Principal's August Update
August 14, 2021
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Table of Contents
- Message from Principal Phelan
- Staffing Updates
- Introduction to Our Newest Staff Members
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Grades 1-5
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for K
- Lunch and Break Snack Program- Free to ALL Students
- Lowell School Parent Guide 2021-2022
- Team Teams by Grade Level
- Schedule by Grade Level
- School Supplies
- Upcoming Events (dates, time, and location)
Message from Principal Phelan
Greetings,
The Back to School sales and displays are prominently showcased whenever you go signaling the return to school. I want to give you a few updates to help you plan for your child's return to school. I will keep you posted on all things related to our return as the opening of school approaches.
Many of you have questions and concerns related to COVID procedures and protocols. We will be addressing your concerns shortly. I will make sure to keep you informed as I learn more information.
We are excited to welcome you back for the 2021-2022 school year! We are writing to explain our approach to accelerating learning for all students this year and ask for your partnership.
We’ve grounded our approach in three priorities:
● Developing a sense of belonging in schools
● Monitoring student learning
● Ensuring strong, grade-level instruction.
Within each priority, we center our approaches on creating equitable experiences and outcomes for all your students to affirm their race, native language, learning and thinking differences, and other identity markers.
This year, we will be using a philosophy called “Learning Acceleration” to address unfinished learning due to the pandemic. Educators will use diagnostics to identify the specific content individual students need support with to access grade-level content this year to accelerate students' progress. Educators will embed opportunities to teach these prerequisite skills into their curriculum for this year so that students receive the support they need to engage with grade-level content. We refer to this kind of support as “just in time scaffolding.” Teachers will continuously monitor student learning to effectively accelerate learning this school year to understand where they stand against clear learning goals. Lastly and most importantly, educators throughout schools will work in partnership with students and families to create an environment that is supportive of their students’ well-being and sense of belonging.
We look forward to working in concert with you and our students to achieve our goals this year.
I and AP Chen are offering two parent forums before the school begins. This is your opportunity to ask us questions. These events are scheduled for August 31st at 9:00 AM and September 2nd at 6:00 PM. We also have a few other events scheduled to welcome our returning students and meet our newest students.
Parent/Guardian Forums on Zoom
August 31st at 9:00 AM Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86160626337September 2 at 6:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86577374303Family Events
Monday, August 30th, please join us for a meet and greet. All are welcome from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Lowell School on the Playground.
ELPAC Back to School Welcome Event for our families who are not native English speakers. Families are welcome to Fillipello Park on Saturday, September 11th, from 2:00-5:00 PM to meet others who share their native language and learn more about our schools. This event is being sponsored by WPS ELPAC and organized by Kate Phillipson, our ESL Curriculum Coordinator.
Kindergarten Playdate
Tuesday, August 24th, 4:00-6:30 PM (Rain date: August 28th) This event is for incoming Kindergarten students and their families. Location: Lowell School Playground.
Student Events
Tuesday, August 31st, at 12:15-1:00 PM, we are hosting a "Get a Chance to Tour the Building" for those who attended school remotely until the end of the school year.
Tuesday, August 31st, from 1:15-2:00 PM, we are offering new students in grades 1-5 the opportunity to meet the Principal, AP, and our Student Support Team and tour the school.
Parent/Guardian Event-
Back to School Night
Tuesday, September 21st, 6:00- 8:00 PM This is an online event.
I will continue to communicate information for a positive transition to school this fall. If you have any questions or ideas in the meantime, don't hesitate to contact me at stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Phelan
Staffing Updates:
We currently have one position we need to fill. I've just learned Mr. Shpritzer will be on leave this school year. Mr. Chen and I will be interviewing for this position in the coming weeks. I will keep you informed of our progress.
Please Give a Warm Welcome to Our Newest Team Members
Johanna Mitchell Spanish Teacher
Melissa Frank Grade 3 Special Education Teacher
Melissa is originally from Albany, New York, and moved to the Boston area in July. Melissa attended New York State College of Geneseo. She received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education and Literacy at the University at Albany.
