The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Families,

Barrows Shining Stars represented our school wonderfully on their field trips to the Boston Tea Party, Fenway Park, and our local Woburn Street Fire Station this week. We are deep into field trip season, and I would like to thank our enrichment coordinators, staff, and chaperones who make these memorable learning experiences possible!

As I mentioned in a previous message, we are busy finishing this year strong and preparing for next year. Staff is busy rebuilding our academic schedule to optimize instruction with our new curriculums and finishing class placements. This week, we welcomed our newest Barrows families and students for the upcoming school year. I want to thank Lori Barcikowski, Meghan Dribin, and our three caring and skilled kindergarten teachers as we hosted our first parent/guardian orientation, followed by our kindergarten screening later in the week. Extra thanks to Mrs. Walsh, Mrs. Becker, and our team of teachers that conducted the screening and to the Barcikowski family & PTO for providing coffee and goodies for the families. This is a special opportunity for us; the children were adorable!

We will be cramming a lot into our four-day week while we continue to teach and learn! We will have a visit from the Reading Public Library to learn about the summer reading program, 5th-grade heads to the Parker Tavern, 5th Grade Red Sox night, Field Day, and talent show rehearsals. We will also have a visit from the graduating seniors that are Barrows Alumni!

I hope that you all have the opportunity to enjoy something special with your family this weekend and take the time to remember those lives lost serving our country. Memorial Day is a special and somber day for many military families as we honor those that died serving in the U.S. forces.

Warmly,

Alissa Gallegos

On Thursday, June 1st, Reading Memorial High School seniors attending Barrows will return for one last visit, donning their caps and gowns. We will clap them out again, as our school did seven years ago. Although we aren't able to welcome their families inside the school, we do welcome any families to join us outside for a photo opportunity. Seniors will arrive at 8:30 to visit the school and exit the back of the building after they walk through, wave to the kindergarten classes in the mods and then return to the front for pictures before boarding the bus back to the high school. Barrows families--don't blink because these years fly by!

Congrats class of 2023! Barrows loves you and is so proud of all have accomplished! Shine on!

2022-2023 School Year

Monday, May 29th: Memorial Day, no school

Thursday, June 1st: Field Day (rain date 6/8)

Friday, June 2nd: Grade 3-5 Talent Show Rehearsal

Monday, June 5th: Fifth Grade move up day to Parker

Tuesday, June 6th: Restaurant Night @ Cafe Capri 5-9 pm (dine-in or take out)

Friday, June 9th: Talent Show (students only)

Monday, June 12th: Fifth Grade Fun Day

Tuesday, June 13th: Fifth Grade Celebration, 8:45 am

Friday, June 16th: Last day of School! 11 am dismissal

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

The Reading Public Library will be visiting on Wednesday May 31 to share their summer reading program with the students. I encourage all families to sign up and visit the library all summer!

This is the last week of book checkout. Please check with your student to make sure they have all of their overdue books turned in!

Thank you!

Mrs. Becker

If you are interested in helping at our Field Day on Thursday, June 1st, please click on this link for more information & to sign-up: Barrows 2023 Volunteer Sign-Up. Please see Mrs. Walsh if you need to have a CORI check. Thank you!

Students should bring water, wear sunscreen and sneakers.

We will be serving Red, White and Blue Rocket "Bomb Pop" Posicles at lunch on field day for all students. If you do not want your child to be served a popsicle, please email me. You may also send in an alternative treat. The ingrediets are listed here:Sugar, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, 1% or Less of Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Guar Gum, Cellulose Gum, Xanthum Gum, Cellulose Gel, Tara Gum, Carrageenan, Carob Bean Gum, Blue 1, Red 40

Remember, school lunches are once again free for students in the Commonwealth. We look forward to providing nutritious meals for our students! Be sure to check out the weekly menus, as there are a lot of NEW options! Our new daily options are Bagel & Cream Cheese, Yogurt Parfait with Granola or SunButter & Jelly sandwich (details listed in the menu). Students will not have the option of cereal or pretzels anymore.

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

DAILY SNACKS in the CLASSROOM

It is the Reading Public School's wellness policy that we are not permitted to provide snacks to our students during the school day. Please send a healthy snack with your child every single day. If you are unsure about the allergies in your classroom, please check with your child's teacher. Teachers are not allowed to provide snacks to our students.

There is so much going on as we approach the final months of school. Please take a look at all the PTO updates below so you can mark your calendars as well as volunteer to help out if you have the availability. Big thanks in advance for helping us make the end of the year special for our kids.

JOIN US

Our next PTO meeting will be Wednesday June 14th at 6:30pm. As this will be our last meeting of the school year it will be more of a social event to celebrate the end of the year. Lori Barcikowski will host at her house. We will send an email closer to the meeting with a link to RSVP so we can plan accordingly. As always, reach out to Lori and Meghan with any questions or topics for consideration leading up to the final meeting.THANKS!

Another HUGE shout out to everyone who donated items for the Ice Cream/Slush social and to the rockstar parents who volunteered - we couldn't' have done all the scooping without you. Thank you SO much. These events are amazing because of you all! Special thanks to Margo for leading the ice cream social!

HELP NEEDED

The beautiful plants need to be watered! We could use everyone’s help keeping the plants watered and alive through the remainder of the school year AND over the summer. If possible, please sign up to help with a week of watering. You could even share the work for the week with another family. Watering takes about 20 minutes and is fun to do as a family. Sign up here: Barrows community watering schedule spring/summer 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - UPCOMING RESTAURANT NIGHT!

CAPRI! Monday, June 6th: Dine in or take out 5-9pm!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Sign up to help in the cafeteria during lunch periods (11:15am - 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 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 – Link to Sign Up

ONGOING FUNDRAISING

Minted

The Minted Fundraiser is open the ENTIRE year! You can use the promo code FUNDRAISEBARROWS any time you place an order through Minted and 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.

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!

Questions about any of these programs, contact Alison Ethier at alison.ethier@gmail.com

PTO Board

Lori Barcikowski, Co-President

Meghan Dribin, Co-President

Amy Koehler, Treasurer

Alicia Curtin, Secretary

Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator

As the 2022/2023 school year comes to a close, it’s a great time to thank a Reading school teacher, staff member or administrator. Reading Education Foundation’s Teacher and Staff Tribute allows you to say thanks while also supporting Reading Public Schools and your PTO. Grants can be purchased online at readingef.org for $25 each. To ensure personal delivery to the staff member, grants need to be purchased by June 2nd. Click this link for more details: 2023 Teacher Tributes

SEPAC works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community.

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

Email sepacreading@gmail.com to get on our confidential mailing list–your best source of SEPAC information. Visit us at https://sepac.reading.k12.ma.us/

Click here for Mrs. Korwan's May OT Bitmoji Link

This is a friendly reminder that students Kindeness Challenges (See below) are due to the office no later than Friday, June 2 in order to earn a certificate at the June 7th assembly!

We are so proud of our kind, Shining Stars and want to recognize their display of caring throughout the school year.

https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US/extended-day-544ef5e6/summer-programs-30e42bcf

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.

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.

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!

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