Leopard Spots

January 6, 2025

Dear Lowell Families,

Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed your winter break and had enjoyable celebrations with family and friends. We are excited to have our leopards back and ready to start the second half of our school year strong. Please see below for important updates and information.

Report Cards

As teachers are working on report cards, our IC portal will be closed. Report cards will be sent home on January 10.

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration is quickly approaching. If you know of families in the neighborhood that will have an incoming kindergartner, please spread the word. See the Boise School District's Kindergarten Registration site for more information. We hope to see many new and returning families with incoming kindergarteners from 4-5:45pm on March 6, 2025.

Enrollment for 2025-2026

Please let the office know ASAP if your child will not be attending Lowell for the 2025-2026 school year.

Basketball Games

As our boys basketball season begins, please remember that if your children choose to attend games as a spectator, they must be accompanied by a parent.

Thank you for your support. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Abbey Griffitts

Principal, Lowell Elementary

Check out the Lowell calendar for important dates and information.

Empowering Parents Grant application is now open!

Please click here for more information about this great opportunity!

Computers for Kids

Findhelpidaho.org

PARENTING RESOURCES:
211 Idaho Care Line

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
SPAN- Suicide Hotline
The Jason Foundation
Youth Empowerment Services

SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS:
Drug Free Idaho
RADAR
Sober.com
NA - Narcotics Anonymous

COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Assistance League of Boise
Boise City Parks & Recreation
Boise Neighborhood Housing Services

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
Faces of Hope
Women & Children's Alliance

Dave Sica, M.Ed.
School Counselor

Lowell Elementary School

Office: 208.854.5487 Fax: 208.854.5481

Lowell Elementary School Counseling Website

Community Resources

Virtual Peace Room

Whooping Cough (Pertussis): What You Need to Know

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include:

• Severe coughing fits that may end with a "whoop" sound

• Vomiting after coughing

• Difficulty breathing, especially in young children

Vaccination is Key: The CDC strongly recommends the DTaP vaccine for children and the Tdap booster for preteens, teens, and adults. Vaccination not only protects your child but also helps safeguard others, particularly infants and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia (Walking Pneumonia): An Overview

Walking pneumonia is a milder form of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It spreads through close contact, especially in crowded settings like schools. Symptoms may include:

• Persistent cough

• Low-grade fever

• Fatigue and general malaise

• Mild chest discomfort

While less severe than other forms of pneumonia, walking pneumonia can still cause significant disruption to a child's routine. Early treatment with prescribed antibiotics can help reduce symptoms and prevent complications.

Stay-Home Guidelines

For both illnesses, it is critical to follow stay-home guidelines to prevent the spread:

• Unvaccinated individuals exposed to whooping cough may be required to stay home for up to 21 days or until cleared by a healthcare provider.

• See the Boise School District Illness Procedure

Check Your Child’s (and Your) Vaccine Status

Now is an excellent time to ensure your family’s vaccinations are up to date. You can:

• Ensure your child is up to date on their DTaP vaccine

• Adults should have a Tdap vaccine every 10 years.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Family

1. Get Vaccinated & Boosted: Make sure everyone in your household is vaccinated against whooping cough and other preventable diseases.

2. Practice Good Hygiene: Teach children to cover their mouths when coughing, wash hands frequently, and avoid sharing personal items.

3. Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on your child for any signs of illness and seek medical care if needed.

4. Stay Home: We know the break was long, but please keep your child home from school if they are ill.

• Symptoms of Whooping Cough | Whooping Cough | CDC
• Whooping Cough Vaccination | Whooping Cough | CDC
• About Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection | M. pneumoniae | CDC

Boise State Public Health Testing Center

• Boise State is offering community testing for COVID, Flu and Whooping Cough
• Tests are self performed and results are quick
• No appointment necessary
• Click HERE for more information

Come learn about:

• Current trends and health effects of vaping
• Best strategies for starting a conversation with your child
• Free resources available to you & your child
• Register HERE and attend and be entered in to win a $100 gift card!

Welcome back and happy 2025!

PTSA's January News is HERE.

Thank you for reading and staying informed. Some quick links are below:

• Jan 22 Mexican Fiesta Potluck
• Feb 27th Shoot for the Stars Auction info

Parenting Course: The Boise School District is partnering with Family Advocates to provide FREE 10-week parenting courses. These courses will be held at Whitney Elementary and will include dinner, childcare, and additional resources. Space for childcare is limited, so be sure to sign up soon! For more information, please refer to the flyer or complete our interest form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sara Nord at sara.nord@boiseschools.org or 208-559-3107. Registration closes on January 10th.

Protecting Your Children in the Digital World: Many parents believe that their child is unlikely to be affected by online dangers, but the reality is that cyberbullying, sextortion, and sexting are threats that can impact any child. The Boise School District is hosting an important event to help parents understand these risks and how to protect their children. A guest speaker from Homeland Security’s Know2Protect program and a panel of experts will share valuable insights on these issues. Join us at South Junior High on January 29th from 5:30-7:30 pm to learn how to keep your child safe online. Free childcare is available until capacity is reached so RSVP soon! Check out the flyer for more details!

Building a Bridge to Better Behaviors: Join us at Whitney Elementary on January 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm for a parent workshop provided by Dr. Michelle Alden. She will share valuable insights and practical tips for parenting children who are wired differently, including those with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, Autism, and/or Dyslexia. Childcare will be provided, but space is limited, so RSVP soon! Please see the flyer for more details.

If your child is not going to be at school, please email lowellattendance@boiseschools.org or call 208-854-5480 and leave a message. A child's absence is marked as "unexcused" until we hear from parents.

Check out www.attendanceworks.org for great information about the importance of attendance.

Please click here to see our Emergency Response Plan

Please click here for our Threat Assessment Process

CLICK HERE to learn more or CLICK HERE to sign up.

Lowell is looking for a crossing guard to help our kiddos reach school safely. Only 2 hours/day (8:30 - 9:30am and 3:30 - 4:30pm) The pay starts at $16.01/hr. Applications can be submitted using the following path: Click THIS link > Classified > School Support Personnel. Please call Principal Abbey Griffitts with any questions.

We are also looking for great substitute teachers! Please click here, then click Substitutes, and follow the application process from there. We are so grateful for parents who pick up sub jobs. They help ensure our kids don't miss anything and substitutes also get paid for their time!

Annual Notification Regarding Public Release of Student Directory Information

The Boise School District complies with federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) as it relates to the release of student directory information to the public. To learn more, log on to www.boiseschools.org and navigate to Parents & Patrons > Parent Information > FERPA Form. Or, please call the Clerk of the Board at 208-854-4123 to obtain a copy of the FERPA form.

Abbey Griffitts - Principal

abbey.griffitts@boiseschools.org

Kim Nixon - Administrative Assistant

kim.nixon@boiseschools.org

Website: lowell.boiseschools.org

Location: 1507 N 28th St, Boise, ID 83703
Phone: 208.854.5480