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Message from Principal Phelan
Greetings Lowell,
Welcome to October!
As I walked around the two buildings this week, I could see routines and expectations were clearly in place. Even our newest friends in kindergarten look like they've been with us for months. Typically, it takes approximately six weeks to set expectations. I credit our commitment to the Responsive Classroom principals for this success. From the first day, teachers began to lay the foundation for a successful year by letting students know what behaviors are expected in their classroom and our common areas throughout the school. Teachers also use the strategy of modeling behaviors to demonstrate classroom routines for their students. It takes a little more time, but it's time well spent! Spending time creating a sense of order, predictability, and trust in their classroom sends the message that respect, kindness, and learning will prevail. During the first six weeks of school, teachers establish signals for quiet, set guidelines for class discussion, and introduce the basic daily routines for the classroom: lining up, taking out and putting away materials, and what to do if students finish work early.
Our teachers finalized WIN goals for each student in our school. Goals were created after analyzing data from i-Ready and reading assessments. Lowell's literacy team leads this process in collaboration with ESL and classroom teachers. We officially kick off WIN cycle one on Monday. This targeted instruction proved highly impactful last year, and we can't wait to see results again this year!
One highlight from the week, I visited Mrs. Hantson's morning meeting this week. Mrs. Hantson has a couple of students who are not just new to Lowell but our country. All her students enthusiastically participated in each component of the activity. She uses music, dance, pictures, and hand gestures to facilitate learning in her classroom. All these scaffolds help all her learners. Another community-building activity Mrs. Hantson leads each week is a weekly song. Students love singing along to famous artists or just their friends. I'm linking this week's song below. Thank you, Mrs. Hantson.
With a grateful heart,
Stacy
Caregivers Are Invited to Attend Morning Meeting with Your Student
There are numerous benefits to starting each day with a morning meeting in the classroom that make it worth the few extra minutes each morning. It’s important to note that benefits are seen when morning meeting is a regular and consistent part of each day. Come join us and attend the morning meeting with your student. The schedule by grade is below. Please stay and have a cup of coffee with Mrs. Phelan and Mr. Chen and our SEL team. We will also review how Title One funds support teaching and learning at Lowell.
Here are a few positive outcomes that morning meeting can support:
- Builds meaningful relationships and establishes the trust (student to student and teacher to student)
- Sets the tone for a positive classroom climate
- Creates a space to highlight and discuss mental health needs
- Promotes the idea that all voices matter and are listened to
- Provides opportunities for teaching social, emotional, and academic skills
- Increases student confidence and self-awareness
- Motivates learners to do their best
- Supports academic learning
- Creates a kinder community
Simply put, morning meetings help all students do their best.
Immediately Following Morning Meetings Stay for Coffee
We'll also explain how Title 1 Funds support teaching and learning at Lowell.
The Watertown Public School System and its Title I Schoolwide Program, K - 8, are committed to continuously improving the opportunities for parents to be actively involved in their child's learning at home and in school. We have found this general education support to be highly valuable in helping students improve their math and literacy skills. Title I is the largest Federally funded supplemental education program. It does not replace what the school does; instead, Title I gives schools and students additional resources and instruction in math and reading. Title I partially funds our math and reading support and after-school tutoring. Our tutors work closely with the classroom teachers to help improve students’ skills in reading and writing.
This district Parent Involvement Plan serves to outline overall expectations for parent involvement activities and programs, establish an environment for parental participation in Watertown's Title I programs at the school level, and identify the support that the Title I program can provide to assist schools in achieving their goals of supporting student learning. The Title I Home/School Compact outlines school, parent/guardian, and student responsibilities.
We welcome you to join us for an informal meeting for parents at our upcoming Parent Coffee, where we can talk in more detail about the Title I Schoolwide Program in grades K - 8 and answer any questions you may have, which will be held after each grade level Parent Morning Meeting. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 781-899-3701 Coffee will be served.
Parents are invited to attend their student's coffee by grade level:
Fifth 10/14
Fourth 10/21
Third 10/28
Second 11/4
First 11/10
kindergarten 11/18
Art Corner with Ms. Chroneos
MEET MS. CHRONEOS
Hi! I am Ms. Chroneos, and I am so happy to be the new Art Teacher at Lowell this year. I am coming to Lowell from a long-term substitute K-4 art teaching position in Belmont. In 2016, I moved to Boston for my undergraduate visual arts program at Boston University. Now, I hold a BFA in Sculpture and MA in Art Education with K-12 teaching licensure. I am passionate about providing elementary school students with a dynamic visual art education in which students can see themselves as artists with important ideas to share and explore. I am so excited to get to know all the student artists at Lowell!
Family Teacher Organization
Volunteers needed to Help in Grade 5 & Grade 1 Classrooms
Ms. Sudbay (Grade 5) and Ms. Mannix (Grade 1) are both interested in having a volunteer in their classrooms on a regular basis. If anyone is interested in volunteering, please reach out to lowellelementarypto@gmail.com
Volunteers needed for Cutting and Laminating
Mr. Stezzi, Lowell's Math Coach, would love some help cutting and laminating some math curriculum materials. If you're available to help with this project at the school or at home, please reach out to lowellelementarypto@gmail.com
Save the Date: Friday, October 28 -- Lowell School Trunk-or-Treat
We'll need volunteers to decorate the trunk of their car and to give out candy!
Please sign up here if you can decorate your trunk.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0545A5AE28A0F49-trunk1
Kids can wear costumes and trick-or-treat safely with their Lowell School friends.
Next FTO Meeting: Tuesday, October 11th at 6:30PM
Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86956932224?pwd=WjV5VVNnenZjaVhSanZxRThhaTJMZz09
We’d love your help! If you would like to volunteer, please email: lowellelementarypto@gmail.com
Find Us! You can find us on the web at: http://jrlowellpto.weebly.com/ and please like/follow our new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LowellFTO
School Events
10/4 (Tuesday) & 10/5 (Wednesday)
Yom Kippur
10/10 (Monday)
Indigenous Peoples Day - No School
10/11 (Tuesday)
6:30PM - 7:30PM FTO Meeting
10/14 (Friday)
8:15AM - 8:45AM Morning Meeting Visit by Families (Grade 5)
8:45AM - 9:45AM Principal Coffee Hour (Lowell West)
8:30AM - 10:30AM Picture Day (Phillips)
12:30PM - 2:00PM Picture Day (Lowell West)
10/17 (Monday)
6:00PM - 7:00PM SEPAC, Disability-Centered Equity Listening Session
10/21 (Friday)
8:15AM - 8:45AM Morning Meeting Visit by Families (Grade 4)
8:45AM - 9:45AM Principal Coffee Hour (Lowell West)
10/24 (Monday)
Diwali
10/25 (Tuesday)
4:30PM - 6:30PM Parent Teacher Conference
7:00PM - 8:00PM DIB Council Meeting
10/27 (Thursday)
12:15PM Early Release
1:00PM Parent Teacher Conference
10/28 (Friday)
8:15AM - 8:45AM Morning Meeting Visit by Families (Grade 3)
8:45AM - 9:45AM Principal Coffee Hour (Lowell West)
Friday, October 28th
Trunk or Treat
Phillips Parking Lot
Located
31 Marshall Street
Sponsored by the FTO
