The Buzz at Leeds
January 18, 2022
Message from Principal Wenz
I hope everyone had a good weekend. For those snow enthusiasts, I hope you were able to get outside to enjoy the snow. We are facing cold weather again this week. We will go outside when we are able to - "feels like" 15 degrees or higher. Please be sure your child has a hat, mittens, snow pants and boots. If you need clothing, please contact Susannah Bastek, our School Adjustment Counselor at sbastek@northampton-k12.us
Great news! Our School Committee voted on Thursday, January 13th to continue the Early/Late Bird afterschool program through our next school year. They will reconvene in January 2023 to revisit the afterschool programs at the four elementary schools.
Our LEAP enrichment program will begin running in February. The paper forms were sent home. Please see more details below. Also, we will have scholarships or financial assistance for families. If you need financial assistance, please contact Gabrielle Hollender at ghollender@northampton-k12.us or Principal Wenz at cwenz@northampton-k12.us
Just a reminder.......
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 5
We have early dismissal days at the end of the month for Teacher/Caregiver conferences. Dismissal is at 11:30 for Kindergarten through Grade 5 students on each of the following days:
- Monday, 1/24
- Tuesday, 1/25
- Wednesday, 1/26
- Thursday, 1/27
- Monday, 1/31
We do not have school on Friday, January 28th for a teacher work day.
Teachers will get in touch with you shortly to schedule your meeting time.
PRESCHOOL - Session 1 preschool students will come to school on Monday (1/24) and Tuesday (1/25) for our morning session 8:10-10:40. Session 2 preschool students will come to school on Wednesday (1/26) and Thursday (1/27) during session 1 time 8:10-10:40. We will not have preschool in the afternoons. We will not have session 2 on Monday (1/31). If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Sarah or Ms. Rachel.
Stay safe and be well,
Chris Wenz, Principal
Kindergarten 2022-2023 Information Night
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.
Our E&I website how features a newly organized Resources section! Here you can find many of the great lists and links that we’ve shared in past Buzz newsletters - including resources to support conversations about race, racism, and antiracism; resources focused on gender identity and sexuality; recommended books/videos and children’s shows; and local resources. We’ll be continually adding more content to this page, and please be in touch if there’s a resource you’d like to see included there.
Early Bird / Late Bird / LEAP
- Our Februrary Early/Late Bird Form is now open. Please complete the form by Friday, January 21st. 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.)
Just a reminder that we do not have school on the following dates in January:
- Friday, January 28th
Additionally, we will be having PreK through Grade 5 Caregiver/Teacher conferences on the dates listed below. We will have Early Bird on these dates, but we will not have Late Bird.
- Monday, January 24th
- Tuesday, January 25th
- Wednesday, January 26th
- Thursday, January 27th
- Monday, January 31st
- Friday, January 28th
LEAP
Be on the look out for the February LEAP forms (our enrichment program) will be sent outthis week. 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 next 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
Our district is conducting a culture and climate survey. We would love your 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
Letter from Dr. Provost & Lisa Safron, Director of Health & Safety - December 30, 2021
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Northampton Youth Softball Sign Ups
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Dates
1/17 - No School in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1/18 - COVID Testing
1/18 - School Council Meeting @6:15pm via Zoom
1/21 Early/Late Bird & LEAP registrations for February are due
1/24 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Caregiver / Teacher Conferences No Late Bird
1/25 - COVID Testing
1/25 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Caregiver / Teacher Conferences No Lift Off / No Late Bird
1/26 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Caregiver / Teacher Conferences No Lift Off / No Late Bird
1/27 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Caregiver / Teacher Conferences No Lift Off / No Late Bird
1/28 - No School - Teacher Work Day
1/31 - Early Dismissal @11:30 Caregiver / Teacher Conferences No Late Bird
2/1 - COVID Testing
2/4 - Friday LEAP classes begin
2/7 - Monday LEAP classes begin
2/8 - COVID Testing
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
2/21 through 2/25 Winter Break - No School
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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