Hello McAvinnue Community!

We made it through the first official school week of 2021 with great success! We had an average student attendance rate of 93% for this past week which is a solid number returning after the holiday break. When visiting classrooms this week, students were working extremely hard and were very eager to return to McAvinnue's school routines and expectations. It's important that we continue this positive momentum for this up and coming week. The first step to having a productive school day starts with being on time and ready for learning. We continue to emphasize the importance of having a good learning spot free from distractions and positive behaviors that will contribute to having a great school day such as "learning is really hard when you are laying in bed...and is much easier when you are seated at a table or desk". Please help us spread this message by reminding and supporting your child with these important action steps.

Even though we had a highly successful opening week of 2021 at McAvinnue, there was a tremendous amount of uncertainty and unrest within the United States this week. We all watched the events that transpired in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. This was troubling and disturbing display that we will all remember for some time regardless of your political beliefs or views. It's important that we reassure our young ones that disagreement doesn't justify violence and destruction. Peaceful conversations and discussions is what will ultimately lead to productive change regardless of what team you support.

Please see the important message from Superintendent Boyd below that address the events that took place on Wednesday, January 6th at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

“Dear Lowell Public Schools Community,

The peaceful transfer of power is a cornerstone of our democracy here in the United States. This tradition - and the very state of our democracy - was threatened during acts that took place at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Many of us watched and followed the news reports from our nation’s capital filled with sadness, confusion and concern among other emotions.

As educators, we carry the added responsibility of having to help our students process these events, even as we try to make sense of them ourselves. We know that facilitating and managing difficult conversations through a computer screen makes things all the more difficult. However, we are prepared to help our students through another difficult time in what has been a difficult year.

We live in highly charged times politically. We will not always agree. But we can still have difficult conversations while respecting one another and listening to one another. We can address differing ideologies in a productive and peaceful way, and the Lowell Public Schools remains committed to providing a safe, caring and respectful learning environment for all of our students, staff and families.

Our curriculum team has prepared resources to help our students through difficult events, like what took place at the Capitol (we emailed a list of links to families). In the meantime, if your child is expressing concern, please reach out to your teacher, social worker or principal for support.

Thank you to everyone for centering our discussions around how we can help our students feel safe, welcomed, respected and heard as we continue to engage in the democratic processes of our nation.

Continue to stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joel D. Boyd

Superintendent of Schools”

If you have any questions or need anything that we can support you with, please reach out to the Main Office at McAvinnue or send Mr. Domina a message at mdomina@lowell.k12.ma.us

As new information becomes available and opportunities become available, we will share out as much information from local health providers to make things as easy as possible for you to get the required flu vaccine by Sunday, February 28th.

REMEMBER THAT THE FLU VACCINATION IS A REQUIREMENT AND NEEDS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AT MCAVINNUE. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD YOUR CHILD RECEIVE THE FLU VACCINATION, YOU CAN DROP OFF PROOF TO NURSE ROBIN AT MCAVINNUE DURING SCHOOL HOURS OR EMAIL THEM TO HER AT rmcneil@lowell.k12.ma.us

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.

If you have changed any numbers or have new primary care providers that you would like to add, please complete the form below or reach out to us with this new information. It's important to do this as we start to return to students to in-person learning for the second half for this school year.

All you need to do is contact us and we will make sure that we secure a WIFI hotspot for your family. At this time, we can only provide one WIFI hotspot per family. We have heard very positive results for families that have more than one child needing to use this device when it is used as directed.

If you need a WIFI hotspot, please contact your child's teacher or the Main Office at McAvinnue and we will do our best to get this critical device in your hands as soon as possible.

COVID-19 cases continue to occur in Lowell, with 1,325 new cases reported in the City over the past 14 days. Lowell has a COVID-19 average daily incident rate of 78.8 (decrease) and a percent positivity rate of 10.2 (decrease) as of Tuesday, January 5th. This still places our community in the "red" high risk category.

As you know, new measures went into effect on Friday, November 6th to help slow the spread. Know the rules and follow them closely to help keep our community safe.

• Stay At Home Advisory: 10:00 PM - 5:00 AM
• Face Coverings Required In All Public Places
• Restaurants Close @ 9:30 PM
• Indoor Gatherings Limited To 10 People
• Outdoor Gatherings Limited To 25 People

"Teachers College Reading and Writing Project" at Columbia University recognize that in these unprecedented times you are working hard to support your child’s literacy learning at home as best you can. They want to help. To that end, they have created free offerings for families. The goal is that these will bring more joy into home literacy learning. This group will be adding to these regularly; check this page for updates and additions!

https://readingandwritingproject.org/resources/supports-for-familes?fbclid=IwAR2Y4PZV99d2wa6AmpxueZdrElr0YwgYlamfBvKBJtmjSff-v8fiq0GPdlQ

Family Videos

In these family videos—each less than ten minutes— They draw on a combination of research, classroom experience, and educator knowledge to help parents and caregivers support young people, pre-k to grade 9, with their reading and writing. Some of these videos show you games that to play at home while others help you support phonics, avid reading, creative writing, study skills, research, vocabulary, or abstract thinking. They will add to this collection periodically. They have tried to make these accessible and joyful, and to support you in ways that will make a difference for your youngsters.

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Wayside Youth & Family Support Network are hosting Parent & Caregiver Support Groups.

Join them for weekly virtual support groups and individual support for parents and caregivers who are raising children and young adults with mental illness.

Parent Support Groups:

Tuesdays - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Thursdays - 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Drop-In Support:

Wednesdays - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Spanish Support Group:

2nd and 4th Monday - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Portuguese Support Group:

2nd and 4th Monday from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

For more information or the Zoom meeting link, please the contact individuals below:

mailto:malik_marrero@waysideyouth.org / 978-349-4171

mailto:roberta_agostinho@waysideyouth.org / 978-349-4177

NFI is holding an ongoing virtual "Remote Learning Support Group." It will happen every other Monday from 3:30-4:30. First topic is "Creating a Learning Space in your Home". We will let the group lead about what our biweekly topics will be. Below is the link and dates.

January 11th and 25th @ 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Here is the link for the meetings:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/656101301

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123

Access Code: 656-101-301

• Emergency Funds & Financial Resources
• COVID-19 School Information
• Parenting Resources
• Mental Health
• Supplemental Food Support
• Community Teamwork Inc.
• Technology Resources

Click below to access the guide