Leopard Pride Newsletter
October 2021
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 Dates and Information
- District News
- PACE and PTA Information
Principal's Message
Dear Lockwood Families,
I sit and reflect on September and realize how truly fortunate I am to be working with the most amazing parent community, students, and staff. We are working through a plethora of unknowns. The Lockwood community has shown me what it feels like to be a family of learners. We work together, support one another, and yes, sometimes we do not always agree. But, at the end of the day, we are joined together for one purpose, OUR STUDENTS. I come to work each day and get re-energized with every hidden smile (eyes say a lot), every "Hi Ms. Redshaw," every success, and even those times where we must work through a challenging problem to find a resolution. Just know, I appreciate every single one of you.
I know that since the COVID batch testing has started, we are starting to learn of positive COVID cases. This is a good thing. We are able to ensure that these individuals, whom are asymptomatic, are aware and can take steps to ensure everyone is safe. We currently have 573 students and have had only 5 positive COVID cases. This is only .009% (less than 1%) of our students testing positive. Two of these were from the same family who took the necessary precautions and kept the students home. This is all in thanks to diligent families keeping students home and getting tested when any possible symptom arises! Thank you so much! From our contact tracing, no student has come back positive.
Many students are grieving what has been lost during COVID-19 - chances to socialize with peers, learn and practice learning behaviors, start in kindergarten, or participate in clubs or sports. Parents can use the following tips to hep their child (ren) overcome school transition-related challenges this school year.
- Address Apprehensions: Students are excited to be with peers and start a new school year. They also might have lingering fears about risk of illness or death. Families can work with the school to provide honest, realistic reassurances about measures being taken to protect students here at Lockwood.
- Recognize Children's Vulnerability: At times of transition, grieving children are more vulnerable. This can mean the start of the school year, with new teachers, classmates, and classrooms. It can involve a change in schools or a change in their family - someone moving in or out or a loss. It can include changes of growing up. Whatever these changes are, give grace, listen to their need, and ensure that all are aware of how we can support each and every student at Lockwood.
- Be Honest: Students of all ages know things are still not back to "normal." It isn't necessary for families to pretend that everything is OK when it clearly isn't. Provide opportunities for your child (ren) to talk about their experiences and concerns. Take them seriously and support them through this.
- Work Closely with the LW Staff: It's important for families to have open and ongoing communication with Lockwood during changes at home so we can create a safer and more welcoming environment for your child (ren) here at Lockwood.
Together, we can make this an amazing year where all students feel included, valued, seen, and heard.
I'd like to leave you with this quote, "Notice how the trees do not cling to their leaves. Fall is about releasing the old to make way for the new." - Unknown. This is the year that, as a community and in partnership, we make way for the new. Letting go and thinking forward is how we can best support every single child at Lockwood.
In partnership,
Tamorah Redshaw
Proud Principal
School Dates and Information
IMPORTANT REMINDERS ABOUT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
Drop-off and Pick-up:
Here at Lockwood, please know that student safety is our number one priority. We continue to work to make both drop off and pick up more efficient and safe for all. With that in mind, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Just a few reminders about dropping off and picking up your child (ren):
When dropping off your child for cross country, please do not drop off street side and then make an illegal u-turn. This endangers students, is illegal, and can potentially cause an accident.
When dropping off your child through the LW loop, please be mindful of the traffic on Lockwood Rd. Please DO NOT drive around cars turning left in the parking lot, this is dangerous for those utilizing the crosswalk.
When picking up your child as a walker, please look for your child. It might be useful to remember the following tips:
Have an item or token you can hold up that is easily identifiable by your child.
DO NOT BRING dogs or extra family members. This crowds the sidewalk. ONE adult to pick up your child (ren) is all that is needed. Recently, a child was forced to walk AROUND THE CROWD AND HAD TO GO INTO THE STREET! This is extremely dangerous and could have serious repercussions. Think, what if this had been YOUR child?
Once you have your child, please leave the walker pick-up zone. This allows parents to be seen more easily by our students so that they too can cross and go home.
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.
Field Trips
Due to COVID-19, field trips for Lockwood students are currently on hold. Our primary concern is safety and equity for all students. We will re-examine this for 2nd semester. Students will still have access to guest speakers who are fully vaccinated and vetted by the district. This will be on a teacher by teacher basis and they will communicate with their classroom when this type of experience is available.
Halloween & Costumes
At Lockwood, we are an inclusive learning environment where all who attend are never put into a position where they cannot participate in an event based on religion or cultural beliefs. Because of this, moving forward, Lockwood will not participate in the practice of wearing costumes. We DO have some students who cannot participate and feel "othered" and "left out." We cannot support this. Here is some background on the holiday of Halloween and the wearing of costumes to better understand why some students cannot participate:
The tradition of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before (October 31st) was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
For some religions or cultures, the practice associated with this event goes against their values and teachings. We will honor all religions and cultures at Lockwood.
We will continue to learn about ALL holidays as part of understanding the community that makes up Lockwood. We will continue to have celebrations for students to engage in. This year, our celebration for October will be around fall and the change this brings for all. We can engage in parties and art activities which bring joy to students and allows for fun, social engagement. Let's continue to be inclusive and welcoming to all students. Let's create new traditions and ways to have fun.
What happens when a child (ren) comes to school w/COVID symptoms
- 1 or more symptom for any duration
- Tested Negative for COVID-19 or given an alternated diagnosis
- NO Close Contact of someone with COVID-19
- If an alternate diagnosis by a health care provider, follow the provider's directions and
isolate per the condition diagnosed (whichever isolation is longer).
This means that should your child (ren) come to school with even ONE SYMPTOM, we MUST treat this as a potential COVID-19 case and bring your child (ren) to the nurses' office for isolation procedures. You will be called and asked to pick up your child (ren) and get them tested.
Linked below is the Back to School Webinar we hosted for families. In this Q and A document, you will find the questions asked by many families and our responses regarding COVID.
School Climate Input Survey
As we move into a routine of school and learning, we are hoping to get perspective around the culture and climate of Lockwood. We would appreciate it if you would please take a few minutes to provide your anonymous perspective on Lockwood. The hope is to learn from our community on what makes this school such a special place and how we can work to make it even better. We appreciate your insight and voice. Please click on the link below to fill in the survey.
There are a few important dates and events you will want to mark on your calendar in preparation for the upcoming months:
District News
Need a Hotspot?:
Before requesting a hotspot, FIRST look into the special programs offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Comcast, and Ziply to provide affordable internet access to homes. These services provide more robust internet access than a hotspot.
Emergency Broadband Benefit program: https://getemergencybroadband.org (recommend starting here)
Comcast Internet Essentials: https://www.internetessentials.com/
Ziply Community Discount Programs: https://ziplyfiber.com/community-discount-programs
If after looking into those programs, you still need a hotspot, please fill in this form: http://go.nsd.org/hotspotrequest.
Once you complete this form, the Lockwood STS, Jennie Gardino, will receive an email notifying her that a hotspot needs to be distributed. Ms. Gardino will contact you to determine how to get the hotspot home. It can be sent home with your child or you can arrange to pick it up at Lockwood.
Fall SBA Testing
To fulfill the state assessment requirement for the spring of 2021, OSPI postponed the Smarter Balanced (SBA)/Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) until fall of 2021. Because fall of 2021 testing is a postponement of the spring 2021 testing window, students will be assessed at the grade level they were enrolled in last spring. OPSI has worked with the Smarter Balanced Consortium and WCAS to reduce the amount of testing time by 20% to 30%. Time spent testing this fall is estimated by the state at 75-minutes for English/Language Arts, 60-minutes for math, and 45-minutes for science.
These assessments are used for state and federal accountability as well as an option for high school students to meet their Graduation Pathways requirement. The English/Language Arts (ELA) and math Smarter Balanced Assessments are administered in grades 3 through 8 and 10, while the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) is administered in grades 5, 8, and 11. The following chart details the state testing by grade level for the 2021-22 school year, including the fall testing due to last spring’s postponement.
Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. If you know or suspect that your child is involved in bullying, there are several resources that may help.
- Recognize the warning signs that your child is involved in bullying. They could be being bullied, bullying others, or witnessing bullying. Although these signs could signal other issues, you should talk to your child if they display any sort of behavioral or emotional changes. Many times kids won’t ask for help, so it is important to know what to look for. If your child is at immediate risk of harming himself or others, get help right away.
- Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Understanding what bullying is is the first step in forming a plan to prevent or respond to bullying with your child. Many behaviors that look like bullying may be just as serious, but may require different response strategies. You can also learn about:
- The frequency of bullying;
- Who is at risk for being bullied and bullying others; and
- The effects of bullying
- Cyberbullying often requires different strategies than in-person bullying. Learn how to work with your kids to prevent cyberbullying and how to respond when it occurs.
- Utilize tips and tools to talk to your child about bullying. Opening lines of communication before your child is involved in bullying makes it easier for them to tell you when something happens. It is also important to work with a school to help prevent bullying before it starts.
- If you know or suspect bullying has occurred, learn how to find out what has happened with your child. Understanding what has happened can also help in communicating with school or community officials about the situation.
- If you have determined bullying has occurred, learn how you and school or community officials can work together to support your child, whether they were bullied, bullied others, or witnessed bullying. Learn also about considerations for specific groups.
- If bullying is occurring at school, learn about what your state requires schools to do in your state’s anti-bullying law. Learn also about federal laws that require schools to address harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disabilities and ways to report situations that have not been adequately addressed to the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.
- If you have worked with your child and your school and need additional assistance, find resources to help address the situation.
PACE and PTA Information
Parents Active in Cooperative Education (PACE), is a choice educational enrichment program offered to Northshore School District (NSD) students in grades 1-5. Entry to PACE is determined by blind lottery (space permitting). PACE is located at three NSD Elementary Schools and serves students from the entire Northshore School District.
PACE builds a learning environment that includes active family participation; innovative teaching techniques; and a unique partnership of teachers, families and students. The PACE program serves students of all learning capabilities, follows the NSD curriculum and also provides an enriched educational experience through additional field trips, events, and learning opportunities.
Save the Date!
Find out if PACE is the right choice for your family at this year's PACE Information Night event.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 7:00 PM
This year's Information Night will be held as a virtual webinar.
Please register in advance for this webinar here : https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LAiU1kI_Qquu0Ljmv5uqZQ. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar.
For more details on PACE or this upcoming Information Night event:
PACE at Lockwood website: www.paceatlockwood.org
PACE at Lockwood Enrollment Coordinator: membership@paceatlockwood.org
Join the Lockwood PTA Today!
The Lockwood PTA is a group of parents, teachers, and community members who work together to provide financial and volunteer support for every child’s education. We organize community events, we fund books in classrooms, we offer grants to teachers, we help keep you informed. And we do the fun stuff too—movies nights and bingo nights, game nights and skate nights. We run after-school clubs. And we get the kids to run during Leopard Laps! We help build community—a place where all kids can thrive.
There is no wrong way be a PTA member. We have volunteers at all levels of engagement. But joining or renewing your membership now means that you support Lockwood PTA’s investment in your child and in every child. Please, renew or join us here.