May From Our Teachers
Leawood Elementary School
6th Graders Help Bring Water to African Village in Cameroon
Water and the Living environment is one of our 6th grade science areas of study. I was able to make a connection with the village of Nguiochegbe in Cameroon, Africa. This village, and of course their school, does not have water or power. There is no plan in the future for either.
My goal in connecting with this village, was to help Leawood students better understand global issues about water. Amazingly, this initial connection has grown into a coordinated effort to bring water to the village. Due to our efforts to donate funds, they are now having discussions with local government and school administration to get water to the village.
In order to raise money to help bring water to the village, our 6th graders are building and selling bee houses. During our Ecosystems science unit, students learn about the decline of native solitary North American bees due to habitat loss and changing farming techniques. Building bee houses is an authentic way for students to help the native bees continue to pollinate our plants, flowers, and crops.
Our goal is to sell at least 100 bee houses, raising $2000 to send to Africa. In addition to money raised, Leawood will donate 3 iPads and solar charging stations to the school of 230 students and 6 teachers. We have a local contact in Denver who will personally deliver the check and the iPads to the village, leaving May 21st.
Please help us by purchasing a semi-custom bee house for any type of a garden! These bee houses attract solitary bees, not honey bees, which are up to 100 times more efficient in pollinating. They are non-aggressive and will help your garden grow! You can use the link below or visit our school website to make a purchase. Thank you for your support!
Tim Lupo, 6th grade Teacher, and the sixth grade class
From the Library:
It’s hard to believe that this is the last week for student check out! All library books are due by Thursday May 9th. This is a district wide end of year due date. Any books not turned in will accrue a fine which will be added to your student’s JeffcoConnect account. All fines must be paid in order to receive end of year report cards. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Lisa Pepper
lpepper@jeffco.k12.co.us
A Message from Instrumental Music:
Thank you to all parents and family members who were able to bring their students to our additional practice after school on April 29th. The opportunity for our performing groups to meet together before our concert is incredibly valuable, and I hope all students are practicing hard.
All are invited to our spring concert at Columbine High School, and instrumental music students must attend. Students should wear their balck Columbine music tshirt, all black pants or skirt, and all black shoes. Please have them bring their instrument, music, folding stand (if you have one), and any extra materials (reeds, valve oil, rosin, etc.)
Spring Band and Orchestra Concert
Thursday May 9:
Columbine High School Gym
Students arrive at 5:30pm
Performance at 6:00pm
Performance will conclude by 7:00pm
Please plan to stay for the duration of the performance.
~Eric Whaylen - Band and Orchestra Teacher
LEAWOOD'S COLUMBINE ROOTS GARDEN
HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and helped us build our garden beds on April 20th. It was a day full of fun, community, work, and recommitment. Seeing so many Leawood alumni (many who are now Columbine Rebels) working alongside our current students was so meaningful—so proud to be a part of this community. Stay connected with us on Facebook for pictures and updates as we continue to build our Columbine Roots garden! And keep May 16 & 17 in your calendar for our planting days!
21st Century Meets 20th Century
Next time you are in the building, and in the front hallway, please bring your smartphone. The sixth graders have interviewed, and written biographies of our neighborhood Veterans. They also made print portraits of them to go along with the writing. However, you have to read about these 20th Century heroes by using your 21st Century technology. Come scan the QR codes to read about their exciting lives. What a great way to connect the generations.
Mrs. Story
From the Instructional Coach
Summer is right around the corner! We all know the importance of giving children a “brain break” during the summer, but too easily kids fall into a trap of watching TV or playing video games. Here are some free and/or cheap ideas to keep your children busy without a screen! Have a fantastic summer!
Shoot funny home videos of singing, dancing or just acting goofy. Most smartphones let you shoot videos.
Start a scavenger hunt.
Go camping - even if it's just in the backyard.
Learn pottery by making figures out of backyard mud.
Browse books at the library.
Arrange a play date with cousins or neighborhood kids. Once you get enough children together, their imagination takes over and they'll entertain themselves.
Visit the park.
Encourage your children to start a make-believe "detective agency."
Climb trees (if it's safe).
Watch educational movies on Netflix or Hulu.
Bake cookies and other desserts. Learn the art of cooking.
Fingerpaint using non-toxic wet paint.
Hike in the mountains or a nearby forest.
Make a pizza together at home.
Make your own homemade board game.
Visit a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary to watch how rescuers help local wildlife.
Learn origami. Make birds, animals and various objects.
Plant trees in the backyard.
Play musical instruments like guitar and piano. Get a cheap, used beginners instrument from Craigslist or a yard sale.
Paint old boots, belts and other leather with acrylic colors.
Join a local recreational center, like the YMCA, which offers affordable memberships and plenty of programs.
Make snow cones out of crushed ice. Add different flavors and serve friends.
Tour a nearby factory, such as a chocolate factory or tea factory.
Join swimming lessons.
Walk your dog daily, or just go for family walks after dinner.
Read news stories together. Explain the story to your child in an age-appropriate manner.
Write letters to pen pals or distant relatives.
Search for "free admission" days to the local museum, art gallery or zoo.
Encourage the kids to stage a play at home. They can write a script and make costumes out of old clothes.
Go on a bicycle ride.
Feed the ducks at the local pond.
Have a "mathlete" competition - see which kids can solve math problems the fastest.
Play a trivia game. You don't need to buy one - just prep questions ahead of time from the internet.
Play Frisbee or soccer.
Make mini-popsicles with ice trays and juice.
Play hide-and-go-seek.
Fly kites. Don't want to buy one? Have the kids make their own.
Aimee Crispin, Instructional Coach
May P.E.
We are getting ready for our Field Days at Leawood. As many know that our field days are student run as we have such great students that they have always made these days so successful. Those of you that have seen our gymnastics programs have been able to see what a great job that they do. I am so excited to be here at Leawood, that I look at it as a blessing. We have such great kids and parents, along with our staff , that it would be impossible to not have such a great place for kids, community and staff members. Our field days are scheduled for Monday May 13 for our K, 1, 3, and 5 grades and Tuesday May 14 for our 2, 4, and 6 grades, with Wednesday May 15 as a make up day if the weather does not cooperate. We also want to thank our PTSA for providing snow cones for our little athletes.
We just finished our after-school team sports which our kids did a great job. We had the honor of having Mr. Lomba and Mr Boogart join us to participate, which our kids just love having them both. A great big thank you to both of them.
Thank You,
F.T. Gonzales
Leawoo P.E.
Music Happenings
WOW! The 4th, 5th, 6th grade and Leawood Rock Band concert was a big success. Congratulations to the student performers for all their hard work and thank you so much to families for your support. We are especially grateful for our family volunteers who helped set-up/take-down and visit as guest instructors. Videos will be coming soon.
The Leawood Rock Band will be playing and singing in the rescheduled Columbine Area Choral Festival on May 6th at 7pm at Columbine High School. Rock band students should arrive at 5:30pm for a rehearsal and sound check.
It is with mixed feelings I share that I will not be returning to Leawood Elementary next year. I am moving into teaching music privately, with the goal of opening my own music education studio in 2020. I am currently accepting new students starting in August, information about lesson offerings is available on my website (www.joelzigman.com). I am so glad for the time I have spent getting to know and work in this community and sad to say goodbye, but I am excited for what is to come next and hope to continue to make music with the Leawood community in a different capacity.
~ Mr Zigman, Music Teacher