LPS Connector
Lowell Public Schools Newsletter - May 2021
Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Community Partners,
Welcome to the May issue of our district-wide community newsletter where you can find out about the latest happenings across the District and see highlights of the great work happening at our schools.
This month gave us the opportunity to celebrate and recognize some of the hard working staff who make an impact in our school community:
- Principal Appreciation Day (May 1)
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7)
- School Lunch Hero Day (May 7)
- National School Nurse Day (May 12)
This past year has undoubtedly been among the most difficult in the history of public education. Yet every step of the way – from remote to in-person to concurrent environments – LPS staff have risen to the challenge to support our students and families. Because of their hard work, I know our children have been better off for having experienced this health crisis here in Lowell than if they had been anywhere else.
I commend our staff for their patience, flexibility, partnership and leadership throughout this unprecedented year. They have empathetically and compassionately helped our students and families as we collectively adapted – time and time again – to the changing environment around us, from evolving health data to the shifting recommendations of health officials.
So, thank you LPS staff for everything you have done and continue to do in school and out of school on behalf of our children and families.
I am truly honored to be a part of the LPS team!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joel D. Boyd
Superintendent of Schools
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently released updated COVID-19 guidelines:
- Students do not need to wear masks outside even if distance cannot be maintained. This applies to recess, physical education, youth sports, and outdoor learning environments.
- At this time, adults and students must continue to wear mask indoors.
- Schools no longer have to avoid sharing objects. This includes classroom materials, items for physical education, or art supplies. Shared objects no longer have to be cleaned or disinfected between use, but all high-touch surfaces should be cleaned once a day. As is customary, any time there is a confirmed COVID-19 case, the space the infected person was in should be cleaned and disinfected.
- School buildings should continue to maximize ventilation and air exchanges, even in warmer weather. Schools should target 4-6 air exchanges per hour through any combination of ventilation and filtration by keeping doors open, using portable air purifiers, and/or keeping windows cracked open one or two inches.
For the latest COVID-19 data, updates and information, visit the LPS COVID-19 Dashboard. Please check out this great resource.
LPS Pool Testing Program
In order to participate, parents/guardians are required to sign a consent form for their child. Click here to learn more about this program and for the consent form.
Registration is Open for 2021 Summer Learning Programs
Please note that you must attend a program at the school you go to (Students entering 5th grade in the fall will stay at the school where they went to 4th grade).
Students who were in 8th grade this school year should attend the Compass program at LHS.
The deadline to register for these programs is Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
For more information, program offerings and registration links, click here.
Register for IDEA Camp
There are two sessions of IDEA Camp this summer:
- In-person IDEA Camp programs at the Stoklosa Middle School during the week of June 21st-26th from 8:30am-12:00pm.
- Virtual IDEA Camp programs will be held the week of July 26th-30th
Click here to register and check out the flyers below for more information!
The Lowell Public Schools kindergarten registration period for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year is underway.
Children turning 5 years old on or before September 1, 2021 are eligible to register for kindergarten. Even if your child is currently enrolled in a LPS Preschool program you still need to register for Kindergarten.
The kindergarten registration period goes from May 3 until July 25 and will be split into 3 rounds. We are currently in round 2 of registration:
Round 1 has closed. Round 1 was held between May 3 and May 23 in order to be eligible for the 1st lottery on June 9, 2021.
Round 2 is happening now - Register between May 24 and June 20 to be eligible for the 2nd lottery on July 7, 2021.
Round 3 - Register between June 21 and July 25 to be eligible for the final lottery on August 4, 2021.
For more information about kindergarten registration and to register, please visit our website: www.lowell.k12.ma.us/kindergartenregistration
Students entering grades 1-12 who are new to the District and did not attend a LPS school this year, can also register for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. For more information and to register, visit our website: www.lowell.k12.ma.us/generalregistration
The Lowell Public Schools has been hosting a series of listening sessions to open space for better understanding the personal experiences of our Asian American school and community members.
We are underway with the second part of the three-part series which has been developed to help us learn, listen and take action against all forms of racism and discrimination within our community. This is the kick-off series in an ongoing discussion of building a strong community against hate and racism.
If you missed the sessions on May 19 or May 20, we encourage you to join us Thursday, May 27 at 6pm.
For the Zoom registration link and more information, click here: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/LearnListenAct
In Case You Missed It
Part One - Learning How to Stop Hate - was held on three dates between April 22-29 and was facilitated by Dr. Phitsamay Uy from the Center for Asian American Studies at UMASS Lowell. If you missed it, we strongly encourage students, families and staff to watch the recording from one of the sessions (https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/LearnListenAct). You will learn more about the rise of anti-Asian hate acts since the onset of COVID-19, reflect on the history of racism in the US against Asian Americans, and learn strategies for responding when you witness acts of racism or hate. This session also included information on how to report acts of racism and discrimination using the school district’s bias-based reporting protocol.
Coming Soon
Stay tuned for more information about Part 3, which will also be posted on our website (https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/LearnListenAct).
- Act: Acquire active ways to build family discussions with our students about recognizing, addressing, and acting against racism, including sharing mental health and academic resources, and sharing the LPS plan to combat racism.
We are excited to announce that Liam Skinner (pictured right), current principal of the Daley Middle School, has been named new Chief Schools Officer for LPS. Daley assistant principal Robert Doyle (pictured left) has been named interim principal of the Daley and will assume principal duties there when Mr. Skinner transitions to his new role in July.
Dr. Passeri is currently the principal of the John J. Shaughnessy Elementary School. He will finish the school year at the Shaughnessy before transitioning to leading the STEM Academy.
Please click here to read the full announcement.
Lowell High Sweeps Tenacity Challenge
Lowell High had four teams participate in this year’s Tenacity Challenge, with all of the LHS teams placing in the competition, coming in first, second, third and fourth overall.
The Tenacity Challenge, held virtually this year, is an annual academic scholarship competition for teams of Latino and African-American students from urban and suburban high schools across Massachusetts.
Lowell High's “The Quaranteam” won 1st place overall, earning a scholarship prize of $1,000 for every student on the team. “The Visionaries” from LHS came in 2nd place overall, earning a prize of $500 for each student. “Unidos” from LHS placed 3rd overall, earning a $300 prize for each student. “LHS Liberators” came in 4th place overall, with each student earning $200 in scholarship money. The 23 students from LHS across the four teams combined to win more than $11,000 in scholarship prizes.
Teams compete in four subject areas - English Literature, History, Math/Science and Art.
LHS held a celebration to honor all four teams on May 7.
“Quaranteam” includes Karla Carbajal, Annette Forchoch, Luis Raúl Raudales, Arlene Tetteh-Lartey, Lana Quiles, Princess Onyenwe, and is advised by Heather King.
“The Visionaries” include Katherine Aritzabal, Nicole Bula, Samantha Nanco, Adriana Nanco, Dante Quiles, and is advised by Rafael Quiles.
“Unidos” include Enrique Raudales, Luisa Londoño, Alejandro Bonilla, Jennifer Guamas, Franklyn Caguana, Zuri Barrios, and is advised by Dr. María Vejar.
“LHS Liberators” include Diogo Oliveira DeSouza, Matt Chege, Akosua Karikari, Mablean Ntoro, Jaeda Turner, Tiffany Waigi, and is advised by Ralph Saint-Louis & Yvette Cheeks.
Photos of the winning LHS teams, taken at the May 7 celebration, are posted below.
Nice Weather Allows In-Person Learning to Go Outside
Milestone in LHS Project
On May 13, City of Lowell officials, Lowell Public Schools officials, and members of the community gathered to mark the "topping off" (placing of the final beam) of Phase 1 of the Lowell High School Project, a significant milestone in the $343 million project.
The new Lowell High School will integrate the historic character of the school's existing structure with state-of-the-art construction to form a 622,770 sq. ft. campus, brining new vitality to the heart of our community and transforming the education experience of LHS students. Phase 1 of the project will house the school's new gymnasium, and is anticipated to reach completion in spring of 2022.
In Lowell, Books Always Win!
Earlier this spring, about 3,500 LPS students took part in a “March Book Madness” reading challenge to help get students excited about reading. Styled like the NCAA basketball tournament, students read different books and selected their favorites in each round, before deciding on an ultimate winner.
The McAuliffe Elementary School had previously been doing this activity, but this school year, the program expanded to include nine schools. Bryan Wilkins of Lowell Educational Television created videos of Lowell High basketball players reading the books. The schools then showed the videos to the students and they voted. The top winner, winning at three of the schools, was Soaked by Abi Cushman.
“Throughout the process the students are introduced to 16 new books that include diverse characters, authors, and experiences that might be relatable or completely different than anything they have experienced,” McAuliffe Principal David Anderson explained. “They then take each set of books and decide which one they like better and to hear them talking with each other about the books or giving the reasons why they like one over the other creates a dialogue about reading and using evidence to support opinions in an organic way. So, not only are they being exposed to new books but they are now talking about them and practicing the skills they are being taught in class without even realizing it.”
In addition to the McAuliffe, the McAvinnue, Reilly, Lincoln, Washington, Bailey, Murkland, Robinson and Stoklosa all participated.
“It is also another way to pull our school community (and this year multiple schools) in a fun way. If we can use March Book Madness as a way to make a kid fall in love with reading or even with just one book, we are taking steps to create even more lifelong learners coming out of our schools,” Mr. Anderson said.
“From a district perspective, the collaboration between schools, students, and LHS athletes to inspire a love of reading is really what Lowell is all about and I think that shows through in the slogan, 'In Lowell, Books Always Win!' We are blessed to have administrators that support this and teachers that build a love of reading in their classrooms by bringing in exciting texts and getting kids pumped to be lifelong readers,” Melissa Newell, K-12 Coordinator of Language & Literacy, added.
Pawtucketville Resident Played Prominent Role in the American Revolution
By Rebecca A. Duda, Ed.D., Family Resource Center Coordinator
With Patriots’ Day celebrated last month and Memorial Day coming up later this month, it seems like the right time to highlight the prominent role a Pawtucketville resident played in the American Revolution.
Patriots’ Day, celebrated on the third Monday in April, commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord. The shot fired on Lexington Green the morning of April 19, 1775 came to be known as “the shot heard ‘round the world.” From that day until the end of the war in 1781, men from Pawtucketville played a prominent role in helping win our independence from England. Barzillai Lew, who lived on Totman Road, fought at Bunker Hill. Moses B. Coburn, who lived on Varnum Avenue, was injured during the Battle of White Plains, NY.
But the war was not won with just the muskets of Minutemen. The Continental Army also relied on cannon and heavy artillery to help defeat the British. But unlike the other volunteers Pawtucketville sent to help fight the war, one man helped the war effort not with a musket, but by improving the Continental Army’s forging techniques and the cannons the Army used. A native of France, Colonel Marie Louis Amand Ansart Marasquelles played a crucial role in helping win the war. He ultimately settled in Pawtucketville.
Born in 1743, the Colonel was of French nobility—the son of a marquis (a marquis is a nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke) and the nephew of Marc René, marquis de Montalembert—the famous French military engineer from whom the future Colonel learned the art of metallurgy.
In 1776, the Colonel arrived in Boston and due to his background in cannon forging and metallurgy he was given the title, Colonel of Artillery and Inspector of Foundries for Massachusetts. He began work on forging cannons for the Continental Army in Bridgewater. While in Bridgewater, Paul Revere traveled down to meet the Colonel and learn from him. Colonial cannons were notorious for exploding—colonial forgeries had not perfected the craft.
Now that the Colonel was in Massachusetts teaching Revere and others, the quality of colonial artillery changed which in turn greatly helped the soldiers on the battlefront against the English. According to sources, the cannons used at Dorchester Heights to force the English to evacuate Boston were forged by the Colonel.
In addition to providing his expertise in cannon making, the Colonel assumed the role of aide-camp for General John Sullivan in 1778. Over the course of the war, he Colonel also became a close friend of Dracut native General James Mitchell Varnum. They most likely met while stationed at Valley Forge and perhaps it was their friendship that caused the Colonel to settle in Pawtucketville which was part of Dracut at the time.
With the end of the war, the Colonel married a colonist, Catherine Wimble with whom he had 12 children. The Colonel also decided to renounce his French nobility and become an American citizen in 1794 at which time he changed his name to Louis Ansart. The Ansarts decided to settle in Pawtucketville on Varnum Avenue.
Louis Ansart passed away in 1804 and was buried in Woodbine Cemetery. We should be thankful for this French nobleman’s contributions to the American Revolution and the contributions he made to the birth of the United States.
John J. Shaughnessy Elementary School
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31 this year. On this holiday we remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Did you know that the Shaughnessy Elementary School is named for one of these heroes?
The Shaughnessy Elementary School is named after Lt. John J. Shaughnessy. Lt. Shaughnessy was a resident of Gorham Street (the street where the Shaughnessy School is located), and was one of the first residents of Lowell to enlist in World War II.
Lt. Shaughnessy gave his life heroically during the Allied Forces’ D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.
The Latest Happenings with LPS Food & Nutrition
Meal Service Schedule & Menu
We are offering grab and go meal service at a total of 8 sites for Lowell Public Schools students taking part in remote learning. The STEM Academy meal site is open Monday through Friday, while our meal sites at Lowell High, the Morey, Wang, Murkland, Lincoln, Greenhalge and Stoklosa are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Students also receive meals for the weekend days on Fridays at all of our meal sites.
Click here for our meal service schedule.
Memorial Day Update
All of our meal sites will be closed on Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day. In order to accommodate this closure, students can pick up an extra breakfast and lunch for Monday when they visit our meal sites on Friday, May 28.
The Lowell Public Schools Technology Help Desk sets up a service tent at different times and locations each week. We post this schedule on the district website, email it to families, and share it on social media. The schedule for the rest of this week and next week can be found below:
- Thursday, May 27 from 3-5:30pm at the Stoklosa Middle School (560 Broadway St. - side door facing parking lot)
- Tuesday, June 1 from 3-5:30pm at the Reilly Elementary School (115 Douglas Rd. - rear door facing rear parking lot)
- Thursday, June 3 from 3-5:30pm at the Lincoln Elementary School (300 Chelmsford St. - next to the main entrance)
This service is available for any students or staff needing help with a device issued by the Lowell Public Schools.
You do not need to make an appointment. Just remember to wear a mask and bring the device charger.
If you need to reach the Help Desk, please call 978-674-2024, or email helpdesk@lowell.k12.ma.us. A student or staff email account must be used in order to email the Help Desk.
School Site Councils
A School Site Council provides opportunities for teachers, families and administrators to work collaboratively to make decisions that meet the needs of each school’s student population. The council is primarily comprised of the school's principal and members representing parents, teachers, community members and, at the secondary level, students.
All members of the school community are welcome and invited to attend their school’s site council meeting, and information on upcoming school meetings can be found on each individual school’s website 48 hours prior to a school’s meeting. Each school site council’s members can also be found on the school site council webpage.
For any questions related to a particular school’s site council, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the council's principal co-chair, parent co-chair, or other representatives on the council.