LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #27 2017-2018
March 18, 2018
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
It looks like we could have a full 5 days of learning this week! Keep your fingers crossed. Lets' see what's happening ...
Monday, March 19th is a “C” day. Please plan accordingly for the week.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves - and be free. -- Cesar Chavez
DATE CHANGES/PARENT CONFERENCES
Due to the recent snow days, March 26th is now the last day of the trimester and grades will be published on March 28th. Parent conferences will still be held on March 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. More information on parent conferences will be sent out later this week.
AFTER SCHOOL THIS WEEK
Activities, HW Club, and late buses will continue on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. This is the last week for activities. However, some activities will be extended due to the snow days. The activity teachers will let students know.
TALKING TO YOUR TWEEN ABOUT PUBERTY WORKSHOP
Parents and guardians of Grade 6 students are invited to attend an informational workshop 'Talking to Your Tween about Puberty,' in room 314 at 5:30 on March 28th prior to the start of parent conferences at 6:00. Mrs. Carpenter will share the Grade 6 growth and development (puberty) curriculum and provide parents with the language and tools needed to feel comfortable and confident talking to their child about the changes adolescents go through during puberty. If you are unable to attend at 5:30, please feel free to drop by Mrs. Carpenter's room at any time during conference night with questions or concerns.
CPR PROGRAM – GRADE 6
In partnership with the Billerica Fire/Police Departments and Town Paramedics we will be conducting the CPR program at the Locke from March 26th through March 29th. Billerica firefighters and town paramedics will join Mrs. Carpenter's Grade 6 health classes to conduct CPR certification training. It’s important that your child attend all four days of the training so please make every effort not to schedule appointments during that week.
YEARBOOK SALES
Yearbook orders being collected by Mrs. Milner now through May 31. $20 cash or check (made out to Locke middle school) enclosed in an envelope or ziploc labeled with student’s name.
VETERAN PACKS FOR HOPE
We are collecting various items for our veterans. Please see the attached flyer for what is needed. Please turn donations into the main office. Thank you for your help!
8th GRADE BMHS COURSE SELECTION
Throughout the month of March, 8th grade students will be participating in BMHS course selection. Emails were sent to parents earlier this month from our counseling staff with the timeline regarding this process. Please do not hesitate to ask us any questions regarding this important transition.
MCAS TESTING SCHEDULE
Please see the attached MCAS schedule for this spring.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Last Week’s Answer: 10/9
Happy Pi Day!
This past Wednesday (3/14) was Pi Day. Here are two questions in honor of the day.
a. If Celia ate 1/4 of 2/3 of 1/2 of a pie, what fraction of the whole pie did she eat? Express your answer as a common fraction.
b. If the top surface of a particular slice of pie is a sector of a circle with a vertex angle measuring 20 degrees and the length of the arc is π units, what is the circumference of the top surface of the whole pie? Express your answer in terms of π.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The 2018 summer enrichment program will be held at the Locke. Please see the attached flyer and the link below:
STUDENTS OF THE TRIMESTER 1
Please see our website for a list of student of the trimester 1 recipients. Congratulations, students!
PTO CORNER
Did you know? ... Marshall's Autobody Experts on Pond Street is celebrating its' 40th year in business. For the past 10 years, their Donate to Educate program has donated $25 to a school's PTO fund for any vehicle repaired at their facility for a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, etc. of a student at any school in Billerica. In honor of our 40th year in business, we would like to increase the amount to $40 for each repair! Simply inform a Marshall's representative of the school that should receive the donation, and they will issue a check. It's that simple. Please see the attached flyer and feel free to share this information with family and friends. Thank you!
Restaurant Night: Our next restaurant night will be held at the 99 restaurant on the Middlesex Turnpike/ Lexington Road. Details will follow.
St. Patrick's Day Trinket and Flower Sales: Although two snow days last week limited opportunities, students seemed to enjoy our St. Patrick's Day themed trinket and carnation sales. The PTO wishes to thank Sandra Duhamel, Diane Boudrot, Carole Reardon, Steve Rosa, and Kristen Aurilio for volunteering. We will have spring trinket and flower sales coming up in May.
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.
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), 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. 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. 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 into 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 homeroom number. Thank you!
Upcoming PTO Meetings: (All Mondays) 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. Thank you!
Don't forget to like and follow Locke PTO on Facebook!
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:
- Week of March 19th – Last week of activities
- March 20th – BMHS course selection assembly for 8th graders
- March 22nd – program of studies night at BMHS, 6:30 PM (parents and students)
- March 26th – Day 120, Last day of trimester 2
- March 27th – First day of Trimester 3A
- March 28th – Trimester 2 grades published
- March 28th – Parent Conferences, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- March 29th – 7A field trip
- March 30th – No school, Good Friday
ATTACHMENTS:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or 978-528-8655. Have a great week!!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal