LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #20 2021-2022
January 23, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are having a great weekend and staying healthy. We are back with a full week and 5 DAYS OF LEARNING! Let’s see what’s happening …
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." - Albert Camus.
MESSAGE TO FAMILIES -- COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
As you know, the number of COVID cases continue to rise and has impacted all of our daily lives. We are doing our best to keep students in school with our various testing programs and mitigation strategies. It is extremely important that we continue to talk with our students about proper mask use and social distancing. We are encouraging all students to get vaccinated to provide further protection from the virus. If you have any questions regarding our protocols, please contact me. Here are some reminders:
- Please report all positive cases to our school nurse Ms. Roberts (jroberts@billericak12.com )and Mr. Garas. (tgaras@billericak12.com ). Test results can be sent in by paper copy, e-mailed after scanning, sending screenshots, or taking pictures of at-home tests. Students can return to school following a positive test result after isolating for a minimum of 5 days following either symptom onset or a positive test result via a PCR or antigen test (this is day 0 of quarantine). This includes over the counter home tests; please e-mail an image of at-home tests. Students can return on day 6 if they are fever free (and diarrhea, vomiting, headache-free, etc.) for 24 hours without the use of medication, have improving symptoms, or have been asymptomatic. Students must continue to wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days and will eat lunch in a separate location for 5 days.
- If on Day 6, your child is still not feeling well, please do not send them to school. Please keep them home until they have improved symptoms. Also, please do not send your student to school in the morning to receive a Covid test if they are not feeling well. School nurses cannot function as testing sites during this time.
- A 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.
- Beginning next week, we will no longer be tracing close contacts in school. This means that it is even more important for students to be wearing masks properly in school.
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – D Day, HW Club, late buses
Tuesday – A Day, COVID pool testing
Wednesday – B Day – HW Club, late buses
Thursday – C Day – Day 90, Last Day of Quarter 2, HW Club, late buses
Friday – D Day – Start Quarter 3 Unified arts classes
QUARTER 2 ENDS
Thursday, January 27th is the 90th day of school and the end of the second quarter. The following courses are on a 45-day schedule this year: art, drama, health, music, shop, and technology. Students will see a change during one period of their day on Friday, January 28th, the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Students, please check your schedules. Final grades for quarter 2 classes will be posted to ASPEN and will appear on the trimester 2 report card issued in March.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Activities start the week of January 31st. Please complete this Winter Activity Google Form to sign up for after-school activities. All of the necessary information is on the google form. The google form must be completed to enroll. In addition, complete the attached form and send it in with your payment. This form was sent home with students on Friday. All forms should be submitted by Wednesday, January 26th. Students will be informed of their activity by the end of this week.
STUDENT RECOGNITION
Congratulations to all students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll. Also, congratulations to our “Student of the Trimester” recipients in specific subjects. Please see attached lists:
Honor Roll High Honor Roll Student of the Trimester
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.
COVID TESTING
Our weekly routine COVID testing will resume 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/
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 #16
It’s a coin flip!
A fair coin is flipped 5 times.
- How many outcomes are there? List the outcomes. For example, one outcome would be HHHTT
- What is the probability that no two consecutive flips have the same result? Express your answer as a common fraction.
Answer Check
You can still submit last week’s problem!
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!!
PTO CORNER
Our next PTO meeting will take place on Thursday, February 3rd 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
- Thursday, January 27th – Day 90, End of Quarter 2 Unified Arts Classes
- Friday, January 28th – Quarter 3 Unified Arts Classes Start
- Monday, January 31st – Winter After School Activities Begin
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