LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #14 2023-2024
December 3, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope that you are enjoying another rainy weekend. It is a busy time of year and we are certainly busy at the Locke with 5 DAYS OF LEARNING this week! Let’s see what’s happening …
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come.” – Fennell Hudson
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – D Day -- HW Club, Late Buses, Day 60 Trimester 1 ends
Tuesday – A Day
Wednesday – B Day -- HW Club, Late Buses
Thursday – C Day -- HW Club, Late Buses
Friday – D Day
AFTER SCHOOL FOR DECEMBER
Activities have concluded for the Fall Session. HW Club and late buses will continue this week and next week. We will not be having HW Club or late buses the week of the 18th.
END OF TRIMESTER 1
The last day of trimester 1 is Monday, December 4th. Report cards will be published to the ASPEN portal on Thursday, December 14th at 2:00 PM.
BOOK FAIR!
We will be having a Scholastic Book Fair from December 12th – 15th. Please see the attached schedule for when students will be going.
PTO NEWS
- Upcoming PTO Dates: Please see the attached list of PTO meetings for the remainder of the year.
- We will be selling holiday trinkets during lunch on December 19th and 20th. We will be asking for parent volunteers to help sell, Stay tuned for more information.
TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE – LAST WEEK TO DONATE
This is the final week for toy donations for the Toys for Tots toy drive sponsored by the Locke Pride Alliance. Collection boxes are available in the lobby of The Locke Middle School through Friday, December 8, 2023. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for ages infant to 18 years old. According to our contact at Toys for Tots, there are typically fewer toys donated for older children. As of Thursday, November 30th, we have collected more than 90 toys and gift items. Thank you very much for your support of our toy drive.
HOLIDAY CONCERT SEASON
Holiday Concerts are coming soon! Please see the dates below and come out to support our talented band, chorus, and orchestra students.
TURKEY TOSS – A BIG SUCCESS!
We had a fun, crazy time at the Turkey Toss! Thank you for your generous donations to the Billerica Food Pantry and Lewiston, ME. We raised slightly over $4600!! Also, a big thank you to our Student Council students! See some fun photos from the festivities on our Instagram page.
UPDATED -- 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. PLEASE WAIT FOR MY SIGNAL TO LET STUDENTS OUT OF CARS. ALSO, ONLY MAKE A U-TURN AT THE END OF THE LINE. 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.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #9
GIFT CARDS
Mr. Garas decided that gift cards make the best gifts. (Plus, it saves time on shopping) He purchased a total of 21 gift cards for holiday gifts. He purchased gift cards in each of four denominations, $25, $50, $75, and $100. The number of $100 gift cards he purchased was twice the number of $75 gift cards he bought. The total value of the $50 gift cards he purchased exceeded the total combined value of the $25, $75, and $100 gift cards by $100. How many $25 gift cards did Mr. Garas buy? Send your answers to Mr. Garas – tgaras@billericak12.com –
Show your work! You can win a Dunkin gift card and the highly coveted math certificate!!
Last week’s Answer: 1. Two are older than 12 2. 120 ways to sit – Congratulations to Lilah Kent and Bhakti Jayaswal!
RIDDLE/JOKE OF THE WEEK
Last week’s answer: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? The letter “M”
This Week: What begins with an “e” and only contains one letter?
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.
REMINDERS
LATE BUSES
Late bus runs have started 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.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
One of our initiatives this year is to improve student attendance and tardiness. The impact on student learning due to attendance concerns can be seen in this graphic. Please see the attached attendance policy for the 23-24 school year.
HOMEWORK CLUB
HW club is available 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/teachers believe are necessary. Students are expected to stay for the full hour.
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.
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 secretaries, Ms. Brewster at nbrewster@billericak12.com or Lucy O’Brien at lobrien@billericak12.com
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
UPCOMING DATES
- Monday, December 4th – Day 60, Last Day of Trimester 1
- December 12th through 15th – Book Fair
- Monday, December 11th – School Site Council, 5:00 PM-Library
- Tuesday, December 12th – PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library
- Wednesday, December 13th – Band Concert, 7:00 PM –Marshall Auditorium
- Thursday, December 14th – Chorus Concert, 7:00 PM – BMHS
- Thursday, December 14th – Trimester 1 Report Cards Published
- December 19th and 20th – Trinket Sales during lunch
- Tuesday, December 19th – Orchestra Concert, 7:00 PM – Marshall Auditorium
- Thursday, December 21st – 7th Grade Field Trip, A Christmas Carol
- Friday, December 22nd – Half-Day Schedule, 10:40 Dismissal
- December 25th through January 1st – Holiday Recess
- Tuesday, January 2nd – School Resumes
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