MCAVINNUE'S PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Hello McAvinnue Community!
As we head into the final week before Spring Break, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and support. It’s hard to believe we’re already this far into the school year—our students have made incredible progress, and we’re so proud of all their hard work. This upcoming week, April 14th through April 17th, will be filled with a mix of focused learning and some fun, seasonal activities designed to keep students engaged and motivated.
Across the building, classrooms will be incorporating spring-themed projects, hands-on learning activities, and opportunities for students to celebrate their academic growth. Some grade levels will be holding small celebrations, working on collaborative art or writing projects, or participating in themed proejcts. Teachers will be in touch with specific details about what’s happening in their rooms, so please keep an eye out for messages on ClassDojo or in your child's purple communication folder. Students are also working hard to meet their goals in ST Math and i-Ready, and we encourage families to ask their children about their progress—it’s a great way to stay involved and celebrate the effort they’re putting in.
Spring Break will officially begin on Monday, April 21st. We hope all of our families enjoy a safe, restful week filled with joy, connection, and maybe even a little adventure. Whether it’s reading a favorite book, spending time outside, or doing something creative as a family, these small moments of rest and exploration can make a big impact. If you’re looking for ways to stay connected to learning over the break, students can continue to access ST Math, read independently, or complete a fun outdoor Spring activity like sidewalk chalk art or building a structure using sticks, leaves, and rock found in your yard or park.
If you are interested in joining our April Vacation Program, please see the information below with how you are sign up. The dates of the program will be Tuesday, April 22nd - Friday, April 25th. The program will run from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM each day. Transportation will not be provided.
As always, if your family needs any support before or during the break—whether it’s food resources, enrichment ideas, or help connecting with services—please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help in any way we can.
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We wish you and your family a wonderful Spring Break and look forward to finishing the school year strong when we return on Monday, April 28th!
We are looking forward to another successful week at the "best school that we all know"!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach directly.
Here are a few items that you need to be aware of. Please mark your calendars for the following events and activities at McAvinnue for the next few weeks:
- Monday, April 14th - McAvinnue Reopens @ 9:10 AM
- Monday, April 14th - McAvinnue's All School Planting Day
- Friday, April 18th - Good Friday Holiday - No School
- Sunday, April 20th - Easter
- Monday, April 21st - Friday, April 25th - Spring Break (All Schools Closed)
- Tuesday, April 22nd - Friday, April 25th - McAvinnue's April Vacation Program
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.
Allergies? Asthma? Medications? - Please Let Nurse Danielle Know!
If your students have any medical concerns or diagnosis, please make sure Nurse Danielle is aware. Also, if they have any medical conditions, for example allergies or asthma, that require medications such as Epipens or inhalers here at school, please remember she needs updated paperwork and medication yearly.
Please reach out as soon as possible to get her the necessary paperwork and to arrange drop off of new medications. Nurse Danielle's email address is dralls@lowell.k12.ma.us and she can also be reached by calling (978) 937-2871 ex. 47858. Our fax number is (978) 937-2880.
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 23rd. 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.
Is Your Bus On Time?
The Lowell Public Schools Transportation Department has added a live spreadsheet to its webpage that indicates in the AM or PM if a school bus (grades K-8) is running late and by how long.
Check it out today: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/5990
McAvinnue's Yoga Pose Of The Week: "Warrior II"
We will try another new pose this week called the "Warrior II". This new pose will allow us to work on increase our endurance and strength will making statements that will yield a higher sense of personal power. We will practice the "Warrior II" technique daily during our "Virtual" Morning Announcements during this up and coming week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
You can get an early head start and practice this technique before we launch into another exciting week!
We have scheduled McAvinnue's MCAS dates for this school year. Please see the dates below for both Grade 3 and Grade 4.
Math
- Grade 3 Math - May 7th (Session 1); Math 8th (Session 2)
- Grade 3 Math Make Up Sessions - Math 9th & 12th
- Grade 4 Math - May 13th (Session 1); May 15th (Session 2)
- Grade 3 Math Make Up Sessions - May 16th & 19th
It's important that ALL of our students attend on the days that their grade level is testing. Being rested, on time, and fully prepared is essential for students to "show what they know" and do their very best!
If you have any questions, please reach out directly to your child's teacher for additional information.
The latest ST Math update is here, and we are thrilled to share some exciting news! Our students have collectively completed an incredible 818,000 puzzles in ST Math! This is a huge accomplishment and reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, as well as the opportunities for puzzling that you provide in your classrooms.
As we move through the Spring, let’s continue encouraging our students to keep puzzling their way to success. Each puzzle completed brings them closer to mastering new skills and concepts. Currently, students are averaging over 60 puzzles per week—let’s keep the momentum going!
Our Progress Percentage reached 80% during the week! This is an amazing feat. With Friday's ST Math JiJi Day, students rose to 83%!
We had an amazing time celebrating JiJi on Friday—ST Math spirit was truly in full swing! From classroom attire and activities, students reaching 100%, lots of cheers, and puzzle-solving perseverance, McAvinnue showed up strong.
We proudly contributed to the MA to 2 Million Challenge, and together across the state, students solved over 1.3 million puzzles!
Let’s Celebrate VELOCITY! Solving 2 puzzles every 3 minutes is the ST Math sweet spot—a perfect pace for deep thinking and steady progress!
Shoutout to our Velocity Rockstars...Rooms 203, 310, 202, and 207—you’ve hit the velocity zone and are modeling math momentum like pros!
Keep that puzzle power strong, McAvinnue! JiJi is proud!
McAvinnue's "Morning Announcements" are back once again for the 2024-2025 academic school year! We are excited to bring these back starting on Monday, September 16th!
Like we had successfully done during previous school years, 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".
McAvinnue's Morning Announcements will occur on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week.
You can check out current and past editions of McAvinnue's Morning Announcements on our YouTube channel using the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7hxiBuRjqjqfASl_RLMleQ
You can check out the latest edition of McAvinnue's Morning Announcements below for last school year!
Mental Health Student Support
Lowell Public School Families: We are committed to supporting the overall well-being of our students and believe mental health is an important part of overall health. We currently partner with Cartwheel https://www.cartwheel.org/ to support the mental health needs of our students via virtual therapy with licensed clinicians.
Up until now, a student had to be identified and referred for these services by our school team. Now, parents/guardians can express interest directly in mental health services for their child. Just fill out this form https://bit.ly/3QReTok
Our school staff can still refer a student to Cartwheel with parent/guardian consent. To learn more about this mental health program, check out the flyer below.
Here are some signs to look out for to determine if your child might benefit from mental health support:
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Declining academic performance
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Increased anxiety or stress
- Expressing feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Experiencing transition (related to life, family, peers, school)
- Exposure to a traumatic event
Student Handbook 2024-2025
The LPS Student Handbook is a great tool to use to fully understand the expectations of the role of our students as well as the partnership needed for our families to ensure that the school year is a great success.
You can access the district elementary student handbook by clicking the button below. You will find various policies and procedures focusing on attendance, grading, discipline, bus expectations, and more.
Please reach out directly if you have any questions.
McAvinnue's School Attendance Information
As you are aware, attending school is first step each in the learning process for our students. It is critical that our students arrive to school on time each day so that they can access all of the engaging and meaning lessons that have been planned by our teachers and related service providers.
The McAvinnue Attendnace Team will monitor student attendance on a weekly basis and will reach our directly to families when they notice frequent absences, a pattern of absences, or an increased number of consecutive absences within a short period of time.
Please refer to McAvinnue's Student Attendance Booket below that will provide additional information. This booket will be sent home with students in multiple languages. It is important that you review this information for your own awareness and to be fully prepared to support your child with the first step of the learning process...attending school on time.
The handbook is provided in three languages below.
Breakfast and Lunch Will Be Free for All LPS Students
As we reopen for the new school year, Lowell Public Schools Food and Nutrition are "Powering Potential" for students and faculty with innovations in our menus and enhancements to our overall dining operations. When your child dines with us, rest assured that we will be serving delicious, nutritious meals prepared with the utmost attention to safety. We encourage every student to fuel up with breakfast and lunch meals each day so they can be energized and prepared to succeed throughout the day, in and out of the classroom.
Please keep up to date on our program, nutrition education, monthly menus and back to school letters on the LPS Food and Nutrition website.
Any concerns please feel free to email foodservice@lowell.k12.ma.us
McAvinnue Spirit Gear By Prep Sportswear
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.
Like during previous school years, 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.
General Information
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.
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, 2023, 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 2023-2024 School Assignment Policy, all students have the option to request one school transfer per year.
- Families can apply online at 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.
Cub Scout Pack 7 Information
Cub Scout Pack 7 is looking for new cubs to join their pack! Tons of fun and learning experiences for all kids in Kindergarten through Grade 5. For more information, visit www.pack7lowell.com
Pack 7 meets at St. Rita's Church directly across from McAvinnue!
Be A Girl Scout
Interested in joining the Girl Scouts Of America? Check out the information below for an event on Tuesday, September 17th at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Pollard Library in Lowell.
To sign up for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, please use the link below.
Local Food Support
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 at adelaluz@lowell.k12.ma.us.
Community Vaccination Information
Please keep in mind that certain vaccinations are required for students to participate in learning at all Lowell Public Schools.
If you have any questions regarding vaccination requirements, please contact Nurse Danielle at the school. She will be glad to help you out and provide you with the information that you require or request.
McAvinnue's School Website
Please visit our website at: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/mcavinnue
Follow McAvinnue On Social Media
Click the buttons below to access our social media sites!
Our Vision
#McAvinnuePride #BeTheDifference #NextLevel
Email: mdomina@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/21
Location: 131 Mammoth Road, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 937-2871
Facebook: facebook.com/McAvinnueElementarySchool/
Twitter: @McAvinnueLPS
