LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #18 2022-2023
January 8, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are enjoying the sunny winter weekend. We are back this week with a full 5 DAYS OF LEARNING! Let’s see what’s happening ...
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“In a world where you can choose to be anything, choose to be KIND.” – Jennifer Dukes Lee
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – B Day – HW Club, Late Buses
Tuesday – C Day
Wednesday – D Day – No After Programs or Buses
Thursday – A Day – HW Club, Late Buses
Friday – B Day
AFTER SCHOOL THIS WEEK
After-school programs and late buses will be on Monday and Thursday this week. There are no late buses or after-school programs on Wednesday this week. The teachers have professional development meetings.
TRIMESTER 1 REPORT CARDS
Report cards were re-published this past week. It appears under published reports on your Aspen homepage. Please return the report card envelope to indicate you have seen the report. For parent account login assistance or to re-set your password, please email: portalhelp@
STUDENT RECOGNITION
Congratulations to all students that achieved honor roll and high honor roll. Also, congratulations to our “Student of the Trimester” recipients. Please see the attached lists:
Trimester 1 Honor Roll Trimester 1 High Honor Roll Students of the Trimester
7th GRADE – PROJECT EXPLORE
The Shawsheen Tech’s after-school program starts on Tuesday this week. It will be on Tuesday and Thursday for the next 3 weeks. Students will board the buses in the side parking lot.
FROM THE NURSE
- Each student must have an updated physical and immunization form on file.
- Students should be bringing their own water bottles to school and utilizing the filtered water refilling stations throughout the school.
LOCKE FAMILY NIGHTS
Please see the attached flyers for Locke family nights for a Umass-Lowell hockey game and for the Harlem Globetrotters.
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. Please email us at billericalockepto@gmail.com
PTO Events/Information:
- Thank you to all of the volunteers for helping at the book fair and the holiday fair. Both events were a big success!
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Happy New Year!!
The Times Square Ball Drop in New York is an iconic event that takes place during New Years. The ball begins its “drop” at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31 and ends its descent at 12 a.m. ET on January 1 to mark the beginning of the new year.
While the ball drops only a few feet in reality, let’s imagine the ball were to drop from its starting height all the way to the ground. The ball is suspended 142 feet in the air before being dropped. If it maintains a speed of exactly 3 ft/s while falling, how many seconds before midnight should the ball be dropped for it to reach the ground exactly at midnight?
Last week’s answer: -- multiple answers, keep trying
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
Last week’s answer: Name the most recent year in which New Year’s Day comes before Christmas. – 2023, New Year’s Day always comes before Christmas!
This week: I have no legs. I will never walk but always run. What am I?
NEWSLETTER REMINDERS
HOMEWORK CLUB
HW club will continue throughout the school year. It will meet 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 report to the library immediately after school and sign-in. Students can attend as many days as the parent/student believes are necessary. Students are expected to stay for the full hour.
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.
LATE BUSES
Late bus runs have begun 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. The late buses have different stops than the usual routes. Please review the attached routes with students.
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. If there is an emergency reason that a student needs to ride another bus, please contact Mr. Peters.
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
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
FROM THE BILLERICA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Wanted! Substitute Teachers!
If you are looking to earn additional income and need a flexible schedule, then Substitute Teaching may be the perfect part-time job for you! Please visit our website at www.billericak12.com and go under 'Human Resources' and 'Employment Opportunities" to apply.
Wanted! Paraprofessionals!
We are looking for full-time paraprofessionals to provide hands-on support to teachers when preparing lessons. These are full-time positions with benefits. Please visit our website at www.billericak12.com and go under 'Human Resources' and 'Employment Opportunities" to apply.
Wanted! Substitute Cafeteria Workers!
Great opportunity for on-call part-time work. These positions are approximately 3 hours a day and perfect hours for those who need a flexible schedule. Please visit our website at www.billericak12.com and go under 'Human Resources' and 'Employment Opportunities" to apply.
FROM THE COMMUNITY
- The Billerica Recreation Department has many great programs for all ages. Please see the department website.
- The boys and girls club has great opportunities for our students. Please see the club website.
UPCOMING DATES – ALL DATES ARE ON OUR WEBSITE
- Monday, January 9th – School Site Council – 5:00 PM, Locke Library
- Monday, January 16th – No School, MLK Day
- Wednesday, January 18th – PTO Meeting, 6:30PM-Library
- Thursday, January 26th – Day 90, Quarter 2 Unified arts classes last day
- Friday, January 27th – Day 91, Quarter 3 Unified Arts classes begin
- Friday, January 27th – Umass-Lowell Hockey Game
- Monday, January 30th – Winter After School Activities Begin
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