LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #2 2024-2025
September 8, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
We had a successful opening week at the Locke. Students and staff made it through locker assignments, bus numbers, schedules, the lunch line, and the DETOURS! It was great to see all of our students excited to be back and ready for an incredible year. I hope everyone is having a restful weekend as we prepare for our first full week of …
5 DAYS OF LEARNING!
FOLLOW US ON X @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 – D Day
Tuesday – A Day
Wednesday – B Day
Thursday – C Day -- Back-to-School Night 6:00 PM
Friday – D Day – Picture Day
BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT
On Thursday, September 12th from 6:00-8:00 PM we will be having our annual Back-to-School night. The evening is for parents to follow their child’s schedule and receive an overview of classroom curriculum and procedures from each teacher. At 6:00 you will report to your child’s homeroom and then follow their schedule with each class being about 15 minutes. We ask that you arrive early as the program begins promptly at 6:00 and parking spaces are limited. We look forward to seeing you on the 12th. Again, when you arrive please report to your child’s homeroom.
PICTURE DAY
Picture Day is Friday, September 13th. All students will have their picture taken for our database. Order forms will be sent home on Tuesday. Please see the attached form to order photos on-line.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
As you may be aware, we had to make difficult decisions regarding our school budget last year. For this reason, we will not be able to offer middle school sports (cross country, track and field, and volleyball). Additionally, we understand that late buses have been a helpful resource for families, but unfortunately, they will not be running this year.
Despite these changes, we are happy to announce that we will be offering after-school activities and Homework Club again this year. We will have further details over the next few weeks.
ROBOTICS
The Locke Monsters Robotics Team has limited spots available for the upcoming competition season. Anyone who is interested in possibly joining the team, should reach out to Mr. DeBenedetto (hdebenedetto@billericak12.com
Participating students will need to have a way to get transportation home from the Locke after our meetings. At this time, we are planning for the robotics meetings to be on Mondays and Wednesdays until 3:30 p.m.
Once we have an idea of who is interested, we plan to hold a "Robotics Training Camp" so that existing team members and new students can work together on the robots. New students can get a better idea of what is involved and if they are truly interested in participating. The dates of the Training Camp have not yet been determined.
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. Our first meeting will be:
Wednesday, September 18th at 6:00 PM in the Locke Library.
Our new board members are:
Andrea Toomey -- President
Amit Gandhi -- Vice-President
Jacqui Chaffins -- Treasurer
Katie Malone – Secretary
We also have a new Facebook page – “Billerica Locke PTO”. Click on the link below to take you there:
https://www.facebook.com/
IT’S BACK -- MATH PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #1
Puppy Math
Olivia adopted a puppy on National Dog Day (which was August 26). The adoption fee at the local shelter is $150 plus a 5% tax. On her way to pick up the puppy, she stops at a store to buy a food dish, dog food, a water dish, and a bed for her new pup that cost (before tax) $5, $10, $5, and $12, respectively. If these purchases have a 5% sales tax added to them at check out, how much does Olivia spend in total (after tax) on the adoption fees and supplies combined?
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
Where does a chemistry teacher eat lunch?
Last week’s Answer -- What does an English teacher like to eat for breakfast? Synonym Rolls
SCHOOL TIMES
School starts promptly at 7:30. Students should be in their homeroom at 7:30. The car drop-off time for students is 7:10 -- 7:25. 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 – Parent Homework
On the first day, students will receive the following forms to be filled out and returned:
- Emergency form
- Medical form
- Signed agenda book (p.18)
- Technology Release
- Communication Preference
- Photo-opt form (only send back if you need to)
CELL PHONE POLICY
Our cell phone policy is that all student phones/smart watches are to be kept in student lockers and turned off for the duration of the school day. If parents need to contact students, please contact the main office.
CHROMEBOOKS AND GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
Students are required to bring their school-issued Chromebooks to school every day beginning on the 1st day of school. 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. Fifth-grade students who did not pick up a Chromebook will be sent home with the paperwork for parents to sign. Please return it with your child and we will issue them a Chromebook.
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:
- 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/I-watches 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
Our school nurse is Janice Roberts – jroberts@billericak12.com
- Students may drop off EpiPens, inhalers, and any over the counter medications.
- A parent or guardian must drop off any prescription medications.
- All medications need to be accompanied by a medication order from the student's physician and with either an Anaphylaxis Action Plan or Asthma Action Plan as applicable
- If families need copies of these forms they can be found on the Billerica Public Schools website: https://www.
billericak12.com/departments/ health-services-wellness/ school-nursing
Also, as a reminder:
ALL 7th GRADE STUDENTS must submit proof of TDaP (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) and MCV4 (meningitis) vaccines, as well as an UPDATED physical exam, by 9/30/24
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 served every day and it will be “grab and go”. Students can grab breakfast in the cafeteria when they come in and then report to homeroom. They can eat breakfast in homeroom.
UPCOMING DATES
- Monday, September 9th – Boys and Girls Club transportation starts
- Thursday, September 12th – Back-to-School Night 6:00-8:00
- Friday, September 13th – Picture Day
- Tuesday, September 17th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
- Wednesday, September 18th – PTO Meeting, 6:00 PM Locke Library
- Friday, September 20th – All forms due
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