Robinson Weekly Newsletter
Week of April 28, 2024
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ដើម្បីបកប្រែព្រឹត្តិប័ត្រព័ត៌មាន សូមមើលលើផ្នែកខាងស្តាំខាងលើនៃព្រឹត្តិប័ត្រ ព័ត៌មាននេះនូវមធ្យោបាយ ហើយសូមចុចលើជម្រើស" បកប្រែព្រឹត្តិប័ត្រព័ត៌មាន ។
Robinson Middle School Site Council Meeting
Topic: Robinson Site Council Recurring Link Zoom Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lowell-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/82479866654?pwd=NTdvMWZaTzNiTGVnTk16SytPOHJ2UT09
Meeting ID: 824 7986 6654
Passcode: 671373
Tuesday, Jun 4, 2024, 06:00 PM
Virtual Event
Weekly Update
Weekly Family Update
Hello Robinson Community!
Our end of year activity calendar was sent out to all this week via smore. Here is the link again if you missed it-
https://www.smore.com/n/edh7ny
Please note this information regarding chronically absent students that is at the bottom of this weekly newsletter and has been all year:
Attendance
• Four (4) or more excused or unexcused absences per marking period MAY result in a school attendance hearing at the discretion of the Principal
• Unexcused absences over 25 days will result in retention. 18 Absences for the school year will be considered chronically absent.
Please note that 8th graders who are chronically absent for the school year will not be eligible to attend the Moving On Celebration in June.
There will be meetings scheduled with 8th grade families to address their student's chronic absenteeism and their participation in the end of year ceremonies.
We have out notices for a Saturday and April Attendance Make-up session to qualifying students. If families receive a notice, students can be registered, then attend 4 hours on a Saturday, with work completion, this time will eliminate an absence from their record. This is an optional program.
Volunteers Needed!
What to make your student’s school year the best it can be? The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is looking for volunteers to assist with upcoming events.
All volunteers must have a recent CORI on file with the school district. This is an annual background check. Forms can be filled out at the school. Valid identification is needed at the time of application.
If you have a current CORI and are able to help in upcoming events, please contact Lira DeMoraes, Parent Liaison, at ldemoraes@Lowell.k12.ma.us
https://forms.gle/XVFefJF86sgTx3zFA
North Reading Transportation has had some problems sending buses with bus drivers on time to Robinson dismissal. When this happens, we send a blackboard connect to all students on the impacted bus. In order to assure that families receive all information from the school, please be sure that contact information is updated on all forms sent home from the school.
There have been consistent issues with student behavior on the buses. Please speak to your child regarding expected behavior on the bus. The driver needs to focus on the road and the behaviors, in addition to providing an unsafe environment for other students, it is also a distraction to the driver. Going forward, bus infractions will be a 3 day suspension from the bus for first offenses, and students with repeat behaviors will removed from the bus.
Lowell Public Schools Promotion/Retention Policy—Middle Schools
Academics
In order to be promoted to the next grade, middle school students must earn:
1. English and Mathematics:
• Final passing grade of 65 or better in English.
• Final passing grade of 65 or better in all Mathematics classes.
• Students who earn a final grade between 60 and 64 will be provisionally retained and with permission of the principal, must attend Summer School in order to be promoted.
• Students who earn a final grade below 60 will be retained.
2. Other Core Academic areas:
Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science
• Cumulative final average of 65 or better in all academic classes.
• Students who earn a cumulative, final average between 60 and 64 will be provisionally retained.
• Students who earn a final grade below 60 will be retained.
3. Allied Arts:
• Cumulative final average of 65 or better in all other allied arts classes.
• Students who earn a cumulative final average between 60 and 64 will be provisionally retained.
• Students who earn a final grade below 60 will be retained.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Coming to school on time every day is an important habit. Students with high absenteeism rates tend to do poorly in school. They are more likely to drop out of school before finishing high school and are more likely to get involved in gangs, and in trouble with the law. Children who finish high school have an opportunity to attend college and earn more in their lifetime than those who do not complete high school.
The school will work with families to ensure students attend school on a daily basis. Attending school for 180 days is the law and is important to the learning process. For unexcused absences, students will receive a phone call between 10:30 and 11 AM . Illness is a valid excuse for absence. Appointments that cannot happen outside of the school day should be kept at a minimum.
Travel during the school year is discouraged and will be labeled as unexcused. If a trip is unavoidable, the student work missed must be made up after the trip. Teachers are not obligated to provide student work before a trip.
What happens when your child is tardy?
1. Tardy
After 7:35 (5-8). Obtain pass at the door to ensure student is not marked absent.
2. Detention
After student is tardy five times in a quarter, they will be given a Saturday detention.
3. Multiple Tardie
School will work with parent and child to devise a plan
What happens when your child is absent?
1. Call school anytime to leave a message the night before.
Call the school (978-937-8974) on the dates of absence and notify the school of your child’s absence. State your child’s name, grade, room number or teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence. Send in a note when the child returns to school. Parent note will do.
2. Absent 3 days
Obtain a note from the doctor if your child is absent for 3 or more days in a row.
3. 5-15 unexcused
After 5 unexcused absences a letter will be sent home and the school Social Worker or Attendance Office may do a home visit. If the problem persists, DCF or the Court may also become involved.
4. 15 unexcused
After 15 consecutive days of unexcused absences, student will be removed from the school roster and must return to Family Resource Center to re-register.
5. 16+ unexcused
After 16 unexcused absences a student may have to attend summer school and/or be retained in their current grade.
Attendance
• Four (4) or more excused or unexcused absences per marking period MAY result in a school attendance hearing at the discretion of the Principal
• Unexcused absences over 25 days will result in retention. 18 Absences for the school year will be considered chronically absent.
Please note that 8th graders who are chronically absent for the school year will not be eligible to attend the Moving On Celebration in June.
We will be holding grade level assemblies with all students. We will reinforce expectations around harassment, bullying and language. We will also share with students where they can find the bullying reporting form. Please reinforce with your student that we have a zero tolerance approach to all harassing language.
Bullying form link is below.
Lowell Public Schools has prohibited use of cell phones in school. They are considered disruptive to the educational process in Lowell Public Schools and are not allowed in school. If we see a cell phone out of a students' bag, we will hold the cell phone for the day. We will be assigning detentions and then progressive disciplinary procedures for students using cell phones in school. In addition to the disruption to learning, there have been incidents of theft of cell phones at the school. We do not advise having them in school.
Thank you to all families for your cooperation and patience with dismissal. By rerouting the cars/riders to the June St. parking lot, buses have clear access, students can more safely move about campus when dismissed and everyone is able to get out quickly after picking up students. We will continue to dismiss with this process. If you are dropping your student off or picking them up, please drive slowly and carefully while in the school complex.
Thank you all again for supporting a productive, successful week at Robinson Middle School.
Have a safe and happy weekend.
Bridget Dowling
Principal
Robinson Middle School
MCAS 2024
February 2, 2024
Dear Parent / Guardian,
It is that time of year again for MCAS testing. Students in grade 5 through 8 will be taking the MCAS test starting in a few weeks. All grades, 5-8, will do the test online this year. Please note the following dates:
ELA
● April 8- Grade 5 and 8 Session 1
April 9- Grade 5 and 8 Session 2
● April 10- Grade 6 and 7 Session 1
April 11- Grade 6 and 7 Session 2
April 22-April 23 (Make Ups)
Math
● May 13- Grade 5 and 8 Session 1
● May 14- Grade 5 and 8 Session 2
● May 15- Grade 6 and 7 Session 1
● May 16- Grade 6 and 7 Session 2
May 17-May 24 (Make Ups)
Science
● May 21- Grade 5 and 8
● May 22- Grade 5 and 8
May 23 and 24- Make Ups
Civics
May 30- Grade 8
Testing sessions 1 and 2 are untimed, which means that students have until the end of the school day to complete the test.
Our students have been working hard all year and we anticipate they will do well and show growth and progress on the MCAS! We would like to take this opportunity to give a few reminders for students to ensure smooth testing.
● Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
● Eat a healthy breakfast that morning.
● Arrive at school on time. Testing begins promptly in the morning.
● Only water is allowed while students are testing and needs to be kept on the floor beside the desk (not on the desk with testing materials). Students will have a designated time to eat their snacks.
● As usual, cell phones are not allowed during testing.
● Relax and feel confident!
As part of state testing requirements, students in grade 6-8 will be asked to sign that they understand student responsibilities during MCAS testing. The responsibilities include:
● I have not already seen the student test that I will receive;
● All the work in my test will be my own; I will not copy anyone else’s work; I will not let anyone answer questions for me;
● I will not use any materials, such as a cell phone or other electronic device, that I am not allowed to have during testing, including after I turn in test materials, during a break, and during the transition to a test completion area;
● I will not discuss or share information about the questions until MCAS testing ends in my school.
● I make these promises and know that there may be consequences for breaking my promises or the test administration rules.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Bridget L Dowling
Bridget Dowling
Principal