Monday, June 18, 2018

newsletter 6-18-18


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Lowell School Newsletter


Move Up Day Scheduled for June 20th



Assistant Principal Finalist

We will host our last finalist on Thursday, June 21st.
Mrs. Candice Whitemore’s visit will be as follows

8:00 am Arrival
8:00-8:20 Meet with the Superintendent
8:20-9:00 Parent Meet and Greet in the Library
9:00-10:00 Meet with the Interview Committee
10:00-10:30 Tour the School
10:30-11:00 Meet with Mrs. Phelan
11:00-12:00 Meet with Teachers in the Library











Watertown Elementary Summer Math Program for Students Entering Grades 4-6

We are excited to offer TenMarks online math program for your students to use.
www.tenmarks.com


Details
  • Parents of students entering grades 4-6 for the 2018-2019 school year will be able to use the login they have been using over the current school year.

  • This program is optional but is a great resource for students to use over the summer.

  • Students will be working to reinforce math skills and will not be covering future grade level skills.

  • Your student has already been working with TenMarks this school year. It can be used on a tablet, phone, or computer.

Questions
  • For questions regarding your student log-in, contact your current classroom teacher.
  • For other questions, feel free to contact Elizabeth Kaplan, Elementary Math/Science Coordinator.












Watertown Elementary Summer Math Program for Students Entering Grades 1-3

We are excited to offer SplashMath Summer for your students to use.

The 8-week Splash Math Summer Program offers:

 In-depth diagnostic assessment
 Personalized learning plans based on each student’s skill level
 Weekly printables like puzzles, riddles, etc.
 Regular activity reports for educators and parents
 Certificate of completion for students

Details
  • Parents of students entering grades 1-3 for the 2018-2019 school year will receive login information from your current classroom teachers.

  • This program is optional but is a great resource for students to use over the summer.

  • Students will be working to reinforce math skills and will not be covering future grade level skills.

  • Your student has already been working with SplashMath this school year. It can be used on a tablet, phone, or computer.

Questions
  • For questions regarding your student and parent log-in, contact your current classroom teacher.
  • For other questions, feel free to contact Elizabeth Kaplan, Elementary Math/Science Coordinator.

Letter From Our Outgoing President Nikki Muraca

With this being the last week of school, I wanted to share with you a PTO year end recap and thank each of you for the time you’ve taken to come to meetings and present your ideas, or sending me emails asking to help out at events or providing suggestions and feedback, having patience as we tried new things and tolerating me as I would wander around the school doing PTO stuff.
So to recap the 2017/2018 year:
We raised $20,000 in our auction this year, $5000 in dues, another $3498 from the spelling bee, $1496 from misc fundraisers (amazon smile, red sox game, stop and shop rewards), $1653 from Silver Graphics, $600 in box tops, $2895 in grants for specific programs, all in all (minus our auction and Paypal expenses) we raised over $32,000 this year.  A 2018.2019 budget was presented by Donna Tuccinardi (next years PTO President) and approved in a meeting held last week, where the funds raised this year will be budgeted/spent.
Due to a successful year last year (2016.2017), we came into this year trying to determine the best way to spend the money thoughtfully but also having an immediate impact on our children’s educational experience. I worked with Ms. Phelan to implement a new funding program, encouraging all teachers and staff to approach the organization with funding ideas and needs for their classrooms or teams. I’m happy to say that we approved over $20,000 in funding for school wide initiatives such as buses for each grade for one field trip, buses for the all school field trip, the buddy program, building classroom libraries, and the afterschool clubs. In addition, we funded individual requests from teaching teams, teachers and specialists. Nothing was more gratifying, than sitting in those meetings, hearing all your fantastic ideas or understanding what is needed for our children and have our organization fund them. Additionally, we provided a wish list of supplies at the beginning of the year, scholarships, and a $75 teacher/staff reimbursement.
The PTO also hosted or supported a number of community events throughout the year, Movie Night, the Halloween party, Literacy Night (we can’t take the credit for this outside of paying for it and some volunteers, you all have this down to a science running it), International Night, the Spelling Bee and the End of Year Picnic being held today.
We had a wonderful parent (Lauren Unsworth, PTO VP next fall) that wrote grants on behalf of teachers and the PTO, and was awarded $2895. She also reached out to Home Depot and had them donate a shed for Ms. Donohue and Ms. Loguidice. We also had smaller miscellaneous things we supported financially throughout the year.
When I started out as a parent with a kindergarten student I really had no idea what to expect at the Lowell. I had attended the PTO meetings with my neighbor and really loved what the organizations goals were and thought about what I could contribute. For the last four years it’s been such a pleasure to get to know and work with all of you. Your support, help and participation was a driving factor in why I loved running this organization. I want to wish each of you a wonderful and relaxing summer and an easy entry into the fall of 2018.
Best Wishes,
Nikki Muraca



June 18th
Ms. Richardson’s
Year End Celebration
Parents Welcome
8:15-9:00 AM
June 18th
Gr. 5-Ice cream social
1:15-2:15 PM
June 18th
End of the Year Picnic
Sponsored by the
PTO
4:00 PM
June 19th
Yoga Party
PreK
Ms. LaBella’s room
8:30-9:00 AM
June 20th
Public Librarian Visit
PreK-2
3rd - 5th
8:30 - 9:00 AM
   9:30-10:00 AM
June 20th
End of the Year Showcase
Ms. Walsh’s Room 206
8:30 AM
June 20th
Move Up Day
For Students
Students will meet their next year’s teacher and Classmates
June 20th
Move Up Ceremony
Practice
TBD
June 21st
Pre-K & K Last day of school

June 21st
Grade 5
Move Up Ceremony
1:00-2:30
Field



    
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Monday, June 11, 2018

Newsletter 6-11-18


                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Lowell School Newsletter
Mrs. Walsh & Ms. Jacobson’s class performed “Boston Tea Party Play.”
Mrs. Walsh and Ms. Jacobson ’s third-grade class completed a unit on American History and Reader’s Theatre. Students performed the “Boston Tea Party” for their teachers and families. Students wore costumes and carried props; the scenery was created by the students and changed some times during the play. Everyone in the class participated in the permitted me, and the students each read their lines with distinction and clarity. Great Job!


Move Up Day for grades K-4 is scheduled for June 20th

Lowell Learning Garden
Message from our Garden Coordinator Kathleen McGah
The Lowell Learning Garden is looking for volunteers to adopt the garden for a week over the summer. Garden care involves watering, weeding, and harvesting at least three times/week, depending on the weather.  You can sign up alone, or share your week with another family. We hope you'll consider helping out! Here is the signup link for more details and to sign up for a week that works for you:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4ba5aa2ba1fa7-20181
All Elementary Band Concert
Thursday night students from the Cunniff, Hosmer, and Lowell came together at the High School to perform in front of a packed house. Students performers represented strings, band, and chorus. It is amazing to see how large a group of students is participating in Watertown’s music program. Thank you to all the music teachers who have brought a love of music and performing to our children. You make us all proud.

Assistant Principal Candidates

Elizabeth Castellana-
Currently Assistant Principal, Cambridge Public Schools
Erin Moulton-
Currently Principal, St. Peter Academy, South Boston, MA
Candice Whitmore-
Currently Assistant Principal, at Chavez Elementary School, Madison, WI

One candidate has not given me permission to publish her name as of yet when she does, I will release it.

*****************************************************


Mrs. Phelan, Cara Collier, and Diego Hammerschlag presented the 2018-2019
School Improvement Plan to the School Committee on Monday, June 4th
Here is a copy of the Powerpoint presented and the SIP.


School Improvement Plan
School Improvement Plan Presentation

Field Day 2018
Field Day was a Huge Success
Ms. Donahue and Ms. Loguidice planned Field Day for this year just as they've done for over ten years. The amount of planning, set up, execution, and clean up that goes into this event is tremendous. They start planning months in advance and begin soliciting volunteers in the early winter. They make sure each parent volunteer understands all procedures for this event and train each volunteer in the particular game they run. A master schedule is made for the volunteers and teachers to follow. After the Field Day events are over everyone eats lunch together followed by a game of peace-of-war between the k-2 parents and teachers against the 3-5 parents and teachers. The day ended with a faculty kickball game for the students to watch while enjoying a popsicle. The faculty from grade 3-5 won the kickball game this year!
Thank you to Eileen, Tina, our wonderful volunteers and all the contributors who donated to the day. Here are just a few pictures.




Pre-k & Kindergarten’s Last Day is June 21st
Incoming Kindergarten parents are welcome to attend a brief meeting with our specialists and Kindergarten team.
Friday, June 22nd at 10:15 am.
End of the Year Picnic Sponsored by the PTO
Monday, June 18th 4:00-6:00 pm
Summer Literacy Camp will be held at Lowell School by invitation.
Watertown Public Schools is offering a Summer Literacy Camp to selected students in grades K-5.  Students were selected based on teacher recommendations and performance on reading assessments.  Summer literacy camp will be a fun and engaging opportunity for students to avoid the summer slide and keep students engaged in reading and talking about books.  Parents of selected students will receive an email invitation early June with directions to register.
When?  July 9th- August 2nd from Monday to Thursday
Time?  Camp will run from 8:30-11:30 am
Cost?  FREE, paid for with Title I funds
Where?  Lowell Elementary School, 175 Orchard Street
Spots in the program are limited.  Preference will be given to students who can commit to attending all four weeks. If you need further information please contact our Literacy Coordinator, Allison Donovan at Allison.donovan@watertown.k12.ma.us

June 13
Grade 3 Field Trip
Visit Gore Place
Ms. Moriarty’s Class needs to eat during 1st Lunch
TBD
June 14th
Move Up Day
WMS
12:30-1:45 PM
WMS
June 15th
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
7:30--8:30 AM
June 15
Kindergarten Picnic
11:30
Orchard St.
Hill
June 15th
Fifth Grade
Field Trip to
Tree Top Adventures
All Day
Event
June 18th
Ms. Richardson’s
Year End Celebration
Parents Welcome
8:15-9:00 AM
June 18th
Gr. 5-Ice cream social
1:15-2:15 PM
June 18th
End of the Year Picnic
Sponsored by the
PTO
4:00 PM
June 19th
Yoga Party
PreK
Ms. LaBella’s room
8:30-9:00 AM
June 20th
Public Librarian Visit
PreK-2
3rd - 5th
8:30 - 9:00 AM
   9:30-10:00 AM
June 20th
End of the Year Showcase
Ms. Walsh’s Room 206
8:30 AM
June 20th
Move Up Day
For Students
Students will meet their next year’s teacher and Classmates
June 20th
Move Up Ceremony
Practice
TBD
June 21st
Pre-K & K Last day of school

June 21st
Grade 5
Move Up Ceremony
1:00-2:30
Field

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