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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа.

Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

Dear Families,

Thank you for all the patience and cooperation. We know there were some technical difficulties experience with many of our devices. We've shared the tech newsletter with you to help troubleshoot any difficulties you may be experiencing. We also recognize we have been able to Launch See-Saw yet for grades k-2. We are hoping to get that up and running this week. When we do it will support your child's ability to navigate their day with increased independence. In the meantime, your help is greatly appreciated. If you experience difficulty navigating your schedule or accessing links please feel free to call the main office and we will do everything we can to support you over the phone.

I'm hosting a parent forum this week on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm. I'd liked to hear how it's going and what we can do to help you. I'm including the event and zoom link below.

Candice and I are back hosting morning annoucments! Links will be added to Students Google Classroom and See-Saw accounts next week. Here is the link you can use tomorrow. We've missed you.

We hope to see you tomorrow morning!

Stacy

Let's start the school day together! Join Mrs. Phelan and Mrs. Whitmore for morning announcements every morning starting at 8:00 am.

Announcement Schedule:

• Greeting
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Lowell School Pledge
• Thought for the Day
• Updates or Highlights.

Please see the zoom invite below.

Topic: Morning Announcement Zoom Meeting

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting

https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/93942649049

i-Ready Updates

Our annual universal assessments in math and literacy will begin shortly. Students in grades 1-9 will take the i-Ready fall diagnostic in October. This will provide us with important data on how students are performing in both math and literacy. In grades 1 - 8, the fall diagnostic data will help teachers to create individualized lesson paths for students to work through in online instruction. In grade 9, it is used for beginning of year data and end of year growth. As in past years, Kindergarten will take their first diagnostic in December. i-Ready conducted studies of the reliability of the data when giving the diagnostic remotely in the spring across various districts. Their findings revealed that there was less score inflation in districts that were communicating directly with families and when families watched i-Ready family videos about the diagnostic. To that end, we encourage parents/families to view this video to refresh or learn about i-Ready to best support their children.

• Introducing i-Ready Assessment at Home to Families Videos (English | Spanish)

• Family Guidance for Administering the diagnostic At Home videos (English | Spanish)

We will be administering the diagnostic during live Zoom meetings. The diagnostic window for elementary (grades 1-5) is scheduled 10/8 - 10/16 and for secondary (grades 6-9) between 10/19 - 10/30. Classroom teachers will provide more information in the Weekly Learning Plans. The i-Ready experience better helps teachers:

• Use insights from i-Ready to plan instruction

• Set goals and help students take ownership of their learning

• Monitor students’ progress on the i-Ready Diagnostic (Grades K-8)

• Intervene using differentiated resources when students need support (Grades K-8)

• See student growth and celebrate gains w/students and parents (Grades K-8)

Dear Lowell Families,

Our handbooks are updated each school year to reflect our current policies and procedures. I have attached the Student and Parent handbooks to this communication. We ask that you read and submit the form verifying you have read and recieved the handbooks. Parents should fill out one form for each child.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and respond.

Stacy

Please complete the form attached here:

https://forms.gle/sMSrjBiedsoUgnUP8

Please take a few moments to review all the robust technology support our Digital Learning Team has put together to support our families.

Welcome WPS Families to your Family EdTech for ALL Resources Website that hosts all resources that are being created and curated for WPS Families.

Please click on the 09/25 Weekly WPS Family Ed Tech for ALL Newsletter for information and resources. We look forward to meeting you at the School-based Family Ed Tech Support Session.

Thank you,

Rashmi

Bi-Weekly Lowell Family Ed-Tech Support Session

All Lowell Families invited

Monday

09/28/2020

4:00-4:30

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 941 4157 4004

Passcode: 524027

Lowell Elementary PTO minutes for Tuesday, Sept. 15 @ 6:30 pm

~22 participants in the Zoom meeting

1. Welcome back and introduction of all parents in attendance

2. Ms. Connors presented the Kindergarten teacher's request for yoga mats for the kids

to use for movement while social distancing. 60 mats x $6.79 each = $527.40 total.

The request was approved. It was noted that all teachers could ask to be reimbursed for

up to $100 for any school supplies, which is different than special requests like this.

3. Open PTO positions include VP, Enrichment Coordinator, and Grade 1 Coordinator.

The Grade 5 Planning Committee consists of Emily, Kerri, and Jennine.

4. The playdates by grade level were cancelled by the town. There was concern that

the town and PTO members could be sued, so the legal issues need to be understood

before any in-person events can be planned. We could get PTO insurance, but it isn't

clear if that would cover Covid-related issues. It may also be possible to coordinate

events with the Hosmer and Cuniff PTOs.

5. Lauren presented an overview of a possible Get Lively partnership. Given the

limitations due to Covid, there may be no way to sponsor teacher clubs this year. Are

there local businesses, such as Get Lively, that could offer activities in small group

settings? Would be nice to support local businesses, but it would not be free or low cost

for families. Could we involve the Watertown Community Foundation somehow?

However there will still be issues with liability and budgeting.

6. Ann gave an overview of the Book Fair plans. It will be with Follett again, but will be

a virtual e-fair this year. There will be more book choices this way, and the fair can run

for longer. It is usually in Oct, but may move it to Nov or Dec this year.

7. Principal Update from Stacy. Stacy explained the process for picking up school

supplies. Candice reminded everyone to pre-register prior to pick up. Food donations

are being collected for the Watertown Food Pantry during supply pick up. There will be

other days for students to get more supplies later in the year, so the PTO can use those

to distribute things too.

8. Liz gave a budget overview. The PTO has $40766.12 combined in savings and

checking. It is not clear if we can do the walkathon fundraiser this year, or if we can

host any of the usual events such as movie night, literacy night, etc. Dues will be

collected online this year, unless the kids go back in person.

9. How the PTO can best serve the community in this unusual year was discussed.

Providing resources for parents to support each other was suggested, as was finding

ways to connect people who aren't on facebook/social media. Facilitating getting info

from the school out to the parents was also suggested.

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Next meeting: Oct. 13, 2020 at 6:30pm

Each grade level has Parent Representatives to the PTO. The goal of this position is to facilitate open communication and broaden family involvement.

Email: Stacy.Phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://lowell.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 175 Orchard Street
Phone: (617) 926-7770