Lowell Weekly Parent Newsletter
January 31, 2021
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Message from Mrs. Phelan
Hello February!
We kick off Black history month tomorrow morning at our Daily Announcements, and we will be showcasing Black Changemakers during morning announcements throughout February. Please join us at 8:00.
Mrs. Hantson came across a Black History Month Project put together by our current fifth-grade students. They created this video in 2017 when they were in first grade. I'm sharing it with you below in honor of our students and the celebration of Black History Month.
Thursday, we held our Diversity Council Meeting. The attendance was excellent, and we had some new faces join our group, along with a parent from Hosmer and a community member. Please read the minutes attached below.
On Friday, the WPS administrative team began a six-week course titled Becoming a Culturally Proficient Leader with Dr. Kalise Wornum. The two-hour session was truly inspiring. Dr. Wornum identified the teacher's role as that of a learner. As educators, we must know each of our students to create an environment where they identify, feel they belong, and achieve. Our work centered on creating a common understanding of what culturally proficient teaching is and what we aim to achieve.
Just a reminder, be sure to keep an eye on the news for school closing due to snow. You can find all the information you need in Dr. Galdston's Smore.
Stay warm and be safe!
Stacy
Student COVID Testing!
Pool Testing
It's not too late to sign up! We have almost all of our class getting tested, and would love to get it to 100% of students! Watertown Public Schools are offering weekly COVID pool testing for students. Although we have many precautions in place such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance, getting tested is truly the best way to ensure we are not spreading COVID at school and to keep students in the building.
This is voluntary, but we highly encourage everyone to sign up. Teachers have been getting tested weekly since we've gone back to school. These tests are not painful - they do not swab nearly as far as they used to. The swab goes less than an inch up your nose, and no students have complained yet!
Please use this form to indicate your interest in having your child(ren) tested as part of our COVID-19 surveillance testing program. You only need to fill out the form once, not each week. If you have already filled out the form, there is no need to fill it out again.
More information is available in the Superintendent's Newsletter if you are interested.
Important Safety Concerns
J.R Lowell Elementary International Week Events Can Be Viewed On Facebook
Hawaiian Hula Competition
Columbian Dance
Highland Reel Scottish Dance Championship
Lasagne originated in Italy during the Middle Ages
Colombian cheese steak
International week inspired dinner this week!
The Lowell Leopard was spotted............. in Ms. Hogan's 2nd grade Classroom
Lennie had lots of fun in room 201 this week!
He learned a lot about the continents with the class and even taught the class about the continents that he is from! He was also very active in math, learning new addition strategies! Most of all he enjoyed many air high fives!
Celebrating our Lowell School Fifth Graders!
The years have flown by for the Lowell School 5th Graders who will soon be on to middle school. Each week this year, we look forward to celebrating them here in the Principal's newsletter. Best wishes to all! We are so proud of you!
Congratulations, Dazon
What is your favorite Lowell School memory?
Meeting my best friend.
What is your favorite hobby?
Drawing
What is the best thing about being in 5th grade?
Learning new things
Congratulations, Claire
What's the best thing about being in 5th grade?
I get to graduate!
What's your favorite Lowell School memory?
Singing our theme song.
What's your favorite hobby?
Dancing
Congratulations, Emmett
What is your favorite song?
My favorite song is Cradles by Sub Urban.
Tell your classmates something they might not know about you.
I am moving, and I have a dog.
What is your favorite hobby?
Playing with my dog.
Congratulations, Ryssa
What's your favorite Lowell School memory?
Seeing all my teachers and friends, as well as working with them.
What are you looking forward to in middle school?
Feeling like an older kid! As well as getting to a new school.
Tell your classmates something they might not know about you.
I have silver medals from my gymnastics and a gold medal from my dance.
Congratulations, Bella
What is your favorite hobby?
I like to do art things like drawing anime and painting and creating things. But drawing and painting is what I am passionate about.
What are 3 words that describe you?
Kind, creative, smart
What is the best thing about being in 5th grade?
The best thing about being in 5th grade are my teachers. My new teachers are very cool. I am grateful for them.
Congratulations, Cole
What are 3 words that describe you?
Fun-loving, creative, considerate
What is your favorite Lowell School memory?
Lowell's giant peace sign made up of students and teachers
Tell your classmates something they might not know about you.
I want to be an actor.
Upcoming Events
Let's Chat
Our SEL team (Guidance Counselor, Social Worker and School Psychologist), in partnership with the Lowell PTO, hosts a monthly "Let's Chat" gathering by Zoom for all Lowell parents and caregivers. This is an opportunity to support Elementary age families as they manage the complexities and demands of remote and hybrid learning. Please join us on Thurs. 2/4 at 9:30am for our January topic, navigating difficult conversations with kids and managing common family stressors.
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/92770844530?pwd=a0d1OUZKVEt0Y1ZpY3M4NUV0KzNOUT09
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021, 09:30 AM
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Celebrating Black History Month : Student Voice "Impressions" Showcase
We are very excited to collaborate with you and share the WPS Black History Month Student Voice "Impressions" Showcase. The submission form is open from January 22 - March 1, 2021.
Here is the link to our 2021 WPS Black History Month Student Voice "Expressions" Showcase" that hosts the submission details, some student work examples for inspiration, few guidelines, and the student work submission form.
Diversity Council Updates
Please see notes from meeting here.
Technology Updates
We look forward to supporting you with your educational technology questions.
Here is a link to the weekly 01/23 Family Ed-Tech for All Newsletter, LIVE Ed-Tech Support Sessions, Resources, Tutorials & tips that are curated and created, just for you. Do you need help with Ed-Tech? Please complete the WPS Ed-Tech Support Request Form. A member of the WPS Ed-Tech team will reach out to you within a school day.
Celebrating WPS Black History Month Student Voice "Impressions" Showcase
We are very excited to collaborate with you and share the WPS Black History Month Student Voice "Impressions" Showcase. The submission form is open from January 22 - March 1, 2021.
Here is the link to our 2021 WPS Black History Month Student Voice "Expressions" Showcase" that hosts the submission details, some student work examples for inspiration, few guidelines, and the student work submission form.
The theme for this year is " We Stand Together"
Please email me if would like to add to the website or need more information. Need Classroom or submission support? Please use the Ed-Tech support form or you can also reach out to the teachers, library media learning specialists, and digital learning support specialists at your school.
Thank you and have a terrific day,
Rashmi Pimprikar (District Ed-Tech Coordinator), Digital Learning Team and IT Team
Parent Resources
Kindergarten Information Night
Parents/Guardians of children entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2021 are invited to participate in this virtual informational meeting.
During the meeting you will:
•learn about early education in Watertown;
•find out when/how to register your child;
•ask questions about early education and registration.
Use the pre-registration form to sign up for this event. Your completed form will help us to prepare for this informational session. If you cannot attend, you should still complete the form so that we can approximate the number of families showing interest in enrolling a Kindergarten student for the 21-22 school year. Please see Lowell link for Lowell Parents below.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
After-School Animal Encounters: Defense
Free after school virtual animal education sessions,
Tuesday, February 2, 2021, 3:00pm to 3:45pm
https://hmsc.harvard.edu/event/defense
Animals have many amazing and bizarre ways to defend themselves from exoskeletons and shells to losing limbs and spraying chemicals! Learn about what some of our animals do to protect themselves and even to avoid a fight altogether. Join human museum staffers Javier and Ryan as they lead you in a 45-minute-long program with live animals. This event will be fun for the whole family so bring your questions and sense of wonder.
This webinar is free and will be hosted via Zoom. Register here for this family-friendly event. To join the program, you will need to download the free Zoom app in advance. If you already have Zoom, you do not need to download it again. For details on how to improve your Zoom experience, visit the How to Attend an HMSC Program webpage.
Future sessions:
• After-School Animal Encounters: Weird Eaters: Wednesday, March 3, 3pm
• After-School Animal Encounters: Humans + Animals: Tuesday, April 20, 3pm
• After-School Animal Encounters: Movement: Thursday, May 20, 3pm
PTO Corner
Updates:
Dear Lowell School Families,
Thanks for all your participation in International Week. It was so much fun to learn about the delicious cuisines and cultural traditions from around the world. We are so lucky to have such an amazing and diverse community here at the Lowell School! Please check out some upcoming events.
Let’s Chat! Thursday, February 4th at 9:30AM
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Kids and Managing Common Family Stressors
Our SEL team (Guidance Counselor, Social Worker and School Psychologist) hosts a monthly "Let's Chat" gathering by Zoom for all Lowell parents and caregivers. This is an opportunity to support elementary age families as they manage the complexities and demands of remote and hybrid learning.
Join Let's Chat Zoom Meeting:
https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/92770844530?pwd=a0d1OUZKVEt0Y1ZpY3M4NUV0KzNOUT09
Meeting ID: 927 7084 4530
Passcode: 406307
Cosmic Yoga Kids Club: Students are invited to sign-up for Cosmic Yoga with Ms. Gerring! Recommended for Grades K-2 but all are welcome. Yoga will be on Thursdays from 3 - 4pm on Zoom. Session 1 will run from February 4 - April 8. Session 2 will run from April 15 - June 17. There will not be meetings on school vacation weeks. This club is FREE with PTO support. Space is limited, and families can sign-up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0545a5ae28a0f49-cosmic
Join us for the next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, February 9 at 6:30PM on Zoom. We will discuss our Read-a-Thon and other upcoming events. You can find the Zoom link at our PTO website: http://jrlowellpto.weebly.com/
Celebrating Black History Month
Classroom Motivational Quotes
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