Lowell School founded in 1913 – Principal ick Smith
March-April 2015
Principal’s Den
Dear Lowell Community,
My how time flies! Believe it or not, it is that time of year when students are looking forward to Spring Break
and we start assessing students on what they have learned throughout the school year. Starting in April, students in grades 3rd through 6th will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment also known as ISAT 2.0. The
SBAC will test students in mathematics and English Language Arts. This assessment includes questions that
go beyond multiple choice and will include short answer questions and performance tasks that allow students
to demonstrate critical thinking skills and real world problem solving. The SBAC does not include Science.
As a result, students will continue to take the Science ISAT in 5th grade.
While your students have been working this past year to gain the knowledge and skills that will help them to
be successful on such an assessment, there are things that you as parents can do to assist them:
• Review practice tests and questions with your student on the SBAC website: www.smarterbalanced.org/.
• If your student is struggling in a specific subject, contact his/her teacher to discuss what can be done to
offer additional support.
• Encourage your student to read or read with them for at least 20 minutes each night.
• On the day of the test, make sure your student is well rested, eats breakfast and comes to school on time.
• Encourage your student to have a positive attitude and do their very best!
For Lowell Elementary, our ISAT and SBAC testing will begin on April 7th. To find out which days your
child will be tested, please see the Assessment Schedule included in this newsletter. Please understand that
this schedule is subject to change due to any number of potential unforeseen circumstances.
In looking forward to the months of March and April, please consider the following reminders:
• Kindergarten Registration is March 12th from 4:00 to 5:30 PM in the Lowell gym.
• Third Quarter Lowell Pride assembly is March 20th at 9:45 AM.
• The third quarter ends on Friday, March 20th. We have an early release at 1:45 PM that day.
• School is closed Monday, March 23rd through Friday, March 27th for Spring Break. School resumes on
Monday, March 30th.
• The Shake-It-Up student Shakespeare Performance is April 17th at 2:15 and 6:30 PM in the Lowell gym.
• Class Pictures will take place on April 28th throughout the day.
• 4th, 5th & 6th Grade Spring Music Program is April 30th at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM in the Lowell gym.
I wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Spring Break. Let’s hope that the weather cooperates!
Your Principal,
ick Smith
Kindergarten Registration
A reminder that Kindergarten Registration for the 2015-2016 School Year is on March 12th, between 4:00 – 5:30 PM in
the Lowell Gym. All students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2015 to register. Please bring a certified copy of your
child’s Birth Certificate and a copy of their immunization records.
MARCH-APRIL 2015
PAGE 2
Lowell PTSA Update
•
The Spring Fundraiser is here – It is due Tuesday, March 10, 2015: We are selling Heirloom Seeds
through Urban Farmer. All seeds are Non-GMO, heirloom varieties that are easy to grow. The class that
sells the most packets of seeds will get a SWEETS PARTY of their choice.
•
PARETS - Your contributions to the Lowell Fundraisers are essential in
keeping the following programs and events running at Lowell; Accelerated
Reader Program, Field Trips, Yearbooks, Lowell Pride, Fall Carnival, Fall
Dinner, Read Week. The funds also support; Classroom Supplies, Staff Appreciation Week and many, many more. This year the PTSA is VERY proud
to say that we have supported the funding of the NEW Lowell Music
Park. This is going to be an outside Music Park that will be located on the
playground. A wonderful means to help students make new friends, and
build positive connections. You may have noticed that the construction has
already started. It will be fun to see how it progresses throughout the
month. There will be have a BIG CELEBRATION CEREMONY once it is
complete.
•
We welcome you to attend our next PTSA meeting on Thursday April 9th in the school library at 4:00
pm. As well, we encourage you to join the PTSA and help to make a difference at Lowell.
Kersten Wingate-Smith, Lowell PTSA President - 208-761-4097 / [email protected]
Lowell Music Park Installation Underway
We are excited to announce that the installation of the outdoor Lowell Music Park is underway! It should be
ready for students by the end of spring break and most likely even earlier. We are planning an outdoor celebration of the Lowell Music Park in April, and we would love to have parents attend the celebration with us.
We will announce details once we have them in place. Thank you all for your ongoing support!
Read during spring break and get prizes!
Coming Soon: Lowell Spring Break Read-Away
(feel free to take books from the Lowell Little Library in front of the school!)
Track your reading with a reading log and then bring your reading log to
Mrs. Mack after Sprint Break.
Reminder!!!
Roaring Springs Readers are due by Monday March 30th!
Don't delay! If you finish your minutes early, turn them in.
Keep up the great work and keep reading!
PAGE 3
MARCH-APRIL 2015
Lowell Elementary Student Council Update!!
Our amazing Lowell community has collected $669 for pennies for Patience!! We will continue to collect
money until Monday, march 9th. We are so close to our goal thanks to your caring hearts.
Trip Fun a Thon scheduled April 29 - This activity promotes health and getting kids active with the
Dragon-Bike run activities.
Lowell will wrap up the year with "Lowell's Got Talent". This talent sharing will on May 22 with
auditions the week prior for 3-6th grade students.
Please contact Ms.Marsha or Mrs. Carson if you are able to be a parent volunteer.
30 Years of Music in Your Schools Month!
The National Association for Music Education has designated March as "Music in Our Schools Month". It
all began as a single statewide Advocacy Day and celebration in New York in 1973 and grew over the decades to become a month-long celebration of school music in 1985.
Lowell Elementary, as part of the Boise School District has a long and rich tradition of including music education for all our students, with many opportunities to participate in ensembles-choir, band and orchestrabeginning in the elementary grades and continuing beyond into Junior High and High School. Our community has been amazing, supporting quality music education, encouraging their children to participate and be
involved in music activities. District wide we have Honor Choirs, Orchestras and Bands, music festivals at
all levels, and multiple opportunities for students to study and follow their individual interests in music. We
are so fortunate to have highly qualified and dedicated staff who are committed to their students, and provide
excellent instruction and quality learning experiences every day.
Our own Boise High Quadrant Choral Music Festival, which celebrates choral music in our schools,
is Thursday, March 6, 2015, at the Boise High school Auditorium at 7:00 pm. Several elementary choirs will
be featured as well as singers from North Jr. High and Boise High. Admission and participation are free.
Lowell Choir has been hard at work preparing for the concert, rehearsing their featured piece, "Simple
Gifts", which will include a Special guest accompanist on the flute, a Lowell parent, Mrs. Karla Brown
Traynor. Other selections to be sung will be "This Train", and "Go With a Song in Your Heart".
The choir has had a great year so far with many performances already, to include two concerts at the Idaho
State Capital, celebrating the 100 years anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner, Caroling for the School
District Administrators and staff, and our Holiday school concerts with the Band and Orchestra
Other upcoming music performances include:
• Idaho Day Celebration-Grade 4: Wednesday, May 5, 3:15-Lowell Gym
• Honors Groups Concert, Timberline HS, 7:00 pm
• Grade 4,5,6 Music Program, Thursday, April 30, 2:30.
• Grade 1,2,3 Music Program, Thursday, May 21, 2:30.
Thank you for your continued support and for encouraging your children to enjoy music!
I wish everyone a happy March! Wishing you a song in your heart!
Deborah Pimentel, Med- Lowell Elementary Music Specialist & Choir Director
PAGE 4
MARCH-APRIL 2015
News from Chef ’s Club
If you haven’t already heard, The Lowell Leopard Learning Habitat (formerly called the garden!) is teaming
up with Chef Michelle Kwak from State & Lemp, the restaurant on the corner near the school.
Fifth and sixth graders gathered together to measure and weigh ingredients for two gluten-free inspired recipes: angel food cake and mochi. Every kid loves a lesson from which they can walk away eating delicious
sweets! But it’s also an excellent chance to learn about weights and measures, collaboration and professional
careers.
We really appreciate State & Lemp for donating their restaurant, time and supplies for our
community. Please visit them and tell them yourselves!
