LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #7 2020-2021

-

Spooky Edition!!

October 25, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,

I hope you are enjoying the weekend. We are back this week with a full 5 DAYS OF LEARNING!  We have a lot going on. Let’s see what’s happening …  

PARENT CONFERENCES

Parent conferences will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 27th and Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Your child’s teachers will be reaching out with zoom links soon. Please see this presentation to see how it will work. Instructions for zoom conferences  

I-READY ASSESSMENT

I-ready assessments will continue this week for Cohort 2. Students will be taking the assessment at home. Please click on the iready icon on your Billerica classlink page and it will take you right to the test.

Cohort 2

ELA/Reading: October 26th

Math: October 27th

Cohort 1

If students in cohort 1 did not complete the assessment last week, they must do so by the end of this week.

VIRTUAL BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT VIDEOS

Please see the link below for our back to school night videos.

Back to school night videos

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Cohort 1 can wear Halloween costumes on Tuesday, October 27th and cohort 2 on Friday, October 30th. Costumes must be appropriate for school without accessories such as weapons. Also, please no political costumes. Students should continue to wear their Covid-19 protective masks and not Halloween masks that cover their entire face or head.

PICTURE DAY – Remote students and make-up

We have scheduled a picture day for Wednesday, November 4th from 8:00 – 11:00. This will be for full remote students and make-ups for the hybrid students. We will be sending out further information prior to picture day regarding logistics.

VIRTUAL ABSENCES

We are accounting for all students both when they are in school or at home.

On Wednesdays, attendance will be taken for both cohorts in homeroom at 9:15 on a google meet.

On the days that the cohorts are home, students must attend the support staff meeting with Ms. Rogers for 6th and 7th grade or Mr. Smith for 5th grade. Homeroom teachers will also send out a quick question to ensure that students are present. Attendance will be posted by 2:00 on those days. If your child has been marked “virtually” absent, you will be notified via email the next day.

If your child is going to be absent either virtually or live, please call 978-528-8650 to report the absence. You can leave a voicemail at this number which goes directly to our secretary. Please leave a reason for the absence. You may also email our secretary, Ms. Brewster at nbrewster@billericak12.com 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?”
Dr. Seuss

MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK

Last Week’s Answer: 4 small apples are in 1 pound.

Time to Rake!!

Suppose Leif can rake his entire yard by himself in 2.5 hours, while his younger sister, Autumn, can do it in 4 hours by herself. How many minutes will it take the two of them to rake the entire yard if they are working together?

Thank you for so many answers last week! Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com – Show your work! Your answers will be put into a drawing for a dunkins card!

Congratulations to Livia Lin and Kellan Barden for winning the drawing last week!

SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Monday, Tuesday 10/26 and 10/7 – Cohort 1 in school

Wednesday, 10/28– Both Cohorts follow remote schedule (same as last week, see below)

Thursday, Friday 10/29 and 10/30 – Cohort 2 in school

A reminder when hybrid students are home much of the work is asynchronous (not on a google meet). Students should be following their regular schedule. For example, if they have math period 1, they should be doing math work at that time, but they will not be on a google meet. Students should be checking their google classrooms for assignments that have been posted.

 

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

On Wednesdays hybrid students in both cohorts will participate in google meets with their classroom teachers. They will follow a similar schedule to their regular in-person one with classes being 30 minutes in length. Our Wednesday schedule will always be the same with students always starting at 9:15. See the attached schedule. Wednesday Student Schedule

NEW LIBRARY INFORMATION –Books are still available!

Check out library books from the Locke library! The process for requesting library books online has become even simpler! Using Destiny Discover in your BPS Quick Links, you no longer need to log into the library catalog. Please see Ms. Cabral's updated instruction video on the Locke library website: https://lockemiddlelibrary.weebly.com/video-tutorials.html

Returning library books: Students who still have library books that were checked out last year should please return them to the main office. There will be a library book bin for you to return the books. Late slips will be going out for overdue books this week. Any books that are from elementary school can still be returned in the bin. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Cabral at pcabral@billericak12.com

PTO UPDATE

Our next PTO meeting is on Wednesday, November 18th at 6:30. Please join us! A Zoom link to the meeting will be sent out soon. Thank you to all who attended last week. We had a great meeting with a lot of new faces!

You can keep your family safe while supporting the Locke by ordering one of these handmade masks. They are comfortable, very breathable, and can even be customized! 

Mask link for PTO

UPCOMING DATES

  • Parent-Teacher Conferences…October 27 and 29, 2020 – 6:00-8:00 PM
  • Election Day (Staff Development, No School)…Tuesday November 3, 2020
  • School Picture Day – make-ups and remote students … November 4th –8:00-11:00
  • Veteran’s Day (Holiday- No School)...Wednesday, November 11, 2020
  • Quarter 1 ends (Last day for unified Arts Classes) … November 17, 2020
  • Quarter 2 begins (Unified Arts Classes Change)... November 18, 2020 
  • Half-Day (Staff and Students)......Wednesday, November 25, 2020
  • Thanksgiving Day (Holiday- No School)....Thursday, November 26, 2020
  • Thanksgiving Recess (Holiday- No School)...Friday, November 27, 2020
  • Trimester 1 Ends...Thursday, December 10, 2020
  • Report Cards Published (Trimester 1  & Quarter 1)...December 17, 2020
  • Half-Day (Staff and Students)......Wednesday, December 23, 2020
  • Winter Break (No School).....December 24, 2020 to January 1, 2021
  • Schools Resume…..Monday, January 4, 2021
  • Quarter 2 ends (Last day for unified Arts Classes)...….January 29, 2021
  • Quarter 3 begins (Unified Arts Classes Change)...February 1, 2021 

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

Popular posts from this blog

LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #39 2022-2023

-
June 19, 2023 FINAL EDITION!! Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students, Final Thoughts ...  We are completing a fantastic year at the Locke Middle School. It was another unique year that presented many challenges to learning as we tried to return to a sense of normalcy. To our Locke families, thank you for the support and commitment that you have given to our staff and your children this year. The educational partnership between home and school is what helps students to grow socially and emotionally. I wish you all a happy, healthy summer with many days of learning. In addition, I wish all of our 7 th  graders the best of luck as they move on to BMHS and new learning experiences. It has been a pleasure working with you for the last three years. You have made tremendous progress despite so many obstacles. Remember to always work hard, make positive decisions, and make sure you learn something new every day. Most importantly, follow your dreams! You will be missed! Only 2 ½ Days of Le
Read more

LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #18 2023-2024

-
January 7, 2024 Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students, I hope you are enjoying the first snowstorm of the season. We had a great return to school last week and we will be back this week with a full 5  DAYS OF LEARNING!!  Let’s see what’s happening … FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school LOCKE WEBSITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” —Thomas Jefferson SCHEDULE THIS WEEK Monday –  C Day  – Locke School Site Council, 5:00 PM - Library Tuesday –  D Day Wednesday –  A Day  – Advisory Schedule, PTO Meeting – 6:30 PM-Library Thursday –  B Day  – Restaurant Night – Casa Blanca Friday –    C Day AFTER SCHOOL THIS WEEK AND JANUARY We will  not  be having HW Club or late buses this week. HW Club and late buses will return the week of January 15 th  on Wednesday and Thursday. (No school on Monday) AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – WINTER SESSION Winter After School Activities will start the week of January 29 th .
Read more

LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #7 2023-2024

-
October 15, 2023 Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students, I hope you are having a great weekend and enjoying the cool fall weather. We are back with  5 DAYS OF LEARNING  this week, and we have a busy schedule ahead as usual. Let’s see what’s happening … FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Acts of kindness never die. They linger in the memory, giving life to other acts of kindness in return.” – Jonathan Sacks           SCHEDULE THIS WEEK Monday –  A Day  --  HW Club, Activities Tuesday –  B Day Wednesday –  C Day  – Advisory Schedule, HW Club, Activities Thursday –  D Day  – HW Club, Activities Friday –    A Day HALLOWEEN DANCE!! We are having a Halloween Dance on Friday, October 27 th  from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Please see the  attached flyer  for more details. TALENT SHOW We will be having a talent show on Thursday, November 16 th  at 6:00 PM. Please see the  attached flyer  for more information. HALF-WAY POINT OF TRIMESTER 1—ASPEN CHE
Read more