The Loker School Scoop! 3-4-25

Dear Loker School Community,

I hope that you had a great weekend! We have a number of special events coming up in the next two weeks! We are excited to have our Just Like Me Program at Loker on Thursday and Friday of this week. Just Like Me is our disability awareness program. Our third grade scholars will learn about deafness and hard of hearing while our 4th grade scholars will be focused on learning differences. These scholars will participate in activities within the classroom on these topics and then have the opportunity to hear from a special guest speaker to share their experience with navigating with a specific disability. 3rd graders will hear from an individual who is deaf while fourth graders will learn from someone who has dyslexia. Each year, Just Like Me has proven to provide meaningful learning opportunities for our scholars and I want to thank all of our Loker parent volunteers and Elizabeth Wuerz for her coordination of this important program.

It is early March which means that it must be time for our musicians to excel! I look forward to listening to our fourth and fifth grade school chorus at the Wayland Sings concert on Tuesday evening. Similarly, our third, fourth and fifth grade strings musicians will perform at String Jam next Tuesday night, March 11th, and our fourth and fifth grade band musicians will perform at Band Fest next Wednesday night, March 12th. These concerts are so special because all five Wayland schools participate so you really can see the vertical alignment of our wonderful music program in Wayland! Lastly, we are excited to host our fifth annual Spanish Immersion Trivia Night next Thursday, March 13th.

Have a great week!

Best,

Brian

Planning for the 2025 Backpack Auction has begun! The auction is the second (of two) fundraising events that directly supports all of Wayland’s elementary schools. The auction (to take place in March) has historically had a huge response across families and the Wayland community and we hope it lives up to its reputation in 2025! Our goal is to identify thoughtful and exciting bidding items to make this year’s auction a success!
That’s where YOU come in!
Please consider donating any of the following to the auction:

• Your services or hobby or skill (sports or music lessons, hiking guide, photography, baking or cooking lessons, etc.
• Donations from a local business, virtual experiences, online subscriptions, outdoor activities, or even time in a vacation home
• Cook & Deliver a meal for a family
• New toys, apparel or items for the home
• Gift cards to your favorite restaurants and businesses

To Submit Donation: https://forms.gle/H8deThuoLvGCHM6v6

Have questions? waylandbackpackauction@gmail.com

Did you know: The funding we raise for the PTO this year determines our 2025-26 budget and directly impacts what we’re able to do for our students next year--think of the back-to-school picnic, incredible field trips, and all of the other wonderful enrichment opportunities that the PTO enables through your generous support.

~Thank you from the Backpack Auction Team

Thursday, March 6th

Just Like Me, our disability awareness program, is coming to Loker on March 6th! Third graders will be learning about Deafness and Hard of Hearing and fourth graders will learn about Learning Differences. The hour-long session will include an opening introduction with a video and then students will break up into stations for some experiential learning activities. A guest speaker will also come later in the day to speak to the students. We need parent volunteers to help run these activity stations. Activities are heavily scripted and material and the script will be provided in advance. Please consider signing up HERE. Thank you for your help in bringing this back to our community and running smoothly! Any questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Wuerz at elizabeth.wuerz@gmail.com

Loker School

Bring the whole family to this district- wide event! There will be a wide variety of board games, logic stations, geometry exploration, estimation jars, and Work Places games from the Bridges Curriculum!

Please complete this

RSVP FORM

so that we can plan accordingly.

Students in Grades 2-5

FORM YOUR SWARM!

2025 WPSF Annual Spelling Bee

Wayland High School

Sunday, March 30th

12:00 PM to 4:30 PM

The Wayland Public Schools Foundation is pleased to host the 32nd Annual Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 30th, 2025 from 12:00pm to 4:30pm, at the Wayland High School. We welcome students in Grades 2 through 5 to form teams, or a "swarm" of three. While all team members must be in the same grade, teams can be composed of members from any Wayland school. Spanish Immersion teams will also be included.

Registration is OPEN!!
Regular registration will run Feb 10-Mar 9/ cost will be $40/child.
Late registration will run Mar 10-16th, and the cost will be $50/child.

For questions regarding the 2025 Spelling Bee, please email waylandspellingbee@gmail.com.

Tuesday, March 18th

7:00pm

Loker School or via Zoom

Please join us for the March PTO meeting on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00pm in person in the Loker Cafeteria or via Zoom. This month we will be joined by Superintendent David Fleishman.

The PTO is a great way to get to know other Loker families and hear about all the events the PTO supports. Everyone is welcome to join - you do not need to be on a committee to attend! We look forward to seeing you!

Zoom: https://rbteach.zoom.us/j/82058433646?pwd=Ce7decmk5WSzi4Enbcm8fhXCG1tp7C.1

Meeting ID: 820 5843 3646
Passcode: Loker

Sunday, May 18th
2:00pm –4:00pm
Loker School Back Field

Mark your calendars for the return of Wayland World's Fair, hosted by all three Wayland Elementary Schools!

Get ready for a fun-filled afternoon of culture, community, and connection! The Wayland World’s Fair is a fantastic event where families can explore traditions from around the world. From delicious food and traditional dress to dance, games, and crafts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Want to be part of the fun? Sign-ups to host a country booth, volunteer, or sponsor the event will open in March—a great way to share your culture and make this event even more special.

Contact Leah at lokerschoolpto@gmail.com with any questions.

Please help your children be properly dressed for the cold weather! Weather permitting, we go outside EVERY day at Loker School. Please be sure to send your children to school with the Big 5:

1. Winter jacket
2. Snow pants (waterproof)
3. Boots
4. Hat
5. Mittens/gloves. (waterproof)

If there is snow on the ground, students who are not properly dressed will be asked to stay off of the fields and play structure areas. Thank you for your support with this. Children have more fun and learn better when they are comfortable! Please be sure to label ALL clothing.

Please pack a seasonally appropriate full change of clothes in backpacks.

pickuppatrol.net

If your child is going to be absent, tardy or has a dismissal change please be sure to update PickUp Patrol accordingly. New this year: MIDDAY PLAN CHANGES. This new field has Late Arrivals, Leave & Return as well as Early Dismissal options. You can enter information any time - no need to wait until the day of absence, tardy or change. Download the website to your phone home page for added ease. If you still need help, contact the Loker office at (508) 358-8601 or PickUp Patrol at support@pickuppatrol.net. We are happy to help!

MARCH

Tuesday, March 4th

• Wayland Sings WHS 7:00pm

Thursday, March 6th

• Loker School Meeting, Loker Gym 8:20am-8:45am
• Just Like Me returns to Grades 3 & 4

Monday, March 10th

• 3rd Grade Field Trip to See Science Center, Manchester, NH

• Strings Jamboree, WHS

Wednesday, March 12th

• Bus Driver & Crossing Guard Appreciation Breakfast, Happy Hollow School
• Band Fest WHS 7:00pm

• Spanish Immersion Trivia Night- 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Loker March PTO Meeting, 7:00pm Loker School or via Zoom

Thursday, March 27th

• Loker School Meeting, Loker Gym 8:20am-8:45am

APRIL
Thursday, April 3rd

• District-Wide Family MATH Night, 6:00pm-7:30pm Loker School

Thursday, April 17th

• Loker School Meeting, Loker Gym 8:20am-8:45am

Friday. April 18th

• No School- Good Friday
• Spring Break Begins!

• Classes Resume

Anyone who walks the halls of our buildings, volunteers in classrooms/library or chaperones on field trips, must have a valid Wayland Public School CORI check on file. To complete a CORI application, please present in person at any school office (or central office) with government issued photo identification. It only takes a few minutes. CORI reports need to be renewed every 3 years.