LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #8 2021-2022
October 24, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are having a great weekend as it starts to get colder outside. We have a busy week ahead with 5 DAYS OF LEARNING! Let’s see what’s happening …
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” -- L.M. Montgomery
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – B Day -- HW Club, activities, late buses
Tuesday – C Day
Wednesday – D Day – HW Club, activities, late buses
Thursday – A Day – HW Club, activities, late buses, Parent Conferences 6:00-8:00
Friday – B Day – Halloween Costume Contest
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
On Friday, October 22nd students can wear Halloween costumes to school. We will have a costume contest and select the best costumes from each grade. Costumes must be appropriate for school, please do not bring in weapons or scary masks that cover the entire face/head.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences for the Locke and Marshall 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.
The link to schedule conferences is now open. The link will be closed for scheduling both nights on Monday, October 25th at 8:00 PM. Here is the link:
https://ptc1512061359.
If you already have an account, you can log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register and create an account.
The directions for using the site are attached here.
- You will also need to know your child’s teachers’ names in order to schedule the meetings. The site will provide a list of names for you to choose from.
- Once the teachers have their schedules, they will set up a google meet with you.
- If you have any questions or difficulty scheduling conferences, please contact Ms. Carla Fitzgerald – cfitzgerald@billericak12.com
.
TRINKET SALES
The PTO will be selling Halloween trinkets for $1 at lunch Tuesday through Thursday. See below to volunteer.
HALF-WAY POINT OF TRIMESTER 1—ASPEN CHECK
Tuesday, October 19th was day 30 of the school year and the halfway point of trimester 1. You can check your child’s academic progress on Aspen. If you need an Aspen account or need your password reset, please email portalhelp@billericak12.com. Include your full name and your child’s name in your request.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Activities resume this week. 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.
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 5:00 PM. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, November 10th at 5:00 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
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 #7
NUMBER PUZZLES!
1. The sum of my digits is 11. I am a value greater than 50 and less than 100. When I am divided by 2, the result is a prime integer. What integer am I?
2. I am a two-digit integer. My tens digit is odd, but my units digit is even. I am greater than 65. I am a multiple of 9, but I am not a multiple of 5. What integer am I?
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: 70 ways! Last week’s winners: Max Gorski, Elizabeth Kinsella, Ava Harvey, and Alan Robertson
PTO CORNER
Our next PTO meeting will take place on Monday, November 15th at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Locke library. Hope you can join us!
Thank you to everyone that participated in our Trunk or Treat this past Friday night! It was a great turnout and the decorated trunks were all amazing!
The Locke PTO is excited to be bringing back one of the most popular things for the kids ****Trinket Sales****
Halloween trinket sales take place in the cafeteria during lunch hours. We are looking for a couple of volunteers to help sell items. If you can spare an hour or two— lunches are 10:30-11:50 am. We’re looking for help to arrive around 10:15 am to set up and then pack up after the last lunch. We would like to sell Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th with the possibility of Friday depending on interest.
*You must have a Cori on file, call the main office to see if yours is active. This is an easy way to get involved and surprise your child at lunch! Please email Tricia if you are interested: tlafauci@msn.com
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.
UPCOMING DATES
- Thursday, October 28th – Parent Conferences, 6:00-8:00
- Tuesday, November 2nd – No School
- Wednesday, November 3rd -- Parent Conferences, 6:00-8:00
- Wednesday, November 10th – Day 45, Quarter 1 ends
- Thursday, November 11th – No school, Veterans Day
- Friday, November 12th – Make-up Picture Day
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal