From the Principal 

Leawood Families, 

Welcome Back!  It is with great anticipation and joy that I welcome you to another year at Leawood.  This year I begin my 8th year serving you in this capacity and each year I re-commit to giving the very best I have for this incredible school community. I continue to feel extremely blessed to have the privilege of working alongside such hard-working, dedicated, knowledgeable teachers and staff.  They continue to hold high expectations and raise the bar for themselves and their students. I look forward to connecting with all of your children again and being a small part of their lives. Like the desires I hold for my own four children, I want the very best for each of yours. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts regarding your child’s school success. Your concerns, ideas, and positive comments are appreciated and respected. Communication is vital to their success and to our overall growth and sense of community here at Leawood. We want to be proud of our school and our students. 

Another reminder about how so very important it is that you keep your Jeffco Connect contact information current. Our goal is to ensure we are communicating effectively and efficiently. If you ever have a suggestion for improving our communication, please do not hesitate to let us know! We were thrilled to see such a great turnout for our Back to School Open House Night.  We heard lots of positive feedback and despite the hail, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.  Thanks again, to Brian DeHerrera Schnerring for the amazing Back to School Movie.  It’s posted on our FB page if you haven’t yet seen it.

As we move through this year, it is likely you will have questions about school policies or procedures.  Leawood Elementary adheres to Colorado State Statutes and Board of Education Policies which are further defined and outlined in the Jeffco Public School Family and Student Handbook.  This publication was to be signed off on by every family when you registered your student(s) in Jeffco Connect. There is also a link for it on our website under the “Important Links” tab. Our newly updated Policy and Procedures booklet is also available on that link.  This document provides further information and reminders for our Leawood families. Some examples are dress code, drop off and pick up safety procedures, and our birthday policy.

Leawood Elementary encourages all families to be involved in and stay informed about your child’s education! One way to establish positive connections and a greater impact at Leawood is by joining our Parent/Teacher/Student Association (PTSA) and/or our School Accountability Committee (SAC.) Please check our website for more information and dates, including meeting agendas. PTSA has been a driving force in getting our classroom technology 21st Century ready, providing additional supports to our teachers, and supporting our school beautification initiatives. Some of SAC’s accomplishments include: healthy school initiatives, increased focus on wellness, parking lot safety, student-based budgeting recommendations, increase in parent involvement and engagement, improved school to home communication, and school marketing ideas.

The next couple of months will be hectic for all of us. With the return to homework, after-school activities, and sports, the calendars will be full. I would encourage all of you to take the time to check our Leawood website periodically for useful information. Please mark your calendars with the following:

• Monday, Sept 3rd - NO SCHOOL, Labor Day

• Tuesday, Sept 4th - Watch Dog Dad Information Meeting, 6:00 in the Library

• Wednesday, Sept 5, 5:00-7:00 Accountability Meeting

• Tuesday, Sept 11, Chili's Fundraiser for Band and Orchestra

• Thursday, Sept 13th - PTSA Community Night at Dairy Queen

• Friday, Sept 14th, 2:00-3:00pm: Lockdown Drill.  Please do not schedule any appointments during this time.  You will not be able to access the building during the drill.

• Monday, Sept 17 - Apex Fun Run Kick Off Day

• Tuesday, Sept 18, 6:30pm Information Meeting for 5th Grade at KCMS regarding transitioning

• Wednesday, Sept 19 - PTSA Meeting, 6:00-7:30pm

• Friday, Sept 21 - NO SCHOOL: Teacher Learning Day

• Monday, Sept 24 - 6th Grade Parent Meeting about Outdoor Lab, 6:30-7:30 in the library

• Tuesday, Sept 25, 6:00-8:00 Skate City Night 

• Thursday, Sept 27th, Apex Fun Run

We look forward to another incredible year here at Leawood.  All of our staff will make every effort to partner with you this year.  We not only provide learning opportunities that promote growth and high achievement for all children, but we strive to inspire the hearts and minds of every child.  As always, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Fondly,

Mrs. Shehan

martha.shehan@jeffco.k12.co.us