Lowell Leopard News

Welcome to October! Our school year is off to a great start, and it's wonderful to be back with students, families, and staff each day! It has been so fun to see our students' Every Leopard Can art, which they are completing in library with Ms. Thompson to go along with our schoolwide theme for the year. These hang in our hallways -- come check them out! Talk to your Leopard at home about what they can do. Not everyone can do everything -- but everyone can do some things really well, and can help others! Together, Lowell Leopards can do more!

Our big event in October is Lowell Learning Night on Oct. 10 -- see the accompanying image for details. This year, we are focusing on the ways we support our students in the "I make good choices" part of our school motto through teaching them behavioral and social skills that allow them to focus on learning, regulate their emotions, and build strong relationships. Students will get to make emotional regulation tools to take home while family members and guardians learn more about our programs. There will also be free pizza. We really need everyone who plans to come to RSVP so that we know how much to buy! You can click on the accompanying flier to register, or return the paper copy sent home a couple weeks ago.

We have a range of programs in our district to support each student, including challenging options. Some of these programs have deadlines coming up:

• For the Learning Enrichment Achievement Program, which provides challenge for students at any grade level in their current classrooms, kindergarten students will be screened for qualifications if their parent/guardian submits the referral form by Nov. 1. All first- and fifth-graders will be screened in October, in accordance with state law.

• For the highly capable program, which provides challenge for students in Grades 2-5 in self-contained classrooms, families must complete a referral form for testing by Nov. 1 for Grades 2-4, and by Dec. 2 for first-graders.

More information on both programs is available here.

Have a wonderful month, and please be sure to reach out with any questions or needs!

Mrs. Kelley, principal

ParentSquare is Everett Public Schools' and Lowell's new communication system. Though you will receive messages even if you don't have an account, setting one up allows you to customize notifications. Click here or on the image for information on how to get the app and log in!

And, here's another communication tip: If you get a call from any number that starts with 425-385-53##, it's from Lowell -- please answer your phone! The last two digits will change depending on who is calling you, but the rest is always the same!

Did you know that our school partners with a community organization to provide weekend food bags for Lowell families in need? We can always use donations -- we have an Amazon wish list here. Or you can drop off items in the office!

• Every Monday: Celebrate Motto Monday by wearing a Lowell shirt, or blue and white
  
• Oct. 4: Popcorn Friday; 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal
  

• Oct. 8: Hearing screenings for Grades K-3 & 5

• Oct. 10: Lowell Learning Night, 5:00-6:00 p.m. -- see accompanying flier for details

• Oct. 11: No school -- staff work day

• Oct. 18: 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal; PTA movie night, 6:00 p.m.
  

• Oct. 24: School picture day
  

• Oct. 25: Popcorn Friday; 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal

• Oct. 31: Book fair begins (runs through Nov. 5)

• One quick reminder: We don't celebrate Halloween at Lowell, so please support by making sure your child does not wear a costume to school on the 31st.

You can find printable district calendars for 2024-25 and 2025-26 here.

This year, elementary schools' family/teacher conference days look very different! Rather than six 12:20 dismissal days, there will be two non-student days for conferences. These days are Nov. 4-5. Teachers will be sending out sign-up information in mid-October, but please plan ahead to set aside time to meet with your child's teacher. There will be evening conferences offered on Nov. 4. With two full days rather than a full week, make-ups for those who miss their appointments will not be possible.

i-Ready is an online program that allows us to meet your child exactly where they are, and it provides us with data so we know what to do to increase your child’s learning gains.

Your child starts by taking i-Ready diagnostic tests in reading and in math. This sets a learning path where lessons are based on your child's individual skill level and needs. Your child can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive, with games and characters to keep your child engaged as they learn. Your child's goal is to pass (not just complete) three math lessons and two reading lessons each week. Mascots Yoop, Snargg and Plory show up along the way!

Students have time to work on i-Ready lessons during the school day, but they can also do lessons at home. They log in by finding the i-Ready logo pictured here on the "Students" tab of the Lowell or EPS websites.

Here's how you can help:

• Read the "For Families" diagnostic report when it is sent home to learn about your child's diagnostic results.
• Discuss your child’s progress on their i-Ready lessons, and celebrate the learning and growth!
• Encourage your child to pass three math and two reading lessons weekly.

As always, thank you for being a partner in your child’s learning! If you have any questions about i-Ready, please contact your child's teacher. You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting the i-Ready family center.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Over 100,000 books have been shipped to children in Snohomish County in just under a year thanks to United Way of Snohomish County and their partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Click here for information on how to sign up for the program.

MUSIC with Mr. Powers: Hey all! We’re off to an exciting start in music class. So far, we have created our music class charter and reviewed the concepts we covered last year. Very soon we’ll be learning new songs, new rhythms, and new solfege notes! Fourth- and fifth-graders will have the opportunity to join choir and ukulele club very soon, with third-grade choir to follow. For Hispanic heritage month, we will be listening to various Hispanic and Latin American musicians.

ART with Ms. McHargue & Ms. Johnson: In art classes during the month of October, students in kindergarten and first grade will learn how to cut five basic shapes: triangle, square, rectangle, oval, and circle. They will collage the shapes together to create a "shapescape," a landscape using shapes. In second and third grade, students will learn about art and mindfulness and make an intuitive line drawing. They will add unity, visual interest, and emotion using shape, pattern, and various materials. In fourth and fifth grade, students will learn about the importance of balance and how to create it in art using pointillism. They will demonstrate their understanding of balance by sorting famous works of art and creating their own pointillism artwork. We would love to know more about your artist! Please fill out the survey at this link.

LIBRARY with Ms. Thompson: Hello from the library! October is Hispanic Heritage Month! We have been investigating books written by Hispanic authors and discussing important Hispanic contributions to our lives. Students have begun learning about all the different countries that are included in the celebration of Hispanic culture. We learned about a Biblioburro -- Burro Library in Columbia, and compared it to our own library experiences. Your students have a lot to share! All students have also been learning about how the library operates, how to check in and check out a book, how to choose a good-fit book, and how to find those books in the library. Please spend time each evening reading with your children! Reading with your child has so many positive benefits. Consider that when you read with your child, you are:

• Supporting brain development
• Improving language skills
• Preparing them for academic success
• Developing a special bond with your child
• Improving imagination and creativity
• Cultivating a lifelong love of reading

Parents are welcome in the library! Please contact Mrs. Thompson at tthompson@everettsd.org if you would like to volunteer. You can read with kids, shelve books, organize, help at the book fair, or just come hang out in the library.

From INSTRUCTIONAL COACH Ms. O'Connor: Hello, Lowell families! Welcome to a new school year! Are you curious about what your child is learning? We use two amazing curricula – Illustrative Mathematics and Reach For Reading – with i-Ready for intervention. I hope to share information on each throughout the year. But first, to build foundational understanding, I want to recommend these progression videos by math guru Graham Fletcher. These videos are a great introduction to learn how students progress through learning mathematical concepts, starting with early numeracy and working all the way through fractions. Find them at this website. I highly recommend these for an overview of your child’s mathematical learning. Happy Mathing!

P.E. with Ms. Neyens: Hello Leopards! We are off to a great start in physical education. Please mark your calendars and on your class' P.E. day, and remember to wear appropriate shoes and clothing so that you can participate safely. September has been spent playing cooperative games, learning gaga ball (Grades 1-5), and using equipment -- hula hoops, jump ropes, hand weights, and the climbing wall -- in stations. Ask your child about our first day of class Crazy Cards Challenge (Grades 3-5) or 3-Part Handshake Game (Grades 1-2). It was a blast!

Be part of something GREAT -- join the PTA!: The Lowell PTA is an amazing group of folks committed to enriching the school experience for our students. PTA hosts book fairs, movie nights, the holiday bazaar, and spring carnival, as well as paying for field trips and fun events. Please join us! You can join PTA for $10 at Givebacks.

October & November PTA events:

• Oct. 18 Movie Night: Wear your jammies and bring a blanket! Entry is $5 per person or $20 per family. Pizza available by the slice, with other concessions for sale as well!
• Oct. 31-Nov. 5 Book Fair: Get ready to score the newest books from Scholastic! Shop all day on Saturday, Nov. 2, and during conferences Nov. 4-5!
• Nov. 2 Holiday Bazaar: We have amazing vendors coming to provide you with early holiday shopping! Last year we had 30 vendors. We will have coffee and treats as well. The event is 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the gym!
• Nov. 14 general meeting: Come to the PTA meeting for free pizza and child care. You do not have to be a member to attend! This is at 6:00 p.m. in the library.

PTA links:

• Spirit wear: Visit the PTA storefront
• Monthly newsletter: Check back here soon

• Website: Check it out here

Interested in volunteering? Volunteer clearance is a must, and it can take up to two weeks. Get ahead of things now -- visit the district website to start your application!

Free parenting class starts Oct. 3: Click the accompanying image to register!

Free haircuts: Kutz 4 Kidz is a free voucher program designed to support families and promote self-esteem in students by offering a year-round haircut program for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Kutz 4 Kidz supports homeless, low-income families, and students receiving free or reduced lunch, with a special focus on African American students and those facing economic hardships. This program is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and The Coverson Family. To request haircut vouchers, e-mail Amy Watkins, awatkins@everettsd.org, with the quantity of barbershop and salon vouchers needed.

Ongoing supports: Does your family need assistance with items such as food or housing? Are you looking for connections to housing and medical services? We have resources to help! E-mail family support specialist Amy Watkins at awatkins@everettsd.org or call the school office at 425-385-5300. You can also find some resource links here, and access more by calling 211 or starting here.

Absences: If your child will be absent, please e-mail us at loeattendance@everettsd.org to report their absence daily. Include child's first and last name, ID number, and the reason for the absence. All absences must be reported/excused in writing, so if you aren't able to e-mail, please send a written note upon your child's return to school.

Late arrivals/tardies: If arriving between 8:35 and 9:05 a.m., your student will be marked tardy. After 9:05, your student needs to be walked into school by an adult, as they need to be signed in. This will ensure that their half-day absences is being marked excused or unexcused appropriately.

Changes to dismissal routines: If you are wanting to change how your student is getting home on a given day, you must contact our office before 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and by 1:00 on Fridays. The rest of each day is very busy, so we cannot guarantee that messages will get through after those times.

New for the 2024-25 school year, district news will be sent directly to families on the first Tuesday of each month. Another great source for EPS news is the district website.

Email: ekelley@everettsd.org
Website: https://www.everettsd.org/lowelles
Location: 5010 View Drive, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-385-5300

Instagram: @epslowelles

Facebook: facebook.com/LowellEPS