The Buzz at Leeds
May 2, 2022
Message from Principal Wenz
What a nice surprise to see all of the messages written in chalk around our school. Thank you to everyone who came to write messages yesterday for our educators. Leeds is very fortunate to have such amazing educators who are truly dedicated to student learning, social-emotional well-being and supporting students, caregivers, and each other. Our educators have overcome obstacles over the last few years and continue to do so. I am very grateful for all of our staff members each and every day. If you see one of our great Leeds educators this week, please help me in thanking them. Friday we will celebrate our Food Service Heroes.
This Saturday, May 7th from 9:00-1:00 NEF is having the NEF Book Fund Plant Sale. It will be held on the front lawn of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. All of the proceeds from the sale of plants and raffle tickets (for a quilt or trellis) will be divided among all public schools in Northampton for the purchase of books and other educational resources. Additionally on Saturday, May 7th our PTO is having the Auction Finale Celebration from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm at Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield. Tickets are $35.00 each. *If you are able to pay anything additional, it covers the cost of someone who may wish to attend and helps the PTO support school activities. If you'd like to attend and the ticket price is a barrier, please contact: secretary@leedspto.org Please see the PTO flyer under PTO in this newsletter.
We will be able to have our Annual Field Day this year. It will be held on Wednesday, June 1st with a rain date of Friday, June 3rd. Ms. Bischoff will be sending home a flyer tomorrow, 5/3. She will be looking for volunteers to assist with field day. Kindergarten through Grade 2 students will participate from 9:00-10:30. Students in grades 3 through 5 will participate from 11:45-1:45. All volunteers will needs to go through Volunteer in Northampton Schools (VINS). We are asking that if you would like to volunteer for field day, you submit your paperwork to Candy by May 11th.
- Please contact Candy Tauscher.
- Phone: 413 552-9447
- Email:(vinsvolunteer@gmail.com).
- Her office is currently being occupied at Ryan Road, so she is working from home.
- 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.
Stay safe and be well,
Chris Wenz, Principal
Leeds PTO
PTO Auction
The virtual auction which is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Leeds Elementary School is happening now through May 7th. Go on-line to https://www.biddingowl.com/LeedsPTO to bid on some fantastic items donated by teachers and local businesses! Also, there will be an in-person gathering at Black Birch Vineyard to celebrate the last day of the Auction. All are welcome! Please go to leedspto.org and click on "events" to get tickets. It's been a long two years and we'd love to see you there!
Next Leeds PTO Meeting
Topic: Leeds PTO Meeting
Time: May 3, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88141713866?pwd=T29UcXRmYytjL1V1cm5KOURIclgzZz09
Meeting ID: 881 4171 3866
Passcode: 991359
Leeds Equity and Inclusion Committee
The next meeting of the Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee will take place (virtually) on Wednesday, May 11, 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 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.
Donations for Recess Equipment
- We are looking 6 used baseball gloves with at least 1 left handed glove for students who are looking to toss a tennis ball.
- We are looking for 6 used lacrosse sticks. We have a parent volunteer to come on some days for some of our students to toss a tennis ball at recess.
- We are looking for a soccer goal.
- We are looking for tennis balls.
- We are looking for 2 checkers games and 2 chess games.
Thank you everyone!
Spiffy Coalition
Hello SPIFFY partners,
The SPIFFY Coalition is engaging in a strategic planning process and hoping to talk with parents/caregivers throughout Hampshire County about their opinions related to youth substance use and mental health to inform our future prevention work.
Attached are flyers in both English and Spanish with more information. Please consider participating or forwarding this information on to others who may be interested.
Thank you for your help with this!
Lisa Goldsmith, LICSW
SPIFFY Coalition Coordinator
Collaborative for Educational Services
Department of Healthy Families and Communities
123 Hawley Street (office)
97 Hawley Street (mailing address)
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 239-7365
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hersFollow the SPIFFY Coalition on Facebook!
Leeds' Student Fundraiser for Ukraine Refugees Coin Collection!
MCAS - Grades 3 through 5 Students
If you have any questions regarding MCAS, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or me. Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessments will begin in April. This year we have 2 sessions of each subject matter. Here is the schedule:
Grade 5
- 5/3 & 5/4 Mathematics
- 5/17 & 5/18 Science
Grade 4
- 5/12 & 5/13 Mathematics
Grade 3
- 5/19 & 5/20 Mathematics
Book Launch
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Dates
5/2-5/6 Teacher Appreciation Week
5/3 Grade 5 Math MCAS
5/4 Grade 5 Math MCAS
5/6 Food Service Hero Day
5/7 NEF Plant Sale @Smith Vocational Agricultural High School 9:00am-1:00pm
5/7 Leeds PTO In-Person Event Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield @6:30
5/11 National School Nurse Day
5/11 Early Release Day @11:30 for Teacher Work Day
5/11 Leeds Equity & Inclusion Committee Meeting @6:30
5/12 Grade 4 Math MCAS
5/13 Grade 4 Math MCAS
5/17 Grade 5 Science MCAS
5/18 Grade 5 Science MCAS
5/19 Grade 3 Math MCAS
5/20 Grade 3 Math MCAS
5/27 Grade 5 Field Trip - Smith Art Museum
5/30 No School - Memorial Day
6/1 Field Day
6/3 Grade 5 Field Trip to JFK Middle School
6/3 Rain Date - Field Day
6/6 - 6/10 Grade 5 Science Week
6/8 Early Release Day @11:30
6/20 No School - Juneteenth
6/23 Last day for Preschool
6/24 Step Up Day for students in grades K-4
6/27 Last Day of School - Early Release Day @11:30
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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