Summer Adventure Programs
SEPAC News
Upcoming events
June 20. 7pm. End of Year Social. Location TBD.
Summer: Patio socials and popsicles on the playground. More information coming!
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
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? Throughout the month of May, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) focuses on raising awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members (Speech Language Pathologists/SLPs and Audiologists) in providing life-altering treatment!
Specifically, the focus this year has been on identification of the early warning signs of a speech-language or hearing disorder. For your own use as parents, caregivers, relatives, or spouses, ASHA has created information sheets regarding early learning signs and tips to support development for various areas within our field:
Signs of Hearing Loss in Children/ Tips for Families
Signs of Hearing Loss in Adults/ Tips for Loved Ones
Signs of Language Disorders in Children/ Tips for Families
Signs of Speech Sound Disorders in Children
Signs of Stuttering in Children
Signs of Voice Disorders in Children
Signs of Speech and Language Disorders in Adults/ How Loved Ones Can Help
Early intervention at the signs of any type of speech-language-hearing disorder is important and seeking out intervention (at any age!) is often impacted by a lack of awareness of common “red flags.” A recent poll by ASHA revealed the following results:
• Lack of awareness of the early signs of disorders remains the leading factor hindering parents and caregivers from taking action on communication disorders in young children.
• Less than one quarter (21%) of audiologists say that most parents know the early warning signs of hearing disorders—and only 28% of speech-language pathologists say that most parents know the early warning signs of speech-language disorders.
• About 40% of audiologists indicated that, on average, symptoms of hearing loss in young children go unrecognized by parents/caregivers for 6 months to 1 year. About 41% of speech-language pathologists indicated that, on average, symptoms of a speech-
language delay or disorder in young children go unrecognized by parents/caregivers for 1–2 years.
• Even after noticing signs, families often delay seeking help. Nearly half (48%) of audiologists indicated that, on average, parents/caregivers wait 6 months to 1 year after observing symptoms of hearing loss in their children before acting. The same percentage (48%) of speech-language pathologists indicated that, on average, parents/caregivers wait 6 months to 1 year after observing symptoms of a speech-language delay or disorder to get help. And now, for some fun facts:
• Did you know that teachers are at the most risk for a voice disorder? A recent study of 1,000 teachers found that about 57% of teachers reported a voice disorder and are 2 to 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with a voice disorder compared to the general population!
• It is estimated that more than 3 million Americans stutter and boys are 3 times more likely to stutter than girls.
• Babies hear approximately 1 million words per month, which is why those newborn hearing screenings are so important for early identification of hearing loss!
• One third of all hearing loss is caused by loud noise exposure. • Speech or language delays affect approximately 5-12% of all children.
• 1 in 25 adults in the U.S. will have dysphagia (a swallowing disorder).
• SLPs work with people of all ages from newborns to elderly individuals.
If you have any questions about any of the warning signs listed in the links attached above, please feel free to reach out to me privately at jaclyn.dunn@reading.k12.ma.us!
Best,
Jackie Dunn, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
J.W. Killam Elementary School
St. Vincent de Paul Society Summer Family Food 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
2023-2024 Incoming Kindergarten Information
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
Reporting an 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.
Speech and Language Ideas
Parent PlusPortal Access
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.
Ms. Sarah Leveque, Principal
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
