The Starburst

Welcome (Back) to School Barrows Families!

I am so excited for our first day of school to arrive and to see all of our Barrows Shining Stars. Over the last month, I have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome from all students, families, and staff. Barrows has undoubtedly lived up to its reputation as a welcoming and caring school community. As your new principal, I share many feelings our students are most likely experiencing as they anticipate the new year–excitement, nervousness, and curiosity about the new school year. Rest assured that our school has been buzzing with staff preparing for each student's arrival to ensure that they feel welcomed and cared for from the moment they arrive Wednesday morning. Our top priority is ensuring each child loves coming to school and knows they belong here.

Once we officially kick off the school year, I'll continue sending out my weekly Starburst. The Starburst is a weekly newsletter that provides information, photos, and more from our PTO, SEPAC, METCO, Special Education office, Nutrition office, and any other current needs. I hope to keep you informed about what's happening at Barrows, highlight our students and staff, and encourage you to participate as much as possible in our school-wide events and activities. This Starburst has a lot of helpful information, so please read it carefully.

In my entry plan that I shared a link to a survey to learn more about Barrows. If you did not share feedback and would still like to, I am sharing the link here. Please know that my door is always open for concerns, questions, and feedback and I am just an email away!

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Gallegos

I have been keeping a list of all the people I need to thank, and I am sure I have missed many!

For starters, to our custodial and Maintenance staff, who deserve a huge thank you! It is truly amazing the transformation elementary school takes over the summer. Parts of our building were painted, every floor was stripped and waxed, boxes were delivered and moved to each classroom, and furniture was moved and set up for the new school year. And lest we forget that most of our building is not air-conditioned and this is one of the hottest summers I can recall! It was a hot place to work, and they didn't stop!

On my first official day at Barrows, I tested positive for Covid–but thanks to our outstanding administrative secretary, Mrs. Walsh, I had everything I needed within hours to my front door. She delivered my school laptop, class lists, and a packet of information from our past principal, Mrs. Leavitt, so I could get to work from my bedroom. Mrs. Walsh kept our school moving forward, coordinating deliveries, materials, student enrollments, and so much guidance as I learned all about Barrows school. I am grateful for her kindness and willingness to go above and beyond for our students and staff!

To our gardeners…I was also amazed that our Barrows blacktop gardens continued to thrive despite the lack of rain and intense heat. The families that committed to watering showed up and tended the gardens with love and care. We were amazed at the overgrowth by the end of the summer. Thank you to all of you, especially the Granara family, who took on the massive undertaking to do the final weeding last week.

To our PTO…Wow! Our board has met multiple times this summer to plan for this upcoming school year. They are focused on each child and teacher's needs–are generous, and pay attention to details. Our staff lounge has a significant clean-out and is fully stocked with snacks, candy, water, and seltzer! Thank you to all who donated so generously. To Lori Barcikowski, Meghan Dribin, Amy Koehler, and Kristin Granara (and your kiddos), thank you for your time cleaning and setting up the staff lounge and organizing our catered breakfast on Monday and today's lunch if I missed anyone, my apologies. Thank you again!

We also have staff joining us in various roles in the building. Meri Kimball is joining our second-grade team, having taught for many years in elementary school and recently as a tutor at Wood End Elementary School. Erin Gibson is coming from Birch Meadow as our new Reading Specialist–she just recently completed her Advanced Graduate Studies in Reading. Erin Das comes to us from Winthrop Public Schools as our new speech and language pathologist. Cristina Triglione is a new Special Education paraeducator. Joanne Martin is our new METCO Coordinator/School Adjustment Counselor.

Our R.E.A.C.H. team is growing with the addition of Special Education teachers Camilla Brett who comes to us from Nahant Public Schools, and Gina Ruscio from the high school. Mike Houlihan, from Beverly Public Schools, and Kate Tigelaar, from Burlington Public Schools, both with years of experience and knowledge, will be our REACH Social Workers. Carolyn McCrystal, a substitute, officially joins the team as a REACH paraeducator.

These are great additions to our Barrows staff! We still have a few paraeducator and tutor roles to fill. Please contact me if you are interested in joining our caring staff and love working with children. I will continue to share information as I hire with our community.

