LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #11 2017-2018
November 12, 2017
I hope you are enjoying the cold weekend and were able to locate the winter hats and gloves. We are back to work with a full week and 5 days of learning. Let’s see what is happening …
Monday, November 13th is a “C” day. Please plan accordingly for the week.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddleQUOTE OF THE WEEK
It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer.
- Albert Einstein
- Albert Einstein
THE TURKEY TOSS IS COMING …
The half day before Thanksgiving Student Council is going to hold the annual Turkey Toss in the gym to raise money and food for local families in need for the holidays. The Turkey Toss will be an assembly (one for each grade) the half day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, Nov 22nd). A few representatives from each eligible homeroom will be chosen at random at the assembly to participate in the turkey toss. They will be slinging rubber turkeys attempting to hit targets to earn points. The homeroom from each grade with the most points earned will win a doughnut party for the whole homeroom. Each homeroom will be responsible for raising money and collecting canned goods. We ask that each homeroom raise $50 AND collect 50 cans. Students can start bringing in donations Monday, 11/13.
HOMEWORK CLUB
HW club continues throughout the year. It will be in the library every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Students do not need to sign up ahead of time for HW club. They will report to the library immediately after school. Students can attend as many days as the parent/student believes are necessary.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES END THIS WEEK
After school activities will end this week. They will return in January with new offerings. If you have any questions, please contact our secretary Mrs. Battcock. pbattcock@billericak12.com
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Last Weeks’ Answer: A: 11/25 B: 16/26,565
TIME ZONES
When Daylight Saving Time is not being observed, the time difference between neighboring time zones is −1 hour from east to west. For example, when the current time is 1 p.m. in Washington, DC the current time is 12:00 noon in Dallas, 11 a.m. in Denver and 10 a.m. in San Francisco. If the current local time is 2:16 p.m. EST in Washington, DC, what will be the current local time (MST) 432 minutes from now in Albuquerque, NM? (Albuquerque is in the same time zone as Denver)
Turn in answers to the main office. Prizes coming soon!PTO CORNER
Coming right up! Our next Restaurant Night will be This Wednesday, November 15th at Chipotle, 199 Boston Road, Treble Cove Plaza, N. Billerica. Please come support the Locke PTO while enjoying a meal with your family and a break from cooking. Valid on dine in or take out orders between 4PM and 8PM. In store only, online orders do not apply. Simply print and turn in the attached flier, show it on your smartphone, or just tell the cashier that you want to support the Locke PTO. Please share fliers and spread the word prior to the event (Chiplotle requests that fliers not be distributed either inside or outside the restaurant during the event). Chipotle donates a very generous 50% of all proceeds from orders supporting the Locke PTO to our school. Please join us!
Locke Tree at Billerica Holiday Festival: Each year, the Locke Middle School has a tree on display at the Billerica Public library which is not only displayed, but raffled off for a lucky winner to enjoy at home over the holidays! The display will be open to the public during library hours from November 18th through December 12th. This year, our theme will be Star Wars, in honor of the latest installment of the popular film franchise coming out mid-December. We are grateful to our parent volunteers who have stepped up to collect donations and decorate the Locke Middle School's Star Wars tree for all to enjoy! Without you, our participation in events like this would not be possible! We are also thankful for the donations that we have received. Community involvement really makes events like this extra special! We are still accepting donations of decorations to go on the tree. Items may be sent in to school with your child to be sent to the office via their homeroom teacher or turned in directly to the office by a parent. If neither option works for your family, please contact faith Stevens at 978-314-3389 to arrange for pick up at your home. Please reach out to us at billericalockepto@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you!
Yankee Candle fundraiser: The holidays are coming up fast! Yankee Candles make wonderful gifts and also help make your own home festive during the holiday season. Shop online from the comfort if home with purchases delivered right to your door while supporting our school at the same time. Just go to www.yankeecandlefundraising.co
Pie and Cookie Dough Fundraiser – See attached form.
Our Scrip gift card fundraiser is in full swing with guaranteed delivery in time for holiday gift giving! Forms were sent home last week, and are available as an attachment to this newsletter. Gift cards take a lot of the guess work out of holiday shopping and are very well received. Why not skip the lines and parking lot hassles this holiday season and do your shopping from home while supporting our school as well? Orders are due by Monday, November 20th to ensure delivery in time for the holidays.
Stress Free Fundraiser... Traditional fundraisers not your thing? Our Alternative - Stress Free Fundraiser runs throughout the school year. Donations can be sent in at any time and are sincerely appreciated. 100% of all donations go to the Locke PTO to directly benefit the students and staff at the Locke. Checks should be made payable to Locke PTO in an envelope marked Locke PTO. Forms are helpful but not mandatory if Stress Free Fundraiser is on the memo line of your check.Open Positions/ Volunteer Opportunities: We need volunteers to "shadow" our current chair people for the following positions to take over at the end of the 2017-2018 school year:
Co Vice President (fundraising)
PTO Treasurer
Communications Officer (email, Facebook, etc.)
Box Tops for Education Program Coordinator.
Please reach out for more information or to express your interest in any of these positions. Thank you! Without the help of parent volunteers stepping up to give some time and share their expertise, we simply cannot have a successful PTO. Please help us continue our mission to make Life at the Locke the best it can be!
Volunteer Opportunities... The Locke PTO welcomes any and all help that parents are willing to give. We have many different opportunities to help out, some at our school or in other parts of Billerica and some that you can do from home. No amount of time and effort is too little, so please take a look at the attached list and let us know what you can do to help us make Life at the Locke that much better! Remember, even if each parent or family volunteers one hour of their time and effort, it all adds up and benefits all our kids and our Locke community. Forms may be sent into school with your child labeled Locke PTO or simply send us an email at billericalockepto@gmail.com letting us know how you would like to help! Thank you!
Box Tops for Education: Please save and send us your Box Tops from Education. Each box top you are willing to clip from a Box or other container from your grocery store purchase and send in to the school earns the Locke PT0 10 cents toward supplies, events, and programs for the children. Please make sure that the expiration dates remain intact so that we can receive credit. Box tops should be turned in in either an envelope or Ziploc bag clearly labeled with your child's name and home room number. Thank you!
Upcoming PTO Meetings: All Mondays: December 4th, January 2nd, February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 14th, June 4th
Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at billericalockepto@gmail.com or by calling Faith Stevens at 978-667-6676 or 978-314-3389.ABSENCES
If your child is going to be absent, please call 978-528-8650 to report the absence. You can leave a voicemail at this number which goes directly to our secretary. You may also email our secretary, Ms. Battcock at pbattcock@billericak12.com
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
- Turkey Trot – Sunday, November 19th
- Turkey Toss fundraiser assemblies – Wednesday, November 22nd
- Half Day, 10:40 Dismissal, Wednesday, November 22nd
- Thanksgiving Recess, November 23rd and 24th
ATTACHMENTS: