LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #15 2017-2018
December 10, 2017
I hope you successfully shoveled out after our first snow storm of the year. The storms always seem to come on the weekends. It looks like some more snow ahead this week. Stay tuned. We are looking at another bust week as the holiday season is in full swing. We have another “d Days of Learning” this week. Let’s see what’s happening …
Monday, December 11th is an “A” day. Please plan accordingly for the week.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. — ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
REPORT CARDS
Report Cards will be published to the Aspen portal on Wednesday, December 13th at 1:30 PM.
TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE
The second annual Toys for Tots toy drive is underway at the Locke. Last year, thanks to Locke family generosity, we collected an incredible 137 toys and books! Let’s try to beat that number. The eighth grade Peer Leaders will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and books until December 14th. Please help us provide a Christmas to less fortunate local families. Your willingness to help is a testament to what the holidays are truly about. Toys and books can be dropped off in the main office, be brought to Mrs. Carpenter’s classroom – 314, or dropped off Thursday night at parent conferences.
Here’s a link to a story about last year’s toy drive. http://billerica.wickedlocal.c
RAFFLE – SIGNED GRONKOWSKI JERSEY
The physical education department is selling raffle tickets for a signed Rob Gronkowski Patriots jersey. The tickets are $5 and will be sold in the main office. You can also complete the tickets attached and send to the main office. The drawing will be held on December 15th. The proceeds will go toward equipment for our fitness room.
ROBOTICS RAFFLE – ROOMBA
Tired of vacuuming? Need a helping hand at this very busy time of the year to get ready for the holidays? The Locke Monsters Robotics team has just the thing for you! On parent/teacher conference night the team will be selling tickets to win a Roomba 980 robotic vacuum cleaner to do the work for you! Tickets are 5 dollars each or 5 tickets for 20 dollars. You do not need to be present to win. So please stop at our table on Thursday night and enter for a chance to win a robotic vacuum valued at 900 dollars. Tickets are also available in the front office this week – so come on down and support the team and buy a chance to relax a little and enjoy time with family while your vacuuming is done for you! See the attached flyer to see a picture of the Roomba.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are on Thursday, December 14th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. We are using a computer program called PTC wizard to schedule conferences. Conferences will be 5 minutes long and each teacher will have 24 openings. There is a possibility that a teacher will be booked and you will not be able to schedule a conference with a particular teacher. If that does occur, I encourage you to utilize email, meet individually with the teacher at another time, or schedule a team meeting. The link below will take you to the website to schedule your parent meetings. You will need to register and create an account. You will also need to know your child’s teachers’ names in order to schedule the meetings. The site will provide a list of names for you to choose from. The attachment included here provides step by step directions on how to set up your meetings. If you have any questions, please contact me. The site is now open to schedule conferences. Here is the link:
We hope that this process is an improvement over having to wait in long lines to meet with a teacher. Please provide me with any feedback you have on this process in order to improve our communication with families. Thank you.
NATURE’S CLASSROOM INFORMATION MEETING
Prior to parent conferences, we will be having a 7th grade parent meeting regarding the Nature’s Classroom Field Trip. It will be at 5:00 PM in the auditorium.
MCAS TESTING SCHEDULE
Please see the attached MCAS schedule for this spring.
HOMEWORK CLUB/LATE BUSES
HW Club and late buses will continue this week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Our final week before vacation we will have HW club and late buses on Monday and Wednesday only.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Last Week’s Answer: 64%
Oh, Christmas Tree
If the average time it takes to grow a 6-foot Christmas tree is 7 years, how many inches of growth is that per year? Express your answer as a decimal to the nearest tenth.
Turn in answers to the main office. Prizes coming soon!PTO CORNER
Winter/ Holiday Trinket Sales: We have winter and holiday themed trinkets available for students to purchase during lunch time between this Monday, December 11th and next Thursday December 21st. All items will cost only $1 each. We are in urgent need of parent volunteers to spread some holiday cheer by selling these items to interested students looking to do a little holiday shopping for friends and family or a little treat for themselves. If you are available between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on any of these days, please let us know. You can email us at billericalockepto@gmail.com, send us a message through the Locke PTO Facebook page, or call Faith Stevens at either 978-314-3389 or 978-667-6676. Thank you so much in advance!
Parent-Teacher Conference Night: As you know, parent teacher conferences will be held this Thursday December 14th. The Locke PTO will have a table out with some information and goodies to help out with that holiday shopping. We will have a limited supply of Locke Middle School apparel and gift cards from our Scrip gift card program on hand for purchase that night. A list of available items will be posted this evening on the Locke PTO Facebook page. Please check it out! Order forms will also be available for the full array of Locke apparel and gift cards. Orders may be placed that night or turned in no later than December 21st and will be available in January. We gladly accept cash and checks made out to Locke PTO for all purchases, orders, and donations.
Locke Tree at Billerica Holiday Festival: Last call to check out our holiday tree at the Billerica Public Library! Raffle tickets will be available from through 4PM today, December 11th. Raffle winners will be announced December 12th. If you are the lucky winner of our Star Wars holiday tree, please let us know. We would love to share this information and even post a picture on the Locke PTO Facebook page of your student or whole family with the tree (if you would like).
Cookie Dough and Pie order pickup will be on December 20th only. Because we do not have an appropriate method of storing these refrigerated items, it is imperative that they get picked up in the school cafeteria between 4PM and 7PM on Wednesday December 20th. Thank you for your orders and we do hope that you and your family will enjoy these delicious desserts.
Yankee Candle fundraiser: Looking for an easy way to make a big dent in that holiday shopping list without having to deal with parking lot hassles and lines in the stores? Yankee Candles and accessories make wonderful gifts and also make your own home look and smell wonderful! Shop online from the comfort if home with purchases delivered right to your door while supporting our school at the same time. Just go towww.yankeecandlefundraising.coStress 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, except our next meeting on Tuesday, January 2nd, February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 14th,June 4th
Please join us! It's a great way to get lots of Information, share your ideas and suggestions, get answers to questions you may have, and have a say in what we do to help make life at the Locke the best we can for all the students. No babysitter? No worries. Children are always welcome.
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. Thank you!
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 atpbattcock@billericak12.com
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
- Chorus Concert – Tuesday, December 12th – 7:00 PM BMHS
- Band concert – Wednesday, December 13th – 7:00 PM Marshall
- Report Cards Published – Wednesday, December 13th
- Nature’s Classroom--Parent information Thursday, December 14th 5:00 PM
- Parent Conferences – Thursday, December 14th 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- 8th grade Field Trip – Monday, December 18th
- Orchestra Concert – Tuesday, December 19th , 7:00 PM BMHS
- 6th grade Field Trip – Wednesday, December 20th
- 7th grade Field Trip – Thursday, December 21th
- Half Day, 10:40 Dismissal, Friday December 22nd
- Holiday Recess – December 23rd – January 1st
- Return to School – Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018
ATTACHMENTS:
5. Roomba Flyer