Greetings Lowell,

Guess what? Back to School is just around the corner! It's coming sooner than you know it, so get ready to dive back into the world of learning. And to all our amazing staff members, we can't wait to welcome you back on Tuesday. We have some exciting professional learning sessions for our dedicated teachers and staff. We're also super focused on our return to Lowell School in October, and we couldn't be more thrilled about it!

Now, you might feel overwhelmed with all the information coming your way and all those forms to fill out. But trust me, gathering all this information now will help us plan and prepare for an incredibly smooth and sensational return to school. We want to ensure everything is in place to create the best possible learning environment for everyone.

I have an important announcement for you this week. We've had some changes in our teacher assignments due to enrollment increases and decreases in certain grades. As a result, we needed to reallocate one of our teachers from fourth to second grade. Ms. Erin Moriarty, originally planning to move from third to fourth grade this fall, Ms. Moriarty will now join the second grade team. This will allow us to lower our classroom size from 23-24 students per class to 17-18 students. Ms. Moriarty brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role as former grade three teacher she knows the skills necessary for students entering third grade. I am confident she will guide her students through a wonderful year of learning and growth.

Let's prepare for an amazing school year!

With gratitude!

Stacy

Attendance Policy

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.

Dear Caregivers

Medication Updates grades 3-5, Lowell West. As we begin our school year, we are asking parents of students who have a medical diagnosis and need any medication that is to be given during school hours to please drop off medication to nurse. Please DO NOT send in medication with your child.

I will go over medication order with parent/caretaker.

The medications might include, i.e. Epi-Pens, inhalers and/or medication that is to be given during school hours. Medication must have a current doctor’s medication order that is dated

after June 2023. The nurse will retrieve all medication first day/week of school.

Thank You,

Katherine Taverna, RN, BSN

781-899-3705

Lowell School Health Services: Entering Kindergarten

Dear Parent/Guardian:

All children in Kindergarten are required by law to have a recent physical examination, current vision screening, lead screening and all mandated immunizations on file at school. Any physical exam after September 1, 2022 is acceptable for the 2023-2024 school year. Please bring the updated documentation to the Nurse’s Office.

This information can be emailed by you, you may also personally hand the documentation to the nurse on the first day of Kindergarten. If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact me at 781-899-3705 during school hours.

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this request.

Katherine Taverna, RN, BSN

Lowell Elementary School

781-899-3705

katherine.taverna@watertown.k12.ma.us

Parents in grades 3-5 are asked to fill out the permission to walk home from school or the bus form. This form will grant your child permission to walk home from school or the bus stop. This is only allowed for grades 3-5.

The answer is Yes, when we return to Lowell School in Watertown. If you wish your older child to walk home their younger sibling please sign up your child and then send the younger child's teacher a note.

Parents who have a child attending school at the Phillips Building in grades K-2 are asked to sign up for free breakfast. During the period between September 5th and October 6th, we encourage parents to sign up for breakfast. Your student will arrive at school with breakfast waiting in their classroom. All you need to do is fill out the form below.

When we return to Lowell, students will be able to grab their breakfast from a cart each morning as they enter school on their way to class. Students love the choices available to them.

Students in grades 3-5 attending school at Lowell West do not need to sign up in advance for breakfast. Breakfast is available at 8:00 am upon arrival to school. Students will pick up breakfast in the cafeteria and eat their breakfast in their classroom. This procedure will be followed throughout the year, even after we return to Lowell.

The state law only applies to breakfast and lunch. We encourage parents to send a healthy snack to school daily.

We do have some students who will grab a breakfast and eat it during snack. We encourage families to take advantage of that option too.

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.

Parent Teacher Organization (FTO)

Reach out to the FTO President Brooke Burke at brookewburke@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.

Diversity Council

Reach out to our Equity Specialists at Kathy Burton at katherine.burton@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.

There will no longer be a school supply list sent home to students. During Covid, the District provided 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!

• Wednesday, August 30th, 5 pm - Popsicles with the Principal & Assistant Principal
• Thursday, August 31st, 4 pm - Third Grade Students are Welcome to Visit Lowell West
• Tuesday, September 5th - First Day of School (Grades 1-5); Kindergarten Visits by Appointment
• Wednesday, September 6th - KINDERGARTEN Early Dismissal at 12:15
• Wednesday, September 12th - FTO Meeting 7:00-7:45 over Zoom
• Wednesday, September 27th - EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:00 pm
• Thursday, October 5th - Diversity Council Meeting via Zoom, 6:30-7:30
• Friday, October 6th - Early Release Day (Student are Dismissed at 12:15) NO LEDP
• Monday, October 9th - NO SCHOOL - Indigenous Peoples Day Observed
• Tuesday, October 10th - NO SCHOOL LOWELL ONLY (Teachers Move-in Day)
• Tuesday, October 10th - FTO Meeting 7:00-7:45 over Zoom
• Wednesday, October 11th - First Day for Students K-5 "NEW" LOWELL
• Tuesday, October 17th Evening Adult & Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 18th - Open House, 6:00-8:00 pm Students and Adults are welcome.
• Thursday, October 19th - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm and Early Release 12:15
• Tuesday, October 24th - Day Adult & Teacher Conferences 1:00-2:30 pm and Early Release 12:15
• Thursday, October 26th - Evening Adult & Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm

Hello Lowell Families,

The FTO is very much looking forward to all of the fun activities in store for the 2023-2024 school year! Our first FTO Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 12th, over Zoom, from 7:00-7:45pm. I encourage you to attend if you are interested in learning more about what the FTO does and how you can get involved.

We are especially in need of grade-level volunteers for the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades to serve as coordinators. These roles entail some occasional communication with the parents of children in your child’s grade and sharing any needs or ideas that relate to specific grades or classrooms. If you are interested in one of these roles, please reach out to me directly by email.

Enjoy these glorious final weeks of summer,

Brooke Burke (Otto’s mom)

brookewburke@gmail.com

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.