The Starburst

What a wonderful week of building relationships and learning! I continue to be so impressed with our students who consistently demonstrate our Barrows Beliefs of being safe, respectful, collaborating, and persevering! You should be so proud of your children. When our staff catch students shining in these areas, students receive star tickets! Ask your child more about the Barrows Beliefs and Star Tickets!

There is so much I want to share with you after this four-day week. I am excited to invite the parents, grandparents, or other primary caregivers to our Curriculum Night this Wednesday, September 14th. Curriculum Night is an opportunity for our teachers to welcome you into your child's classroom to learn more about the curriculum, classroom routines, and expectations for the school year.

Here is Wednesday nights schedule:

5:30-6:00 pm: Grades 3-5

6:00-6:15 pm: Teacher Introductions, Principal Welcome, PTO

6:15-6:45 pm: Grades K-2

5:45-6:30 pm: Specialists in Classrooms

• The PTO will end the week hosting a Back to School Picnic on the blacktop. See the PTO section for more details!

• Rusty and Officer Vatcher were back Thursday and will continue to visit us weekly. Please look for the button below, specifically the link to the medical/fear of dogs form. Completed forms can be returned to the main office. We will share the information with our resource officer and work with families on their individual needs.

• A few reminders are important for the well-being and safety of our children. Please remember that students should not be arriving at school before 8:10 am unless an adult accompanies them. Our staff opens the doors for students to arrive at that time and does not provide supervision before 8:10 am.

• Smart Watches and phones must be turned off and remain in the student's backpack for the entire school day. This expectation is designed for students to be fully present for the school day, be focused on learning, and interact with their peers and staff in the building. If your child needs to contact you, they may ask their teacher to call home from our school landline.

Nurse Rose sent home a test kit (2 tests in a box) on Friday. The expiration date on the box has been extended. When in doubt, TEST! We are looking forward to a healthy and safe school year.

I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday and Friday evening!

Warmly,

Alissa Gallegos

2022-2023 School Year

Monday, September 12th- O'Connor studio school picture order forms will be sent home.

Wednesday, September 14th: 12:45 dismissal for all students.

Elementary Open House in evening (5:30-6:45 PM)

Friday, September 16th: Picture Day!

Flipped Schedule - Full day of school (2:45 dismissal),

PTO Back to School Picnic 5:30-7:00 PM

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

Friday, October 21: PTO Monster Mash (rain date: 10/28).

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

Picture day was changed and is scheduled for Friday due to a rainy forecast and staff professional development early in the week. Order forms will be coming home with your child on Monday. We will take class pictures and individual student photos.

Guess Who?

Here are clues to find me in this throwback class photo?

Clue #1: I forgot it was picture day so I didn't wear my favorite dress.

Clue #2: I don't have a big smile because I was feeling sad and embarrassed that I wasn't dressed up.

Clue #3: I did like my side pony-tail --my mom did not!

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to help us stock the teachers lounge.

We were even able to purchase a few new kitchen appliances.

We couldn't have done it without your help! Thank you!

First event - WELCOME PICNIC on Friday September 16th from 5:30-7:00 PM

Bring your own dinner to picnic on the back field.

Kidzfun will be there and we will have slush for the kids!

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.

Except for the OCTOBER meeting, PTO meetings will occur the

2nd Wednesday of the month at 7pm both in-person and via Zoom.

Here are our meeting dates for the school year:

*October 5th

November 9th

December 14th

January 11th

February 8th

March 8th

April 12th

May 10th

June 14th

*First Wednesday of the Month

PTO Board

Lori Barcikowski, Co-President

Meghan Dribin, Co-President

Amy Koehler, Treasurer

Alicia Curtin, Secretary

Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator

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.

As a parent guardian of a child in the Reading Public Schools, you have access to the Parent PlusPortal. The Portal will be used throughout your child’s academic career as it is where you update your child’s emergency contact information, view report cards, and beyond elementary school, see your child’s grades in real time. It also acts as a communication portal between you and your child’s teacher where oftentimes, different academic links, notes, or activities are shared.

If you are a returning parent, your account is still active. If you are a new parent guardian and have not received access, please reach out to our school administrative secretary, Donna Walsh at donn.walsh@reading.k12.ma.us. This is a confidential portal that is linked to your email account. You have 48 hours to activate your Portal account using the temporary password supplied through the email. Once you login, you can update the password and personal information.

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/

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!

Follow our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/SEPAC.Reading

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