Lowell Leopard News
March 2024
From the Principal
Welcome to March! February was a busy month, with celebrations for Valentine's Day, the 100th day of school (1,000th for fifth-graders!), and our ongoing focus on friendship -- check out the photos of our entryway bulletin board! March brings multiple opportunities for families to be involved:
- Family Literacy Night is March 4. Check out the accompanying green image for the details!
- Conference week is March 25-29. Your child's teacher will be in touch with more details by March 7, but please block out a half-hour during one afternoon the last week of the month to spend with your child's teacher. The book fair is also on that week!
- Family survey is open through March 29. Another way you can partner with us is to provide feedback on how you think we are doing as a school. This helps us plan for improvement! Please take our annual family survey via this link.
Here are a few other items to note this month:
- Help us make dismissal smoother: We are receiving many phone calls in the last few minutes before our dismissal times from families who want to change their usual arrangements. Sometimes, classes are already on their way to dismissal areas, and we don't have time to communicate all the changes. If you have changes to be communicated to your child, please let us know by 2:15 p.m. on normal dismissal days, and by 1:00 p.m. on Fridays.
- Scholarship opportunity: Do you have or know a graduating high school senior who attended Lowell for at least one year? We have a $1,000 scholarship in honor of a former staff member. See the attachment for more information, and to apply!
- Kindergarten registration: For those families who will have a new kindergarten student next fall, it's not too soon to think about registration. It begins on March 4, and can be completed online here or by picking up a registration packet at school. Please share this info with friends and neighbors who may have incoming kindergarten students. Your enrolling early helps us plan for next fall!
- Coming in May: During the period of May 6-24, students in Grades 3-5 will take state-mandated Smarter Balanced Assessments (math and English language arts), and fifth-graders will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science. We appreciate your not scheduling trips or appointments during those weeks. In addition, every student needs a pair of comfortable wired headphones. We have extras available for those students who do not have their own. Wireless/Bluetooth headphones are not allowed.
Have a great month, and please be sure to reach out with any questions or needs!
Mrs. Kelley, principal
Gaga ball!
Leopard students LOVE our new gaga ball pit! We are so grateful for a donation from Everett-based Perteet, Inc., that made this possible. Wondering what gaga ball is? Check out the video below. Families are welcome to use the pit outside of the hours that students are on campus -- all you need is a playground ball.
- Every Monday: Celebrate Motto Monday by wearing a Lowell shirt, or blue and white
- Friday, March 1: 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal
- Monday, March 4: Family Literacy Night (see green image above for details)
- Friday, March 8: Popcorn Friday; 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal
- March 11-15: Education Support Professionals Week
- Thursday, March 14: PTA General Meeting, 6:00 p.m. in the library
- Friday, March 15: 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal
- Tuesday, March 19: Career dress-up day (wear something showing what you want to be when you grow up) ... and reach out to your child's teacher if you are interested in sharing about your career with the class!
- Friday, March 22: 12:20 p.m. dismissal for conference prep
- Saturday, March 23: MathFest (see details in Learning at Home section)
- Sunday, March 24: Everett Special Education PTSA Community Run, Walk & Roll event (see details in PTA section)
- All week, March 25-29: 12:20 p.m. dismissal for conferences; book fair (open late Tuesday evening)
- Looking ahead:
- Spring break is April 1-5. See you back at school on April 8!
- May 6-24 is state testing for Grade 3-5 students.
Looking for district calendars for the 2023-24 school year?:
- One-page calendar: English and Spanish
- Student art wall calendar: Full page and print/fold
Missoula Children's Theatre is Returning!
We are so excited that Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning to help Lowell students put on a performance of Beauty Lou and the Country Beast! Here’s the version the play will be based on: This play is an original country western adaptation of the classic fairy tale BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Beauty Lou is the oldest daughter of the bronc-bustin’ balladeer Buck. At the local county fair, young Beauty Lou is upset by the ungrateful behavior of a miner who has won the blue ribbon for his beautiful roses. She calls him a beast and wishes that he would look like one too. Years later, when in danger of losing the family farm, Buck meets the miner-turned-beast. Beauty Lou agrees to befriend the Beast to save her family. Beauty Lou and the Beast both learn to look beyond appearances and first impressions and to see the beauty that dwells inside. The story, set in the American West, also features Beauty Lou’s six sisters, her Imaginary Friend, her dog Fleabite Clyde, farmhands Slim and Dusty, the neighborly Country Folk, and the Barnyard Critters.
We have spots for about 60 Lowell students to be involved! We have one week to pull it all together, so to audition you must:
- Be willing to be on stage and talk in front of an audience
- Be on time and present all day on audition day, April 8
- Clear your schedule for the entire week, April 8-13
- Commit to coming to all rehearsals and both performances with a positive attitude
- Have your own transportation to and from Lowell at your assigned times AND to and from the EHS Civic Auditorium on Friday and Saturday.
- Understand that there are no exceptions (doctor appointments, sports, etc.) to the above, as we need all of the time to be ready!
Our timeline looks like this:
- March 14: Permission forms sent home with students
- March 21: Deadline is noon to return permission forms to the Lowell office -- everyone who turns a completed form in by noon on March 21 AND who is present and on time to school on audition day, April 8, gets to audition.
- March 28: Reminder notes go home to all who are auditioning
- April 8: Closed auditions after school; announcement at 5:00 on who the cast is
- April 8-11: Rehearsals after school, 2:50-7:20 p.m. -- exact time depends on role
- April 12: Performance at Civic Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. -- we have school that Friday, so will be taking the actors on a field trip to the auditorium for dress rehearsal.
- April 13: Performance at Civic Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.
Do you want to volunteer during the school day? Join Watch D.O.G.S! Watch D.O.G.S. is the safe school initiative of the National Center for Fathering that helps to create a more safe and secure learning environment in our nation’s schools. Watch D.O.G.S. volunteers are traditionally fathers and father figures, but Lowell Elementary encourages ALL parents and guardians who want to volunteer during the school day to join the program. Here are the steps to volunteer:
- Become an approved Everett Public Schools volunteer. You can complete the process online here.
- After you are an approved volunteer, please contact family support specialist Amy Watkins at awatkins@everettsd.org.
- You will pick a time that works for you and enjoy a couple hours, a half-day, or a full day on the school's campus volunteering in classrooms, spending time out at recess, and being present in the school.
Education Support Professionals Week gives us a chance to celebrate the great work that paraeducators and office, health room, kitchen, and custodial staff do each day! There's nothing better than a handwritten note or picture from a student, or an e-mail from a parent/guardian, to show appreciation!
Clothing recycling drive: Lowell is teaming up with UsAgain Company for Earth Day 2024, themed "Planet vs. Plastics," to raise awareness about the health risks of plastics. By collecting clothes for recycling in the green clothing collection box located in the south parking lot, you'll not only help reduce plastic pollution, but also earn money for our school! But here's the best part – Lowell is competing to win a cash prize! The funds raised will directly benefit Lowell students, supporting initiatives like the upcoming Missoula Children’s Theatre event. In addition, Lowell is hosting a grade-level competition to see which grade can collect the most clothes! The winning grade will get to vote on the prize, so let's make it count! Please have students place donations in marked boxes on the cafeteria stage between March 15 and April 15. We kindly ask that donations are not brought in early, as we do not have storage space. We encourage our community to support Lowell by donating to the green box, even when the competition is not happening. Your contributions make a difference in supporting our school's initiatives and environmental efforts. For every full bin collected, one tree is planted, making a positive impact on our planet one garment at a time. Let's rally together as a community and make this Earth Day a success while earning money for our students!
AquaSox Hit a Home Run in Reading program: Lowell is participating in the AquaSox Hit a Home Run in Reading Program again this year! The program will run for the month of March, with prizes on March 8, 15, 22, and 29. Your child's teacher will share more details. Our goal is to get kids reading! EVERY student will receive prizes each week: AquaSox bookmark (designed by students), AquaSox pin voucher, Imagine Children’s Museum voucher, and a voucher for one ticket to a game. Mark your calendars for Lowell Night at the AquaSox, Sunday, June 9 (afternoon game; ticket info coming soon)! Kids will be able to run the bases! Go, Leopard readers ... and go, Frogs!
Zeno MathFest on March 23: Experience math like never before! Head for Cascade High School from 10:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23, for MathFest, a free math celebration for kids ages 3-11 and their families. The event engages kids and adults in math games, prizes, and activities to foster enthusiasm and confidence in math. Registration is full, but walk-ins are welcome on the day of the event. More info is here.
Promoting Healthy Digital Habits: Did you miss the Feb. 6 event with Dr. Lucía Magis-Weinberg from the University of Washington, sharing about how students are shaped by the risks and opportunities afforded by technology, particularly social media, and ways to promote healthy digital habits? If so, you can watch the video recording here. While young people today are highly familiar with technology, they cannot simply unlock all its benefits without guidance and support. Additionally, there are measures we can take to prevent online harms from occurring. Dr. Magis-Weinberg's research examines how the challenges of social and emotional development during adolescence have evolved due to the digital age. In her presentation, she explored how students are influenced by both the advantages and dangers of technology, especially social media, and discussed strategies for fostering positive digital behaviors. Families with kids in elementary, middle, and high school can all benefit from watching the video!
P.E. with Mrs. Neyens
Hello, Heart Heroes! Are you ready?! Kids Heart Challenge is coming to our school for the entire month of March! We have exciting things planned this year to get us moving, helping others and having fun. Get a head start by signing up today and helping your student choose a daily health challenge. Visit our school page at http://www2.heart.org/goto/LowellLeopards or download the AHA Schools app!
STEAM with Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. McHargue
- This month our focus is on art and exploring some of the seven elements of art. Grades K-2 will be making mosaics and using oil pastels to learn about color and shape. Grades 3-5 will be using tempera paint to create original pop art and practice print-making. They will also be learning about color by creating a geometric color wheel.
- We have a great opportunity for our Lowell students to submit original artwork to Doodle for Google. The prompt is "My Wish for the Next 25 Years." Students can create art at home that goes along with the prompt and submit this online. More information is here. Please reach out to us if you have questions or need any assistance!
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If you have a student who submitted artwork to the Elementary Art Show, or if you would like to view all submissions, check out the videos here. We have several students from Lowell who submitted some amazing artwork!
Library with Mrs. Thompson
- March is a very busy month in the library! We start with Family Literacy Night on Monday, March 4. Join us for a fun evening where you can listen to stories, play bingo for books, make bookmarks, and enjoy some cookies and milk! Students in kindergarten through second grade are welcome from 5:00-6:00 p.m., and third- through fifth-graders are encouraged to come from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Of course, if you have kids in different grades, please choose when to come!
- Also in March, we will have our second BOOK FAIR! Mark your calendars for conference week, March 25-29. More information will be coming home with your students!
- Finally, the month of March is Women’s History Month. We will be learning about many of the important contributions women have made worldwide. It is an exciting month!
Music with Mr. Powers
We have some exciting things going on in music this month. Our fourth- and fifth-graders are starting their recorder unit, where the focus will be building music literacy skills. Kindergarten through third grade will be practicing on various classroom instruments like drums, xylophone, and ukulele. A massive thank you goes out to our Lowell PTA for a grant that provided recorders for each fourth- and fifth-grader to use in class! The Lowell Ukulele Club will be performing “Stand by Me” at our Family Literacy Night on March 4th; we hope to see you there!
Newsletter and website:
- The March PTA newsletter is attached.
- Check out PTA's website here!
Next general meeting: 6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the library. Kids are welcome (there's child care), there will be free pizza, and you don't have to be a member to attend!
Interested in volunteering? There are lots of events coming up in the spring! Volunteer clearance is a must, and it can take up to two weeks. Get ahead of things now -- visit the district website to start your application!
How to join PTA: Just click here -- it's a fabulous way to support Lowell students and staff, and it doesn't mean you have to commit to volunteering.
Family run/walk/roll event: The Everett Special Education PTSA is hosting their fourth annual 5K event for all families, students, staff, and community members to participate in this March. Proceeds will go to support all Everett Public School PTAs, including Lowell's. You can learn more about the event -- which can be done on your own in part or in full, or done as a hybrid if you want to attend a fun event -- here.
Child care support: In partnership with Opportunity Council, Snohomish County provides temporary child care tuition assistance to eligible families looking for work, participating in employment-related activities, or at risk of losing child care placement due to nonpayment. Eligibility requirements and more information are available here.
Basic needs resources: Does your family need assistance with items such as clothing and shoes, or food? We have resources to help, and/or we can help you connect with resources in the community! E-mail family support specialist Amy Watkins at awatkins@everettsd.org, or call her at 425-385-5373.
Here are some community resources you may want to take advantage of:
Late arrivals/tardies: If arriving after 8:30 a.m., students must enter through the main entrance/office. If it's between 8:35 and 9:05 a.m., your student will be marked tardy. After 9:05, your student needs to be walked in by an adult, as they need to be signed in. This will ensure that their half-day absence is being marked excused or unexcused appropriately.
Changes to dismissal routines: If you are wanting to change how your student is getting home on a given day, you must contact our office before 2:30 p.m. Classes are packing up and transitioning to dismissal areas between 2:40 and 2:50 p.m. (1:25 and 1:35 p.m. on Fridays), so we cannot guarantee that messages will get through during that time period. Please keep in mind that early dismissals of less than 30 minutes count as a tardy, and those of longer than 30 minutes count as a half-day absence.
Every month, our district has a variety of news items to share. See the attachments in both English and Spanish for this month's news:
- Annual student art shows
- Cyber kidnapping
- School stakeholder annual survey -- your voice is important
- Update emergency contacts
- Daylight saving time begins March 10
- School Social Worker Week
- Education Support Professionals Week
- Miss the Promoting Healthy Digital Habits Let's Connect?
- Kindergarten registration begins March 4
- Take the state High School & Beyond Plan platform survey
- Do not miss out on e-fliers!
- Harvest of the month: Broccoli
How to reach us
Email: ekelley@everettsd.org
Website: https://www.everettsd.org/lowelles
Location: 5010 View Drive, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-385-5300
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EPSLowellES
Twitter: @EPS_LowellES