Dear Families,

We understand that emergency pick-up needs can change unexpectedly. It is vital for us to have the most accurate and up-to-date emergency contact information on file to ensure we can support your family’s evolving needs effectively.

If you need to make any changes to your child’s designated pick-up person, please notify us as soon as possible. You can do so by sending an email or making a call. As part of the update process, please provide the following details about the new pick-up person: their first and last name, their relationship to your child, and their phone number. You may direct this information to your child’s classroom teacher or contact Kara Flynn in the main office at kara.flynn@watertown.k12.ma.us.

To streamline future changes and ensure the safety of your children, we recommend planning ahead by adding any potential pick-up persons to your PowerSchool Contact Page. This proactive approach will help avoid any last-minute changes during emergency situations.

We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a secure and efficient pick-up process.

Thank you,

Lowell School

Dear Lowell Families,

Today, we met our K-2 parents at the drop off spot with coffee. It was a lovely way to begin a Friday. Then we passed out coffee to the staff. It's the little things that go a long way. Next months coffee time will take place at the 3-5 door. See you there and don't be shy.

As we step into February, this month has already begun with a flurry of excitement. The weather seems eager to steal the spotlight lately, with snow making headlines and creating opportunities for winter fun. At the Lowell School, we embrace the snow with open arms—after all, what could be more exciting than building snowmen during recess or sledding during our Extended Day program? Please remember to send your child to school with snow boots so they can join in the fun safely.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Galdston and the Watertown leadership team for their unwavering support of our immigrant community. Our dedicated teachers and staff are here for you and your family, ready to provide any assistance you might need. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you require any help or support.

In these recent days, the topic of immigration has become a significant point of discussion within our community and across the country. We understand that these conversations might lead to heightened concerns for many families. It is important to know that, in Massachusetts, the law ensures all children residing in Watertown have the right to attend our schools regardless of immigration status. Rest assured, we will never inquire about or require documentation of your immigration status. We are committed to assisting our students and their families, and we urge you to contact your child’s teacher, guidance counselor, or a trusted adult at any time with your questions or concerns. We are here to provide support directly or connect you with resources in our community.

Beyond our schools, the town of Watertown supports creating a safe and welcoming environment for all residents. Chief of Police Justin Hanrahan reminded us that the Watertown Police Department, like all local departments in Massachusetts, is not involved in enforcing immigration laws. Their mission is to protect and serve everyone in our city, no matter their origin.

This commitment is mirrored in our school system’s dedication to providing a secure, disruption-free learning environment for every child in Watertown. Be assured that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are not permitted on school grounds or any areas where school activities take place, except with a specific federal judicial warrant. Additionally, the Watertown Public Schools will not disclose any protected student information to outside agencies, including ICE, without explicit parental consent. Your family's privacy rights are safeguarded under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

As a community, we bear the collective responsibility to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and supported. The WPS remains steadfast in protecting the rights and dignity of all our students. We are incredibly grateful for your trust in us to nurture your children's education and well-being.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime should you need further assistance or support.

With Gratitude,

Stacy & Tara

As we progress through the school year, we're excited to share some of our key initiatives and priorities with you. A significant focus has been implementing the Wit & Wisdom Literacy Curriculum, which enriches our students' educational experience. Additionally, we're integrating the Open Architects Data Warehouse to better support our tier I, II, and III interventions, ensuring that each student's unique needs are met. Equally important is fostering an environment where every student feels seen and welcomed as they walk through our doors each day. Our dedicated guidance team, along with teachers in grades 3-5, have been leading classroom circles and delivering explicit lessons on identifying and stopping bullying and harassment, creating a safer and more supportive community. We're also thrilled to announce that in April, we will welcome Dr. Rayna B. Minors, Ed.D, MPH, to Lowell for two 90-minute Upstander Training sessions tailored for our 4th and 5th graders. This initiative is designed to empower our young learners to stand up against bullying and foster a positive, inclusive environment.

This week, our equity facilitators launched the first of a three-part series with our teaching staff, focusing on critical topics such as Color Blind vs. Color Brave, Translanguaging, Honoring Language Identity, and Neurodiversity Inclusion. These are essential elements of our equity work, and we are committed to deepening our understanding and application of these concepts. I believe it's crucial to inform you about the areas where we are dedicating our time and focusing our efforts. To foster a collaborative spirit with our community, I am sharing our faculty slide deck with you, allowing you to learn alongside us. Should you come across any resources that might help broaden our perspectives or knowledge, please feel free to share them with me. Together, we can continue to make Lowell a welcoming and equitable place for all our students.

We're always on the lookout for creative and enjoyable ways to keep our students engaged and entertained during lunch. Recently, Mrs. Rufo had the wonderful idea of introducing colorful doodle boards for the students to use for coloring and writing during this time. I'm thrilled to share that the FTO sprang into action, and thanks to their quick response, the doodle boards have arrived and are already a huge hit with the students! A special thank you to Kelly Linehan for her exceptional support and generosity in meeting our needs. Your contribution has truly brightened the students' lunchtime experience!

Dear Watertown Parents and Caregivers,

Over the next month, teachers, instructional assistants, and students across the district will have an opportunity to participate in the 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. All teachers, instructional assistants, and students in grades 4-12 will be responding to this survey.

As a parent or caregiver, you also have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness as part of this survey about your child’s school.

The 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact. The 5Essentials gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.

These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction

Prior research has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.

Your participation in the parent/caregiver survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. If at least 20 percent of Watertown Public School parents and caregivers complete this survey, a parent/caregiver survey report will also be generated.

The Parent/Caregiver Survey will be open from February 4th – March 7th, 2025. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/watertown/survey/parent/.

Sincerely,

Dede Galdston, Superintendent of Schools

Mid Year Data Review

Update on Equity Work

Curriculum Update

Do you work collaboratively with others for the good of the Watertown community? Have you wondered how to facilitate productive conversations that make sure everyone's voice is heard?

Watertown Community Conversations (WCC), a community leader working to increase understanding through the use of dialogue, will host its next Facilitator Training for Small Group Dialogue on Friday March 7th (5:30 - 7:30 pm) and Saturday March 8th (9:45 am - 4:00 pm), 2025 here in Watertown at the Marriott Residence Inn.

In this training you will learn:

• The purpose and methods of community dialogue

• Foundational methods and skills used to facilitate small group discussions in a variety of professional or volunteer settings – including as a volunteer WCC small group dialogue facilitator

• The role of facilitators in strengthening public discussions

Please register here by February 28th. The cost is $12 to cover food and materials, or pay what you can.

Attached is a flyer that you can share with people you know who might like to become a WCC-trained facilitator.

If you have any questions, please contact wcc@watertownconversations.org and a member of the training team will get back to you.

Best wishes,

The WCC Training Team:

Liz Aeschlimann

Stephanie Venizelos

Mary Truscott

Dear Caretakers of prospective Preschool or Pre Kindergarten students:

The Application Period for the 2025 - 2026 school year is open on January 27 - February 28, 2025. It is not on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period remains open for 4 weeks.

• A lottery takes place following the application period, only if there are more requests than spaces.

• Returning students and siblings are given first priority.

If you missed the Virtual Information Night on January 14th, or the In-Person Visiting Day for Caregivers of Prospective Students on January 22, you may want to review the information shared below.

• Click the link for the slides presented at the January Early Steps Application/Registration Information Night.

The Early Steps Registration Information/Process for the 2025 - 2026 School Year including the Application Link will be available on the Early Steps registration page on January 27th by 9:00 AM. Here is the link to our webpage. The first day of school for all Preschool and PreK students is September 9, 2025. After 9:00 AM on January 27th:

• Click here for the Application for your child to attend Pre Kindergarten (PreK) in the Fall, 2025.

• Click here for the Application for your child to attend Preschool in the Fall, 2025

For questions, please contact: Tricia D’Amelio, Administrative Assistant to the Principal

tricia.damelio@watertown.k12.ma.us

If you are potentially interested in playing in the Watertown Parents Softball League

Spring 2025 Season, please sign up on the link below. We are currently heading into

our fourth year and it has been lots of fun so far!

https://forms.gle/UBd215yHWxaFNtjp8

If you have any questions please email Jesse Fenichel at jfenichel@gmail.com

NEW STUDENT 2025-2026 Kindergarten info night will take place on Wednesday, March 5th, from 6:30-7:30 pm. It will be an in person event. Caregivers should attend the information session at their respective neighborhood school. Lowell will host in the Learning Commons. All are welcome to attend. More information will follow.

J.R. Lowell Elementary School

123 Lowell Ave.

Watertown, Ma 02472

Phone: 1-617-926-7770

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary

Website: https://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/

Principal: Stacy Phelan

stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal: Tara Rufo

tara.rufo@watertown.k12.ma.us

Administrative Assistant: Kara Flynn

kara.flynn@watertown.k12.ma.us

Receptionist: Jim Swift

james.swift@watertown.k12.ma.us

Nurse: Kristen Thibodeau

kristen.thibodeau@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Pre-K - 2: Melina Jacovides

melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance 3-5: Brian Connors

brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us

School Psychologist: Kelley Starrett

kelley.cochrane@watertown.k12.ma.us

Special Education Team Chair: Greg Roberts

gregory.roberts@watertown.k12.ma.us

LEDP Site Coordinator: Adam Vachon

adam.vachon@watertown.k12.ma.us