November Newsletter

Nov. 4th - NO SCHOOL

Nov. 6th - Community Resource Fair 4-6pm

Nov. 7th - 8th Lowell High Field Trip

Nov. 7th - WS PBIS

Nov. 10th - Picture retake

Nov. 11th - NO SCHOOL

Nov. 13th- Parent Teacher Conferences 5 pm

Nov. 13th- High School Resource Fair

Nov. 14th - Fall Dance 3:30 pm

Nov. 18th - Grade 5 Awards Assembly 1:30

Nov. 19th - Grade 6 Awards Assembly 1:30

Nov. 20th- Grade 7 Awards Assembly 1:30

Nov. 21st- Grade 8 Awards Assembly 1:30

Nov. 25th - LHS Gaming Tournament

Nov. 26th - Early Release (11:10)

Nov 27th - 28th - NO SCHOOL

Greetings Butler Families,

November is one of our busiest months and one of the most meaningful. Students will receive their first report card of the school year, and we’ll soon host Parent-Teacher Conferences—a valuable time to connect, reflect, and plan for continued growth. Although it’s our shortest month of the year, it’s packed with opportunities to strengthen our home-school partnership.

🌟 Parent Portal Access. Parent Login: Aspen Parent Portal Our Parent Portal is a powerful tool that allows you to monitor your child’s academic progress, attendance, and performance in real time. This initiative—prioritized by our leadership team—aims to enhance parent engagement and keep families connected to every step of their child’s learning journey.

Login credentials were shared with progress reports or made available during Back-to-School Night. If you need additional help, please join us at our monthly Parent Coffee—we’ll walk through the portal together and answer any questions.

💬 Why Parent Engagement Matters

Parent engagement is a collaborative partnership between families and our school community. Together, we nurture our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth.
Research shows that when parents are engaged, students are more likely to:

• Attend school consistently

• Earn higher grades and test scores

• Develop stronger motivation and confidence

💡 Our Shared Goals

Through the use of the Parent Portal and our ongoing communication, we aim to:

• Empower students to take ownership of their learning

• Strengthen communication between parents and teachers

• Deepen the connection between school and home

We are excited to continue this journey together—because when families and schools partner, every child thrives. Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of the Butler community.

Together, we are All In. All Means All.

As a guardian, you are your child's first and most important teacher. At home and school, we have something very much in common- we all want our students to learn and do well. When caregivers and teachers talk to one other, each person can share important information about the child's talents and needs. Each person can also learn something new about how to support the child. If you haven't done so already, Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to open communication with your child's teacher.

The suggestions below can make the most of the Parent-Teacher Conference so everyone wins, especially your child.

Before the conference:

• Review your child's work.

• Talk with your child about how they think they are doing in school.

• Make a list of questions to ask during the conference.

• Think about ways you would like to be involved in your child's learning, and ask how you can support your child at home.

During the conference, you want to find out how your child is doing by asking questions like:

• Is my child performing at grade level?

• What do you see as his/her strengths?

• How could he or she improve?

Be sure to share your thoughts and feelings about your child. Tell the teacher about your child's likes and dislikes, and what they are good at, and explain the areas in which they may need more support and assistance.

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor and celebrate the rich histories, diverse cultures, and enduring contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples. At Butler, we recognize that understanding these histories helps our students build empathy, respect, and a deeper connection to the world around them.

Throughout the month, our classrooms have explored the traditions, innovations, and voices of Native communities—past and present. From stories that highlight the importance of stewardship and community, to discussions about resilience and identity, students are engaging in meaningful learning experiences that affirm the value of every culture.

As a school community, we are proud to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and reaffirm our commitment to creating an inclusive environment where all histories are honored and every student feels seen, valued, and connected.

At Butler, we know that reading is the foundation for all learning. Research shows that students who read regularly at home—whether independently, with a parent, or by listening to a story—develop stronger vocabulary, better comprehension, and greater confidence across all subject areas. In fact, the simple act of reading 20 minutes a day has been linked to higher achievement, improved focus, and stronger problem-solving skills.

This year, we are excited to introduce our new literacy curriculum, which is designed not only to strengthen skills in the classroom but also to encourage a love of reading at home. The curriculum includes:

• Engaging, diverse texts that reflect our students’ lives and broaden their perspectives.

• Family-friendly strategies and activities to make reading at home enjoyable and meaningful.

• Tools that help parents support comprehension and conversation about what students are reading.

When schools and families partner together around reading, students thrive. By fostering routines at home—such as setting aside time each evening for independent reading, reading aloud together, or discussing what your child read that day—you are helping build habits that last a lifetime.

We invite you to join us on September 25th as we discuss this further and share additional resources to support reading at home.

Thank you for joining us in this important work. Together, we can empower every child to see reading not just as a school task, but as a doorway to curiosity, imagination, and opportunity.

With Butler Pride,

We are excited to share that Butler Middle School is piloting Scoir this year, an online career and college readiness platform designed for students in grades 6–12. All of our students in grades 6–8 will be enrolled.

At the middle school level, Scoir equips students with tools to explore careers and develop early college and career readiness skills. Through the platform, students can discover their strengths, connect their interests to possible career pathways, and begin building the foundational skills they’ll need for success. This early exposure helps ensure a smooth transition into high school and beyond.

As they move on to Lowell High School, students will continue to use Scoir to support college searches, career exploration, financial planning, and the college application process—building on the foundation they start here at Butler.

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Nicole Luongo, Guidance Counselor, at nluongo@lowell.k12.ma.us.

At Butler, we believe being college- and career-ready means preparing every student to confidently pursue their goals beyond middle school—whether that path leads to college, a skilled trade, or another meaningful career. This includes nurturing academic growth, building essential life skills, and fostering a sense of purpose and possibility.

This year, we are being intentional about making this vision a reality. Through REACH Days, Early Release programming, and opportunities to visit college campuses and high school pathways, our students will engage in real-world learning that connects today’s efforts to tomorrow’s opportunities. They’ll take part in workshops, explore future careers, and strengthen the habits of mind and heart needed for long-term success.

Together, with our families as partners, we are laying the foundation for every student to imagine, prepare for, and achieve a future full of promise.

It is helpful for teachers, parents, and administrators to understand the difference between bullying and conflict. While both can cause harm, they require different responses. Use this guide to help identify and respond appropriately.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is different from normal conflict. It involves repeated and intentional harm, where one person uses power to control or hurt another.

• Intentional – not an accident.
• Repetitive – not a one-time incident.
• Power imbalance – the bully has more power (often social status, strength, or popularity).
• Impactful – the target is harmed emotionally, socially, or academically.

What is Conflict?

Conflict is a normal part of relationships and growing up. It usually happens when two or more people have a disagreement or opposing views.

• Disagreement between peers.
• May be a one-time event.
• Both individuals have relatively equal power.
• Resolution is possible through communication and problem-solving.

Why the Difference Matters

Understanding the difference between bullying and conflict helps adults respond in the right way. Conflict can often be resolved with communication and problem-solving, while bullying requires adult intervention to ensure safety and stop harmful behavior.

TBA

Thank you for your support and Let's Go Bulldogs!

Lowell Public Schools Help Desk ph. 978-674-2024 To open a HelpDesk ticket: Email: Helpdesk@lowell.k12.ma.us (Use your student email account to email this address) or Http://helpdesk.lowell.k12.ma.us (Use the same username and password that you use for your school email)

VISION- All students will demonstrate at least one year of academic, personal, and community growth at the end of every school year.

MISSION- Our mission is to provide our students with highly-effective, standards-based instruction and enrichment experiences that reinforce our school’s core values and support efforts to close achievement gaps and accelerate growth for all students.

CORE VALUES: Take Care of Self, Each Other and Our Community (I care for myself , I care for others , I care for my school)

Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-9378973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/