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