Greetings Lowell Families:

We had a wonderful first week of school. We all jumped right into setting expectations and establishing routines. Wednesday morning, Ms. Whitmore ran five Expectations Assemblies one for each grade. The assembly focused on reviewing the lunchroom norms. She used interactive modeling and mini demonstrations to illustrate positive student behavior and proper lunchroom etiquette. Mrs. Whitmore introduced all the cafeteria staff and lunch aides to the students. The assembly was especially helpful for our first-grade students, who were visiting the cafeteria for the first time in their young school life. Fortunately, first grade eats lunch alone, which allows them a little more space and a lot less noise. By the time lunch was served, everything was running smooth.

The Prek and kindergarten students are doing very well, adjusting to their teachers, rooms, and routines. Many students appeared to have made a friend or two over the summer.

Thursday morning, we held a Welcome Coffee for new families joining our school community. Parents were able to ask questions and learn about "everything" Lowell. If you missed this event...no worries. Please come to the Principal's Coffee on September 27th. It's your chance to ask questions and learn more about our school.

On Friday, we held a Spotlight Assembly for students from Prek to grade 5. We opened the assembly by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Lowell School Pledge. We then introduced all our staff to the students. It was no surprise that Nurse Taverna got the loudest applause.

During our gathering, we reviewed our core values of Kindness, Cooperation, Integrity, and Perseverance. We reminded all students the adults in the school were here for them and that each child is loved.

First day of school.

September 9, 2019

Kindergarten

Beginning Monday, September 9th students will be entering the building on their own. Staff is positioned from the front door all along the route to their classrooms. Parents do not need to accompany their students.

PreK

Students in Prek will enter through the Prek door off the small parking lot. Door #3

Sept 10: First PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the Library

Sept 12: First School Site Council (looking for new members) 3:00 pm in the Library

Sept 13: Family Movie Night and Ice Social

Sept 19: Back to School Night 6:00-8:00

Sept 19: English Learners Dinner 5:00-6:00

Sept 25: Early Release 12:15

Spet 27: Principal's Coffee 8:15 immediately following the drop off all are welcome.

EL Parent Dinner

Is your child a speaker of another language?

Please join us for an

English Learner (EL) Parent Dinner!

Where: Lowell School Library

Date: September 19, 2019

Time: 5:00- 6:00 (before Back to School night begins)

What:

• Meet the principal and assistant principal.

• Eat dinner (sandwich wraps with vegetarian options available) provided by Mrs. Phelan, the Lowell principal.

• Meet other EL parents and the English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers.

• Ask questions through an interpreter.

• Stay for Curriculum Night from 6:00- 8:00 PM

Bring: a dessert to share--if you want!

Interpreters for Spanish, Portuguese and Pashto will be available.

Please RSVP by Friday, September 13 by emailing or telling your child’s ESL or classroom teacher.

ESL teachers:

Rachael Levine rachael.levine@watertown.k12.ma.us

Bethan Bailey bethan.bailey@watertown.k12.ma.us

This year, students from 2nd to 5th grade can participate in one or several of our musical ensembles.

2nd and 3rd Grade Junior Chorus with Ms. Slesinger

Junior Chorus will meet every Thursday morning from 8:00 - 8:40. The singers can enter the building starting at 7:50, drop their things off at their cubbies and head straight to the music room.

4th and 5th Grade Chorus

4th and 5th-grade chorus will resume as normal next Tuesday, the 10th, from 8:00-8:40. Any students from 4th or 5th grade may participate.

**** We will be having our annual instrument demonstration assembly Wednesday, the 11th, at 8:30. All 3rd and 4th-grade classes will attend. Parents are welcome to attend too.

4th Grade Instruments

4th graders may sign up for a band instrument, or, may continue their string instrument from last year. Lessons will be from 8:00 - 8:40 on either Wednesday or Friday. Lessons begin on or after Wednesday, the 18th.

5th Grade Instruments

5th-grade instruments will take place from 8:45-9:25 on Wednesdays and Fridays. Ms. Jaffe's class will take place on Wednesdays and Ms. Sudbay/Ms. Walker and Ms. Brodeur's classes will be on Friday. Most of the students are returning on their instruments, so they can start lessons on or after Friday, the 13th. A few fifth graders will sign up this year to play percussion. Percussion students will have to rent instruments so will need to start on or after the 18th.

Please join us as we kick off a new school year! The meetings are open to everyone. Come to the meeting and meet our PTO leadership and hear about how you can get involved.

We have our first Site School Council on September 12th at 3:00 in our school library. If you are interested in joining the council or want to learn more about being a council member, please come to our first meeting. All are welcome.

We will also review our School Improvement Plan 2019-2020.

As always SSC meeting is an open meeting.

Back to School Night

September 19th

6:00-8:00 pm

You will find all the information for Back to School Night by clicking the link below:

https://www.smore.com/kp8vu

All Are Welcome!

Lowell is fortunate to have an incredibly engaged parent community. Our school is a place where is everyone is welcome and encouraged to visit.

We also want to be respectful neighbors to our surrounding neighborhood. We ask for your cooperation in the following:

• Do not block driveways
• Park your car in legal parking slots
• Do not block crosswalks
• Please follow the one-way signs around our school, even if they are blown down or missing
• Respect our crossing guards
• Do not drive around cars in the drop and go line
• Please do not pull over and wait for someone who is walking a child to the front door of the school
• Please do not park in accessible parking spaces unless you have a permit

We thank you in advance for your kindness and cooperation

Email: Stacy.Phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://lowell.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 175 Orchard Street
Phone: (617) 926-7770