Family Communicator

Monday, October 19, 2026

• After School Program - Grades 3&4

• After School Program - Grades 1&2

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• After School Program - Grades 3&4
• Banking Day

Thursday, October 22, 2026

• After School Program - Grades 1&2

Friday, October 23, 2026

• Pizza Pals - Grades 2-4

Our annual Trunk-or-Treat event will take place on Wednesday, October 28th from 5:00-5:45 pm. Students can trick or treat in our parking lot along with other students and school staff. We are now accepting candy for the event. Last year we went through 800 lbs of candy in 45 minutes. If you are interested in hosting a trunk, please reach out to me at jmccrevan@lowell.k12.ma.us or add your name and theme to this form. We need about 20 trunks!

We still have some money trickling in, but we have successfully raised over $4000.00 from last week's Moveathon. We truly thank everyone for their generosity in supporting our students with fun activities.

Dear Families:

Please be aware of an upcoming staffing change at our school. Mrs. Nobrega, our physical education teacher, will be retiring at the beginning of November after more than 30 years of dedicated service to Lowell Public Schools. We have been so fortunate to have her with us for the past four years, and we know our students will miss her greatly!

As Mrs. Nobrega transitions into retirement, Ms. Shelagh O'Neil, our current librarian, will be stepping into the physical education role. Ms. O'Neil is a certified gym teacher and a current sports coach, making her a wonderful fit for this position.

With Ms. O'Neil moving to the gym, we are excited to share that Ms. Vannyda Meas will be taking over as our new librarian. Having served our school community in many capacities over the last four years, Ms. Meas brings wonderful experience and dedication to the library.

Please join us in wishing Mrs. Nobrega a happy retirement and congratulating Ms. O'Neil and Ms. Meas on their new roles! These transitions will be taking place over the next few weeks.

Hello, Shaughnessy Families!

Are you or someone you know interested in learning English? Luckily, we are offering FREE beginner English classes for adults right here at Shaughnessy School again this year!

Whether you are just starting to learn English or looking to build your confidence, everyone is welcome! This is more than just an English class—it's an opportunity to connect with others, build friendships, and become part of a supportive community while learning together!

What to Expect:

Classes 1–2 times per week for approximately 1.5 hours located at the Shaughnessy School

A welcoming, relaxed environment for beginners

Food, coffee, and great company!

Opportunities to practice English, meet new people, and have fun!

Kids are welcome to come, as well.

📩 Interested in Joining?

Please send me a message through ClassDojo or email me at mcarter@lowell.k12.ma.us. I will send you more information along with a Google Form to fill out your availability so we can find class times that work best for everyone!

No English experience is necessary! Come learn, laugh, and grow with us. I hope to see you there! 💙

– Ms. Carter

On Fridays, or when pizza is served, students in grades 2-4 will be able to sit anywhere in the cafeteria to help make new friends. On other days, we sit at tables by classes. This will give the students opportunities to meet new people and socialize with different kids.

Please refrain from sending food or drink in glass containers. We have had three breakages lately and they are dangerous to clean up.

We are having many families using the Handicapped parking spots during pick-up without having a license plate or placard. These spots are only for people in possession of these acceptable forms of documentation. Please only park in the spots if you have the correct documentation, even if it is for just a few minutes.

Happy Friday Everyone!

We are excited to introduce a new school-wide attendance celebration this year called Surprise Attendance Day...

Every month, we will choose a random surprise day to celebrate our students who come into school. Students who arrive at school that day can look forward to a fun activity, special surprise, or exciting celebration!

The catch? You won’t know which day it will be or what time! 🤫🎉

That’s why it’s so important for students to come to school every day and arrive on time. You never know when a Surprise Attendance Day might happen!

Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their teachers, keep up with learning, build friendships, and feel part of our school community. Every day at school matters!

So, make sure your child is here ALL DAY, EVERY DAY and ready to learn—because any day could be Surprise Attendance Day! 🎉

Students in grades K-4 can enter school from 8:40-9:00 am at the main entrance to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. After 9:00 am, the students will wait until we open regular breakfast at 9:10 am. The children will be monitored by school staff. This program is a privilege and not a right. If students are struggling with the rules, they will not be able to participate in the program.

Recently, we have had many students dropped off before the 9:10 am start time for the school. All students coming early will be required to go into the cafeteria for breakfast, with no exceptions. We do not want to have unsupervised children outside. Please do not drop the children at the playground. The students will enter the building by the main entrance and school staff and cafeteria personnel will be there for supervision starting at 8:40 am.

Here are the school's October Happenings!

• October 28 - Trunk-or-Treat - 5:00-5:45 pm

Here are the school's November Happenings!

• November 4 - Banking Day
• November 4 - Parent/Family Conferences - 5:30-7:00 - Appointment Only
• November 5-16 - Required Hearing and Vision Screenings
• November 11 - NO SCHOOL - VETERANS DAY
• November 18 - Banking Day
• November 19 - Picture Retakes
• November 25 - Early Release Day - 11:50 am - No Lunch Served
• November 26-29 - NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING BREAK

Teaching children about banking is a great way to learn about financial Literacy. We are proud to start a partnership with Jeanne d'Arc Bank for our children. Every other week, on Wednesdays, the bank will come to Shaughnessy School, and students can deposit money into a Savings Account. The account requires a $10.00 start-up fee, but after that, kids can deposit any amount. The children get a prize every time they add money to their accounts. Please be on the lookout for a Savings Account application that will be sent home early next week. This is how children start the account. We hope this partnership will help students learn the importance of saving money. You can also register for the program at our Open House this week. The dates for deposits this year will be:

If you were enrolled in the program last year, you do not have to fill out the form again!

https://www.smore.com/n21w8