Lowell Lions Roar!
September 2018
From the desk of Mrs. Larva
A few reminders about procedures as we start getting back into our routines:
- Parents cannot park in the front circle in the mornings until after 7:45 AM. If you want to come into the building, please park in either the front or back lot and walk your child in. (Spanish families may find the back door entrance to be more convenient. Just park in the lot and stay away from our bus zone please)
- Parents using our Parent Drop-off circle and our Parent Pick-up procedures are encouraged to "Turn Right" onto Rice Lake Road to keep the traffic moving.
- Breakfast begins at 7:20 AM in the cafeteria. Children can access the cafeteria from the cafeteria door in the AM.
- The front and playground door will be unlocked from 7:30 AM until 7:50 AM for student arrival.
We encourage parents to leave kids at the front (or back) door beginning on September 17. Give them a hug, send them in, and know that they are being directed by staff to their classrooms. This will help alleviate some of our traffic in the lots and make the morning more pleasant for all.
To learn more about our building procedures, please view the Family Handbook attached below.
Our students are focusing on our four school-wide expectations, which we call showing our Lowell Lions' PRIDE: Safe, Kind, Respectful, and Honest. They have learned the classroom and school routines and procedures. Our Kindergarten students will be learning more about being a Lowell Lion next week.
It seems hard to believe that I would already start talking about FALL conferences, but it is time for you to schedule these important goal-setting meeting times with your child(ren)'s classroom teacher(s). You will find the link to the online sign-up below in the e-newsletter.
Attendance Matters!
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!!
Clearly going to school regularly matters!
We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information please contact your child’s school.
Morning Procedures
What if my child is absent?
Attendance Line: 218-336-8895 Option 2
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
What if there is a change for the end of the day?
We ask that you contact the school early in the day if you need to make a change to your child's after school routine. It is best if you directly contact your child's teacher with a note in the morning. Please do not depend on voicemail or email communication with the teacher as they may not get a chance to check these forms of communication while working with children. If you are unable to reach the teacher, please contact the school office before 1:00 PM with the change request.
What to do if your child has an issue with the bus
Instead, if your child has concerns about the bus, it is important for them to first seek assistance from the adult on the bus. Since more of our buses do not have another adult on the bus beside the driver, this would mean they should talk to the driver when things happen.
The bus driver will file incident reports with the school when the situation cannot be handled on the bus. If a child gets a bus referral from the driver, the first consequence will be reteaching the expectations and practicing with an adult at the school. The second referral will result in a one day suspension from the bus. Further bus referrals will result in longer suspensions and could even mean the remainder of the school year.
If there are concerns about the bus, please call Voyageur Bus (218)724-1707 (afternoon buses 1-6). If your child rides bus 7, you can call the district transportation office (218)336-8970.
Wellness Policy and Snack Time
If you would like more information on our wellness policy please visit...https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Jc3S65Ott8ZThVV3VGVFp0bms/view
If you would like to know the snack encouraged by USDA please visit...https://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-focusing-smart-snacks
Emergency Procedures
All safety procedures are reviewed with your child in English, regardless of what program (s)he is enrolled.
Here is the information on the Safety Drills as written in our Family Handbook:
Fire Drills / Lockdown Drills / Severe Weather Drill
Each year, the principal is required to conduct five (5) fire drills to ensure that students practice the procedures in case of a fire emergency. The first fire drill must be conducted within the first 10 days of school. In a fire drill, the alarms will go off (rather loudly) and students will be escorted from the classroom quietly, quickly, and in single file out of the building. Teachers will reassure the students that these drills are just “practice”. The first fire drill is communicated out with all staff members. The remaining planned drills are not communicated to staff.
Additionally, five (5) emergency lock down drills are conducted each year. The first will be communicated and will occur during the first month of school. These drills are NOT indicated with an alarm. Instead, the principal will come over the intercom and announce a lockdown drill PRACTICE. Teachers will lock the students inside of the classroom, keeping them away from visible locations. The students will practice quietly sitting in a location with the lights off. The principal will announce the “All Clear” over the intercom when the practice is concluded.
A severe weather drill is conducted each April. Tornado Safe areas have been indicated for the school. At the intercom announcement (in case we cannot hear the sirens), teachers will move all students to the safe location designated for their class. Students will practice sitting quietly in position until the drill is concluded.
Save the Date: Picture Day is coming on October 9
Lowell PTA Meeting
Childcare is provided!
Monday, Sep 17, 2018, 06:00 PM
Lowell Elementary School, Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN, United States
Community Information
Salvation Army Basketball Registration
Contact Us
Email: jennifer.larva@isd709.org
Website: https://www.isd709.org/lowell-elementary/index
Location: 2000 Rice Lake Rd, Duluth, MN, United States
Phone: (218)336.8895
Facebook: facebook.com/lowelllions
Twitter: @Lowell_ES_Lions