JW Killam Principal's Corner

Week of June 11, 2023

The last day of school is Friday, June 16, with an 11:00 a.m. dismissal.

It is hard to believe that this is the last newsletter of the year! There is a lot of information below for you to reference throughout the summer. There is a lot happening in the town of Reading.

We have much to celebrate from the 2022-2023 school year. We have successfully worked as a community of learners in the building, helped our students learn and grow along with their peers, and strengthened a culture of joy, tenacity, and hard work. Our students have persevered through challenges, made new friendships, grown from mistakes, and made academic strides from September until now. Take a moment to reflect on who your child is now. Celebrate them and remember to thank a teacher as they have been supporting your child each step of the way. We are an incredible community at Killam!

With the end of a year, we have a few goodbyes to say. Mrs. Lucille Kaloyanides- "Mrs. K" and Mrs. Barbara King will be retiring. Mrs. K has been educating our students for over 31 years and has been an incredible special education teacher. Mrs. King has been a staple in our school as a kindergarten paraeducator in Mrs. Cole's class. They both have touched the lives of hundreds of students over the years. Additionally, Mrs. Megan Daly and Ms. Giavanna Capone will be moving towards future endeavors in the education world. They provided a strong academic experience for our students. We were fortunate to have them join us for one-year positions. There are always many moving parts over the summer and that includes with our staffing. I'll be sharing grade level assignments once things settle and we enter into summer. As always, Killam has a strong team of educators ready to support our students!

We are dedicating this newsletter to our Fifth Grade Class of 2023! They have bright futures ahead as they move on from Killam to middle school. This week, the staff will be celebrating their accomplishments and giving them the send off they deserve. They are a kind, articulate, fun-loving, and accomplished set of individuals. We know they have much more to contribute to society and we are so proud of them!

Class Lists and Teacher Assignments

Your child will receive their class placement and homeroom teacher assignment in early August. This allows the schools to adjust lists as necessary over the summer when new students move into a school or staffing changes happen. More information will come through summer update newsletters.

RPS Calendar 2023-24:

The Reading Public Schools 2023-24 District calendar is now available. It will continue to be posted in the "Killam Upcoming Dates" section of this newsletter.

Stay well,

Ms. Leveque

-Tuesday, June 13th: Fifth Grade Moving On Ceremony, 8:45-10:15 in the Killam cafeteria (Doors open at 8:30; parents and grandparents welcome but no elementary siblings)

-Wednesday, June 14th: Jean Swap, 5:45-6:30 in the Killam cafeteria (see below)
-PTO Sponsored Killam School Picnic, 6-7:30 on the Killam field

-Friday, June 16th: Last day of school; 11 am dismissal for all

-Extended Day will be in operation from school dismissal (11:00am) until 3:00pm.

-Report cards emailed home.

School Hours: Call before coming for summer 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 2023-2024 Calendar

We have gathered over 300 pairs of jeans for our Art for the Sky experience! Thank you to everyone who was able to round up some jeans for us.

There will be A LOT of jeans, most in very good wearable condition, after the event. Seeing as jeans are an expensive clothing item, and I am a lover of most things thrifted or reporposed, we will be hosting The GREAT KILLAM JEAN SWAP on Tuesday, June 14th from 5:45-6:30 in the Killam Café. It would be great to stop in and shop and then head to the back field for the PTO Sponsored Killam Picnic. Feel free to come grab some jeans that will work for your family. You do NOT need to have sent any to participate. I am trying to circulate these back into the community, save people some money, and not overwhelm a donation center.

If anyone is interested and available from 3-4 on Wednesday, June 14th to help organize jeans by size on tables in the cafe, I would love the company and be grateful for the help. Please reach out at amy.hussey@reading.k12.ma.us

Thank you again!

Amy Hussey

Four of our students participated in the Reading Special Olympics. They are amazing scholar-athletes who represented us so well. Congratulations to Gianni, Anna, JD, and Brady. We are so proud of them!

To register your student for transportation for the 2023-2024 school year, please complete the 2023-2024 School Bus Registration Form by June 23, 2023. In July, a confirmation of ridership, instructions for payment (if your student does not qualify for district-paid transportation), and final routes will be emailed to all parents and/or guardians who complete this School Bus Registration form.

Please note:

• Students enrolled in grades K-6 who reside more than 2 miles from their neighborhood school qualify for district-paid transportation.
• Students who attend Killam Elementary School, Coolidge Middle School, Parker Middle School, and Reading Memorial High School are offered the option to purchase transportation, based on space availability on existing routes.
• The fee for the bus for the 2023-2024 school year is $450 per student. Payment is due on or before August 15, 2023.
• To learn more information about the school transportation program and established bus routes, please refer to the Reading Public School website by clicking here: Reading Public Schools Transportation Information.

Please feel free to contact Olivia Lejeune at olivia.lejeune@reading.k12.ma.us if you have any questions or would like additional information about transportation for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Reading Recreation Department is running the Junior Elite and Elite Football Clinics through Reading again this year. To learn more, click here.

Summer’s coming and it’s a great time to learn how to help our kids (and ourselves) have a healthy approach to screen use.

Join SEPAC for a free online training to learn about raising “screenwise” kids. See flyer for more details. June 13, 5-6:15. Register here.

Also, join SEPAC for our year end social event on June 20th. Click to RSVP.

*Join our mailing list to receive info about summer get-togethers, including patio socials for parents/caregivers and popsicles on the playground for families.*

About Reading SEPAC

SEPAC 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 supports).

SEPAC WEBPAGE

Join SEPAC's mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook

Follow SEPAC on Instagram

Reading Community Education is running two summer adventure programs for RPS students. There is a preschool and elementary program. They also offer a half day option for students attending ESY. The Summer Adventure Program for Pre-School and School Aged children for June 26 – Aug. 11.

Preschool Adventure Program

Elementary Adventure Program

May 1, 2023

The Reading Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is pleased to invite you to share in our SEVENTH annual Summer Family Food Program. This FREE program is again offered to families of any students in the Reading school system who are at risk of hunger during these very difficult financial times. Each family who joins this program will receive free, high quality and nutritious food each week during the summer months.

HERE’S HOW TO JOIN!

REGISTER your family with us by providing the following information:

1. Your last name.

2. The number of adults in your family.

3. The number of children in your family.

4. The address in Reading to which your groceries should be delivered. Note which outside door the driver should leave your groceries and if you wish the driver to ring the doorbell.

SEND THE INFORMATION to our confidential email: st.agnes.reading.svdp@gmail.com

by Monday, May 15, 2023 or as soon as possible.

Food deliveries will be made to you on Wednesdays in the late afternoon for ten weeks, starting on June 21 through to August 23. You will receive a weekly email on the day of delivery that will advise you of the approximate time you can expect your groceries. Please email us at that time if you wish to cancel your grocery order for that week. Please use this email to communicate any problems, suggestions or concerns you may have during the summer. To be sure that all groceries are delivered in a timely manner, the driver is on a very strict schedule and so is not able to enter your home.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Although we are sensitive to friends with food allergies, we are not prepared to modify the contents of the bags to meet everyone’s personal preferences. Just as you would shop in a store, we ask you to inspect the items for your family. If there is something you cannot use, please pass it on to someone else or deposit it into the Reading Food Pantry collection bin at your local supermarket.

Best wishes to all our neighbors for a very safe, healthy and happy summer,

Alicia Gallagher

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

On behalf of Parker and Coolidge Middle Schools, we would like to share with you the following welcome letters, which contain important upcoming middle school transition dates as well as links to other helpful information. Please read the letter that pertains to your child’s future school. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Principal Sarah Marchant (Coolidge) or Principal Rochelle Rubino (Parker).

• Parker Middle School Welcome Letter
• Coolidge Middle School Welcome Letter

Reach out with any questions to Principal Rochelle Rubino, Parker (Rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us) and Principal Sarah Marchant, Coolidge (Sarah.marchant@reading.k12.ma.us).

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.

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

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 jwkabsences@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 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