LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #22 2021-2022
February 6, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you made it through the ice storm and are avoiding the cold weather. It looks like the groundhog was right and we have 6 more weeks of winter. We are back with another busy week and we hope 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 had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up. -- Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
UPDATE -- COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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 the latest updates:
- This week we passed out our first round of rapid tests to families. The box contains 2 tests. We recommend that students test each Sunday moving forward. In two weeks, you will receive another test kit. If you did not sign up already and want to receive a test kit on the next distribution, please complete the form by clicking on the link below.
- Our weekly routine COVID testing continues in school on Tuesdays. 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:
- 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 – B Day, Activities, HW Club, late buses
Tuesday – C Day, COVID pool testing, Early Release, 11:40 AM Dismissal
Wednesday – D Day – Activities, HW Club, late buses, school site council – 5:00 PM
Thursday – A Day – Activities, HW Club, late buses
Friday – B Day
EARLY RELEASE – Tuesday, February 8th
Tuesday, February 8th is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 AM
SPIRIT WEEK IS COMING SOON!
Sprit Week will be February 14th – 18th. Themes will be announced this week.
NURSE SCREENINGS
We will be doing postural screenings for all grades, and height/weight screenings for Grade 7 during the week of February 14th. If parents would like to opt-out, please email our school nurse, Janice Roberts – jroberts@billericak12.com.
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 were posted to ASPEN and will appear on the trimester 2 report card issued in March.
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.
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 #18
The BMHS auditorium has exactly 26 rows of seats. The rows are labeled, in order, from the front of the auditorium to the back from A through Z. There are 8 seats in row A. Each row after the first row has two more seats than the previous row. There are 10 seats in row B, 12 seats in row C, and so on.
- How many seats are there in row Z?
- What is the total number of seats in the BMHS auditorium?
Last Week’s Answer Check – About 115 cm
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 Wednesday, March 9th at 6:30 in the library.
Trinkets are back! This week we will be selling Valentine Trinkets at all lunches beginning Wednesday, February 9th. All items are $2. We are also selling carnations on Valentine’s Day for $1 each. We need volunteers to help sell on Thursday, Friday & Monday, February 14th. If you are able to help, please contact Tricia LaFauci at 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
UPCOMING DATES
- Tuesday, February 8th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Wednesday, February 9th – Locke Site Council, 5:00 PM, Library
- Valentine Trinket Sales – February 9,10,11 – During Lunch
- Carnation Sales – February 14th
- Spirit Week – February 14th – 18th
- 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