Leopard Pride Newsletter
August 2022
Lockwood Mission
We provide a learning community that recognizes all students as capable learners. We promote high standards, expect accountability, and celebrate success. Cooperation, responsibility, and confidence promote our goals of life-long learning and responsible citizenship.
School Information
In This Issue
- Principal Message
- Back-to-School Dates and Information
- Information About our 21-22 Lockwood Staff
- District News
- Ongoing Communication
Principal's Message
Dear Lockwood Families,
I hope this newsletter finds everyone safe and well while away from school. It seems like the summer months flew by. The 2022-23 school year is just around the corner and I cannot wait to welcome you all back!
While you continue to enjoy the sunshine and family time, the staff at Lockwood are busy preparing for the year ahead. As we continue to focus on physical and social and emotional well-being of the Lockwood community, we are excited as we prepare to welcome back students to a year with fewer restrictions. We recognize this may be a transition for some students and families whether you are new, returning, or attended NVP. As we approach the start of this school year, we recognize it may take time to build a sense of safety and belonging for all. We could not be more excited to feel our Leopard Pride throughout campus as all staff, students, and families return.
To support our preparation and planning of the physical and social and emotional safety of students and families, we would like to hear from you as we value your input. Please click on the "2022-23 Lockwood Back to School Family Survey" button below to share your thoughts and feelings around the following four questions:
- What makes your child feel welcome at Lockwood?
- What makes you feel welcome at Lockwood?
- If any, what is your greatest concern around safety as your child(ren) return to school?
- What is your greatest hope for your child(ren) this year?
Between now and the start of school, you can stay updated on the return to school this fall by visiting Northshore's website. The link to this information is included in a button below. Please see the rest of this newsletter for more information on back-to-school dates and events as well as for information about our amazing 2022-23 Lockwood staff. We look forward to another great year of working in partnership around supporting our students to be their best selves! Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Warmest Regards,
Tamorah Redshaw
Proud Principal
Back to School Dates and Information
Bell Times
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday schedule:
9:10 - Campus supervision begins (students may arrive)
9:30 – School begins
4:00 – Dismissal
Wednesday Schedule:
9:10 - Campus supervision begins (students may arrive)
9:30 - School Begins
2:30 - Dismissal
Drop-Off, Pick-Up, and Parking at Lockwood
In order to keep kids safe and keep the process moving as efficiently as possible, Lockwood is continuing with pick-up and drop-off procedures from last year. This means that no child may be dropped off at campus before 9:10am.
Buses: Kids arriving on busses at Lockwood are met in the bus loop on the side of the school and (at 9:10am) are released to morning recess, breakfast, or class lines. K-3rd Graders will line up by class in the covered area by 9:25am (when they’re escorted to their classrooms). 4th-5th Graders will line up directly outside of their classrooms by 9:25am. Special note for new kindergarten families: at PM bus drop-off at home, Kindergarteners will not be allowed off the bus unless their parent/guardian is waiting for them at the bus stop!
Student Pick-Up Zones
We utilize 2 pick-up zones for student pick-up:
Front of the School via Lockwood Road is designated for K – 2nd grade students and their older siblings.
Kenmore Middle School via Carter Road is designated for 3rd – 5th grade students that do not have younger siblings. These students walk directly with School Staff to KMS and pick up begins at 4:00pm. Crossing guards and adult supervisors monitor this area.
Student safety is our top priority Please follow these procedures:
Students enter/exit vehicles from the curb side only.
Students stay within the crosswalk. Never cross between cars.
Once your car is loaded, please be patient for cars to move forward.
No cell phone use while driving in the school zones.
Students who will walk Please follow these procedures:
All walkers will line up out front.
Students will then be escorted to the crosswalk in front of the school.
Parents will need to wait on the sidewalk (house side or school side based on option 1 or 2) to greet students (only parent volunteers and/or those attending a meeting/conference are allowed on campus).
Car Drop-Off & Pick-Up: All families should enter the AM drop-off loop only from the north (right turn only into the car loop), and all cars must turn left on exit. The turning rules are the same in front of Lockwood for the PM pick-up. In addition, families should have the completed Parent Car Pick-up Template filled out and in their window to help school staff quickly match kids to cars. In the PM pick-up, K-2 families will pick up in front of Lockwood, but 3-5th families will pick up in the KMS pick-up loop around the corner (unless they also have a K-2 child, in which case they can pick up both kids in front of Lockwood).
Pedestrian Drop-Off & Pick-up:
Parents will continue to not be allowed on campus (unless they are signed up as volunteers or have a meeting with a staff member). Parents for foot-traffic pick-up and drop-off have two options. The first option is to wait on the sidewalk on the house side of Lockwood Rd of the upper crosswalk. The second option is to wait on the sidewalk on the school-side of Lockwood Rd next to the bus loop (note that kids walking to lower pedestrian pick-up should use the lower crosswalk and NOT walk across the car loop traffic!). Be sure your child KNOWS which option you are using, as these are DIFFERENT line-up areas for dismissal
Change in After School Plans
Any change in your child’s daily routine must be validated by a note from a parent/guardian. If a note is not possible, please call the office 425.408.5800. Emailing staff is not always reliable due to absences or substitutes.
Morning Recess
Morning recess was a success last year and will continue for the 2022-23 school year. Please share with your child the following protocols for morning recess:
Students may arrive no sooner than 9:10
They drop their belongings off at their classroom
They may play on the playground from 9:10-9:25
There will be a 5-minute warning bell, in which students will then WALK to their designated line to line up.
Teachers will then walk them to the classroom to begin instruction starting at 9:30
A Return to the Cafeteria
We are excited to be able to return to the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch! Please note the following updates around breakfast and lunch:
- Breakfast service will run from 9:10am-9:25am daily ($2.25)
- Lunch will be served in 3 shifts starting at 11:30am for K/1st, 12:00pm for 3rd/4th, and 12:30pm for 2nd/5th daily ($3.75)
- Breakfast and lunch will no longer be provided for EVERY student at no cost - only those who complete the appropriate application for free or reduced price will get free breakfast and lunch
- On each Monday, students will have the opportunity to view the school weekly announcements while eating their lunch
Playground/Field Updates
NSD District personnel are working on the field behind the 5th grade classrooms and the field above the kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms. The K/2nd upper, upper field is getting leveled and new sod, while the 5th grade upper field will be getting a turf field along with soccer goalies. The upper, upper field SHOULD be ready by the time school starts; whereas the upper field will not be ready until mid to late September.
Lockwood received a new GAGA ball pit for our playground over the summer and will be ready for play once students return. The big playground structure is getting a face lift and repaired and will be ready for students once school starts (hopefully). The repair on the playground structure is for this year only. Over next summer, Lockwood will be getting a completely NEW, UPDATED Inclusive playground modeled after the playground at Ruby Bridges ES.
Lockwood Homework Policy
Lockwood will be shifting to a new homework approach based upon educational research. Our policy reflects recommendations found within this research. Key conclusions include:
Research has found that students who engage in shared or independent reading become better readers, score higher on achievement tests in all subject areas, and have greater content knowledge than those who do not.
Multiple studies support that even a small amount of independent or shared reading increases primary and intermediate students’ reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, spelling facility, understanding of grammar, and knowledge of the world.
Early exposure to reading appears to pay off in that it creates an expectation in children that reading is an essential part of their daily lives.
Research shows virtually no link between homework (outside of reading) and academic gains for grades Kindergarten through third grade. Only marginal gains can be shown in grades 4th-5th.
Homework in other subject areas will be assigned for a clearly stated purpose; either to establish study skills and habits or to provide practice with a previously learned skill.
Balancing powerful learning with adequate time for a healthy home life is essential for all students. As we shift to Lockwood’s new Homework Policy, we will carefully monitor the effects on learning, effects on student attitudes toward school, and how this approach supports a better balance for families.
There are a few important dates and events you will want to mark on your calendar in preparation for the 2022-23 school year:
Community Serve Day
What is it: Community Serve Day is an opportunity to come together with your community to help schools get ready for the new school year by preparing classrooms and school grounds to become a premier learning environment for our kids. Projects include helping teachers set up classrooms, as well as improving the campuses through painting, repairs, beautification, and more.
When is it: Sunday, August 21st from 9:00am – 1:00pm
*PTA New Family Tours: New families will have the opportunity to see the Lockwood campus and learn more about our school community while being guided by one of our returning families. Visits to classrooms will not occur until our Supply Drop Off event. A big thank you to PTA for providing this opportunity.
**Supply Drop-Off: This is a chance to drop off supplies (please put your child's name on the bag of supplies), see the classroom and say hello to your child's new teacher IF THEIR DOOR IS OPEN before the first day of school. From 3:00pm-3:30pm for families with last names that start with A-L; from 3:30pm-4:00pm for families with last names that start with M-Z.
Curriculum Nights
Please mark your calendars! Curriculum Nights will return to in-person. Teachers are very excited to meet in person and share about their curriculum and social-emotional learning expectations for the school year!
Information About our 2022-23 Lockwood Staff
Welcome New Staff
We are fortunate to welcome several new highly qualified staff members this year. Here is a little bit about each new individual’s previous experience:
Melissa Iverson, 4th Grade PACE Teacher (.5) - Mrs. Iverson served as a long-term substitute teacher for Mrs. Bentz. Prior to this she served Lockwood as a substitute teacher. Mrs. Iverson is dually qualified in both general education and special education.
