Lowell News
September 1, 2023
Principal's Update
Welcome Back!
Mr. Kraus and I hope this message finds you excited to embark on a new school year together. I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you back and share our focus for the upcoming year. Our primary goal is to create a sense of belonging and equity for all students.
We believe that every child should feel valued, respected, and included within our school community. To achieve this, we will be implementing a variety of initiatives and strategies. These include fostering positive relationships between students, staff, and families, promoting diversity and inclusivity in our curriculum and classroom practices, and providing support to students who may need additional assistance in order to thrive academically and socially.
We are committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to educational opportunities and resources. This means addressing any barriers or inequities that may exist within our school system. We will be working closely with our staff, families, and community partners to identify and eliminate any disparities that may hinder student success.
In addition to our focus on belonging and equity, we will also be emphasizing the importance of academic achievement and personal growth. Our dedicated team of educators will be working tirelessly to provide high-quality instruction, individualized support, and engaging learning experiences for all students.
I encourage you to stay connected and involved in your child's education. We value your partnership and believe that together, we can create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in our school. We look forward to a successful and rewarding school year ahead.
With gratitude!
Stacy & Ben
You may contact us at:
'Twas the Night Before School Started
Author Unknown
"Twas the night before school started,
when all through the town,
The parents were cheering.
It was a riotous sound!
By eight, kids were washed
and tucked into bed...
when memories of homework
Filled them with dredd.
New pencils, new folders, new notebooks, too!
New teachers, new friends...
Their worry just grew!
The parents just giggled when
They learned of the this fright
and shouted upstairs-
"Go to bed! It's a school night!"
Elementary Equity Specialists
Who are we?
Erin Hallisey (3rd Grade General Education Teacher, Cunniff School)
Click here to hear my name erin.Hallisey@watertown.k12.ma.us
Kathy Burton (5th Grade General Education Teacher, Lowell School)
Click here to hear my name Katherine.burton@watertown.k12.ma.us
Susmita Ghosh (Language Based ClassroomTeacher 4/5th, Hosmer School)
Click here to hear my name susmita.ghosh@watertown.k12.ma.us
Our Role:
Our role is designed to provide support and structure in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging across all aspects of the student learning experience. Specifically, we work closely with the Director of DEIB and Principal, Coordinators, Instructional Coaches and their colleagues to further the mission and vision of WPS regarding equity and a sense of belonging for all students and staff. We also act as the teacher liaisons to the Diversity Council of our respective schools.
Guidance Counselors by Grade
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to provide any information about your child, please feel free to reach out to their guidance counselor. Our staff is eager to support your student in having the best experience possible. You can contact your guidance counselor by email at the following email address.
Melina Jacovides supports grades K-2 her email is melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us
Brian Connors supports grades 3-5 his email is Brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us
Attendance Policy
Attendance is the most important aspect of educating our students. When students are not here, they do not have access to instruction. To focus attention on the importance of attendance the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or No Child Left Behind, specifically mentions attendance, reflecting the increasing awareness that attendance is a key indicator for assessing school and student success.
Massachusetts state law (M.G.L 76 Sections 2 and 4: School Attendance) requires parents/caregivers to have their children attend school.
At Watertown Public Schools, we pride ourselves in maintaining a very high attendance rate throughout the year. Understandably, there will be times when our students will need to take time away from school for a variety of excused reasons. The following procedure is in place to ensure good attendance, support our families, and follow state and federal laws.
EXCUSED Absences
We expect regular and punctual attendance in all classes. Grades reflect attendance, effort, classroom participation, and academic progress. We recognize that occasional absences are unavoidable. EXCUSED absences are those reported to the office through the use of the school-specific google excused absence attendance form; otherwise, any absence will be considered unexcused. .
Short-term illness (three consecutive days or fewer) reported to the school using the attendance google form
Extended illness (four or more consecutive days) requires a doctor’s note with a return date, submitted to the school nurse
Death of a student’s family member
Court appearances
Religious observances and holidays
The Principal may decide to excuse an absence that does not fit within the above categories. The parent/guardian must contact the principal to discuss these circumstances.
Parent call-ins and/or notes from home are required for an excused absence. All notes to excuse an absence must be turned in within two school days of a student’s return. Any questions/concerns should be addressed to the Assistant Principals’ Office.
