Dear Lowell Elementary Families,

Today is certainly one of the hottest days of the summer so far! I trust you are all enjoying yourself, hopefully near a pool or on the beach, creating beautiful memories with your loved ones. As we begin August, I wanted to take a moment to provide you with some important updates to assist you in preparing for the upcoming school year. However, you have a solid month before you need to set an alarm clock for school.

Keeping you informed is paramount to ensuring a smooth transition back to school for you and your child. To simplify your preparations, I have compiled essential information that will aid you in gearing up for the new academic year.

Here at Lowell Elementary, we are committed to nurturing your child's growth and educational journey. We are pleased to offer complimentary breakfast and lunch to all our students, guaranteeing that your child begins their day with a nourished body and a focused mind.

Additionally, we provide all the required school supplies and High-Quality Instructional Materials necessary for your child to thrive academically. Rest assured, there is no need for you to worry about shopping for supplies as we have taken care of it all.

I will ensure to keep you informed about all the important details leading up to the start of the school year, so you can stay well-informed every step of the way.

As we eagerly prepare to welcome back our students, there are a few important points to highlight. Students in grades 3-5 now have the option to either walk home or head to the bus stop with written parental consent. For your convenience, I have attached the permission form for families of students in these grades who wish to grant permission for their child to walk home. Moreover, younger siblings are permitted to walk with their older siblings given that we have the signed permission slip from guardians. Kindly complete the forms to ensure a seamless and secure transition.

Please remember that students without written consent will not be authorized to walk home, underscoring the importance of communicating any changes to your child's dismissal plan in written form. By doing so, we can uphold the safety and well-being of your child throughout their journey home.

Your support means the world to us, and together, we'll make this school year an amazing one!

Warm wishes,

Principal Phelan & Assistant Principal Rufo

Watertown remains committed to enhancing our schools by implementing Restorative Justice Practices district-wide. Lowell is currently in the Tier I phase of implementation, where staff are being trained in foundational practices. Furthermore, some staff members are advancing their training to Tier II, focusing on conflict resolution among students and staff. It's worth noting that Watertown has established a formal partnership with Suffolk's Center for Restorative Justice. This collaborative effort spans multiple years and is dedicated to empowering administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents with the necessary skills and strategies aligned with Restorative Justice Values and Practices.

You might be curious about the concept of restorative justice. Restorative justice is a comprehensive approach that focuses on fostering peaceful community engagement and effective problem-solving strategies. It is grounded in key values such as inclusion, democracy, responsibility, reparation, safety, healing, and reintegration. Among these values, respect emerges as particularly essential. While some may associate restorative justice primarily with disciplinary actions, it transcends that limited view. Restorative practices strive to cultivate a community where everyone can express their perspectives and feel valued.

Integrating restorative approaches into the daily operations of youth-serving organizations is crucial for creating a positive environment and developing social and emotional competencies. This proactive step sets the groundwork for implementing restorative justice principles in conflict situations effectively.

Restorative Justice is a flexible set of practices adaptable to many purposes, enabling youth and adults to bring forward their “best selves.” We are excited to further expand our commitment to RJ!

Here are the spaces and places RJ shows up in our school.

Classroom Climate & Relationship Building

Teachers use circles at the beginning or end of the week, as one example, asking students to share the highs and lows of their week or weekend. Circles can also be used to establish classroom agreements, address painful incidents in the school or broader community, or address negative patterns of behavior. Many of the practices RJ uses are very familiar to our students and teachers they look very similar to our Morning Meeting. Many of the activities are rooted in indigenous principles and practices.

Teaching Curriculum

Talking circles are effective to promote learning. By asking students what they found most important, useful, challenging, thought-provoking, applicable, or confusing in a unit, the teacher can identify the learning needs and reinforce key content. Circles are also very effective to encourage sharing of student writing and peer feedback.

IEP Meetings

All too often, parents and students feel marginalized, inadequate, and overwhelmed by the dynamics of IEP meetings. Using a talking circle for the meeting creates a very different dynamic that fosters inclusion, gives voice to all participants, respects what the family and student bring to the table, and creates a sense of team support for the student’s learning and development.

Classroom Problem-Solving

Problem-solving circles are used when there are behavioral problems impacting a whole class. The circle explores who has been affected by the behavior, in what ways, and what needs to happen to make things better. Individual students are not singled out as wrongdoers, and the whole class is asked to be accountable for improving the situation.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Using circles in advisories or student support meetings can help students develop social and emotional literacy, receive and give support, build trusting relationships, and address personal and academic challenges from an asset-based perspective.

Teacher-Student Dialogue

Restorative chats and dialogues are used by teachers or staff to address minor incidents that occur in classrooms, corridors and school grounds. Taking just a few minutes, the conversation can be held with just the wrongdoer(s) or with a wrongdoer and the student harmed.

The teacher asks the wrongdoer:

• What they were thinking when they did this?

• Who has been affected by what they did, and in what ways?

• How can they fix things?

The student harmed is asked a parallel set of questions and then agreement is reached on how to make things right.

Adult members of the school community also benefit from circles, when used to promote peer support and address conflict in healthy ways. As teachers, administrators and staff begin the paradigm shift to restorative thinking, they enhance their own teamwork and serve as role models to students.

We will open our school year focused on shared values and reconnecting using RJ Circles.

Beginning this fall, all elementary classrooms in grades K-5 will be adopting Wit & Wisdom as our new Literacy Curriculum! We are very excited for this new program, one of several High Quality Instructional materials approved by the MA State Department of Education. Students will read many new great books as a class, they will learn key vocabulary, and produce several pieces of writing all connected to the big topic of the unit.

During these units, students will study key topics, many of which are connected to Science and Social Studies. Students in Kindergarten will participate in a unit titled The Continents: What Makes the World Fascinating In Kindergarten. Students in grade 2 have a unit about Outer Space: How do people explore outer space? We are excited to see these units come to life in our classrooms!

Students will have all new literacy units across grades K - 5! We are so excited to see these topics come to life through their reading, writing and class discussions. The first unit (called Modules in Wit & Wisdom) are all listed below. During the literacy block teachers will read aloud carefully selected texts and use them as a guide for class discussions. Each unit comes with vocabulary lists and multiple connected books that students will read across the genres including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The curriculum also integrates works of art across the grades.

You will be hearing from your teacher in the fall about the specific books and activities your student will be learning about in their first module of the year and teachers have already begun planning these new units.

Kindergarten- The Five Senses

Wit & Wisdom notes: ‘By reading engaging texts and participating meaningfully in their learning, students develop the knowledge and skills they need to be successful readers, critical thinkers, and effective communicators who love to learn and can succeed in college and careers.”

You will continue to learn more from your teacher about the specific Modules and topics that your student is learning in September!

Next year teachers will spend their time learning the new curriculum but many things will remain the same in our classrooms! Students in grades K - 3 will continue to participate in Fundations instruction to learn phonics and foundational literacy skills. Teachers will use GEODES as a tool for small group instruction and the WIN block will continue to provide students “What they need.”

Attendance is the most important aspect of educating our students. When students are not here, they do not have access to instruction. To focus attention on the importance of attendance the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or No Child Left Behind, specifically mentions attendance, reflecting the increasing awareness that attendance is a key indicator for assessing school and student success.

Massachusetts state law (M.G.L 76 Sections 2 and 4: School Attendance) requires parents/caregivers to have their children attend school.

At Watertown Public Schools, we pride ourselves in maintaining a very high attendance rate throughout the year. Understandably, there will be times when our students will need to take time away from school for a variety of excused reasons. The following procedure is in place to ensure good attendance, support our families, and follow state and federal laws.

EXCUSED Absences

We expect regular and punctual attendance in all classes. Grades reflect attendance, effort, classroom participation, and academic progress. We recognize that occasional absences are unavoidable. EXCUSED absences are those reported to the office through the use of the school-specific google excused absence attendance form; otherwise, any absence will be considered unexcused. .

• Short-term illness (three consecutive days or fewer) reported to the school using the attendance google form

• Extended illness (four or more consecutive days) requires a doctor’s note with a return date, submitted to the school nurse

• Death of a student’s family member

• Court appearances

• Religious observances and holidays

• The Principal may decide to excuse an absence that does not fit within the above categories. The parent/guardian must contact the principal to discuss these circumstances.

Parent call-ins and/or notes from home are required for an excused absence. All notes to excuse an absence must be turned in within two school days of a student’s return. Any questions/concerns should be addressed to the Assistant Principals’ Office.

Students with more than three excused absences in a quarter may be asked to produce formal

documentation to excuse further absences that quarter.

Students who are absent for any reason may not participate in any extra-curricular school activities, Extended Day, or events on the day of the absence, including games and dances, unless excused by the administration.

UNEXCUSED absences:

• Cutting class (not being where you are scheduled to be)

• Family vacation

• Work

• Any absence of four or more consecutive days that are not documented by a doctor’s note

Excessive absence notification and intervention

Resulting Actions:

• After 3 days of unexcused absences with no contact with the school from the parent, the Assistant Principal will be notified and will reach out to the parent/guardian.

• After 5 days of unexcused absences a letter of concern will be sent to parents/caregivers.

• At 10 absences (excused or unexcused) or suspected truancy, a letter and support meeting will be scheduled with parents/guardian, guidance, and administration to create an Attendance Plan, which clearly outlines the school, parent and student obligations to improve the problem.

• At 15 absences (excused or unexcused) - guidance, administration, community outreach coordinator, and Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) warning; review AIP

• At 20 absences (excused or unexcused) - If absenteeism continues, further action will be taken, up to and including petitioning the Juvenile Courts with a Child Requiring Assistance, (CRA)

• In appropriate cases, the school may report to DCF.

Please refer to School Committee Policy JH Policy Manual for additional information regarding school absences.

If your child will be absent for an extended period due to illness or an injury, please contact Nurse Taverna at 617-926-7770.

I will keep an Attendance Form at the top of my newsletter weekly for your use. We will also place it on our school website and district website.

Parents in grades 3-5 are asked to fill out the permission to walk home from school. This form will grant your child permission to walk home from school or the bus stop. This is only allowed for grades 3-5. If you have a child in grades kindergarten - Grade 2 and would like them to walk home with your older sibling please add

School Site Council (SSC)

Reach out to Principal Stacy Phelan at stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest in joining next year. We meet six times throughout the year for an hour. We are currently looking for new members.

Parent Teacher Organization (FTO)

Reach out to the FTO President Kelly Linehan at kellylinehan@gmail.com or lowellelementarypto@gmail.com with any questions or to express interest in joining next year. You can sign up as a room parent or support an event. New members allow welcome

Diversity Council

Reach out to one of our Equity Facilitators Kathy Burton or Sandra Quesada. You can reach them via email at Kathy Burton at katherine.burton@watertown.k12.ma.us or Sandra Quesada (Native Spanish Speaker) sandra.quesada@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest in joining next year. Attend and help plan meetings. We meet once a month for an hour.

No need to buy school supplies. During Covid, the District began providing all materials for students and we have made the decision (across the three elementary schools) to continue with this practice. We hope that this makes things easier for all of our families and students!

Students will need a backpack and water bottle.

• Saturday, August 24th, 10:00 am - noon Kindergarten Playdate at Lowell School
• New Student Visiting Day & Pizza Party Monday, August 26th at 2:00 - 2:45 pm (grades 1-5 only)
• Wednesday, August 28th, 5 pm - Popsicles with the Principal & Assistant Principal
• Thursday, August 31st, 4 pm - Third Grade Students are Welcome to Visit Lowell West
• Tuesday, September 3rd - First Day of School (Grades 1-5); Kindergarten Visits by Appointment
• Wednesday, September 4th - KINDERGARTEN Early Dismissal at 12:15
• Thursday, September 5th - KINDERGARTEN FIRST FULL DAY
• Wednesday, September 10th - FTO Meeting 6:30-7:30 in person at Lowell School
• Friday, September 20th - Movie Night 6:00-8:00 pm Lowell Cafeteria
• Wednesday, September 25th - EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:15 pm (Professional Development for Staff)
• Tuesday, October 1st Back to School Night 6:00-7:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 8th - FTO Meeting 6:30-7:30 over Zoom
• Monday, October 14th - NO SCHOOL - Indigenous Peoples Day Observed
• Tuesday, October 22nd Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm
• Thursday, October 24th - Night Adult & Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
• Friday, October 25th - Trunk or Treat 6:00-7:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 29th - Night Adult & Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30 pm
• Friday, November 1st - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm
• Tuesday, November 5th - No School (Election Day & Teacher's Professional Development)
• 
  

Other events will be added as the dates become finalized. We will be adding Parent Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Council to this list shortly. We are trying to coordinate with the other schools.

Visitors:

For the safety of all children, the school doors lock 5 minutes after arrival time. Visitors may use the intercom at the front door to speak to the main office and gain admittance. All visitors, including parents and volunteers, must provide a picture ID and sign in at the reception desk or main office during school hours. Visitors are asked to wear a visitor badge, supplied at the sign-in location, throughout your visit. All visitors are required to sign out when they leave the school building. This procedure is in effect for the safety of the children, staff, and visitors. The front office must be aware of all persons in the building should an emergency arise. You will be asked to leave your identification document with the receptionist during your visit. You will receive your ID when you return your visiting pass.

As part of the WPS district security plan, we are adding a layer of security at Lowell School. We are implementing the RAPTOR visitor management system this fall. RAPTOR screens and tracks everyone coming into our school. The RAPTOR system screens for sex offenders, custody violations, and provides reporting of all visitors. Our highest priority is the safety of our students and staff. Additional information regarding RAPTOR will be provided to parents and guardians, once school begins.

The number of food allergies in young children has increased significantly over the past few years. The school has established specific protocols to create a safe, allergy sensitive environment for children with life-threatening allergies. There are children in the classes listed below who have severe food allergies. We need your help in making their classrooms allergy-sensitive environment for children.

Since there is no cure for most food allergies, the best way to keep students safe is through avoidance. For SNACK as well as Prek and Kindergarten lunch, please do not send any peanut butter or foods containing any PEANUT products, or ANY TYPE OF NUTS. Students will be eating snack and Prek and Kindergarten lunch in the classroom which is our primary learning environment.

Students in grades 1-5 will eat lunch in the cafeteria where we have designated allergy-sensitive tables for children with food allergies. We do not serve peanut products to the cafeteria for lunch.

We are taking many steps to keep everyone safe and healthy:

• Washing before and after snack.
• Washing before lunch.
• Washing down the tables after snack and at the end of the day.
• We also have a "No sharing/snack" rule.

Please talk to your child about not sharing food in school. We will keep stressing this information in school. If you have any questions or concerns, you can email me or your classroom teacher, send a note, or call the school nurse 617-926-7770. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this very serious matter.

Special Note: Kindergarten Student DO NOT visit the cafeteria until they become first graders.

Additionally: Teachers will provide parents with a list of allergies for their classroom. We ask parents not to send these items into school for Snack and Lunch.

Contact Us

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

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 Melina Jacovides k-2

melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Brian Connors 3-5

brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us

Special Education Team Chair- Greg Roberts, ext. 37171

gregory.roberts@watertown.k12.ma.us

LEDP Site Coordinator- Adam Vachon

adam.vachon@watertown.k12.ma.us