With the warmer weather arriving, please dress your children so they are comfortable. The building does heat up quite quickly, so if you can, please have your children wear shorts and short sleeves on the warmer days.

I also wanted to make all parents aware that as we go the end of the year and have all of these school field trips, I wanted to make you aware that if you are attending a trip you need to complete a Cori form. Also if you plan on helping out with our school's field day you will also need to complete a Cori form. Any questions please reach out to Mr. Haines at jhaines@lowell.k12.ma.us

Monday May 27

No School Memorial Day

Tuesday May 28

After School Program Grades 1 and 2

Wednesday May 29

4th Grade Visits Butler School

After School Program Grades 3 and 4

Thursday May 30

After School Program Grades 1 and 2

Friday May 31

May 29th Grade 4 Visits Butler School 9:00-11:00

May 30 Spring After School Ends

May 31 Stone Zoo Trip Grades K-2

June 4 Fine Arts Day

June 5th Curious Creatures Grade 1

June 6 Field Day

June 11 Rain Date Field Day

June 13 Canobie Lake Trip Grade 4

June 14 Graduation (Lowell Catholic) Grade 4

June 18 Last Day of School

Please find the MCAS Testing Dates listed below. Please try to make sure your children are in attendance on these dates.

MCAS Math Grade 4 Tuesday May 7 and Wednesday May 8

Session 3- Will begin on Monday March 25. NO AFTERSCHOOL March 18 through March 22.

Mondays & Wednesdays - Grades 3+4

Tuesdays & Thursdays - Grades 1+2

Homework Help

SNL Sports

STEM Activities

Writing

Robots

Music & Instruments

Environmental Adventures Program

2:50-4:50 pm

All students need to be picked up. There are no buses

Use this Link to sign-up After-School Program

https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/domain/2301

https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=147

If your child takes medications during the school day please check in our nurse's office, to ensure she has the most up to date information.

Our next Meeting will be April 1 at 5:30 P.M. We will be discussing our goals and school budget for next school year. We will also be discussing the Walkathon Fundraiser.

Please find the notes from our previous meeting below.

School Site Council Meeting #2

January 30, 2024

1. Attendees:

1. Principal: Jeff Haines

2. Teachers: Diane Cahill-Zdon, Marcie comtois, Laura Katz, Monica Avelino

3. Parents: Sadiyo Mohamed (Suhel), Donna Latham (Adam)

2. Washington School Updates

1. Testing

1. ACCESS testing - for Multi Language learners. ELL team is doing great with that.

2. iReady testing for grades 1-4

3. MCAS ALTS assessments

4. Results of these tests will come out soon.

2. Field Trips

1. K, 1, 2, and Sara’s class went to see Little Red Riding Hood as a field trip.

3. Classroom Activities

1. Amazing teaching is happening! Great class discussions in class and the level of thinking students are doing is fantastic. Science and math discussions where students are explaining their thinking has been wonderful.

3. Budgeting Session in March

1. Budget season is starting in March. Next meeting will be later in March to discuss next year’s budget. This will start with ILT first and then those discussions will be brought to this group to make decisions that will make sense. More discussions will come. We have received many more MLLs and will need to figure out how to best support them.

4. Quality Improvement Plan Change

1. In the past they’ve always been one year plans. The district is shifting to a three year plan. We will plan how to best meet the needs of the students in front of us and then frame that out for the next three years. This will be a shift but still based on students' needs. A Culturally Sustaining Practice needs to be attached to the improvement plan as well.

5. Fundraiser - Get Moving

1. Move-a-Thon: April 24th. This will be tied with a tool called “Get Moving” to help raise funds. More info to come.

1. Fundraising for recess equipment is a goal. Students don’t have a lot of equipment out there so we want to build it up.

2. We also want to do more programming in the building for kids that don’t usually get to go on field trips.

6. Movie Night (March)

1. We want to bring families back into the building to help foster a sense of community. Maybe do a movie night and have some popcorn.

2. Mrs. Avelino suggested having an informational session for ELLs families to find out where they can access important information like delays, website translation services, etc. We need to make sure the information we have in X2 is correct. Talking Points doesn’t always work.

7. PTO 2024-2025

1. For next year, Mr. Haines would like to build a PTO. Will be reaching out to Mrs. Avelino since she is part of the PTO at the Reilly School for input and ideas of how to build this group.

https://www.smore.com/qny6b

mavelino@lowell.k12.ma.us

vtrull@lowell.k12.ma.us

eparisi@lowell.k12.ma.us

bhogan@lowell.k12.ma.us

kburns@lowell.k12.ma.us

sdechiara@lowell.k12.ma.us

ashleybrady@lowell.k12.ma.us

kbonin@lowell.k12.ma.us

emdescheneaux@lowell.k12.ma.us

dcahill@lowell.k12.ma.us

rreidt@lowell.k12.ma.us

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.

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.