Principal Rubino's Weekly Update

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· Swahili: Katika sanduku nyeusi juu ya jarida, chagua Jarida la Tafsiri ili kuchagua lugha taka.

A big thank you to families and the Parker PTO for filling the staff room with yummy goodies for all of the Parker staff. We are once again overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you for filling our bellies!

i-Ready Diagnostic

This coming week (Thursday, Oct. 5), students will take the iReady diagnostic assessment for Reading. Next week (Thursday, Oct. 12), they will take the iReady diagnostic in math.

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their supports, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.

Last year, Parker gave each of the assessments three times over the course of the year. Students will be taking the diagnostic first thing in the morning in their homeroom groups. All classes will still meet (they will just be a bit shorter). Students will view the following slideshow on Tuesday on Wednesday during homeroom to help them understand the why behind i-Ready.

Last year was also the first time the district utilized this diagnostic for all middle school students. As it was a learning year for us, we used it to help inform instruction as we got to know the tool. This year, we will be diving deeper into how to utilize the tool, and will also be sharing the student results with parents/caregivers. When we do share, we will provide parents tools and resources so that you can best understand your child's data, as well as an outline of various supports for those who may need to grow in some areas.

We hope that students take the diagnostic seriously, as their data will be most accurate if they give it their best effort. What can parents/caregivers do to help? To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to:

• Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment.

• Try their best on each question and try not to rush.

• Try not to worry about questions they do not know—remind them that it is expected they will get only about half of the questions correct.

• Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.

• Use paper and pencil on the math diagnostic as needed.

• Please also ensure that your child has earbuds or earphones at school. They should also have a reading book, as students finish at different times and they can read a book when they are done.

Thank you for your support, and we will be in close touch once we have the results!

Our next PTO meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. and the Parker School Council will meet before starting at 5:30 p.m. During the PTO meeting I plan to share out information regarding our MCAS data and the main topic of our School Council meeting will be our School Improvement Plan. All parent/guardian/caregiver spots are filled for the Parker School Council. Thank you!

This weekend was a busy weekend for me as my family welcomed a new Golden Retriever puppy to our home. Meet Maui Bear! We are working on crate training and so far it's been a success. I'm sharing two photos of the pup in case you are interested.

I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the weekend with family and friends. Please read on for upcoming events and other reminders for the week ahead.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, Oct. 5:

iReady - Reading

Sunday, Oct. 8:

Friends of Reading METCO Event, 7:30 PM, Franklin Park Zoo (more information below)

Monday, Oct. 9:

Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples Day/ No School

Wednesday, Oct. 11:

School Council @ 5:30 p.m.

PTO @ 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 12:

i-Ready Math

Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 20:

Nature's Classroom, Grade 7 Field Trip

Thursday, Oct. 19:

Boston Field Trip, Grade 8

Thursday, Oct. 26:

Coffee and Conversations with Principal Rubino (12 p.m.) with special guest Sarah Creighton, school adjustment counselor.

This month's topic will be on school counseling for all students and will offer an opportunity to get to know Parker's School Adjustment Counselor, Ms. Creighton.

Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84997881056

Friday, Oct. 27:

Early Dismissal (12:30)

To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.

The Pine Street Inn in Boston’s South End neighborhood serves more than 1,900 individuals daily and assists homeless individuals in areas including street outreach, prepared meals, housing, medical care, and job training. Once again, we at Parker are gathering items for the residents at the Pine Street Inn by creating “Kindness Kits” that include donations from all of you to individuals in need. On Wednesday, Oct. 18, our eighth graders will pack the goods with the donations that have been collected during our drive here at school.

We can’t thank you enough for your donations and support. We will continue to collect until October 17.

Please make sure items are travel sized or small. Items Include:

6th Grade Teams: Health related donations including band aids, first aid kits, sunscreen, wet wipes/tissue packs, deodorant, chapstick, disposable razors, shaving cream, baby powder

7th Grade Teams: Personal hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, body lotion, combs and brushes, washcloths

8th Grade Teams: Adult socks, disposable ponchos, mini bottles of water, protein snacks including jerky, trail mix, granola bars

📌 A big thank you to all of our Parker families that helped us stock the staff room with coffee, tea, seltzer, and tons of fun snacks. We are so grateful for your generosity! We heard from many excited Parker Staff that they were so thankful for the treats!

📌 The Parker PTO helps support students and staff throughout the year in a variety of ways, and runs solely on family donations. We fund the after school library hours, enrichment & field trip opportunities, staff appreciation luncheons, purchase student agendas and more! Please consider supporting these efforts through a dues donation. Suggested amount is $100/family but any donation is appreciated. Thank you! https://givebutter.com/ParkerPTO

New this year: we are now accepting donations via credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and ACH payments via the GiveButter link! Checks are also welcome and should be made payable to Parker PTO and sent in to the Parker Main Office. Pay online: https://givebutter.com/ParkerPTO. (On Apple iPhones, use Safari to access the Venmo option. On Android devices, use Chrome. On desktop computers, use any browser.)

*Please note that an optional GiveButter tip is automatically selected but can be adjusted in the dropdown before completing payment.

📌 Our next PTO meeting is Wednesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85845982809). All are welcome! Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda: https://tinyurl.com/PTOOct2023

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

- COMING SOON: Fall Apparel Sale

- Wednesday, October 11, 2023: Parker PTO meeting, 7pm. In person and on zoom.

- COMING SOON: Charleston Wrap - Officially open 10/16-12/4/23 but the store is available now if you want to begin your home goods and holiday shopping shopping early: https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCW2023

- Friday, November 3, 2023: Restaurant Night at Mandarin Reading

📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

• Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
• Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO
• Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage

On October 8th, 2023, we will have our first Reading METCO Found Family event of the school year. Last year we had a great time apple picking at Connors Farm and this year’s event will be at Franklin Park Zoo Boston Lights. Entrance to the Zoo will be free for the first 140 people who sign-up. This event is open to all students, families and RPS staff.

This event serves a couple purposes. The first purpose is to strengthen the relationship between Boston and Reading resident students while introducing parents to each other. This is important because there are many events and extra-curricular activities like sports and plays that take place in Reading after school where our Boston resident students have obstacles to attend compared to our Reading resident students. Putting parents face to face builds relationships, and trust between the adults. When school events come up Boston families now have made connections with Reading families that can help make it easier for Boston resident students to attend school events.

The 2nd purposes of this event is getting the Reading community to Boston. METCO is not a one-way street where Boston resident families are continuously traveling to Reading. METCO is a two-way street that everyone benefits from, which means the Reading community can also come to Boston and see the city for its true beauty and not the media headlines. It’s an opportunity for our Boston families to host and welcome our Reading families to our home, Boston.

Having a Found Family is beneficial to the learning experience of all Reading Public Schools students.

You do not need to have a Found Family already to attend this event and all are welcome.

If you cannot attend, please do not sign up for free tickets because you will take away the opportunity for someone else who can and wants to attend.

We will meet at the zoo entrance at 7:30pm for a group photo and then enter the park at 7:45pm.

Free Ticket Sign-up link - https://forms.gle/sVKeayxerUU4zjRn9

Purchase ticket link - Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience | Franklin Park Zoo (zoonewengland.org)

"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."

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) has arrived (Sept. 15th- Oct. 15th)! In an effort to celebrate and showcase our cultural backgrounds, Ms. Santiago, our METCO School Adjustment Counselor, would like to highlight and recognize the representation that is present within our own school.

Do you identify as Latinx/Hispanic? If so and you’re comfortable with it, Ms. Santiago asking for a little Bio (cultural background, favorite native dish, favorite genre of Latin music. i.e., Ms. Santiago's is reggaeton and salsa).

You're welcome to share a photo or a family picture. We will feature your stories in our upcoming newsletters.

Please email your photos and writeup to Ms. Rubino (rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us) and Ms. Santiago (jerika.santiago@reading.k12.ma.us).

Essex North Shore's Annual Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023

Essex North Shore’s Annual Open House will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Two sessions will be offered. Pre-registration will be required. Additional information will be available at EssexNorthShore.com in the coming weeks as will posters and “Apply Now” cards for your offices and schools.

