LFDCS Monthly | October

Saturday, October 4: SSAT Test
Monday, October 6: Upper School Picture Day

Tuesday, October 7: High School Fair

Wednesday, October 8: LFDCS Board Meeting
Thursday, October 9: Academy Picture Day
Friday, October 10: Lower School Picture Day

Monday, October 13: No School - Columbus Day/Indigenous' People's Day

Friday, October 17: Covid-19 and Flu Vaccination Clinic

Friday, October 17: Jeans Day
Monday, October 20: Grade 4 Parent Night
Friday, October 24: Parent Coffee

Wednesday, October 29: ELPAC Meeting
Friday, October 31: First Quarter Ends

The Opening Doors Program at LFDCS invites all 8th grade students to the High School Fair on Tuesday, 10/7, at 5:30 pm in the Upper School Gym. Meet with admissions counselors from public, private, parochial, and technical high schools as you prepare for the next step after LFDCS! Explore academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, career pathways, and discover the many options available for your future. This event is required for all 8th grade students, and each student is welcome to bring one parent/guardian with them.

The LFDCS Opening Doors program helps students and families navigate the transition to high school, offering support with applications, interviews, SSAT prep, and enrichment opportunities.

The Upper School Picture Day is Monday, October 6, 2025. Please order pictures online at mylifetouch.com using the code: EVTTQ3M9P.

The Academy (A & B) Picture Day is Thursday, October 9, 2025. Please order pictures online at mylifetouch.com using the code: EVT3C98VQ.

The Lower School Picture Day is Friday, October 10, 2025. Please order pictures online at mylifetouch.com using the code: EVTJRMXD6.

We are partnering with CVS to host a free COVID-19 & Flu Vaccination clinic for adults 18+. The clinic will be held on October 17, 2025 from 8:00am - 1:00pm in the Lower School Conference Room.

Spots are limited, so please sign up by 10/8 by clicking on this link. Please remember to bring your insurance card to the clinic.

Anna Yuen is the Digital Learning Coordinator for LFDCS. She designs, implements, and supports digital learning by managing platforms, creating training, and providing technical and instructional support. Anna supports the integration of technology into instruction, leads workshops, tracks progress, and serves as a bridge between technology and curriculum for instructors, and administrators.

Kara Malo is LFDCS's new part-time Digital Instruction Specialist. She helps teachers use technology effectively to improve teaching and learning. Kara provides training and coaching on digital tools, support curriculum integration, troubleshoot instructional tech challenges, and collaborate with staff to design engaging, technology-enhanced lessons that boost student success.

It's wonderful to have your children back in school! To those of you who are new to LFDCS, welcome! My name is Elaine Fuller. I am the English as a Second Language Coordinator for LFDCS. Here are some updates about our English as a Second Language program.

Parents and guardians are invited to join the English Learner Parent Advisory Committee (ELPAC) meeting on Wednesday, October 29, from 4-5 PM at the Foley Library and offered virtually. The virtual meeting link will be shared on our website.

This is a quarterly meeting for our English learner families (and former English learners) and our Special Education families. Along with Sean Reardon, the Special Education Director, we meet with families to discuss important topics about ESL and Special Education services. We invite you to nominate 4 parents/guardians to be an officer on the ELPAC/SEPAC committee.

In addition to meeting in October, future meetings are scheduled for December 17, February 25, 2026, and April 29, 2026, from 4-5 pm. We hope to see you there!

We’re excited to now have teachers across nearly all grades to help students build proficiency in academic English!

K2: Zoe Bigley

1st Grade: Petra Horgan

2nd Grade: Bethany Pender

3rd Grade: Erika Witham

4th Grade: Timothy King

Grades 5-8: Therese Schaufenbil

ESL Teaching Fellow from Merrimack College: Meghan Bartel

We have finished the WIDA MODEL online testing for our ELL students who have not made growth towards their English language proficiency on the ACCESS test. This test provides information about the students' growth toward making their proficiency goals. The results will enable teachers, ESL teachers and families to create interventions for their students as needed. If your child has taken the WIDA MODEL test, you will receive a letter of explanation, with your child’s scores and interventions, asking for your input. This letter will be sent home in your child's school home folder.

Keep reading with your child! Reading every day is one of the most important activities you can do to help your child develop his/her language skills. Reading English and/or Spanish books are both effective and fun!

If you have questions about ESL please contact:

Elaine Fuller, ESL Coordinator

978-520-9177 ext. 182

efuller@lfdcs.org.

Parents play a crucial role in their children’s success. When parents and schools share similar attitudes and expectations, children thrive academically. At LFDCS, parent engagement is one of our five guiding principles of success. Parents can participate in training programs designed to help them work with their children at home, volunteer in the classroom and on field trips, and assist with fundraising initiatives. Additional opportunities for engagement are below:

The Board of Trustees is composed of parents and community stakeholders who provide valuable oversight and help create and uphold policies that support our students and their families. For additional information, please click here. Board Meetings are typically held in person at the Lower School Conference Room and virtually on Zoom. Please note, the next Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at 5:30pm will be fully virtual.

The mission of the ELPAC is to promote parent involvement in the LFDCS English Learner and Special Education Programs and elevate parent voice as a key element in decision-making. Please see more information under "ELL Updates" above. The first meeting is on Wednesday, October 29, at 4:00pm in the Foley Library.

Parent Coffees are held monthly at the Foley Library. This is a casual, social gathering for parents and caretakers to connect, ask questions, offer input, and build relationships with each other and with LFDCS school administrators and personnel. The next Parent Coffee is on Friday, October 24 at 8:30am.

The School Site Council is made up of parents, teachers, and the Principal. The goal is to bring families and staff together to create a vision for education at LFDCS and to suggest improvements to meet that goal. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 19th at 4:00pm in the Foley Library.

Do you have suggestions for future newsletters, or information you’d like us to include? We’d love to hear from you!