The Buzz at Leeds

November 14, 2022

Message from Principal Wenz

Message from Principal Wenz

Dear Leeds Caregivers,


We have been so fortunate to have had such nice weather into November. It is getting colder. We do go outside if it is 20 degrees or higher. Please be sure to send students with appropriate cold weather clothing to school. Also, please label coats, hats, and mittens/gloves.


Our Leeds PTO meeting will be in person tomorrow, 11/15 in the library @6:30pm.


Please remember if you enter the building to come to the main office and check in. We ask this for safety reasons. Additionally, we are asking students to not open the door for anyone. Students could come to the office to say that someone is at the door. We appreciate your support in keeping our school safe.


With kindness,

Chris Wenz, Principal

Message from Principal Wenz

Leeds PTO

2022 Leeds PTO T-Shirt Design Challenge!

2022 Leeds PTO T-Shirt Design Challenge!

I would like to thank all of our students who submitted a t-shirt design. It was a very hard decision. Kudos to our PTO for having our students vote at school. Congratulations to Josie Thomas, a grade 4 student, who has designed this year's Leeds t-shirt. Additionally our students voted for blue as this year's color. Thank you to all of our students who voted!

2022 Leeds PTO T-Shirt Design Challenge!

PTO Meeting 11/15 IN PERSON*

Our next PTO meeting is in person on Tuesday, 11/15 at 6:30 in the Leeds' Library. We hope to see you there.

PTO Movie Night - Friday, 11/18/22

This Friday, 11/18 is our first movie night since COVID-19. We are watching "The Bad Guys". It starts at 6:00.

Attendance & Tardy Information

As part of our School Improvement Plan, we are monitoring student attendance more closely this year. We are still asking everyone if you have cold/COVID/flu symptoms, please stay home. If your child has had a fever, your child should return to school after being fever free 24 hours without medication. If your child has vomited, please keep them home for 24 hours after your child has vomited.


Letters will be sent home to families to inform you of your child's absences or tardies (late to school / after 8:00am) if you have 5 or more absences and/or tardies. If you need assistance, please reach out to Nurse Caelin or Ms. Bastek.


In accordance with the NPS Attendance Policy (Appendix B of Code Conduct) and NPS Code of Conduct pages 52-53: The following are considered documented absences (excused absences).


These instances may include, but are not limited to:


  • Sickness (with a note from the student’s physician)
  • Court Appearances (with official documentation)
  • Death in family
  • Approved college visits (with a note on official letterhead or correspondence from the school)
  • Impassable roads / weather
  • Military obligations (as documented by official documentation)
  • Religious Holidays



The following are considered undocumented/unexcused absences. These instances may include, but are not limited to:


  • Vacations
  • Sickness without documentation from physician
  • Missing the bus
  • Participation in other activities not listed above

Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee

Greetings from the Leeds Equity and Inclusion Committee! We're a group of Leeds parents, caregivers, teachers, and staff who work toward creating a school community that honors self-exploration, meaningful relationships across difference, and every person’s dignity and belonging. The E&I Committee is a subcommittee of the Leeds School Council.


Our next meeting will take place virtually on Thursday, November 17, from 7:00-8:30 PM. Please email leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com for the Google Meet link.


New folx are warmly welcomed and encouraged to join meetings to get a better sense of what we’re about! E&I participation is completely flexible -- you can choose to commit as much or as little as you’d like. This might mean staying in the loop via our email listserv, attending the occasional meeting or every meeting, initiating or joining existing activities/projects, or some combination.


Our planned meeting times for the rest of this year are as follows:

  • Thurs, Nov. 17, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, Dec. 15, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, Jan. 19, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, Feb. 9, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, Mar. 16, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, April 13, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, May 18, 7:00-8:30pm

  • Thurs, June 15, 7:00-8:30pm

Find out more about the E&I committee and our past projects on our website! To join the E&I email listserv, receive updates about future meetings, or ask questions/share your ideas, please email: leedsequityandinclusioncomm@gmail.com.

Volunteers Needed at Leeds!

Volunteers Needed at Leeds!

We would love to have some of our caregiver or family members volunteer at school. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you would like to assist in some way. We would love to have volunteers at recess to play some games or help us supervise our students.


All volunteers will needs to go through Volunteer in Northampton Schools (VINS). We are asking that if you would like to volunteer, you submit your paperwork to Candy.

  • Please contact Candy Tauscher.
  • Phone: 413 552-9447
  • Email:(vinsvolunteer@gmail.com).
  • If you completed the application last year, you should be all set. Just check in with Sandy Bombard.
  • 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.
Volunteers Needed at Leeds!

------------------------------------------------

Calendar of Events

Upcoming Dates


    • 11/18 PTO Movie Night @6:00pm The Bad Guys in the Cafeteria

    • 11/23 Early Release Day - K-5 at 11:30 / No session 2 for Preschool

    • 11/24-11/25 Thanksgiving Break

    • 12/1 Picture Retake Day

    • 12/2 PTO Bingo Night @6:00pm in the Cafeteria

    • 12/5 Faculty Meeting @2:30 in Music Room

    • 12/6 Kindergarten Information Night (Virtual) 5:30-6:30 (Next year’s kindergarten)

    • 12/7 Early Release Day - K-5 at 11:30 / No session 2 for Preschool

    • 12/9 Last week of LEAP

    • 12/13 Leeds School Council Meeting @6:30pm

    • 12/23 through 1/2/2023 No School - Holiday Break

    • 1/3/2023 School resumes




Click here for the most up to date District calendar.


Click here for the School online calendar.

------------------------------------------------

Contact us:

Sandy Bombard, Administrative Assistant

(sbombard@northampton-k12.us)


Gabrielle Hollender, Early Bird/Late Bird Afterschool Coordinator

(ghollender@northampton-k12.us)


Chris Wenz, Principal

(cwenz@northampton-k12.us)

20 Florence Street, Leeds, MA, USA sbombard@northampton-k12.us (413) 587-1530 northamptonschools.org/project/leeds-elementary-school/