Greetings Lowell,

I am incredibly proud of the dedication and progress our students have shown. As I make my way through the school building, I am filled with a sense of joy and admiration for the exceptional work they are consistently producing. It is heartwarming to witness them fully immersed in their lessons and adhering to classroom expectations with enthusiasm.

One of our key focuses is fostering opportunities for collaborative learning among students, encouraging them to engage in academic discussions using content specific language and discourse. While this may be even challenges for adults, we understand the importance of equipping our students with these essential skills that are highly valuable in the real world.

I invite you to take a moment to inquire about what your child is currently studying in their literacy curriculum. Depending on their grade level, they are delving into various enriching topics that offer valuable insights into different aspects of learning and understanding. Here is a glimpse of the literacy themes across different grades:

- Kindergarten: Exploring the Five Senses

- Grade 1: Delving into A World of Books and their accessibility

- Grade 2: Reflecting on A Season of Change and its impacts on individuals

- Grade 3: Understanding How Artists and Writers utilize elements to convey ideas

- Grade 4: Examining A Great Heart, both literally and metaphorically

- Grade 5: Exploring Cultures and Conflict through a critical lens

I am excited to announce that this upcoming Monday, October 21, 2024, Lowell School will be presenting during the Learning Showcase segment. Our dedicated Art teacher, Ms. Chroneos, will be leading the presentation, shedding light on the exceptional teaching and learning experiences within the art room. The showcase will feature student work and testimonies, offering a glimpse into the creativity and talent thriving within our school community. We will also show the connection between the Art room and literacy.

Additionally, on Monday night, we will be unveiling the MCAS results for both the school and district. Your presence and support are highly valued, and I encourage you to join us for these presentations.

To attend Monday night's School Committee Meeting please click the button below.

With Gratitude,

Principal Phelan & Assistant Principal Rufo

AGENDA

Approximate Time

I. Roll Call 6:30 PM

II. Adjourn to Executive Session: To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining as an open

meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body.

III. Public Forum 7:00 PM

IV. Teaching and Learning Showcase 7:05 PM

A. Lowell Elementary School

V. Action Items and Vote 7:25 PM

A. Approval of Meeting Minutes

1. October 7, 2024 School Committee Meeting

2. October 10, 2024 Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting

3. October 9, 2024 Budget & Finance Meeting

a) FY26 Budget Goals

b) FY26 Budget Calendar

VI. Referrals

VII. Reports 7:55 PM

A. WPS MCAS data

B. Equity

C. School Committee Chair

D. Superintendent

This week, WHS students are leading social justice circles with Lowell 5th graders. As part of the circle, the HS students read aloud Rocket Says Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon. The HS students also asked the 5th graders to reflect on their own community and how they are capable of making change in it. Here are a few pictures from today.

Directions for Families:

• Click on the link above to open the Family Conference document

• Select your child's teacher's name

• Click on the SignUp Genius Link

• Select the time you would like to meet with your child’s teacher

• Enter your first name, last name, and email address

• Select the “sign up now button” to confirm the time

• Choose if you will attend in person or through zoom

• During the selected time, please attend in person or use the Zoom link provided to meet with the teacher

We’re off to a super start to the school year with students deeply engaged in learning, particularly around literacy. Early literacy universal screening is used to help schools identify students early who are at risk for future reading difficulties, including but not limited to, the risk of dyslexia. One of the ways students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 5 are assessed in reading is a literacy screening assessment called DIBELS 8th Edition, DIBELS is administered three times this school year.

At the fall teacher-caregiver conferences, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this assessment and your child’s performance. We look forward to partnering with you in your students’ literacy development. *If your child is just recently beginning to learn English they may be more likely to be identified for future reading difficulties. This will be taken into consideration at subsequent screenings and we will monitor your child's reading development alongside their English Language Development.

There are numerous benefits to starting each day with a morning meeting in the classroom that make it worth the few extra minutes each morning. It’s important to note that benefits are seen when morning meeting is a regular and consistent part of each day. Come join us and attend the morning meeting with your student. The schedule by grade is below. Please stay and have a cup of coffee with Mrs. Phelan and Mr. Rufo and our SEL team.

Here are a few positive outcomes that morning meeting can support:

• Builds meaningful relationships and establishes the trust (student to student and teacher to student)
• Sets the tone for a positive classroom climate
• Creates a space to highlight and discuss mental health needs
• Promotes the idea that all voices matter and are listened to
• Provides opportunities for teaching social, emotional, and academic skills
• Increases student confidence and self-awareness
• Motivates learners to do their best
• Supports academic learning
• Creates a kinder community

Simply put, morning meetings help all students do their best.

