The Starburst

Each week that I spend at Barrows, I love serving here more and more! Your children are wonderful- so many children consistently demonstrating our Barrows Beliefs. We continue to practice being safe, respectful, collaborative, and persevering together. Thank you for sending your great kids to school each day! And it is clear to me why parents touted the quality of the staff during my interview process and entry meetings; everyone is committed to providing the best school experience for our students, and their focus is the well-being of each child. Our staff understands how children learn best and regularly reflect on their teaching practice. (Please read more about our district's plan to provide quality professional development as we adopt the new Literacy and Math curriculum in our elementary schools later in The Starburst).

RPS is working with Lynn Lyons, an international speaker and psychotherapist specializing in anxiety. Our school counselors just finished their second training this past week for anxiety and social-emotional support training. . The training is titled "How to Manage Anxiety in Schools: Building Skills that Lead to Action Over Avoidance." Lynn Lyons has an excellent podcast called Flusterclux that I am linking below. I hope you enjoy it. If you have the opportunity to hear her speak, I assure you, it will equip you with strategies to support children in their anxious moments.

What our staff is learning about supporting anxious students...

• Helping children deal with anxiety is hard work and takes practice and teamwork!
• Rather than accommodating worries or anxiety, create situations where children can step into those uncomfortable situations. Don’t let worry be in charge!
• Together we can teach children the skills to tolerate times when they are feeling uncomfortable and uncertain…success in these times helps children know they can manage their anxiety.

We had our first All-School-Assembly on Wednesday. It was awesome! We will have two all-school assemblies each month. The first monthly assembly will focus on our Barrows Beliefs and school culture. Our second assembly will focus on learning about different cultures and customs. On assembly days, students and staff can choose to show school pride by wearing our school colors (blue & yellow) or spirit wear! Be sure to click on the clip of our school singing our school song!

I want to highlight some important pieces of information that support our first Barrows Belief--"Be Safe." The entire explanation of our arrival and pick-up procedures are also included in The Starburst. Staff and parents have shared their concerns about arrival and dismissal safety expectations for our students and families after a few close calls and unsafe moments.

• Please note that no cars or walkers (other than our staff) should be in our staff parking lot during arrival or dismissal. I know that cutting through the lot in the morning saves time to get to the kindergarten and first-grade doors; however, it is our policy that no one walks through the lot. Please plan your mornings and afternoons accordingly. This policy is in place to keep our Barrows community safe. It sends mixed messages when some families do not follow our safety policies.
• Remember that Edgemont is a one way, up the hill for drop off and pick-up. No parking on our school side, it is just for active pick-up and pull-up.
• Students are also not allowed to play in the woods or climb on our ball wall or top of the playground equipment. My kids were climbers--and love the woods, but these activities have different results when there are many children and adults together. Please help reinforce this with your students at arrival and dismissal.
• Lastly, remember our district policy is that no dogs are allowed on the property during school hours, including arrival and dismissal. If you are walking your dog to pick up your child, you may not come onto the campus. I am happy, however, to hand out treats to our furry friends in the kiss-and-go line!

Thank you for taking the time to read through The Starburst!

P.S. With the traditional fall weather arriving (cool mornings and warm afternoons, we see the piles of sweatshirts, hats, and coats rapidly piling up. Please put your student's name on everything they may take off during the school day (this goes for lunch boxes & water bottles too) so we can efficiently return them to their rightful owners.

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.

Ms. Leonard, our district's STEM Curriculum Coordinator, delivered the tiniest caterpillar about two weeks ago. She found our newest little friend outside; it was so small we could barely see it. Ms. Leonard and Ms. Walsh have been taking excellent care of it and noticed today that it was now attached to the top of the container. We anticipate seeing the chrysalis stage very soon. I took a photo of our caterpillar on my way out the door today. Students are welcome to visit the office to see it change!

The Reading Public Schools ensures that all students have access to high-quality, rigorous academic experience. As you are probably aware, we implemented a new math program in Grades 3-5 called Illustrative Math last year. This year, our Kindergarten - Second Grade teachers are using the program. Additionally, our Grades 3-5 classrooms are implementing a new literacy curriculum called ARC Core. A lot of energy and learning comes with implementing new programs, and we are excited by what we see.

Our teachers attend various professional development training and coaching opportunities throughout the year to ensure that our staff is prepared to teach these content areas. In September, teachers attend ARC Core literacy and Illustrative Mathematics training. We recognize not having your teacher in the classroom is an immediate disruption. Yet, it is done with the long-term goal that when teachers are well trained, they know how to consistently provide high-quality instruction for your children. I wanted to share some additional information about professional development.

