The Lion's Roar

Hello McAvinnue Community!

We have successful completed another great week at McAvinnue! Our students and teachers are working hard daily and there has been some great progress made with our daily routines and expectationsI

I had the chance to observe some amazing lessons focusing on our new phonics curriculum, Letterland, somee exciting lessons and a few successful morning meeting Open Circle lessons. Our teachers are working to plan meaningful lessons that your children are truly benefiting from. The teaching and learning will continue over the month of October. We will be sending out a formal progress report that will review your child's progress in a few weeks. Be on the look out more information from your child's teacher and in the Lion's Roar Community newsletter next week.

Our students have finished the iReady diagnostic assessment for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. This assessment will allow for our teachers to see what your child has a solid understanding of connected to various teaching standards that fall under each of these two areas. Also, the iReady platform will map out online lessons for your child that will target specifically what they need more practice on. Your child's progress will continued to be monitored by the classroom teacher and on the iReady instructional platform.

On another note, we had the perfect evening and had an amazing turn out for McAvinnue's "Back To School Bash" on Wednesday, September 25th! It was so great to see our current and former students come out and enjoy some fun and games! The event was a major success...and our families were very appreciative that we hosted an evening of community building and exciting engagement opportunities on a more personal level. We will continue to host events that promote the family like community that we have fostered at McAvinnue!

Please note that there is some information for some upcoming events at McAvinnue such as Indigenous Peoples Day (formally known as Columbus Day), McAvinnue's Picture Day, and McAvinnue's "Trunk Or Treat" Family Celebrations! Mark your calendars for these events!

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, September 30th - McAvinnue Reopens @ 9:10 AM
• Monday, September 30th - McAvinnue's "Lions Pride" All School Core Value Celebration: September Edition @ 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
• Thursday, October 3rd - Kindergarten Field Trip - Parlee Farms

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.

Despite a one-week delay due to weather, the McAvinnue Back to School Bash turned out to be a fantastic event! Students and families came together at McAvinnue Elementary to enjoy exciting games with their teachers and friends.

We’d like to extend a big thank you to our community partners for their support, including Mira Vie, Egg Roll Cafe, UMass Lowell College of Education, Cub Scouts Pack 7 of Lowell, Lowell Parks and Recreation, Outback Steakhouse - Lowell, and the Lowell Police Department.

A special shout-out to DJ Steve for keeping the energy high with amazing music!

We are gladly accepting candy donations for McAvinnue's "Trunk Or Treat" Family Celebration!

Please feel free to drop off a bag of candy to the Main Office at McAvinnue anytime during school hours. Also, you can have your child bring a bag of candy with them to school...and they can drop it off at the Main Office when they arrive to the school building.

We will accept donations all the way up to the big event on Tuesday, October 29th!

Thank you in advance for your support with this!

UPDATE: The following are the current program enrollment numbers based upon the sign ups that have occured by the end of the school day on Friday, September 27th:

• Before School Program - 37 students (Waitlist has been created as this program is full)
• After School Program: Tuesday (Grades 1-2) - 26 students; Thursday, (Grades 3-4) - 34 students

There still are openings for the Tuesday and Thursday After School Program Sessions.

Program registration c;oses on Wednesday, October 2nd. At this time, we will notify families of their child's enrollment status for each program.

Session 1 programs will begin on Tuesday, October 15th and run through Thursday, December 12th.

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Here is the information for McAvinnue's Before School Program for your review:

• The program will run Monday - Thursday each week.
• The program will support Grades 1-4 students.
• We will have 30 spots available for our students.

Here is the information for McAvinnue's After School Program for your review:

• The program will run on Tuesday and Thursday each week from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM.
• The Tuesday program will be for our Grades 1 and 2 students.
• The Thursday program will be for our Grades 3 and 4 students.
• Each program will have 50 spots available for our students.

Mrs. Gervais will be the Program Coordinator can can be reached at mgervais@lowell.k12.ma.us.

Please use the link below to sign up for this amazing program opportunity for our students!

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.

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

Here is information regarding when each grade level and homeroom has weekly Physical Education Class with Ms. Rindo.

Please ensure that your child wears sneakers on their assigned day in the gymnasium so that can fully participate.

We will try a new pose this week called the "Flying Bird Breath"...and will add on to the "Mountain" pose that we worked on last week!

This new pose will allow us to work on remaining calm while increasing our focus by maintaining grace through our own person "center". We will practice the "Flying Bird Breath" pose 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!

Here are important dates to remember at the end of September and October of the school year:

• Monday, September 30th - McAvinnue Reopens @ 9:10 AM
• Monday, September 30th - McAvinnue's "Lions Pride" All School Core Value Celebration: September Edition @ 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
• Thursday, October 3rd - Kindergarten Field Trip - Parlee Farms
• Monday, October 7th - Bully Prevention & Awareness Day
• Tuesday, October 8th - Grade 3 Field Trip: Concord Museum (2 Classes)
• Wednesday, October 9th - Early Release Day: Student Dismissal @ 1:30 PM (No PreK Classes)
• Thursday, October 10th - Grade 3 Field Trip: Concord Museum (2 Classes)
• Monday, October 14th - No School: Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Tuesday, October 15th - McAvinnue's "Before & After School Program" Begins: Session 1
• Thursday, October 17th - Progress Report Distribution: PreK - Grade 4
• Monday, October 21st - McAvinnue's Picture Day - Student & Faculty Portraits
• Tuesday, October 22nd - Grade 4 Field Trip: Patriot's Hall Of Fame Engineering Challenge: "Tower & Bridges"
• Tuesday, October 29th - McAvinnue's "Spooky Trunk Or Treat" Family Celebration @ 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

The first seed of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was planted at a U.N. international conference on discrimination in 1977. The first state to recognize the day was South Dakota in 1989. Berkeley, California, and Santa Cruz followed suit.

Although the day was still considered Columbus Day up to 1937, many people began calling it Indigenous Peoples’ Day to celebrate the rich culture and the lives of the Native American people.

For the Native Americans, Columbus Day was always hurtful as it glorified the violent past constituting 500 years of colonial torture and oppression by European explorers like Columbus and those who settled in America. Indigenous Peoples’ Day draws attention to the pain, trauma, and broken promises that were erased by the celebration of Columbus Day. Before his arrival, the indigenous folk were successful self-sufficient communities that sustained life for thousands of years.

Year by year, the movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day spreads to more and more states, towns, and cities across the United States of America.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates, recognizes, and honors the beautiful traditions and cultures of the Indigenous People, not just in America, but around the world. Their way of life and culture carries wisdom and valuable insights into how we can live life more sustainably.

Today, 14 U.S. states celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and not Columbus Day, as well as the District of Columbia. More than 130 cities including Arlington, Amherst, Cambridge, Brookline, Marblehead, Great Barrington, Northampton, Provincetown, Somerville, and Salem also celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Mark your calendars for our next all school family event! Please join us for McAvinnue's "Trunk Or Treat" Family Celebration on Tuesday October 29th from 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM.

You can come to St. Rita's Church rear parking lot (directly across from McAvinnue), for some costume and candy fun!

This event is free of charge! All you need to do is come by with your costume on, bring a bag for treats, and we will do the rest! You will have a chance to walk through a maze of cars that will each have a special treat for you!

We are super excited to bring this event back at McAvinnue! We hope that everyone makes the time to come by!

The latest ST Math update is here, and we're thrilled to share some exciting news! Our students have collectively completed an incredible 89,000 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 Fall, 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 80 puzzles per week—let’s keep the momentum going!

Thank you all for your ongoing support and commitment to our students’ growth!

McAvinnue's Site Council is a group of faculty, parents, and community stakeholders who come together to help drive the instructional focus of the McAvinnue Elementary School. We look at student data and make decisions about the school's Quality Improvement Plan and budget.

We need one additional parent to join this important group. The commitment is one, one-hour, meeting each month usually on Zoom. As we hit budget season in February-April, there will be other meetings added.

If you would like to be a part of the team, please fill out the form below. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Domina at mdomna@lowell.k12.ma.us.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Celebrate Lowell's 3rd Hispanic Heritage Month Festival with us!

Hispanic Heritage Month in Lowell, Massachusetts is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This month is a time to honor the history, culture, and contributions of people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Experience the vibrant cultures of Latin America through electrifying performances, delicious cuisine, and engaging dance workshops. Free admissions for all! Join the fiesta!

Performances by:
- UMass Lowell Latin Assemble
- Grooversity
- Asociacion Carnavalesca de Massachusetts
- San Simonne New England
- Grupo Chevere & more!

Contact us: Hispanicfest@latinxcenter.org

More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/40-french-st-lowell-ma-01852-1113-united-states/lowell-hispanic-latinx-fest-2024/1173998483715858/?paipv=0&eav=Afb1xMVZrbp9o5CEyPX8WuoyIu5URjMzzccMv_kDxbHWpf9Kyg4oEbmIEMtoV0NCl4A&_rdr

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!

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.

gsema.org/jion

The Lowell Public Schools' Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Program holds weekly playgroups for children under 5-years-old and their families.

You can access the registration form below.

Our friends at the Mill City Prevention Network have a variety of important classes/programs to provide knowledge to families raising kids in 2024. Not only do they provide you with invaluable tools and information - but you will also earn Market Basket gift cards for participating (up to $150!). In case you are looking at this on your phone, here are the links from the QR codes in these flyers (scroll through to see the flyers in Spanish, Portuguese, and Khmer):

Parent Surveys:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LOWELL-PCN-PARENT-SURVEY

Portuguese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Lowell-Pesquisa-Para-Pais

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Lowell-Encuesta-Para-Padres

Khmer: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Lowell-Parent-Survey-Khmer

Youth Mental Health First Aid: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2Y5Q63W

Guiding Good Choices Parent Classes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BACK2SCHOOL_GGC

Looking for before or after school daycare options for your child? Here is a short list of options and information for your consideration.

Here is a list of daycare options in Lowell:

• Community Team Work (CTI): (978) 454-5100

• Families who are already enrolled in a CTI program...

• Call or text school-age coordinators to request a slot

• Billy 978-995-0028, wma@commteam.org

• Karen 978-729-7216, kshannon@commteam.org

• Families who are not enrolled in a CTI program

• If you’ve filled out a CTI application in the past...

• Contact Karen (978) 729-7216, kshannon@commteam.org to see if where you are on the waitlist (if there is a waitlist)

• If you’ve never filled out a CTI application...

• Fill out an application at 17 Kirk St., 126 Phoenix Ave

• Or call the main CTI number (978) 454-5100 to request an email version of the application.

• YMCA: (978) 454-7825; 1 YMCA Dr in Lowell

• Karen Espinola is the school-age director

• Fill out a application online or at the YMCA to request a slot

• Debbie Doben is the preschool director if your child is preschool age

• Family Childcare: Call programs to see if they have openings near you

• Bethel Family Childcare (978) 458-6577

• Clarendon Family Childcare (978) 454-3026

• Child Development and Learning (CDE) (978) 275-2843

• ACRE Family Childcare (978) 937-5899

• CTI: See above contact information

• Girls Inc: (978) 458-6529, 220; Worthen St. in Lowell

• Accept girls ages 5-14 years old

• Accept Child Care Circuit vouchers, DCF vouchers, and private pay (income-based, sliding scale)

• Call Pam Lerocque (Director of Finance & Administration) to check on openings

• Boys and GIrls Club: (978) 458-4526; 657 Middlesex St in Lowell

• School-age openings for after-school

• Teens who are working with the Department of Children and Families can call BGC or DCF to see if they’re eligible

The Family Leadership Institute provides families with the knowledge and skills to partner with schools and communities to ensure their children achieve their full potential.

Throughout the year, the FLI runs a variety of programs including: survival English classes, family college visits, mental health and financial literacy workshops, and more. For more information about the FLI visit: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/5263 or email FLI Director Zoe Dzineku at zdzineku@lowell.k12.ma.us.

Do you need support with food options for your family. No need to worry...there are many local groups that can offer support for you during your time of need.

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.

Click the link below to see a comprensive list of local vaccination options for your child.

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.

Check out our school website where you can find a wealth of information including school news, calendars, and other events.

Please visit our website at: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/mcavinnue

You can follow McAvinnue on social media at the following sites! We update things daily and this is a great way to stay in touch with all of the amazing things that are happening inside and out of "the best school we all know"!

Click the buttons below to access our social media sites!

McAvinnue Elementary School is a place...where there are high expectations, where students are academically engaged, where instruction is guided by a systematic approach to examine data, where there is a multi-tiered system of support, and where a responsive environment that fosters social emotional connections between faculty and students prevails.

#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