Hello McAvinnue Community!

What a great weather week we had this past week. It featured a perfect balance of some warmer days paired with some mild days. With that being said, we still live in New England and things can change for the better or worse from day to day. It is important to watch or listen to the weather forecast each day and make the best decision to wear clothing that your child will be comfortable in. I reviewed the importance of dressing in layers with our students during McAvinnue's Morning Announcements this past week. Layers allow our students to take items off or put items on to match the weather conditions during recess. Also, our building can get somewhat warm and stuffy as our A/C continues to be down. Thank you for your attention to this each day!

We capped off another successful week at McAvinnue this past week! We had a field trip to the Stone Zoo that went amazing for our Grade 4 students! Our teachers continue to plan and deliver amazing lessons that engage our students during this tough time of the school year. Check out the pictures in McAvinnue's "Week In Review" if you missed out on some of the posts. Please keep in mind that we will continue this daily for the remaining 20 school days until the Summer Break. Be on the lookout for various reminders about some important events that will occur as we celebrate the end of this challenging school year!

We have also reached an important part of the school year where various reading and math assessments will be administered to our students. This information will be used to measure their overall progress for this school year as well as how we will plan to support them for the up and coming new school year. You will be able to see the results on the final report card that will be distributed on the last day of school on June 21st.

We continue to honor all of hard work and efforts by our amazing faculty through a series of events occurring throughout the month of March! This past Tuesday...we hosted "Taco Tuesday" for our faculty! We had an amazing taco bar during lunch for all of our staff with a variety of traditional items to make a fabulous taco boat or wrap! We had very positive feedback from our staff...and this is something that we may bring back again. For the schedule of Teacher Appreciation Events, please see the flyer below!

Finally, there will be no school on Monday, May 29th due to the observance of Memorial Day. Please take a moment to recognize, remember, and honor those who lost their lives while defending our country.

Here are a few items that you need to be aware for the next few weeks. Please mark your calendars for the following events and activities that will occur at McAvinnue:

• Monday, May 22nd - McAvinnue Reopens @ 9:10 AM
• Monday, May 22nd - Friday, May 26th - Scholastic Book Fair
• Thursday, May 25th - McAvinnue's International Night @ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Monday, May 29th - Memorial Day: No School

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.

Students will have a chance purchase books and other really cool items starting on Monday, May 22nd - Friday, May 26th. Your child's teacher will reach out directly to you on the specific day that your child will have a chance to make a purchase.

You can also make purchases during McAvinnue's "International Night" on Thursday, May 25th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

All of the funds raised will be used to purchase books for our leveled classroom libraries!

Please considering support our school...and purchasing some great new books for your child!

Mark your calendars…McAvinnue will be hosting “International Night” on Thursday, May 25th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the school.

This event will be a “potluck” style food sharing opportunity. We would like everyone that attends this event to bring their favorite dish that best represents your family's heritage to share with others!

If you are interested in bringing an international food dish, you can reach out to your child’s teacher or the school directly! Check out the flyer below in multiple languages!

We will also be offering access to the Scholastic Book Fair in the library during this event. You will have a chance to make some purchases for books and other cool items! The profits from the Scholastic Book Fair will go toward purchasing books for our students.

Looking forward to another amazing event at McAvinnue!

McAvinnue will once again be offering a comprehensive Summer Program for our students that is FREE of charge. Students will experience hands-on learning opportunities as well as some additional work that focuses on academics. Transportation will be provided for this program!

The program will occur on July 5th - July 28th at McAvinnue. The program will begin at 9:10 AM - 12:40 PM from Monday - Friday.

The program will serve students that are entering Grades 1 - 4 as well as those students that are exiting Grade 4 and set to begin Grade 5 during the 2023-2024 academic school year.

You can register using the link below or the QR scan code in the picture below.

https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/201

Registration is June 16th for those students that require transportation.

If you have any questions, please contact the Summer Program Coordinator, Mrs. Evans, at revans@lowell.k12.ma.us.

We will be engaging in one final ST Math challenge for this school year...McAvinnue's ST Math "Mystery Challenge"! This challenge began on Monday, May 15th will end on Wednesday, May 31st.

Students and teachers will not know the ST Math mystery "metric" that will be used to determine which students, classroom, or grade level has performed the best. They will just need to login daily and complete as many puzzles as possible.

We will reveal the ST Math mystery "metric" on Monday, May 22nd and again on Wednesday, May 31st. We will announce the winners during McAvinnue's Morning Announcements!

Our students are SUPER excited for this and stay tuned for more updates to see if your child was part of the recognized winners of this engaging ST Math challenge!

Please click the links below to access McAvinnue's Student Attendance Policy for the 2022-2023 academic school year. For your convenience, we have included the policy flyer in multiple languages.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out directly.

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!

We are bringing back a classic yoga pose this week called the "Washing Machine". This pose will allow us to release anxiety, worry, or anger by visualizing washing those things down the drain to feel refreshed and have a new start to the day! We will practice the "Washing Machine" pose daily during our "Virtual" Morning Announcements during this up and coming week. Y

You can get an early head start and practice this technique before we launch into another exciting week!

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 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.

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.

Any students who have emergency medications (Epi-Pens, inhalers, etc.) or who will receive medication in school must have a medication order from the prescribing physician AND a completed consent form from the City Health Department.

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,

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!

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.

The Lowell Police Department's Student Police Academy is open for registration. Join Officers from the Lowell Police Department to learn about CPR and First Aid, Bullying, Internet Safety and more! This program is open to our current 4th Graders and students in 5-8th grade.

Session 1 is for 7th and 8th Graders from June 26 - July 14

Session 2 is for 5th and 6th Graders from July 24-August 11

For questions or to register, contact Officer Jose Santiago at (508)989-3332 or email jsantiago@lowellma.gov.

Idea Camp is open to students entering 5th-12th Grades. This means that our current 4th Graders are eligible for some of the programs.

The camp itself is a series of week-long STEM workshops to learn hands-on outside the traditional classroom. All supplies as well as breakfast and lunch are included. The workshops take place at UMass Lowell.

Some of the popular options for our 4th Graders include: Wire Your Bedroom, STEM Mashup, and Carnival Contraptions. Check out those and more by click the pictures below.

The Wang Middle School is offering an amazing opportunity called "Camp Invention". Check out the flyer below and use the link to access the online registration and other important details about the camp.

https://invent-web.ungerboeck.com/programsearch/moreinfo.aspx?event=40883

This camp to FREE of charge for those current Grade 3 and 4 students that may be interested. The camp will occur from August 7th - 11th at the Wang Middle School.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Stahl, Wang Middle School Principal, directly at mstahl@lowell.k12.ma.us

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.

Please visit our website at: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/mcavinnue

• FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/McAvinnueElementarySchool
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/McAvinnueLPS
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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7hxiBuRjqjqfASl_RLMleQ