Leverett: School to Home Connection
May 2024 Edition
What's ROARING at Leverett?
๐ Celebrating an Incredible School Year at Leverett Elementary! ๐
Dear Leverett Elementary Families,
As we approach the end of another amazing school year, we are thrilled to celebrate the many achievements and memories we've made together at Leverett Elementary School! Please mark your calendars for these important dates:
- May 7th: Join us for Diverse Abilities Night at Leverett, where we celebrate the unique talents and abilities of all our students.
- May 8th: Get ready to pedal your way to school on Bike to School Day, promoting health and sustainability.
- May 21st: Don't miss the Leverett Art Show and Choir Performance, showcasing the creativity and musical talents of our students.
- May 22nd: Get ready for a day of fun and games at Field Day, where students will participate in exciting outdoor activities.
- May 23rd: Join us for End of Year Celebration Classroom Parties, a time for students to come together with their classmates and teachers to reflect on the school year and enjoy some well-deserved fun.
- May 24th: It's the Last Day of School and Talent Show! Join us as we bid farewell to another wonderful school year with a talent-filled extravaganza.
We are incredibly proud of all that our students have accomplished this year, and we look forward to celebrating their successes together as a school family. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education journey.
Warm regards,
Christie Cremo
Leverett Elementary Principal
#HEARourROAR
Here are events that will take place at Leverett this month:
May 3: Book Hogs Field Trip (9:45-12:15 PM)
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7: Diverse Abilities Night at Leverett (5:30-7:00 PM)
May 8: Bike to School Day
May 8: Nurse Appreciation Day
May 9: Kindergarten Kickstart (8:30-4:30) @Leverett (see info below)
May 10: 4th Grade Track Meet (@track by Ramay)
May 13: Fourth Grade Middle School Visits
May 13: Rising 5th Grade Night (6:00 PM)
May 14: FHS Senior Visit at Leverett
May 14: K Musical & Promotion Ceremony @6:00 PM in Leverett Gym
May 15: 4th Grade Moving On Up Promotion Celebration (see info below)
May 17: 4th Grade Link Up Concert
May 17: Talent Show Try Outs
May 17: PreK Promotion Celebration (1:00-2:00 PM)
May 18: Speech Pathologist Appreciation Day
May 20: Attendance Strive for 5 Field Trip (Amazeum 9:15-2:15 PM)
May 21: Leverett Art Show & Choir Performance (see flyer below)
May 22: Field Day
May 23: Class Celebrations (see info below)
May 24: Leverett Talent Show (see info below)
May 24:Last Day of School: Report Cards sent home with students
๐ตThird Grade Musical is a SUCCESS๐ถ
๐ Gear Up with Leverett Elementary Swag! ๐
Show your school spirit and support Leverett Elementary with our exclusive PTO Swag Store! From trendy t-shirts to cozy sweatshirts, stylish water bottles to fun stickers and sunglasses, we've got everything you need to rock your Leverett pride in style.
Plus, when you shop at our PTO Swag Store, a small portion of the proceeds will be donated back to Leverett Elementary School, helping to fund important programs and initiatives that benefit our students and teachers.
The store will be open all summer long, so you can stock up on your favorite Leverett gear whenever you like! And don't worry about picking up your purchases โ all orders will be conveniently mailed directly to your address.
Don't miss out on the chance to snag some awesome gear and give back to our school community at the same time! Visit the PTO Swag Store today and show your Leverett pride wherever you go.
Happy shopping!
S'mores Solar Oven Project
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR
We have some important updates about changes that are coming to our Transportation Department. We are finishing a complete upgrade and overhaul of our Transportation Department software programs that will result in:
more efficient routes,
more accurate route and passenger information,
Bus stop location adjustments,
better and more targeted communication to parents, and
Fewer or (hopefully) the elimination of the need to delay routes.
It's no secret that most school districts across our state and our country are struggling to be fully staffed within their transportation departments. Fayetteville Public Schools has not been exempt from these challenges. Thus, we have been exploring ways to improve processes, and ultimately, consistency for families. With this in mind, the district will be making some changes to its processes for next school year in an effort to be as efficient as we can be.
Starting this spring, we will be instituting an annual bus transportation sign up window. Within the next day or two, parents will receive an email with an access code and a link to the online form to register their children to ride the bus for the 2024-25 school year. Parents should complete the form for each of their children who will need bus transportation. We hope you will complete the form prior to the summer break, but the window to sign up for bus transportation will be open through the end of June. If you miss the sign up window, you can still request transportation, but your childโs ability to ride the bus may be delayed until they can be appropriately assigned.
We also expect to establish parent responsibility zones for each school attendance area. A parent responsibility zone is a portion of the attendance zone that is relatively close to the designated school or is a neighborhood with enhanced sidewalks and trails allowing a specified neighborhood to more easily walk or cycle to school. The district is partnering with an outside entity to help assess which areas would work well for this type of designation. We expect a full report in May, at which time a final decision will be made regarding the implementation of parent responsibility zones.
WHY THE CHANGES ARE NEEDED:
Currently, parents are not required to sign up their child to ride the school bus. Any child who gets to any bus stop may ride the school bus. This model creates scenarios in which the bus driver does not have complete and accurate information on which students are riding their bus on any given day. In addition, it limits the district in its ability to create the most efficient routes.
Having parents of students who ride the bus provide accurate information on where they live, the school their child attends, and the days that child rides the school bus will greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of our bus routes.
While our bus routes have been tweaked somewhat each year, this will be the first major review and reconfiguration in several years.
New technology on our buses will allow both the driver and our transportation department office to have real-time information on each route, the location of each bus, and the names of each student on board.
We are confident these changes will allow us to better serve our students who ride our buses and their families. We have also made a video that highlights these changes: https://youtu.be/HOFOZfa5PBo
Be watching for the login email! Please feel free to reach out to your building principal if you have any issues. We appreciate your help as we work to improve the efficiency and reliability of our daily bus services. And, most importantly, thank you for entrusting us with the care and education of your child.
Transportation Registration
Parents and Guardians,
Please complete the transportation registration as soon as possible so that we can gather information about how students will come to and from school each day. Even if your child does not ride the bus, please complete the form so that we will have this information. We would like to have this information gathered before the end of the school year so that we will be able to create bus routes over the summer and share this information with families in August before school starts. If you are planning to move, please make sure that your information reflects where your child will reside for the 2024-2025 school year. Parents and guardians received a message through Thrillshare on Tuesday, April 30th. This email contains the email address and access code that they will need to use to log into the form, along with instructions on what information is needed in each field. Parents should complete the form for each of their children.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the Leverett main office.
๐จField Trip Fun๐ญ
Leverett Field Day
Hello Leverett parents and guardians!
The end of the school year is approaching, as is our annual field day. Field day is a day filled with fun and exciting activities for all of our students to enjoy. As usual, we have rented an inflatable obstacle course and dunk tank to go along with our other fun stations we have planned. Pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade will be rotating through these stations in the morning, with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade rotating in the afternoon. We are looking for volunteers to help run stations, set up, clean up, etc. If you have any questions please email Chelsea Berry at chelsea.berry@fayar.net and click the button below to sign up!
Date: Wednesday, May 22nd
Times:
PK-1:8:30-11:30
2-4:12:00-2:00
Camp Explore this Summer
Camp Explore is a tuition-based summer camp, designed around student interests, and taught by Fayetteville Public Schools licensed teachers.
Week 1 camps will be July 15-19
Week 2 camps will be July 22-26
2 Week camps are July 15-26
All camps are 8:30-11:30 a.m. and are located at John L Colbert Middle School.
Camps are first come, first serve for registration. Students will be placed on a waitlist once each camp reaches capacity. An email confirmation and invoice will be sent to the provided address with 2 weeks being allowed for payment. If payment is not received, registration will be canceled and the spot will go to the next student on the waitlist.
Not all camps are guaranteed to occur. A notice and refund will be provided if a camp does not occur due to lack of interest.
Please visit the Camp Explore Catalog for a full list of camps available, cost of camps, and dates available.
Student Leaders show Support for End of Year Testing!
Kindergarten Students Learn about Excavators
Leverett Elementary School Kindergarten students have been learning about excavators in science while working on a writing project. Students were delighted to get to see and experience a real excavator on Monday, April 29th from Hugg and Hall Equipment Company. Students had the opportunity to explore the excavator and share their writing projects!
Leverett Talent Show: May 24th
๐ Get Ready to Shine at the Leverett Elementary Talent Show! ๐
Get ready to showcase your talents and dazzle the crowd at the Leverett Elementary Talent Show on the last day of school, May 24th! This annual event is a highlight of the school year, featuring performances from our talented students across a variety of acts, including singing, dancing, magic, and more!
If your child has a talent they'd like to share, sign-ups are now open! The deadline to sign up is May 10th. Don't miss this opportunity to take the stage and show off your skills! Sign up using the link provided below.
Tryouts will be held on May 17th, giving students the chance to showcase their acts and prepare for the big day. We can't wait to see all the amazing talents our students have to offer!
Let's make this Talent Show one to remember as we celebrate the end of another fantastic school year at Leverett Elementary!
Leverett Art Show & Choir Performance Night
Message from District Nurse
๐ซถDiverse Abilities Night๐ฆฝ
Please join us for Diverse Abilities Night at Leverett Elementary on Tuesday, May 7th from 5:30-7: 00 PM. Come for a night of learning with our families and local experts to gain a better understanding of some of the challenges that our students overcome everyday. This will be an engaging event that the whole family will enjoy. Pizza and lemonade will be served for all families who attend!
Pi Phi Students Read and Greet Students
Congratulations to Leverett Teacher of the Year, Ms. Hartman!
Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6-10
๐ Celebrating Our Amazing Teachers During Teacher Appreciation Week! ๐
Dear Leverett Elementary Families,
From May 6th to May 8th, we'll be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week at Leverett Elementary School! This is a special time for us to show our gratitude and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our incredible teachers.
We encourage all students and families to take part in showing thanks to our teachers during this week. Check out the flyer below for some ideas on how your child can express their appreciation:
Let's come together as a school community to shower our teachers with love and appreciation for all that they do to support and inspire our students each and every day.
Leverett Garden Club
School-Wide Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Student arrival times: 7:15-7:50 AM (car rider & walker)
Location: Lower Garland Parking Lot
Arrival after 7:50 AM: Students are dropped off in the main office
Please DO NOT park in the main entrance bus loop from 7:00-8:00 AM & 2:30-3:30 PM
Staff members will receive students from buses and cars. Students will be given the option to go to breakfast or the wait in the gym. Please make sure your child knows if they should get breakfast (see breakfast & lunch information below). Classroom teachers receive students from the gym at 7:45 AM to report to class. School announcements begin at 7:50 AM. Instruction begins at 8:00 AM. It is very important that your student arrives at school on time. Students who arrive after 8:00 AM are considered tardy.
Dismissal:
Student dismissal times: 3:00-3:15 PM
Car Riders & Bus Riders: Must have yellow car rider/ walker tag.
Car Riders: Lower Garland Parking Lot
Walkers: Please wait outside of the playground gate on West Cleveland Street.
Reminder-Only family members who walk to pick up their student should be a walker. If you drive to pick up your student, you need to get in car rider line.
Pick Up after 3:15 PM: Car riders and walkers who are not picked up by 3:15 PM will report to the main office. Please plan to arrive by 3:15 PM.
Bus Riders: Bus riders will be dismissed when their bus arrives. Buses typically arrive between 3:00-3:20 PM. If your student does not arrive to their drop off location by their designated time, please contact the Fayetteville Bus Barn at (479) 444-3095. Any student who cannot be dropped off at home will be taken to the Bus Barn. Address: 2325 W. Stone St. Fayetteville, AR 72701
Pick Up Areas:
Bus riders will be dismissed at the main entrance when their bus arrives. If we have a late bus, we will notify parents through the School Bloomz app. Car riders will be picked up in the car rider loop (parking lot located on Garland). SKC students will report to the gym after car riders have been dismissed.
Car Rider Loop Procedures:
Please have the 2023-2024 Yellow Car Rider Tag visibly displayed in your car. If you need a car rider tag, please pick one up in the main office. Please remain in your vehicle and pull up to the location that staff members direct you to. Thank you for your cooperation!
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!
Happy Assistant Principal Appreciation Day, Mr. Fitz!
Cafeteria Volunteers WANTED at Leverett!
Are you interested in volunteering in the Leverett Cafeteria? We are looking for parents and guardians who would like to make a positive impact on our students and assist with monitoring in the cafeteria. Please complete the volunteer form. Thank you!
Leverett End of Year Celebrations
We're excited to announce that our end-of-year classroom celebrations will be taking place on May 23rd from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM! This special event is a time for our students to come together with their classmates and teachers to reflect on their accomplishments and enjoy some well-deserved fun. Each teacher will be communicating directly with parents regarding the details of their individual class party, so be on the lookout for more information from your child's teacher. As always, we kindly ask that you refrain from parking in the bus loop to ensure the safety and efficiency of our transportation operations. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to celebrating the end of another wonderful school year with you and your child!
Update on Renovations at Leverett Elementary!
We are excited to announce that we have started several renovation project! In April, we finished installing a fence that separates the Hall Street Parking Lot from the two playgrounds. We also installed posts for the Upper Garland Fencing and are hopeful to finish all fencing projects (Upper Garland and Library Courtyard) over the next few weeks. In addition, the Leverett PTO purchased two new awnings for the main entrance and exterior doors on Garland Ave. Leverett Elementary is excited to begin designing two new learning spaces on the Upper Garland Lot and Library Courtyard. Our Leverett Garden Club and PTO have also done exceptional work in our new garden space on West Cleveland Ave. We are excited to utilize our new outdoor learning spaces! Thank you to our amazing PTO and their support!
