LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #13 2017-2018

November 26, 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,

I hope that you and your families enjoyed the Thanksgiving break. It is a great opportunity to get together with family and friends, enjoy some great food, and of course go shopping! As we enter the busiest and most hectic time of year, I wish you a safe, healthy holiday season and an opportunity to reflect on the positive moments of this past year. We return with a full 5 days of learning this week! Let’s see what’s happening …

Monday, November 27^th is a “C” day.  Please plan accordingly for the week. 

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle

MUSICAL INFORMATION MEETING

On Monday, November 27^th from 1:45 – 2:45 there will be a student information meeting for the 2018 musical, Guys and Dolls. Anyone interested in being in the cast or crew should attend.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

TURKEY TOSS – A HUGE SUCCESS!

A tremendous thank you to students and families for donating to our Turkey Toss fundraiser. We raised $2657 and received 2648 food items to help local families this holiday season. All homerooms met the challenge and the 8^th graders brought in the most! We had a lot of fun down in the gym on Wednesday. Thanks to Ms. Wells, Ms. Capadanno, Ms. Higgins, and our student council students for organizing the event.

HOMEWORK CLUB/LATE BUSES

HW Club and late buses will continue this week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK

Last Weeks’ Answer: $12.00

Thanksgiving – part 2

If one side of your rectangular Thanksgiving table has a row of 6 seats, and if 2 of the guests in that row insist on sitting in an end seat, how many different ways can the 6 guests in that row seat themselves? Turn in answers to the main office. Prizes coming soon!

PTO CORNER

Thank you to all who supported the Locke PTO by ordering gift cards through our Scrip gift card fundraiser. We hope this option helped with holiday shopping. Cards will be available before the December school break.

Thanks also for your Cookie Dough and Pie orders, a yummy way to support the PTO. Order pickup will be on December 20^th for you and your family to enjoy over the holidays. 

Locke Tree at Billerica Holiday Festival: Our Star Wars themed holiday tree will be on display at the Billerica Public Library through December 11th. For anyone interested in possibly taking home either our Star Wars tree or one of the other many trees, wreaths, and gift baskets, raffle tickets will be available fromNovember 18th through December 10th. The raffle winners will be announced December 12th.

Yankee Candle fundraiser: The holidays Shopping season is now in full swing! Yankee Candles make wonderful gifts and also help make your own home festive during the holiday season.  Shop online from the comfort of home with purchases delivered right to your door while supporting our school at the same time. Just go to www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter our Group Number, 999972037 in the "Start Shopping" box. Orders may be placed through 1/10/2018.

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, 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 4^th, January 2^nd, February 5^th, March 5^th, April 2^nd, May 14^th, June 4th

Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at billericalockepto@gmail.comor 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 Toss fundraiser assemblies – Wednesday, November 22nd
• Half Day, 10:40 Dismissal, Wednesday, November 22^nd
• Thanksgiving Recess, November 23^rd and 24^th
• Musical Information Meeting – Monday, November 27^th, 1:45 – 2:45
• Book Fair – Monday, November 27^th – Friday, December 1^st
• Day 60, Trimester 1 ends, Tuesday, December 5^th
• Day 61, Change Electives, Wednesday, December 6^th
• School Council Meeting, Wednesday, December 6^th , 6:00 PM
• Chorus Concert – Tuesday, December 12^th – 7:00 PM BMHS
• Band concert – Wednesday, December 13^th – 7:00 PM Marshall
• Report Cards Published – Wednesday, December 13^th
• 8^th grade Field Trip – Monday, December 18^th
• Orchestra Concert – Tuesday, December 19^th , 7:00 PM BMHS
• 6^th grade Field Trip – Wednesday, December 20^th
• 7^th grade Field Trip – Thursday, December 21th
• Half Day, 10:40 Dismissal, Friday December 22^nd
• Holiday Recess – December 23^rd – January 1^st
• Return to School – Tuesday, January 2^nd, 2018

ATTACHMENTS:

1. PTO stress-free fundraiser

2. PTO Volunteer Opportunities

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com Have a great week!!

Warmest regards,

Tony Garas, Principal