LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #21 2021-2022
January 30, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
It was a good weekend for some hot chocolate and reading a good book. I hope you are all shoveled out from the Blizzard of ’22 and hopefully, the students helped! We are back with a busy week as we head into February 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
"One kind word can warm three winter months." – Japanese Proverb
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:
- Beginning this 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.
- 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.
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – A Day, Activities, HW Club, late buses
Tuesday – B Day, COVID pool testing
Wednesday – C Day – Activities, HW Club, late buses
Thursday – D Day – Activities, HW Club, late buses, PTO meeting 6:30
Friday – A Day
QUARTER 2 ENDS
Thursday, January 27th was 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. Final grades for quarter 2 classes will be posted to ASPEN by Monday, January 31st and will appear on the trimester 2 report card issued in March.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Activities start this week. All students were informed of their activity on Friday. We had a great response to our activities and unfortunately, some students did not get their first choice. We still have room in film club, colonial crafts, pride club, trivia club, drama, library advisory, book club, and music editing. If you are interested, please complete both the Winter Activity Google Form and send in the attached form with your payment.
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.
LOCKE FAMILY BASKETBALL NIGHT AT UMASS-LOWELL
Please see the attached flyer for more information and to purchase tickets.
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 #17
BLIZZARD!!
When the snow stopped falling, Kelly, Miguel, and Neha rushed outside to build a snowman. Kelly made one large snowball for the head. Miguel made a larger snowball for the middle section. Neha made a giant snowball for the bottom section.
As they were getting ready to put the snowman together, the children noticed that the circumference of the smallest section was about 2/3 the circumference of the middle section. The middle section was about 3/4 the circumference of the largest section. When they measured the smallest snowball, they found that it had a circumference of about 80 centimeters.
How tall will the snowman be when the sections are piled one on top of the other? Assume that the snow does not compact.
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
- The week of January 31st – Winter After School Activities Begin
- Thursday, February 3rd – PTO Meeting, Locke Library, 6:30 PM
- Tuesday, February 8th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Wednesday, February 9th – Locke Site Council, 5:00 PM, Library
- February 21st – 25th – Winter Break
- Monday, February 28th – 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