3rd grade is selling Valentines as part of our “People are Connected in the Economic Marketplace” unit. All proceeds will be going towards various playground upgrades such as new basketball nets, giant Jenga, Connect 4, or other different outside games.

Buy a Valentine for someone at Leawood to show them you care. This could be your own child, a teacher, a staff member, a student you know, or your child’s entire class! 

Visit our website below and make your choice. 

https://squareup.com/store/3rd-grade-valentines/

Cash will not be accepted. 

     Card: $1

     Card with Pencil and Eraser: $2

     Card with Pencil, Eraser, and Flower: $3

Sales will be open January 31st- February 12th! Third Grade will deliver these on February 13th.  

What’s New at Recess?

Leawood’s school social workers and recess paraprofessionals have participated in new learning this year to help create a more inclusive, engaging playground for students.  With professional development through Jeffco’s Healthy Schools and Playworks, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, we have implemented a few new practices to improve students’ experience at recess. 

Kids in 3rd, 4th, and 5th, grade have been piloting these new changes. Each week, a different group of three to four games are identified as the structured game choices for kids.  Examples of these games include four-square, kickball, tag games, SPUD/Scramball, knock-out basketball, knock down soccer, football, etc. We have condensed the playground into different configurations so that the adult supervision can be more engaging, while still allowing kids the freedom to use different equipment and spaces. 

Kids will always be able to engage in imaginative play, use equipment like the swings, tetherballs, or basketball hoops, or just hang out with their friends. What has changed is that games like full game basketball or football, or games that had gone on for months like capture the fish, are rotated in on a weekly basis.  This provides opportunities for kids to choose new games, interact with kids that they don’t always play with, and learn new games that kids might not have been playing before.

The feedback from kids has been mostly positive, with some still missing that one game that they had been playing every day for months. We are seeing kids who rarely played games at recess now learn four square, play tractor tag, or get involved in kickball.  Students with strong athletic abilities are engaging in a variety of games, instead of just one, and many are showing leadership skills by teaching and including others in those games.

Our goal is to implement this approach with primary grades as we move into springtime.  Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will be surveyed in the next couple of weeks so that they have the opportunity to share their feedback.  As we shared with students, this is new learning for all of us, and change can be hard. Our plan is to take the feedback and observations we’ve seen over the past few weeks, and make adjustments as needed. We have been very proud of the kids and their attitudes towards these changes.  If you haven’t heard anything about recess lately, ask your child today!

From the Library 

Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Spring Scholastic Book Fair Dates/Shopping Hours 

February 7th: 3:45-4:45

February 10th: 8:30-9:00am, 3:45-4:45pm 

February 11th: 8:30-9:00am, 3:45-7:45pm 

February 12th: 8:30-9:00am, 3:45-7:45pm 

February 13th: 8:30-9:00am

We need volunteers to help set up the book fair on February 6th from 2:00 to 3:45pm.  All volunteers will receive a $5 coupon to use at the book fair. Please email lisa.pepper@jeffco.k12.co.us if you can help set up. We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school. 

Fifth Grade Parents:

January's digital citizenship skill was Media Balance.  Please visit our 1:1 Chromebook Website to see the lesson and get family ideas for home discussion. 

Yearbooks

Our yearbooks are now on sale!  Ordering available until April 1, 2020. Full-Color Yearbook is $15.00. To order your yearbook visit: www.inter-state.com/yearbook and enter code: 47291Z

Mrs. Pepper, lisa.pepper@jeffco.k12.co.us

A Message from Band and Orchestra!

Hello from Band and Orchestra,

We have successfully completed our Columbine Area Music Festival on the evening of January 22nd. All of our band and orchestra students did a fantastic job demonstrating their learning through performing our concert songs, and listening to our more advanced Ken Caryl MS and Columbine HS musicians play.

Our attention now turns to our final two performances of the year. Wednesday May 6th will be our elementary school tour. All band and orchestra students will travel to the five different schools of our area to perform for their school communities during the day. This is a great chance for our students to demonstrate their learning for classmates, and we want to get our 4th graders excited to join instrumental music next year.

Many parent volunteers are needed to host this event successfully. Please contact me (Mr. Whaylen) at eric.whaylen@jeffco.k12.co.us if you are able to chaperone this trip from 8am-3pm on May 6th.

Our final concert of the school year will be on Monday May 11th in the evening at Columbine High School. Students will begin playing full page sheet music very soon. This music is much more specialized between the different instruments, and will require a lot more practice.

Sincerely,

Eric R. Whaylen 

From Our Principal

From the School & Office

From Our Teachers

From PTSA/Accountability

From the District/Community

Student, Family, & Community Supports