Leverett School Lunch and Breakfast
Our cafeteria staff has been busy preparing delicious and nutritious meals for our students. If you are interested in applying for free lunch, please click the link. If you need to put money on your student's lunch account, please click the link. Please click here to view the school lunch menu.
Breakfast: If you would like for your child to eat breakfast at school, please have them arrive by 7:45 AM. This will give them time to eat before they report to class. Breakfast is open as early as 7:15 AM. Please remind your student to tell the staff member that receives them from the bus or car if they need breakfast. Thank you!
Lunch: Students may buy a school lunch or pack a lunch from home. We welcome parents to have lunch with their student during their student's lunch time. We have tables set up around the exterior of the cafeteria for visitors to sit with their student. All visitors must check in at the main office and have their ID. Parents are not permitted to visit anywhere else in the building (classroom, playground, etc.) unless they schedule an appointment with the teacher and administration.
Thank you to our Outstanding Volunteers!
Leverett Students of the Month: April
Our Leverett Lions shine so bright! Each month, our students focus on a different character trait. Our April Character Trait was Perseverance. In May our students will focus on Integrity! Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as their grade level's student of the month!
Kindergarten: Serena Colbert-Diaz
First Grade: Jace McDaniel
Second Grade: Aderonke Obanla
Third Grade: Eden Brown
Fourth Grade: Abbigayle Woods
Leverett Staff Members of the Month: April
Congratulations to Counselor Clark, Mrs. Kailey, Mrs. Bruick, and Mrs. Guelle for receiving the "Every Child Every Day" award and the "Believe to Achieve" award at our April staff meeting. In addition, Mrs. Kailey, Mrs. Bershers, Ms. Groeteke, Mrs. Busteed, Mrs. Medford, and Ms. Clark received recognition from staff for having "SWAG" for their exceptional commitment to our students. SWAG stands for: student centered, willingness to help, amazing attitude, and growth-mindset. Thank you for all of our amazing Leverett staff members for supporting our students every day!
Students use Cub Cash for Face Paintings by Ms. Berry!
๐ฆYou're going to hear me ROOOOOAAAR! ๐ฆ
Can You ROAR like a LION?
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
We have many students who have already been Caught ROARing like a LION! Check out some of these stellar students above and below! Keep showing that LION PRIDE!
#HEARourROAR
Leverett Students Learn About Photography in Art Class
Cub Cash Incentive: Nails by the Principal!
Leverett Strive for 5 Board Games Fun!
Lunch with the Principal!
Leverett Kindergarten Kickstart for Rising K Students: May 9th
Attention all soon to be kindergarten parents for the 2024-2025 school year!
We are thrilled to welcome your child to Leverett Elementary School for the upcoming 2024-2025 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 9th 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 above). Once completed, kindly contact the Leverett main office to schedule an appointment for the Kickstart program on May 9th. 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.
We ๐ Our Family Volunteers
Leverett Book Club
Bloomz
Please look for Bloomz updates over the summer! If you are not on the school-wide Bloomz, please stop by or call the front office to get it!
Are you connected to 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? Download the app and call the main office to access the Leverett Bloomz code and your child's classroom code!
๐ญLearning is Sweet๐จ
Student Attendance
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.
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-3:00 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 after 9:00 AM it is considered a half-day absence.
-If your child leaves before 2:00 PM it is considered a half-day absence.
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!
School Wide Attendance Goals and Incentives!
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!
During the first semester of the school year, nearly 70% of our lions missed 5 or less days of school!
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.
April Attendance Winner: Mrs. Vang's Class
Middle School Parent Meeting: May 13th 6:00 PM
๐First Grade Student, George Yang, Wins Central AR CPR Chess Tournament!๐
NEW to Fayetteville: Parent Protech
Parent Protech is an online dashboard empowering students, families, and educators in safely navigating technology. It offers tools, guidance, newsletters, and preventative education on digital safety, covering topics like social media, cyberbullying, and digital wellness to create safer online communities.
Please click the QR code on the images above or go to parentprotech.com to sign up for a free login account. When signing in, select Fayetteville Public Schools, your child's school and use the password: FPS2024. From there, you will create a unique login. Please click the button below to access a video about this program.
Happy Birthday to our May, June, and July Babies
Happy birthday to our students born in the month of May, June, and July. A birthday certificate will be sent home with your student this month. We hope you enjoy your day!