The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows families!

At the end of each week, I have the opportunity to reflect on the week at Barrows, and almost every week, I feel like what I am about to write about in the Starburst tops the previous week--which is also entirely accurate for this week. To start, we celebrated our 100th day of school this year, and our 4th and 5th graders welcomed back Dr. Mary from Science from Scientists to explore energy and the principles of physics. We also welcomed Dr. Milaschewski, our superintendent, his office administrator Olivia Lejuene, Michelle Roach, our director of Human Resources, and our Metco coordinator, Kurtis Martin, to tour our Black History Month Doors to vote for the winners (to be announced next week). Please see Mrs. Brown, our Metco Coordinator, and School Adjustment Counselors' blurb about the competition below. On Wednesday, the entire school participated in Global Play Day. Here is the link if you want to learn more about the philosophy of the day: https://globalschoolplayday.com/

I am looking to join many of our families and staff tonight to support the PTO and continue to bring fantastic enrichment opportunities to our students! An email was sent out this morning if you would like to particiapte in the Silent Auction but are not able to come to Parents Night Out.

Due to a conflict with a spring field trip, we had to adjust our MATH MCAS schedule. Please note the new dates in the calendar section below.

Starburst Highlights:

• Black History Month Door Decorating Contest Information & Photos
• Mrs. Korwan's February OT Bitmoji Classroom
• Spirit Week starts on Monday. See the flyer below so your students know what to wear to participate!
• Our next PTO meeting is on Tuesday @ 8:30 am
• SEPAC: New Program MCAS & Students with Disabilities
• Global Play Day Photos
• Sign-up for RMHS Parent Night Out Student Council Fundraiser on March 1st

Warmly,

Mrs. Gallegos

We are kind of famous! A photo of Mrs. Atwood's PE Door celebrating our new Pat's Coach, Jerod Mayo, got an Instagram Like from the coach and his wife, Chantel Mayo, on the RPS METCO Instagram Account!

Hello families,

To celebrate Black History Month, we held a door decorating contest at Barrows. Since 1928, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History has picked a theme for the month (even though Black History Month was not official until 1976). This year, the theme is 'African Americans and the Arts'. Each classroom came up with a person (or people) within the art realm to highlight. Some grades (special shoutout to 3rd grade) had a theme that ran across their three doors. From Jacquline Woodson to Bill Russell to Mae Jemison, our students and their teachers thought outside the box. Our goal with this project was to bring fun back into learning and allow classrooms to collaborate and build community. We will have them up for the month of February. Mrs. Gallegos will share photos of our doors in the Starburst over the next few weeks. District Leaders came a few days ago to be our judges and will announce the winners next week at the assembly!

Ms. Brown

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."

February 11th-16th: Barrows Spirit Week

Tuesday, February 13th: PTO Meeting 8:30 am (in-person & on zoom) https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/88139870550

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

March 11-14: Scholastic Book Fair

Wednesday, March 13th: Reading Under the Stars 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

BARROWS RED SOX TICKETS

The deadline has been extended 1 more week 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 27th, 7PM - Virtual

MCAS & Students with disabilities

Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83439638852

Past Event: Recording

Raising Superpowered Middle Schoolers:

How Parents can Help Tweens Thrive Socially and Academically

Presented by Phyllis Fagell

Recording is available for 3 weeks only after the presentation date (2/6 through 2/28).

Please email SEPACReading@gmail.com to request access.

Mrs. McClain's class was one of many classes that took tours of the 29 doors during Global Play Day to learn about the African-American authors, athletes, inventors, artists, musicians and leaders that are on display throughout the school.

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.

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