News

Hello Families,

We had the 70th day away from school this week. It feels like a bit of a milestone. We’re getting good at a few of the new things we’re trying to do, and I want you to know that your teachers are very busy trying to get good at more things. They are taking trainings, learning new technologies, and trying lots of exciting strategies to ensure that every child continues to learn at home.

I have two things to share today. First is how to access the grade reports from winter trimester. The second is some resources from Sound Discipline. I hope you use them both!

Dear Lowell Families,

This is Teacher Appreciation Week and I am sure that you, as I do, appreciate the thoughtful work our staff has put in to creating online learning resources for our students, mailed needed items or materials to some, and reached out to stay connected with families. It is you, the family, that has had to become a teacher as well. Your partnership in educating Lowell students is invaluable and we want to make sure you know how much we appreciate you and your incredible efforts in supporting learning at home.

First, we have had many Chrome Books delivered by mail to families! Second, the school district will now be delivering lunches on many bus routes!

Dear Families,

Wow! What a time we’re living in!

We got news on last Thursday that we would be moving to online learning this week and that teachers were to instruct students, not just check in with them and provide enrichment resources. That’s a big change from what we were doing before, so our staff spent the weekend learning how to use the online platforms of Schoology and Teams, along with the many other new programs they’ve been using, and are beginning the difficult work of providing lessons and online instruction.

Dear Families,

I want to assure you that Lowell Elementary School staff is dedicated to keeping our school safe in the face of our state’s coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. As the SPS communication said this morning, at this point we have no confirmed cases in Seattle Schools. Even so, staff are working hard to ensure that students and adults wash hands frequently, clean keyboards, desks and surfaces, and cover coughs and sneezes.

Next week, February 3-7, is identified in Seattle Public Schools and in schools across the country as Black Lives Matter in Schools Week. As we are promoting equity and social justice in our schools and communities, we believe that this call-to-action week is important in educating our students (and ourselves), as we all continue to become upstanders, allies and accomplices for good in our society and in our world.

I’m so excited about the upcoming school year! School will start on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 8:55. We’ll release at 3:25 for this first day; every other Wednesday will be an early release at 2:10.

Wed., Sept. 4 is the first day of school for grades 1-12; Mon., Sept. 9 is the first day of kindergarten. Read all key dates for the 2019-20 school year.

This fall, Seattle Public Schools has made a change to the username students use to log on to district digital tools such as The Source and the student portal. This change will enable students to keep their same username until they graduate!

Free breakfast, lunch, and snack for kids and teens.

The State of Washington requires us to give the Smarter Balanced Assessment to almost all students in grades 3-5. There is an alternate assessment for students with profound disabilities. The Smarter Balanced Assessment, or SBA test is designed to show two things. First, it is used to show an individual student’s progress as compared to the grade level standards in Reading and Math in all three grades, as well as in Science in 4th grade. Secondly, it’s used to measure the success of our school.

Registration for winter classes opens 12/4