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Hello!

We are so excited to have our 5th annual panel on Human Impact on the Environment for all of our 5th grade students. The attached version of the flier has a live link to our panelists bios but the bios are also linked here. This is a student and staff event only. Every year it's a highlight for our district.

Thank you!

Elizabeth Kaplan

We had the privilege of having a guest speaker from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State talk to our students about being kind to each other and treating one another respectfully. We also had antibullying assemblies, where kids learned to differentiate between different types of conflicts and understood the importance of being upstanders when things happen. Seeing our students engaged positively in learning about this topic was fantastic.

On Tuesday, we had another whole school buddies activity. This time, students had the opportunity to choose from various activities. Some could enjoy reading time, while others practiced their artistic skills by following instructions to draw cartoons. It was fantastic to see our students partnering up!

We are amazed at how many students were spotted during March! We are so proud to see children in the school working hard to demonstrate their commitment to our core values.

The Golden Leopard reward was created to celebrate our students. If a student earns a leopard spot for each core value in one week, they will receive the Golden Leopard reward.

They will receive a special certificate; their names will be announced during the morning messages and appear in the family newsletter.

During the past weeks, two students have earned the Golden Leopard. Please congratulate Landyn Shirley and Megan Cox. Congratulations!

You are invited to the WMS production of Annie Jr. Tickets are $10 (Watertown Public School students are free) Tickets are available only at the door beginning 1/2 hour before the performance.

The Family Formal is back. Please use the link below to register for this town-wide dance that will be hosted this year at Cunniff Elementary school’s gym on May 11th. Registration prior to the event is required. Please reach out to watertownfamilyformal@gmail.com with any questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduIHiXU1DBiNclAxR1gr2AC_R-yvpOfBlvnSCNQkEH2vSYGg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hello, again!

Several Lowell School students have painted stepping stones for the Forests for Watertown* YardArt that will introduce the neighborhood to the forest idea.

• This Saturday, March 30th from noon to 2:30, we'll place the stepping stones

  in the schoolyard near the corner of George and Orchard Streets. We'll make a circle to show about where and about how big the forest will be when it's planted this Fall.

If it isn't too windy, we'll have a place where kids can paint forest life: birds, bees, butterflies ... and leaves!

• Next Saturday, April 6, from noon to 2:30, if the weather is good, we'll put up the rest of the YardArt. (Rain date Sunday, April 7.)

We hope the YardArt will make people curious.

And at the end of the month, we want to satisfy your curiosity at a special event:

• Tuesday, April 30th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Lowell Learning Center,

  please come to a Forests for Watertown neighborhood event – we'll talk about our ideas so far and begin to hear your ideas. More details coming soon.

You can learn more here – The Forest so Far.

*This is a project of Trees for Watertown in collaboration with the City.

2024 Summer Explorations Program Registration Opens Thursday, April 4th!

Online registration for Watertown Community Education's 2024 Summer Explorations Program, being held at the Hosmer Elementary School, opens at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 4th! Spaces are limited, please register early. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click the link to the 2024 Summer Explorations Program Smore Flyer for full details including cost, dates, and themes, and to access the online Google Form registration link https://forms.gle/c1q6QXs1qpJGbGJ2A.

Please reach out to Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and Jeff Bodner at jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions regarding the 2024 Summer Explorations Program.

All students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking MCAS on the following dates. Please plan ahead to ensure that students are in school and ready.

Grades 3, 4 and 5 - ELA Test

• Tuesday, April 9th
• Thursday, April 11th

Grades 3, 4 and 5 - MATH Test

• Tuesday, May 7th
• Thursday, May 9th

Grade 5 only - SCIENCE Test

• Tuesday, May 14th
• Thursday, May 16th

All test sessions begin at 8:40 am.

Please make sure your child is at school on time. Students who arrive late may not be able to participate in the test session with their class. They will take that test session on a make-up test day.

A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast will positively impact your child’s test experience.

Encourage your child to take their time and do their best.

\Registration for kindergarten is now open! Students are eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years old before September 1st. Students must be five years old in order to begin Kindergarten. More information about Kindergarten can be found in this presentation. The link to register is https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/about_our_district/registration_for_school.

If you would like assistance with completing the registration or family questionnaire, please email Terri Stafford (terri.stafford@watertown.k12.ma.us) for assistance in English, Portuguese or Spanish, and she will be able to schedule an appointment with you.

YardArt 2024:

YardArt is a uniquely Watertown event that celebrates creativity during the entire month of April! Everyone can participate, including families and individuals, by making art for their front yards, porches, or windows. For more information, go to https://www.mosesianarts.org/YardArt

Thanks so much. Let me know if you have any questions.

Community Kingian Training:

A free course on Kingian Nonviolence principles and actions is being offered on March 2 + 9 at the Watertown Police Department Community Room. Use the QR code below or the link bit.ly/kingian2024 for more information and to register.

Announcement: Parents’ Recreational Softball League, Season 3 (Spring 2024)!

We are currently in the process of organizing season 3 (Spring 2024) of the Watertown Parents Softball

League. Seasons 1 and 2 were super fun, and we are expecting season 3 to be even better! For those

who haven’t played before, the Watertown Parents Softball League is a recreational softball league for

parents of kids in the Watertown schools. It is very relaxed and social and open to players of all skill

levels. If we get enough players signed up, teams will be school-based to give parents a fun opportunity

to socialize and build community with other parents at their kid’s school.

If you might be interested in participating, please fill out the Google Doc below.

Use this Link

For additional information please contact Jesse Fenichel at jfenichel@gmail.com

• Tuesday, March 19th - 12:15 Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:00 - 2:30
• Thursday, March 21st - Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30 - 6:30
• Friday, March 22nd - Classroom Smores go home
• Thursday, March 28st - Parent Teacher Conferences - 5:00 - 7:00
• Friday, March 29th - 12:00 Dismissal
• Tuesday, April 9th - ELA MCAS
• Wednesday, April 10th - 12:15 Dismissal
• Thursday, April 11th - ELA MCAS
• Thursday, April 11th - Diversity Council - Joint Meeting - In Person at Hosmer
• Monday, April 15th - Friday, April 19th - No School - April Vacation

J.R. Lowell Elementary School

123 Lowell Ave.

Watertown, Ma 02472

Phone: 1-617-926-7770

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRLowellElementary

Website: https://watertownjrlowell.ss19.sharpschool.com/

Principal- Stacy Phelan

stacy.phelan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal- Benjamin Kraus

benjamin.krausfriedmann@watertown.k12.ma

Administrative Assistant- Kara Flynn

kara.flynn@watertown.k12.ma.us

Receptionist- Jim Swift

james.swift@watertown.k12.ma.us

Nurse- Kathy Taverna

katherine.taverna@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Melina Jacovides k-2

melina.jacovides@watertown.k12.ma.us

Guidance Brian Connors 3-5

brian.connors@watertown.k12.ma.us

Special Education Team Chair- Greg Roberts, ext. 37171

gregory.roberts@watertown.k12.ma.us

LEDP Site Coordinator- Adam Vachon

adam.vachon@watertown.k12.ma.us