Lowell Leopard News

December 2023

From the Principal

December is upon us! We have just two full weeks ahead before winter break, and every day counts! This can be a challenging time for students, as they often experience mixed feelings about upcoming events and changes in schedules at home. At school, we support students by sticking to routines, keeping expectations high, and staying focused on learning each day. We also look forward to some fun activities the week before winter break. We appreciate your support in ensuring that your child comes to school ready to learn each day!

Here are a few cold weather reminders:

Unless it is exceptionally cold, students go to recess outside each day. Please send them dressed appropriately. (If your family needs help with clothing resources such as coats and shoes, and please reach out to our counselor, Teri McAllister, at tmcallister@everettsd.org or by calling the office, 425-385-5300.)
As we face icy mornings and snow, please drive even more carefully on our neighborhood streets, and in our parking areas. Help us be a good neighbor by not blocking driveways, crosswalks, or bus zones. As a reminder, the speed limit in all school zones is 20 miles per hour.

Do you have a child who will start kindergarten next fall, and who isn't currently in an early learning (preschool) program? If so, check out our district's transitional kindergarten program here. The program starts Jan. 31, with interest forms due by Dec. 12. If you are interested in free preschool for your child, check out our ECEAP program here.

Finally, January is right around the corner. We'll be honoring the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with classroom learning and an assembly. Another way to do so is for students to participate in the Prodigies for Peace contest. The Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee is sponsoring the 23rd annual Prodigies for Peace Writing and Art Contest as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration in January. The contest helps students draw connections between the people and the events that shaped the civil rights movement and the social issues that influence their lives today. There is a writing contest for Grades 3-5, and an art contest for all students. Please see the attachment for more info. Entries are due Dec. 15. This is a great opportunity for students to honor Dr. King's legacy, and to apply it to their own lives.

Have a great month, happy holidays, and please be sure to reach out with any questions or needs!

Mrs. Kelley, principal

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Every Monday: Celebrate Motto Monday by wearing a Lowell shirt, or blue and white.
Monday, Dec. 4: Choir concert, 6:15 p.m., cafeteria
Thursday, Dec. 7: PTA Apex Fun Runs -- 9:00-9:45 for Grades K-1; 10:00-10:45 for Grades 2-3; and 1:10-1:55 for Grades 4-5 -- sign up to volunteer here; ukulele concert, 6:15 p.m., cafeteria
Friday, Dec. 8: 1:35 p.m. Learning Improvement Friday dismissal
Monday through Friday, Dec. 11-15: Spirit Week -- see image below for daily themes
Wednesday, Dec. 13: ECEAP Family Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., cafeteria
Thursday, Dec. 14: Holiday Sing Along assembly
Friday, Dec. 15: Popcorn Friday; 12:20 p.m. dismissal for the start of winter break
Monday, Dec. 18-Monday, Jan. 1: No school -- winter break (office closed)
Tuesday, Jan. 2: School resumes

Looking for district calendars for the 2023-24 school year?:

One-page calendar: English and Spanish
Student art wall calendar: Full page and print/fold

Lowell Counseling Corner with Ms. McAllister & Mr. Richert

Happy holidays, Lowell families! As winter and the holidays approach, we know that times are hard and there are surely families that may need some extra help in getting food and/or gifts. If your family could use the extra support this year, please visit our counseling website here for some wonderful community partners offering their help this winter season! And, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us: Teri McAllister, tmcallister@everettsd.org, and Robert Richert, RRichert2@everettsd.org.

STEAM with Ms. Johnson & Ms. Bednark

In STEAM classes during the month of December, we will be focusing on coding. From December 4-10, we will participate in the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Education Week. Students will learn the basics of computer science with online coding puzzles and activities. Before winter break, we will be working on online coding activities from the code.org CS Fundamentals curriculum.

Music with Mr. Powers

Hello! This month in music we are learning songs from all kinds of different winter holidays in preparation for the Holiday Sing Along assembly on Dec. 14. Our after-school choir is gearing up for their concerts on Dec. 4 at Lowell, and on Dec. 8th -- when they will sing with the Evergreen Middle School choir! And our after-school ukulele program will have their concert Dec. 7 here at Lowell as well! Exciting times! I would also like to offer that if you have any songs from traditions/holidays that are not currently represented at Lowell and you would like to change that, I would love to hear from you! It is my goal that every student should see themselves represented in the music we learn, and feel welcomed at Lowell! I would love to hear from you, at dpowers@everettsd.org

Library with Ms. Thompson

November was a busy month! The Book Fair was a tremendous success – with more than $5,000 raised to support new books in the library! Thank you! As we look forward to the new year, please consider the gift of reading with your student. Enjoying books with children develops vocabulary, provides exposure to new concepts and ideas, deepens the relationship between you and your child, and is FUN! I have three recommendations for read-aloud stories this winter break:

Andi Cann's The Magic of Friendship Snow
Pat Miller's Squirrel's New Year's Resolution
Rachel Isadora's The Night Before Christmas

Even though the Lowell library will be closed over winter break, the Everett Public Library is OPEN! Please consider visiting – a library is more than books! The main branch of the library is at 2702 Hoyt Ave., and is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

P.E. with Ms. Neyens

The month of November was so much fun! Students learned and showed off some amazing golf skills. Check out these local mini golf courses that are a lot of fun for the whole family. For the month of December, we will be learning how to throw a Frisbee as well as some fun winter stations. Have a wonderful winter break, and I'll see you in the new year!

PTA newsletter: For lots of PTA news, check out the attached December newsletter by clicking on its image.

Next general meeting: 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the library. Kids are welcome (there's child care), there will be a free ice cream social, and you don't have to be a member to attend!

How to join PTA: Just click here -- it's a fabulous way to support Lowell students and staff, and it doesn't mean you have to commit to volunteering.

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Here are some seasonal resources you may want to take advantage of:

Basic needs resources: Does your family need assistance with items such as clothing and shoes, or food? We have resources to help, and/or we can help you connect with resources in the community! E-mail counselor Teri McAllister at tmcallister@everettsd.org or call the school office at 425-385-5300.

Absences: If your child will be absent, please e-mail us at loeattendance@everettsd.org to report their absence daily. Include child's first and last name, ID number, and the reason for the absence. All absences must be reported/excused in writing, so if you aren't able to e-mail, please send a written note upon your child's return to school. The attendance line phone is 425-385-5305.

Late arrivals/tardies: If arriving after 8:30 a.m., students must enter through the main entrance/office. If it's between 8:35 and 9:05 a.m., your student will be marked tardy. After 9:05, your student needs to be walked in by an adult, as they need to be signed in. This will ensure that their half-day absence is being marked excused or unexcused appropriately.

Changes to dismissal routines: If you are wanting to change how your student is getting home on a given day, you must contact our office before 2:30 p.m. Classes are packing up and transitioning to dismissal areas between 2:40 and 2:50 p.m., so we cannot guarantee that messages will get through during that time period. Please keep in mind that early dismissals of less than 30 minutes count as a tardy, and those of longer than 30 minutes count as a half-day absence.