.
- Once the office has been informed, you will receive an emailed copy of the travel study contract to sign electronically.
- Your child's teacher will be notified of the absence and will put together assignments/classwork that will be missed. The work will be given to your child the day before your child's Travel Study begins.
- All work must be submitted the day your child returns to campus.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our front office.
Breakfast & Lunch Information
Did you know that our breakfast and lunch is provided at no cost to students? You can find the menu here: WPUSD Menu All of the items on our menu are clickable and will give you details about the menu items. Several item also include photos of the items being served.
Our campus gates open in the morning at the following times:
- 7:45am - Breakfast - Students who are eating breakfast can entire campus at 7:45am and must go directly to the cafeteria
- 7:55am - Campus is Open to Students - Supervision is provided on campus
Morning Gate Information
Our campus gates open in the morning at the following times:
- 7:45am - Breakfast - Students who are eating breakfast can entire campus at 7:45am and must go directly to the cafeteria
- 7:55am - Campus is Open to Students - Supervision is provided on campus
Early Check Out
When checking students out early from school, it is important to know that we will begin checking your ID to ensure that students are being checked out by someone who is cleared to check the students out. Please be sure to bring your ID with you each time you check your child out early.
Tip: Take a picture of your ID with your phone and mark it as a favorite. We can use a photo of your photo ID to verify your identify.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Our Student Handbook includes many important pieces of information and can be found on school website. Over the past few weeks of school, we've had some real challenges in our drop off/pick up lines that have raised concerns about safety for kids and drivers. Thank you for remembering the the Three Ps of Parking Lot Success!
The Three P's of Parking Lot Success:
- Be Prepared - When dropping your children off in the mornings, please make sure that when you pull up to the curb, your children are ready to get out of the car. Thank you for making sure shoes are on, hugs and kisses are completed before pulling up to the curb, and items are organized for a quick exit.
- Be Patient - The parking lot can be a busy place, and we appreciate you being patient when things aren't moving as smoothly as we'd like.
- Please Park if Necessary - If you know you will need extra time to get your child in or out of the car, please park in a parking spot. Our curbs are for quick loading and and unloading, our hope is to move cars through as quickly as possible.
- Thank you for remembering that our curbs are for drop off and pick up only.
From our Handbook: Students may be dropped off in front of the school along the white curb area (North and West parking lots) which are for drop-off /pick-up only; drivers must remain in their vehicles in these areas. If you are walking your student to school, we ask that you say goodbye to your child at one of our gates. If it is necessary to speak with a staff member, please park your vehicle in one of our parking lots, stop by the office and our office personnel will see if he or she is available.
Ask the School Psychologist
Our district school psychologists will be providing a monthly feature titled, "Ask the School Psychologist" that will be shared in the district and principal newsletters.
October: How Much Screen Time is Too Much?
November/December: Safe & Responsible Social Media Use
January: Online Games & Internet Safety