Listen to this notice as a podcast.

Dear RISE Preschool Families,

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend despite the rain. Fall is in the air!

It has been a wonderful week in our RISE preschool classrooms. It was just adorable to see our friends at the high school and Wood End locations all dressed up for school pictures. Killam will be practicing their best smiles for pictures this coming Wednesday.

Talk of pumpkins, spiders and candy corn is everywhere at RISE. The excitement is building. There are a variety of fall and Halloween activities planned for Tuesday the 31st. Please stay in touch with your child's teacher for details and let her know if your family traditions require alternatives to what is planned.

Please see below for updates from our PTN and Reading SEPAC. There are lots of ways to get involved at RISE! Congratulations to Nancy Nguyen and to Dilly Wilson who will be serving on the RISE PTN and the SEPAC board respectively and Gina Dulong for being our SPEAC building contact! Thank you all for your willingness to support our community!.

Have a wonderful week!

Kerry

Have a wonderful week!

Kerry

In light of current events overseas, you may wonder how to address questions your child may have. Here is a resource that maybe helpful to you. Please use it if/as as you feel appropriate for your family.

Please see attached flier for this exciting community event!

VISION SCREENINGS STARTING SOON

The nurses will soon begin the Preschool vision screening. Please email the nurse office if you prefer to have your child opt out of school vision screening. Even though the pediatrician's do some screening, we have found that school screening can help with the early detection of many treatable conditions. We want to help your child learn best and try to make school screenings quick, calm, and a good experience for the students.

These are our upcoming school picture days... this is a CHANGE from last week to be sure all students will be in the building when their picture days occur!

October 16-RISE @ RMHS

October 18- RISE @ Wood End

October 25- RISE @ Killam

Our fantastic PTN board is hard at work planning fun ways to engage children and families at RISE. They are looking for an Enrichment Coordinator who can help set their ideas for enrichment in motion for the students at RISE. Please reach out if you have any interest in lending a hand!

The PTN welcomes all families to participate in meetings in whatever capacity they can. ALL parents/caregivers are welcome. Please come to our next meeting, held via ZOOM on November 13 at 7:30!

We are grateful to the PTN for sponsoring Pumpkin Painting for our entire RISE program this month. These programs are possible because of your support. This year's membership form is here! Thank you!

Board Members for 2023-24:

• President: Meghann Cerratani
• Vice-President: Rachel Bramante
• Secretary: Corey Mathison
• Treasurer: Courtney Martinello
• Enrichment Coordinator: Nancy Nguyen

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!

Visit the SEPAC WEBPAGE

Sign up for our mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram

See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events

Thank you to everyone who attended the 10/17 meeting. The video of recorded portions will be posted on our website soon. Thanks to Etain O’Dea for serving as Election Coordinator and to Dana Levin for taking notes. New SEPAC board members are Chris Kowaleski, Dilly Wilson and Jacyln Lee. Returning SEPAC board members are Zea Lennard, Eunice Kenyon and Lindsay Conti.

Upcoming events:

SEPACsgiving November 13-19 (sign up for sessions by November 3rd)

SEPACsgiving will be an opportunity for general members to connect with other general members in self-selected groups (eg ADHD, Dyslexia, SAIL, OOD, etc.). Members will "give" presence, time, resources, support, encouragement, and compassion to one another. The initial meeting, for which you can sign up using this link, will be 30 minutes long, virtual, and with an identified point person present to help facilitate conversation, take general notes of broad ideas and questions the group would like shared with the SEPAC board and/or Student Services, and help identify and plan for next steps. Members MAY share contact info and choose if and how they would like to continue/grow their network. Please sign up by November 3rd to allow organizers enough planning time.

SEPAC Tree

Watch emails for news for how to participate in the creation of a fantastic SEPAC tree for the REF Festival of Trees. SEPAC is proud to once again participate in this fantastic community event which supports our schools! Thank you Alyssa Scaparotti for volunteering your time, resources and vision for this year’s tree.

Are you on our mailing list? Check to see if you received an email from “SEPAC” at about 5pm on Tuesday 10/17. If you did not, you are not on our confidential mailing list, and you are missing out! Simply send an email to sepacreading@gmail.com and we will add you to our private list.

1. Documentation of all immunizations and a physical exam must be provided prior to the first day of school as mandated by Massachusetts State Law. All medical requirements are included in new student paperwork. If your child has a summer birthday, please make sure their scheduled physical happens before the first day of school and send the documentation to school for your child’s record. Medical or religious immunization exemptions are permitted; documentation of such exemptions is required annually.

