Monday, June 29, 2015

Final Monday Message!

The last day of school is here! Thank you for all of the support you have given your students and the Lowell community over the past year. I wish you a safe and happy summer. I will be working for most of the summer and am always here for you, so please send me an email if you would like to touch base about anything.  I have some final, important updates for you.

Supply Lists
Grade level supply lists can be found here: Lowell School Grade Level Supply Lists
I will also be posting these on our webpage early this summer. Teams collaborated to come up with these lists, so the list is the same for every teacher in the grade level.

Placement For Next Year
Placement letters are mailed out at the beginning of August. At that time you will learn who your student's teacher for the upcoming year will be. This is the final step in a long and thorough placement process and the letters are mailed out in August to allow for the right placement for each and every student. Below you will find the makeup of grade level classrooms. I am in the process of hiring a fourth grade teacher and will be hiring highly qualified teachers for maternity leave positions as well. I will send out this information with brief bios of our new staff members later in the summer!

Kindergarten: Ms Altobello, Mrs Connors, Mrs Morrison, TBD (to fill in for Mrs Murray's maternity leave)

Grade 1: Mrs Cox, Mr Fiandaca, Ms Peca, Mrs Peterson-Eacott

Grade 2: Ms Hudon, Mr MacLellan, TBD/Mrs Seward (who will return from maternity leave)
Due to enrollment size in other grades, our current first grade is going from four classrooms to three. This will not result in over-sized classrooms, however. The class size will be 

Grade 3: Ms Park, Mr Shpritzer, Mrs Walsh

Grade 4: Mr Stezzi, TBD (vacant teaching position), Mrs Moriarty/TBD (to fill in for Mrs Moriarty's maternity leave)

Grade 5: Ms Garabedian, Ms Levine, Ms Sudbay

Box Tops
There will be a summer Box Tops contest! The top three students will win a prize! Please make sure you keep the boxtops together in a labeled bag!

Report Cards
If your child is not in school to receive their report card today, please email me over the summer to set up a time to come in and pick it up.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Monday Message From Ms Kaplan

Hello, Lowell families!

I hope you have had a wonderful school year. Today is my first day back to work after an extended maternity leave. I am so thrilled to be back at the Lowell! I look forward to seeing familiar faces this week as the school year winds down. I want to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to Allison Donovan for taking such excellent care of the Lowell this year. She did an amazing job and for that I want to thank her!

I will get right down to business as there is a lot of information to share...even though I would love to blog on and on about how much I have missed the Lowell!

Last Days of School
This Friday, June 26th is the last day for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. It is a full day with LEDP after school. Monday, June 29th is the last day of school for students in grades 1-5. This is a half day with dismissal at 12:15. There will be NO LEDP on Monday, June 29th.


Garden Expansion
This weekend a group of volunteers worked to build two additional raised beds in the Lowell Learning Garden. This expansion will allow all grade levels to access the garden for curriculum related projects. Thank you to all of the volunteers for your help in building the beds.




Report Cards
Report cards for students in grades 1-5 will be sent home on the last day of school. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten report cards are accessed online. Please note that many organizations require your child's report card for registration. Please save the report card! If your child is not in school on the last day to receive their report card, you may pick it up over the summer. Please email me to arrange a time to pick up the report card. I will be working but the school is not open so I will need to know to expect you!

PTO Survey
The Lowell PTO is already beginning to plan for the 2015-2016 school year. Please use the following link to give feedback about PTO events: Lowell PTO Survey

Summer Reading
This Tuesday, Librarian Emily Miranda from the Watertown Free Public Library will visit classrooms to talk about the summer reading program. Monday, June 29th at 3:30 in the children's room of the library there will be a kick off event for the summer reading program. Author Jarrett J. Korsocska will be at the event.  Jarrett writes the popular Lunch Lady and Platypus Police Squad series. Here is a link to information about the event: Watertown Public Library Summer Reading Program

Coming Very Soon!
By the last day of school (6/29), I will send an additional blog post with the teacher and grade level configuration for the upcoming school year. I will also send grade level supply lists and post these lists on the school website. This is new this year and will allow families to get school supplies at their convenience. Placement letters, with your child's class assignment for the 2015-2016 school year, will be mailed out at the beginning of August.

I look forward to seeing all of you and your students this week!




Monday, June 15, 2015

Monday Message 6/15

Good Morning Lowell Families,

The Lowell students and teachers had a great time at field day last Thursday.  A big thank you to Ms. Donahue and Ms. Loguidice for organizing this special day.  Also, thank you to the many parent volunteers who helped run events, pass out fruit and keep an eye on kids during the faculty kickball game.  The students were very enthusiastic cheering on their teachers.  The K-2 teachers triumphed over the grade 3-5 teachers.

Grade 5 Move-up Day:
The 5th grade students did not go to the Middle School today for move-up day.  The trip was postponed due to the rain.  The students will visit Watertown Middle School on Friday, June 19th.  The students will be going first thing in the morning so it is important to be on-time for school.

Lowell Learning Garden:
The DPW came last week and removed the large yew bush on the right side of the old main entrance.   The garden will get two new raised beds to accommodate curriculum connected projects for each grade level.  Please email me if you are able to volunteer with the garden this weekend or if you are interested in helping out over the summer.

Have a great week!

Ms. Donovan


Monday, June 8, 2015

Monday Message 6/8

Good Morning Lowell Families,

June continues to be a busy month at the Lowell.  Thank you to the PTO for putting on an amazing picnic last week.  It was wonderful to see everyone relaxing and enjoying the afternoon.

Reminder: Today and tomorrow there is no school for Kindergarten and PreK students.  We have screening for the kindergarten students that will be joining us next year.

PTO: Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 is the final PTO meeting of the school year.

Field Day:  Thursday, June 11th is Field Day for the Lowell School.  Events will take place at Victory Field.  Students should bring a bagged lunch.  Students should wear sneakers and plenty of sunscreen.  Please contact Ms. Donahue if you are interested in volunteering.

Have a great week!

Ms. Donovan

Monday, June 1, 2015

Monday Message 6/1

Good Morning Lowell Families,

We have officially entered our last month of school.  Teacher's are busy preparing students for the transition to the next grade.  For our fifth grade students this means moving to the middle school and for our kindergarten teachers it means welcoming a group of new families to the Lowell School.

Reminder: Next Monday 6/8 and Tuesday 6/9 there will be NO SCHOOL for K and PreK students.  Teachers will be involved in screening for the incoming group of students.

Safe Footwear:  Now that the weather has become warmer, students have begun to wear flip-flops and sandals to school.  We have had several injuries on the playground due to kids running in improper footwear and from sandals breaking.  Students should have safe shoes for recess each day.

PTO End of Year Picnic:  This Thursday from 2:30-5:30 is the PTO End-of Year Picnic.  The picnic will feature a speed-pitch, games from Ms. Donohue, and a teacher dunk tank.

Field Day:  Thursday, June 11th is Field Day.  Please contact Ms. Donohue if you are interested in volunteering.

Have a great week!

Ms. Donovan