Leopard Pride Newsletter
November 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,
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.
Thinking about COVID testing and the number of cases we have been able to identify at Lockwood, I am thankful that our community has been so diligent in keeping our students safe. Though we have had multiple cases, we have been able to keep our school open to allow for our students to keep learning. We know that we are nearing the end of the tunnel, the light is bright, together we will make it through. Please keep diligent, please keep your child home if he / she is not well, and keep wearing a mask. Here are some health reminders to stay safe:
- Hand-washing: Hand-washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family against the spread of germs. Use soap and water to lather your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. It is important to scrub for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Proper Cough & Sneeze Technique: Covering coughs and sneezes can help prevent germs from spreading. Teach your family to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and immediately throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow and not your hands.
- Social Distancing: Before you and your family leave home for an outing, it is important to choose safe social activities and to follow the guidance from local health authorities. While you are out, encourage your family to practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others who are not in your household.
- Cleaning & Disinfecting: Practice routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces around your home like doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and countertops. Cleaning with soap and water reduces the number of germs, dirt, and impurities on a surface, while disinfecting products kill germs on surfaces.
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 Dates and Information
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 Thursday, 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 25th and Friday, November 26th.
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.
Picture Retake Day
For students who were absent for picture day or for parents who would like a new picture taken, the picture retake day is scheduled for Friday, November 12th from 9:45am to 11:45am. This will also be an opportunity for regular parent volunteers to get their picture volunteer badge. Parents may utilize this same window of time as the students.
Conference Week
Parent / Student conferences will be held on November 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. 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 Rachel
Thank you Lockwood Leopards for keeping all our students and staff healthy and safe. Please continue to keep students home who are sick or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 and obtain testing as directed. Also, continue reinforcing the importance of wearing masks at school and help make sure your student’s mask fits properly over the mouth and nose. I am available for any questions or concerns.
Lockwood Symptom Management and Testing Information
Rachel Ogurkow, RN
425-408-5806
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
Free Tutoring at KCLS
Continuing our theme of learning happens best in community, the King County Library System (KCLS) has made available free tutoring support to students via Tutor.com. This tutoring support is accessible by any student with a KCLS account, and all of Northshore's students are eligible to be a member of KCLS. Learn more about this support by visiting the KCLS webpage about Tutor.com. Real-time tutoring is available between 2 PM and midnight. Students can also submit essays for review.
Interest Survey for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for 5 -11 Year Olds
In anticipation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine receiving final approval for ages 5-11, we are planning three vaccination opportunities for families who choose to have their student(s) vaccinated.
Weekend Clinic: first dose Nov. 7, second dose Nov. 28
Weekend Clinic: first dose Nov. 13 or 14, second dose Dec. 11 or 12
Vaccination clinic at your student's school during the school day (first dose dates will likely be in November)
Clinics will be free for all Northshore families. If you've already completed the interest form, thank you! If not, please help us plan these events by completing an interest form.
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.
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.
PACE and PTA Information
Parents Active in Cooperative Education (PACE) at Lockwood is an elective program located at Lockwood Elementary that provides an enriched educational experience for students in grades 1-5. PACE students benefit from additional support in the classroom provided by parent volunteers who assist with small group instruction and a variety of enrichment opportunities.
If you are interested in learning more about PACE at Lockwood, join us for a virtual tour. Please use the link below to sign up for a tour. Contact tours@paceatlockwood.org or membership@paceatlockwood.org for questions.
Tours are a requirement to apply for PACE. The PACE lottery for 2022-2023 school year will be held on February 5th and the last day to do a tour is February 9, 2021.
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A4AF2DA5F9C61-pace
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!