Bulldog Weekly Update
February 27 - March 3
Monday Motivation
Notes from the Principal's Desk
Welcome Back, Crew!
This past week was an excellent time to rest, relax, and recalibrate. When we return to school, its a long stretch before our next vacation. We will need to revamp those practices that help us sustain focus and energy. As a school, we will begin another data cycle, looking at our BOY to MOY data, comparing it to the data collected through the Interim Assessment, and connecting this to classroom observations and practice, through our knowledge of students' academic performance and potential. We need to use this time to develop good habits with our students -- habits that will support their ability to demonstrate what they have learned on the upcoming MCAS exams. Popular research tells us: if you want to build a new habit, you need to commit to it for 21 days. What new habits can we help our students commit to between now and April that will serve them during their testing period, and well beyond?
How Have You Reflected on Black History this Month?
February Vacation Week A Great Balance of Sports, Academics and Socialization
February Vacation Week A Great Balance of Sports, Academics and Socialization
Accelerated Academy Career Day
The Butler School wrapped up their Accelerated Academy with an exciting Career Day Scavenger Hunt! Students were able to connect with our diverse community far and wide and learn about why folks are passionate about their career and what things they learned in Middle School that may have helped them become who they are today.
Accelerated Academy Career Day
Accelerated Academy Career Day
Special Thank you to: Mill42Bank, Lowell Police Department, Trooper Rosales from the State Police, The Lowell Health Department, Boys and Girls Club, Saturday Night Lights (SNL), SLS Fitness, Center For Hope and Healing, TRIO, Lowell Youth Leadership Program, Lowell EMS Department
BMS HIdden Figures
Let us introduce you to Justien Martin. Justien Martin is our school's community partnerships manager. She is that, and so much more. You can attribute 80% of our school's community connections and school-wide open events to Ms. Martin, with the extra 20% going toward collaborations within our building that make new opportunities happen. Justien is frequently the adult called upon to support students in any type of situation. She supports library lunch for students who are overstimulated and need a quieter setting and she is an administrative support for the after school program, a critical wrap-around service offered to youth in 5th - 8th.
Justein is the current vacation week administrator and was recently chosen for the Staff Spotlight. This list of professional duties does not nearly cover the amount of great work she does for our staff and students. You have likely seen kids flock to Ms. Martin; she is invested in them as individuals and forms authentic bonds which helps them feel heard and recognized. If your ever looking for Ms. Martin her office is in the library. If you have any ideas for new opportunities and enrichment you'd like to bring to the school, stop by the library or send a quick email. There is always something on the horizon at BMS!
Valentine's Day a Big Hit in 5th grade
8th Graders Show Their Love This Week
Bottle Cap Competition Continues. Please Save Your Bottle Caps for Ms. Andrews!
BMS Staff and Students Face off in Basketball Game Friday
BMS STEP Students Rock the House at UML this Week
LHS Hosts Science Fair & BMS Student Receives 3rd Place Among 36 Entries
Paint Class After School: Students Come Up With Messages that Match Their Personalities
Archery After School: Students Hit the Target Over 20 Feet Away
Knitting After School: Students Prepare Hats and Scarves for the Remaining Weeks of Winter
National Honor Society Team Meets to Review Students' Applications
Japanese After School: Ms. Glasser Teaches the Different Dialects of Japanese
Games After School: Students Play in an Old School "BOXES" Competition
Week at a Glance
- Operations Huddle
- Climate and Culture Meets
Tuesday 2/28
- SST
- Content CPT
Wednesday 3/1
- Admin CPT
- ILT -- Chapters 5 & 6
Thursday 3/2
- Boast Your Alma Mater with your Favorite College Gear
- Butler Pride -- Rock Butler's Colors (Red, Black & White)
- Curriculum & Instruction Meeting
On the Horizon...
3/1 Women's History Month Begins
3/6 Monday Restorative Justice Training
3/8 Wednesday EARLY RELEASE DAY / PD3/8 Wednesday HOLI is Celebrated
3/13 Climate and Culture Meeting
3/15 Teachpoint Educator Evidence Due
3/15 Wednesday Restorative Justice Training
3/16 School Site Council
3/17 St. Patty's Day / SEL FRIDAY
3/17 Friday -- Last Day of After School Session II
3/20 Progress Reports Are Due
3/20 Wednesday Restorative Justice Training
3/20 & 3/21 - Casna Visit
3/22 Wednesday RAMADAN Begins
3/22 Admin CPT - Inclusive Classroom presentation DESE
3/23 Parent Teacher Conferences
3/27 JEDI Field Trip
3/30 Casna Visit
3/31 Student Assembly Special Presentation
Urban Art Near the Lowell Watershed Walkway
Students' Urban Art Near 6th Grade Hall
Mural Artist David Taylor Provides Indoor Arcade with a Fresh, Fun Feel
What is Street Art and What Does it Mean to You?
Street Art, or Urban Art, can take many forms. It may look to some like graffiti. It may look like vandalism. It may take the form of a community mural. It may be a designated place of memorialization or commemorating life lived and life lost. It may look like open protest and public outcry. Street Art is art that is open to the public, and in most cases, carries with it a message that resonates with the community, aligns with people's values, provides cultural, lingual, racial and religious representation, and embodies an understanding of the history experienced within a specific place and context.
Lowell is a community with many forms of urban art. There are murals around the city, as well as spaces of public protest and individual artist's exercising their freedom of expression. Community organizations such as Beyond Walls, as well as Freelance Artists, like David Taylor, bring to life public spaces in ways that are artful and animated. They take damaged or under-utilized walls, bridges, electric boxes, telephone poles, sidewalks, and more, and turn them into colorful, contemporary showcases for all people to enjoy.
Public Art has an impact on the beautification of cities and towns, particularly areas that may be run down by poverty, hosting abandoned buildings in disrepair, or parks and recreational areas with low aesthetic value. These artistic upgrades can have monumental impact on the psychology and behavior of people who inhabit the space. Urban art can inspire and motivate, it can build pride and people's sense of belonging, and most importantly, it can reinvigorate passion to help clean and maintain public parks, pools, or buildings as people within the community experience the positive influence of once gray or concrete walls transformed into a space that is vibrant, warm and welcoming.
You may have noticed the walls outside the art room are showcasing students' foray into urban art. Butler Middle School was a recent recipient of the Lowell Cultural Council Grant, in the amount of $4,000 to provide urban art education to our youth. A community artist will visit Butler in the later spring months to talk about the role and impact of city beautification and developing community voice through street art. Our school will also receive a mural created with our students' feedback through our community partner, mural artist, David Taylor.
Be on the look out in late March/early April for information about our 5th - 8th Urban Art Education Program!
ILT Updates
Next Team meeting - 3/1 (Ch. 5 &6)
Check in with your grade-level team representatives for more information. Meetings take place every other Wednesday. ILT content is shared by grade representatives on the team at Grade Level CPTs. What happens in ILT drives what will happen in CPT!
ILT REPS:
Brett Sullivan -- 5th
Cheryl Ferris -- 6th
Alie Cabrera -- 6th
Peter Francis -- 7th
Jen Fraser -- 8th
Christina Pappalardo -- 8th
Vannak Theng -- EL
Krista St. Louis - Special Education
Lori Casey - SEL
SEL
Please see Lori Casey for any updates. NEXT SEL is 3/17/23
Culture and Climate
Check in with your grade level team representatives for more information. A calendar of upcoming dates will be forthcoming!
NEXT MEETINGS ARE AFTER SCHOOL MONDAY:
- 2/27
March Staff Birthdays
Don't Forget to say " Happy Birthday"
- Vannak Theng 3/3
- Hong Man 3/8
- Maria Lagou 3/13
- Melinda Goodick 3/16
- Ambar Vargas Marte 3/20
- Mara Picanco 3/26
- Kristin Capezio 3/28
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/