Lowell Lantern

Hello Lowell Families!

Happy Friday, Everyone! This 4-day week has flown by! Our Lowell students continue to impress! They are working so hard on their academics and are doing a fabulous job of continuing to follow our safety protocols! I see lots of smiling eyes and happy students each day! I am super proud of our Lowell Leopards!!

As mentioned last week, our students began taking the NWEA Assessments this week. Students worked on the Math Assessment this week and will take the Reading Assessment next week. We appreciate their hard work and effort while taking these important assessments!

For those students who are engaged in virtual learning, NWEA Assessments will begin for students in grades 1 - 4 starting next Monday, September 14. Your child's teacher will communicate specific information to you regarding these assessments. Please reach out to the teacher if you have any questions or needs.

Next week is Bullying Prevention Week. Our school counselor will be visiting every classroom, virtual and in-person, to speak with all of our students about bullying. The counselor will help students to

• Recognize when bullying is happening
• Report bullying to a caring adult
• Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
• Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

Our goal is to always keep our school safe and a respectful place where everyone can learn! We appreciate your support in this effort!

The week of September 8 is a Red Week for the related arts rotation. For Excel Classes, the week of September 8 is a Green Week for the related arts rotation.

Thank you for your support of Lowell School! Have a great weekend! Take care. Be safe!

Mrs. Griffin

REQUEST WINDOW: SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 21. PLEASE COMPLETE IF REQUESTING A CHANGE FOR QUARTER TWO.

The purpose of the Learning Option Change Request Form is to allow families to request a change from fully virtual to traditional in-person learning OR from traditional in-person to fully virtual learning IF YOU DESIRE A CHANGE.

The request window opens on Friday, September 11 and closes on Monday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. No request will be accepted after the window closes.

Families who wish to request a change should submit one form per child. *If families have a student in another building, they will receive a Learning Option Change Request form and information directly from each student’s school.

This form should only be completed by those who want to change their learning option. *If you do not want to change your current learning option, please do not fill out the form.

A valid parent or caregiver email address is required to submit a Learning Option Change Request form. This email address will be used to send a request confirmation and other important information. Please check and double check that the correct email is entered and be sure to check your inbox daily. (***This should not be a student email or an

@warren.k12.in.us).

Please note: At the beginning of the school year, students in grades K-8 were asked to make a 9-week commitment to their chosen learning option. Grades 9-12 were asked to make an 18-week commitment and therefore will receive learning option change request information at a later time.

Lowell Parents who wish to change their Lowell student's learning option for the the second quarter should click on the link below and complete the Lowell Learning Option Change Request Form. Remember, the form must be complete no later than Monday, September 21 at 3:00pm.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoIoVVsHb9pmjev3YtvkolyBSqBC4YJVfVijGL7ISix8rLZQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

The Week of September 14 - 18, 2020 is Bullying Prevention Week in Warren Township. Mrs. Hand, our school counselor, will be visitng every classroom ~ virtual and in-person ~ to discuss how to report bullying and ways to prevent it as well.

Lowell spirit items are now available for purchase. We have some of our classic spirit wear products along with two specialty shirts. We are offering Peanuts Gang and Scooby Doo commemorative t-shirts to celebrate students and staff being "Together Again" for the 2020 school year.

All orders will be placed online or by calling a toll-free number to place your order. The attached flyer will let you see the products we are offering with additional value packages available online. Students also brought a flyer home from school today. Please do not return flyers with orders. All orders will be placed online or by calling the toll-free number. Orders will not be received at school.

Students who are attending school in-person or virtually are able to place orders. Please call Ms. Reedus at 317-532-3902 if you have questions about ordering spirit wear.

Website: www.spiritandpride.com

Our School ID number is: 19337

Scouts are hosting a join night event on Thursday, September 17 at 6:30pm in the Lowell Parking Lot.

If you are interested in signing your children up for Scouts, please plan on stopping by the Lowell Parking Lot on September 17 at 6:30pm. We hope to see many of you there!!

Our Lowell PTA provides so much support for students, families, and staff. Please consider joining the PTA! It does not mean you must volunteer for events; however, joining the PTA allows you to advocate for your child and others.

For every membership bought, you will receive a discount card that provides great deals to businesses on the eastside. So your membership could be free with the great deals you get.

Please click on this link to become a member.

https://indiana-congress-of-parents-and-teachers.square.site/

Sonny Day Pantry is holding a food and clothing distribution this Saturday, September 12 from 9:00am - 11:00am.

Sonny Day is currently working out of Highlander Park located at 10502 E. 21st Street. Items are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please stop by Sonny Day if you are in need of this support!

We have been asked to help out the Indianapolis Public Library and their strategic planning process. This survey is open for everyone -- not just people who use the library. There is a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card as an incentive. The survey is due on September 12 and can be found at bit.ly/indypl2020survey Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Mrs. Hand, our school counselor, is available to support all of our Lowell students. A student may be referred to the school counselor by a parent/guardian, staff member or the student may refer themselves.

If you are interested in counseling services for your child, please click on the link below and complete the referral form for Mrs. Hand. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhMbp6BSh7ti1I6Nc6ar3-LjYr-cqbFUzhxIesLZmRXiqa3w/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Mrs. Hand has also created her own website where families can access information and resources. Please visit her website at the link below.

https://sites.google.com/warren.k12.in.us/lowell-school-counselor/home

In order for our schools to be in compliance with the state laws regarding immunizations, please make sure that your student(s) have their updated information on file with Nurse Deb, our school nurse. All student vaccines must be on file and up to date by September 21, 2020 to avoid exclusion from school. Please make Nurse Deb aware of any upcoming appointments for vaccines, or if there are any medical or religious objections to your student receiving his or her vaccines

Also, PLEASE inform Nurse Deb of any chronic health conditions that the school should be made aware of, and that your student's medical emergency information is up to date. Thank you for your help in getting this important information to our nurse!

The 2020 Census is open until September 30. The results of the Census help support our communities with financial resources for safety, education, roads, and other public services. The Census can be completed online at my2020census.gov.

It only takes a few minutes to complete your 2020 Census. Please take the time to complete yours now!!

Please read the important information below about virtual learning.

Virtual Students in Grade 1 - 4 are being given the opportunity to engage in NWEA testing between September 14th - September 25th. Below are a few parent resources that will come in handy:

• NWEA Remote Testing Guidance for Parents/Caregivers - https://docs.google.com/document/d/167qNVHRPwMG0lnL3-fCiHWid0bwTUUyTaDtVP1uTQdg/edit

• NWEA Remote Testing Guidance for Parents/Caregivers (Parent Facing) SPANISH - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zfDYSyTdLXEfkbgrK8iF6MEzxrjz2kJekMdAOoFPuro/edit

• NWEA Accommodation Guidance (Parent Facing) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y6RacXQUNmWOv_TYe8SA3CuU4aip08emlzI5VRxTj0Y/edit

• NWEA VIRTUAL Accomm Parent/Caregiver Guidance (SPANISH) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FUHC29uzUbNko-AMJupGao4sfP614xTat3Hm9i4wu04/edit

• Directions for Administering the NWEA Practice Assessment on the iPad; September 2020 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5sdU6fg4NDKGyqP5QvRnVtG2TQ8APEW01jtWrucFjg/edit

Please reach out with questions. We are here to help.

Breakfast and lunch distribution for all VIRTUAL students will continue to be Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8:00am - 9:30am at Moorhead Community Resource Center (8400 East 10th Street). Also, we have added Tuesday evenings from 4:30-6:00 as an additional distribution time. I would also like to remind our 6-12 students that we are offering a take home meal for your VIRTUAL Application Day.

Please ensure your family can log onto Canvas. Canvas is the only way that building administrators can inform families when the teacher is out.

Students can log into Canvas using their google email and password. If you don’t have it, please ask your teacher today.

How to Log On to Canvas - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qsKPOuTZvtooXx2X1U5k1hxIQBzQQ0Y7/view

Warren Canvas Website - https://warren.instructure.com/

How To Log Into Canvas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-5sWZODhY8&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=CanvasLMS

If you are having tech issues, please contact the help desk:

• Tech Site: https://www.warren.k12.in.us/o/msd-of-warren-township/page/parent-tech-info

• Tech Ticket: https://www.warren.k12.in.us/o/msd-of-warren-township/page/parent-tech-info

**In an effort to support families and teachers, families will need only to contact their virtual teacher and their home school for support. If in doubt, contact your virtual teacher and they will support your needs.

**Please be on time for each meeting and log-in with your first and last name. Also, please follow the teacher’s expectations for camera-use.

**Please read your virtual emails as the teacher will keep you informed of the schedule and important details.

**Please attend all Zoom meetings throughout the day.

Did you know that Amazon donates money to approved charities and the Lowell PTA was just approved as a charity?

If you use Amazon or have an Amazon Prime Account, money may be donated to Lowell with NO extra charge to you. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.

Please see the flyers below for easy ways to donate to Lowell. Share with your friends and family!

Thank you for taking time each morning to screen your child before coming to school each day. Please continue to do so. Below are symptoms impacting consideration for exclusion from school:

● A fever of 100.0° F or greater

● Chills

● Cough

● Muscle or body aches

● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

● Headache

● Sore throat

● Congestion or runny nose

● Fatigue

● New loss of taste or smell

● Nausea or vomiting

● Diarrhea

Students and employees should be excluded from school if they test positive for COVID-19 or exhibit two or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 that are not otherwise explained based on ISDH / MCPHD guidance. If in doubt, please don't hesitate to call school at 317-532-3900 for some guidance. We appreciate your support in doing this important screening step each day before sending students to school.

You may download our 20-21 Reopening Plan on our S.A.F.E. Reopening Webpage.

https://www.warren.k12.in.us/o/msd-of-warren-township/page/20-21-s-a-f-e-reopening

Our car rider line has changed locations! The car rider drop-off and pick-up line is now on the SOUTH SIDE (Raymond Street) of the building. DO NOT ENTER OFF OF HUNTER ROAD. All car riders will enter the line off of Raymond Street. There is a circular drive that cars will follow around to the sidewalk. Pull your car to the end of the sidewalk, place your car in park, and wait for staff to signal that students may be released from cars. DO NOT RELEASE STUDENTS UNTIL STAFF IS OUTSIDE AND INDICATES THAT STUDENTS MAY BE RELEASED FROM VEHICLE. WE WILL BEGIN TO RELEASE STUDENTS AT 7:55AM. STUDENTS MUST WEAR A FACE COVERING WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. PARENTS ARE TO REMAIN IN CARS AT ALL TIMES AND CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE TO WALK STUDENTS INTO THE BUILDING.

Students will only be released on the sidewalk side/passenger side of the vehicle. Please make sure your child is sitting on that side of your vehicle. When the sidewalk is cleared of students, cars will be released by staff to exit back out onto Raymond Street. PLEASE DO NOT MOVE YOUR CAR UNTIL STAFF INDICATES IT IS SAFE TO MOVE. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR RIDER LINE TO MANUVEUR YOUR CAR AROUND OTHER CARS. STAY IN LINE AND FOLLOW THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU SO WE CAN EXIT SAFELY. When the next row of cars are lined up along the sidewalk and are stopped and in park, staff will release the next group of students into the building.

OUR PRIORITY IS TO KEEP STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES AND TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE LOWELL STAFF. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION.

Please make sure your child has backpack/supplies ready and that good-byes are said before it's time to exit the car. We will not have time to retrieve items or have prolonged good-byes in the morning. We appreciate your help with this!!

Review the map below to see the entry/exit location and the path for the car rider line. We appreciate your patience as we all learn this new system.

Please remember that our Lowell Campus is a smoke-free campus. There is no smoking allowed anywhere on Lowell grounds. This includes smoking in your cars while on the Lowell Campus. Please refrain from smoking on school grounds if you are picking your child up or dropping your child off at school. We appreciate your support with this policy!

The renovation at Lowell is going strong!! We are excited to see the progress!

Click on the link below to access the 2020-2021 Student Success Handbook.

Student Success Handbook 2020-2021

Contact Us

Kim Griffin -- Principal

kgriffin@warren.k12.in.us

Tasha Reedus -- Dean

nreedus@warren.k12.in.us

Website: lowell.warren.k12.in.us
Location: 2150 South Hunter Road, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: 317-532-3900
Facebook: facebook.com/LOWELLLEOPARDS
Twitter: @LowellElementa1