LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #3 2022-2023
September 18, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are all enjoying the weekend. We completed our 1st full week back and it was a busy one. We had a successful picture day and back-to-school night; we continue to work on our routines, and we are starting to settle in. We have another busy week ahead with …
5 DAYS OF LEARNING!
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“They cannot stop me. I will get my education, if it is in the home, school, or anyplace.”
Malala Yousafzai
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – A Day
Tuesday – B Day – Early Release 11:40 Dismissal
Wednesday – C Day
Thursday – D Day
Friday – A Day – Grade Level Assemblies
EARLY RELEASE – Tuesday, September 20th
Tuesday, September 20th is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 AM
CHROMEBOOKS
Students are required to bring their school-issued Chromebooks to school every day. It is important that students remember to bring their Chromebooks every day. We have only a few in the office to let students borrow. Students should charge their Chromebooks overnight. All teachers will be setting up a google classroom for their students where assignments will be posted and where assignments can be turned in electronically. If your child does not have a Chromebook, please contact the main office at 978-528-8650. We also highly recommend purchasing a protective case for the Chromebook.
IT’S BACK -- MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #1
At the first four stops, the number of students that board Ms. Wheeler’s school bus is 4, 6, 12, and 2 students, respectively, and no students exit the bus. After these four stops, the number of students on Ms. Wheeler’s school bus is 75% of its full capacity. How many students does Ms. Wheeler’s bus hold at full capacity?
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!!
RIDDLE OF THE WEEK
What’s bright orange with green on top and sounds like a parrot?
SCHOOL TIMES
School starts promptly at 7:30. Students should be in their homeroom at 7:30. The drop-off time for students is 7:00 -- 7:25. Students will be allowed to enter the building at 7:00. From 7:00 – 7:20, students that enter the building will be supervised in the cafeteria.
DROP-OFF
Student car drop-off will be in the lower lot beginning at 7:00. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXIT CARS UNTIL 7:00. Parents are to enter VIA URBAN ST (off Baldwin Road), drop students off at the sidewalk, make a U-turn, and exit via Urban Street.
Parents, please do not enter from Allen Road in the morning. The Allen road entrance is only for school buses.
DISMISSAL
Walkers and pick-ups are dismissed at 1:50 after the buses depart.
TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR DISMISSAL
Parents enter via Urban Street and line up in the lower circle. After the buses leave, parents are to pull around the circle in a SINGLE file line to pick up children. The pick-up zone is between the two crosswalks. This is the only place we would like children picked up. We do not want children stepping in front of cars to be picked up. Please keep the line single file.
PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS IN THE LOWER LOT.
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
FORMS
If you have not done so already, please return the following forms:
- Emergency form
- Medical form
- Signed agenda book (p.17)
- Technology Release
- Communication Preference
- Photo-opt form (only send back if you need to)
BUS ASSIGNMENTS
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.
The bus routes for the year are located on the district website:
https://www.billericak12.com/
If you have any questions regarding bus assignments, please contact our assistant principal: Phillip Peters: ppeters@billericak12.com -- 978-528-8654
LOCKERS
The locker policy is as follows:
- All students will be assigned a lock and a locker. (Students will be given lockers on the 1st day)
- Backpacks will be kept in lockers throughout the day. Phones should be in lockers turned off.
- Students can go to lockers in the morning, after period 3, before PE, before last period special, and at the end of the day.
Here is a video that shows how to open a combination lock. Remember right, left, right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Our school nurse is Janice Roberts – jroberts@billericak12.com Medications/orders can be dropped off during the 1st few days of school. Both Epipens and inhalers may be brought in by students and given to the nurse. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Roberts.
LUNCH/BREAKFAST
All breakfast and lunches are free to all students again this year. Students will be receiving a 4-digit pin code that they will need to use when they get breakfast or lunch. Breakfast will be served daily. It will be “grab and go”. Students can grab breakfast in the cafeteria when they come in and then report to homeroom. They can eat breakfast in homeroom.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
We are happy to announce that we will be offering after-school programs again this year. The programs and late buses will start on Monday, October 3rd. We will have further details soon.
PTO CORNER
The PTO welcomes all families to the Locke. We will be meeting monthly to plan several events throughout the year. We are always looking for volunteers to help plan great programs that will benefit our students. Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 28th at 6:30 PM in the Locke Library. Please see the attached dates for all of the PTO meetings during the year.
UPCOMING DATES
- Tuesday, September 20th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Friday, September 23rd – All forms due
- Wednesday, September 28th – PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM Library
- Monday, October 3rd – After School Programs Begin, Late Buses Begin
- Friday, October 7th – Stomp-out Bullying Day
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655. Have a great week!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal