JW Killam Principal's Corner

Week of January 15, 2023

February marks Black History, or African-American month is the US. On Monday, we will hold the national holiday of Martin Luther King, Jr's Day. The intention behind a national day of service is one in which we can ground many discussions with children. There is a town-wide MLK breakfast and cultural program this Monday, beginning at 9:30 am (see flyer below). At Killam, we speak throughout the year about people who have contributed to our world in a variety of ways, such as scientists, advocates, inventors, journalists, educators, and physicians. Dr. King is one individual who is celebrated for his contribution to our national dialogue and progress.

Through our core value work, we discuss characteristics that grow a community of learners who support one another and allow for us to be ourselves and take risks. When I reflect on Dr. King, I think of the characteristics or traits of compassion and conviction. In his words and actions, in what he did and did not do, and in his evolution over his short life, we see examples of these traits. These are the messages that we bring into our classrooms throughout the school year. In our classrooms, our students engage in discussions or work regarding some known African-American advocates. We will continue to grow our understanding of contributors to society, and the world, so that our children can evolve to be global citizens who emulate these traits.

Safety Reminders: Share these safety reminders with all who support arrival and dismissal.
-As anticipated, we've seen an increase in families participating in the rolling car drop off in the mornings. Pull all the way forward in the driveway, do not exit your car, and do not pass cars after dropping off. When we follow these expectations, we have a safe and efficient arrival.

-In the afternoons, this is a reminder that the driveway is closed to all vehicles except buses and handicap parking until 15 minutes after dismissal (3pm Monday-Thursday and 1pm on Fridays). If you need to enter the driveway for a special circumstance, please reach out to me to make arrangements. All our students exit from the external classroom doors, and it is unsafe to have vehicles driving with the 430+ students exiting at the same time. It is also against the law to pass a bus when they are loading or unloading students. Thank you for helping us keep our students and families safe on school grounds.

-We are hearing reports again from neighbors that we are blocking driveways and intersections, particularly on the cross streets off Charles Street. Be mindful of where you park. Neighbors do have the right to call the police if they cannot exit their driveways. Be courteous as this is a neighborhood school and cooperation is key.

Stay well,

Ms. Leveque

-Monday, January 16th: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

-Town of Reading Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Program (flyer below)

-Tuesday, January 17th: Killam School Council Meeting, 3:15-4:15 Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89043250524

-Sunday, January 22nd: Chinese New Year

School Hours:

Monday-Thursday, 8:15-2:45 (8:10-11:30 for half-day kindergarten)

Friday, 8:15-12:45 (8:10-12:45 for half-day kindergarten)

Reading Public School Calendar

Welcome Back and Happy, Healthy New Year!

Health Update:

• This week, the CDC has reported that the community level of COVID-19 in Middlesex County is high. Masks are recommended to help control the spread of viruses. I have masks available in my office for students and staff.

• We are continuing with symptomatic COVID-19 testing at school; I will call you if your child visits me with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Please monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home and test them if any develop. Contact your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s symptoms and if their symptoms persist, and please let me know if you need any additional at home test kits.

• Vaccination is an important tool in preventing serious illness. The next clinic for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be on Friday, January 20th at Coolidge Middle school from 2-5 pm. Here is the link to register.

Medical Records News:

• We are updating our students’ electronic health record software system. The new Health Portal will allow parents to directly message, update any emergency contacts and medical conditions and securely upload medical documents to their child’s health record.
• You will be receiving an email inviting you to log into the Health Portal.
• Please note that even if you opt in to consent for administration of over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen, a doctor’s note will still be required for elementary students to receive any medication at school.

Thank you,

Sharon Grottkau, School Nurse

This show is "Crazy for You (Youth Edition)". There are shows Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2:00. While the name may not ring a bell, it's a classic play written for students/ kids, so appropriate for all audiences! Tickets can be purchased at the box office, but purchasing ahead makes it super easy: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/69547

Overview: A zany rich-boy-meets-hometown-girl romantic comedy, Crazy For You® tells the story of young New York banker Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. In Deadrock, Bobby falls for spunky Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter. But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker, so Bobby vows – through cunning, razzmatazz, and a hilarious case of mistaken identity – to win Polly’s heart and save the theatre. Memorable Gershwin tunes from the score include “I Got Rhythm,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” “Embraceable You,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

It's that time of year to start thinking about our incoming kindergarten students for the 2023-2024 school year. To be eligible for admission to the Reading Public Schools, a child must have reached the age of five on or before August 31st of the entering year to begin kindergarten or have reached the age of six on or before August 31st of the entering year to begin grade one. We had a great turnout for a virtual incoming kindergarten information session on Wednesday, January 4th. Information on the school registration packet and links to the presentation are shared below and can be found on the Reading Public Schools district website.

Upcoming Event:

-Kindergarten Registration Night - Jan. 31st, 6:00-7:00 pm. Drop off your registration form and accompanying documents. Event will be held at Reading Memorial High School. Last names beginning in A-L, 6:00-6:30 pm. Last names beginning in M-Z, 6:30-7:00 pm. You can reach out with questions at any point by emailing RPSStudentRegistration@reading.k12.ma.us

Ongoing Information:

-Sign up to receive email updates during the kindergarten registration process by visiting: https://forms.gle/LK4esx7RoP7YxQ498

-To learn more and stay up to date, visit the registration website at Registration Forms - Reading Public Schools

Introduction to Kindergarten Presentation from January 4th:

-Here's the link to January 4th Introduction to Kindergarten Presentation in video form: Virtual Kindergarten Information Session-20230104_190233-Meeting Recording.mp4 - Google Drive

-Here's a link to the January 4th Introduction to Kindergarten presentation in English.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1sK9kOUVIc0t58Mn9k4Jld725ULiwsiddo5Cav0A3l2k/edit?usp=sharing

-Aqui está o link para a apresentação de Introdução ao Jardim de Infância de 4 de janeiro em português.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Dyq75gPb2YB6MY3t2pUTSAJjbEseopwE-RHNSludJUE/edit?usp=sharing

-Aquí está el enlace a la presentación de Introducción a Kindergarten del 4 de enero en español.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GUKK3DNGRyIwMjQhzW1QY_AfA1YR65JbKBiyRgSK4lM/edit?usp=sharing

The United States Attorney’s Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Wednesday, January 18th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Karen Legace has presented to the Killam students and families multiple times and always provides an informative presentation on the challenges students currently face around cyber use. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online.

The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer and is also included here:

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser)) Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec3d8ccd61ccdd26ee39d8c6ffd5c57aa

Password: PSC1

Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact Karen Legace @ USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov<mailto:USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov>

Tuesday, January 17th at 7 pm: Special Needs Planning with Attorney Lisa Cukier
We are very excited to have Lisa Cukier present on Special Needs Planning. Lisa is an accomplished attorney with Burns and Levinson and has deep experience on a variety of topics related to family planning - including topics related to children with special needs. Lisa will be providing tips and strategies throughout the presentation and will also be available for Q & A. This will be an information packed session that will be aimed at all levels of disabilities and we highly encourage you to attend.

*This virtual event is hosted by SEPAC and open to anyone. Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85118571330

The Department of Elementary and Special Education (DESE) is currently conducting a Special Education and Civil Rights review in Reading. Special Education Family input is critical. Please look for an email survey titled: Public School Monitoring needs your feedback - it was sent on 12/1. Responses are due DECEMBER 30th!

More information on this Tiered Focused Monitoring can be found on our district website. You may contact Allison Wright at Allison.Wright@reading.k12.ma.us with questions about the 12/20 SEPAC parent orientation or the review.

For much more information about the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, click here for our latest newsletter.

We encourage you to join SEPAC's mailing list, follow SEPAC on Facebook, and follow SEPAC on Instagram

To help us make sure your child gets home safely, if there is a change in dismissal, fill out the attached form and send it in with your child. Thanks!

There are now two ways to let us know if your child is going to be absent from school, stating your child's name and reason for the absence.

You can continue to call the school absence line and leave a message 24-hours a day. The number is 781-944-7831, option 1. Now, you can also email an absence to KillamAttendance@Reading.k12.ma.us. Either way, letting us know will help us make sure the Killam community is safely in the building or at home.

Our Occupational Therapist, Michelle Goldner, has put together some great activities for families to try at home. These help children build strong dexterity and muscles to help them grow in all settings.

Tips

Backpack Wearing Tips

Our speech and language pathologist, Jackie Dunn, wants to share some language development activities you can try at home. Check them out.

Ideas

Curious where your student's classroom is located and where to connect for drop-off and pick-up? Check out the Killam School map.

As a parent guardian of a child in the Reading Public Schools, you have access to the Parent PlusPortal. The Portal will be used throughout your child’s academic career as it is where you update your child’s emergency contact information, view report cards, and beyond elementary school, see your child’s grades in real time. It also acts as a communication portal between you and your child’s teacher where oftentimes, different academic links, notes, or activities are shared.

If you are a returning parent, your account is still active. If you are new parent guardian and have not received access, please reach out to our school administrative assistant, Jackie Maglio at jaculen.maglio@reading.k12.ma.us. At that point, you will receive a separate email with your PlusPortal login information. The subject line of the email is Important! Killam School PlusPortals login. This is a confidential portal that is linked to your email account. You have 48 hours to activate your Portal account using the temporary password supplied through the email. Once you login, you can update the password and personal information.

School lunches are once again free for students in the Commonwealth. We look forward to providing nutritious meals for our students!

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!

Email: sarah.leveque@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/killam/
Location: 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-7831
Facebook: facebook.com/JWKillamSchool
Twitter: @Killamnews