Family Communicator

Monday, April 14, 2025

• After-School Program - Grades 3&4

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

• After-School Program - Grades 1&2
• MCAS Grade 4 - Please be in school

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

• After-School Program - Grades 3&4
• MCAS Grade 4 - Please be in school

Thursday, April 17, 2025

• After-School Program - Grades 1&2

Friday, April 18, 2025

• No School - Good Friday

Spring Break begins on Friday, April 18th as the holiday, Good Friday. We then have the next week off (April 21st-25th). We will return to school on Monday, April 28th. We will have seven weeks of school left when we return from break. The last day of school is Monday, June 16th. We will dismiss on this day at 1:30 pm.

As we begin to think of the next school year we wanted to keep our grade 4 families informed about certain end-of-the-year activities and events. All current grade 4 students are scheduled to attend the Butler School next fall. You do not need to do anything. The students are automatically enrolled. CSA grade 4 students will be placed in different schools. If you do not want the Butler School you can attempt to transfer your student by contacting the Family Resource Center.

Here are important dates for current fourth grade students:

• May 22nd - Butler Parent Meeting for Shaughnessy Grade 4 Families - 9:00-10:00 am or 5:00-6:00 pm
• May 22nd - Spring Concert - Grades 3&4 - 10:00 am or 2:00 pm
• May 27th - Butler School Grade 4 Student Visit - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
• June 6th - Field Day
• June 9th - Field Day Raindate
• June 10th - Class Trip to Jay Gees (Students must have good behavior to attend)
• June 11th - Jay Gees Raindate
• June 13th - Moving-On Ceremony - (10:00 am Zouzas/Cotta/Hilbrunner) & (2:00 pm Ashworth & Ewing)
• June 16th - Last Day of School (Half-Day)

The Shaughnessy School has a robust partnership with Home Depot. Home Depot has graciously donated items to beautify out Garden area and make it an outdoor learning space. On Friday, April 11th, the Home Depot volunteers will be here constructing all of the items to make the outdoor learning space. We are very thankful for their partnership.

MCAS is the state-assessment given annually in grades 3-10. Although a passing score is not required for high school graduation anymore the exam is still important and used to develop an accountability score for the school. Students in grades 3&4 are required to take the test unless you inform me you wish to opt your child out of the exam. All students must take the test with the exception of students within their first year in US Schools. Students brand new to English can skip the reading portion, but must take the math. Here is the schedule for MCAS.

Third and fourth graders need to be in school on these days.

April 8, 9 - Grade 3 MCAS - Reading & Writing

April 15, 16 - Grade 4 MCAS - Reading & Writing

April 30, May 1 - Grade 3 MCAS - Math

May 6, 7 - Grade 4 - MCAS - Math

Here are upcoming dates and events through April.

• April 21-25 - No School - Spring Break
• April 28 - School Reopens
• April 30 & May 1 - Grade 3 MCAS - Math (Please Be Here)

Students in grades K-4 can enter school from 8:40-9:00 am to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. After 9:00 am, the students will wait until we open regular breakfast at 9:10 am. The children will be monitored by school staff. This program is a privilege and not a right. If students are struggling with the rules, they will not be able to participate in the program.

The students will enter the building by the main entrance and school staff and cafeteria personnel will be there for supervision.

Teaching children about banking is a great way to learn about financial Literacy. We are proud to start a partnership with Jeanne d'Arc Bank for our children. Every other week, on Wednesdays, the bank will come to Shaughnessy School, and students can deposit money into a Savings Account. The account requires a $10.00 start-up fee, but after that, kids can deposit any amount. The children get a prize every time they add money to their accounts. Please be on the lookout for a Savings Account application that will be sent home early next week. This is how children start the account. We hope this partnership will help students learn the importance of saving money. You can also register for the program at our Open House this week. The dates for deposits this year will be:

• May 7, 21

If you were enrolled in the program last year, you do not have to fill out the form again!

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. Click below to access:

https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/5990

We primarily use Class Dojo as a communication application from school. The teachers will be inviting you to join the messaging, so you can be aware of all of the happenings. Please reach out to the teachers with questions.

Here are the arrival dismissal procedures for this year. Please do not park / live park in the fire lanes around arrival and dismissal. These lanes are for buses, not cars.

https://www.smore.com/n21w8