LEVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, October 2
Instrumental Music Lessons Begins

Saturday, October 13
Harvest Festival

Friday, October 19
Curriculum Day (No School)

October is coming and so is Mountain Day!

Last year, we held our first Mountain Day. It was a huge success, and there was no question about needing to have one this year. A group of teachers has spent time considering options for new hikes, and this year Mount Toby will be added to our day.

The exact date of Mountain Day is top secret. We’ll be waiting for a nice October day when classes don’t have any other field trips or special activities in their schedules. The night before Mountain Day, families will receive a phone message from me, letting kids know that they should come to school prepared for the out-of-doors. All activities will take place within school hours.

This year’s adventures:

• PreK and K will take a walk on trails adjacent to the school.

• Grade 1 will venture slightly further, with a visit to Leverett Pond.

• Grades 2 and 3 will hike up Mount Sugarloaf.

• Grades 4 and 6 will hike up Mount Toby.

• Grade 5 will do their annual Brushy Mountain hike.

Students should wear long pants, good socks, and sturdy shoes. Running shoes are fine. No shorts, flip-flops, or sandals!! In a day pack, each child should have a small container of water, a jacket or fleece, snacks, and a bag lunch. Molly will provide a bag lunch for students who have requested in on the permission slip that was sent home.

All of the staff will be participating in Mountain Day. Parents who have been CORI’d are welcome to accompany classes. Please check with your child’s teacher if you are interested, and they can give you more information. But please keep the date a secret! Parents attending the Mt. Sugarloaf and Mt. Toby hikes should plan to meet the groups at the trailheads, since there is limited space on the buses.

There was great excitement when I passed out permission slips earlier this week, and I’m sure we’ll have another stellar day. If you have any questions or concerns about Mountain Day, please give me a call.

--Margot Lacey

Please remember to send your child to school with a note any day that their after school plans are different than usual. We understand that unexpected situations arise, and in these cases you may call the office with a change of plans. Emails are unreliable, as staff members may be absent or unable to check their emails during the school day. Relevant sections of the Family Handbook are copied below for your reference.

AFTER SCHOOL PLANS/PERMISSION SLIPS

On occasion, children have plans to go home from school with friends for a play date. Plans for such after school activities should be made in advance and your child must bring a note stating where he or she is going after school. We discourage students from calling parents during the school day for permission to go home with a friend. Parents/guardians may call the school office with a change of plans for their child when there is an unexpected situation. Otherwise, the child should come to school with a note from his or her parent/guardian if there is any change to the regular routine. A note helps make everyone feel secure about who will be responsible for the child at dismissal.

ROUTINES FOR PICKING UP CHILDREN AT SCHOOL

If you are picking up your own child at the end of the school day, please:

Send your child’s teacher a note on the day you’ll be picking him/her up.
If you regularly pick up your child on a given day, send a blanket note for the year. It will be kept in the main office and communicated to the staff supervisor at the front door. Be sure to send a note on any days when this plan changes!
Park your car in front of the school or in one of the parking lots. Please drive up on to the berm in front of the school, as far off the road as possible.Pick up your child at the main front door of the school. A teacher will supervise children who are picked up at the main front door of the school.
Please pick your child up PROMPTLY at 3:05 p.m.

If you are picking up your child before the end of the school day, please:

Send a note to your child’s teacher saying when you will pick him/her up.
A copy of your note will go to the school office.
When you arrive at school, please go to the office FIRST.
The secretary will help you find your child.
Do not go to the classroom to meet your child.

Come Work in the LES Kitchen!!

We're looking for a few reliable kitchen substitutes. The shift is 10AM-1:30PM and involves prep, serving, dishes and clean-up. We work hard and try to have fun, too! We're looking for energetic people with hustle, kitchen experience is helpful but not required; we’ll train you. Ask Kate for an application or come talk to Molly for more information.

LES Chess Club will meet in the library Oct 15-Dec 3 After school, 4 PM, Grades 2-6

LES Chess Club is for all levels of players including students who are completely new to the game. We will break the class into two groups: Beginners and Juniors. Beginning students will learn rules, piece movement and basic strategies through a series of ‘mini games’ which isolate the learning to one piece at a time as we build towards playing a complete game. Juniors are students who already understand most of the rules of chess and wish to play complete games autonomously from the onset. The Juniors will focus on developing chess strategy and tactics through game play with their peers.

Cost $75 ($35 if enrolled in Afterschool)
Let Kate know if you would like to sign up. Priority will be given to students already enrolled in the Afterschool Program.

LES PTO Harvest Festival
Click the link above to find out how to sign up, volunteer, and/or donate!

First Session of Instrumental Music Lessons Begins Week of October 1!

Brian Bender will once again be offering private and group instruction (available to students in grades 3-6) on piano, trumpet, trombone, flute, clarinet, saxophone, drums, recorder, and world percussion. Information and registration forms can be found here. You can also pick up a registration form in the office.

The OCTOBER lunch menu is here!

This month's Harvest of the Month is featuring TOMATOES! With help from the Massachusetts Farm to School Project, our school cafeteria will include produce from local farms throughout this school year. To learn more about Harvest of the Month, visit http://www.massfarmtoschool.org/hotm/.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

Please click on the links for detailed information.

Heart to Heart Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service, which has served Leverett for the past 14 years, has openings for dogs to join weekday group walks. These hour walks are $20 and dogs are walked off leash on trails. Dogs must be able to ride in a car with other dogs, mostly come when called and be polite with other dogs or people we encounter. Contact Maureenippolito@gmail.com or by phone at 413.475.4304.

Leverett Elementary School - 85 Montague Road - Leverett MA 01054

(413) 548-9144