Dear Lowell,

We did it! We have successfully moved out of the Lowell West and Phillips Building. We are working hard over the weekend to unpack and get ready for Wednesday's grand reopening of Lowell School.

Things to know about our first day of school:

1. We will begin our drop and go line on the Wednesday, October 11th. Students in grades 3-5 will be dropped off at the Lowell Street Entrance (Main Office) and grades K-2 will be dropped off in front of the kindergarten entrance located on George Street. The same drop and go line has the ability to stop at each location. We will have lots of staff helping you and your student. Students will be escorted inside to find their classroom.
2. We will begin cafeteria dining on Wednesday. We will be holding training sessions with each grade prior to the actual service time.
3. Our little playground located near the Orchard Street Hill will not open until Monday, October 16th. All students will have recess in the Lowell Street playground and ball field.
4. Grab and go breakfast is available for all our students beginning at 8:05.
5. Doors DO NOT open until 8:05. Please DO NOT leave your child unattended before the school officially opens.
6. Below you will find pick-up locations for each grade.
7. Boys and Girls Club Bus students will continue to have bus service to the club.
8. Please notify classroom teachers if a dismissal plan is being changed. Changes must be made by 9:00 a.m. in the morning to ensure communication has been received in time.
9. If you have an emergency and your dismissal plan needs updating, please call the school and ask to speak with Kara Flynn, the administrative assistant. She will be able to support your needs.
10. We can't wait to welcome our students to their new fantastic building.

With Gratitude,

Stacy

In light of the ongoing presence of the COVID, which continues to exert a significant influence on the issue of absenteeism, it is imperative that we acknowledge the profound impact that this virus has had on our educational institutions. It is crucial to recognize that the occurrence of five absences can rapidly accumulate when a student tests positive for COVID-19, thereby necessitating a period of isolation and recovery. Moreover, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to those families who, in a commendable display of proactive responsibility, choose to keep their children at home when they exhibit symptoms such as fever, thereby preventing the potential spread of the virus within our school community. However, it is our utmost priority to ensure that you, as parents of our educational community, remain well-informed and up-to-date with regards to the matter of absences. Thus, we endeavor to provide you with comprehensive and timely communication regarding this issue, as we firmly believe that transparency and open dialogue are essential in fostering a supportive and cohesive educational environment.

Thank you for using the absence form to report your student's absences. We appreciate your support and hope you find the form more efficient.

To keep you informed about your student's absences, we will be sending letters to families with five or more absences. Please note that students with documented absences due to COVID will not receive these letters. However, if your student has an additional five absences, you will receive a letter notifying you that the absences have reached ten. We will also reach out to see if you need any additional support regarding absences.

It is important to know that the state considers students chronically absent if they are absent for 18 or more days during the school year. Regardless of the reason for the absence, the state does not recognize it as an excused or unexcused absence. Please be aware that students who are absent for 2 or more days per month will most likely receive a letter by December.

Our guidance counselors will be sending letters to families by October 15th. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sign-ups for parent/caregiver conferences will be live on Monday, October 9th. You can access your child's teacher's page using the following link.

George Street & Fuller Street

Lowell Street & York Ave

Orchard Street & Carroll Street

We will no longer have a crossing guard at the corner of Orchard Street and George Street

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.

Fifth grade student, Abram Pranevich, is being highlighted at the Watertown Free and Public Library. Halloween customs through the years. Here are the previous six years of Halloween costumes are on display. They are up until Halloween. The picture below is from 2019.

Watertown Fire Department Open House

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 10 AM – 2 PM

Come join us for some fun, food, and live demonstrations. Learn about fire safety and what you can do to

keep your friends, family, and pets safe.

It's that time of year again! We are gearing up for the 2023 Metro Boston Diaper Drive, which will run from Oct. 15 - 28. I'm wondering if you would be willing to publicize the Diaper Drive in your newsletter for Lowell Elementary, as you have in the past. I have attached our flyer and a blurb (see below) for your use.

Last year, donations declined for the first time in the history of the Drive, and yet need continues to grow. We get it. Donor fatigue is real, and there is no shortage of good causes. We continue to believe that ensuring that local babies have enough diapers is a high priority and fundamental need, and we can achieve it with your help! So if you're interested and able, here are a few other ways to help:

• Take a moment to share the Drive with your own network.
• Make a donation if you're able (the registries are up and running, so donations can be made anytime).
• Now that we have essentially returned to normalcy, we are also looking for people who are willing to get permission to put out boxes to collect donations at area schools and businesses and then deliver them to WIC in Somerville. If you would be able to do that, or know someone who would, please let me know. I want to be able to direct donors to boxes where they can donate loose diapers in person.

Thank you so much for your support!

Warmly, Kim

Did you know that SNAP and WIC benefits do not cover diapers? This leaves many families to make difficult decisions between food, diapers, and other needs. The annual Metro-Boston Diaper Drive gives all donated diapers to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Watertown, Lexington, Bedford, Lincoln and Belmont. This year’s Drive will run from October 15 - 28. Please visit mbdiapers.org to make a donation, or click directly on the links to the Amazon and Target registries. Please help us get 70,000 diapers onto the babies in the Metro-Boston area who need them! Read more about why diaper drives like the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive are so important HERE.

Links (in case you need them):

Amazon: https://amzn.to/48y09Cj

Target: https://bit.ly/3ZC9mFy

• 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

J.R. Lowell Elementary School

175 Orchard Street

Watertown, Ma 02472

Phone: 1-617-926-7770

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary

Website: https://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/

Principal- Stacy Phelan

stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal- Benjamin Kraus

benjamin.krausfriedmann@watertown.k12.ma

Administrative Assistant- Kara Flynn

kara.flynn@watertown.k12.ma.us

Receptionist- Jim Swift

james.swift@watertown.k12.ma.us

Nurse- Kathy Taverna

katherine.taverna@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Brian Connors

brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us

Special Education Team Chair- Greg Roberts, ext. 37171

gregory.roberts@watertown.k12.ma.us

LEDP Site Coordinator- Adam Vachon

adam.vachon@watertown.k12.ma.us