Ramon Gonzales Lead Custodian
School Begins on September 8th for Grades 1-5
Arrival and Dismissal Grades 1-5:
Day 1: Students in grades 1 - 5 will line up outside the Orchard Street door (#6) between 8:05 AM and 8:20 AM. You will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher at that time briefly. Students will be dismissed at the end of the school day at 2:30 PM to the same location they lined up for arrival.
There will be no Drop-and-Go on day 1.
Starting from day 2, all students will enter the building through the Lowell Avenue entrance between 8:05 and 8:20 AM. Students are marked tardy after 8:20 am.
If you use the Drop-and-Go Line on Lowell Avenue, we ask you to pull your car down to the second crosswalk. Please do not idle your automobile on the crosswalk when dropping off your student. After your student(s) safely exits your vehicle and steps onto the sidewalk, you may continue on your way.
If your child needs your assistance getting out of the car, please park your car, help your child with their backpacks, etc., and walk your child up to the door instead of using the Drop-and-Go.
During the drop-off period of 8:05 to 8:20 AM, we have over 425 students entering the building. All community members must follow the protocol for using Drop-and-Go Line.
Parents/guardians must check-in at the office and receive a visitor badge before entering the building. Parents are not allowed to accompany their children to their classrooms. Please be assured that appropriate supervision is provided once students enter through the school doors.
Doors lock promptly at 8:20. Students who arrive after 8:20 must enter through the main entrance and be signed in at the office with their parents.
Please note: If your child needs to arrive at school before 8:00 am, he/she/they need to be attending the before-school programs to ensure safety and supervision.
Kindergarten: Visiting Day by Appointment September 8th/ Half Day September 9th Students Release at 12:00/ Kindergarten First Full Day September 10th
Day 1 (Visiting Day by Appointment) Wednesday, September 8th: Students and families enter through the George St. Door #2 by appointment.
Day 2- (Early Release at 12:00) Thursday, September 9th: arrival begins at 8:05 - 8:20 AM. After 8:20 AM, students must enter the entrance on Lowell Street. Students will exit door #3 near the kindergarten playground on George Street. Pick-up time is 12:00 PM (no lunch service and no extended day).
Day 3- (First Full Day) Friday, September 10th: 8:15 AM – 2:30 PM (full day, lunch is served, Extended Day for those students signed up).
Arrival through door #2 George Street beginning at 8:05 AM.
Dismissal from door #3 George Street at 2:30 PM.
Lunch and Snack is Free for All Students
Breakfast snacks and lunch will be available to all students free of charge. Breakfast snack replaces our traditional breakfast program; last year, more students took advantage of our snack program, which is offered during the school day.
Students will have the opportunity to order a snack or lunch each morning during Morning Meeting. Students are still welcome to bring a snack or lunch from home.
You can view menus on our website. Click the link below.
Important Information About Returning to School This Fall
Teaching Teams 2021-2022
Schedule By Grade
We have added a block to our schedule this year to support our philosophy of Accelerated Learning. WIN (What I Need) block is daily for 30 minutes. Our Reading teachers are allocated to each grade during the WIN block. We currently have 3 Reading Specialists, a Literacy Coach, and two tutors. Our reading team supports kindergarten; differently, they support kindergarten during the Readers' Workshop time slot.
We also have WIN time for math too. This occurs opposite Spanish. We are happy to announce grades k-5 will have Spanish this year. Spanish occurs on an A/B schedule. Week A classes have Spanish three times a week, and in week B, they have Spanish 2 times. On days students don't have Spanish, they attend Math Workshop. We have two math tutors and a full-time Math Coach who supports Math Workshop.
School Supplies
http://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/news/what_s_new/school_supply_lists_2021_2022
Back to School Parent Forums
August 31st at 9:00 AM Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86160626337Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021, 09:00 AM
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Back to School Parent Forums
September 2 at 6:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86577374303Thursday, Sep 2, 2021, 06:00 PM
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Remote Students Returning to Lowell for the First Time
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021, 12:15 PM
Please meet us under the tents across from our main doors.
New Students in Grade 1-5 Tour the School and Meet the Principal, AP and Student Support Team
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021, 01:15 PM
Please meet us under the tents across from the main doors.
James Russell Lowell Elementary School
Main Office ext. 33001
Email: stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://lowell.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 175 Orchard Street, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: (617) 926-7770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary