P'Ville Press

Dear Pawtucketville Families,

It is hard to believe that October is already here! We have another busy week ahead at Pawtucketville with a few important reminders for families.

Our Cherrydale Fundraiser is still going strong, but we are in the final push! The fundraiser ends on October 5th, so there is still time to participate. Thank you to all of our families who have already supported the fundraiser. Remember, the money raised comes directly back to our school and helps support our students throughout the year.

On Wednesday, October 7th, we will have our first Early Release Day of the school year. As a kickoff to our day-long STEAM activities that will begin in December, students will be watching Toy Story 5 in their classrooms. If you DO NOT want your child to watch the movie, please reach out to me or your child’s classroom teacher prior to Wednesday. An alternate activity will be provided for students who do not participate in the movie.

Dismissal on Wednesday will begin at 1:20 p.m. with Kindergarten. Please plan accordingly for the earlier dismissal time.

I also want to share an important reminder regarding our playground. For the safety of all students, families and other non-students should not be on the playground while it is being used by our students during the school day. Families are welcome to use the playground before or after school, or at other times when our students are not actively using it. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to keep all of our students safe.

As always, safety remains our number one priority. Thank you for your continued support and partnership, and we look forward to another great week at Pawtucketville!

Mrs. Jones

Oct 7 - Early Release: Students will be dismissed at 1:20 PM (No Pre-K)

Oct 12 - No School: Indigenous Peoples' Day

Oct 14 - PTO Meeting: In the Art Room at 5:30 PM

Oct 23 - Progress Reports: Will go home with students

Oct 29 - Math or Treat Night: In the Gym at 6:00 PM

At the beginning of the school year, we are asking all parents and guardians of Lowell Public School students to review and update their student’s information in Aspen. This will ensure that we have the most current information on file, including your student’s address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information.

To complete the Returning Student Registration process, please go to ma-lowell.myfollett.com and log in to the Parent Portal. Once you are logged in:

1. Find the Returning Student Registration box and click Initiate.

2. Choose your child.

3. Review each section and update any information that has changed.

4. Click Submit when you are finished.

This process is easiest to complete on a computer or laptop. If you are using a cell phone, please select the desktop site option in your browser to make the process easier to navigate. Your progress will save, so you can finish the process later if needed.

The attached PDF provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for completing the Returning Student Registration process.

If you have any issues logging in to Aspen or need assistance with your account information, please contact the schools main office.

Thank you for helping us ensure that we have accurate and up-to-date information for your student.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to share the MCAS Family Portal with you. This online tool lets you see your student’s MCAS test results.

MCAS results from spring 2026 are available. You will also see your student’s results from past years (2023–2025), if available. The Family Portal will be updated in September when final results are ready.

How to Get Started

Go to https://mcasfamilyportal.emetric.net.

To create an account, you will need

• your student's registration code given to you by their school (if you were not given this code, please contact the school to receive one); and
• your student’s date of birth.

Need Help?

First, view the Quick Start Guide at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/family-portal.

Next, see the MCAS Family Portal Help Guide, also at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/family-portal, which shows you step by step how to

• create an account;
• add your student to your account; and
• view your student’s test results.

If you have any questions or need help, please contact your school. We are here to support you.

Now it’s time to REGISTER & SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! 📣💙

If you haven’t already, head over to shopfund.com to register and start sharing your fundraiser with family and friends near and far!

Every share helps support our school and gets us one step closer to our fundraising goal! 🙌

Let’s keep it going! 💪🎉

📢 Friendly Reminder, P’Ville Families!

Please support your children by reminding them that outside toys are not allowed at school, including Pokémon cards, balls, and other toys from home.

Keeping outside toys at home will help eliminate distractions, prevent lost items, and keep our school day focused on learning. 🎒📚

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation! 🐾

We're excited to announce our 3rd Annual Craft Fair happening on Saturday, November 14th — and we want YOU to be part of it!

👛 Sell your work

📶 Connect with fellow makers

🎉 Be part of a vibrant, creative community

👉Register now to reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/p2FtjAXyzeLX2Lk57

Spread the word, invite your friends, and get ready for a day filled with inspiration and fun! 🎨 Let’s make this year’s fair even more unforgettable!

Please send your child to school with headphones.

If needed, headphones will be available for purchase at school for $5 each. Simply send your child with $5 in a labeled envelope marked “Headphones,” and we’ll ensure they receive a pair.

🎉 Welcome Pawtucketville Parents & Staff! 🎉

Join the PMES Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and help build a strong, connected school community!

Our goal is to support PMES students and families by organizing fun events and raising funds for exciting initiatives like:
✨ School Events
✨ Field Day Activities
✨ Teacher & Staff Appreciation
✨ And much more!

Getting involved is a great way to connect, contribute, and stay informed.

📅 When?
Thursday, October 14th
5:30 PM

📍 Where?
Pawtucketville Memorial – Art Room
425 West Meadow Road, Lowell, MA

We’d love to see you there! 💙 Let’s make this school year amazing—together!

At Pawtucketville, student attendance is very important to us, and we are dedicated to ensuring students arrive on time every day. You can support this effort at home by planning family vacations during scheduled school breaks whenever possible. While we understand medical appointments cannot always be made outside of school hours, students are encouraged to arrive late or leave early rather than miss the entire day. Please note that children must stay home if they have a fever or are vomiting. Whenever your child visits the doctor, please request a doctor's note so we can record the absence as excused.

To recognize our students' dedication, we are excited to offer monthly attendance rewards! Each month, we will visit classrooms to celebrate every student who achieves perfect attendance for that month, and every student that has perfect attendance for that month will receive a special prize.

Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information please contact your child’s school social worker, Melanie Mangion at mmangion@lowell.k12.ma.us.

👻🧡 Boo to Germs! 🧡👻

Cold season is here — let’s work together to keep our school healthy, happy, and germ-free! 🦠✨ Small habits make a BIG difference this time of year.

🦠 When to Keep Your Child Home

If your child has the following symptoms, he or she must stay at home to prevent the spread of illness to other students as well as staff members. I will send your child home if he or she comes to school sick.

- 🌡️ A fever that causes chills, sweating or muscle aches with a temperature over 100.4F within the past 24 hours (If your child has a fever, please do not give them Tylenol, Acetaminophen, Advil, Motrin, or Ibuprofen and then send them to school. This only spreads germs and I will be calling you to come pick them up from school.)

- 🤢 Vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours

- ⭕ Red or pink eyes, drainage from the eyes (can return the day after treatment begins)

- 💊 A contagious illness like strep throat until the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours

- 🩺 A rash or skin condition not diagnosed by a healthcare provider

- 🪲 Head lice

- 💉 Have been notified by the school nurse/health department that immunizations are not up to date. (Exclusion notice is given after the 3rd warning).

The 24 hour rule is as follows: For example, if the last time the child vomits is on Monday at 9am, the child can return on Wednesday morning for school.

When in doubt, feel free to call the health office — we’re happy to help guide you! 📞💛

Staying home when sick helps protect classmates, teachers, and staff. 🏫

🤧 Smart Germ Habits

Help your child practice these healthy habits daily:

• 🧼 Wash hands often (especially before eating and after using the bathroom)
• 🤧 Cough or sneeze into your elbow
• 🙅‍♀️ Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
• 🧴 Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness.

🎃 Fun Handwashing Reminder

While washing hands, sing 🎵 “Happy Birthday” twice — that’s about 20 seconds of scrubbing power! 🖐️

Let’s say BOO to germs and keep our school feeling its best all season long! 👻💪

All eligible students are required to present a 2026–2027 bus pass in order to ride school transportation.

Bus passes must be kept in your child’s backpack every day so they are available when needed.

Thank you for helping us keep school transportation safe and running smoothly! 🚌

Check bus information through the Bus Lookup Tool on the district's website. The link and login information can be found here: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/.../operations/transportation

The safety of our students extends beyond the school building. As part of our commitment to student safety, our school is participating in a Seat Belt Safety Campaign focused on safe travel to and from school.

Whether your trip to school takes two minutes or twenty minutes, we encourage every family to make buckling up an automatic part of the routine.

Please remember:

• Everyone should buckle up before the vehicle moves.

• Adults should model safe seat belt use every time they drive or ride in a vehicle.

• Children should be secured in the appropriate car seat or booster seat when required.

• Make sure seat belts are properly adjusted and fastened.

• Put phones and other distractions away while driving.

• Slow down and remain especially alert in school drop-off and pickup areas.

• Follow your school's arrival and dismissal procedures and traffic patterns.

Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety

Massachusetts law requires children under age 8 who are under 57 inches tall to be secured in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Once children outgrow the child-restraint requirement, they should continue to use a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.

Families are encouraged to review their child's car seat or booster seat requirements and follow both Massachusetts law and the manufacturer's instructions.

Thank you for being a safety role model.

Our students watch what we do. By buckling up every time, driving attentively, and slowing down around our schools, we can work together to make every trip to and from school safer.

EVERY TRIP. EVERY SEAT. EVERY TIME.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe.

The LASA Foundation is hosting its 9th Free Community Medical Clinic, and everyone is welcome, regardless of insurance status!

📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM–2:30 PM
🚶 Walk-ins are welcome until 1:30 PM
📍 Sai Unity Center
40 Old Ferry Rd, Lowell, MA 01854

🩺 Services Offered

✅ Free health screenings, including:
Blood pressure
Height/weight/BMI
Blood sugar
HbA1C
Cholesterol/lipids

✅ Free vaccinations: Flu & COVID
✅ Primary care & specialist consultations
✅ Dental & vision check-ups
✅ Help finding a primary care doctor
✅ On-site MassHealth registration and enrollment support

🌎 Language Support
Translators are available in Portuguese, Spanish, Pashto, Khmer, Haitian Creole, French, Vietnamese, and Hindi.

💙 Important Information
No cost — no fees
Insurance is NOT required
On-site MassHealth registration available
Please bring a list of your current medications
Prescriptions are not provided
📲 Register Today!

Register by scanning the QR code or visiting: bit.ly/3QYEEAo

📧 medicalcamp@lasane.org
📞 978-710-4012

Please feel free to share this information with a family member, neighbor, or friend who may benefit from these free services! 💙

Friend drama. Group chats. Social exclusion. The social world kids navigate today is complicated — and exhausting for parents too.

Join Cartwheel, our virtual mental health partner, and author Phyllis Fagell, LCPC, for a free webinar on what kids need from the adults in their lives to build resilience and healthy relationships.

Friend Drama, Group Chats, and Social Exclusion: What Parents Need to Know

Thursday, October 15 | 7–8pm ET

Register here: https://www.cartwheel.org/webinarseries