Dear Families,

Happy New Year! It's the year of the Snake. The Year of the Snake in 2025 is believed to bring wisdom, transformation, and strategic growth. It is a time for patience, planning, and making thoughtful decisions to achieve long-term success. That all sounds wonderful to me.

We wanted to let you know that your child will be bringing home a number of important documents in their backpack or folder today. These materials are intended to inform you about your child's progress for the first half of this school year. Below you will find a newsletter giving you details about reading and understanding our assessments and report card. All this information is meant to support your understanding—not to overwhelm you. As you review the documents, please remember that our dedicated school staff and teachers have already carefully examined this information and are actively developing strategies to help elevate your child’s performance to the next level.

Over the past two weeks, we have been deeply engaged in data meetings, and these will continue for another two weeks as we work toward finalizing our Cycle 3 goals for both Literacy WIN and Math WIN. These goals are tailored to meet each student's unique needs and set them on a path toward success.

During your upcoming parent-teacher conference, our teachers will breathe life into your child's individual data. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and will clearly articulate a roadmap aimed at fostering your child's growth and development.

It's important to remember that no single assessment can capture the full picture of a student's abilities. Multiple assessments work together to provide a comprehensive understanding of each student's learning journey. If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher via email. We are committed to providing the support and information you need.

Have a wonderful weekend! I've included some exciting highlights below, so keep reading to learn more about what's happening in our school community.

With Gratitude,

Stacy & Tara

It was an exciting week for third graders at the Lowell! Currently, third graders are in their second Wit & Wisdom module on Outer Space. They have been reading, learning, and writing about the famous Apollo 11 mission and the first man on the moon.

On Tuesday, third graders were visited by NASA Flight Director, Mrs. Chloe Mehring. Mrs. Mehring visited us via Zoom from Houston, Texas where she shared with us what she does at NASA, about future plans NASA has for missions to the Moon and Mars, and answered the many questions students had about space. One special moment Mrs. Mehring shared with the grade level was in regard to her journey to become a NASA Flight Director. She reiterated to the students that she always wanted to work at NASA, even when she was in the third grade, and she never gave up her dream even when it seemed really hard. She reminded all of us that we can do anything!

Mrs. Mehring also let us know that we could watch a live spacewalk later in the week, where astronauts from the International Space Station were doing repairs, and each class did just that! It was amazing to see Mission Control in Houston live (where Mrs. Mehring works and chatted with us) and the astronauts doing amazing and wonderful things in space.

In alignment with our monthly theme of Service, we are excited to announce the launch of our Leadership Academy, which aims to cultivate the qualities of leadership and community service among our students. We are thrilled to have eighty-eight passionate and motivated students who have stepped up to volunteer and become a part of this initiative, proudly taking on the role of Lowell leaders. This opportunity was extended to our fourth and fifth graders, and the overwhelming interest truly surpassed our expectations, reflecting the students' eagerness to contribute meaningfully to our school community.

For some time now, I have fervently hoped to realize this vision, recognizing the incredible potential in our caring and proactive students who are well-prepared to tackle independent tasks and let their vibrant personalities shine. Although we are starting on a modest scale, our plan is to progressively broaden the range of responsibilities and opportunities as we assess how things unfold.

Each participating student was given the chance to choose from a list of fifteen potential activities and list five that they were keen to engage with. Ultimately, they will be assigned to one of their selected activities. These activities encompass a wide array of roles, fostering responsibilities across different aspects of school life. Here is a breakdown of the available positions:

- **Community Fridge Assistant** (led by Mrs. Rufo during lunch)

- **Literacy Week Book Swap Assistant** (led by Ms. Kirby before and during literacy week. assigned times and dates to be determined)

- **Morning Greeters MWF** (led by Mrs. Phelan at 8:00 am in the main office)

- **Morning Greeters T Th** (led by Mrs. Phelan at 8:00 am in the main office)

- **Pre-K & Kindergarten Reading Assistants** (led by Ms. Kirby during lunch and recess as assigned the actual schedule is to be determined)

- **Physical Education Assistant Before School** (led by Ms. Donahue, who has given each student their assignment and day)

- **Physical Education Assistant During Lunch & Recess for Grade 1** (led by Ms. Donahue, who has given each student their assignment and day)

- **Mail Assistant** - Deliver School-Wide Mail before school on Thursday mornings at 7:45 (led by Mr. Swift)

- **Morning Announcer for a Month** (led by Ms. Levine at 8:15 am in the main office)

- **Current Events Announcer for a Month** (led by Ms. Levine and Ms. Rufo at 8:15 am in the main office)

- **Spirit Week Committee** - Assist with planning Spirit Week and creating posters (in collaboration with the school’s Climate & Culture Team and Ms. Rufo) Scheduled days and times to be determined.

- **Ambassador to District Leaders** - Engage with district leaders visiting our school (led by Mrs. Phelan) Schedule determined by district leader visits

- **Lunch Room Helpers** (led by Mrs. Rufo daily in the cafeteria)

- **Cafeteria Support for Early Release Days** - Assist with delivering lunch (led by Cheryl Grillo) on ERD days.

- **Talent Show Organizer** - Assist with organizing the Spring Talent Show (led by Ms. Rufo and Ms. Gerring) Scheduled days and times to be determined.

Each student received their assignment this morning, along with detailed instructions regarding the time and place they should report for their respective roles.

You will easily identify our leaders, as they will be wearing distinctive vests that highlight their presence and dedication. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to enhancing our school community, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in their new roles.

We will begin the week of February 10th. Keep your eyes out for our leaders!

Dear Caretakers of prospective Preschool or Pre Kindergarten students:

The Application Period for the 2025 - 2026 school year is open on January 27 - February 28, 2025. It is not on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period remains open for 4 weeks.

• A lottery takes place following the application period, only if there are more requests than spaces.

• Returning students and siblings are given first priority.

If you missed the Virtual Information Night on January 14th, or the In-Person Visiting Day for Caregivers of Prospective Students on January 22, you may want to review the information shared below.

• Click the link for the slides presented at the January Early Steps Application/Registration Information Night.

The Early Steps Registration Information/Process for the 2025 - 2026 School Year including the Application Link will be available on the Early Steps registration page on January 27th by 9:00 AM. Here is the link to our webpage. The first day of school for all Preschool and PreK students is September 9, 2025. After 9:00 AM on January 27th:

• Click here for the Application for your child to attend Pre Kindergarten (PreK) in the Fall, 2025.

• Click here for the Application for your child to attend Preschool in the Fall, 2025

For questions, please contact: Tricia D’Amelio, Administrative Assistant to the Principal

tricia.damelio@watertown.k12.ma.us

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

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