Leverett: School to Home Connection

Happy April, Leverett Families!

Spring is here, and believe it or not—we have just 8 weeks left in the school year! As we begin to wrap up a wonderful year of learning, it’s more important than ever for students to be present and engaged each day. Every moment counts, especially as we approach end-of-year testing from April 14–25.

Please help your child do their best by making sure they arrive on time and well rested on testing days. A full night of sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive mindset go a long way in helping students shine!

We also have a month full of exciting events and celebrations:
📚 Literacy Night – April 2nd, 5:30–7:00 PM
Join us for a fun evening with literacy activities for the whole family and delicious food!

👏 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week – March 31–April 4
Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald, for your leadership and support!

👏 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day – April 9
👏 Librarian Appreciation Day – April 11
☕ Coffee with Cremo & Fitz – April 11, 7:30–8:30 AM
Come chat with school leaders over coffee and conversation!

🚫 No School – April 18

👏 Office Staff Appreciation Day – April 23
🍿 Popcorn Day – April 25

🎣 Fishing Derby – April 25, 10:00–2:00 PM @ Shaw Park
A special outing for grades 3 & 4—a fun way to enjoy the outdoors!

📄 Progress Reports – Sent home on April 28

Let’s make these last 8 weeks count! Thank you for your continued support in helping every Leverett Lion finish the year strong. 💙🦁

#HEARourROAR

On March 12th, Leverett Elementary proudly celebrated its 125th birthday, and what a special day it was! The school was filled with joy, laughter, and Lion pride as former students, staff, and families returned to reconnect with old friends, teachers, and classmates. It was heartwarming to see so many generations of Lions reminiscing about their time at Leverett and sharing stories that have shaped our school’s rich history.

Guests enjoyed a family-style dinner, participated in an oral history activity, and took a walk down memory lane through displays and shared memories.

A huge thank you to the Leverett PTO for organizing such a meaningful and memorable event. Your hard work brought together past, present, and future Lions in the most amazing way. Here’s to 125 years of learning, community, and Lion pride—and many more to come! 💙

Attention all soon to be kindergarten parents for the 2025-2026 school year

We are thrilled to welcome your child to Leverett Elementary School for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! As your child prepares to embark on their kindergarten journey, we want to ensure a smooth transition and provide them with the best start possible. That's why we are excited to announce our Leverett Kindergarten Kickstart event, taking place on Thursday, May 1st at Leverett Elementary School.

The Kindergarten Kickstart is designed to offer your child the opportunity to engage with our dedicated teachers, participate in readiness activities, and undergo assessments to help us better understand their individual needs and strengths. This event will not only help familiarize your child with our school environment but also provide valuable information to ensure they are placed in the appropriate kindergarten class.

To participate in the Kindergarten Kickstart, please complete the kindergarten enrollment forms included with this letter (see flyer). Once completed, kindly contact the Leverett main office to schedule an appointment for the Kickstart program on May 1st. We encourage you to take advantage of this invaluable opportunity to set your child up for success as they begin their educational journey with us.

We look forward to meeting you and your child at the Leverett Kindergarten Kickstart event and are excited to embark on this journey together. Please view the flyer below for more information about the Kindergarten Kickstart. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

• 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!

Over the past 4 weeks, Leverett students have been working hard to model our ROAR expectations—Ready to Learn, Outstanding Friend, Always Respectful, and Responsible Citizen—and it paid off in a big way!

Our goal was to fill 20 compliment charts by March 20th, and not only did our students meet that challenge—they exceeded it! Their positive behavior and teamwork were celebrated on Friday, March 21st with an awesome reward: bounce houses for all to enjoy!

And because we went above and beyond, Ms. Cremo kept her promise and showed up on the final day before break dressed like a baby—diaper, pacifier, and all! 🍼😄

Way to go, Leverett Lions! Keep showing that ROAR spirit—we’re so proud of you! 💙🦁

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 March Character Trait was Courage. In April our students will focus on Perseverance! Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as their grade level's student of the month!

Kindergarten: Ever Brown

First Grade: Alexander Larios

Second Grade: Tony Vo

Third Grade: Jocelyn Quattlebaum

Fourth Grade: McKenzie Franklin

From March 31st to April 4th, we are celebrating Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, and we want to show our gratitude for Mr. Fitz! Mr. Fitz works hard every day to support our students, teachers, and families.

Students and families can show their appreciation by:
✏️ Writing a thank-you note
🎨 Creating a card or drawing
📢 Giving him a big "thank you" in the hallways!

Let’s make this week extra special for Mr. Fitz and show him how much we appreciate everything he does for Leverett Elementary! 🦁💙✨

• 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.

Chess Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Mrs. Davis

Begins on Jan. 28th

School Beautification Club

Meets on Tuesdays

Teacher: Ms. Stewart

Meets on Tuesdays

Leadership Club

Meets on Mondays

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

No Leadership Club on Monday, February 10th

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)

Begins Feb. 6th

Arts and Crafts Club

Meets on Wednesdays

Teacher: Ms. Lyons

Grades K,1, and 2 only

Begins Feb. 5th

Visioning Club

Meets on Thursday

Teacher: Ms. Olivia

Meets on Thursdays

Grades 2-4

Begins 3/31

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 March. A birthday certificate will be sent home with your student this month. We hope you enjoy your day!