The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows families!

Despite the warmer temperatures these last few days and Punxsutawney Phil not seeing his shadow, we are still in the thick of winter. Even though our snow delay on Monday seems like ages ago, I wanted to remind families that on snow DELAYS, the district sends out text and email notifications (typically by 5:30 am). If you did not receive a notification, please check the portal to ensure your information is current. Mrs. Walsh is happy to assist you if you have further questions. Students should arrive at school on morning delays at 10:15 am.

The following few weeks' newsletters will be jam-packed with photos of amazing learning experiences for our Shining Stars! We have celebrated so much published work as our students complete Unit 2 in our reading program. Our students are growing as researchers, readers, and writers and should be proud of their perseverance. I also want to recognize our teachers and staff who spend countless hours planning and teaching engaging lessons and finding creative ways to keep students motivated and connected to the curriculum.

Fourth and Fifth grade had their first visit from our Science from Scientists program, K-5 teachers worked with our coach from our reading program, we collaborated with our special education team through observation and professional development, second grade visited Harvard Natural History Museum (and it was a HUGE hit), and all of our doors are decorated for our Black History Month Celebration & Door Decorating Contest. I also had the opportunity to meet many families (and some returners) on our kindergarten registration night. I am so excited for all of the students and families I met that night, knowing they will join this incredible Barrows community!

Barrows is ready to share the love; please see more information in the "District Updates, Events & Donation Opportunities " section. Barrows 4th grade Brownie Troop 70417 is holding a food drive for the Reading Food Pantry, and the HS Interact Club is collecting small items for the United States Army through February 14th. Donation boxes are in the school lobby next to the front door.

Starburst Highlights:

• Enjoy the Mandarin for some delicious Asian cuisine tomorrow and support the PTO.
• PTO Updates: Tickets are still available for Parents Night Out! Musical Bingo --please come! Boston Red Sox ticket sales have been extended. See the PTO section for more details.
• Wednesday is Global Play Day! I would like to know if we will see a peak in attendance! Our best attendance day last year was Valentine's Day!
• Please take a few moments to watch the parent video on the importance of school attendance!

Enjoy your weekend!

Warmly,

Mrs. Gallegos

Saturday, February 3rd: Restaurant at the Mandarin (all day) Dine-In or eat out!

Wednesday, February 7th: Global Play Day!

Friday, February 9th: Musial Bingo for Barrows Adults

Tuesday, February 13th: PTO Meeting 8:30 am (in-person & on zoom)

Wednesday, Feburary 14th: All School Assembly ♥️Wear Valentine's Day Colors♥️

February 19-23: President's Day (2/19) & February Vacation

Wednesday, February 28th: Barrows Family Game Night! 6-7:30 pm

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

School lunches are once again free for students in the Commonwealth. We do ask families that need financial assistance to complete this form: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US/food-services-4f8d79b4/frl-bac51fe9

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/

JOIN US

RESTAURANT NIGHT! Saturday February 3rd ALL DAY at Mandarin. Enjoy a delicious, easy dinner and support Barrows at the same time. Dine in or Take-Out! Make sure to mention the fundraiser when ordering.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT!

This is your last week to buy your tickets for Parents Night Out taking place on Friday February 9th! We would love to sell at least 10 more tickets. If you’ve been thinking about going now is the time to get your tickets. Every time we sell 30 tickets we pull a name to win a FREE EXTRA BINGO card.

Link to Buy Tickets

BARROWS RED SOX TICKETS

We’ve sold 319 tickets to date!

The deadline has been extended 2 weeks at new price point of $35 per person, if anyone wants one last chance to join! Seating is limited and available on a first come first serve basis. June 4th, bleacher 43, just behind Parker. $31/ticket. This link will remain open through the Feburary 16th! https://fevo-enterprise.com/Barrows24

PTO MEETING - The next PTO meeting will be February 13th @ 8:30 am at Barrows and on Zoom. We would love to see some new faces along with the old! 😊

FAMILY GAME NIGHT – Wednesday February 28th, 6-7:30pm

Join us in the Barrows Cafeteria for a fun night of games. We will have games available and you can also bring your own. This is not a drop off event, children must be chaperoned.

Contact Johanna Chesley (johanna.chesley@gmail.com) or Jen Barsotti (jenb@hey.com) with any questions.

VOLUNTEER

Be a Cafeteria Volunteer

Sign up to help in the cafeteria during lunch periods (11am - 12:35pm). The cafeteria is fully staffed, but can always use a couple extra hands to help with opening up packages, milk cartons, moving through lunch line efficiently. Please note that all volunteers must have a completed CORI (complete 1 week prior to volunteering) on file prior to volunteering and unfortunately non school aged children will not be allowed to join with the volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering please use the Sign Up Genius to sign up for the day or days you would like to help out.

Parent/Guardian Help at Lunch

We are now on Facebook and Instagram! Like us on Facebook – Barrows Elementary PTO and Follow Us on Instagram @BarrowsElementaryPTO

FUNDRAISING

Minted Fundraiser

Do you need to order birthday, or anniversary inviations? Order from Minted and use our promo code FUNDRAISEBARROWS to help support the Barrows Elementary PTO. You'll get 20% OFF your ORDER and 15% of every purchase made using our code will be donated back to Barrows. Make sure to spread the word to family who can also use the code and support Barrows from afar.

Box Tops

Did you know you no longer need to clip Box Tops and send them into school? Box Tops now offers an app where you scan your receipts! Doing online grocery delivery these days? No problem! Box Tops also offers a way to email your online orders for credit. Find it in the app store or google play store today!

Helpsy Bin

Finally, have you been in purge mode lately? Getting rid of old, stained or ripped clothing? Drop it off in the Helpsy box in the Barrows staff parking lot (after school hours of course) and Barrows will receive a small donation for your items. Clothing, shoes and accessories are all accepted!

Many thanks,

PTO Board

Lori Barcikowski, Co-President

(LoriBarcikowski@yahoo.com)

Meghan Dribin, Co-President

(MegDribin@gmail.com)

Amy Koehler, Treasurer

Alicia Curtin, Secretary

Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook:

@barrowselementarypto & https://www.facebook.com/BarrowsPTO/

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 support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!

Visit the SEPAC WEBPAGE

Sign up for our mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram

See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events

Upcoming Event:

• Tuesday, Feb 6th, 5-6:30PM - Virtual

  Raising Superpowered Middle Schoolers:

  How Parents can Help Tweens Thrive Socially and Academically

  Presented by Phyllis Fagell

  
  

METCO unites suburban towns with Boston to engage in a reciprocal learning partnership in support of all students. Because of this, every child who attends school in Reading Public Schools is a METCO student and every parent or guardian who has a student in RPS is a part of the METCO community.

"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."

Dear Barrows Families,

This is a friendly reminder that kids should wear sneakers on the days that they have Physical Education. I love Crocs too, but they don’t count as sneakers…even when they’re worn in sport mode! Thanks so much for your support with this safety matter.

Sarah Atwood

You must request to follow these private accounts. We post images, reels and stories that give you a quick glimpse into your child’s day during these Special class times. Mrs. Hurley for Art can be found here @mrs.hurley_art and Mrs. Atwood for Physical Education can be found here @barrowspe

*If your Instagram name does not easily identify you, please send us a separate email so we know it’s you! For safety, we are careful about who we accept.*

Dear Barrows Families,

Another way you can support your child’s art is to join Artsonia. Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Through Artsonia families can view student art online and leave comments. If you would like to join Artsonia keep your eye on your inbox; email invitations will be going out shortly! Thank you! Beth Hurley

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!

Arrival

• Please drive slowly up Edgemont to keep everyone safe; remember, it is a ONE-WAY during the school day.
• 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 their seat by 8:25 AM. If your child arrives to school after the doors have closed, they must come to the front door and be marked tardy.
• The Staff Parking Lot is for staff only and off limits to all pedestrians from arrival-dismissal for the safety of all. Please respect this important aspect of our campus.

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 (and Crocs aren't great).

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.

Do you have a child eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade in the 2024-2025 school year? Join us January 9th for a Virtual Information Session via Zoom to learn more about the Reading Public Schools Kindergarten program and registration process. The 2024-2025 Registration Packet is now available on the website for you to view and download. You may also click here to view and download the packet. Please note, parents/caregivers are encouraged to use the packet in its fillable format. We will share more information and answer any questions during the Virtual Information Session, but please reach out to RPSStudentRegistration@reading.k12.ma.us with any urgent questions.

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

Follow us on Instagram: @barrowselementarypto

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

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