Message from Principal Phelan
I hope you all are having a wonderful start to your weekend! It certainly was a busy week! Monday, I had the pleasure of presenting at the School Committee Meeting. It was our school's month to present a Learning Showcase. The presentation didn't go exactly as planned. But with the help of tech wiz Mr. Chen, we turn it into a video presentation. Please take a look the students are absolutely adorable.
I can't believe it's November on Tuesday. Don't forget, we will turn our clock back next Saturday!
Morning Announcement
On Monday (10/31), the school-wide morning announcement will begin at 8:20AM. For the rest of the week, morning announcements are led by teachers in their classrooms.
Please note that each morning announcement should include: 1) the pledge of allegiance, 2) the Lowell School pledge, and 3) the person highlighted for that month (November is National American Indian Heritage Month)
This folder will be updated each week to include all the information/slides you’ll need for your morning announcement. Please let Qi know if you have any questions.
Information Regarding Conference Interpreters.
1. Don't claim a slot until the parents have confirmed the time - we are using signup genius to avoid double-booking teachers so they need to provide the link.
2. TEACHERS MUST PROVIDE A WORKING PHONE NUMBERS WHERE THEY CAN BE REACHED DURING CONFERENCES and MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PHONE and LOOK AT THAT PHONE AT THE TIME THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON ZOOM FOR A CONFERENCE WITH AN INTERPRETER AND A CAREGIVER.
3. Teachers are responsible to remind parents of conferences, not interpreters. They should use Google translate to confirm appointment times.
4. Be respectful of the conference spreadsheet and follow the rules - don't write over other appointments.
5. If a teacher gets 15 minutes into the conference and realizes they need more time, they need to stop the conference right then and begin to schedule a future time that the teacher and parent agree on. If that interpreter is not able to attend that future session, we will find someone for that future meeting once the teacher put in a request for that day/time.
6. Zoom appointments need to begin and end on time.
7. Be thoughtful about what you want to tell parents and realize that because there's an interpreter you need to be more concise with what you are saying and mindful of the parent's familiarity with school terms and vocabulary.
Interpreters will be instructed to leave at the scheduled time to not be late for the next group.
Interpreters will have their phones available and be able to contact parents if they do not show up at the time of the appointment.
Families Visit Morning Meetings
Friday 11/4 - Grade 2 (Note: coaching meeting cancelled)
Thursday 11/10 - Grade 1
Friday 11/18 - Grade K
We will be providing RC goody bags for our families when they visit. Learn more from your team's ILT members.
Principal Coffee Hour with Special Guests
Stacy will hold a coffee hour for families immediately following their visits. The coffee hours will include Officer Kerri Kelley and Officer Anna Margaryan (School Resource Officers). Coffee and sweets will be provided. Below are additional details regarding the coffee hours.
Time:
8:30AM - 9:30AM
Location:
Curriculum Room (Lowell West) for Grades 3 - 5
Library for Grades K - 2
Leopard Spots
Leopard spot sticks will be placed in your mail boxes for you to give out to students.
Facebook Posts
Kelley McCollum manages the Lowell Facebook account and regularly uploads content. If you have class / student photos that you'd like to be highlighted in our social media account, please forward to Kelley @ kelly.mccollum@watertown.k12.ma.us
Note: please blur out faces of students who do not have permission for their photos to be published.
