Monday, November 25, 2013

Cold Weather Attire

Today is the coldest day we have had yet this year. Students must come to school dressed properly for the weather, with warm coats, hats, gloves. It is important to the physical, social, emotional, and academic well being of students to have recess each day. While we do sometimes have to make the call for indoor recess depending on how low the temperature is, we do have recess today.  We understand that your student may not put these warm items on willingly! Please send them in with them and our teachers will remind them to put them on for recess!

Monday Message

I want to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. I am grateful for you, our students, and our staff!

Early Release Wednesday
Students will be dismissed promptly at 12pm on Wednesday. There is no lunch served and no LEDP/extended day.

No School Monday, December 2nd
There will be no school on Monday, December 2nd for teacher professional development.

Retake Day
Picture retake day is on December 4th. If you would like retakes, please return the entire original portrait package.

School Site Council
Site Council will meet this Tuesday, November 26th at 7pm. We will be discussing curriculum and assessment with Allison Donovan, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. All are welcome.

International Night is Coming!
I am thrilled to announce that planning for our second International Night is underway. Fliers are up around the school. International Night and Potluck will take place on Friday, January 24th from 6-8pm. Please consider hosting a table that represents your country! Email Deb Ortiz and Yolyette Hohmann if interested at Lowellvolunteers@gmail.com


Monday, November 18, 2013

Monday Message

A busy week at the Lowell again! Today, Junior Achievement volunteers are here delivering engaging civics and economics lessons to our third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Next month, more volunteers will be here with our kindergarten, first, and second graders. For more information on the Junior Achievement curriculum that your students will be engaging in, visit: http://janewengland.org/elementary-programs/

Early Release Days
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week are early release days. Dismissal is at 12:15 pm, lunch will be served each day, and there is LEDP on these days.

Wednesday, November 27th is also a half day. Dismissal is at 12 pm and no lunch is served. There is no LEDP so ALL students must be picked up promptly at 12pm.

PTO Updates 
Clink on the link for important PTO updates! Lowell PTO Weekly Updates

Kindergarten Parent Coffee
Due to scheduling conflicts with the early release schedule, the kindergarten parent coffee scheduled for this week will be rescheduled to December. Stay tuned!


Getting the Most Out of Parent Conferences
I share this article summary every year on the week of conferences. Enjoy!

“Parent-teacher conferences can be daunting,” says Marjorie Hancock, Kansas
education professor, parent, and former teacher. She offers parents these ten pointers
for making conferences more successful:
- Arrive on time. This sends the message that the parents care.
- Bring a written list of questions. “A lot of parents get nervous because the
teachers are the professionals and they get back into their car and think ‘Why
didn’t I ask that?’”
- Realize that your child may act differently in school than at home; be open to
the teacher’s descriptions of your child’s behavior in school.
- Don’t be defensive. It’s all about helping your child do better in school.
- Ask the teacher for examples of your child’s work to back up the points the
teacher is making.
- Discuss specific strengths of your child as a learner; build on your child’s
strengths.
- Ask the teacher for specific ways you can help at home.
- Set 2-4 specific goals for your child in the next grading period.
- Share what the teacher reports with your child. Better yet, have your child be
part of the conference.
- Remember that, as a parent, you are the most important person in your child’s
life. Give your child a hug and reassurance after the conference. “The bottom
line is ‘I love you,’” says Hancock. “It’s almost a team approach to success.”
“Getting the Most Out of Parent Conferences” in PEN Weekly NewsBlast, Sept. 30, 2004.
See http://www.click2houston.com/education/3767252/detail.htm

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Weekly Message

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend!

Parent-Teacher Conferences Next Week
You should have received an appointment slip for your parent-teacher conference next week. This meeting is very important to your child's progress in school. Please come to your conference appointment. If you are unable to attend, please let your student's teacher know as soon as possible.

Schedule Next Week
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week are early release days for conferences. Dismissal is at 12:15 pm on these days and lunch will be served.


PTO Updates
The PTO will meet tonight, Tuesday, November 12th. This is an open meeting-all are invited to attend!

Thursday 11/14 & Friday 11/15 -Shoes For Shriners 
The Lowell School has teamed up with the Shriners Hospital in Boston and looking for donations of new sneakers in child sizes (toddler sizes 6 and up).  Donations of gift cards will also be accepted to either Stride Rite Outlet or Famous Footwear, both in the Arsenal Mall.  Thank you in advance for supporting this great cause and one of our Lowell students who received treatment at Shriners.  This might even work great with several parents pitching in to purchase a new pair of sneakers.
New sneakers and gift card donations will be collected during AM Drop off on bothThursday & Friday of this week.  

Friday 11/15 - Spirit Day
Mix-Matched Shoe Day.  All students & Staff are invited to participate

Monday, November 4, 2013

Monday Message

November is a very busy month! We do not have a full week of school for the rest of the month for voting, Veteran's Day, conferences, Thanksgiving!

No School Tomorrow
There will be no school for students tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5th.  School will resume as usual on Wednesday.

Bake Sale Donations Needed
The Lowell School PTO is looking for families willing to donate baked items to our Annual PTO Bake Sale on Tuesday November 5th. Items can be dropped off after 2:30 PM on Monday in the Teachers Lounge to the designated table or first thing onTuesday AM in the Lowell Gym Polling area.
Popular items include cookies, brownies, bread loaves, Cake Pops, and more.For any questions please contact Noreen at nlmal@comcast.net


Lost and Found
Our school lost and found is located in the cafeteria. I noticed this morning that it is filling up! If your student is missing an item (clothing, lunch box, etc...) encourage them to take a look in the lost and found! If you need to look in the lost and found, please follow visitor rules and stop in to the main office first!