Dear Leeds Community, 

On June 6th, 2025 a lightning strike caused significant damage to Leeds Primary School. The 15 classrooms on the left side of the building are the ones that were heavily impacted due to water and smoke damage. The 15 classrooms include 10 kindergarten classrooms, 2 special education classrooms, the art classroom, the music classroom, and the counselor’s classroom. Professional crews quickly went to work to salvage what they could, while other crews assessed the damage. After weeks of clean-up efforts, it was decided that the entire left side of LPS, from the gym area down, would be completely closed until construction is complete. While the project and scope of work moved to the next phase (bids, contracts, etc.), the teachers also went to work on “how do we start school?” Thanks to 4 classrooms not being used for instruction and several coaches/ interventionists/ others being willing to give up their spaces, school will open on 8/7/25. How?? A whole lot of teamwork. 

8 kindergarten teachers will be team teaching this year, meaning 4 classrooms will have 2 teachers and 30+ kindergarten students. The other 2 kindergarten teachers (10 total - the picture above includes a Kindergarten aide and a maternity sub), have their own classrooms thanks to two employees who gave up their own rooms. We have math & reading coaches staged in the hallway, art/music/counselors will be traveling classroom to classroom on a cart. Oh and did we mention the state of the gym? While the gym was not damaged, it is currently being used to hold all of the items that could be salvaged from the fire. Therefore, PE is being held in the lunchroom… or shall we say “Cafenasium?” Which means, lunch for the entire school will be in the classrooms. All of this to say, it is sure to be a UNIQUE & MEMORABLE school year! 

The Leeds community has been so wonderful to LPS, constantly reaching out to ask “how can we help?” While we couldn’t bring the community in for clean up efforts, and we didn’t need you to buy extra school supplies (because where would we put them??)… what we do need, is your help with keeping morale up this fall. The LPS staff is in good spirits and are THRILLED to welcome over 500 students this week. But let’s be honest… a lot of things are different. A lot of sacrifices have been made. And a lot of people are on one side of the building! I, Mary Beth Lochridge, would love to invite you all to support the entire staff from now until atleast Halloween in a unique way - and that is, to put “wind under their sails” whenever we can. I have created a Sign-up, linked below, that has slots for every Monday and Friday until the end of October. I am opening these slots for anyone that wants to love on all of the teachers and staff at LPS. Whether it’s your church, your mom’s church, a civic group, a neighborhood group, a book club, a Bunco group, an organization, a friend group, a big family, a sports team, or a local business — I’d love for you to pick a date and support our teachers. 

What does this mean/ what kind of support? The opportunities are endless! A few ideas that immediately come to mind: you can bring biscuits for the staff, popsicles on a Friday, a surprise banner to tell them to hang in there, a goody bag for them to make it through the week, candy in their boxes, sponsor a coffee truck out front, do a drink cart or snack cart for the teachers. If you’re unsure what to do, I can orchestrate and your group can simply pay/ sponsor. I am also open to your ideas and know we can come up with something together. All I need you to do is sign up. I want this community to wrap our arms around LPS. If you really think about it, there are not many people in Leeds that can say they aren’t somehow connected to our primary school, whether it’s through a child, grandchild, neighbor, friend, employee, family member, or just a story. The school sitting up on the hill is the youngest is the district, but the impact is far reaching because of the light LPS shines. This school is a special place, full of incredible people, who have once again put their own emotions aside to give Leeds’ youngest greenies an experience like no other. It’s time for us to be there for them. 

My phone is always on. My email is always open. Let’s do this together.

Roll Greenwave!

Mary Beth Lochridge 

Former LPS teacher, current LPS parent, and F.A.C.E. of Leeds City Schools.