Lowell Family Newsletter
August 29, 2021
Table of Contents
- Message from the Principal
- Parent/Guardian Forums Link Educators are Welcome to Attend
- Back to School Whole School Reads
- COVID-19 Response Protocols 2021-2022
- School Committee Update
- WPS Rights and Responsibilities Handbook 2021-2022
- WPS Elementary Handbook 2021-2022
- Nuts and Bolts
- Lunch Procedures
- Snack
- Recess
- Back to School Night September 21st, 6:00-8:00
- Getting Ready for Remote Learning
- Device Assignment
- Lunch and Snack are free to ALL students
- Lowell School Master Schedule (Everything you need to know)
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 Grades k-5 and kindergarten
- Commissioner's Mask Mandate
- Upcoming Events
Message from Principal Phelan
Greetings Lowell School,
We're super excited! Wednesday, the staff will come together to kick off a fabulous school year. Our educators will spend September 1st and 2nd attending professional development. School Committee Chairperson John Portz, Superintendent Dr. Galdston, and Assistant Superintendent Dr. McGuinness will welcome WPS educators. Dr. Kimberlee Henry will be honored to introduce the Keynote speaker: Dr. Kalise Wornum, who will speak on Equity: Becoming a Culturally Proficient Educator & What It Means in WPS.
In many ways, this year feels a whole lot better than last year. I am truly grateful to begin the year in person with our staff and students. I know many of us were hoping for less restrictive protocols as we return this year. Until our children are eligible for vaccines, we must stay vigilant in our practice to keep everyone safe and healthy. Our COVID-19 Response Protocols have been updated to reflect our current climate. We are beginning this school year much the same as last spring. However, hopefully, around October 1st, we will move to a different protocol known as test and stay if metrics support it. You can find specific details in the document named 2021-2022 COVID-19 Response Protocols.
Last Monday, the School Committee met to vote on our new handbooks and adopt the new protocols. During the meeting, Dr. Galdston explained all building would follow the same protocols; however, depending on the size of the building and the physical space, some differences exist, such as lunch, recess, and snack time. I will explain how Lowell is handling each of these blocks in the sections below.
Tuesday, August 31st, is New Teacher Orientation. This fall, we have three teachers joining our staff who will be attending Tuesday's orientation: Johanna Mitchell (Spanish), Melissa Frank (Grade Three Special Educator), and newly appointed Kate MacAuley, Grade 3 Teacher. Kate will be joining grade three, replacing Mr. Shpritzer this year.
Another last-minute change this week, Ms. Garabedian (grade 4) announced her retirement effective immediately. I hope you will join me in wishing Ms. Garabedian a happy and healthy retirement. Her departure creates an unfilled grade-four position. The position was posted last week, and we are hoping to identify her replacement by the middle of this week. I will keep you all posted.
As a reminder, Monday, August 30th at 5:00 PM, our Diversity and Belonging Council, along with the FTO, will host a Welcome Back to School Event in the playground. If you happen to be around, please join us! See friends or meet new friends.
I will host two parent forums this week. I know there are many questions and concerns as we return to school. I look forward to speaking with you. The links are below.
Sincerely,
Stacy
Don't forget the Forums this week on Zoom.
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/86577374303Sincerely,
Stacy
Back to School Whole School Read Alouds
As we return to school this year, the Lowell faculty will focus on Sharing Our Stories, Building Community, and Cultivating a Sense of Belonging. Teachers will develop rich lessons utilizing authentic text that tells the story of our students and their life experiences. The Lowell faculty will support all students in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to create a community where equity, inclusion, and belonging are valued.
WPS has focused on three priorities:
● Developing a sense of belonging in schools
● Monitoring students' 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.
These priorities match our school and district goals to create a socially, emotionally, physically safe, and equitable school environment that meets the needs of the whole child, family, staff, and community.
Our Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) members and the Diversity and Belonging Council have selected six new books to use as whole school read-aloud. These books aim to honor our students and foster a caring and inclusive classroom environment where all children can learn and feel a sense of belonging. We will continue to use All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, and The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson.
If you click the book's title, it will bring you to the youtube link to listen to the read-aloud.
Selected Titles:
Say Something by Jenn Welby Gilbert
Intersection Allies We Make Room for All by Charles Johnson, LaToya Council, and Ashley Seil Smith
Our Favorite Day of the Year By A. E. Ali
Just Ask By Sonya Sotomayor
I’m New Here By Gil Scott-Heron
Your Name is a Song By Jimilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Teachers have created lessons to go with each title.
Say Something by Jenn Welby Gilbert
Curriculum and Instructions Brochures By Grade Level
COVID-19 2021-2022 Update
The School Committee met on August 23rd in a special meeting to approve the District’s COVID-19 plan for the start of school on September 8th. The Policy Subcommittee met the previous week to provide initial input on a draft, and the Superintendent presented the updated version at this meeting.
The Superintendent began the meeting with statistics on the status of COVID-19 in Watertown. Among 12-15 year-olds, 56% are fully vaccinated and 66% have at least one dose, and among 16-19 year-olds, 63% are fully vaccinated with 71% having at least one dose. As of last April, approximately 80% of teachers were fully vaccinated with more having one dose or scheduled appointments. Vaccinations are strongly encouraged for all persons 12 and older. As of August 19th, the community the number of COVID cases was 11.7 per 100,000 and a testing positivity rate of 1.8%.
The Fall 2021 COVID Plan requires face masks for all students and adults while in school buildings. The Watertown Board of Health also has made this a requirement in all indoor public spaces throughout the community. Mandatory pool testing for all students PreK-12 also will continue in the coming year. The Plan provides details on testing and quarantine requirements for anyone who has symptoms, tests positive, or is a “close contact.” These requirements vary depending on whether the person has been vaccinated and whether they are symptomatic. A flow chart will become part of the plan to help parents and students follow the process. Learning accommodations will be made for students unable to attend school due to a COVID-19 quarantine. However, unlike last year, the state is not allowing a complete remote learning option. The plan was approved unanimously by the Committee as the COVID-19 Addendum to school handbooks. The Committee also approved other minor changes to the school and District handbooks themselves.
Important Information
In Watertown, we strive to be consistent across the elementary schools; however, sometimes, there are reasons one school's implementation of a protocol will look slightly different from another. The actual building and grounds can play a big factor, as well as the size of the faculty and the number of classrooms. Please see how Lowell will manage lunch, recess, and snacks.
Lunch
This year we have six lunch periods. Our objective is to have students sit six feet apart during mealtime. Kindergarten will eat outdoors in the playground each day unless the weather is inclement. When eating indoors, kindergarten students will eat in their classrooms sitting six feet apart.
Grades 1-5 will eat in the cafeteria spaced six feet apart, facing the same direction.
For those parents who wish for their children to eat outdoors, we will accommodate your wishes. We are changing the location of outdoor eating. We found being across the street on the ballfield much too difficult to manage due to traffic flow. This year students eating lunch outdoors will eat by the learning garden on the front lawn. It is close to the cafeteria and bathroom facilities.
When the weather is nice outside, most students enjoy eating outdoors. However, during rainy or cold days, many students did not enjoy eating meals outside. We do not have the ability to move between lunch preferences easily. We will not be able to accommodate last-minute changes. Therefore, we ask that you consider your decision for all types of weather. We also ask that you discuss your decision with your child as a family. Some children felt excluded from indoor lunch last year, and it made them sad.
I am attaching electronic permission forms below. Please fill out the form for each child.
The form is in English/Portuguese/Spanish
Lunch Permission Form / Formulário de Permissão para Almoço/Formulario de permiso de almuerzo
Snack
Students' snack time is outside unless it's pouring rain. Teachers will choose a snack time that works best for their schedules. Snack time will be determined by what time classes have lunch.
Recess
Each grade level has a 20-minute recess either before or after lunch. This allows students a 50-minute unstructured block during the day. Recess will be outdoors unless the weather is inclement. Outdoor recess is unmasked.
Back to School Night September 21st
Tuesday, September 21st, we will hold Back to School Night from 6:00-8:00 PM.
This will be a virtual event for parents. The exact schedules will be announced soon.
Remote Learning
We need to plan for potential disruptions to in-person learning due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 and the Delta variant. The following is the plan for remote learning if a classroom is closed due to a positive COVID case.
- The principal will inform parents of the classroom closures.
- Teachers will be given the first school day of the quarantine to set up instruction and prepare students for remote learning.
- On the first day, parents/guardians will need to pick up any materials and devices from the school.
- On the second school day of the quarantine period, remote learning will begin at 8:15.
- Individual schedules will be sent to families by the classroom teacher.
- Students will attend classes similar to a typical school day. However, they will not participate in scheduled specials. You can expect your child to have 3 periods off from zoom during the school day.
- 30-minutes lunch
- 20-minute recess
- 40-minute teacher prep period (typically specials)
- Classroom teachers will send a schedule and link to parents/guardians. Students will find the Zoom link in their SeeSaw or Google Classroom.
Device Assignment
Teachers will assign each student a Chromebook or iPad to use throughout the school year. If your child is quarantining, a device will be provided to them.
Important to Note:
Students will receive an email address at the beginning of the year. If they are returning to Lowell, this is the same email address as last year. They will also receive a password. They will need to know their email address/password to access their SeeSaw account or Google Classroom.
Lunch and Snack is Free for All Students
ALL students are eligible for snack and lunch every day. You do not need to qualify.
We are not offering our traditional before-school breakfast.
You can find the daily selection on the Watertown Food and Nutrition Website.
Lowell School Master Schedule
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.
DESE COVID Updates
Education Commissioner Riley to Ask Board to Grant Him Authority to Mandate Masks for All K-12 Public Schools to Provide Time to Increase Vaccinations
MALDEN – Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley will ask the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to grant him authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students, educators, and staff through October 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated. After October 1st, the commissioner’s policy would allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff only if the school meets a certain vaccination rate – at least 80 percent of students and staff in a school building are vaccinated. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.
The mandate would include exceptions for students who cannot wear a mask due to medical conditions or behavioral needs.
The Commissioner will revisit the mandate in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data. The purpose of the policy is to encourage higher vaccination rates among students and staff and to implement a uniform policy for all schools to begin the year.
“While Massachusetts leads the nation in vaccination rates, we are seeing a recent rise in COVID-19 cases because we still need more people to get vaccinated. This step will increase vaccinations among our students and school staff and ensure that we have a safe school reopening,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Vaccinations are the best way to keep everyone in the Commonwealth safe, and we will continue to work with school districts to offer vaccination clinics at schools across the Commonwealth.”
“Our goal remains to get as many people as possible vaccinated,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We hope that by instituting vaccine benchmarks among school populations we will create a real incentive for students and staff to get vaccinated so they can remove their masks.”
The mask mandate will only apply indoors and to children 5 and older.
“The vaccination rates among young people in Massachusetts are among the highest in the nation, with 65 percent of 12-15-year-olds vaccinated, but we still need to do more to make sure our young people and educators are protected from COVID-19,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “Instituting universal masking mandates to further encourage vaccination rates among everyone in our schools is one measure we can take now.”
“Mask wearing in schools, along with hand washing and good personal hygiene, are important public health measures that will help mitigate any potential spread in the classroom, but increasing vaccination in our eligible residents is the most important thing we can do to ensure a safe return to the classroom for this upcoming school year,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders.
Commissioner Riley asked the board to meet on Tuesday, August 24th, to vote to give him this authority to institute the mask mandate.
“As students and staff prepare to return to school full-time, in-person, our priority is on a smooth reopening. With cases rising, this mask mandate will provide one more measure to support the health and safety of our students and staff this fall,” said Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.
Mobile Vaccination Clinics
The Administration offers mobile pop-up vaccination clinics that take place in a community-based setting, including schools. The clinics are organized to bring vaccines to a community setting and are available to employers, schools and school districts, community organizations, and other groups. An organization can submit a request for mobile vaccination services here.
COVID-19 Testing in Schools
DESE and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services will once again offer screening and diagnostic testing at no cost to all public, private, and parochial schools as an additional mitigation strategy for COVID-19. Last year, the Administration launched the first-in-the nation pooled testing initiative in schools across the Commonwealth that found low positivity rates – far less than 1 percent – among students and staff. Diagnostic and routine (weekly) COVID-19 pooled testing services will be available at no cost to all schools through the end of the 2021-22 school year, under a single contract with the testing provider CIC Health.
Coming Events
August 30th
Family Events- Diversity and Belonging Council and the FTO are sponsoring a Meet and Greet.
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.
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.
August 31st
New Teacher Orientation 8:00-2:30
September 1st and 2nd
Opening Days PD- Location is building-based.
Continental breakfast will be served at the building in the library beginning at 7:30
Lunch will be provided on both days.
September 11th
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.
September 21st
Back to School Night
Tuesday, September 6:00- 8:00 PM
This event will be a virtual event for parents. Teachers are expected to be in the building to host live zoom sessions. Morning Meeting Partner Teachers are hosting the event together.
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