Anna Latham, Kindergarten Teacher (.4) - Mrs. Latham also served as a substitute teacher this past year at Lockwood. Mrs. Latham is also a proud parent of a Lockwood student and is very excited to be joining the kindergarten team.
Kori Wilson, OT/PT - Ms. Wilson is new to Northshore and Lockwood. She will be joining Mrs. Chessler in supporting our students with gross and fine motor needs. We are very happy to welcome Mrs. Wilson and her expertise.
Jane Dudley, Sensory Paraeducator - Mrs. Dudley is joining Lockwood to support students in the sensory program. Mrs. Dudley has years of experience working with students with special needs and will make a wonderful addition to this program.
Seanna Orrison, School Assistant - Mrs. Orrison, a proud Leopard mom, is officially joining the Lockwood staff. Mrs. Orrison has worked closely with Lockwood through her work on the PBIS Team and PTA. Mrs. Orrison will be supervising students in both the Cafe and while at recess.
Teaching Assignments for 2022-23
E: Elementary Advanced Placement (EAP) Program Teacher
ELL: Multilingual Learner Teacher
LAP: Learning Assistance Program Teacher (Reading Support)
LC: Learning Center Teacher (Special Education)
OT/PT: Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Teacher
P: Parents Active in Cooperative Education (PACE) Program Teacher
S: Sensory Program Teacher
SLP: Speech Language Pathologist TeacherDistrict News
Food Service Updates
FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES
All schools offer breakfast and lunch. Menus are available online along with nutritional information at nsd.org/meals. Milk is included in the price of a full meal. Cartons of milk can also be purchased separately.
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Parents whose income falls within guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture should apply for free or reduced-price meals. Families must reapply each year to receive benefits for the current school year. All students who qualify for free, as well as those who qualify for reduced-price meals, will receive both breakfast and lunch at no charge. Applications are available after August 1. You can apply online or download an application at nsd.org/meals or pick up a paper application from your school or district’s Food and Nutrition Services offices. To have an application mailed to you, call Food and Nutrition Services at 425.408.7657.
PAYING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
Parents may pay online with Visa or MasterCard using a secure internet site called Titan School Solutions. To set up a Titan Family Portal account for making online payments, visit family.titank12.com. There is no charge for parents to register for a Titan account; however, there is a $2.60 convenience charge for each payment made online. Parents can also pay by cash or check (made out to Northshore School District) at the school. There is no fee for paying with cash or check. Checks should indicate “school meals” in the memo.
LOW BALANCE NOTIFICATIONS/TRACKING MEAL BALANCES
You can view your student’s meal account balance and cafeteria purchases and transfer money from one sibling to another at no charge on the Titan Family Portal online or with the mobile app at family.titank12.com. Families that have registered on the Titan Family Portal will receive a low-balance notification by email when their student’s account drops below $5.00. Families can also set custom low-balance notifications through Titan. Written low balance notices may also be sent home when the balance on the meal account is low. The notice will be placed in the teacher's box to be given to the student to take home.
NEGATIVE BALANCE NOTIFICATIONS
When a student account balance reaches the equivalent of negative two lunches, automated calls will be sent out from the Food & Nutrition Services Department to ensure notification of account standings. Regardless of account standing, students will always be offered a reimbursable breakfast and lunch at school and allowed to charge on a negative balance. Charging for a la carte purchases, including milk-only, extra entrees, or non-reimbursable meals, will not be permitted if a student's balance is negative. Unpaid meal charges must be paid in full when a student graduates or moves to a new school district.
Injuries at School
The health and safety of our students is of critical importance to the Northshore School District. Even so, accidents may and do happen and the resulting medical bills can be expensive. However, many families are unaware that the district does not carry insurance for student personal injury costs and cannot assume responsibility for them.
Parent/Guardian Responsibility: What this basically means is that if your child gets hurt during school day or during a school activity, you as the parent or guardian, are financially responsible for any medical bills incurred.
This includes students participating in athletics, PE, recess and after school activities. If your student participates in a sport, please make certain your family insurance plan covers athletic participation.
Optional Student Health Insurance
As a service, the district provides information on an optional student accident/health insurance plan. Although not the only provider of this coverage type, Meyers-Stevens & Toohey has been recommended by our Washington Schools Risk Management Pool. This coverage plan is made available by many school districts across the state.
If you have questions regarding the available plans, please call Myers-Stevens & Toohey at (800) 827-4695 or visit their website at www.myers-stevens.com.
If you would like a hard copy enrollment form, please contact the Lockwood office.
Ongoing School-Wide Communication
The Leopard Pride Newsletter will be sent out on the first Tuesday of each month. If you need to add or update your email, or if you would prefer a hard copy be sent to your household, please reach out to our friendly office staff.