LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #20 2022-2023
January 22, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you had a great snow day and are enjoying the weekend. We have some more interesting weather ahead this week. We are hopefully 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
“If I had my way, I would remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead.” – Roald Dahl
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – C Day – HW Club, Late Buses
Tuesday – D Day
Wednesday – A Day – HW Club, Late Buses, PTO 6:30-Library
Thursday – B Day – HW Club, Late Buses
Friday – C Day
WINTER AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Registration is open for after school activities. Activities begin the week of January 30th. Please see the google form link below for after-school activities. The Google form must be completed for your child to be registered. In addition, please send in the copy of the registration form with payment. This form is also attached. Parents will be notified this week via email to confirm the activity.
AFTER SCHOOL THIS WEEK
After-school programs and late buses will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.
MUSICAL UPDATE
Here is an update for the musical:
Wednesday, 1/25, 2-3:30: Singing. You will be accompanied on piano. Everyone must attend this audition.
Thursday, 1/26, 2:15 - 4:00: Dance auditions. Everyone wishing to be cast must attend these auditions.
Roles will then be emailed by Friday, 1/27 around 5 PM and you must reply to accept your role by 9 PM that night. The cast list will be posted on Saturday, 1/28. Our first read-through will be after school on Monday, 1/30.
Please email Ms. Courtney Rodland – crodland@billericak12.com with any questions.
7th GRADE – PROJECT EXPLORE
The Shawsheen Tech’s after school program concludes this week. It will be on Tuesday and Thursday. Students will board the buses in the side parking lot.
LOCKE MONSTERS ROBOTICS UPDATE
On Sunday January 15th, the Locke Monsters robotics team competed in their second VEX Robotics competition of the 2022-2023 season. The Locke Monsters fielded four different robots that were each designed, built, programmed, and operated by a team of students. It was a busy day, with each team being interviewed by the judges, competing in 6 different qualification matches as well as skills competitions. All of the teams showed great spirit, sportsmanship, and problem solving skills over the course of the day and made dramatic improvements from their performances in the December competition.
Special congratulations to Max Gorski, Shaurya Kaila, Ishaan Rana, James Robertson, and Asher Swint. The members of team 8025B were presented with the Judges Award at the end of the day. According to the VEX Robotics website, "The Judges Award is presented to a team that the Judges determine is deserving of special recognition. Judges consider a number of possible criteria for this award, such as team displays of special attributes, exemplary effort, and perseverance at the event. or team accomplishments or endeavors throughout the season that may not fit under existing awards but are nonetheless deserving of special recognition." This is the second competition in a row where a Locke Monsters team has won this award.
Congratulations to team 8025D for going undefeated through all 6 qualification rounds and finishing as the second seed at the end of qualification. The robot, built and designed by Caroline Gorski, Sabrina Gorski, Shakti Meiyur, Dhyey Patel, and Elise Skelton made it to the semifinals round of competition.
Congratulations to Amir Akhmedov, Eli Baldwin, Sean O'Connor, Max Sweeney, and Drew Ungerson. Team 8025C made it to the finals round of the competition where they were ultimately defeated. Their alliance finished in second place for the day. Students are now busy making modifications to their robots in preparation for their next competition on Saturday, February 4, 2023.
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
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
MLK Day
On November 2, 1983, a bill was signed making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a federal holiday. MLK Day was celebrated this year on January 16, 2023. How many days will have passed since the bill was signed? (Hint: Don’t forget leap years.)
Last week’s answer: -- 23 possibilities
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: How do you make the number one disappear? Add the letter G to One and it is gone!
This Week: What did the snowman have for breakfast?
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
- Wednesday, January 25th – PTO Meeting, 6:30PM-Library
- Friday, January 27th – Day 90, Quarter 2 Unified arts classes last day
- Friday, January 27th – Umass-Lowell Hockey Game
- Monday, January 30th – Day 91, Quarter 3 Unified Arts classes begin
- 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