Family Communicator
Issue 33, May 6-10, 2024
The Week Ahead May 6-10, 2024
Our third Grade students worked extremely hard this week on their Math MCAS test. Next week our Fourth Graders will take the test on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our students continue to work hard and close out the year on a positive note.
Our School's Walkathon was a huge success as the school earned $10, 875 to be used to fund student activities. Due to the amazing efforts by all of our families, the school will host the Kona Ice truck on Thursday, May 30 to celebrate our amazing accomplishment.
Monday May 6
After School Program Grades 3 and 4
Tuesday May 7
MCAS Grade 4 Math Assessment
After School Program Grades 1 and 2
Wednesday May 8
MCAS Grade 3 Math Assessment
After School Program Grades 3 and 4
Thursday May 9
After School Program Grades 1 and 2
Friday May 10
Chuck E Cheese Night May 22
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are excited to announce an upcoming event that promises to be a blast for the whole family! Our school is hosting a fundraiser night at Chuck E. Cheese, and we would love for you to join us. This is a drop in event. You do not need to attend the entire time. Feel free to go with your family and enjoy the fun.
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 3 pm to 9pm
Location: Chuck E. Cheese 199 Plain St Lowell Ma 01851
This event is not only a fantastic opportunity for our students to have a great time but also a chance for us to come together as a community to support our school's initiatives.
Here are some highlights of the evening:
Fun and Games: Enjoy an evening of laughter and excitement with a wide array of arcade games, rides, and activities for kids of all ages.
Delicious Food: Treat yourselves to Chuck E. Cheese's famous pizza and other tasty treats available at the venue.
Exclusive Offers: As part of our fundraiser, Chuck E. Cheese will be generously donating a percentage of the proceeds from purchases made during the event back to our school. Remember to either bring the flier that has been sent home with your child or just mention you are there with the Washington School to have it be applied to our fundraiser.
We encourage you to bring along family and friends to maximize the fun and fundraising potential. Your participation and support are invaluable in helping us provide enriching experiences and resources for our students.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for an evening of fun and camaraderie. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for our school community.
If you have any questions or require further information, feel free to contact the Washington School.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at Chuck E. Cheese!
Washington School Clothing Store
Important End of Year Dates
May 14 Legoland Trip Grades 3 and 4
May 29th Grade 4 Visits Butler School 9:00-11:00
May 30 Spring After School Ends
May 31 Stone Zoo Trip Grades K-2
June 4 Fine Arts Day
June 5th Curious Creatures Grade 1
June 6 Field Day
June 11 Rain Date Field Day
June 13 Canobie Lake Trip Grade 4
June 14 Graduation (Lowell Catholic) Grade 4
June 18 Last Day of School
MCAS Testing Dates
Please find the MCAS Testing Dates listed below. Please try to make sure your children are in attendance on these dates.
MCAS Math Grade 4 Tuesday May 7 and Wednesday May 8
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Session 3- Will begin on Monday March 25. NO AFTERSCHOOL March 18 through March 22.
Mondays & Wednesdays - Grades 3+4
Tuesdays & Thursdays - Grades 1+2
Homework Help
SNL Sports
STEM Activities
Writing
Robots
Music & Instruments
Environmental Adventures Program
2:50-4:50 pm
All students need to be picked up. There are no buses
Use this Link to sign-up After-School Program
Emergency Forms
Student Handbook 2023-2024
Medication Drop Off
School Site Council/PTO
Our next Meeting will be April 1 at 5:30 P.M. We will be discussing our goals and school budget for next school year. We will also be discussing the Walkathon Fundraiser.
Please find the notes from our previous meeting below.
School Site Council Meeting #2
January 30, 2024
Attendees:
Principal: Jeff Haines
Teachers: Diane Cahill-Zdon, Marcie comtois, Laura Katz, Monica Avelino
Parents: Sadiyo Mohamed (Suhel), Donna Latham (Adam)
Washington School Updates
Testing
ACCESS testing - for Multi Language learners. ELL team is doing great with that.
iReady testing for grades 1-4
MCAS ALTS assessments
Results of these tests will come out soon.
Field Trips
K, 1, 2, and Sara’s class went to see Little Red Riding Hood as a field trip.
Classroom Activities
Amazing teaching is happening! Great class discussions in class and the level of thinking students are doing is fantastic. Science and math discussions where students are explaining their thinking has been wonderful.
Budgeting Session in March
Budget season is starting in March. Next meeting will be later in March to discuss next year’s budget. This will start with ILT first and then those discussions will be brought to this group to make decisions that will make sense. More discussions will come. We have received many more MLLs and will need to figure out how to best support them.
Quality Improvement Plan Change
In the past they’ve always been one year plans. The district is shifting to a three year plan. We will plan how to best meet the needs of the students in front of us and then frame that out for the next three years. This will be a shift but still based on students' needs. A Culturally Sustaining Practice needs to be attached to the improvement plan as well.
Fundraiser - Get Moving
Move-a-Thon: April 24th. This will be tied with a tool called “Get Moving” to help raise funds. More info to come.
Fundraising for recess equipment is a goal. Students don’t have a lot of equipment out there so we want to build it up.
We also want to do more programming in the building for kids that don’t usually get to go on field trips.
Movie Night (March)
We want to bring families back into the building to help foster a sense of community. Maybe do a movie night and have some popcorn.
Mrs. Avelino suggested having an informational session for ELLs families to find out where they can access important information like delays, website translation services, etc. We need to make sure the information we have in X2 is correct. Talking Points doesn’t always work.
PTO 2024-2025
For next year, Mr. Haines would like to build a PTO. Will be reaching out to Mrs. Avelino since she is part of the PTO at the Reilly School for input and ideas of how to build this group.
Social Emotional Tutor
We currently have one open position as a tutor. The tutor will work with teaching our Social Emotional Curriculum in classes. If you have any interest please reach out to Mr. Haines for more information at jhaines@lowell.k12.ma.us
Special Education Newsletter
Washington School Staff
Mrs. Ames - Clerk
Cate Hugo - Literacy Specialist
Krista Kubick - Social Worker
Anna McClintick - Nurse
Jeff Haines - Principal
Special Education
Ms. Morehouse - (CSA Pre-K) - Room 113
Mr. Cruz (CSA K-2) - Room 206
Mrs. Montville
Ms. Parrington
Mr. Donovan
Allied Arts Team
Mrs. McCoy - Math
Mrs. Katz - Music
Mrs. Plunkett - English Language Learners
Mrs. Corea - English Language Learners
Mrs. Chan - English Language Learners
English Language Learners
General Information
How can I update my contact information (phone number/email/address)?
Go online to the Family Resource Webpage (https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/UpdateContactInfo) and fill out the “contact us” form. Families who don’t have access to the internet can fill out the form in person at the Family Resource Center. If an address change is related to economic factors or housing instability (family moves in with relatives, eviction, hotel/motel, fire or unsheltered, please contact the McKinney Vento Office located at the Family Resource Center in person (151 Merrimack Street), by phone (978-674-4321) or go to the webpage at https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/HomelessAssistance.
How do I update my emergency contacts?
If you were in the school last year we will send a verification sheet out. if you are new we will send home an emergency form to fill out on the first day of school.
What should I do if my child needs a Chromebook or if my child’s Chromebook needs repairs?
Families should contact their school to coordinate the issuing of a new Chromebook or to schedule repairs. After the school year begins, the district will resume its “tech tent” services and will inform families via email, text, and phone once the services resume.
How do I register my child for the new school year?
All school registrations are completed online using a computer or laptop. You can access the online application by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolRegistration. If you only have a mobile device and don’t have access to a computer or laptop, you can register in person at the Family Resource Center (151 Merrimack Street). Please call the Family Resource Center if you have any questions (978-674-4321).
What should I do if I need to register my child(ren) and I don’t speak English?
The Lowell Public Schools is committed to providing translation and interpretation services for families who require assistance in a language other than English. The online registration application and website is translated in Spanish and Portuguese and can be accessed by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolRegistration. For all other languages, please call Vannak Khin at (978) 328-6782 to arrange services. In-person language interpretation support for registration can be accessed by visiting the Lowell Public Schools at 151 Merrimack Street. Families can also call the Family Resource Center at (978) 674-4321 to make an appointment with a Bilingual Family Liaison.
How old does my child need to be to enroll in preschool or kindergarten?
A child must turn 4 years old on or before September 1, 2021, in order to apply for preschool and 5 by September 1 to apply for kindergarten. A family can apply for preschool by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/PreschoolRegistration to fill out an online application or https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/KindergartenRegistration for kindergarten. For registration questions, please call (978) 674-4321.
How do I apply for a transfer for my child to change schools in the new year?
Per the 2021-22 School Assignment Policy, all students have the option to request one school transfer per year. Families can apply online by going to https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/SchoolTransfer or can come to the Family Resource Center in-person to complete the application. Transfers are assigned on a space availability basis.