The club will be meeting again on Monday, March 16!
Track Season Begins!!!
Track season officially begins Monday, March 16th! Any 5th or 6th grade student is welcome and encouraged to participate! The first track meet is Monday,
April 6th.
There will be three tri-meets this year, followed by the Regional, District, and
City meets. The season will end the first week of May. Please call or email
Ms. Holt with any questions or concerns.
PAGE 5
MARCH-APRIL 2015
LOWELL ELEMENTARY
SPRING 2015 ISAT AND SBAC ASSESSEMENT SCHEDULE
Subject
Science
Science
Grade
3rd
3rd
Class
Ambrose
Calvert
Wednesday, April 8
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Adapted Test)
1:15 - 3:30
Math (Adapted Test)
Subject
Math (Adapted Test)
Math (Adapted Test)
Grade
6th
3rd
Class
Sheehan
Both
Tuesday, April 14
Time
Subject
1:00 - 3:30
Math (Adapted Test)
Anytime
Math (Class Performance Activity)
Grade
5th
5th/6th
Class
Merrick
Louis
Friday, April 17
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
Tuesday, April 21
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Grade
Any
Any
Class
Any
Any
Tuesday, April 28
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Adapted Test)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Adapted Test)
Grade
5th/6th
5th
Class
Louis
Merrick
Friday, May 1
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
Grade
4th
Class
Both
Monday, May 4
Time
Subject
Anytime
ELA (Class Performance Activity)
Wednesday, May 6
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
Anytime
ELA (Class Performance Activity)
Grade
6th
Any
Class
Sheehan
Any
Grade
Any
Any
Class
Any
Any
Grade
5th
5th
Class
Merrick
Louis
Tuesday, April 7 (TBD)
Time
9:45 - 12:00
1:30 - 3:30
Grade
5th/6th
5th
Class
Louis
Merrick
Friday, April 10
Time
9:45 - 12:00
1:15 - 3:30
Grade
4th
4th
5th and 5/6
Class
Carson
Bravo
Both
Thursday, April 16
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
Anytime
Math (Class Performance Activity)
Grade
6th
Any
Class
Sheehan
Any
Grade
4th
4th
Class
Bravo
Carson
Grade
3rd
3rd
Class
Calvert
Ambrose
Grade
5th
5th/6th
6th
Class
Merrick
Louis
Sheehan
Grade
Any
Any
Class
Any
Any
Tuesday, May 12
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Make Up Assessments
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Thursday, April 9
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Adapted Test)
1:15 - 3:30
Math (Adapted Test)
Grade
4th
4th
Class
Bravo
Carson
Grade
3rd
3rd
4th
Class
Calvert
Ambrose
Both
Wednesday, April 15
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
Math (Performance Task Assessment)
Anytime
Math (Class Performance Activity)
Grade
6th
Class
Sheehan
Monday, April 20
Time
Subject
Anytime
Math (Class Performance Activity)
Wednesday, April 22
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Make Up Assessments
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Grade
3rd
3rd
Class
Ambrose
Calvert
Thursday, April 23
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Adapted Test)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Adapted Test)
Wednesday, April 29
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Adapted Test)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Adapted Test)
Grade
6th
3rd
Class
Sheehan
Both
Thursday, April 30
Time
Subject
1:00 - 3:30
ELA (Adapted Test)
Anytime
ELA (Class Performance Activity)
Grade
4th
4th
5th and 5/6
Class
Carson
Bravo
Both
Tuesday, May 5
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
Anytime
ELA (Class Performance Activity)
Thursday, May 7
Time
Subject
Anytime
ELA (Performance Task Assessment)
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Grade
Any
Any
Class
Any
Any
Friday, May 8
Time
9:45 - 12:00
1:15 - 3:30
Wednesday, May 13
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Make Up Assessments
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Grade
Any
Any
Class
Any
Any
Thursday, May 14
Time
Subject
9:45 - 12:00
Make Up Assessments
1:15 - 3:30
Make Up Assessments
Subject
Make Up Assessments
Make Up Assessments