Northeast Metro Tech Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council 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 Events:

Thursday, Oct 5th, 9AM

Team Chair Meet and Greet at Central Office

• Come join us to meet your team chair and student service leadership in person. This is a great opportunity to foster a good relationship outside of the virtual world and the demands of IEP meetings.

• Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

• Location: Central Office at RMHS. Entrance next to RISE pre-school

• Registration requested

Tuesday, Oct 17th, 6PM

SEPAC Fall Business Meeting and Elections (virtual)

• Who can/should attend? Anyone affiliated with RPS is a SEPAC general council member and thus welcome and encouraged to participate.

• Who can/should vote? Any parent of a child with a disability and any child 14+ with a disability are considered voting members.

• Our kids benefit from active general council member engagement. Please make efforts to participate in real time, but we will record portions of the meeting to post on our website later.

• At this meeting: elect board members, hear plans for the school year, provide your feedback, learn ways to participate, receive updates from Student Services, and learn about a successful communication strategy from a general council member.

• Opportunity for parents-only conversation following conclusion of the meeting.

• Link to join: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83527291225

• SEEKING a general council member to be a note-taker for this meeting. Email sepacreading@gmail.com if you can do this.

Adult MHFA Training:

The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support will offer a special course. Mental Health First Aid for adults is skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved. First Aiders learn an action plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance. The course will be taught by Taunya L. Jarzyniecki, Credentialed Instructor, National Council on Mental Wellbeing. Participants must attend all four sessions on Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6-8pm at Reading Public Library to become certified as a First Aider. Register at https://conta.cc/45cNuCs

Youth MHFA for Adults Supporting Youth

The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support invites adults to participate in a special course. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. The course will teach you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan including: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help and Encourage self-help and other support strategies. The instructor, Erica McNamara, is credentialed through the National Council on Mental Wellbeing for Mental Health First Aid USA. Join us for all 4 sessions to become certified as a first aider on November 9, 16, 30 from 6-8 pm and Dec. 7 from 6-8 pm at the Reading Public Library. Register at https://conta.cc/3DKbCQQ

Welcome Back!

To prepare for a healthy year, please reach out and connect if your student has any medical concerns.

Per district policy for medication given at school, all students must have an updated medication order form every year that is signed by their physician/provider. Medication order form The RPS medication administration form is renewed for each school year, dated after the previous year's last day of school (e.g. after 6/16/23 for this year).

Students are allowed to self-carry Epipens/Inhalers with the appropriate documents.

All other medications (prescription and OTC) need to be transported by an adult per Massachusetts regulations. Medication/Supply drop off: stop into the health office 7:35am-2:40pm, please try to reach out prior to arriving so we can plan for your visit.

For students with allergies, asthma, diabetes or seizures, please send in updated emergency action plans as soon as possible.

State mandated vaccines & physical: Grade 7 and New Students: Tdap & Meningococcal vaccines are required for the start of 7th grade, and the district requests an updated physical.

Please see the link for state information about school exclusions:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/school-immunizations#school-and-camp-requirements-

Annual State mandated screenings for middle schoolers:

Grade 6: postural-scoliosis

Grade 7: postural-scoliosis, hearing, vision, height/weight

Grade 8: postural-scoliosis, sbirt

There is an alternative to opt out. If you do not want your student to participate, please email/submit a written request specifying which screening(s) and submit current documentation of screening by health care provider.

Parker opt out: https://forms.gle/bkUS6Anz3cPmxptE8

Coolidge opt out email: cindy.ventura@reading.k12.ma.us

Health offices can be reached via email/phone and the health portal.

Thank you,

Parker Nurse Kate Shmulsky: kate.shmulsky@reading.k12.ma.us

781-944-1236 xtn 13322, fax 781-942-9008

Coolidge Nurse Cindy Ventura: cindy.ventura@reading.k12.ma.us

781-942-9158 xtn 12305, fax 781-942-9118

Principal

Dr. Jill Story

Assistant Principal

Email: rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/parker/
Location: 45 Temple Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-1236
Twitter: @WSParkerMS