MAY 2021 From Our Teachers
Leawood Elementary School
From 5th Grade
The 5th grade Pop Top Club is in full swing. Please send in your pop tops to your student’s class, as there is a contest again this year. All pop tops are donated to The Ronald McDonald House in Denver to continue their great work of helping children and families.
From Music
A Goodbye from Ms. T
Sometimes the hardest goodbye is also the sweetest. Saying goodbye is rarely enjoyable, but with how many sweet and caring memories I have at Leawood, I know that I say goodbye with no negativity and with only joyful experiences. When I received the news that there would no longer be a music position at Leawood due to uncontrollable pairings (Don't worry! Kids will still have music, but from teachers that will travel to Leawood!), I knew that it was going to be hard to say goodbye to a community that has brought me such joy and support over the last two years. I will always be grateful for the community that allowed students and myself to try new things without fear of failure and embraced new music experiences.
Through this transition, so many community members have supported me and made my transition to a new school possible. Without the support from staff and families, I would not have been able to make this move. So, while I am extremely excited for this amazing opportunity with another amazing school, I am saddened to leave Leawood.
Please always know that Leawood students, staff, and families will hold a very special and dear place in my heart.
Keep singing, dancing, and creating the most wonderful and beautiful music that I know you have inside of you.
And so, it is with the sweetest memories in mind that I say goodbye to Leawood. I hope to hear amazing things about Leawood's music program in the years to come.
Avrial Turner - avrial.turner@jeffco.k12.co.us
Avrial Turner
General Music Teacher
Leawood Elementary
Pronouns - she/her/hers
Mr. Lomba has officially resigned from his position at Leawood. He will be missed! Miss Julia Cable has been hired as a fifth grade teacher for next year. Please see her welcome letter!
Garden Update
It's nearly that time to start planting. So far we are expecting to see some sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, peppers, and flowers in our garden this year. Planting will begin on May 14th. If you have any questions or ideas for our garden, please reach out to Mr. Boogert (ryan.boogert@jeffco.k12.co.us). Over the summer, we will be looking for volunteers to "adopt" the garden in week chunks. Look out for a Sign Up sheet in a future newsletter if you're interested.
Library/Technology News
Scholastic Book Fair Coming Soon!
While the Fair will be exclusively held online this spring, we still plan on making it a fun experience for our kids. The Online Fair will include features like Leawood’s own online store, games for kids, and virtual store walk-throughs. Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!). Online ordering will be available May 10th through the 23rd, and orders will be shipped directly to your home. Leawood Scholastic Online Book Fair
Home Internet Safety
In an effort to help parents monitor internet use, Jeffco provides Securly Home for free. Securly Home allows parents and guardians to monitor sites visited and even block specific websites. Here are step by step directions to get started. Getting Started with Securly Home
Chromebook Troubleshooting
Are you having trouble with device slowness or logging into Zoom, SeeSaw or Lexia? Performing Chromebook maintenance every month or so helps your device work more efficiently. Please help your student follow the steps in this Chromebook Clean Up document to keep the device up to date.
Lisa Pepper, Digital Teacher Librarian
Square 1 - AMP Fundraiser
We have an exciting fundraising art opportunity! Square 1 is a company who partners with schools to print student artwork onto keepsakes like mugs, plates, key chains, masks, etc. This is such a meaningful fundraiser as the money raised will go towards Leawood's Art, Music and P.E. programs! Students in each grade level are working on a different 'lion themed' works of art that will be sent to Square 1 by mid April. Order forms will be sent home - emailed to you by April 23, 2021 and the order deadline is May 6, 2021. The best part is that the Keepsakes will be sent directly to your homes! On behalf of the Leawood PTSA and AMP team, we thank you so much for your continued support!
From the Social Emotional Learning Specialist
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)
In the month of March, our students have been learning about emotion management and how to use the calm down steps when feeling strong emotions. Those steps are “stop -- name your feeling -- calm down.” Our students had the opportunity to show their leadership skills and continue to earn pride bucks as well as demonstrate some mystery behaviors: responsible in the hallway, listening with attention, and perseverance. There will be more opportunities for students to demonstrate social-emotional skills and behaviors in the month of April.
As always, if there are any questions, wonderings, or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you,
Katie Weaver (Ms. Katie)
Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
Katie.weaver@jeffco.k12.co.us
303-982-5519 (voicemail)