Leopard Pride Newsletter
November 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
- School Information and Dates
- PACE and PTA Information
- District News
Principal's Message
Dear Lockwood Families,
We are officially into fall and change is in the air. My favorite time of year is now, when the leaves are bright orange, red, and yellow. I see how change can be challenging as the leaves fall and create slick roads and block our drains. With that said, change must happen in order to move forward and make way for new leaves, new growth, and something even more amazing than before. I want to say thank you to the Lockwood Community for embracing change and making way for all the new. You are appreciated.
In a time when manners are teetering on the edge of extinction and anxiety is on the rise, it is increasingly important to spend time expressing gratitude. Focusing on gratitude can negate feelings of resentment and entitlement and foster feelings of positivity. Studies show that even months after writing a simple appreciation quote or journaling feelings of gratitude, people's brains are still wired to feel especially thankful. The more you practice gratitude, the more you can enjoy its many benefits, such as an overall feeling of well-being and happiness.
This month, Lockwood's theme is focused on gratitude. Nothing expresses words of appreciation and gratitude like a personal note to someone who has touched your life in some way. You can: 1) Put your appreciative words in a caring card, 2) Write them on a sticky note to post where your special person will see it, 3) Text them to your friend or partner as a midday surprise, or 4) Create a poem around the words of gratitude for a more creative touch. How will you show your gratitude this month?
November is a month to remember our veterans and to show thanks. I want to thank all who have served in the name of liberty and freedom. I want to thank my family and friends for always being by my side and for loving me even when I wasn't at my best. What are you most thankful for? Wishing you and your family all the best this month.
In partnership,
Tamorah Redshaw
Proud Principal
School Information and Dates
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respect to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for our veterans.
This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on November 11th because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars.
We celebrate and honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. At Lockwood, we will honor our veterans throughout our community by showing a pre-recorded assembly video to the entire school. We will then take time to celebrate with family and friends on Friday, November 11th as school will be closed.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Traditionally it is a time to give thanks for all the sacrifice and hard work done for the harvest. In modern times people take time off work (4 day weekend starting Thursday) and spend time with family and friends over a large feast held on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving in the early days of the United States was celebrated on a variety of dates and eventually Abraham Lincoln in 1863 with help from Sarah Josepha Hale decided Thanksgiving should be on the final Thursday in November. Later, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the day into law making the day officially celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. As such, Lockwood will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th.
Thanksgiving Around the World
In Canada, they celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Liberia celebrates the day on the first Thursday of November and Saint Lucia the first Monday in October and finally Grenada celebrates on October 25th each year.
Parking Lot Reminders
Lockwood, as you know, has a very small and limited parking lot. With 70 staff, it is important that the greater Lockwood community park in the public parking area, located in the front of the school. The parking lot to the East of the main office area is reserved for staff ONLY. The area directly in front of the gym and along the sidewalk in this lot is for bus drop off and pick up. These areas need to remain vehicle free from 8:55am to 9:20am and then from 3:45pm to 4:20pm. When a bus is blocked in or cannot enter the lot, their schedule is impacted, thus students arrive late to school or getting home. Please park only in the guest parking lot or along the street outside of the school.
Picture Retake Day
For students who were absent for picture day or who would like to retake their picture taken, the picture retake day is scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd from 9:45am to 11:45am. If you are retaking pictures, please bring in the original pictures from the first picture day.
Conference Week
Parent / Student conferences will be held on November 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Please schedule with your child’s teacher for your individual conference day and time. Please know that some teachers MAY opt to hand out progress reports during this time rather than to send them home via your child’s backpack. School will be dismissed each day at 12:40pm.
A Message from Nurse Sue
Dear Parent Volunteers,
We would like to express sincere gratitude for your support during Health Screening Day on September 29th. The day was a very busy one and a huge success! We could not have done it without you. Thank you for your gift of time and willingness to participate.
With sincere gratitude,
Sue Desrosier, RN
Lockwood School Nurse
Illness and School
Illness is on the rise, and some have been coming to school sick. Please refer to the Lockwood website to learn more about when you should keep your child home: When should my child stay home?
Principal Coffee Chat
Ms. Redshaw and Mr. Schoenfeldt would like to invite families of Lockwood students to join us for coffee and a chat on Thursday, November 17th from 8:30am - 9:30am in the Lockwood Library. Ms. Redshaw and Mr. Schoenfeldt will be engaging in dialogue with the intention of gathering data that would create a more inclusive learning environment for each and every Lockwood student. They hope to see you there!
Lockwood Library Corner
In October we kicked off our yearlong Washington Children's Choice Picture book program for K-3 by reading three fun, interesting, and informative books. The students are really enjoying them! We also kicked of our yearlong Sasquatch Challenge for the 4-5th graders. These nominated chapter books are flying off the shelves! November is Native American Heritage Month. We will celebrate in the library with many wonderful books by Native American authors.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Fig and Mrs. McFarlane
There are a few important dates and events you will want to mark on your calendar in preparation for the upcoming months:
PACE and PTA Information
Interested In Learning More About PACE?
PACE at Lockwood is now conducting tours for the 2023-2024 school year! Parents Active in Cooperative Education (PACE) is a choice educational enrichment program offered to Northshore School District (NSD) students in grades 1-5. Join us on one of our tours to learn more about the program and to see if it would be the right option for your family. Tours run now through February 8th with both virtual and in-person options. Please sign up for a date of your choice here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A4AF2DA5F9C61-pace1
For questions, please contact our membership chair, Christie Lounsberry, at membership@paceatlockwood.org
Join the Lockwood PTA Today!
Lockwood PTA’s mission is to support children, to enrich their educational experiences, and to nurture a strong and vibrant community at Lockwood. But, we can’t do it without you. If you’ve not done so already, please become a PTA member at lockwoodpta.org/join. If you’re not getting our Wednesday Weekly Newsletter--full of great reminders, updates, and important information--please reach out to Beth at weekly@lockwoodpta.org. We also encourage you to follow our public “Lockwood PTA page” at facebook.com/lockwoodleopards for that latest news from Lockwood PTA, or to join our private “Lockwood PTA discussion group” for crowdsourced Q&A at facebook.com/groups/lockwoodleopardsdiscussion. Thanks for joining in partnership with your PTA at Lockwood. Go Leopards!
District News
COVID 19 Vaccination Update
Starting November 1, 2022, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required for Northshore School District volunteers, contractors, or staff. This District change is in response to Governor Inslee’s repeal of the COVID-19 emergency proclamations and state of emergency by Oct. 31, 2022.
We will be updating our volunteer page on the NSD website to reflect these updates and will also be removing the vaccine card upload page on the Safe Visitor application.
Update your Contact Information
We encourage families to take a few minutes to check their contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses. Schools use parent and guardian email addresses to create school mailing lists. The District also uses email as a tool for sharing important, and sometimes urgent, information with families. Automated phone calls are sent to families with safety and emergency messages.
Parents can check their contact information in ParentVUE. Please contact your student's school if you need help in accessing ParentVUE or if there are updates to your contact information.
Emergency Notification
Emergencies such as inclement weather, power outages and hazardous road conditions can alter school schedules and affect bus transportation. The decision to close or delay schools is made by the superintendent as early as possible, usually around 5:30 a.m. Early dismissals will occur only if a delay in dismissal significantly increases hazards.