Lowell News
January 5, 2024
Greetings!
We had an absolutely splendid return to school. The students, after a well-deserved break, returned to us feeling refreshed and brimming with enthusiasm, eager to dive headfirst into the realm of knowledge and embark on their educational journey once more. I ca
n't say how joyful the week was.
We have a couple of exciting faculty announcements to share with you all:
Firstly, we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Kathy Burton, our dedicated fifth-grade teacher, who recently welcomed her beautiful daughter Elenor into the world on December 28th. Kathy has now officially begun her well-deserved family leave to spend precious time with her newborn.
Secondly, it is with great pleasure that we introduce our newest addition to the faculty, Brianna Bond. Brianna will be joining our esteemed fourth-grade team, bringing with her a wealth of valuable experience from her previous role as a fourth-grade teacher in Acton. She holds a Masters in Elementary Education from Lesley University and earned her undergraduate degree from the prestigious American University in Washington, D.C. We are confident that Brianna's expertise and passion for teaching will greatly benefit our fourth-grade students.
Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Ms. Zywocinski will be returning to Lowell's kindergarten team on January 16th. After taking some time off to welcome her second child into the world, Jackie is eager to rejoin her colleagues and continue making a positive impact on our young learners.
In light of Ms. Zywocinski's return, we would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Abo, who has been covering her absence. We are pleased to inform you that Ms. Abo will now be joining the grade five team for the remainder of the school year, where her dedication and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our fifth-grade students.
Lastly, we would like to inform you that next week, we will be commencing our mid-year benchmark assessments. On Thursday, January 11th, students will be taking the i-Ready (ELA) assessments, which will provide valuable insights into their English Language Arts progress. Additionally, our students will also be assessed using our trusted DIBELS diagnostic tests. Finally, on January 25th, students will be taking the i-Ready math assessment, which will help us gauge their mathematical proficiency. We are excited to share the i-Ready parent reports, along with the students' report cards, on February 2nd, providing you with a comprehensive overview of your child's academic growth.
I am grateful for all your support!
Stacy
When the snow starts falling, children are filled with excitement to venture outside. However, we understand that as parents, you may have concerns about the cold weather and its implications. To ensure that your children have a safe and enjoyable winter at school, we have some recommendations for items to send with them:
- A warm winter jacket
- A cozy hat
- Mittens or gloves to keep their hands toasty
- Sturdy boots for trudging through the snow
- Snow pants to keep them dry and warm
Our little ones absolutely adore playing in the snow, and we make sure to take advantage of every opportunity to go outside. By sending these items, you can ensure that your child has a comfortable recess experience. Additionally, we suggest that your child keeps an extra change of clothes in their cubby or backpack, just in case. Please remember to label all clothing with your child's name. This way, if any items end up in the lost and found, we can easily return them to you. Dressing in layers is also a great idea, as it helps your child stay comfortable in both indoor and outdoor temperature fluctuations.
We hope these suggestions help you prepare your child for a wonderful winter at school. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to assist you in any way we can.
We are excited to announce Culturefest, an event that celebrates culture and identity. There will be four major components: table displays, food, performances, and a fashion show.
We kindly ask families to host a table showcasing artifacts and information that celebrate their culture and identity. This can include representing your country of origin, religion, or any other aspect of your identity that you would like to share.
We also invite you to bring a special dish that represents your family's culinary traditions to share with others at the event.
If you or someone you know is interested in performing or playing music, please let us know. The event will run for an hour and a half, and we would love to have your talent showcased for approximately 15 minutes.
In addition, we are introducing a new addition to the event - a fashion show. We encourage students and adults to participate and showcase the richness of their culture through fashion. We would also love to hear the significance of the attire and its history.
We look forward to celebrating and embracing the diversity within our community at Culturefest.
Our Climate and Culture Team is also supporting the event throughout the week. More to come shortly!
- Tuesday, January 9th - Youth In Unity: from 6:00-7:00 @ Lowell in the Learning Commons | Theme: listen, learn, grow, act | This is the pre-event that will be student led before the Unity Breakfast.
- Wednesday, January 10th - Early Release Day. Dismissal at 12:15.
- Friday, January 12th - School Site Council
- Monday, January 15th - Unity Breakfast
- Monday, January 15th - MLK Day Observed
- Thursday, January 23rd - Lowell's Culture Fest 6:00 to 7:30
This month's FTO meeting has been cancelled.
Contact Us
J.R. Lowell Elementary School
123 Lowell Ave.
Watertown, Ma 02472
Phone: 1-617-926-7770