LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #2 2021-2022
September 12, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weekend. Yesterday, we reflected on the tragic events of 9/11. It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the many heroes who risked their lives for others, those who responded when we needed them the most, including firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and the brave men and women in the armed services who protect our country every day both here and abroad.
We had a successful opening week at the Locke. Students and staff made it through locker assignments, bus numbers, new schedules, and the lunch line! It was great to see all of our students excited to be back and ready for an awesome year. I hope everyone is having a restful weekend as we prepare for our first full week of …
5 DAYS OF LEARNING!
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A Milne
VIRTUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT
On Thursday, September 16th we will be having a remote back-to-school night for families from 6:00-8:00 PM. Please see this link for more information.
PICTURE DAY
Picture Day is Wednesday, September 15th. All students will have their picture taken for our database. Please see the attached form to order photos.
CHROMEBOOKS AND GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
Students are required to bring their school-issued Chromebooks to school every day. 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. All students are required to have a school-issued Chromebook.
CHROMEBOOK CASES
If you would like to purchase a protective case for your Chromebook, go to Gumdrop Case and use the coupon code EDU2021 to receive 20% off.
HEALTH SCREENINGS
We will be conducting Vision and Postural Screenings for Grade 5 on Monday 9/20 and Tuesday 9/21. Parents, please email our nurse Janice Roberts jroberts@billericak12.com if you would like to OPT-OUT of having this screening done for your child.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS/LATE BUSES
We are happy to announce that we will be offering after-school programs again this year. Programs and late buses will begin on Monday, October 4th. Our late buses will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We will have further details over the next few weeks.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK – It’s back!
When paying for her back-to-school clothing purchase, Zoe learned that it was the final day of her state’s tax-free holiday. Zoe decided to purchase a pair of drumsticks using the $15 she would have paid in taxes on her original purchase. If the tax rate is 6.25% what is the total purchase price Zoe paid for the back-to-school clothing and the drumsticks?
Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com – Show your work! You can win a Dunkins gift card!!
PTO CORNER
The PTO welcomes all families to the Locke. Our 1st PTO meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Locke library. Hope you can join us! Please see this link for all upcoming meeting dates and our PTO executive board members.
We are also looking for help with the following programs:
Special Programs Coordinator
Labels Program (Box Tops, etc.)
School Time Fundraisers
Scrip Gift Card Program
Scholastic Book Fair
If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact the Locke PTO
Email: billericalockepto@
Facebook: https://www.
Keep your family safe while also raising funds for the Locke with a customized mask! They are comfortable and breathable. You can order directly from the Google form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/
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 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
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 received 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)
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.
UPCOMING DATES
- Wednesday, September 15th – Picture Day
- Wednesday, September 22nd – PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM Locke Library
- 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
- Monday, October 4th – Late Buses and After School Programs begin
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