LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #6 2021-2022
October 8, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
The newsletter is going out a little early this week. I hope you have a great 3-day weekend! It is a great time of year with football, leaf-peeping, county fairs, apple picking, and fall weather. At the Locke, the school year is in full swing with so much going on. We only have 4 DAYS OF LEARNING this week, but 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
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” – Dakota People
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – No School – 3 Day Weekend!
Tuesday – A Day
Wednesday – B Day – HW Club, activities, late buses
Thursday – C Day – HW Club, activities, late buses
Friday – D Day
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Activities resume this week on Wednesday, October 13th. If you have any questions, please call the main office before noon tomorrow. Activities end at 2:45. If you are picking up, please arrive at 2:45 in the circle in front of the school.
HOMEWORK CLUB
HW club will continue this week. It will be in the library every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:45 – 2:45. Students do not need to sign up ahead of time for HW club. Students will sign up in the morning in the office and will report to the library immediately after school. Students can attend as many days as the parent/student believes are necessary. Students are expected to stay for the full hour.
LATE BUSES
Late buses continue this week and will run on every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The buses usually arrive at the Locke at 3:10 PM. We have 3 late buses. Please see the attached routes. Please let students know their bus number. Students will wait in the cafeteria until buses arrive.
VISION SCREENING
On Monday 10/18 and Tuesday 10/19 we will be doing vision screenings for the 7th graders. If you do not want your child to participate in this screening, please email our school nurse – Ms. Roberts jroberts@billericak12.com
SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
I am seeking parent volunteers to serve on the Locke School Council. We would like at least one parent representative per grade level. The school council is responsible for the school budget, setting policy, and for revising the school improvement plan. Parental input is a critical component of our improvement efforts as we move forward with new initiatives. We will be meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:00 PM. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, November 10th at 4:00 PM in the Locke library. If you are interested in serving on the council or need more information, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences will be held virtually on Thursday, October 28th and Wednesday, November 3rd 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 48 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. I will provide you with a link later in the month in a separate email that will take you to the website to schedule your parent meetings. Once the schedule is set, teachers will provide you with google meet links.
TRUNK OR TREAT
Our PTO is sponsoring a trunk or treat event on October 22nd from 6:30 – 8:00. If you would like to participate and decorate your car sign up here. Any questions email billericalockepto@gmail.com
MASK BREAK POLICY
- Students will receive 3 mask breaks during the day.
- The mask breaks will take place during period 2, lunch, and period 5.
- Mask breaks will last 5 minutes.
- Mask breaks can take place outside, in the hallway, or in the classroom.
- Additional mask breaks can take place outside in PE, during outside classes, and as determined by the staff.
STUDENT REMINDERS
- Charge Chromebooks at night and bring them to school every day
- Bring in a pair of inexpensive headphones to leave in school or your backpack.
COVID TESTING
Our weekly routine COVID testing will continue on Tuesday this week. If you gave consent for your child to be tested, this will occur every Tuesday moving forward. If you have not completed the consent form, please see the link:
https://forms.gle/
BUS POLICY
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.
If you have any questions regarding bus assignments, please contact our assistant principal: Phillip Peters: ppeters@billericak12.com -- 978-528-8654
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #5
PIGGY BANKS
- When Lucas dumped the coins out of his piggy bank, he noticed that there were only nickels and dimes, and the number of nickels was twice the number of dimes. If there were 50 nickels, what was the total value of the coins Lucas dumped out of his piggy bank?
- When Franco dumped the coins out of his piggy bank, he noticed that there were only nickels and quarters, and the number of quarters was six more than half the number of nickels. If the total value of the coins Franco and Lucas dumped out of each piggy bank was the same, how many coins did Franco dump out of his piggy bank?
Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com – Show your work! You can win a Dunkins gift card and the highly coveted math certificate!!
Last week’s answer: 15 apps. Last week’s winners: Elizabeth Kent and Brooke Baldwin-- Great work!!
PTO CORNER
Our next PTO meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 19th at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Locke library.
Hope you can join us!
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:
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
LUNCH/BREAKFAST
Please see the attached fall lunch menu. 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.
SCHOLARSHIP CALENDARS
The scholarship foundation is selling calendars once again this year. Please see this link to order.
UPCOMING DATES
- Monday, October 11th – No School
- Tuesday, October 19th – PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM Locke Library
- Friday, October 22nd – Trunk or treat, 6:30-8:00
- Thursday, October 28th – Parent Conferences, 6:00-8:00
- Wednesday, November 3rd -- Parent Conferences, 6:00-8:00
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal