Leopard Pride Newsletter
October 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,
I often think about the journey Lockwood goes through at the beginning of each year in building a community of learners across the school. The amazing Lockwood staff work very hard to ensure that each and every student has a sense of belonging and is able to share their voice in collective and supportive ways. It is through the partnership with parents, that students truly thrive and grow as Leopards. 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.
October means that fall has officially arrived. The arrival of fall allows us to think about and reflect on change and how this can be a chance to renew ourselves. As I reflect, I think about how the Lockwood community has given me a sense of belonging. I am so proud of our Leopards and how they are ensuring that each and every student feels as if they belong. One of the changes implemented this year has been the dedicated morning meeting / connection time for students. This is one of many opportunities each and every day for students to share, to renew relationships and build new ones, and to learn from one another.
As parents, you can partner in furthering students sense of belonging and using their voice to advocate for themselves by:
- Asking specifics on how their day went and how they were able to contribute to the learning of the students in their class
- Supporting them in their educational journey by reinforcing learning from school at home
- Reminding your child to use their voice to share about their culture and beliefs knowing that Lockwood is a school that values differences
I'd like to leave you with this quote: "Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect." - Brene Brown. Let's work together to build this in our students.
In partnership,
Tamorah Redshaw
Proud Principal
School Information and Dates
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.
The Great Shake Out - Drop, Cover, and Hold
Washington state law and Northshore School District policy require all schools hold at least one drill per calendar month while school is in session. This month, we will be conducting an earthquake drill and practicing what we would do if we were at school in the event of an earthquake.
Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and express their feelings. Emphasize that even though sometimes things happen that we may not expect, there are lots of things we can do to help us stay safe.
For more information on earthquakes and general preparedness, you might want to visit Washington Emergency Management Division (https://mil.wa.gov/personal) or Great Washington ShakeOut (https://www.shakeout.org/washington/index.html) websites. You may also find the https://www.ready.gov/kids site helpful.
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, Lockwood will continue to 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. 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. Just like last year, our celebration for October will be around fall and the change this brings for all. We will continue to engage in parties and art activities which bring joy to students and allows for fun and social engagement. Let's continue to be inclusive and welcoming to all students.
What’s the Story With COVID?
We’ve had a few questions from parents about the current COVID protocols. NSD is no longer doing batch testing, but all employees/volunteers must be vaccinated (unless they have a medical/religious exemption). Masking is optional–except in the health room, where it’s mandatory OR if a student is showing COVID symptoms.
NSD follows this DOH Flowchart for deciding what to do when someone is showing symptoms of COVID or tests positive. Meanwhile, here’s a quick summary of when isolation is required from Nurse Sue:
No required isolation with COVID exposure; (students should wear a mask for 10 days and test every 24-48 hours for 5 days after exposure).
Required to isolate at home with COVID symptoms (& must test negative before returning to school - at home test/or PCR).
Required isolation with COVID positive test. Day zero is the 1st day of symptoms OR day of positive test.
If you test positive, return to school after 5 days of isolation if: A) no symptoms OR B) if symptoms significantly improve and no fever for 24 hours (without medication). Then, you must wear a mask at school for 5 additional days.
If you never test positive, return to school as soon as A) no symptoms OR B) if symptoms significantly improve and no fever for 24 hours (without medication)
If you’d like to learn more, check out the NSD Covid Protocols here. Or reach out to Nurse Sue (sdesrosier@nsd.org).
Do you want to retake your picture?
Lockwood’s retake day is November 3, 2022. Order information is on www.mydorian.com; search by searching for Lockwood. A student wishing to have their picture retaken should bring their original package back to school and return it to the photographer on retake picture day.
The Lockwood Library Corner
October is BOOK FAIR time! We are super excited to be hosting our annual book fair event in the library the week of October 3-7. All students will get a chance to browse the books when they come to the library with their class. We also have a family night scheduled for Friday, October 7 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. We can't wait to purchase some new, amazing titles for our library with the funds raised from the book fair.
Yay Reading!!
Mrs. Fig and Mrs. McFarlane
Family PAW Project
Look for the Lockwood PAW Family Project coming home in your students' Wednesday Envelope. The PAW project will help connect our school to your family. Use the PAW to draw and write about your traditions, languages, places that are important to your family, and more. We will display every PAW in our school. We are proud of our diversity.
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.
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
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
PACE Information Night is October 18th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm.
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.
District News
District Required Forms
Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notification of forms that must be acknowledged, including:
- WA State Attendance Letter
- Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
- Weapons Letter
- Student Housing Questionnaire
- Tech Use Agreement
- Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information (optional form)
- Parent Fee Waiver Consent Form (optional form)
Parents/guardians who have not already signed the forms in ParentVUE will be required to complete them before they can access student grades and other information. If you need help completing these forms, please review this step-by-step guide on the District website. Your school office may also be a helpful resource and could provide either a device to complete these forms electronically or print copies of the forms, if needed.
We ask that parents/guardians log in to ParentVUE today to view these forms. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the ParentVUE link above. Once logged in, you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the forms listed. Additionally, secondary students will be prompted to download, read, and acknowledge the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook when they log in to StudentVUE. Families with elementary students are encouraged to review the handbook together in ParentVUE with their students. Again, please refer to this website for the step-by-step guide to completing these forms. These forms must be completed no later than Oct. 14, 2022.