McAvinnue's Principal's Message
Hello McAvinnue Community!
I hope that everyone is doing well and staying as warm and cozy as possible. What an interesting end to the short week back to school! The 2-hour delay on Friday was somewhat unexpected for all of us. We are glad that we were able to get the school day in and do not need to add a day to the end of the school year in June! Please keep in mind that if we have another 2-hour delayed opening due to inclement weather, it is important that you make every effort to have your child come to school if possible. We understand that your work and family commitments may be more difficult when there is a delay in our usual start time. While many students did attend school on Friday, we have 164 students that were absent. That is 37% of our students...and that is a large number for sure. I understand that this was the pattern at all schools in Lowell and will be something that Dr. Boyd and his team will consider moving forward.
Speaking of the colder and more winter like weather, please make sure that your child is dressed to match the predicted weather forecast each day. It is the season for heavy winter coats, hats, and gloves. We still try to have our students get some fresh air each day unless the weather is severe or limits that availability of our outdoor spaces.
Our students will be participating in numerous assessments over the next few weeks of school. It is important that you communicate the need to try their very best as this will allow us to see how we need to adjust our instruction. These mid year assessments are critical measures to see how well our students are doing including areas that we need to spend more time on if they are not displaying expected progress. If you have any questions about these assessments, please reach out to your child's teacher for more information.
Here are a few items that you need to be aware for this up and coming week. Please mark your calendars for the following events and activities that will occur at McAvinnue:
- Tuesday, January 23rd - McAvinnue Reopens
- Tuesday, January 24th - Grade 4 Field Trip - Tsongas Industrial History Center
- Tuesday, January 24th - PreK & Kindergarten Resource Fair - Lincoln Elementary School
- Wednesday, January 25th - 26th - Dentist @ McAvinnue
- Thursday, January 26th - PreK & Kindergarten Resource Fair - Reilly Elementary School
- Friday, January 27th - Grade 3 Field Trip - Boston Museum Of Science
You will find additional details for the events and activities list above in this edition of McAvinnue's "Lion's Roar" Community Newsletter.
As usual, we are looking forward to another amazing week at the "best school that we all know"!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Main Office at McAvinnue or send Mr. Domina a message a mdomina@lowell.k12.ma.us.
McAvinnue's Evening At Chuck E. Cheese!
We had an AMAZING time at McAvinnue’s “Evening At Chuck E. Cheese” on Monday, January 16th!
Thank you to everyone that came out for some fun! The place was packed…and it was so great to see our students having a blast with each other! Lots of excitement, enthusiasm, energy, and laughter!
Please keep in mind that all of the money that is raised for this event will do directly back to our students for various activities!
Check out the picture below to see all of the fun that we had!
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Construction Unit Fun!Kindergarten “Construction Unit” is officially under way at McAvinnue! | McAvinnue’s “Artist of the Week” McAvinnue’s “Artist of the Week” is John in Room 104! John used oil pastels to draw his design, and sponge painted the white snow. He did a wonderful job tracing, cutting, and gluing all the pieces to create his snow globe! Great work! | Let's Make Some CVC Words!When it's time to practice CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant), Kindergarten students in Room 205 have a fun time building and practicing these words! |
Construction Unit Fun!
Kindergarten “Construction Unit” is officially under way at McAvinnue!
McAvinnue’s “Artist of the Week”
Let's Make Some CVC Words!
When it's time to practice CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant), Kindergarten students in Room 205 have a fun time building and practicing these words!
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“Martin’s Big Words” Podium Challenge!In STEAM Studio, students in Room 307 listened to the story “Martin’s Big Words”. They were then given an engineering design challenge to design and build a podium for MLK to speak from. They followed specific measurement and design constraints. Great work by all! | McAvinnue's "Musician of the Week" McAvinnue's "Musician of the Week" is Christopher in Room 307! Check out all of the tremendous work he did to be recognized for this fantastic honor! Keep up the hard work! | Team-Building Time! McAvinnue's 21st Century After School Program never disappoints! We have incorporated some super fun team-building activities that allow our students opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve, and work together! |
“Martin’s Big Words” Podium Challenge!
In STEAM Studio, students in Room 307 listened to the story “Martin’s Big Words”. They were then given an engineering design challenge to design and build a podium for MLK to speak from. They followed specific measurement and design constraints. Great work by all!
McAvinnue's "Musician of the Week"
Team-Building Time!
McAvinnue's February Break Program
Looking for something for your child to do over February Vacation? Look no further...we have something that you might be interested in!
Here are the details for our February Vacation Program:
- When: Tuesday, February 21st - Friday, February 24th
- Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- Location: McAvinnue Elementary School
- Students: Grades 1 - 4
- Enrollment: 35 students
The program will include Creative Arts, STEM hands-on activities, and Team-Building/Movement activities! We will provide a snack and lunch for each of the 4 days of this amazing program.
The program is only open to 35 students. If we have more than 35 students that are interested and have registered, we will have a lottery to determine the 35 students that will be able to attend. All students that are not able to attend based upon the lottery results will be placed on the waiting list.
You can register using clicking the link below. You can also access the registration form by using the QR code in the flyer below.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Wagner at mwagner@lowell.k12.ma.us.
McAvinnue's Student Daily Attendance Policy
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out directly.
Check Out McAvinnue's "Virtual" Morning Announcements!
Like we had successfully done last school year, a new edition of McAvinnue's "Virtual" Morning Announcements will be presented to our students on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. We will continue to use Tuesday and Thursday each week to be used for "Open Circle"....our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program that focuses on community building, prosocial decision making, and appropriate responses to daily stressors both within the school and home settings.
This will continue to be a great way to bring our school together each day focusing on the same message to get the energy, commitment, and engage up before we launch into another great day at "the best school we all know".
You can check out each edition of McAvinnue's Morning Announcements on our YouTube channel using the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7hxiBuRjqjqfASl_RLMleQ
If you want a peek of the latest edition of McAvinnue's "Virtual Morning Announcements", check out the video below!
McAvinnue's Yoga Pose Of The Week: "Tree" Continued...
Due to the short week that just concluded, we will continue to practice the "Tree" pose for this up and coming week. This pose will allow us to work on improving our balance through deliberate concentration that will increase our ability to focus throughout our day! We will practice the "Tree" pose daily during our "Virtual" Morning Announcements during this up and coming week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
You can get an early head start and practice this technique before we launch into another exciting week!
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Logistics
Drop-Off Logistics
- Arrival begins at 9:10 AM each day. The late bell rings at 9:25 AM.
- Please pull up to the 4th Avenue side of the building when dropping off your child.
- As you approach the 4th Avenue sidewalk, a faculty member will greet and support getting your child safely out of the vehicle.
- This area is a drop off area ONLY. You will not be permitted to park in this location.
- Please be sure to drive all the way down to the end of the sidewalk so we can fit as many vehicles in this location as possible.
- Ensure your child is ready to go and do not get out of the car so we can keep traffic moving.
- Students accessing our CSA program will be dismissed out the 4th Avenue door near the rear of the school building by the exit driveway.
- Large bus students will enter using the back door located in the rear of the school building.
- Small bus and van transportation students will use the 4th Avenue door near the rear of the school building by the exit driveway.
Morning Lining Up Locations
- Grade 1, 3, and 4 students will use the Main Door to enter the school building.
- Grade 2 will use the 4th Avenue doorway near the front of the school to enter the building.
- PreK & Kindergarten will use the Early Childhood door to enter the building. This door is located to the right of McAvinnue's Reading Garden and to the left of the Main Door.
Pick-Up Logistics
- Grade 1 will be dismissed out the Main Door.
- Grades 2, 3, and 4 will be dismissed out the 4th Avenue door near the front of the school.
- Kindergarten students will be dismissed out the Early Childhood door. This door is located to the right of McAvinnue's Reading Garden and to the left of the Main Door.
- Students accessing our CSA program will be dismissed out the 4th Avenue door near the rear of the school building by the exit driveway.
- PreK students will be dismissed out the 4th Avenue door near the rear of the school building by the exit driveway. Please contact Ms. Annie for the specific dismissal time.
School Bus Transportation Information
School bus transportation is provided to students in grades K-4, who live greater than .75 mile from their residence or alternate address to their assigned school. Middle school students (grades 5-8) must live greater than 1.5 miles from their residence or alternate address to their assigned school.
Kindergarten through 4th grade students will receive a printed bus pass via postal mail. These passes were mailed out on August 24th. You can also look up your student's bus pass information by using their Student ID for the username and date of birth for the password at the link below. This is the same information that students use to log in to their Chromebooks for school.
Please note that Kindergarten and 1st grader students must have an older sibling (4th grade or older) or parent present at the bus stop in the afternoon in order to depart from the school bus. If a parent or older sibling is not present, the student will be brought to the Moody School, located at 158 Rogers Street. A driver’s license or valid identification must be presented to the staff in order to dismiss the student.
You can use the LPSD "Bus Lookup Tool" using the link below. You will need to use you child's LASID or lunch number along with their birthdate to access this helpful system.
There also is a helpful video that you can watch that will walk you through the process.
Need Info? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
How can I update my contact information (phone number/email/address)?
- Go online to the Family Resource Webpage (https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/UpdateContactInfo) and fill out the “contact us” form. Families who don’t have access to the internet can fill out the form in person at the Family Resource Center. If an address change is related to economic factors or housing instability (family moves in with relatives, eviction, hotel/motel, fire or unsheltered, please contact the McKinney Vento Office located at the Family Resource Center in person (151 Merrimack Street), by phone (978-674-4321) or go to the webpage at https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/HomelessAssistance.
How do I update my emergency contacts?
- If you were in the school last year we will send a verification sheet out. if you are new we will send home an emergency form to fill out on the first day of school or use the online form found in this newsletter.
What should I do if my child needs a Chromebook or if my child’s Chromebook needs repairs?
- Families should contact their school to coordinate the issuing of a new Chromebook or to schedule repairs. After the school year begins, the district will resume its “tech tent” services and will inform families via email, text, and phone once the services resume.
How do I register my child for the new school year?
- All school registrations are completed online using a computer or laptop. You can access the online application by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolRegistration. If you only have a mobile device and don’t have access to a computer or laptop, you can register in person at the Family Resource Center (151 Merrimack Street). Please call the Family Resource Center if you have any questions (978-674-4321).
What should I do if I need to register my child(ren) and I don’t speak English?
- The Lowell Public Schools is committed to providing translation and interpretation services for families who require assistance in a language other than English. The online registration application and website is translated in Spanish and Portuguese and can be accessed by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolRegistration. For all other languages, please call Vannak Khin at (978) 328-6782 to arrange services. In-person language interpretation support for registration can be accessed by visiting the Lowell Public Schools at 151 Merrimack Street. Families can also call the Family Resource Center at (978) 674-4321 to make an appointment with a Bilingual Family Liaison.
How old does my child need to be to enroll in preschool or kindergarten?
- A child must turn 4 years old on or before September 1, 2021, in order to apply for preschool and 5 by September 1 to apply for kindergarten. A family can apply for preschool by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/PreschoolRegistration to fill out an online application or https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/KindergartenRegistration for kindergarten. For registration questions, please call (978) 674-4321.
How do I apply for a transfer for my child to change schools in the new year?
- Per the 2021-22 School Assignment Policy, all students have the option to request one school transfer per year. Families can apply online by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolTransfer or can come to the Family Resource Center in-person to complete the application. Transfers are assigned on a space availability basis.
Medical Information Reminder
Forms and medication can be dropped off to Nurse Robin any time during the school day. However, it's ideal to drop things off between 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM each day.
Nurse Robin cannot administer ANY medications without a physician's order, including over-the-counter medications. Please make sure that the school nurse is provided refills in advance of any medication supply running out.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Nurse Robin directly,
Lowell Public Schools COVID Guidelines Update
Please see the message that was recently sent out regarding the latest COVID-19 guidance for this school year.
"Dear Lowell Public Schools Families,
We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to school on August 31st (Sept 7th for PreK and Kindergarteners) for the start of the 2022-2023 school year!
We would like to take this time to share the latest COVID-19 guidelines and policies:
- There will be no more in-school testing or contract tracing and schools will be distributing one last at-home testing kit, which will expire Sept. 29.
- Masks are not required (except for in the school nurse’s office), but staff and students who wish to wear a mask may do so.
- Students and staff who do have a positive case of COVID-19 must stay out of school for a minimum of five days, but may return if symptoms improve on days 6-10 if they wear a high-quality mask.
The Centers for Disease Control’s latest COVID-19 guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
We ask that you continue to stress good hygiene habits to your children, such as thorough hand washing and coughing into their elbows when they cough, and ask them not to share cups or water bottles with friends.
We strongly encourage all who are able to do so to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and subsequent boosters. We are thankful to our partners at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, who provided vaccinations at our Back-to-School Block Party, which was attended by more than 3,000 people. To find a location to receive a vaccine or booster, as well as additional information about the vaccine, visit: https://www.lowellma.gov/1523/COVID-19-Vaccine"
ATTENTION: Current Kindergarten Families
The Early Childhood Department would like your assistance in collecting data from currently enrolled Kindergarten children and families with children under the age of five.
If you have a child attending Kindergarten this school year, 2022-23, please fill out the following survey. Your response to this three-minute survey will provide Lowell Public Schools with data to inform early childhood programming in future years. If you complete the survey by January 15, 2023, you will be eligible to win a $50.00 Market Basket Card.
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2MT98CB
Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2WKRQ2Y
Portuguese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2RLNJQY
Khmer: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2JLJD6L
Please also share the links below with preschool and kindergarten families as it is likely that they will have other children under the age of five.
ATTENTION: Current Pre-Kindergarten Families
If you have children under the age of five, please fill out the following survey. Your response to this three-minute survey will provide Lowell Public Schools with data to inform early childhood programming in future years. If you complete the survey by January 15, 2023, you will be eligible to win a $50.00 Market Basket Card.
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GH2NB2N
Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H93X7SW
Portuguese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RGGFXXF
Emergency Contact Form: 2022-2023
Get a jump start now and complete your emergency contact form for the 2022-2023 academic school year?
We have made it really easy for you to complete this important task. You can access the online form below. When you complete this form, it is immediately sent to McAvinnue and we will print it out for our records.
You don't need to come to the school to complete this form...you can do it right on your phone, tablet, or computer!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. De La Luz at adelaluz@lowell.k12.ma.us or contact the Main Office at McAvinnue for support!
McAvinnue Spirit Gear By Prep Sportswear
We have an online store if you wish to order any McAvinnue gear! It is open 24 hours per day and there is no due date for orders. Anytime you want to order...on any day!
The company is Prep Sportswear and has been reliable with solid product quality from reputable brands.
There is a 30% off deal occuring now on all items! This is a major discount if you are interested in purchasing McAvinnue merchandise.
We are also exploring additional local options to purchase McAvinnue gear. Stay tuned for more information in the month of September.
To access our current online store for McAvinnue spirit gear, please click the link below.
Career Training Available
FREE 15-Week Adult Career Programs in January
Register now for FREE adult career programs that begin in January at Minuteman Technical Institute in Lexington (only 20 minutes from Lowell):
- Carpentry
- CNC Machine Operator
- Facilities Management
- Plumbing (Tier 1)
- Welding
These programs are FREE for anyone who earns less than $63,900 gross annually in Middlesex County due to support from the Mass. Workforce Skills Cabinet. MTI is an excellent opportunity for anyone over 18 interested in pursuing a career trade, including recent high school graduates.
Details can be found at minutemanti.org or call 781-861-7151.
Local Food Support
Click the link below for a list of local food pantries that are willing to help.
You can also reach out to Mrs. De La Luz, McAvinnue's Social Worker, for support navigating these and other options.
McAvinnue's School Website
Please visit our website at: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/mcavinnue
Follow McAvinnue On Social Media
Our Vision
#McAvinnuePride #BeTheDifference #NextLevel
