Newsletter for the week of Jan. 30, 2023 In this issue:
Gratitude from the nurse
Thanks to our AmazonSmile supporters
8th Grade Celebration planning
Staff Appreciation signups
Emergency Prep Corner
Staff Spotlight
Thank you, sponsors
News & events
Stay informed about what's happening at Leota
Message of gratitude from the nurse
Incredibly, the school nurse's wish list was fulfilled in less than 24 hours! Nurse Vicki wanted to share this message to all the PTSA members who helped replenish supplies in the Health Room:
I want to send a huge thank you to all of our wonderful Leota families who have fulfilled every item on my Health Room wish list. With all of your support I am able to care for and support our students with all of their health and hygiene needs, as well as educating them on important health topics while they are with me.
I really do love working with all of your kids and am so glad that I joined this community.
--Nurse Vicki Duncombe
Thanks to our AmazonSmile supporters
As you might have heard, Amazon is shutting down its charity program. The Leota PTSA was one of the grateful beneficiaries of AmazonSmile over the years. We want to thank the many families who selected Leota PTSA as their charity of choice in AmazonSmile. Every purchase you made helped strengthen our resources.
Your AmazonSmile purchases will continue to count until Feb. 20, so don't stop now. Thank you so much for supporting the Leota PTSA!
Volunteers needed
Learn how you can help make Leota more awesome
8th Grade Celebration
It's time to start planning the celebration for our 8th graders, who will soon be moving on to high school (!!). It will take a team of volunteers to make this event happen, so your help is needed!
Volunteers can shape the event however they like. Last year the team organized an awesome themed party on campus, but this year's celebration can be anything. The time, date, location, and activities are all flexible. (Note that this is not a graduation. There is no ceremony, no diplomas, no robes.)
Calling all volunteers! Is comfort food your love language? Let’s treat our wonderful Leota staff to a delicious pasta bar lunch on Feb. 15! The staff really enjoy these lunches, and they often comment how lucky they feel to work at Leota and be shown so much appreciation. Please take a look at the upcoming events and consider contributing:
We have almost 90 staff at Leota this year, and we want to show each and every one of them how much we value their contributions to our school. Thanks for your help!
Reminder: Volunteer background checks
To volunteer on campus at Leota or any other facility in the Northshore School District, you'll need to submit an online application for a Level 1 background check. Volunteers must update the application every year, and it must be completed before the first day of volunteering. To begin the process, visit the district's Become a Volunteer webpage.
Note: Effective Nov. 1, 2022, proof of Covid vaccination is no longer required for NSD volunteers. The district change is in response to the governor's repeal of Covid emergency proclamations and state of emergency.
Emergency Prep Corner
Tips to help families navigate emergencies
Tip: Know your building safety designations
NSD has four different building designations for school-related emergencies. Here's a brief description of each term:
Safe Inside is used for common incidents such as wildlife near campus or police activity in the surrounding community. In Safe Inside mode, all students are brought indoors and exterior building doors are locked, but the educational process and interior activity may continue.
Shelter-in-Place addresses exterior atmospheric hazards, such as a gas leak in the neighborhood or ash from a nearby fire. In Shelter-in-Place mode, all students are brought indoors; windows are closed, locked and possibly taped; fans are turned off; and towels may be placed under doors.
Evacuationis used whenever it’s safer for students to be outside rather than inside, for example, in the event of an interior gas leak, fire, or unstable building structure due to a natural disaster. In an Evacuation, students and staff leave the building following similar procedures they would use in a fire drill.
Lockdown is reserved for the most serious situations. It is used only for a possible major threat such as a weapon on or near campus. In a Lockdown, all students are brought indoors, classroom doors are locked, students may hide, staff may barricade doors and cover windows, and the normal education process stops.
Check out the next PTSA Newsletter for another emergency prep tip!
Staff Spotlight
Get to know the teachers and staff who make Leota a great place
DeAnn Henley
Assistant Principal
Favorite meal? My favorite meal is Ethiopian food. I love the rich spices, vegetables, and injera.
What do you like to do on weekends? On the weekends, I play with my dog Noodle and explore the Seattle area with my parents. I'm always looking for new places to take my kids when they visit from Texas!
