LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #3 2023-2024
LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #3 2023-2024
September 17, 2023
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 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
"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."—B.B. King
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – B Day
Tuesday – C Day – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
Wednesday – D Day
Thursday – A Day
Friday – B Day – All Forms Due
EARLY RELEASE – Tuesday, September 19th
Tuesday, September 19th is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 AM.
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 2nd. We will have further details over the next few weeks.
STUDENT COUNCIL
If you are interested in joining the student council, please see the information attached and fill out the form that is in the document.
IT’S BACK -- MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #1
Why does school start so early?
When Riya’s alarm went off on the first day of middle school, she hit the snooze button and slept for another 10 minutes. When the alarm sounded the next time, Riya got up and immediately brushed and flossed her teeth, which took 7 minutes. A half-hour later, Riya was showered and dressed. She then spent 23 minutes getting her backpack and materials ready. Next, Riya had a glass of milk and a bowl of microwave oatmeal for breakfast. Riya spent 30 minutes preparing and eating her breakfast. Twenty-four minutes later, at 8:39 a.m., Riya arrived at school ready to begin the new school year. At what time did Riya’s alarm go off the first time?
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/JOKE OF THE WEEK
What did the Buffalo say at school drop-off?
REMINDERS
CHROMEBOOKS AND GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
Students are required to bring their school-issued Chromebooks to school every day. 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.
SCHOOL TIMES
School starts promptly at 7:30. Students should be in their homeroom at 7:30. The drop-off time for students is 7:10 -- 7:25. (Please note this change from last year) Students will be allowed to enter the building at 7:10. From 7:10 – 7:20, students that enter the building will be supervised in the cafeteria. Students will not be allowed in before 7:10 AM.
CAR DROP-OFF
Student car drop-off will be in the lower lot beginning at 7:10. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXIT CARS UNTIL 7:10. 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 lower circle. After the buses leave, parents are to pull around 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 secretaries, Ms. Brewster at nbrewster@billericak12.com and Lucy O’Brien at lobrien@billericak12.com
FORMS
On the first day, students received the following forms to be filled out and returned. Please return the forms as soon as possible.
- Emergency form
- Medical form
- Signed agenda book (p.18)
- Technology Release
- Communication Preference
- Photo-opt form (only send back if you need to)
BUS ASSIGNMENTS
Students who 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 listed at this link.
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 (this is an update to the current student handbook):
- 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
For 7th grade students, please provide the nurse with current physical and immunization records.
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 “grab and go”. Students can grab a breakfast in the cafeteria when they come in and then report to homeroom. They can eat breakfast in homeroom.
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. We will have meeting dates soon.
UPCOMING DATES
- Tuesday, September 19th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Friday, September 22nd – All forms due
- Monday, October 2nd – After School Programs and Late Buses Begin
- Friday, October 6th – Stomp-out Bullying Day
- Monday, October 9th – No School
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call 978-528-8655 Have a great week!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal