Lowell Family Newsletter
March 13, 2022
Table of Contents
Reminder- Early Release Wednesday, March 16th
Celebration Video- Students in Their New school
Message from Mrs. Phelan
Masks Optional Presentation
Thank you, FTO
Luke Fallonvcelebrates the First Day of Lowell West
Kindergarten Information Night Presentation
School Improvement Plan- Progress Toward Goals
Busing Update
Boys& Girls Club Closed March 15th
Parent-Teacher Conferences
MCAS Dates
Lunch Menus Phillips and LW
Scenes from Lowell
Message from Community Ed
Parents Recreational Softball Sign-up
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events and Save the Dates
Wednesday, March 16th is Early Release
- Students are released at 12:15.
- There is no lunch service students will receive a bagged lunch.
- Teachers will attend professional development.
Watch Our Video
Message from Principal Phelan
Greetings Lowell School,
I continue to marvel at students' ability to be flexible and resilient. I've enjoyed traveling around classrooms during lunch to check in with students and see how they're transitioning to their new environment. I've noticed how chatty and happy students are during lunch. Then it came to me. They're delighted to eat lunch and sit at the same table with their friends. It's made all the difference. They are talking and drawing together. They seem so much more joyful than I've seen in a long time. Those students who love reading take time to read in a small nook in the classroom.
Students have nicely transitioned to the new mask optional protocol. Every classroom has a mix of masked and unmasked students. I notice more masks worn at the Phillips Building, which makes sense. These are our youngest students who most likely have younger siblings at home who haven't had the opportunity to be vaccinated. We continue to support all our students and their family's decision to mask. On Wednesday morning, the students joined Mr. Chen and me to review the following presentation after morning announcements.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Stacy
Thank you! Lowell FTO
On behalf of Lowell West & Lowell Phillips we would like to thank you for the breakfast you provided Friday morning. What a wonderful way to start the day.
We thank you for your continued support!
Luke Fallon finding his joy on the first day of Lowell West!
Kindergarten Information
School Site Council
Goal action steps are highlighted to reflect their status in terms of completion.
Green - Complete
Yellow - In Progress
Red - Not initiated
Please click the link to see our School Improvement Plan and our progress toward our goals.
Important Bus Reminders
If there are any changes for your child's dismissal, please email both their teachers and Kara Flynn 24 hours in advance or at a minimum by 9:00 am. This is necessary so that we can give the appropriate people proper notice! If your child typically goes to LEPD and won't be on a specific day, you can also CC the LEPD director, Adam Vachon.
kara.flynn@watertown.k12.ma.us
adam.vachon@watertown.k12.ma.us
Students found not abiding by school and bus rules will temporarily be removed from the bus and risk the opportunity to ride the bus. Mr. Chen and I will address unsafe behavior on the bus.
There have been many items forgotten on the busses. It is a great idea to label all your child's belongings so that we can find the owner and return them. Thank you!
Watertown Boys & Girls Club will be Closed on Tuesday, March 15th
Please communicate with your child/children’s teacher(s) if you would like them to take the neighborhood bus (i.e., L1, L2, L3, L4, Van) home or if you’d like to pick them up at school.
CURIOSITY CHALLENGE!
Every year there is a big science event in nearby Cambridge: The Cambridge Science Festival. Students in Watertown have the chance to enter a contest called the Curiosity Challenge.
Students can create a picture or poem about one question that they are curious about!
(Examples are below)
- Submissions are due March 15th
- Students can bring in their projects to school and we are happy to submit their work
- Here is the website where if you scroll down you can see the past winning entries-takes a minute to load.
- Here is a YouTube read-aloud of Ada Twist the Scientist to spark that thinking.
Menu for the Week of March 7-11
Phillip Building
Lowell West
Scenes From Around Lowell
Message from Community Ed.
Mark your calendars, online registration for Community Education's 2022 April Vacation Program, Space Explorer Week, opens at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 21st! Spaces are limited, please register early. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click the link to their flyer below for full details https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BFIwGkUUmbtU98S8O2iXWhGTZbfY7FV3/view?usp=sharing
Please reach out to Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and Jeff Bodner at jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions regarding the 2022 April Vacation Week Program.
Mark Your Calendar
FTO Meeting
Tuesday, March 15,⋅6:30 – 7:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83066822218?pwd=Z2w2eUNCSlAzemtjSEhCajZSVGdOZz09
Early Release
Wednesday, March 16th, Students are dismissed at 12:15
Elementary School Evening Conferences- Zoom
Wednesday, March 23th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Elementary School Early Release
Thursday, March 24
12:15 pm
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council - Adults
Thursday, March 24
7:00-8:00 PM
Elementary School Conferences
Thursday, March 24, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Elementary School Evening Conferences
Monday, March 28, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Anti-Bias Coalition Meeting
Monday, March 28, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Description: Meetings will be held in a hybrid model. The physical location will be on the 3rd floor of the Phillips Building in room 301.
Join Zoom Meeting https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/82142739210?pwd=MjZZL3JURU5RdUtYc3ZNVHlockVCQT09
Elementary Schools Early Release
Tuesday, Marth 29th, 1:00-2:30 pm
Elementary School Conferences
Tuesday, March 29, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council - Adults
Thursday, April 24, 2022 7:00-8:00 pm
MCAS Dates for Spring 2022
ELA: April 12th & 14th Grades 3, 4, & 5
Math: May 16th & 17th Grades 3, 4, & 5
Science: May 24th & 25 Grade 5 Only
Upcoming Events
Parents' Recreational Softball League
A group of parents is trying to put together a recreational softball league for parents of kids in the Watertown schools. The idea is for it to be super relaxed and open to people of all skill levels. Teams would be school-based to give parents a fun opportunity to socialize and build community with other parents at their kid’s school.
If you might be interested in participating (or, even better, helping to organize!), please fill out the Google Doc below
Lowell Elementary
30 Common Street
Watertown, Ma 02742
Telephone: 781-899-3701
Lowell West Location
175 Main Street
Waltham, Ma 02451
Telephone: 617-926-7770
Email: stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma
Website: http://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/
Phone: 781-926-7770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary