LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #1 2021-2022
September 5, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
180 DAYS OF LEARNING!!
I hope you have all enjoyed the summer and are ready for the school year to begin. In our efforts to improve communication with families, we publish the Life at the Locke weekly newsletter which contains all of the information for the upcoming week. We will “publish” every Sunday or Monday of a long weekend. We have a tremendous amount of information to share with families as all students return to full in-person learning. Please read this email thoroughly and discuss as a family. We have spent a great deal of time this summer preparing our school for the safe return of students. We anticipate a great opening to the school year and we appreciate the cooperation of families and staff. Welcome back!!
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world. ~Malala Yousafzai
FIRST DAY
The first day of school for all students (both cohorts) is Tuesday, September 7th. It is an “A” day schedule.
When students attend in person on the 1st day, there are two important numbers to remember:
Remember your homeroom number and your bus number.
When students arrive at school, they will report directly to the homeroom. Staff will be in the hallways to direct students.
DROP-OFF
Student car drop-off will be in the lower lot at beginning at 7:00. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXIT CARS UNTIL 7:00. Parents are to enter VIA URBAN ST (off Baldwin Road), drop students off at the sidewalk, make a U-turn, and exit via Urban Street.
Parents, please do not enter from Allen Road in the morning. The Allen Road entrance is only for school buses.
DISMISSAL
Walkers and pick-ups are dismissed at 1:50 after the buses depart. The pick-ups will go first and then the walkers.
TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR DISMISSAL
Parents enter via Urban Street and line up in the lower circle. After the buses leave, parents are to pull around the circle in a SINGLE file line to pick up children. The pick-up zone is between the two crosswalks. This is the only place we would like children picked up. We do not want children stepping in front of cars to be picked up. Please keep the line single file.
PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS IN THE LOWER LOT.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Additional, more detailed COVID information can be found on the Billerica Public Schools website and on the BPS Twitter and Facebook feeds.
-- FACE COVERINGS
- Students are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth. Gaiters and bandanas are not allowed. Also, masks with valves are not allowed.
- Adults (including staff, visitors, and vendors) are required to wear masks/face coverings.
- Students do not have to wear masks when outside.
- Students are required to wear masks on the bus.
Mask Breaks:
Students will be given at least 2 mask breaks per day (one will be at lunchtime). Ideally, mask breaks will be taken outside. If necessary, mask breaks can be taken inside as well. (in hallways or classrooms)
Mask Hygiene:
Please send your child in with a spare mask and please wash masks regularly. We do have extra masks in the office if a student needs one.
-- HAND SANITIZING/HAND WASHING
Students and staff are required to exercise proper hand hygiene (hand washing or sanitizing) throughout the school day. Hand sanitizer is provided in each classroom.
-- PHYSICAL DISTANCING
From the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: (DESE)
“There are no physical distancing requirements in place this year, even during meals. However, we recommend that districts and schools encourage individuals to distance as feasible when masks are removed indoors, such as during mealtimes. Schools are also encouraged to continue utilizing outdoor space for meals, as feasible.”
LUNCHES: All Students will eat in the cafeteria. We will have students sitting every other seat to provide distancing.
IN THE CLASSROOM: If students are masked there are no distancing requirements.
STUDENT MOVEMENT:
- Students will move from class to class.
- Traffic in the hallways will be one way as noted by the arrows.
LOCKERS
- Students will be assigned lockers on the 1st day of school.
- The policies regarding lockers will be discussed with students on the 1st day of school.
- Students will be allowed to carry backpacks from class to class.
-- SCREENING FOR COVID 19 SYMPTOMS
Screening procedures are not required at the point of entry to the school.
- Families and caregivers will serve as the primary screening mechanism for COVID-19 symptoms.
- The symptoms for COVID-19 are as follows:
- Fever (100.0˚F or higher), chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known cause, i.e., chronic)
- Sore throat, in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, w/other symptoms
- Headache, w/other symptoms
- Fatigue, w/other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose, w/other symptoms
- If you have a question regarding symptoms, please contact our school nurse: Janice Roberts. 978-528-8660
- Families should not send their children to school if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
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. Brewster at nbrewster@billericak12.com
FORMS
On the first day, students will receive the following forms to be filled out and returned:
- Emergency form
- Medical form
- Signed agenda book (p.17)
- Technology Release
- Communication Preference
- Photo-opt form (only send back if you need to)
CHROMEBOOKS AND GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
Students are required to bring their school-issued Chromebooks to school every day beginning on the 1st day of school. Students should charge their Chromebooks overnight. All teachers will be setting up a google classroom for their students where assignments will be posted and where assignments can be turned in electronically. If your child does not have a Chromebook, please contact the main office at 978-528-8650.
BUS ASSIGNMENTS
Students that ride the bus can only ride on their assigned bus in the morning and afternoon. Students are not allowed to ride different buses to be with friends after school.
The bus routes for the year are listed at this link
If you have any questions regarding bus assignments, please contact our assistant principal: Phillip Peters: ppeters@billericak12.com -- 978-528-8654
LUNCH/BREAKFAST
Please see the attached lunch menu for the month. All lunches are free to students. We will continue the practice of giving out free breakfast bags at the end of the school day. Breakfast will not be served in the morning.
Please see this link for further information regarding our school nutrition program and the process to apply for additional benefits.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
We are happy to announce that we will be offering after-school programs again this year. We will have further details over the next few weeks. We do have details regarding the Locke Drama Club which is putting on a live show this fall. We have an information session for students this Wednesday, September 8th after school until 2:15. Parent pick-up is required. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
PTO CORNER
The PTO welcomes all families to the Locke. We will be meeting monthly to plan several events throughout the year. We are always looking for volunteers to help plan great programs that will benefit our students. We will have more information regarding meeting times soon.
UPCOMING DATES
- Tuesday, September 7th – A Day, 1st day of school, all students report to homeroom
- Wednesday, September 8th – Drama Club information session 1:45-2:15
- Wednesday, September 15th – Picture Day
- Thursday, September 16th – Virtual Back-to-School Night 6:00-8:00
- Tuesday, September 21st – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Friday, September 24th – All forms due
- Friday, October 1st – Stomp-out Bullying Day
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655 I look forward to a great school year!!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal