A Message from the Instructional Coach

Whether you are a teacher, parent, or guardian we share a goal of helping children learn and be successful.  The last six months have been challenging and it is now   As you know, parent teacher conferences are coming up the third week of October. These conferences are crucial in establishing an effective home-school partnership and may look and feel different this year.  These are just a few tips to prepare for a successful conference:

• Be on time.  The teachers will have a virtual waiting room and will let each family in on time.  Teachers will be on a strict schedule these evenings and they want to give you  your full time, but will need to cut the conference off for the next waiting parent. 

• Prepare a list of questions you want to ask your child’s teacher. 

• Review beginning of the year testing results and have them accessible to discuss.  

• Be ready to collaborate.  Teachers will often give you ideas of ways to help your child at home.

• Offer your perspective.  It is helpful because you’ve known your child longer than your child’s teacher has!

• Listen carefully.  This is such a short time teachers will often share a lot of information with you!

• Make a plan for future communication.   Whether email or phone call, let your teacher how you like to keep in touch. 

We look forward to seeing you October 13 and 14!

Jamie Kelley, Instructional Coach 

Kindergarten

Kindergartners are learning routines and building community!  We enjoy our mask breaks in the Columbine Roots garden, and we love Pete the Cat!  We are sharing our All About Me mobiles with each other and learning more about our classroom friends. Our kindergartners are doing an amazing job being respectful, responsible, and safe.  We are proud of them!

From the Library 

2020/21 Checkouts 

Leawood in person learners will still be able to check out books this year, although it will be done differently.  Kindergarten and first grade students come to the library weekly to choose one book from a selection laid out on tables.  They browse books with their eyes only to avoid touching the books.  Second through fifth graders learned how to put library books on hold last week by logging into our library system remotely.  Students are allowed one hold at a time, and the book is delivered directly to the classroom.  Please watch this video to learn more about Putting Library Books On Hold.

Both in person and remote learners also have access to a large e-book library.  Please watch this video to learn more about Checking out E-Books.  

Scholastic Book Fair Coming Soon!

The Scholastic Book Fair is back! While the Fair will be exclusively held online this year, we still plan on making it a fun and joyous experience for our kids.  The Online Fair will include features like: Leawood’s own online store, games for kids, virtual store walk-throughs and more. Remember, every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!).  Online ordering will be available October 12th through the 25th, and orders will be shipped directly to your home.  More information and a link to the online store coming soon!

4th Grade News 

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders have been learning about Geography and reading maps in our first Social Studies unit, “Before it was Colorado!.” Students are using geographic tools to research and answer questions about Colorado. Students are investigating geography such as, regions, geographic tools, and terms to show how Colorado has changed. Lastly, students will describe similarities and differences between the physical geography of Colorado and its neighboring states showing proficiency through a map project (political map, physical map, or topographical map of Colorado). Check out Mrs. Burnham’s Class reading maps. 

Mrs. Henkes/Voth’s 4th/5th Grade Class

Our class is busy creating maps! Fourth grade is making a map of Colorado and fifth graders are making a map a colony similar to Jamestown and Plymouth. Besides creating maps, we look forward to our mask two mask breaks each day under the shade of the tree!

Mrs. Story’s 5th Grade Sunflower Class 

is cruising right along with new routines in place.  We have just  applied our new learning to creating a settlement using resources and geography to make it successful, just like they did in Jamestown and Plymouth. We also love to use our huge plexiglass divider for “group” work.  Although I trip on it often.  Finally, our one-of-a-kind  sunflower is standing tall and proud in the hallway, representing all the unique gifts we bring together to build our classroom.