All volunteers, please please please sign up for a time spot so we can organize the flow. Volunteer Planters, Guides, Art + Science Helpers, etc etc.

We need folks to sign up for times so we can organize the flow. THANKS!

There's lots to do before, during, and after Planting Day.

Read the Forests for Watertown Newsletter for more info.

[link: https://secure.smore.com/n/qrntm/preview]

Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to hold gatherings with caregivers at

Watertown Free Public Library

WATERTOWN - The Watertown Public Schools Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and

Belonging is inviting members of the community to a series of caregiver “meet and greets” this

fall.

These informal forums will give families and caregivers an opportunity to meet one another and

will be led by Watertown Public Schools’ Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Director Dr. Ceronne Daly.

“We are so excited to launch this series of meet and greets,” said Dr. Daly. “We are hoping

these sessions will give us an opportunity to connect in an authentic way with our families and

caregivers. It is critical for families and caregivers to know they have access to Watertown

Public Schools and they see the district as partners in the education of their children.”

These gatherings are born out of the Office of DEIB’s goal to plan, execute, and attend events

that engage staff, families, students and the community in the work of DEIB. The office aims to

enable opportunities to build and sustain strong and substantive relationships in the WPS

community.

Two key Watertown Public Schools district priorities will also serve as a guiding principle for

these sessions. These priorities are outlined in the district’s Strategy for Success and include:

Cultivating belonging and social-emotional wellness

Watertown Public Schools recognizes the role that schools play in the social-emotional

development and well-being of students. We are more than just academics. As such, WPS

strives to create learning communities where all students, staff, and families feel a sense of

belonging by creating safe, brave spaces in our schools; by proactively engaging all families;

and by staffing our schools with faculty and staff that represent our families and the global

community.

Creating a learning community that provides authentic, relevant, and engaging

opportunities

Watertown Public Schools create inclusive, safe learning environments where students want to

be in school by providing a wide variety of opportunities for students to explore content,

demonstrate understanding, and tap into their interests; employing culturally responsive

practices; and ensuring we meet all students where they are and provide them the support

they need to thrive. Students will feel the freedom to bring their authentic selves to school by

adopting inclusive curriculum and instructional practices

The meet and greets will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library. The goal of these

sessions is to bring together groups of families who may have some shared experiences.

September 2024 (meet and greets will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.)

● Wednesday September 18, 2024 - Caregivers of Incoming 6th graders

● Tuesday September 24, 2024 - Latino/a Caregivers

● Wednesday September 25 , 2024 - Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Children

October 2024 (meet and greets will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.)

● Tuesday October 1, 2024 - Single Caregivers

● Wednesday October 2, 2024 - Asian-American/Pacific Islander Caregivers

● Thursday October 3 2024 - Black Caregivers

● Wednesday October 16, 2024 - Caregivers of Multi-Racial Children

● Thursday October 17, 2024 - Intergenerational caregivers

● Tuesday October 22, 2024 - Caregivers of Adopted Children

● Wednesday October 23, 2024 - Caregivers Whose First Language is not English &

Caregivers of Newcomers

● Tuesday October 29, 2024 - Caregivers committed to raising Anti Bias Anti Racist

children

Dear Lowell Parents & Guardians,

The Department of Children and Families is seeking to keep Watertown children in their

schools and communities. In order to accomplish this, DCF is looking for Watertown parents

who would consider opening their homes and hearts to a student in need for short-term

care.

Please complete this brief survey if you are interested in opening your home and your

heart to a student in need.

We are so appreciative of your support. We’re hoping that with your help, we can reduce disruption for

children and school communities, mitigate traumatic experiences for children entering care, and reduce

transportation costs to school districts this school year.

If you have any questions you would like to ask before doing so, please reach out to:

Katheryn Butterfield, Area Clinical Manager

Katheryn.butterfield@mass.gov

• Monday, October 21st School Committee 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 22nd Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm
• Thursday, October 24th - Night Adult & Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
• Thursday, October 24th - School Council 6:30-7:30 pm Lowell Learning Commons
• Friday, October 25th - Trunk or Treat 6:00-7:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 29th - Night Adult & Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30 pm
• Learning Walks 9:00 am - 11:00 am
• Tuesday, October 29th - School Site Council 6:30-7:30
• Friday, November 1st - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm
• Tuesday, November 5th - No School (Election Day & Teacher's Professional Development)
• 
  

Contact Us

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