Why was my teacher out?

Throughout the school year, families may hear their children that their teacher was out for part or all of the school day due to professional development, training, or workshops. Although we try to limit the time our teachers are out of the classroom, this time is important learning time that directly benefits students and student achievement.

What's the deal with Professional Development?

Over the school year, district staff members participate in various academic pieces of training that complement the work they are doing in their classrooms with students. The staff engages in professional development across various areas of their practice. Elementary teachers have participated in professional development opportunities around literacy, mathematics, anxiety, and targeted special education literacy training this year alone. These efforts support our ongoing district and school improvement plan goals, which are tied directly to student performance.

Why do teachers need professional development?

The field of education requires both seminal knowledge (influential foundational understanding that has been proven by research over time) and current and innovative practices (similar to the many other professional roles that require both core knowledge and ongoing training and certifications.) Over the school year, our district provides training opportunities for staff. The district's goal is to ensure that our teachers are current and relevant and able to bring their learning back to their classrooms.

Why can't they do that all during the summer?

Many professional development opportunities occur during the summers for our staff. However, that is not enough. What research shows about adult learning and development is that the best professional learning opportunities are ongoing, parallel the work of teacher Instructional Learning Teams (ILCs), provide opportunities for collaboration, and are supported by coaches. In Reading, ongoing professional learning efforts are supported at the building and district levels (through Instructional Learning Teams) and through the work of the district Literacy, Math, and Data Instructional Coaches. The partnership between the professional development training and the ongoing learning collaboration helps all of our adults learn and strengthen their skill sets. Strategies that teachers learn are best implemented during the school year when they can authentically work with students. When a teacher can attend a professional learning day and return immediately to the classroom to implement it, it is more likely to create growth and learning for our staff and students.

If your teachers are out for professional learning days - it's good news! They continue to grow in their practice to provide the best support for our learners.

2022-2023 School Year

Sunday, September 25: Rosh Hashanah Begins at sundown

Tuesday, October 4: Yom Kippur Begins at sundown

Wednesday, October 5: PTO Meeting, all caregivers welcome 7 PM

Thursday, October 6: Walk to School Day! (more information to come)

Monday, October 10: No School/Columbus Day

Friday, October 21: PTO Monster Mash 3:00-6:00 PM (rain date: 10/28).

Tuesday, October 25: School Council: 3:00-4:00

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

We are gearing up for another amazing year at Barrows. You can join the first PTO meeting of the year on October 5th at 7pm to learn more including how to get involved.

Important Updates!

Reminder to pay your Dues/Donation requests.

1. Send in a check in your child's backpack communications folder, or drop it directly in the Barrows main office. Please make checks payable to Barrows PTO

2. Or, pay through Paypal by scanning the QR code below. If you choose to use Paypal, please consider donating an extra few dollars to offset our Paypal charge

VOLUNTEER!

Your PTO works best and students benefit most when parents are involved! No experience is needed and a variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Please let us know what volunteer opportunities you would be interested in and we will follow up with additional details. The donation of your time to help with these great initiatives will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance!

If you forgot to fill out the Volunteer form you can still do so here: ‐ https://tinyurl.com/2p83cvrv

We thank you for all of your generous support and wish you a wonderful new school year

PTO Board

Lori Barcikowski, Co-President

Meghan Dribin, Co-President

Amy Koehler, Treasurer

Alicia Curtin, Secretary

Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator

We are so excited to offer again the Cookie Dough Fundraiser for our shining stars! As the winter months approach, the one thing we know is that we will be able to be home and bake cookies!

In your folders you will find a brochure for Rebecca's Nut-Free Cookie Dough fundraiser. Proceeds from this will go to the Barrows PTO, which pays for things like school supplies, welcome signs, and the appreciation lunches etc. we have supplied for our teachers.

Rebecca's Nut-free is not only certified to be nut free, but they also have egg, dairy and gluten free options for cookies. We have tried the cookies, and they are fantastic!! We have put a goal for each kid to try to sell 10 boxes! There will be prizes awarded at the end of the fundraiser.

The fundraiser is open until October 28. Pickup will be the Friday, November 18 before Thanksgiving at the school between 9 and 1pm. You can use the link below to start selling NOW! There are the cutest Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah Cookie sets, cutters included, and the cookies can freeze for up to a year!

https://barrows.rebeccasnutfree.com/

Thanks so much for your support! Any questions feel free to contact Julie Silbovitz at Julie.draper@gmail.com.

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/

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. We will learn more at our next Barrows Assembly, Wednesday, September 28th.

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