Dear Lowell,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to inform you that we will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated J.R. Lowell Elementary School on Tuesday, October 3 at 4:00pm. The ceremony will be held at the Lowell Avenue entrance. Following the ceremony, we invite the Watertown Community to take a walk through our newly renovated school.

In the coming week, we will be sharing information regarding the first day of school and arrivals. Additionally, we will be providing a social story that tells the story of our building move and reunification.

With Gratitude,

Stacy

Early Literacy Universal Screening

We’re off to a super start to the school year with students deeply engaged in learning, particularly around literacy. Early literacy universal screening is used to help schools identify students early who are at risk for future reading difficulties, including but not limited to, the risk of dyslexia. One of the ways students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 5 are assessed in reading is a literacy screening assessment called DIBELS 8th Edition, DIBELS is administered three times this school year.

At the fall teacher-caregiver conferences, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this assessment and your child’s performance. We look forward to partnering with you in your students’ literacy development. *If your child is just recently beginning to learn English they may be more likely to be identified for future reading difficulties. This will be taken into consideration at subsequent screenings and we will monitor your child's reading development alongside their English Language Development.

As we approach the final stages of the extensive renovation of Lowell School, we have been working tirelessly with the local police department to ensure that the safety of our students is of the utmost priority. Our team has been engaged in numerous discussions with the police department to determine the most effective ways to facilitate student safety throughout the day while minimizing any potential impact on the residents of our beloved neighborhood.

After much deliberation and careful consideration, we have arrived at a conclusion that will best serve the needs of our students and community. We are confident that our plan will provide a safe and secure environment for our students while also ensuring that the residents of our neighborhood can continue to enjoy the peace and tranquility they have come to expect.

We plan to use two entrances for student arrival. The entrance on Lowell Avenue is for grades 3-5, and the entrance on George Street is for grades K-2. The following restrictions with corresponding signs will be placed around the property.

Lowell Ave Student Entrance grades 3-5

• Lowell Avenue will become a one-way during school hours, beginning at Carroll Street and ending at the intersection of Lowell Ave and George Street. A permanent sign will be placed on Carroll Street. Read, DO NOT ENTER 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION EXCEPT RESIDENTS AND STAFF.

• No parking signage will be posted along Lowell Ave (this area runs along the school property). The school created 23 designated parking spots along the ballfield on Lowell Ave.

• Staff parking is permitted along York Ave along the ballfield during school hours.

• No parking radius of 20 feet beginning at the intersection of Lowell Ave and York Ave along York Ave.

Restrictions:

• No parking radius of 20 feet beginning at the intersection of George St and Lowell Ave along Lowell Ave.

• No parking, George St, West from Lowell Ave for 77 feet heading south down George St (this area runs along the school property).

• DO NOT ENTER 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION EXCEPT RESIDENTS AND STAFF, beginning at the intersection of Lowell Ave and George St heading north.

• No parking signage radius of 20 feet beginning at the intersection of Lowell Ave and George on the west side heading north.

• Do not enter signage will be placed at the intersection where George St meets Fuller St. Read, DO NOT ENTER 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.

• No parking signage will be posted on Wolcott Road from 50 feet on the north side running east along Fuller Road.

• No parking signage will be posted on Wolcott Road from 59 feet along Fuller Road's east side

• No parking signage will be posted along the new peninsula No Parking on the west side of Fuller St 66 feet around the peninsula down the south side of George St.

George Street k-2 Entrance k-2

• No parking signage along the west side of George (this area runs along the school property). Read, NO PARKING DROP OFF AND PICK UP ONLY 8:00-8:30 AM & 2:15-2:45 PM WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION beginning 77 feet south of Lowell Ave to point 177 feet south of Lowell Ave.

• George Street will become a one-way during school hours with an exception for residents. Read, DO NOT ENTER 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION EXCEPT RESIDENTS.

We want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for the unwavering support that you have extended to us throughout our renovation project. As we prepare to return to the neighborhood, we are filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation. We are eager to reconnect with our friends and neighbors and resume our daily routines in this vibrant and dynamic community. We are confident that, with your help, we can work together to plan a safe and successful reentry to Lowell School proactively.

Arrival Procedures:

Walkers & Bikers Arrival

• Students will enter the building at their assigned door. Grades 3-5 enter door #1 on Lowell Street. Students in grades K-2 will enter through door #2 on George Street.

Drop-and-go Arrival

• Vehicles will enter Lowell Street and follow the drop-and-go line on Lowell Street and George Street.

• Adult(s) are asked to remain in the vehicle and pull up to the sidewalk where school personnel will be waiting. Grades 3-5 will be dropped off at the Lowell St. entrance of the building, and students in grades kindergarten through 2 will be dropped off at the George St. entrance.

• Please have your child(ren) ready to exit the vehicle when you pull up to the sidewalk.

• Cars must remain in the line and cannot pass other vehicles. Please do not make a U-turn or deviate from the drop-off line as a safety measure.

• Students are not allowed on the playground before school unless supervised by an adult.

Dismissal Procedure for Parent Pick-up:

• Students being picked up by a parent will be dismissed from the following exits:

• Kindergarten: George Street exit (door #2)

• Grade 1: George Street side near little playground (door #3)

• Grade 2 & 3: Top of Orchard Street Hill (door #6)

• Grade 4 & 5: Charlton Street exit (door #7)

• We DO NOT offer vehicle pick up for families at dismissal time.

• Please be mindful and respectful of our neighbors. Do not block driveways. Please do not double park on streets surrounding the building. Please comply if a neighbor asks you to move to access their driveway. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation!

Dismissal Procedures for LEDP, Bus, and Van:

Dismissal time is 2:30 p.m., and Early Release day at 12:15 p.m. Students will be dismissed to designated areas or their after-school program.

• Students taking a van or bus will be escorted to the main entrance located on Lowell Street at the end of the school day and supervised until the bus arrives.

• Extended Day students will be taken to the cafeteria or meeting spot identified by the LEDP coordinator, where an Extended Day staff member will greet them.

We are asking for your help as we transition into our gorgeous building. Students will be given their classroom supplies, notebooks, workbooks, and computers to take home and hold over the weekend of our move.

All students will receive a transparent plastic bag to store personal items (crayons, markers, books, among other things). They need to take this bag home on Friday, October 6th, and return on Wednesday, October 11th, once we are all together in the new Lowell.

Students from 1st to 5th Grade will receive a bubble wrap envelope to store their Chromebooks. They need to take this envelope home on Friday, October 6th, and return on Wednesday, October 11th, once we are all together in the new Lowell.

• Tuesday, October 3rd - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lowell School 4:00 pm
• Open House to follow 4-7 All Are Welcome.
• 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
• Boys & Girls Club is running their 1/2 day program.
• 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 6:30-7:15 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, 6:00-7:30 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
• Friday, October 27th- Evening Event Trunk or Treat 6:00-7:00 pm Lowell Street
• Thursday, November 2nd- Elementary Combined Kick-off Meeting Hosting by Lowell 6:30-7:30 Childcare available.
• Tuesday, November 7th- Voting Day (Lowell Attends School as their make-up day) NO Voting at Lowell