Dear Families,

I hope you all had an incredible week. I am delighted to share some exciting updates and express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and partnership.

First, I am thrilled to announce that ACCESS Testing for our Multilingual Learners has been successfully completed. A big congratulations to our dedicated students and teachers who put in tremendous effort to complete this important assessment. We anticipate receiving the results in June and will keep you informed as we progress.

In other exciting news, planning for our annual CultureFest has begun! This vibrant celebration is an opportunity for us to embrace and honor the diverse cultures within our community. To make this event a success, we are seeking volunteers and support from our wonderful families. Please review the newsletter attached below for more details and information on how you can get involved.

January is proving to be a superpower month, with remarkable work being accomplished throughout our building. We are committed to providing an enriching and supportive learning environment for all students, and your involvement is a crucial part of our success.

At Watertown Schools, we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and inclusive community. We continue to partner with our families to ensure your children, our most precious individuals, are safe and supported here. All are welcome in our schools, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us every day.

With Gratitude,

Stacy & Tara

Dear Families,

We warmly invite you to join us for a cup of coffee as you start your day. Our gathering will take place outdoors, near the K-2 door close to the kindergarten playground. While we understand that you have busy schedules, we would love for you to stop by, say a quick hello, and take advantage of this opportunity to connect with other Lowell caregivers.

In case the weather proves too cold or there is precipitation, we will move our coffee gathering indoors to ensure everyone's comfort. Our goal is to create a casual, relaxed setting where you can enjoy a moment of calm and warmth after dropping your child off at school.

We hope you can join us for this brief but enjoyable time together.

If you are potentially interested in playing in the Watertown Parents Softball League

Spring 2025 Season, please sign up on the link below. We are currently heading into

our fourth year and it has been lots of fun so far!

https://forms.gle/UBd215yHWxaFNtjp8

If you have any questions please email Jesse Fenichel at jfenichel@gmail.com

We are very excited to welcome students, parents/families to the Early Steps Early Childhood Center. While our Preschool and PreKindergarten (PreK) share the goal of preparing 3-5 year olds for kindergarten, more importantly, the experience helps shape students’ view of themselves as successful learners and playful partners, and to realize their individual value within our school community. The fine staff at Early Steps have created a thoughtful, student-centered environment. A few documents to help you learn about Early Steps and upcoming important dates include:

1. Here is the Early Steps Mid-Year Updates presentation from the January 6, 2025 School Committee Meeting. We will present and explain details at the January 14th Early Steps PreK & Preschool Virtual Information Night.

2. Please click this link to read our Early Steps most recent newsletter housing Preschool/PreK information for your planning purposes, including:

• Tuesday, January 14 - Early Steps PreK & Preschool Virtual Information Night:

• Pre Kindergarten (PreK) + Plus Extended Day Information 6:00 - 6:30 ~ Click this Link to Join Zoom Meeting; Student turns 4 by August 31, 2025

• *Preschool 6:30 - 7:00 ~ Click this Link to Join Zoom Meeting; Student turns 3 by August 31, 2025; *Some students are identified with needs during the school year as they turn 3.

• Wednesday, January 22 - Early Steps In-Person Visiting Day @1 Concord St. Watertown ~ 2:45 - 3:45 PM (for parents/guardians of prospective students entering Preschool or PreK in the fall of 2025)

3. Please enjoy the Early Steps Brochure providing more information.

After the January 14th Virtual Information Night on Zoom, if you have further questions, please contact my Admin Assistant, Tricia D’Amelio @ tricia.damelio@watertown.k12.ma.us for assistance.

Kind regards,

Dr. Theresa McGuinness

Principal

The Watertown Free Public Library is seeking community input to guide their 2026–28 Strategic Plan, and all community members are invited to participate in the Library's 2025 user survey! The Watertown Library would love to hear from you and your input is greatly valued! The survey is made available online in English, Portguguese, and Spanish. Paper surveys in English, Español, Português, Kreyol Ayisyen, Русский, 中文, and العربية are available at the Library’s first floor Circulation Desk. The Library appreciates your participation in helping guide its future!

Find the survey at watertownlib.org/survey.

NEW STUDENT 2025-2026 Kindergarten info night will take place on Wednesday, March 5th, from 6:30-7:30 pm. It will be an in person event. Caregivers should attend the information session at their respective neighborhood school. Lowell will host in the Learning Commons. All are welcome to attend. More information will follow.

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