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Dear Lowell Families,

I am delighted to inform you that we have identified three finalists for the position of Assistant Principal at Lowell School: Carolyn McHugh, Susan Carle, and Tara Rufo. Each finalist has been invited to spend a day visiting our school next week. The scheduled visit days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

During their visits, the finalists will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Lowell School community. They will meet with Dr. Galdston, have lunch with our current fourth-grade students, and engage in various activities that will give them a better understanding of our school and the people who work here.

Additionally, we are organizing a community forum via Zoom on the evening of each candidate's visit. These forums will take place from 6:30 to 7:15. It is an excellent opportunity for members of the Lowell community to ask the candidates questions directly and get to know them better.

Below is a sample schedule of the activities planned for the finalists' visit:

Tuesday:

• 10:00-10:30: Lowell School Meet and Greet with the SEL team
• 10:30-11:00: Meeting with Dr. Galdston
• 12:00-12:20: Building tour
• 12:20-12:50: Lunch with Fourth Grade Students
• 12:50-1:15: Break
• 1:15-1:45: Observation/Evaluation of a performance task
• 1:45-2:15: Meeting with Stacy
• 2:30-3:00: Staff Forum (All staff members are welcome)
• 
  

Wednesday and Thursday will follow a similar schedule, with each finalist participating on their designated day.

We sincerely appreciate your involvement and support throughout this process. Your participation in the parent forum is highly encouraged, as your questions and perspectives are valuable in selecting the best candidate for our school.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

With gratitude,

Stacy

2024 Summer Explorations Program Registration Opens Thursday, April 4th!

Online registration for Watertown Community Education's 2024 Summer Explorations Program, being held at the Hosmer Elementary School, opens at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 4th! Spaces are limited, please register early. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click the link to the 2024 Summer Explorations Program Smore Flyer for full details including cost, dates, and themes, and to access the online Google Form registration link https://forms.gle/c1q6QXs1qpJGbGJ2A.

Please reach out to Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and Jeff Bodner at jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions regarding the 2024 Summer Explorations Program.

Conferences continue this week with slots available on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening.

Please click on this link to sign up for a time with your student's teacher(s) if you have not already done so.

Look at the amazing proposals that some students in 2nd grade did to present at the Lowell Street Playground Meeting. We love the creativity and the incredible work they did!

Hello!

Lowell School students will plant a lovely School Garden this Spring.

How about planting a lovely School Forest this Fall?

Forests for Watertown* is making YardArt to introduce you to the forest idea.

Where would it be? How big would it be?

Can you join us on Saturday, March 30th at noon to install YardArt in the schoolyard while kids are drawing forest life: birds, bees, butterflies, squirrels.

Here's a form to tell us whether you can join us and/or help us by ...

• decorating a stepping stone we'll supply, or

• loaning us a "Shepherd's Hook" for all of April (we need a few)

• donating old screens for doors or windows you don't want anymore

• donating old CDs you don't want anymore

You can learn more here – The Forest so Far – and here – our Forest Flyer so far.

*This is a project of Trees for Watertown in collaboration with the City.

Sign-ups for parent/caregiver conferences are live now. You can access your child's teacher's page using the following link.

All students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking MCAS on the following dates. Please plan ahead to ensure that students are in school and ready.

Grades 3, 4 and 5 - ELA Test

• Tuesday, April 9th
• Thursday, April 11th

Grades 3, 4 and 5 - MATH Test

• Tuesday, May 7th
• Thursday, May 9th

Grade 5 only - SCIENCE Test

• Tuesday, May 14th
• Thursday, May 16th

All test sessions begin at 8:40 am.

Please make sure your child is at school on time. Students who arrive late may not be able to participate in the test session with their class. They will take that test session on a make-up test day.

A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast will positively impact your child’s test experience.

Encourage your child to take their time and do their best.

\Registration for kindergarten is now open! Students are eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years old before September 1st. Students must be five years old in order to begin Kindergarten. More information about Kindergarten can be found in this presentation. The link to register is https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/about_our_district/registration_for_school.

If you would like assistance with completing the registration or family questionnaire, please email Terri Stafford (terri.stafford@watertown.k12.ma.us) for assistance in English, Portuguese or Spanish, and she will be able to schedule an appointment with you.

YardArt 2024:

YardArt is a uniquely Watertown event that celebrates creativity during the entire month of April! Everyone can participate, including families and individuals, by making art for their front yards, porches, or windows. For more information, go to https://www.mosesianarts.org/YardArt

Thanks so much. Let me know if you have any questions.

Community Kingian Training:

A free course on Kingian Nonviolence principles and actions is being offered on March 2 + 9 at the Watertown Police Department Community Room. Use the QR code below or the link bit.ly/kingian2024 for more information and to register.

Announcement: Parents’ Recreational Softball League, Season 3 (Spring 2024)!

We are currently in the process of organizing season 3 (Spring 2024) of the Watertown Parents Softball

League. Seasons 1 and 2 were super fun, and we are expecting season 3 to be even better! For those

who haven’t played before, the Watertown Parents Softball League is a recreational softball league for

parents of kids in the Watertown schools. It is very relaxed and social and open to players of all skill

levels. If we get enough players signed up, teams will be school-based to give parents a fun opportunity

to socialize and build community with other parents at their kid’s school.

If you might be interested in participating, please fill out the Google Doc below.

Use this Link

For additional information please contact Jesse Fenichel at jfenichel@gmail.com

• Tuesday, March 19th - 12:15 Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:00 - 2:30
• Thursday, March 21st - Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 6:30
• Friday, March 22nd - Classroom Smores go home
• Thursday, March 28st - Parent Teacher Conferences - 5:00 - 7:00
• Friday, March 29th - 12:00 Dismissal
• Tuesday, April 9th - ELA MCAS
• Wednesday, April 10th - 12:15 Dismissal
• Thursday, April 11th - ELA MCAS
• Thursday, April 11th - Diversity Council - Joint Meeting - In Person at Hosmer
• Monday, April 15th - Friday, April 19th - No School - April Vacation

J.R. Lowell Elementary School

123 Lowell Ave.

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 Melina Jacovides k-2

melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Brian Connors 3-5

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