2. First Aid: Most injuries are minor; however, please make sure to complete all emergency contact information for your child. Include contact numbers for parents and any other person who might be responsible for picking up your child in the event of an emergency. Also include your child’s physician’s name and contact information. Remember to update this information throughout the school year for any corrections or changes.

3. Medication Guidelines:

• Doctor’s orders and parent authorization forms must be completed for ALL medications given in school (including over-the-counter medications).
• Tylenol and ibuprofen can be given in middle and high school with parental consent.
• All medication orders expire at the end of the school year.
• Medications must be provided in their original labeled container.
• A parent or responsible adult must transport medication to and from the Health Office and meet with the nurse regarding instructions. Do not send any medication in your child’s backpack.
• Exception to medication guidelines: Short term antibiotics may be given without a doctor’s order. The antibiotic must be provided in the original labeled container. This serves as proof of a doctor’s order in this case only.

4. Attendance at School: Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher. A child with a fever should not return until they have been fever-free without a fever reducer such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen for 24 hours.
• Infectious illness such as strep throat for which they have been treated with antibiotics for less than 12 hours.
• Any symptoms listed on the COVID health screening. Please check your child for symptoms daily. If you have any concerns, please contact your school nurse, and follow up with your child's physician.

5. School Screenings: State mandated school screenings are as follows: Vision screenings are done in grades prek-5,7 &10, hearing screenings are done in grades K-3, 7 & 10. Height and weight screenings are performed annually on grades 1,4, 7 &10. Postural screenings are done for grade 5-9 annually. SBIRT screenings are done in grades 8 &10.

Parents will be notified of upcoming screenings and notified if a referral is indicated after the screenings. Parents may opt out of any screenings in writing to the school nurse.

6. Communication from the Health Office is through SNAP Health Portal, which connects directly with your child’s electronic health record, and provides direct messaging to your school nurse. School nurses may also reach out via phone call, email, and school newsletters. Please make sure your contact information is up to date.

7. Contagious Illnesses: Please notify the Health Office if your child has any contagious illness or conditions such as COVID, flu or strep throat. Always refer to your pediatrician for guidance.

8. Student Absence: If your child is absent, please call the absentee phone line and mention the reason for the absence. A note is required for all absences when your child returns.

9. Allergy Guidelines: Reading Public School Guidelines for Food Allergies are available on the district webpage under District Information. All classrooms are food-free except for individual snacks and lunches provided from home. All food brought into the classroom must follow the Food Allergy Guidelines. You will be notified of food allergy restrictions for your child’s classroom prior to the beginning of the school year. No food sharing is allowed.

10. Allergies and Chronic Conditions: Please contact the school nurse if your child has any health issues or life-threatening allergies so appropriate accommodations can be made.

Please send in a copy of your child’s yearly physical so that health records and immunizations can be updated. Summer is a good time to reinforce good hygiene habits such as handwashing, cough and sneeze etiquette and the importance of no food sharing at school. Another health issue to consider is lice prevention. Please get into the habit of watching for symptoms and routinely checking your child’s head.

Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you and getting to know your child.

Sincerely,

Reading Public School Nurses

The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support, formerly known as RCASA, was established in 2006 in Reading. The coalition started as a town, police, school and community initiative focused on improving collaboration and reducing substance abuse. The coalition was grant-funded from 2007-2019. Today, the coalition funded under the Reading Police Department, offers programs and services that focus on substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion.

Follow us on Instagram @rcps_rpd

Like us on Facebook @reading coalition

Follow us on Twitter @rcoalition4prev

About These Services

The Town of Reading contracts with William James College to offer a special service for our residents. The William James INTERFACE Referral Service maintains a mental health and wellness referral help line Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm, at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for individuals across the lifespan living in Reading. Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database. Each referral meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller. Click here to learn more!

October

25:Picture Day- RISE @ Killam

November

7: No School, Teacher In Service Day

10: No School, Veterans Day (observed)

22: Early Release

23-24: No School

Reading Public Schools offers a variety of outstanding integrated preschool programming for Reading residents. Our integrated programs serve tuition-based students and students who receive special education services. Our goal is to create an environment of mutual respect, where all students learn from their teachers and from each other.

Our integrated preschool programs are multi-age, and students may enter when they turn three years old. This enables our younger students to learn from their older classmates. Our four-year-old students love being role models and leaders to our three-year-old students.

Our integrated programs are designed to support the learning and growth of both tuition students and students with disabilities. Our approach is play-based. Students learn school, social and academic skills through center activities, free play, circle time, recess, and more.

If you have questions about our programs, you are welcome to contact Kerry Wilcox, RISE Director at kerry.wilcox@reading.k12.ma.us

Email: kerry.wilcox@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://rise.reading.k12.ma.us/
Location: 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9179
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049057732334
Twitter: @RISEReading