The Leitch Letter: February 2025

February 6, 2025

The Leitch Letter

February Newsletter

February 6, 2025

February Reflections and Reminders

Dear James Leitch Families,

Happy February! This month brings opportunities to celebrate kindness, perseverance, and community. As we step into the second half of the school year, we continue to focus on fostering a love for learning, creating a safe and welcoming environment, and supporting every child’s growth.

February is also a time of celebration and reflection. We honor Black History Month, recognizing the contributions and achievements of Black leaders, scholars, and changemakers who have shaped our world. In classrooms, students will engage in meaningful discussions, literature, and activities that highlight the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We also look forward to Valentine’s Day, a wonderful reminder to spread kindness and gratitude. While some classrooms may host small celebrations, our emphasis remains on friendship, inclusion, and caring for one another.

As a reminder, safety is always a top priority. We continue to update our Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) to ensure that our students and staff have a secure learning environment. Thank you for your partnership in following school protocols and keeping our campus safe.

Lastly, February brings a well-deserved Presidents’ Day weekend break. We encourage families to enjoy quality time together, rest, and recharge for the months ahead.

Thank you for your continued support in making James Leitch Elementary a special place for learning and growth. If you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a wonderful February!

Warmly,

Principal Rancap-Perez

IMPORTANT: VALET DROP-OFF SYSTEM

Our staff has observed parents letting children out of cars in areas outside of the designated valet zone. Please remember that the valet drop-off is a privilege, and it is in place to ensure the safety of all students. If parents continue to disregard the expectations, we will no longer be able to offer this service.

Additionally, we have noticed an increasing number of parents double parking on East Warren. This creates a serious safety hazard and disrupts traffic flow. If you need to park, please utilize the overflow parking lot.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students safe and ensuring a smooth drop-off process for everyone.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Counselors Spirit Week

February 3-7

School Site Council Meeting

February 11 @ 3pm in Room 4

Community Chat

February 14 @ 8:30am

Presidents' Day

February 17 No School

Parent Workshop-

How to set your child up for success

February 27

End of 2nd Trimester and Proof of Residency Due

February 28

Parent Perspectives

A large amount of scientific research has proven detrimental impacts

of excessive digital screen usage on children's development including

reduced IQ and much higher rates of significant behavioral and health issues.

The consensus among recognized pediatric health agencies including the

World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) is that statistically significant "screen damage" is clearly measured in children under 5 with total digital media usage (including all types of devices, such as TV, phone, tablet, computer, video game) above 1 hour per day and similarly in children under 10 with digital media usage above 2 hours per day.

Many sources therefore recommend a lower target of 1 hour per day down to

zero for infants to avoid these health issues.

More practically, here are several recommended things that parents and

families can do to reduce harmfulness of screen usage.

-Limit digital screen time to about 1 hour per day (less for children under 5)

-Keep digital screen devices out of the children's bedrooms. That will help to reduce usage time and to prevent browsing of inappropriate content without parents' knowledge.

-Do not allow digital screen device usage in the morning before school day starts. Let the children have morning routines peacefully, and

wake up their minds by chatting with them.

-At night, unplug digital devices at least 1 hour before scheduled bedtime. That helps the children to sleep on time and sleep better.

-Digital devices should not be used for multi-tasking. For example, do not use the devices during meals, homework, and family discussions.

For further information, among a long list of books available for this topic, we

recommend 'Screen Damage' by Michel Desmurget to all parents.

**********************

Information shared by Gina Zhang, SSC Parent Representative

School Breakfast/Lunches

ALL Leitch students will have access to free meals here at school regardless of their family's economic need. Students will be asked every morning if they are going to get a school lunch so we can order the correct amount of food.

Please communicate with your child if you would like them to get a school meal and if they need meat or vegetarian. TK/K students are welcome to come through the lunch line and grab a lunch but there is no lunch supervision for TK/K students they will need to eat with a parent/guardian off campus.

Breakfast will be served daily in the MUR for any interested students. Breakfast serving will start at 7:45. Students should arrive early so that they have time to eat. Students will be supervised while they eat and will be either released to recess when finished or if they are TK/K they will be walked to class. For menus and more information please use this link.

Drop Off and Pick Up

James Leitch Elementary and the Fremont Police Dept. are teaming up to make the school area safer. If you're dropping off or picking up your child, please follow these rules:

- The Valet Lane is closed during the school day, so it's not available for TK/K parents dropping off or picking up students.

- Enter the Valet Lane on Fernald St. and pull all the way forward.

- Have your child ready to get out on the passenger side. Make sure their backpack is ready and they’re wearing their shoes.

- A volunteer or staff member will help your child get in and out of the car. Your child should not exit the car without this help.

- After dropping off or picking up, drive slowly out of the valet lane and turn right on Warren. Turning left slows traffic and is unsafe.

- On Warren, go all the way to the stop sign to make a U-turn. Don’t turn left or make a U-turn before the stop sign.

This system is meant to improve traffic flow and prevent accidents. You can still park and walk your child if you prefer. Please follow these rules to help keep everyone safe.

Crosswalks and Sidewalks

Crosswalks

Please cross at marked crosswalks to stay safe. Crossing Fernald Street anywhere else, especially between parked cars, is very dangerous.

Sidewalks

Always use the sidewalks around the school. Walking through the staff parking lot behind parked cars is risky for both students and parents.

Parking at School

School parking lots are for employees only and are marked as “Staff Only.” It is also very important that you DO NOT park in the lots across the street or in the housing lot next to the school on the south side. These belong to the residents and they will contact the police to tow your vehicle. You may only park in designated areas on the street or in the parking lot located at the corner of Fernald St. and Warren Ave. We strongly urge you to use our valet system for dropping off and picking up your child that is available at 8:05 a.m. and 2:40 p.m.