Lowell's Parent Newsletter
Mrs. Phelan, Lowell Elementary School 9/28/20
Welcome! To translate this newsletter, click on it then use the link to the right.
Para traduzir este boletim, clique nele e use o link à direita.
Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en él y luego use el enlace a la derecha.
لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.
Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:
Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа.
Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.
Greetings from Mrs. Phelan
Thank you for all the patience and cooperation. We know there were some technical difficulties experience with many of our devices. We've shared the tech newsletter with you to help troubleshoot any difficulties you may be experiencing. We also recognize we have been able to Launch See-Saw yet for grades k-2. We are hoping to get that up and running this week. When we do it will support your child's ability to navigate their day with increased independence. In the meantime, your help is greatly appreciated. If you experience difficulty navigating your schedule or accessing links please feel free to call the main office and we will do everything we can to support you over the phone.
I'm hosting a parent forum this week on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm. I'd liked to hear how it's going and what we can do to help you. I'm including the event and zoom link below.
Candice and I are back hosting morning annoucments! Links will be added to Students Google Classroom and See-Saw accounts next week. Here is the link you can use tomorrow. We've missed you.
We hope to see you tomorrow morning!
Stacy
Join us for Morning Announcements!
Announcement Schedule:
- Greeting
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Lowell School Pledge
- Thought for the Day
- Updates or Highlights.
Please see the zoom invite below.
Topic: Morning Announcement Zoom Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
Parent Forum- Feedback on our opening!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/95323023591?pwd=N2J4QmNINTNzcThYVHlmOXY1VGlxdz09
Meeting ID: 953 2302 3591
Passcode: 806506
Wednesday, Sep 30, 2020, 06:30 PM
Via Zoom
Lowell Teachers Teaching From School!
Ms. Hawkin's in Readers Workshop!
Ms. Cachemeil smile tells the story!
Ms. Johnson and Ms. Kulig running a mindfulness coloring lesson.
Ms. Altobello & Ms. Walsh Collaborating in the afternoon.
Mrs. Connors excited to welcome back students!
Ms. Master's planning instruction for her students!
Mr. Skaife teaching from his classroom.
Ms. Loguidice Zooming with her students.
Ms. Donahue modeling her expectation over Zoom.
i-Ready Updates
Our annual universal assessments in math and literacy will begin shortly. Students in grades 1-9 will take the i-Ready fall diagnostic in October. This will provide us with important data on how students are performing in both math and literacy. In grades 1 - 8, the fall diagnostic data will help teachers to create individualized lesson paths for students to work through in online instruction. In grade 9, it is used for beginning of year data and end of year growth. As in past years, Kindergarten will take their first diagnostic in December. i-Ready conducted studies of the reliability of the data when giving the diagnostic remotely in the spring across various districts. Their findings revealed that there was less score inflation in districts that were communicating directly with families and when families watched i-Ready family videos about the diagnostic. To that end, we encourage parents/families to view this video to refresh or learn about i-Ready to best support their children.
Introducing i-Ready Assessment at Home to Families Videos (English | Spanish)
Family Guidance for Administering the diagnostic At Home videos (English | Spanish)
We will be administering the diagnostic during live Zoom meetings. The diagnostic window for elementary (grades 1-5) is scheduled 10/8 - 10/16 and for secondary (grades 6-9) between 10/19 - 10/30. Classroom teachers will provide more information in the Weekly Learning Plans. The i-Ready experience better helps teachers:
Use insights from i-Ready to plan instruction
Set goals and help students take ownership of their learning
Monitor students’ progress on the i-Ready Diagnostic (Grades K-8)
Intervene using differentiated resources when students need support (Grades K-8)
See student growth and celebrate gains w/students and parents (Grades K-8)
Student and Parent Handbook
Dear Lowell Families,
Our handbooks are updated each school year to reflect our current policies and procedures. I have attached the Student and Parent handbooks to this communication. We ask that you read and submit the form verifying you have read and recieved the handbooks. Parents should fill out one form for each child.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and respond.
Stacy
Please complete the form attached here:
Message from Rashmi Pimprikar (District Ed-Tech Coordinator) & George Skuse (District IT Manager)
Please take a few moments to review all the robust technology support our Digital Learning Team has put together to support our families.
Welcome WPS Families to your Family EdTech for ALL Resources Website that hosts all resources that are being created and curated for WPS Families.
Please click on the 09/25 Weekly WPS Family Ed Tech for ALL Newsletter for information and resources. We look forward to meeting you at the School-based Family Ed Tech Support Session.
Thank you,
Bi-Weekly Lowell Family Ed-Tech Support Session
All Lowell Families invited
Monday
09/28/2020
4:00-4:30
Meeting ID: 941 4157 4004
Passcode: 524027
Minutes from our September 15th PTO Meeting.
Lowell Elementary PTO minutes for Tuesday, Sept. 15 @ 6:30 pm
~22 participants in the Zoom meeting
1. Welcome back and introduction of all parents in attendance
2. Ms. Connors presented the Kindergarten teacher's request for yoga mats for the kids
to use for movement while social distancing. 60 mats x $6.79 each = $527.40 total.
The request was approved. It was noted that all teachers could ask to be reimbursed for
up to $100 for any school supplies, which is different than special requests like this.
3. Open PTO positions include VP, Enrichment Coordinator, and Grade 1 Coordinator.
The Grade 5 Planning Committee consists of Emily, Kerri, and Jennine.
4. The playdates by grade level were cancelled by the town. There was concern that
the town and PTO members could be sued, so the legal issues need to be understood
before any in-person events can be planned. We could get PTO insurance, but it isn't
clear if that would cover Covid-related issues. It may also be possible to coordinate
events with the Hosmer and Cuniff PTOs.
5. Lauren presented an overview of a possible Get Lively partnership. Given the
limitations due to Covid, there may be no way to sponsor teacher clubs this year. Are
there local businesses, such as Get Lively, that could offer activities in small group
settings? Would be nice to support local businesses, but it would not be free or low cost
for families. Could we involve the Watertown Community Foundation somehow?
However there will still be issues with liability and budgeting.
6. Ann gave an overview of the Book Fair plans. It will be with Follett again, but will be
a virtual e-fair this year. There will be more book choices this way, and the fair can run
for longer. It is usually in Oct, but may move it to Nov or Dec this year.
7. Principal Update from Stacy. Stacy explained the process for picking up school
supplies. Candice reminded everyone to pre-register prior to pick up. Food donations
are being collected for the Watertown Food Pantry during supply pick up. There will be
other days for students to get more supplies later in the year, so the PTO can use those
to distribute things too.
8. Liz gave a budget overview. The PTO has $40766.12 combined in savings and
checking. It is not clear if we can do the walkathon fundraiser this year, or if we can
host any of the usual events such as movie night, literacy night, etc. Dues will be
collected online this year, unless the kids go back in person.
9. How the PTO can best serve the community in this unusual year was discussed.
Providing resources for parents to support each other was suggested, as was finding
ways to connect people who aren't on facebook/social media. Facilitating getting info
from the school out to the parents was also suggested.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next meeting: Oct. 13, 2020 at 6:30pm
Below You will find a separate COVID-19 Newsletter with all the necessary protocols and procedures we are following this school year.
Parent Representatives
Each grade level has Parent Representatives to the PTO. The goal of this position is to facilitate open communication and broaden family involvement.
Contact Us at
Email: Stacy.Phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://lowell.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 175 Orchard Street
Phone: (617) 926-7770