Lowell Family Newsletter
May 13, 2022
Message from Principal Phelan
The week flew by in a flash. The students participated in so many literacy activities throughout the week. It was nice to hold literacy week in school. I've included pictures from around the school. A big hit this week was giving and receiving letters from our Buddies. We all enjoyed the Brazilian Percussion band Groversity it was a fantastic way to end the week.
I want to thank all the staff behind the scenes that made Literacy Week special. Please join me in thanking Ann Cox, Dganit Toledano, Jenna Goodearl, Kelly McCollum, Sandra Quesada, Johanna Mitchell, Anthony Spano, Kurt Skaif, Rachael Levin, Jackie McCready, Bethan Bailey, and Isabella Delmoral. This dedicated group of teachers planned and organized this week's events.
We had an uptick in positive COVID cases causing us to return to masking. As the week progressed, cases lessened. Home testing identified the majority of our cases. Please continue to home test if you have any symptoms. We also had several traditional flu cases among our staff and students. The combination of the two illnesses kept Nurse Taverna's office busy. We will pool test again this Wednesday. If the number of cases is below 2%, we will return to mask optional. We're not alone. Many of our neighboring communities are seeing the same spike in cases as we are.
Our third, fourth, and fifth graders will take the Math MCAS on Monday and Tuesday.
Warm regards,
Stacy
Dr. Galdston's Update
A Newsletter from Ms. Martin to Fifth Grade Families
Looking for Volunteers to Work in the Phillips Garden
Scenes from Literacy Week!
Superintendent Dr. Galdston reading to Ms. Hogan & Ms. Phillips second grade.
Elephant and Piggie puppets and crown for literacy week in kindergarten!
Kathy Desmarais, Director of Student Services, reading to Ms. Tresca & Ms. Mannix's students.
Student writing and reading Buddy Letters.
Celebrating Literacy in Art Class - Creating Comic Books
Ms. Bailey, Rafael, and Ms. NiDhuibheanaigh (Ms. D.) wearing football jerseys from different countries.
Character Day!
Jade is making a "Piggie" puppet from the Elephant and Piggie book.
Ms. Walsh reading letters to her students from their fourth grade Buddies.
A game of Scrabble with Trick Words!
Eila Brown presenting her acrostic poem at the student Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council.
Thursday, June 9th (Rain Date: June 10th & 13th)
Where: Victory Field (K-2 Turf and 3-5 Track and Oval) Time: 9:30-1:00
Students Should Bring the Following:
Bag Lunch
Water Bottle
Dry Clothes
Sun Screen
Sneakers
Watertown High School's Spring Concert
Presenting: Watertown High School’s
Spring Concert
When: Thursday, May 19th, 2022 7 pm
Where: Shaw Auditorium, Watertown High School 50 Columbia Street, Watertown MA
Come and enjoy the WHS Performance Ensembles in our final concert of the year! Celebrate our student musicians!!! Ensembles included are: Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Band, The Watertones, WHS Jazz Ensemble, World Percussion Ensemble, and the premiere of Mr. Wulf’s choral composition, Exrati Hayita.
Admission is FREE!
Support your local musicians!!
As Fine, Applied and Performing Arts Educators, It is our mission to inspire and guide every student to be active participants in the Arts through the use of a sequential, academic and creative curriculum that nurtures the human spirit and promotes cultural relevance..
Watertown Memorial Day Parade & School Celebrations
Memorial Day Parade Registration 2022
Volunteers needed! During the week leading up to Memorial Day, we will continue our annual tradition of placing cemetery flags at Saint Patrick's Cemetery and Ridgelawn Cemetery.
On May 25: We will begin placing cemetery flags at Saint Patrick's Cemetery starting around 5 PM.
On May 26: We will begin placing cemetery flags at Ridgelawn Cemetery starting around 5 PM.
Volunteers may contact the Watertown VSO (PGeorge@watertown-ma.gov) with questions.
Please note: the 2022 Memorial Day Parade Route has changed. Due to ongoing constriction, Watertown Veterans' Services had to make the decision to change the route in the interest of safety.
The parade will begin right in front of City Hall and conclude at Victory Field. We will take a right on Waverly Ave, and another right on Orchard St to complete the route. Here is a Google Maps link to the route: 2022 Parade Route
It's been almost 2 years since our last parade! We are looking to update our pool of organizers and volunteers. Those who have groups who wish to participate or volunteer should contact Watertown Veterans' Services. Please stay tuned for more updates in the next few weeks as we iron out all of our Memorial Day details.
Our 2022 MemorialDay plans are coming into shape. Please see below for the events leading into the Memorial Day Parade. Memorial Day's parade will kick off at 12 noon on May 30th, we hope to see you there! The parade is still accepting applications and can be found here: https://watertown-ma.gov/749/Memorial-Day-2022
• Starting in the month of May, volunteers will be replacing the wreaths at our hero squares around the city.
• The week leading into Memorial Day (Monday, May 23rd) will begin the process of placing Veteran grave markers and grave flags. Official dates and times to follow. Flags will be placed at Ridgelawn and Saint Patrick’s cemeteries. Volunteers will be needed and are encouraged to contact the Veterans’ Services office via telephone (617-972-6416) or email (pgeorge@watertown-ma.gov).
• On Friday, May 27th, Veterans are invited to join us at the Watertown Public Schools. The tentative schedule is here, changes will be sent out prior to May 27th:
o 9:00 a.m. - Watertown High School
o 9:45 a.m. - Cuniff Elementary School
o 10:00 a.m. - Lowell Elementary School
o 10:00 a.m. - Watertown Middle School
o 11:00 a.m. - Hosmer Elementary School
On Friday, May 27th, following the school event, Veterans and gardeners are invited to participate in the planting of the Freedom Garden at the Commander's Mansion. Please contact Veterans' Services, or the Commander’s Mansion to inquire about volunteer opportunities. The formal unveiling of the garden will take place at 5:30, with closing remarks scheduled for 7:30 PM. More information can be found at the link below, or by following Commander’s Mansion on social media: https://www.commandersmansion.com/events
• On Sunday, May 29th, Veterans, and members of the public are invited to join us for the honorary procession. TAPS will be played at several landmarks in Watertown, and a Veterans’ Mass will take place at Saint Patrick’s at 10 am.
• On May 30th, Watertown will again have its Memorial Day Parade. Participants are encouraged to begin staging by 10:30 AM. The parade itself will begin promptly at 12 with a brief speaking engagement at Victory Field following the parade.
NOTE: Individuals who plan on using public transportation along Mount Auburn Street are encouraged to expect delays and rerouted buses during the morning of the parade. Normal service should be expected around 2 pm-3 pm.
Why Attendance Matters
Bus Registration is Open for Next Fall SY 2022/23
Message from Carey Conkey-Finn Supervisor of Teen Services | Watertown Free Public Library
Extravaganza details are firmed up and I wanted to share promo information for you to reference and hopefully spread to your other social networks.
Visit the Watertown Pride webpage: watertownlib.org/pride
Share the Facebook Event
Share the Instagram Post
Share the Tweet
I wanted to highlight some of the activities that may interest your kids. In addition to the mini-parade that kicks off the Extravaganza, we have arranged to have lawn games and an obstacle course that will be run by Boys and Girls Club staff. Art projects will include rainbow wand making, making your own pronoun pin, and tie-dying.
Parade participants (all are welcome to join) will gather in front of the Library and kick-off at 11:00. We will be supplying as many noisemakers and mini-Pride flags as we can. Please feel free to make and carry signs. Dress fabulously!
ALSO: I have reserved one information booth for the Diversity and Belonging Councils (elementary schools)—there is the possibility of having more than one table. Please let me know asap if the one table is adequate.
Come join the book club discussion, Monday, June 14th at 4:00 pm. All are welcome the featured book is This is Our Rainbow.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
Thanks so much!
Carey Conkey-Finn
Supervisor of Teen Services | Watertown Free Public Library
123 Main St.| Watertown, MA 02472
617-972-6437
She/her
Phillips Building Lunch Menu Kindergarten and Grade 1
Lowell West Lunch Menu for Grades 2-5
Mark Your Calendar
Lowell - School Council
Thursday, May 19,⋅6:00 – 7:00 pm
Student DIB Meeting
Creating Posters and Signs for Pride Parade
Thursday, May 26th
1:15-2:00
Cafeteria Lowell West
Parent DIB Meeting
Thursday, May 26th
7:00-8:00
Join Zoom Meeting https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86417412092
Memorial Day Program - Gym
Friday, May 27th
10:00 am
Lowell West Only
Grades 2-5
Human Growth and Development Lesson
Fifth Grade Only during scheduled PE time
June 1st
June 2nd
June 3rd
Listen to Sipu- Gym
Grades 3 & 4 Event
June 6, 2022
1:00 PM
The Watertown Community Foundation has provided us with the opportunity for all students in grades 3 & 4 to attend an in-house performance of the New Rep play Listen to Sipu! This is "a captivating and powerful story that illuminates Watertown's Indigenous history....the tour guide begins describing Watertown's local history only to find that the facts are missing a lot of truths." The play will visit the Cunniff and Lowell schools on Monday, June 6th, and the Hosmer school on Tuesday, June 7th (times below) We are grateful our students will have this opportunity!
Band Concert Save the Date
June 7th
Lowell West
Field Day Save the Date- Victory Field
Thursday, June 9th
Friday, June 10th (Rain Date)
Fifth Grade Field Trip- Duck Tous
Thursday, June 16th
9:00 am
Kindergarten Picnic- Phillips Campus
Thursday, June 16th
Friday, June 17th (Raindate)
MCAS Dates for Spring 2022
Math: May 16th & 17th Grades 3, 4, & 5
Science: May 24th & 25 Grade 5 Only
Listen to Sipu
The Watertown Community Foundation has provided us with the opportunity for all students in grade 3 & 4 to attend an in-house performance of the New Rep play Listen to Sipu! This is "a captivating and powerful story that illuminates Watertown's Indigenous history....the tour guide begins describing Watertown's local history only to find that the facts are missing a lot of truths." The play will visit the Cunniff and Lowell schools on Monday, June 6th and the Hosmer school on Tuesday, June 7th. We are grateful our students will have this opportunity!
What's Happening Around Town
Race Reels Presents
In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Watertown Race Reels will be screening the documentary Asian Americans (see attached flyer for details).
This month, one of our guest speakers will be Dr. Nicole Filler. Nicole is the Program Coordinator/Research Associate at UMass Boston's Institute for Asian American Studies. Joining Dr. Filler will be Mr. Qi Chen. Mr. Chen is the Assistant Principal of Lowell Elementary School right here in Watertown. We are thrilled they are both able to join us to share their experiences, perspectives and insights.
Thank you to all you have been joining us throughout the year for Watertown Race Reels events! Race Reels has proven to be an amazing community building space in which racial and cultural experiences and differences are valued and celebrated and history is reflected on in a thoughtful and constructive manner, always looking toward a bright future. As a result, the recent independent, external Equity Audit, conducted by Public Consulting Group LLC (PCG) recommended that WPS leverage the rich resources that can be found in many equity, anti-racist focused organizations that are dedicated and committed to equity and inclusion in the City of Watertown and in the schools. The audit specifically recommended WPS collaborate with Watertown Race Reels. In that spirit, we look to our WPS school committee members, administration and educators to encourage WPS students grades 6-12 to join us for our Race Reels events. We have found we learn so much from our young community members sharing out at past Race Reels events. We look forward to hearing from them and learning even more.
We hope that you all can join us and/or will help us spread the word of the event/event details/flyer with your circles within Watertown and beyond.
Special note: Our very own Mr. Chen will be on the panel. Please join us!
In solidarity,
Kara Lopez Salvi & Teo Evans
Co-Coordinators
Watertown Race Reels
In-Person Family Workshop
Sunday, May 15, 1:00, 1:45, and 2:30 pm, one-hour each
Peabody Museum, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Register by Friday, May 13, 12:00 pm
Ages 6–10, one adult required $5 members/$10 nonmembers
The Olmec civilization of ancient Mexico is known for its mysterious sculptures of giant heads that rise up to eleven feet high. Touch a huge modern replica in the museum for one day that is based on Monument One, The King. Explore artifacts with an educator that show Olmec influence on architecture, the ball game, written language, and pigments. Handle reproductions and paint a mini-plaster head of your own to take home.
Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
Lowell Elementary
30 Common Street
Watertown, Ma 02742
Telephone: 617-926-7770
Lowell West Location
175 Main Street
Waltham, Ma 02451
Telephone: 781-899-3701
Email: stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma
Website: http://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary