Please feel free to reach out to any Grade 8 Team member with questions. Thank you!

Q1 Progress Reports will be available in the Aspen portal on Wednesday October 9th.

Please make sure to sign into the Aspen portal to view the progress report on this date. If you are having trouble with your Aspen login or need some support on accessing the Progress Report, please reach out one of the 8th grade teachers.

Please note: Students should be checking Aspen on a regular basis to review progress throughout the quarter in each class. We will be working with students during classes this week to help them reset passwords and to make sure they can access their Aspen accounts.

In Math class, students are finishing up their first Module of the Year which involves Geometry concepts. The Module 1 Post Test will be on Friday October 11th. Once the test has been completed, students will be bringing home a portfolio fo work samples and assessments for you to view to check on their progress. Please be on the look out for the portfolios during the week of the 14th.

In our skills portion of class, students will be reviewing graphing ordered pairs in all four quadrants. This skills will be used as we continue to analyze translations, reflections, and rotations in Module 2.

This month in our 8th-grade Civics class, students are immersing themselves in the profound ideas that shaped modern society, exploring the concepts of freedom, reason, and democracy. We will be engaging in in class discussions, examining civic-values and will be undertaking interactive activities to flex our civic engagement muscles. We will also be taking a look at the upcoming election and considering the individual candidates and their political platforms.

In ELA we’ve started our unit on Latin American folklore reading Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. We’re supplementing the novel with short stories and informational texts and working on skills such as summarizing and identifying unknown vocabulary. Feel free to ask your student what words they’ve learned each day or what they are reading about!

Reading is such an important part of ELA class. Students should be reading at least one chapter of their classroom novel each night. Below are some images of students caught reading after the bell for bus dismissal.

Mrs. Cabrera will be returning from her maternity leave mid-October. We are excited to have her back and to meet our amazing group of 8th graders!

At the start of the school year, all students were given an agenda book. The agenda book has calendar pages, pages to keep track of homework and daily assignments, as well as many resources available to students.

All 8th graders are expected to be using their school agenda books daily for tracking homework assignments, projects, assessments, and grade progress.

We are making it part of our practice to have all students write down homework at the end of each class period. When there is no assigned homework, students should be writing "no homework" in that class section. Please ask your student to see their agenda to help support the classroom teachers in making this happen.

Please see the School calendar for other important dates and events!

• Wed., October 9th: Early Release Day - school dismissal at 12:50pm
• Mon., October 14th: NO SCHOOL (Indigenous Peoples' Day)
• Thurs., October 24th: TRUNK OR TREAT 5:00 - 7:00pm
• Tues., November 5th: NO SCHOOL (Election Day)
• Mon., November 11th: NO SCHOOL (Veterans' Day Observed)
• Wed., November 27th: Early Release (Thanksgiving Recess)
• Thurs., November 28th: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Day)
• Fri., November 29th: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Recess)

This will be held in the parking lot in front of the Butler Middle School on Thursday October 22nd from 5-7pm. There will be Trunk or Treating , community agencies present with information and give aways, and local food trucks providing food for purchase. Families are welcome to participate in the event by decorating a trunk, donating candy to the event, and simply attending. Adult supervision is required throughout this event.

Each month, one 8th grader will be chosen from each homeroom to be out Students of the Month. These are students who represents the Butler core values, follows the PBIS school-wide expectations, and/or is making good choices during the month.

Below are the students who were chosen for September. Students pictures will be posted outside the library to celebrate this accomplishment!

Homeroom 227: Rosmannairys Pereyra

Thank you for your perseverance and your ability to elevate those around you you offer invaluable assistance in a nonchalant way to your classmates. We appreciate you!

Homeroom 229: Cecilia Kosol-Neak

Thank you for always bringing a positive attitude to your class and being ready to help out when needed. You exceeded her expectations on a daily basis. We appreciate you!

Homeroom 230: Grey Gabino

You consistently ask such thought-provoking questions and that always lead to deeper conversations and discussions in class thank you for this. We appreciate you!

Homeroom 230: Valentina Gonzalez

The little time we have been in eighth grade you have shown that you were willing to do what it takes to succeed in your classes. We appreciate you!

Homeroom 236: Jayce Zepkoski

Not only do you bring your materials but you also bring a positive attitude to every class. You are a role model for your peers. We appreciate you!

Homeroom 237: Julian Lambert

You never deviate from the task at hand and your work is always detailed and thoughtful. Your ability to self start motivates others in the classroom. We appreciate you!

Congratulations to all of our recipients!

Guidance Counselor Classroom Visits

During September, the school Guidance counselor, Mrs. Luongo has visited the 8th Grade Social Studies Classrooms to discuss to talk about preparing for High School.

Please see the presentation below that was shared with all 8th Graders and feel free to reach out to Mrs. Luongo with any high school questions!

nluongo@lowell.k12.ma.us

The 8th grade students will be visiting Greater Lowell Tech on October 25th. Students will be able to hear information about the classes and programs offered at this school, as well as visit some of the shops being offered.

Help sessions with high school applications

The guidance counselor will be offering help with high school applications on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Oct. in the Library. Students may drop in for a help session and/or reach out to Mrs. Luongo to schedule.

Sessions will be offered on 10/8, 10,/10 10/15, 10/17, 10/22, 10/24 from 3-4:00 pm

The Butler School Social Workers have opportunities through the school year to assist parents with providing food for their families. Such as, Friday afternoon groceries sent home with the children, holiday meals and other opportunities that develop over the year. If this would be helpful to your family please email or call.

Kadeen Healy

Butler School Social Worker

Khealy@lowell.k12.ma.us

978-937-8973 ext. 46817"

Attendance Updates:

The grade level Social Workers are responsible for ALL attendance matters. Please make sure to call to report your student absent each time they are not in school. Grades 5 & 6 should call Ms. Healy x46817 and Grades 7 & 8 Ms. Casey x46866.

There are no quarantine requirements for COVID anymore. This is treated like all other illnesses now. Once the student is fever free for 24 hours and not vomiting, they should return to school. Dental appointments will not excuse a full day absence, unless it is dental surgery.

Please call ahead if you are planning to take a family vacation during the school year. Also, please inform us if you are moving. We need to confirm enrollment in the new school before we remove your student from our school.

Students that have had 10% or more unexcused absences will be expected to attend our Saturday School attendance recovery program to make up the missed time on learning. Students will receive a formal letter inviting them to this program.

Holiday Gift Giving:

Community Teamwork Toys for Tots

Families who are current clients of Community Teamwork may apply for Toys for Tots through Community Teamwork. Information will be available on applying soon and should be obtained from the department that is normally responsible for providing services.

Please note that for Sun Santa Fund you can only apply through ONE agency. Only one person for each family can apply. Any family applying through more than one agency will not be eligible. Toy vouchers will be available for children through age 16. Children over age 16 are not eligible.

Community Teamwork Sun Santa Fund - apply online first week in November
Applications will be taken starting Sunday, November 1. The full name and date of birth of each child 16 & under is required. Applicants will self-certify their information. Due to COVID-19, no hard copy/upload documents will be required.
Questions? Contact Christine DeFeo: Send an email.

Salvation Army Sun Santa Fund - apply online beginning October
Applications will be taken until capacity is reached
Must have the following items to upload: birth certificates for children age 16 and younger (or guardianship papers), photo id for parent or guardian, proof of address, and a valid email address. No bikes or electronics. For families of 2 or more.
Questions? Contact Diane James 978-458-3396 or Send an email

Math Teachers:

Mrs. Guerriero aguerriero@lowell.k12.ma.us

Mrs. Pappalardo cpappalardo@lowell.k12.ma.us

ELA Teachers:

Ms. Leire jleire@lowell.k12.ma.us

Ms. Sayles jsayles@lowell.k12.ma.us

Science Teacher:

Mrs. Cabrera alcabrera@lowell.k12.ma.us

Social Studies Teacher:

Mr. King aking@lowell.k12.ma.us

Special Education Teachers:

Ms. Loughlin aloughlin@lowell.k12.ma.us

Mrs. St. Louis kstlouis@lowell.k12.ma.us

Mr. Gibson kgibson@lowell.k12.ma.us

Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/butler
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973