Why did you decide to work in education? My family has always been in education in some way. My grandmother worked as a school secretary. My grandfather worked for the state of North Dakota training farmers on different ways to grow crops and build wind breaks with trees to protect their crops. My dad was in parks and recreation, creating learning opportunities for children through the city parks programs throughout North and South Dakota. My mom retired from Lake Washington School District as a Home Economics teacher. I have always been somehow connected to schools and love working with children. My favorite thing about education is seeing the look on students' faces when they discover something new they are capable of or when they make a connection between their learning in school and something else they knew.
If you could meet any celebrity, who would that person be? I would love to meet Brene Brown. I'm fascinated by her research and the way she presents her research. Every book I've read by her has made me think about situations differently.
Tell us about your pet. We rescued Noodle from a shelter when he was 4 years old. He didn't make a sound the first year we had him. Now, he barks when he's playing or when someone comes to the door. He is a scruffy white dog of mixed breed that even the vet hasn't been able to say what kind of dog he is! Noodle is now 14 and has energy to play endlessly until about 9 am. Then, he sleeps most of the day, moving from one location to another depending on where the sun is or on fluffy pillows.
What kind of books do you like to read? I read anything--fiction, nonfiction, magazines, pretty much anything. I have been reading James Patterson books for years and never miss an Alex Cross book!
What jobs did you have before you started at Leota? I have been in education for 23 years. I started teaching in a two-room schoolhouse in Nebraska with kindergarten, first, and third grade in one class. Then I worked as a Family Advocate in Iowa. In Texas, I taught kindergarten through fourth grade, Reading Intervention, ESL, Administration Intern, and worked at the district level as a Response to Intervention Specialist.
What volunteer work do you do? I have volunteered as an ESL teacher and volunteered with CASA.
Favorite quote? "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." --Maya Angelou Cindy Horst
6th and 7th grade English
Favorite meal? Athenian pizza from Pizza Bank.
What are you really, really good at? I'm pretty good at speaking the truth with clarity and respect.
What kind of books do you like to read? Nonfiction: social justice-type books; memoirs; personal growth.
If you could meet any celebrity or historical figure, who would that person be? Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy. I'd just like to shake his hand and thank him for the impact his book had on my life, for his inspiration to the world in his work toward justice.
What jobs did you have before you started at Leota? Elementary school teacher. Fishing tackle shop clerk (my dad's store).
What volunteer work do you do? I go inside the prison and hang out with the incarcerated men--truly some of the best people I've ever met.
Who's your celebrity lookalike? It's kind of embarrassing, but Sandra Bullock.
What is your go-to karaoke song? "American Girl" by Tom Petty (if I were to do karaoke). Or anything by Garth Brooks with my sister, Miss Miller.
What have you crossed off your bucket list? Sang "American Girl" on stage, but not with Tom Petty, LOL. It was with a great band called "My Wife's Book Club."
Why did you decide to work in education? I thought, "What can I do for money and also be a mom? How about teaching?" Worked out.
Favorite words to live by? "Nevertheless, she persisted." Check out the next PTSA Newsletter for another Staff Spotlight!
Thank you, sponsors
We couldn't do this without you
The Leota PTSA would like to thank all of the Paving the Way donors, and especially this year's sponsors (listed below). Our programs and events are possible because of you all!
Your generosity is already at work! To date, projects and programs include:
Improving the sound system during emergencies
Fixing the refrigerator door in the nurse's office
WEB T-shirts
Choir
ASB
Let's get social
For the latest news and opportunities, follow "Leota Middle School PTSA" on Facebook and join the "Leota PTSA Volunteers and Info" private group on Facebook. Just click the links below:
Leota PTSA is a parent, teacher, staff, and student membership organization that advocates for all students. We make a variety of educational and community programs possible at Leota. For more information, visit www.leotaptsa.com.
We hope this biweekly newsletter is a valuable resource to learn about the events, programs, and opportunities available to all Leota families. Thanks for reading!
We welcome your feedback and suggestions for the PTSA Newsletter. Please email them to communications@leotaptsa.com.
Favorite meal? My favorite meal is Ethiopian food. I love the rich spices, vegetables, and injera.
Favorite meal? Athenian pizza from Pizza Bank.
