LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #15 2018-2019
December 9, 2018
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
We have a busy 2 weeks ahead before holiday break. We return with another 5 DAYS OF LEARNING this week! Let’s see what’s happening …
Monday, December 10th is a “D” Day. Please plan accordingly for the week.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and Instagram: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Light tomorrow with today.” ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
REPORT CARDS
Report Cards will be published to the Aspen portal on Wednesday, December 12th at 1:30 PM.
AFTER SCHOOL THIS WEEK
HW Club and late buses will continue this week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are on Thursday, December 13th 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. If you already have an account, you can log-in. If you do not have an account, 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 following teachers are not available for conferences: Mr. Lavalle, Ms. Cardella, Ms. Munn, and Ms. Ginsburg. 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 on December 13th, 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.
HOLIDAY CONCERTS!!
Our band, chorus, and orchestra are busy preparing their holiday concerts. Please come out to hear some great music. Please see the calendar below for the dates.
LIBRARY NEWS
Book Fair this Week!
Our first book fair of the year will be running this week, Monday through Friday! Proceeds from the fair will be used to create a reading nook in the Locke library where students can sit comfortably, relax, and read. The fair will be open Thursday night during parent conferences, so make sure to stop by and support the library. Parents can also shop the online fair until December 18 by visiting http://www.scholastic.com/bf/
E-Wallets for the Book Fair
Parents can now visit the Locke’s book fair site to set up an e-wallet for their students. E-wallets are a secure, cash-free way to shop the fair. Simply create an account for your student and authorize a spending limit on your credit card. The funds will become immediately available for use on our register when your students check out. Learn more at:http://www.scholastic.com/bf/
Follow the Locke Library on Twitter:
The Locke library has a new Twitter account! Follow @LibraryLocke to get news about new books, events, and projects your students are working on in the library and throughout the school. https://twitter.com/
LOCKE ROBOTICS FUNDRAISER (HOLIDAY SALE!!)
Locke Monsters Robotics is selling string bags and coffee mugs as a fundraiser: The 16-ounce two-tone mugs with the Locke Monster Logo are dishwasher and microwave safe. The green and black Locke Monster Logo sting bags have a zippered pocket on one side and mesh material on other side, they are 13" by 15" and hold up to 16 pounds.
Bags: $5 Mugs $10, Special: 1 Mug and 1 Bag Combo for $12!
Please email Locke Monsters Robotics Coach Maureen Parker at mparker@billericak12.com to purchase. Thank you for your Support!
BATV AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Billerica Access Television (BATV) and the Billerica Middle Schools (both Locke and Marshall) will be offering a combined Middle School Enrichment program. The program will be held at the BATV studio located at 430 Boston Rd, Billerica. The program will run from 2:00 – 3:30 PM, see dates listed below.
- Transportation to the BATV Studio will be provided by a school bus.
- Students will be dismissed at the regular time (1:40 PM) and ride a school bus to BATV.
- A BATV staff member along with a teacher will meet the kids at BATV.
- Parents will be responsible for picking up students at 3:30 at the BATV Studio.
Here's a list of the dates for the Combined Middle School Enrichment Program.
Week 1: January 3, Week 2: January 10, Week 3: January 17, Week 4: January 24, Week 5: January 31, Week 6: February 7, Week 7: February 14, Week 8: February 28, Week 9: March 7, Week 10: March 14, Week 11: March 21, Week 12: March 28, Week 13: April 11 Premiere: April 25
Questions or concerns should be directed to Amber Krasinski at amber@batvinc.org .
Please return all forms to the main office. (SEE ATTACHED)
PARENT IDEAS
The holidays can be a stressful time for adults and children. The American Psychological Association offers the following tips to parents:
Strengthen social connections – We know that strong, supportive relationships help us manage all kinds of challenges. So, we can view the holidays as a time to reconnect with the positive people in our lives. Accepting help and support from those who care about us can help alleviate stress. Also, volunteering at a local charity on our own or with family can be another way to make connections; helping others often makes us feel better, too.
Initiate conversations about the season – It can be helpful to have conversations with our kids about the variety of different holiday traditions our families, friends, and others may celebrate. Parents can use this time as an opportunity to discuss how some families may not participate in the same holiday traditions as others. Not everyone needs to be the same. It is important to teach open-mindedness about others and their celebrations.
Set expectations – It is helpful to set realistic expectations for gifts and holiday activities. Depending on a child's age, we can use this opportunity to teach kids about the value of money and responsible spending. We need to remember to pare down our own expectations, too. Instead of trying to take on everything, we need to identify the most important holiday tasks and take small concrete steps to accomplish them.
Keep things in perspective – On the whole, the holiday season is short. It helps to maintain a broader context and a longer-term perspective. We can ask ourselves, what’s the worst thing that could happen this holiday? Our greatest fears may not happen and, if they do, we can tap our strengths and the help of others to manage them. There will be time after the holiday season to follow up or do more of things we’ve overlooked or did not have the time to do during the holidays.
Take care of yourself – It is important that we pay attention to our own needs and feelings during the holiday season. We can find fun, enjoyable and relaxing activities for ourselves and our families. By keeping our minds and bodies healthy, we are primed to deal with stressful situations when they arise. Consider cutting back television viewing for kids and getting the family out together for fresh air and a winter walk. Physical activity can help us feel better and sleep well, while reducing sedentary time and possible exposure to stress-inducing advertisements.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Last week’s answer: a. 5b seats in row Z b. 658 seats
It’s all Prime to me …
If n is the sum of three consecutive primes and is also the product of two 2-digit primes, what is the least possible value of n?Turn your answer into the main office.
PTO CORNER
Scrip gift cards are available! Deadline is December 11 for check payment. You can also bring your completed order form to Parent/Teacher Conference on December 13 and pay with a credit card. We will have a limited number of cards available for sale during Parent/Teacher Conferences. As a reminder, there will be a nominal fee assessed on all credit card sales. Delivery for orders placed by December 13 will be the week of December 17. Orders placed last week will be given to the office tomorrow for distribution to the homeroom teachers.
Next restaurant night: Mooyah! Please join us on December 10 at Mooyah between 4 and 9 pm at the Boston Road location. Flyers must be provided at the time of order. See attached. Flyers were also distributed to the homeroom teachers on Friday and will go home with your child tomorrow.
The PTO is partnering with Savers for a fundraiser. Items will be resold at Savers stores to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation. We will have a truck at the school on Thursday, December 13, for the entire day and during Parent/Teacher Conference. Please help us load up that truck with your gently used, un-needed items, including soft goods (clothing, sheets, towels, blankets, etc.) and hard goods (furniture, small appliances, etc.). See attached.
Yankee Candle fundraiser is still available with online ordering until January 9th, 2019, at www.
The PTO needs volunteers. If you would prefer not to participate in our fundraisers, but would still like to contribute, please see our Alternative Fundraiser form. "Like" the Locke PTO on Facebook for PTO, school, and district updates, email us at billericalockepto@gmail.com
Important Upcoming Dates:
- 8th grade Field trip – Monday, December 10th
- BOOK FAIR – December 10th – 14th
- Chorus Concert – Tuesday, December 11th – 7:00 PM BMHS
- Band Concert – Wednesday, December 12th—7:00 PM Marshall
- Report Cards Published – Wednesday, December 12th
- Nature’s Classroom info for 7th grade parents –Thursday, December 13th – 5:00PM
- Saver’s Fundraiser – Thursday, December 13th
- Parent Conferences – Thursday, December 13th – 6:00 to 8:00 PM
- Orchestra Concert—Tuesday, December 18th – 7:00 PM BMHS
- 6th grade field trip – Wednesday, December 19th
- 7th grade field trip – Thursday, December 20th
- Half Day – Friday, December 21st
- Holiday Recess – December 22nd – January 1st
- Return to School – Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019
5 attachments this week:
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655 Have a great week!!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal