Lowell School Newsletter

This Week’s Featured Event

Kindergarten will hold their Annual Halloween Parade

Tuesday, October 31st

November 2, 2017

7:00 - 8:00 PM

Lowell School Site Council Agenda

Introductions

Vote on School Council Positions

Review School Improvement Plan for SY 2017/2018

Plan Agendas for the year

Title 1 and ELL forums

CIT and emergency procedures

Open Forum 10 minutes

The week’s language of the week will be Cantonese.

Good Morning translates to “Zho Suhn”

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Greetings Lowell School,

Since the school year began we’ve had increasing difficulties with lunch and lunchroom behavior. The two lunch periods experiencing difficulty are the 4 / 5 and 2 /3 period. Students have been getting up out of their seats, running from table to table, yelling to one another, and putting their hands on each other. The lunch aides and the food service staff have tried very hard to redirect students. They have reminded students daily about proper lunchroom behavior. We’ve even tried incentives, such as “Free Sit Fridays” (if they have a good lunch periods Monday thru Thursday they will earn the right to sit anywhere in the cafeteria with their friends) all in hopes of motivating them. However, we continue to have issues. Most recently the first grade teachers brought to my attention a problem with older students using the first grade bathrooms. They said there were a number of incidents that have taken place lately. The girls bathroom has had the toilets stuffed with paper, which has lead to overflowing toilets. We’ve had bathroom doors locked from the inside, causing little ones to crawl under the doors to gain access. The bathrooms are not monitored during lunch. The current staffing does not allow for hall and bathroom monitors. This is not new, but the incidents are.

Today, we told students the bathrooms would not be accessible during lunch. They could go directly after lunch but not during lunch because of the issues we’ve experienced and the lack of supervision. This was a mistake on my part, because it has been brought to my attention a few students felt punished by this message. Some even wanted to use the bathroom during lunch and were asked to wait. This was not my intent.

I am trying to work on staffing changes which might free up a staff member to supervise the first floor bathrooms and hallway. My first concern is safety for all children. It’s upsetting to hear little ones are crawling on the floor to use the bathroom. The constant stream of students coming and going from our cafeteria has been dizzying. While their out of the cafeteria they are not supervised, this concerns me. I will work on the staffing. In the meantime bathroom will be available to students.

After today’s lunch, Mr. Roberts sent an email to the staff asking them to bring students to the bathroom before lunch and allow them to use the bathroom after lunch. Students will be allowed to go to the bathroom one at a time during lunch.

Today, we also restated our expectations for lunchroom behavior. At the beginning of lunch we reviewed the rules.

1) they would be called by table to buy lunch/snack

2) they could talk to their friends using indoor voices

3) they needed to remain seated during lunch unless they were given permission to get up

4) If they needed to get up for anything they should raise their hand and ask an adult permission.

These are not new rules, they are the same rules Lowell has always had.

We explained to them, if they don’t follow the rules their names would be written on the board and your parents will be notified. No one’s name was written on the board today.

Often times the good children lose privileges because of the actions of a few. We don’t want to punish the students who are following the rules. They deserve to sit with their friends and enjoy lunch. Lunch should be an enjoyable time of day for the staff and our children.

On another note, one of our school improvement goals this school year is focused on increasing awareness and understanding of diverse learners and diversity. Parents and teachers often ask for books to help teach these themes. Here is a list of picture books which engage children about topics such as, bullying and diversity.

A picture books can be a powerful tool when teaching complex material. Young children listen closely to our words. Let’s choose the best words and pictures when teaching. Your support is alway appreciated at school.

Mrs. Phelan

Books to Engage Students on Bullying and Diversity

Download PDF

Picture Books

Be Who You Are. Todd Parr. (Pre-K – K) With Parr’s signature silly and accessible style, Parr encourages readers to embrace all their unique qualities – reminding them that their unique traits are what make them so special.

Big Bob, Little Bob. James Howe. (Pre-K – 2) Despite the fact that they share a name, they are different. Big Bob likes trucks and throwing balls and being loud. Little Bob likes dolls and jingling bracelets and being quiet. Yet, they become friends. When a neighbor teases Little Bob about dolls, Big Bob steps in with “Boys can do whatever they want.”

Crow Boy. Taro Yashima. (1 – 5) Chibi is an outcast at school because he is different. Day after day, Chibi is faced with feelings of isolation and rejection, but a kind teacher appreciates his unique talents and helps him gain acceptance.

Desmond and the Very Mean Word: A Story of Forgiveness. Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams. (K – 3) Based on a true story from Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s childhood. As a child, when he took his new bicycle out for a ride through his neighborhood, his pride and joy turned to hurt and anger when a group of boys shouted a very mean word at him.

Each Kindness. Jacqueline Woodson. (1 – 3) Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually she stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship.

The Invisible Boy. Trudy Ludwig. (K – 3) Nobody ever seems to notice Brian or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

Jacob’s New Dress. Sarah and Ian Hoffman. (Pre-K – 2) Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can't wear "girl" clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants?

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina. Monica Brown. (K – 2) Marisol, a multiracial girl, loves to be creative, eating peanut butter and jelly burritos, for example. But at times she is misunderstood and teased by peers. Bilingual.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress. Christine Baldacchino. (Pre-K – 2) Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in the dress-up center, but the others don’t understand. One day when Morris feels all alone and sick from their taunts, he stays home. With help from his mom and his imagination, he returns to school and begins to connect with others.

Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Cheryl Savageau. (2 – 4) A Native American girl’s feelings are hurt when classmates make fun of the children who live at the lake, but then her grampa tells her a Seneca folktale that reminds her how much she appreciates her home and her place in the world.

For more information click link below:

http://www.welcomingschools.org/pages/books-to-engage-students-on-bullying

We are continuing to collect items for Helping Hands for Puerto Rico

Here are suggested items:

Batteries, flashlights, water purifying tablets, first aid kits, bandages, small tool kits, hygiene products, sewing kits, small fire extinguishers, manual can openers, wrenches to turn off gas lines, battery-operated radios, garbage bags, dish soap, disinfectant, paper cups, plates, napkins, latex gloves and work gloves, baby wipes, sterile eye wash, sun screen, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, adhesive tape and prepackaged tarps

THIS WEEK’S

October 31st	First Grade Dress as your favorite Storybook Character
October 31st	Kindergarten Costume Parade	First Thing in the Morning
November 11/1	Faculty Meeting	2:45-3:45
November 2nd	School Council	7:00-8:00 Library
November 11/5	Daylight Savings Don’t forget to turn the clock back!
November 11/7	No School Students Teacher’s PD Day Don’t forget to Vote!!!!	All Day
November 11/8	Grade Level Meetings TLA and Math in Focus	3:00-5:00
November 11/10	Veteran’s Day Observed	All Day
November 11/13	Meet your Buddy	1:30-2:10 pm
November 11/14	PTO Meeting	6:30-7:30 Lowell Library
November 15th	PLT Meeting for Teachers	2:45-3:45 pm
November 17	Coffee for parents of ELL Students English Language Learners	8:30 am Cafeteria
November 11/15	Picture Retake Day	All Day
November 11/16	TLA Professional Development Grade 3 & Mr. Fiandaca and Mrs. Riley MacDonald	8:30-11:30
November 11/20	Eat Lunch with your Buddy Day	During Scheduled lunches TBD
November 11/22	Early Release Day	12:15
November 23	Thanksgiving Day No School	Happy Turkey Day!
November 24th	No School Thanksgiving Break better known as Black Friday!!! Shopping Day!	Enjoy!

James Russell Lowell School

Monday, October 30, 2017

This Week’s Featured Event

Books to Engage Students on Bullying and Diversity

Download PDF

Picture Books

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