Students with more than three excused absences in a quarter may be asked to produce formal
documentation to excuse further absences that quarter.
Students who are absent for any reason may not participate in any extra-curricular school activities, Extended Day, or events on the day of the absence, including games and dances, unless excused by the administration.
UNEXCUSED absences:
Cutting class (not being where you are scheduled to be)
Family vacation
Work
Any absence of four or more consecutive days that are not documented by a doctor’s note
Excessive absence notification and intervention
Resulting Actions:
After 3 days of unexcused absences with no contact with the school from the parent, the Assistant Principal will be notified and will reach out to the parent/guardian.
After 5 days of unexcused absences a letter of concern will be sent to parents/caregivers.
At 10 absences (excused or unexcused) or suspected truancy, a letter and support meeting will be scheduled with parents/guardian, guidance, and administration to create an Attendance Plan, which clearly outlines the school, parent and student obligations to improve the problem.
At 15 absences (excused or unexcused) - guidance, administration, community outreach coordinator, and Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) warning; review AIP
At 20 absences (excused or unexcused) - If absenteeism continues, further action will be taken, up to and including petitioning the Juvenile Courts with a Child Requiring Assistance, (CRA)
In appropriate cases, the school may report to DCF.
Please refer to School Committee Policy JH Policy Manual for additional information regarding school absences.
If your child will be absent for an extended period due to illness or an injury, please contact Nurse Taverna at 617-926-7770.
I will keep an Attendance Form at the top of my newsletter weekly for your use. We will also place it on our school website and district website.
Lowell West Families
Dear Caregivers
Medication Updates grades 3-5, Lowell West. As we begin our school year, we are asking parents of students who have a medical diagnosis and need any medication that is to be given during school hours to please drop off medication to nurse. Please DO NOT send in medication with your child.
I will go over medication order with parent/caretaker.
The medications might include, i.e. Epi-Pens, inhalers and/or medication that is to be given during school hours. Medication must have a current doctor’s medication order that is dated
after June 2023. The nurse will retrieve all medication first day/week of school.
Thank You,
Katherine Taverna, RN, BSN
781-899-3705
Phillips Families
Lowell School Health Services: Entering Kindergarten
Dear Parent/Guardian:
All children in Kindergarten are required by law to have a recent physical examination, current vision screening, lead screening and all mandated immunizations on file at school. Any physical exam after September 1, 2022 is acceptable for the 2023-2024 school year. Please bring the updated documentation to the Nurse’s Office.
This information can be emailed by you, you may also personally hand the documentation to the nurse on the first day of Kindergarten. If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact me at 781-899-3705 during school hours.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this request.
Katherine Taverna, RN, BSN
Lowell Elementary School
781-899-3705
Permission to Walk Home for Grades 3-5 ONLY - Please Complete Form
Parents in grades 3-5 are asked to fill out the permission to walk home from school or the bus form. This form will grant your child permission to walk home from school or the bus stop. This is only allowed for grades 3-5.
Can Families Older Siblings Walk Their Younger Sibling Home?
The answer is Yes, when we return to Lowell School in Watertown. If you wish your older child to walk home their younger sibling please sign up your child and then send the younger child's teacher a note.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for ALL is Permanent
Breakfast Program Phillips School
Parents who have a child attending school at the Phillips Building in grades K-2 are asked to sign up for free breakfast. During the period between September 5th and October 6th, we encourage parents to sign up for breakfast. Your student will arrive at school with breakfast waiting in their classroom. All you need to do is fill out the form below.
When we return to Lowell, students will be able to grab their breakfast from a cart each morning as they enter school on their way to class. Students love the choices available to them.
Breakfast Program Lowell West
Students in grades 3-5 attending school at Lowell West do not need to sign up in advance for breakfast. Breakfast is available at 8:00 am upon arrival to school. Students will pick up breakfast in the cafeteria and eat their breakfast in their classroom. This procedure will be followed throughout the year, even after we return to Lowell.
Snack is NOT Provided, However...
The state law only applies to breakfast and lunch. We encourage parents to send a healthy snack to school daily.
We do have some students who will grab a breakfast and eat it during snack. We encourage families to take advantage of that option too.
Important Policies and Procedure Documents
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, September 5th - First Day of School (Grades 1-5); Kindergarten Visits by Appointment
- Wednesday, September 6th - KINDERGARTEN Early Dismissal at 12:15
- Wednesday, September 12th - FTO Meeting 7:00-7:45 over Zoom
- Wednesday, September 27th - EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:00 pm
- Thursday, October 5th - Diversity Council Meeting via Zoom, 6:30-7:30
- Friday, October 6th - Early Release Day (Student are Dismissed at 12:15) NO LEDP
- Monday, October 9th - NO SCHOOL - Indigenous Peoples Day Observed
- Tuesday, October 10th - NO SCHOOL LOWELL ONLY (Teachers Move-in Day)
- Tuesday, October 10th - FTO Meeting 7:00-7:45 over Zoom
- Wednesday, October 11th - First Day for Students K-5 "NEW" LOWELL
- Tuesday, October 17th Evening Adult & Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30 pm
- Wednesday, October 18th - Open House, 6:00-8:00 pm Students and Adults are welcome.
- Thursday, October 19th - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm and Early Release 12:15
- Tuesday, October 24th - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm and Early Release 12:15
- Thursday, October 26th - Evening Adult & Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
Message From Lowell's FTO President Brooke Burke
Hello Lowell Families,
The FTO is very much looking forward to all of the fun activities in store for the 2023-2024 school year! Our first FTO Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 12th, over Zoom, from 7:00-7:45pm. I encourage you to attend if you are interested in learning more about what the FTO does and how you can get involved.
We are especially in need of grade-level volunteers for the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades to serve as coordinators. These roles entail some occasional communication with the parents of children in your child’s grade and sharing any needs or ideas that relate to specific grades or classrooms. If you are interested in one of these roles, please reach out to me directly by email.
Enjoy these glorious final weeks of summer,
Brooke Burke (Otto’s mom)
RAPTOR Security System and Visitor Procedures
Visitors:
For the safety of all children, the school doors lock 5 minutes after arrival time. Visitors may use the intercom at the front door to speak to the main office and gain admittance. All visitors, including parents and volunteers, must provide a picture ID and sign in at the reception desk or main office during school hours. Visitors are asked to wear a visitor badge, supplied at the sign-in location, throughout your visit. All visitors are required to sign out when they leave the school building. This procedure is in effect for the safety of the children, staff, and visitors. The front office must be aware of all persons in the building should an emergency arise. You will be asked to leave your identification document with the receptionist during your visit. You will receive your ID when you return your visiting pass.
As part of the WPS district security plan, we are adding a layer of security at Lowell School. We are implementing the RAPTOR visitor management system this fall. RAPTOR screens and tracks everyone coming into our school. The RAPTOR system screens for sex offenders, custody violations, and provides reporting of all visitors. Our highest priority is the safety of our students and staff. Additional information regarding RAPTOR will be provided to parents and guardians, once school begins.
Major Food Allergies Precautions We Follow
The number of food allergies in young children has increased significantly over the past few years. The school has established specific protocols to create a safe, allergy sensitive environment for children with life-threatening allergies. There are children in the classes listed below who have severe food allergies. We need your help in making their classrooms allergy-sensitive environment for children.
Since there is no cure for most food allergies, the best way to keep students safe is through avoidance. For SNACK as well as Prek and Kindergarten lunch, please do not send any peanut butter or foods containing any PEANUT products, or ANY TYPE OF NUTS. Students will be eating snack and Prek and Kindergarten lunch in the classroom which is our primary learning environment.
Students in grades 1-5 will eat lunch in the cafeteria where we have designated allergy-sensitive tables for children with food allergies. We do not serve peanut products to the cafeteria for lunch.
We are taking many steps to keep everyone safe and healthy:
- Washing before and after snack.
- Washing before lunch.
- Washing down the tables after snack and at the end of the day.
- We also have a "No sharing/snack" rule.
Please talk to your child about not sharing food in school. We will keep stressing this information in school. If you have any questions or concerns, you can email me or your classroom teacher, send a note, or call the school nurse 617-926-7770. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this very serious matter.
Special Note: Kindergarten Student DO NOT visit the cafeteria until they become first graders.
Additionally: Teachers will provide parents with a list of allergies for their classroom. We ask parents not to send these items into school for Snack and Lunch.
Lowell Elementary School Principal