JW Killam Principal's Corner

Week of April 2, 2023

This past week, members of the Reading Rotary came to visit our kindergarten classrooms. They not only read a book with the students but shared a book bag with each child to take home and share with their families. It's a wonderful example of how strong our Reading community is in supporting our schools. Below is a photo from the visit.

We also completed our Read-a-Thon for Read Across America. It was an incredible finish and, as promised, I will be kissing a pig at an upcoming assembly. Congratulations to ALL our students for their dedication to reading every night! Below are a few photos from classroom celebrations for reaching our reading goals.

Starting Wednesday, our third graders begin MCAS. The MCAS assessment results provide important data that helps inform our teaching practice, but we are careful to remember that the results are just one small piece of our overall assessment of student learning. We strive to have a purposeful environment while we take these assessments, but we also do our best to create a low stress, relaxed approach telling students to just show us what you know and are able to do. So, when preparing your student for school on the day of a test, the best message you can share is, “Take a deep breath, relax, and just show what you already know and can do.” We will be sure we all take a deep breath here as a staff so our students can feel it is just like any other day. Our entire school is cheering for our students.

Stay well,

Ms. Leveque

-Sunday, April 2nd: Palm Sunday

-Monday, April 3rd: Reading-Wakefield Math Night (information below)

-Tuesday, April 4th: Killam PTO Meeting, 7-8pm in the library. All are welcome!

-Wednesday, April 5th: Killam Grade 3 ELA MCAS

-Thursday, April 6th: Killam Grade 3 ELA MCAS

-Thursday, April 6th- Thursday, April 13th: Passover

-Friday, April 7th: Good Friday

-Monday, April 10th: Killam Grades 4 and 5 ELA MCAS

-Tuesday, April 11th: Killam Grades 4 and 5 ELA MCAS

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

Mark your calendars! The testing window has been set by DESE and we are planning for the following MCAS test dates at Killam. Please note that students will take 2 days of tests per content area (English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Gr. 5 Science and Technology). Please refrain from vacations or unnecessary absences on these dates.

Spring Allergy Season

Spring is a welcome change with flowers and leaves adding color to our world, but people who experience seasonal allergies may soon notice their allergy symptoms.

The peak of the allergy season is typically in April. Spring allergy symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Itchy eyes and nose

Here are some tips to help you and your family avoid allergy symptoms:

• Pollen spreads with wind, so avoid being outdoors on dry, windy days. The best time to be outdoors is after it rains as rain will help clear pollen from the air.
• Keep the pollen outdoors as much as possible by keeping windows closed in your home and car.
• Consider sunglasses to keep pollen from coming in contact with eyes.
• Pollen collects on hair and clothing; it is good to wash hands and shower after being outdoors.
• After being outdoors, take your shoes off before walking in your home.

Please let me know if your student has seasonal allergies and please follow their doctor’s advice for treating any symptoms. It is often helpful to begin to take medications early in the season.

Thanks,
Sharon Grottkau

Come experience a math lesson!

Monday, April 3, 2023 6:30-8:00 PM

Galvin Middle School, 525 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Outline of the night

• Introduction led by the Wakefield & Reading Curriculum Coordinators
• Learn more about the Illustrative Math curriculum
• 30-minute Illustrative Math lesson taught by Wakefield and Reading teachers
• Experience what math looks like and sounds like for our students each day
• We will host classes in some grades within the K-6 grade band
• 30-minute exploration
• Play some of our curriculum centers & explore resources

Students are welcome to attend with their guardians.

Please fill out this interest form if you might join us! https://bit.ly/RW_MathNight

The Massachusetts Art Education Association also hosts the annual Youth Art Month virtual exhibition. Teachers across the state are invited to submit a total of six pieces for the exhibit. Congratulations to the following artists whose work is exhibited this year; Arya Saric (K), Claire Holmen (gr. 1), Mary Leichtman (gr. 2), Matheus Santos and Mari Hobin (gr. 3 collaborative piece), Aiden Griffin (gr. 4) and Olivia Pulson (gr. 5). Please use the link below to peruse the galleries and be sure to leave a fan letter for those artists whose work speaks to you.

https://massarted.com/youth-art-month/

Our district-wide celebration of the Arts is just about a month away and there is excitement in the air! Our three-day event is scheduled for Monday, April 10th; Tuesday, April 11th; and Wednesday, April 12th at RMHS! Some of the great things to look forward to include Visual arts and media on display down RMHS Main Street and the main lobby and musical performances from so many groups across our schools. Please see the attached e-postcard invitation and e-flyer (with the schedule of events) for more information. We welcome our entire community to come support our Reading students as we celebrate how the Arts bring us together as a district and as a larger community!

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).

Latest Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Update (3/21/2023)

⭐ SPRING with SEPAC Events are open to ALL!

Don't miss out! See flier for all of our events and mark your calendars.

⭐ Do you have a child who is on an IEP, a 504 plan, and/or has a disability?

Fill out this BRIEF, ANONYMOUS survey for the SEPAC board to help us reach ALL families and plan for 2023-2024. We especially wish to reach anyone who feels disconnected from SEPAC despite having a child with an IEP, a 504 plan, and/or special needs.

⭐SEPAC meeting THIS Tuesday, April 4th, at 1pm–see flier

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

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