Kindergarten

Deborah Forestell, Sarah Lentz, Nancy Walcott

Grade 1

Sarah Lanzo, Mary McGrath, Laura Payack

Grade 2

Lori Hill, Meri Kimball, Heather McClain

Grade 3

Colleen DeRosa, Kara Duff, Jaclyn Gargano

Grade 4

Emily Hirtle, Jacqueline Lytle, Heather Murphy

Grade 5

Lindsay Fitzgerald, Julie Gilchrist, Vittoria Penna

PE

Sarah Atwood

Art

Beth Hurley

Music

Elena Raucci

Library

Carina Becker

METCO Coordinator/ School Adjustment Counselor

Joanne Martin

Special Education

Kelly DiCato- Team Chair

Mary McNeil (lower grades), Laurette Cullen (middle grades), Carole Casavant (upper grades)

REACH Team

Camilla Brett, Sara Trelegan, Gina Ruscio, Mike Houlihan, Kate Tigelaar

School Psychologist

Christine Crocker

Occupational Therapist

Anne Korwan

Physical Therapist

Maria Fitzpatrick

Speech & Language Pathologist

Erin Das

Reading Specialist

Erin Gibson

2022-2023 School Year:

Tuesday, August 30th @ 2:30-3:00: Peek-at-your-Seat & Meet your teacher for incoming kindergarteners and NEW families in Grades 1-5.

Wednesday, August 31st -- First Day of School for students. Full day.

Thursday, September 1st- Full day of school.

Friday, September 2nd- Vacation Day; No School for students.

Monday, September 5th- Labor Day. No School, Offices closed.

Tuesday, September 6th- Full day of school.

Wednesday, September 14th: 12:45 dismissal for all students.

Elementary Open House in evening (details to follow closer to the date).

Friday, September 16th: Flipped Schedule - Full day of school (2:45 dismissal), PTO Back to School Picnic (details to follow).

Friday, October 21: PTO Monster Mash (rain date: 10/28).

School Hours:

Monday-Thursday, 8:15 AM - 2:45 PM

Friday, 8:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Students must be in class by 8:25 to be counted as on-time and present

Reading Public Schools Calendar

Arrival

• Please drive slowly up Edgemont to keep everyone safe; remember, it is one way.
• Do not park in the indented section by the gym. This is the "kiss & go" area for a quick drop-off.
• Doors open at 8:15 and close at 8:25. Your child needs to be in the doors by 8:25 AM. If your child gets to school after the doors have closed, they must come to the front door and be marked tardy.

Dismissal:

• At dismissal time, there is no live pick-up in the driveway except for students who take the bus. Kindergarteners exit the building at 2:40 PM. The rest of the students dismiss at 2:45 PM from the same doors they enter in the morning.

As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is staff-only. We respectfully ask that caregivers park along the streets. With our students exiting from their external doors in the parking lot, having cars drive in and out is not safe. You need to walk around the school on the blacktop to the back. Thanks for helping us out.

Ready to Play the Best Way

Please do not have your children wear flip-flops. Sneakers are best, but flip-flops are dangerous when running at recess.

Dogs and Puppies on School Grounds

School Committee policy prohibits dogs on school grounds as much as we all love dogs and puppies and as much fun as it is walking them. If you'd like to walk your dog as part of your pick-up routine, the dog has to stay off school property. If you'd like your child to walk to you on the sidewalk or to the driveway entrances at dismissal so you can wait with your dog, please make that plan with them.

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 a new parent guardian and have not received access, please reach out to our school administrative secretary, Donna Walsh at donn.walsh@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!

Reading Public Schools Food Service/Lunch Menus: http://reading.k12.ma.us/departments/food-services/

Barrows students do not have a school supply list this year. Everything they need has been provided by the district. Teachers will occasionally send out requests for classroom community needs, such as tissues, wipes or bonus supplies! Be on the look-out for those requests! Thank you!

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!

Follow our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/SEPAC.Reading

PTO Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/BarrowsPTO/

Barrows on Twitter: @BarrowsSchool https://twitter.com/BarrowsSchool

Barrows Homepage: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/barrows/

Reading Public Schools: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us