The Buzz at Leeds
February 7, 2022
Message from Principal Wenz
Can you believe it is February already? There is a great deal happening in February.
- Just a reminder, we have an early release day on Wednesday, February 9th @11:30 for kindergarten through grade 5 students. Session 1 preschool will be in school. Full day preschool students will be dismissed at 11:20. We will not have Session 2 preschool.
- Our school will be closed for Winter Break from February 21st-25th.
- Additionally, we have had 2 snow days and 1 delayed return day so far this year. At this time, our tentative last day of school for this school year will be Monday, June 27th. Our winter is not over yet and we could have more snow days to make up.
We are looking for volunteers to assist our teachers. See below for more details on how to become a volunteer at Leeds. Our PTO is looking for more volunteers to help with the amazing events, fundraisers, and many other supportive activities that help our school.
Stay safe and be well,
Chris Wenz, Principalru
Leeds PTO
Topic: Leeds PTO Meeting
Time: Feb 8, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86007301926?pwd=dGh3U2d3RlpoRmZPcUhlcCtya1pKQT09
Meeting ID: 860 0730 1926
Passcode: 174873
Please add your child’s teacher name to your screen name. Ex. Jean Monska/Foster
Agenda
Welcome: Do you watch the Super Bowl for the game or the commercials?
Events and Activities
Completed
- T-shirts handed out
Future
- Food Frenzy Fundraiser: February 14th-February 28th
- Book Fair: April 4th-April 18th
- Brick Fundraiser
- Auction Virtual with an in-person celebration at the end: May 1st-May 7th
- Variety Show
- Snow Sculptures
- Staff Appreciation
Ongoing
- Florence Bank Community Choice Grants
- Amazon Smile
5. Teacher’s Report
6. New Business
- Survival Center Drive for toiletries
Adjournment
Upcoming PTO General Meetings
March 8th at 7PM (Meeting solely dedicated to the Auction)
April 5 at 7pm
May 3 at 7pm
June-TBD Officer Elections
VINS - Volunteers in Northampton Schools, Inc.
- Please contact Candy Tauscher.
- Phone: 413 552-9447
- Email:(vinsvolunteer@gmail.com).
- Her office is currently being occupied at Ryan Road, so she is working from home.
- You will need to complete the application form, provide a copy of your current vaccination status and complete a CORI check. Here is a link to the forms. Even if you have been a past volunteer, you cannot volunteer without Candy receiving a copy of your vaccination status. You may NOT provide it to the school, it needs to go directly to Candy. If you have not had a CORI check done before or if it is more than 3 years old, you will need to complete that paperwork. Also, she goes over protocols that must be adhered to. If you contact Candy, she will be able to assist you.
Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee - A Subcommittee of our School Council
The next meeting of the Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee will take place (virtually) on Wednesday, February 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. New folks are always welcome and encouraged to join! Please reach out to leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com for the meeting link, to join our email listserv, or with your questions/ideas. We plan to meet the second Wednesday of every month throughout the year. E&I participation is always completely flexible–you can choose to commit to as much or as little as you’d like.
Sharing a few more resources this week in celebration of Black History Month, for February and beyond:
Common Sense Media’s Celebrate Black Voices resources hub offers an extensive array of media recommendations to celebrate and honor Black culture, stories, and achievements. You’ll find movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, and classroom learning resources for kids of all ages, including a list of short-form, free resources. (free CSM newsletter subscription required).
The Center for Racial Justice in Education has compiled a Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Families, and PBS shares more resources on the theme of “Celebrating Black Leaders,” including exploring Black history through art.
For grown-ups, MasterClass is making this three-part class free during Black History Month. The class, “Black History, Black Freedom and Black Love” is designed to “inform, contextualize and challenge viewers to rethink the notions of race and racism, while reconciling gaps in traditional education about U.S. history and offer tools and techniques to empower change in our own lives. Gain a foundational understanding of the history of white supremacy and discover a path forward through the limitless capacity and resilience of Black love.”
Finally, in honor of Valentine’s Day coming up, here’s a lovely list of suggestions for diverse kids’ books about love in many forms: “couples, families, and friends of different races, sexual orientations, gender orientations, abilities, and ways of showing love.”
Early Bird / Late Bird / LEAP
- Our Februrary Early/Late Bird Form is now closed. If you need assistance, please contact our coordinator, Gabrielle Hollender.
Payments: Pay Online (preferred) or make checks payable to "City of Northampton" There is a new drop down menu to choose Early/Late Bird or LEAP. For those of you who paid prior to the drop down menu, Gabrielle is keeping track of online payments.
*Note: UniPay seems to have an aversion to Visa cards... so please try another card for payment
Please be sure to choose the dates you need for after school care. We have a limited number of staff and may not always be able to accommodate drop ins.
- Late Bird - 2:10-5:15 (Please send your child with a snack from home.)
LEAP
Program Dates: Session 1: February 11 - April 8, 2022
Mondays 2/14, 2/28, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4
Fridays 2/11, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8
You can use the same online payment as Late Bird. There is a drop down menu for LEAP. Online payment instructions: I know some of you had difficulty with our online payment system, so we have created a document with instructions. Here is the link.
If you or you know someone who would like to be a LEAP instructor for our Spring session, please reach out to Gabrielle with more information, (ghollender@northampton-k12.us or 413-587-1530 ext 3659)
BEHAVIOR POLICY: All staff and students will adhere to the Northampton Code of Conduct found at http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/code-of-conduct/
School Culture & Climate Survey
Thank you to everyone who has participated in our surveys. We are still looking for your input and feedback. Please click one of the survey links below to share your family's experience with our school. Your feedback will help us strengthen our partnerships and work on engaging with families. Thank you !
https://forms.gle/i3rBrLfAsx15TNFo7 English
https://forms.gle/vZxsbsTer1XL18F49 Spanish
https://forms.gle/AEPfWedanLQkwSfLA French
https://forms.gle/2GpTTV4XeLppzibJA Swahili
https://forms.gle/sK4Jq3rbfQSwuzQS8 Kinyarwanda
https://forms.gle/QizHD36TeonxXCSC7 Chinese
Kindergarten 2022-2023 Registration
Registration Locations and Dates
Registration Session 1 - Monday February 28th from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Jackson Street School 120 Jackson St, Northampton (413) 587-1510
Registration Session 2 - Wednesday March 2, 2022 from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Leeds Elementary School 20 Florence Street, Leeds (413) 587-1530
Registration Session 3 - Tuesday March 8, 2022 from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: RK Finn Ryan Road School 498 Ryan Rd, Florence (413) 587-1550
Registration Session 4 - Thursday March 10, 2022 from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Bridge Street School 2 Parsons Street, Northampton (413) 587-1460
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Dates
2/7 - LEAP classes postponed to begin next week
2/8 - COVID Testing & Student kits go home
2/8 - Leeds PTO Meeting @7:00pm
2/9 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Half Teacher Work Day
2/9 - Equity & Inclusion Committee Meeting via ZOOM 6:30-8:00
2/11 LEAP Friday classes begin
2/14 LEAP Monday classes begin
2/15 Leeds School Council Meeting @6:15
2/16 COVID Testing & Staff/Student test kits go home
2/18 LEAP Friday Classes begin
2/21 through 2/25 Winter Break - No School
2/28 LEAP Monday classes
2/28 Kindergarten Registration for fall 2022/2023 @Jackson Street School @2:30-5:30
3/1 COVID Testing & Staff/Student test kits go home
3/2 Kindergarten Registration for fall 2022/2023 @Leeds Elementary School @2:30-5:30
3/4 LEAP Friday classes
3/7 LEAP Monday classes
3/8 COVID Testing &I Staff/Student test kits go home
3/8 Kindergarten Registration for fall 2022/2023 @RK Finn Ryan Road School @2:30-5:30
3/10 Kindergarten Registration for fall 2022/2023 @Bridge Street School @2:30-5:30
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Contact us:
(sharondewitt@northampton-k12.us)
Laura Ziomek, Administrative Assistant
Gabrielle Hollender, Early Bird/Late Bird Afterschool Coordinator
(ghollender@northampton-k12.us)
Chris Wenz, Principal
Email: sharondewitt@northampton-k12.us
Website: http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/leeds-elementary-school/
Location: 20 Florence Street, Leeds, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 587-1530