LIFE AT THE LOCKE … Issue #1 2025-2026
August 31st, 2025
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Students,
180 DAYS OF LEARNING!! WELCOME BACK!!
Happy Back-to-School! I hope you have all enjoyed the summer and are ready for the school year to begin. As educators, the summer gives us a chance to reflect on our current practice and prepare for the year ahead with a revitalized sense of purpose. We are looking forward to an exciting year of learning and new experiences. In our efforts to improve communication with families, we publish the Life at the Locke weekly newsletter which contains all of the information for the upcoming week. We will “publish” every Sunday or Monday of a long weekend. We have a tremendous amount of information to share with families as we return to school this week. Please read this email thoroughly and discuss as a family. We have spent a great deal of time this summer preparing our school for the return of students and we are looking forward to an awesome year. We anticipate a great opening to the school year and we appreciate the cooperation of families and students. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: locke_middle_school
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Wake up! Wake up! C’mon, first day of school!” ― Nemo, “Finding Nemo”
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 who enter the building will be supervised in the cafeteria. Students will not be allowed in before 7:10 AM.
FIRST DAYS
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 2nd . It is an “A” day schedule. Wednesday is a “B” Day, Thursday is a “C” Day, and Friday is a “D” Day schedule.
When students attend on the 1st day, there are two important numbers to remember:
Remember your homeroom number and your bus number.
When students arrive in school, they will report directly to their homeroom. Staff will be in the hallways to direct students. If students do not know their homeroom, they will report to the cafeteria and be directed from there. During the first few days of school, homeroom will be an extended time for teachers to discuss expectations and procedures with students.
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 Street (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.17)
- Technology Release
- Communication Preference
- Photo-opt form (only send back if you need to)
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 for the entire school day.
- 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!
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://billericak12.com/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 9/30/25
LUNCH/BREAKFAST
All breakfasts 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 beginning on the first day. It will be “grab and go”. Students can grab a breakfast in the cafeteria when they come in and then report to homeroom. They can eat breakfast in homeroom. Students are not allowed to bring in breakfast/drinks from Dunkin, Starbucks, etc.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Back to School night will be Thursday, September 11th from 6:00 — 8:00 PM. Parents will have the opportunity to follow their child’s schedule and hear the course expectations from teachers.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
We are happy to announce that we will be offering after-school programs again this year. We will have further details over the next few weeks.
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. We will have meeting dates soon.
RIDDLE/JOKE OF THE WEEK
What is a math teacher’s favorite season?
UPCOMING DATES
All Dates are also on our master calendar on the Locke website.
· Tuesday, September 2nd – A Day, 1st day of school, all students report to homeroom
· Friday, September 5th – Grade Level Assemblies
· Monday, September 8th – Boys and Girls Club transportation starts
· Thursday, September 11th – Back-to-School Night 6:00-8:00
· Friday, September 12th – Picture Day
· Wednesday, September 17th – Early Release, 11:40 Dismissal
· Friday, September 19th – All forms due
If you have any questions, please contact me at tgaras@billericak12.com or call at 978-528-8655. I look forward to a great school year!!
Warmest regards,
Tony Garas, Principal