LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #24 2020-2021

March 7, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend. We have a busy few weeks ahead as we get ready for Spring! We have a full week and 5 DAYS OF LEARNING! Let’s see what’s happening …

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
—Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

SPIRIT WEEK IS HERE!

Spirit week is here!! See the link for the themes and where to upload your photos:

SPIRIT WEEK!!

BINGO NIGHT!

As part of spirit week, we are having a family bingo night on Thursday, March 11^th at 7:00 PM. See the attached flyer to sign up.

BINGO NIGHT!!

POOLED COVID TESTING

We will continue with Covid testing this week on Tuesday and Friday. Please complete the attached form if you would like your child to participate. For more details, please see the district’s website.

https://forms.gle/iyjDVcLKJQd4i2Np9

NEW CHROMEBOOKS – ALL STUDENTS

We have exciting news. All students will be issued a new chromebook and will use it during their time at the Locke Middle School. We hope to issue new chromebooks to all students this month according to the following plan.

Cohort 1:

Cohort 2 students will be given Chromebook paperwork in homeroom on Monday, March 8^th to be signed by parents and students. (it is also attached) On Tuesday, March 9^th if students have the signed paperwork and their district chromebook and charger, (if they were given one) they will be called to the office to get the new one. Parents will not need to come to the school to pick up the new chromebook.

Cohort 2:

We began distributing to cohort 2 last week. On Thursday and Friday this week, we will continue with the distribution if students have the signed paperwork and their district chromebook and charger, (if they were given one). Parents will not need to come to the school to pick up the new chromebook.

Remote Students:

Remote parents can pick up new chromebooks on the following Wednesdays in March: March 10^th, March 17^th, and March 24th.

Hours: 7:30 – 3:00.  Please return any district Chromebook and charger if one was issued.

If these days/times do not work for you, please contact the main office at 978-528-8650.

MCAS TESTING

This past Friday, the state changed the dates for the MCAS testing window. 5^th graders will be tested between May 10^th and June 11^th. The dates for 6^th and 7^th grade are to be determined. We will have more specifics soon regarding the schedule and logistics. All students, including remote students, are expected to participate in MCAS testing.

TRIMESTER 2 GRADES

As a reminder, the last day of Trimester 2 is Tuesday, March 23rd.  With about 2 ½ weeks left before T2 grades close, we'd recommend logging-in to your Parent Aspen account so that you're aware of your student's current overall grades (Here are directions of how to view grades and individual assignments in each class).  

ASPEN DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS GRADES

To login to your Parent Aspen account, go to the Aspen website (https://ma-billerica.myfollett.com/) or search 'Aspen Billerica.'

Please email portalhelp@billericak12.com if you need your Parent Aspen password re-set or don't remember your Login ID.  

The middle school grading policy for each class is broken down into three categories, which combines for an overall grade: 

1. Homework/Classwork = 15%
2. Quizzes (Formative Assessments) = 35%
3. Tests/Projects (Summative Assessments) = 50%

If you have any questions about your child's current grade, please contact your child's teacher or counselor.

7th GRADERS: CHOIR CLASSES NEXT FALL

Next year at BMHS, you can sign up to take one of Mr. Raleigh's choir classes! These classes fulfill your Arts requirement. Learn more about and HEAR Concert Choir and A Cappella in this video.
https://youtu.be/TpUO9KpiaaQ

HYBRID SUPPORT STAFF

Our hybrid support staff has changed slightly. Stacia Bujnowski will no longer be the hybrid support person for 6th and 7th grade ELA/SS. Teresa Rogers (trogers@billericak12.com) will be taking over that role and will only be working with Locke students. Ms. Rogers is supporting 6th and 7th Locke students in all subjects.

Note: Jared Smith (jsmith@billericak12.com) will continue in his 5th-grade support role for both Locke and Marshall students.

 

MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK

Last week’s answer: The final order was: 1. Polar Bear 2. Yeti 3. Blizzards 4. Blizzards 5. Polar Bear 6. Yeti 7. Yeti 8. Blizzards 9. Polar Bear

We are keeping the same problem as last week. We need more submissions!! Please send us your answers.

MATH RIDDLES

1. If it took 6 people 9 hours to build a barn, how long would it take 12 people to build the same barn?
2. A grandfather, two fathers, and two sons went to the movie theater together and everyone bought one movie ticket each. How many tickets did they buy in total?
3. A cell phone and phone case cost $110 in total. The cell phone costs $100 more than the phone case. How much was the cell phone?

Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com – Show your work! Your answers will be put into a drawing for a dunkins card! (and the famous math certificate!)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February was black history month. For some ideas on how to celebrate and discuss black history with your children, please see the following link:

https://news.azpm.org/s/83916-celebrate-black-history-month-with-pbs-kids/

PTO UPDATE

Hello from the Locke PTO!

Our March PTO meeting will be Wednesday, March 24^th at 6:30 PM. Please join us. We will send out a meeting link soon

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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! 

PTO mask orders

TRANSITIONS

We are establishing a more structured timeframe for making student transitions between models of instruction. (hybrid to remote or remote to hybrid) Transitions will now take place on the Monday of the 1st week of each month. Any requests that are submitted prior to the 15th of the month will take place on the 1st of the following month. Please send requests to Mr. Garas, tgaras@billericak12.com

 

Requests Submitted	Transition Date
February 16 – March 15	March 29
March 16 – April 15	May 3
No requests accepted after April 15

 

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

UPCOMING DATES

• SPIRT WEEK – March 8th –March 12^th
• BINGO NIGHT – March 11^th – 7:00 PM
• Professional Development Days – No School, March 19^th and March 22^nd
• End of Trimester 2 – March 23^rd
• First Day of Trimester 2 – March 24^th
• PTO Meeting – 6:30 PM
• Report Cards Published – April 1^st
• Good Friday – No School, April 2^nd
• Quarter 3 Ends for Unified Arts Classes – April 12^th
• Quarter 4 Begins for Unified Arts Classes – April 13^th
• Spring Break – April 19^th – April 23^rd

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