Lowell School Newsletter

This Week’s Featured Event

Lowell PTO Meeting

Tuesday, October 10th, 6:30-7:30 pm

Lowell School Library

On Tuesday, October 10th the Lowell School’s PTO will conduct its monthly meeting. At this meeting we will be holding elections for our School Council. We currently have four faculty members who were voted in by their peers. Anne Sudbay who teaches fifth grade, Emily Walsh who teaches third grade, Ann Cox is one of our reading teachers, and Jean Qualters who is our Speech Pathologist. We have 8 parents running for 5 seats. This newsletter highlights their bios. Please come to the PTO meeting to vote for School Council. You must be present to vote.

Helping Hands for Puerto Rico

We have a few families who have been deeply affected by the hurricane in Puerto Rico. One

family would like to organize a drive to collect small items to ship to the island. If you would like to support this donation drive, please send in items with your child. We will collect items in the  main office and the guidance office. If you have any questions please call Hope Notaro.

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.

Join us in saying Good Morning in Spanish

The Lowell School is going to greet students in their home languages for one week starting tomorrow morning. We will begin will Spanish and go in alphabetical order. Are aim is to greet all students using the home language of our school. We are very excited to begin tomorrow. Please join us!

Cara Coller

My name is Cara Coller, and I am the mother of three children. Jourdan in 9th grade, Isabella in 5 th grade, and Brady in 1 st grade at the Lowell School in Mr. Fiandaca’s class. This is my fifth year being a part of the Lowell family. My son Jourdan attended fifth grade at James Russell Lowell when we moved here in 2013, and his entire experience was wonderful. Brady has

been at the Lowell since Pre-k. My background is in Fine Arts and Education. I have worked as an Assistant- Teacher for two years in Kindergarten at Greenfield Day School in Miami, FL and a full time Computer Teacher at Greenfield for three years prior to my son Jourdan being born. Since then, I have been very involved in my childrens’ schools and Special Education. I began the PALS Program, (Parent’s Assisting and Lending Support) at the University of Miami Autism Center in 2006, I sat on the Board at Greenfield Day School in Miami, FL for 2 years and

co-owned and taught Socializing Through Art at the Children’s Therapy Center in South Miami. Since moving to Massachusetts, I have been very involved at the Perkins School for the Blind where my daughter attends school. I am the President of the Parent Advisory Board for the last three years. I created the August Summer Activity Program at the Perkins School

and have helped organize and run it for the last four years. I also help to organize the Beeping Egg Hunt and the Taste of Perkins for the last two years. I am honored to be on the Committee for Full Inclusion at Temple Emanuel of Newton, which is a program that allows all individuals to be included. I attend many Watertown School Committee meetings and Superintendent Coffees. I have a strong belief in giving our children every opportunity to grow and succeed in our schools and have great respect for the amazing team we have at James Russell Lowell Elementary. I feel I would be an asset to the School Council because of my diverse background

in education, the arts, and special needs. I am sorry I am unable to attend the first meeting due to a previous commitment at my daughter’s school, but I have saved the future dates of the Council Meetings and look forward to attending them. It would be my honor to serve our school and our principal in any way I can.

Seta Davidian

I have a 5 th grade girl and a son in 8 th grade at the middle school who also went to the Lowell. I have been on Site Council for the past several years. As a Lowell parent for the past 9 years, I have seen several changes at the Lowell in terms of leadership and curriculum. I am happy to help continue the upward momentum we are on for our school. I have an undergraduate degree in marketing from Babson College, and a MBA also from Babson. I have my own marketing business where I help small to medium sized technical companies develop content, sales

generation tools and more.

Michelle Flanagan

I have a child in second grade and another in fourth grade. I also have a child at the Middle School. Since my first child started at the Lowell in 2008, I have been involved in a number of areas of the school. Initially, I was a parent rep on the PTO for 4 years during that time I co-chaired the PTO’s annual auction. Subsequently, I have sat on

school council for the past 4 years. I enjoy the process of actively learning about the intricacies of the school learning environment, looking at what we do well and determining areas for

improvement. Like all families, my children have various learning styles, socials skills and abilities, they fall into many groups. With that in mind, I’d like to continue to work with the school council in crafting goals for all students at the Lowell.

Barbara Franklin

My name is Barbara Franklin and I am a parent of a 6 th grade daughter, 3rd grade daughter and a 1 st grade son in the WPS. I am a Watertown resident since 2001 and have become increasingly involved in community/school as the kids and family have grown. I have been a parent representative on the Lowell Site Council for the past 3 years and am an active volunteer in my kid’s clubs (Watertown Youth Soccer and Watertown Boys and Girls Club Wavemakers Swim team). As a family we like to travel ‘home’ to Ireland and spend time boating, biking and beaching in Cape Cod. I have an MS and am currently working as a Project Manager in a Global

Pharmaceutical company (Oncology). I have seen the progress made at the Lowell School over the past number of years and would welcome the opportunity to continue to work with the

teachers, leadership and parents in supporting a school that provides all students with a learning environment that sets high expectations and stimulates thinking, problem-solving, inquiry, creativity and hard work.

David Oliver

I have served on Site Council the last few years and am very much interested in pushing the school to incorporate available educational resources from the Boston area to give kids exposure, particularly to math and science. My father is a retired school superintendent and curriculum specialist… I grew up with educational issues as dinner table conversation. While my wife and I supplement our child’s education with outside activities, but it’s important that his peers have as much access to experiences that will excite them about learning as the school and community can provide. How do we incorporate student centered learning, so that children become self-directed and the question “why do I have to learn this?” is never an obstacle to learning? We love Watertown’s diversity and would like to see the range of cultures and languages spoken in homes here treated as an advantage rather than a handicap. I’ve been involved in educational endeavors as a volunteer and as a consultant: FIRST Mentor in its early years and designed the kits and challenge in year 3. Roaming guest teacher at middle schools in the Boston area for Boston Edison. Taught incoming freshmen at MIT’s Edgerton Center Designed generators and other projects that kids could build with materials found commonly in a school for TERC – Technology Education Resource Center. I am a mechanical engineer/design consultant and work on consumer and medical hardware products.

Diego Hammerschlag

have lived in Watertown since 2000. I have 2 girls attending the Lowell School in 2nd and 5th grade as well as attending the Lowell Extended Day Program (LEDP). I strongly believe in community and parental involvement as a cornerstone of a successful school and that has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a part of the Lowell School. I have served in the School Site Council since 2016 and have  been active as a core member of Watertown Strong Schools.  Watertown Strong Schools is a grassroots organization focused on raising awareness on issues related to Watertown Public Schools, general education, and well being of the children of Watertown. If you have attended Math night or Science night at the school, you will have likely seen me running a table on magnetism or other interesting subjects. Last but not least, I pride myself of running the largest 'Walking Bus' in town walking with anywhere between 5-12 kids on most days throughout the year. As a child, I have attended public as well as private school and have been exposed to bilingual education. I also run a Facebook group for active parents seeking a more active lifestyle compatible with the challenges of raising a young family. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on the Lowell School Council.

Kyle Hansen

I feel one of the greatest gifts a child can receive is a quality education, which includes learning how to learn and developing a love for learning. Especially at the Elementary level of education, this should be a broad survey of subjects ranging from physical education to music to STEAM subjects and others. These are qualities and focuses I hope to help ensure are met in the Lowell

School’s Improvement Plan and is reflected in the budgetary expenses for the school.

My quantitative background and research-based approach to problems is supported in my work as a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. My wife and I grew up in Utah and have lived in Watertown for 3 years. We both greatly value the diversity of Watertown

and it’s schools as we have our oldest son in Kindergarten this year with another 2 year old still preparing for school.

Lisa McDonagh

As the mother of a kindergarten student, I am new to the Lowell school parent community.  However, I have been a part of Watertown schools for a long time as a seventh grade Humanities teachers at Watertown Middle School and long-time resident.  Since my son, Liam, started Pre-K last year, I have been impressed with the Lowell community and have been looking for a way to participate that best matches what I have to offer. The school council seems like a good fit. I would hope to draw on some of the big picture perspective I have gained from teaching in this district, and share my insight on the middle school years ahead. While the majority of my teaching has been in middle school, I have a had teaching experiences with 4th - 12th grade, ranging from Boston Public Schools to Phillips Academy. Since my son is just beginning his school years, I am invested in the future vision for the school and district levels open the way for change and growth for our children’s future.

THIS WEEK’S

TOP STORIES

Storybook Character Day

On Tuesday, October 31st, First Graders will be celebrating literature with our very own Storybook Character Day!

TASK:

1.             Pick a Character:  Students and their family members select a character from a book they have read.

2.             Fill out the Character/Problem/Solution flipbook:  Students complete book at home with family members.

3.             Costume:  Decide how you can dress up to resemble a character from your book.  Costumes need not be elaborate.  Try to use materials from around your home.

4.             Snack Bag: Feel free to send a special snack packed in students’ decorated brown bag (this will come home Monday the 30th)

Please have students bring in their flip book and literature book by Friday, October 27th.

This week the neighbors of York Road called the school to report parents driving too quickly up the hill.  Many of our students walk up the street on their way to school. They often cross the street between parked cars. Please drive slowly up the street. We all know the phrase…”Drive like your child lives here!”

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Friday, October 13th Mrs. Phelan is hosting a Coffee for parents of Fourth Grade.

8:30-9:30 in the Cafeteria

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Friday’s Movie  Night was a huge success! Thank you! Nikki and Donna and all the PTO volunteers!

Math in Focus Parent University

The event is for all elementary school parents (k5) to learn more about our math curriculum from professional development providers from Math in Focus. It is the first of this kind of event and we hoping for a great turnout! It will be held on Monday, November 6th in the WMS Auditorium from 6:30-8:00 pm. This is a parent only event. Please email Elizabeth Kaplan, Elementary Math/Science Coordinator, with any questions.

elizabeth.kaplan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Dates: Event: Time/Location:

October 8th	No School Columbus Day Observed	All Day
October 10th	PTO Meeting School Council Vote	6:30-7:30 PM Library
October 12th	Teachers Learning Alliance Visits the Lowell School for grade 1 and 3.	8:30-11:30
October 13th	Fourth Grade Parent’s Coffee with Mrs. Phelan	8:30-9:30 Cafeteria
October 18th	Early Release for Students & PD for Teachers	12:15 Dismissal Time
October 20th	Fifth Grade Parent’s Coffee with Mrs. Phelan	8:30-9:30 Cafeteria

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