LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #14 2021-2022
December 5, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope that you are enjoying the weekend. It is a busy time of year and we are certainly busy at the Locke with 5 DAYS OF LEARNING this week! Let’s see what’s happening …
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come. -- Fennel Hudson
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – D Day – Day 60, Last day of Trimester 1, HW Club, late buses
Tuesday – A Day
Wednesday – B Day -- HW Club, late buses, School Site Council Meeting, 5:00 PM Library
Thursday – C Day -- HW Club, late buses
Friday – D Day
END OF TRIMESTER 1
The last day of trimester 1 is Monday, December 6th. Report cards will be published on Wednesday, December 15th.
MASK REMINDERS
Just a friendly reminder to have your students change their masks daily when coming to school and to wash them regularly. Also, masks should fit properly over the nose and mouth. If a student does not have a clean mask for the day, they may report to the Main Office in the morning to obtain a new one. Thank you!
STUDENT REMINDERS
- Charge Chromebooks at night and bring them to school every day – We only have a few extras left in the office for students to borrow.
- Bring in a pair of inexpensive headphones to leave in school or your backpack.
HOLIDAY CONCERTS ARE BACK!!
Our band, chorus, and orchestra are busy preparing their holiday concerts. Please come out to hear some great music. Please see the calendar below for the dates and locations.
THANKFUL TREE
Thank you for your generous donations to the Billerica Food Pantry. We donated $1000 to the pantry this week! Also, thank you to Ms. Wells, Ms. Higgins, and our student council for putting together the “thankful trees” in the cafeteria. See our Instagram account for photos.
RAISE CRAZE – PTO FUNDRAISER
Please see the attached flyer for the Raise Craze fundraiser. The fundraiser ends on December 17th.
STUDENT COUNCIL
For students interested in joining the student council, please fill out the attached application.
COVID TESTING
Our weekly routine COVID testing will resume this week on Tuesday. 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 and wish your child to be tested, please see the link:
https://forms.gle/
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. HW Club continues throughout the year.
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. Late buses run throughout the year.
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 #12
FALLING TEMPERATURES!
Heather noticed that the high temperature on October 21st was 66 degrees, the high temperature on October 26th was 63 degrees and the high temperature on October 31st was 60 degrees. It appears that the high temperatures on every fifth day are forming an arithmetic sequence. If this sequence were to continue, on what date would the high temperature be 33 degrees? Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com – Show your work and explain! You can win a Dunkins gift card and the highly coveted math certificate!!
Last week’s answer: $700 – Last week’s winners: Juliana Martinez, Rupesh Naidu
PTO CORNER
Our next PTO meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 15th 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
UPCOMING DATES
- Monday, December 6th – Day 60, Trimester 1 ends
- Wednesday, December 8th – Locke Site Council, 5:00 PM Library
- Wednesday, December 8th – Band Concert – 7:00 PM Marshall Middle
- Thursday, December 9th – Orchestra concert – 7:00 PM Marshall Middle
- Tuesday, December 14th – Chorus Concert, 7:30 PM BMHS
- Wednesday, December 15th – Trimester 1 Grades Published
- Wednesday, December 15th -- PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM Locke Library
- Thursday, December 23rd – Half Day – 10:40 Dismissal (approximate, depending on buses)
- December 24th through January 2nd – Holiday Break
- Monday, January 3rd – Return to school
Have a great week! If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal