The Lion's Roar
McAvinnue's Weekly Newsletter: Week Of September 27th
Hello McAvinnue Community...Fall has officially begun and we are ready to open our doors for our in-person Grade 1 - 4 students! We have worked extremely hard to ensure that everyone will be safe while they attend in-person learning at McAvinnue.
Please see the important message below from the Lowell Public School District about our return to in-person learning that begins on Monday, September 28th. This update includes information about the in-person lottery and transportation. Please reach out to Mr. Domina if you have any questions.
"Dear Lowell Public Schools Families,
We are looking forward to welcoming all of our PreK-12 students who received an in-person seat assignment via the lottery into school buildings on Monday, September 28. This letter is to inform you that all in-person seats have been fully assigned. If you received an email confirmation for an in-person seat, please plan to attend school in-person on Monday. All other students should plan to continue with remote learning.
The waitlist and appeals lists will be revisited and reassessed again starting Monday, October 5th to determine whether any new assignments of in-person seats or declines of in-person seats will be accepted.
Also, please be reminded that per this year’s transportation policy changes, transportation eligibility is for students in grades 1-6 who live two or more miles from their assigned school. Students in grades K, 7th and 8th do NOT qualify for transportation this year. Some exceptions include students who have transport included within their Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan or as part of their McKinney-Vento services. All students who meet the eligibility requirements for transportation this school year have been mailed transportation passes via US postal service. All other students who have NOT received a pass will be responsible for family-provided transport to school for in-person seat assignments. If you believe you are eligible for transportation this year and haven't received your transportation pass in the mail, please call the transportation office at (978) 674-4333.
Also, please have a conversation with us if your housing is insecure or if you are facing homelessness. You can contact a McKinney-Vento specialist at (978) 429-7959."
McAvinnue's In-Person Faculty Orientation
Please click the link below to view this presentation
Drop Off & Pick-Up - NEW PROCEDURES: Kindergarten - Grade 4
Morning Drop Off Procedure
On Monday, September 28th, McAvinnue will begin a new morning drop off procedure. We will follow the following procedure to ensure that students and families are safe while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
- Car riders and walkers will be dropped off on 4th Avenue which is the right side of the school building. Staff will be fully deployed to designated areas all along the front of the school to guide children to their grade level lines and supervise during drop off and student organization. There is bright tape markings on the ground at each line to facilitate social distancing. PLEASE SEE PICTURES ABOVE FOR THE LOCATION OF EACH GRADE LEVEL.
- Large buses will be the only vehicles allowed in the parking lot area to the left of the school building to promote safety for all students who are lining up in front of the school and along the walkways. Large bus students will be dropped off at the rear of the school building and be supervised when they are getting off the bus and entering the school.
Afternoon Pick-Up Procedure
Beginning Monday, September 28th, all in-person students will be dismissed in 2 groups starting at 3:25 PM each day.
Walkers:
- We will dismiss walkers organized by grade level. Each grade level walker group will be dismissed individually which will take more time compared to what we have done previously.
- Kindergarten students will be dismissed at the Kindergarten Door (See Picture Above)
- Grades 1, 3, and 4 students will be dismissed at the Main Door (See Picture Above)
- Grade 2 students will be dismissed at the 4th Avenue Door (See Picture Above)
Large Bus:
- Students that will take one of our 3 large buses will be dismissed from their grade level homeroom.
- Each large bus will be fully boarded before moving on to board the next bus.
- Buses will be boarded based on the order they arrive at the school.
In-Person Learning Safety
Classrooms have been designed to ensure that students are working 6 feet part at all times. We have 12 students only per classroom.
We have added numerous signs to remind our students the importance of wearing a mask and maintaining 6 feet of social distancing. Also, we have floor makers so that our students know which side of the hallway they need to walk and in which direction they need to travel in.
Finally, each classroom will receive 2 disinfecting cleaning (AM & PM) daily using a new device called a "fogger". The fogger allows for a mist of disinfectant to be sprayed throughout the classroom on all high contact surface areas. Each cleaning will take approximately 10 minutes (and a 5 minute drying time) with this every efficient device.
If you have any questions regarding in-person learning safety, please contact the Main Office for support.
Laptop and Hotspot Updates
The district is expecting the delivery of the first shipment of hot spots this week. We will be calling families as we get those to pick them up. The hot spots will first go to families who do not have internet and then to those who have strained networks. They will be given out one per family for those who need them.
Parent Request Form
Need Tech Support?
Lowell Public School District Tech Support
The LPSD IT Team will have a "Technology Tent" set-up at the following locations during the times listed below this up and coming week:
Monday, September 28th @ Robinson Middle School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Wednesday, September 30th @ STEM Academy from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Friday, October 2nd @ Murkland Elementary School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Please note that these locations will change weekly.
You can also contact the Help Desk at (978) 674-2024 for assistance.
Trouble Accessing Clever?
If you don't see the Clever Icon on your borrowed laptop...
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR EASY ACCESS TO CLEVER
Zoom Login Support
Please follow the steps below if you have having difficulty logging on to Zoom. Your classroom teacher will send you a link to that you can use to access the Zoom meeting. However, you can use the steps below if you don't go directly into the Zoom meeting.
STEP #1
STEP #2
STEP #3
Zoom Audio Quick Fix
- Please reboot the computer (turn the device off and turn it back on)
- Login as "iready"for the User Name & "iready" for the Password
- Install the application using the link below
- If you are prompted for Administrator User Names & Passwords, "iready" should be entered for both as mentioned above.
Installing Google Chrome Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUJkYcsv6oSDHRRVZ8qV1D6RTJnJTlwy/view?usp=sharing
McAvinnue's Virtual & In-Person Learning And Information Spot For Students
Want To Check It Out? Click The Button Below!
In-Person Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Remote Learning Meal Service Schedule
The LPSD is offering grab and go meal service at a total of 10 sites for Lowell Public Schools students taking part in remote learning.
The schedule listed below is for September 17th - September 30th:
The following sites will be offering daily meal service for our remote learning students:
STEM Academy: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Morey: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Robinson: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Butler: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Wang: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Students will receive a breakfast and a lunch at each daily meal site.
The following sites will be offering meal service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for our remote learning students:
LHS: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Stoklosa: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Greenhalge: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Murkland: 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Lincoln: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
- Students will receive two breakfasts and two lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays at these sites.
- Students will also receive meals for the weekend days on Fridays at all of our meal sites.
- All LPS students are eligible for meal service. All meals are free of cost. No student ID is required and students don’t have to be present to pick up a meal. A parent or neighbor can pick up the student’s meal.
- Meals will be served outside in a grab and go format at the front or back of the school, depending on the location.
- Please remember to wear a mask or face covering and follow social distancing protocols when visiting the meal sites.
Any updates to the remote learning meal service schedule will be posted here:
Mark Your Calendars!
Monday, September 28th: Return to In-Person Learning for Students In Grades 1 - 4
Wednesday, October 7th: Early Release Professional Development Day; Students Dismissed at 1:30 PM
LPSD School Calendar 2020-2021 Academic School Year
COVID Procedures Charts for Families
- Having Symptoms Of COVID-19
- Getting A COVID-19 Test
- A Close Contact Was COVID-19 Positive
- Has COVID-19
A one-page handout will be sent home with in-person students this week for you to refer to as needed. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Health & Safety Guidelines
Community Resources and Daycare Options for Families
Here is a list of daycare options in Lowell:
Community Team Work (CTI) (978) 454-5100
Families who are already enrolled in a CTI program...
Call or text school-age coordinators to request a slot
Billy 978-995-0028, wma@commteam.org
Karen 978-729-7216, kshannon@commteam.org
CTI will have full and half day slots for CTI kids
Families who are not enrolled in a CTI program
If you’ve filled out a CTI application in the past...
Contact Karen (978) 729-7216, kshannon@commteam.org to see if where you are on the waitlist
If you’ve never filled out a CTI application...
Fill out an application at 17 Kirk St., 126 Phoenix Ave
Or call the main CTI number (978) 454-5100 to request an email version of the application.
YWCA: (978) 454-5405 or (978) 458-9983; 41 Rock St in Lowell
The YWCA is offering full-day remote slots for families who are working with the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Call your DCF worker and/or the YWCA to request a slot
YMCA: (978) 454-7825; 1 YMCA Dr in Lowell
Karen Espinola is the school-age director
Fill out a application online or at the YMCA to request a slot
Debbie Doben is the preschool director if your child is preschool age
Family Childcare: Call programs to see if they have openings near you
Bethel Family Childcare (978) 458-6577
Clarendon Family Childcare (978) 454-3026
Child Development and Learning (CDE) (978) 275-2843
ACRE Family Childcare (978) 937-5899
CTI: See above contact information
Girls Inc: (978) 458-6529, 220; Worthen St. in Lowell
Accept girls ages 5-14 years old
Accept Child Care Circuit vouchers, DCF vouchers, and private pay (income-based, sliding scale)
Call Pam Lerocque (Director of Finance & Administration) to check on openings
Girls Inc. has full and part-day options, but no transportation
Boys and GIrls Club: (978) 458-4526; 657 Middlesex St in Lowell
School-age openings for after-school only
Teens who are working with the Department of Children and Families can call BGC or DCF to see if they’re eligible
New Online Emergency Form
You can complete this form or complete a paper copy that we have used in previous school years. This form will be sent home with those students that will be at McAvinnue for in-person learning. However, the paper copy of the emergency form can also be picked up at McAvinnue for those families who will be working remotely to start the school year.
PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FOR EACH CHILD ENROLLED AT MCAVINNUE!
If you could like a paper copy of the emergency form, please contact Ms. Nancy in the Main Office and she will set you up with what you need to complete.
Lowell Public Schools Student Handbook
Our Vision
#McAvinnuePride #BeTheDifference #NextLevel
Email: mdomina@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/21
Location: 131 Mammoth Road, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 937-2871
Facebook: facebook.com/McAvinnueElementarySchool/
Twitter: @McAvinnueLPS