Lowell Family Newsletter
February 2, 2023
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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:
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Lowell is thrilled that our grant to have a virtual author visit from
Kelly Yang – Award Winning Author
Kelly Yang's highly anticipated new novel, FINALLY SEEN will be released on February 28th and every Lowell fifth grader will receive a copy of the book.
This amazing opportunity is being fund by the generous grant from the Watertown Community Education Foundation.
ALA Youth Media Award season is underway! Students in Kindergarten to fifth grade learned about the major Youth Media Awards, such as the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, in anticipation of January's award announcement. We explore titles under consideration and discuss which of the books might win and which books we just love. Kindergarten to second grade explores elements of fiction and visual literacy related to picture books and, our read alouds center on past winner's work.
Additionally, the second grade started examining reference sources including the World Book Online. Third grade continued working with Google apps, fourth grade built floodgates using the Lego WeDo kits to prevent river flooding, and fifth grade learned the ins and outs of searching on Google.
Weekly we share resources from Responsive Classroom. These resources are chosen by our RC Team. Here is this week's resources.
By the middle of the year, a lot has changed: students have established routines, friendships have formed, school assignments and projects are underway, and students have changed emotionally, physically, and socially from who they were at the beginning of the year. For teachers to maintain the healthy relationships they created at the beginning of the year, they must continue to learn who their students are as they change and grow.
Know Where Your Students Are Developmentally
- This will give you a better understanding of what is important to a given student and how to approach certain topics with them, such as discussing friendships and social situations.
- Some students are ready for more independence and responsibility while others need more support.
- Depending on the age group, some students may also need ideas on how to handle conflict with peers.
Apply What You About Your Students' Development
- Students need reassurance they are in a safe and supportive environment; familiar structures and routines will help guide their behaviors, learning, and growth throughout the school year.
- Because holiday breaks, vacations, and school assessments are all happening around this time, your students will benefit from reconnecting as a class community.
- Have students reflect on hopes, goals, and classroom norms and share their reflections during Morning Meeting or closing circle.
- Touch base with parents about their child's development during parent-teacher conferences.
- Consider your teacher language. Are you using deliberate language? Do you have a specific language that your students respond positively to throughout the day?
Use what you notice about your students' social, emotional, academic, and developmental progress to guide your planning. As they change, don't be hesitant to update your approach.
On Friday, February 3rd, you will receive your child's semester 1 report card and, for students in grades 1-5, their updated i-Ready diagnostic assessment results. These reports will be sent home with students via backpack and will provide you with information about your child's progress. It is important to note that the information from the teacher is a synthesis of many pieces of information, while the information from i-Ready is a snapshot in time. To help you better understand these reports, a list of frequently asked questions regarding Standards-Based Report Cards and i-Ready assessment reports has been provided. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Save the Date
SEPAC: General Open Meeting (In Person/Hybrid)
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 6:30 – 8:00PM
Zoom link below
School Site Council
Thursday, February 16, 2023 6:00 – 7:00PM
Zoom link below
Description:https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/9052256560?pwd=RFQ3VHMvWU5uM3BLRlcxLzEzVndXUT09
Winter Vacation Week
February 20th-24th
No School
Holiday: Ramadan (Islam)
March 22 - April 21 - 2023
Holiday: Ash Wednesday Lent (Christian)
Wednesday, February 22
MCAS Infrastructure Trial (Time TBD)
Thursday, March 9, 2023
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MCAS Dates for grades 3,4 & 5
ELA
Wednesday, April 4th
Friday, April 6th
Math
Tuesday, May 16th
Thursday, May 18th
Science
Only Grade 5 takes Science
Wednesday, May 24th
Thursday, May 25th
