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Lowell Parent Newsletter
March 14, 2021
A Message From Mrs. Phelan
Greeting Lowell School,
Sending a big shout out to our reading team: Ann Cox, Dganit Toledano, Lindsay Jacobson, Joia Kirby, and Julie Lane, lead by Deb Opar. Literacy Week was a huge success!
On Tuesday, Dr. Galdston sent out an email through SurveyMonkey with the survey asking for your child's preference (ren)'s learning model once we return to school five days a week. As it came from SurveyMonkey, many people didn't receive it, primarily due to email settings. If you didn't get the survey, here is the link that you can use. You only have to use one survey for all of your children in school.
As we will be discussing the return to full in-person learning at the School Committee meeting on Monday, March 15 at 5:00 pm, we are extending the survey deadline from Friday, March 12 to Tuesday, March 16 at midnight. This survey is very important for our planning purposes. If you already know your preference, please fill out the survey as soon as possible. If we don't hear back from you by March 16, we will assume that if your child(ren)'s current model is hybrid, they will move to five days in-person, and if they are remote, they will stay remote.
If you have individual concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Phelan in the coming days to help in your decision-making. If you were not able to attend last night's parent forum, you can find the recording here.
I know one of the biggest concerns for families is the process and procedures for lunch and snack-time. After hearing the concerns from families on Monday evening. We've decided to offer students and families the option to eat indoors (spaced 6 feet apart in our Gym and Cafeteria) or outdoors (under tents next to the Big Playground). All students will be provided a bagged lunch each day at no charge. I'm hoping this helps you determine if in-person learning is right for your family. I'll go into greater detail at this week's parent forums. I just wanted to give you a little update knowing the survey is due Tuesday, March 16th.
The presentation tomorrow evening at School Committee will discuss the overall plan for returning to fully in-person learning. Many details are specific to each individual school based on location, space, and limitations. I will be presenting more specific details about Lowell at two forums this week. Thursday, March 18th at 9:00 am and again at 7:00 pm during our scheduled School Site Council Meeting. Please use this Zoom link to enter the meeting.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Phelan
Panel Discussion with Alan Geller, Epidemiologist & Dr. Benjamin Weintraub, WPS Pediatrician
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2021, 07:30 PM
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Come See Mykee Fowlin: You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me.
MYKEE FOWLIN:
On Monday, March 15, many of our middle school and high school students will attend a presentation by Mykee Fowlin: You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me. We will be offering a similar presentation to families Monday evening at 6:30 via Zoom, and everyone in the WPS community is invited to attend. Please see the flyer for more information about the event.
"To varying degrees, we all wear masks. We are conditioned to hide our true selves out of fear of being rejected and/or judged. We are taught to devalue or ignore our pain as if its utility is better served hidden than exposed. But what if this approach is ultimate to our detriment, not our survival? What if our authentic self is all we have, and our pain is the gift we use to change this world? And imagine… we are raised and trained to celebrate differences, as an inclusive process, not just a tolerable one.” -Mykee Fowlin
This event is sponsored by the Watertown Youth Coalition, the Watertown Community Foundation, and the Watertown Public Schools. We are very appreciative of the support for this important event.
Monday, Mar 15, 2021, 06:30 PM
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School Committee Meeting- Return to Full In-person Learning
WPS In-person Learning Presentation
School Committee Meeting
Via Zoom Meeting
Lowell Parent Forum Return to In-person Learning
Thursday, March 18, 2021, 9:00 am
or
Thursday, March 18, 2021, 7:00 pm (during our scheduled School Site Council Meeting)
Important Notice from Nurse Taverna
All children in fourth grade are required by law to have a recent physical exam on file in the nurse's office. Any physical exam after September 2019 is acceptable for the 2020-2021 school year.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me @ 617-923-6475 during school hours.
If you have passed your child's four-grade PE into me, please disregard this notice.
sincerely,
Katherine Taverna, RN BSN
Lowell School Nurse
Celebrating our Lowell School Fifth Graders!
The years have flown by for the Lowell School 5th Graders who will soon be on to middle school. Each week this year, we look forward to celebrating them here in the Principal's newsletter. Best wishes to all! We are so proud of you!
Congratulations Gracie!
What is your favorite song?
My favorite song is Just Dance by Lady Gaga.
What is the best thing about 5th grade?
I like the math I am learning.
What are you looking forward to in middle school?
I am excited to meet new teachers.
Congratulations, Lyvia!
What are 3 words that describe you?
Terrific, smart, happy
What is your favorite song?
My favorite song is Uncover You by Fairlane.
What are you looking forward to in middle school?
I'm looking forward to meeting new people.
Last Week at the Lowell
The Lowell Leopard was spotted in Ms. Tresca and Ms. Mannix 1st grade classroom
This week at Lowell Elementary
Student Diversity Council: *new time change
Reminder, we will have Student Diversity Council every Monday!
This week we are talking about.....Lowell Core Values, and how it is important to be an "UPSTANDER"
Date: Monday, March 15, 2021
Time: 12:30- 1:00 Grades 3-5
1:00-1:30 Grades K-2
Zoom Link: https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/99035329800
If you have any questions feel free to email Candice.whitmore@watertown.k12.ma.us or carolyn.miller@watertown.k12.ma.us
A Message From Rashmi Pimprikar
We look forward to supporting you with your educational technology questions.
Here is a link to the Weekly 03/14 Family Ed-Tech for All Newsletter, LIVE Ed-Tech Support Sessions & WPS Family Ed-Tech Website with resources, just for you.
Do you need help with Ed-Tech? Please complete the WPS Ed-Tech Support Request Form. A member of the WPS Ed-Tech team will reach out to you within a school day.
Few additional resources for WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
1. Link to TeachingHistory.org's Women's History Resources
2. Link to Online Exhibits From the National Women’s History Museum
3. Link to Science NetLinks Women’s History Collection
4. Link to ReadWriteThink’s Women’s History
Free GoogleSlide Templates: Who wants to be a Millionaire | Funny Jeopardy
Thank you and have a terrific day,
Rashmi Pimprikar (District Ed-Tech Coordinator), Digital Learning Team and IT Team
PTO Updates!
Read-a-thon Spirit Week! Literacy Week was awesome, and now it's time for Spirit Week! Check out the flyer, and post yourself reading in a special way each day this week. You can post pictures of yourself on the Literacy Week FB page: J.R. Lowell Elementary Literacy Week 2021.
Read-a-thon Registration! This is the last week of the Read-a-thon. We have raised almost $5000, so please keep up the great work! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year! Prizes will go out to the winning class and teacher. Register online! Parent Registration Code: 5e136f1ba125d
Congratulations to Henry Woodward and Emmett Schloemer who won the Harry Potter and Diary of a Wimpy Kid gift baskets!
Big Thank You to Fit-Z's! For the month of March, Fit-Z's Bar and Grille will have their fireman's boot out to help collect funds for the Lowell School 5th graders and their end of year events! They have a great menu, so check them out at 451 Main Street if you haven't yet!
Cosmic Yoga Kids Club: Students are invited to sign-up for Cosmic Yoga with Ms. Gerring! Recommended for Grades K-2 but all are welcome. Yoga will be on Thursdays from 3 - 4pm on Zoom. Session 2 will run from April 15 - June 17. There will not be meetings on school vacation weeks. This club is FREE with PTO support. Space is limited, and families can sign-up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0545a5ae28a0f49-cosmic
Food trucks are coming! Save the Date: Friday, March 26 from 4 - 7PM: The Lowell School PTO will be bringing a couple food trucks to town! You can place orders in advance and everything will be COVID-safe. More information will be forthcoming.