LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #21 2023-2024
January 28, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
I hope you are enjoying the weekend. We have completed half of the school year and we are back with 5 DAYS OF LEARNING! Let’s see what’s happening ...
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LockeMiddle and INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"January is the month for dreaming."
— Jean Hersey
SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday – A Day – Penny Wars Start, Activities Start, HW Club, Late Buses
Tuesday – B Day
Wednesday – C Day – Advisory Schedule, Activities, HW Club, Late Buses, Robotics Chipotle fundraiser
Thursday – D Day – Activities, HW Club, Late Buses
Friday – A Day
WINTER AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
After-school activities begin this week. All activity confirmations were sent out via email last week. If you have any questions, please contact the main office.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY CAR PICK-UP
Car pick-up for after-school activities will be at 2:45. If you are picking up, enter and exit via Urban Street and loop around the circle as we do for regular car pick-up. Students can enter cars between the two crosswalks.
LATE BUS PICK-UP
Students will report to the cafeteria for late bus pick-up. Late bus runs 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 see the late bus routes.
THE PENNY WAR IS COMING THIS WEEK …
From January 29th – February 2nd, the PTO is sponsoring a penny war between homerooms. The winning homeroom in each grade receives a pizza party! Please see the attached flyer for the rules and more details. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
SCHOOL LUNCH
Please see the attached lunch menu for the week.
LOCKE FAMILY NIGHTS
We will be having a Locke family night at the UMASS-Lowell basketball game on Saturday, February 3rd at 5:00 PM. Please see the link for tickets: LOCKE FAMILY NIGHT-Basketball
We are also having an ice cream social on Thursday, February 15th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. More details are coming 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. You must have a valid CORI on file to volunteer at school. Please see the minutes from our last meeting. Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 14th at 6:30 PM in the Locke Library. Please see the attached dates for all of the PTO meetings during the year.
ROBOTICS FUNDRAISER
On Wednesday, January 31st the Robotics team is having a fundraiser at Chipotle from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
7th GRADERS – FALL SPORTS INFORMATION
Below are the start dates for the Fall 2024. Team Meetings are in June for the fall teams.
- Football and Cheer -- Friday 8/16
- Soccer/ Cross Country/ Volleyball/ Swim & Dive, Golf -- Monday 8/19
- Winter Season always starts the Monday after Thanksgiving.
ESSAY CONTEST
The Billerica Adventure Series Corporation is sponsoring its annual essay contest related to the environment. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK
Penny Wars
At the end of Penny War week, Mr. Bernoth’s homeroom had 403 pennies, 27 one-dollar bills, 17 five-dollar bills, 2 ten-dollar bills, 85 quarters, 62 nickels, and 4 dimes in the jug. How many points did Mr. Bernoth’s homeroom earn? How much money was in the jug? See the attached flyer for the point values.
Last week’s MPOW – still open for submissions
Solve, Solve, Solve
For the first six days of the week, Zoe solved 3 math problems each day. How many does she need to solve on the seventh day to have an average of four problems solved per day for the whole week?
Show all work. Submit your answers to Mr. Garas for a chance at a Dunkin gift card and the highly coveted math certificate!
RIDDLE/JOKE OF THE WEEK
Last week’s answer: What happened to the person who stole a calendar in January? – He got 12 months!
This week – Why did the germ cross the microscope?
FROM THE BILLERICA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
Billerica Businesses and Families,
Come out and support the Scholarship Foundation with a fun night of trivia! Please see the attached flyer and registration form for more information.
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.
FROM THE COMMUNITY
The Lions Club is collecting old pairs of glasses. If you have any old glasses, you can turn them in to the main office. Thank you.
REMINDERS
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.
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.
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 – ALL DATES ARE ALSO ON THE MASTER CALENDAR ON THE LOCKE WEBSITE
- Monday, January 29th – Winter After School Activities Begin
- January 29th through February 2nd – Penny Wars!
- Wednesday, January 31st – Robotics Chipotle Fundraiser, 4:00-8:00 PM
- Saturday, February 3rd – UMass-Lowell Basketball Game--5:00 PM
- Tuesday, February 6th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Monday, February 12th – Locke Site Council, 5:00 PM -Library
- February 13th and 14th – Valentine’s Trinket Sales at lunch
- Wednesday, February 14th – PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM – Library
- Thursday, February 15th – Ice Cream Social, 6:00-8:00 PM
- February 14th and 15th – Engineer visits to 5th grade
- February 12th – 16th – Spirit Week, Hoops for Heart Week
- Friday, February 16th – Staff/Student Basketball Game
- February 19th – 23rd – No School -- Winter Break
- February 26th – Return to 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