LES jump rope team perform at chamber luncheon – St. Clair News-Aegis

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The Leeds Elementary School Jump Rope team perform at Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce meeting. Photo Courtesy of LES Jump Rope Team.

Leeds Jump Rope Team Group. Photo Courtesy of LES Jump Rope Team.

Board Members, from left, are Steven Weems, Emanuel Vallejo, Casey Parsons, Randell Pickering, LCS Mary Beth Lochridge, LCS Superintendent John Moore, Steve Karr, Moore’s Father Eddie Moore and Amy Lee. Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce

LES Jump Rope Instructor receiving Chamber donation from Leeds Area Chamber President Steve Karr. Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce

LCS F.A.C.E. Coordinator Mary Beth Lochridge speaks at the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Photo courtesy Leeds chamber

Lunch sponsor, Casey Parsons of Casey Parsons Team – Guild Mortgage and Chamber Board Member, sharing mortgage information at Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce meeting. Photo courtesy Leeds chamber

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its February luncheon at First Baptist Church Leeds, featuring a lively performance by the Leeds Elementary School jump rope team and a comprehensive update on Leeds City Schools from guest speaker Mary Beth Lochridge, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator.

Members of the jump rope team undergo a rigorous tryout process and perform at various events, including appearances at Jacksonville State University, the University of Alabama and Samford University as well as being featured in television commercials. In recognition of their hard work and dedication, the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce presented a donation to the team to support its continued success.

Following the performance, guest speaker Mary Beth Lochridge provided an update on the initiatives happening at Leeds City Schools. As the district’s Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Lochridge emphasized the importance of keeping the community informed and connected through social media and outreach efforts.

Among the updates were:

— Leeds City Schools recently broke ground on the Homer Smiles Stadium project.
— Leeds Elementary hosted a career day with more than 50 volunteers, providing students with exposure to a wide range of professions with community leaders participating.
— Leeds High School students participated in a mock interview event, giving juniors and other students real-world job interview experience with more than 40 volunteers.
— The district celebrated two new National Board-Certified teachers, bringing the total to 18, with 10 more in the certification process.
— The child nutrition program earned a perfect health score of 100 across all four schools from the Jefferson County Health Department.
The Leeds High School wrestling program celebrated two state champions, including the school’s first female state champion.
— Fifth-grade students participated in the “Hovercraft Project,” a hands-on STEM experience teaching teamwork, perseverance and problem-solving skills as the result of an Alabama Power Foundation grant of $7,500.
Lochridge also announced the launch of the district’s Summer Summit, a one-day conference designed to equip teachers with valuable skills beyond academics, focusing on mental health, financial literacy and understanding students’ diverse needs.

Additionally, the luncheon featured insights from Casey Parsons of Casey Parsons Team — Guild Mortgage, the event’s sponsor, who provided an overview of current mortgage trends in Leeds and the surrounding areas. Parsons also serves on the chamber’s board of directors.

For more information on upcoming chamber events and initiatives, visit LeedsAreaChamber.com.