The Starburst
Home of the Shining Stars
Happy Valentine's Day, Barrows Families,
This week's update will be short and sweet—just like Valentine's Day! As we head into February vacation, I want to take a moment to celebrate another fantastic Barrows Spirit Week. We kicked things off with Sports Day on Monday, and our Kindergarteners marked their exciting 100th day of school. Today, we wrapped it up in a sea of pink and red with Valentine's Day celebrations. I hope everyone enjoys a restful and healthy week off—we are all due for some well-earned time to recharge our bodies and minds with plenty of rest and relaxation! I am looking forward to seeing everyone back on Monday, February 24th!
Highlights:
- Enjoy photos from Spirit Week below!
- Barrows Red Sox Night at Fenway Park ticket sales end on Friday, February 21st
- Thank you to the PTO for hosting the Barrows PTO Parents Night at Capri and organizing another successful Silent Auction!
Be well,
Alissa
Barrows Upcoming Dates
February 17th-21st: Presidents' Day (No School) & February Vacation (No School)
Wednesday, February 26th: Barrows PTO Meeting (zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84058658038
March 11th-13th: Barrows Scholastic Book Fair
Wednesday, March 12th: 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
Barrows Breakfast & Lunch Program Information
All first meals, including breakfast and lunch, are free for all students! If your child would like a second breakfast or lunch, these are available for purchase at $1.50 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. Additionally, our cafeterias offer a variety of snacks and a la carte items that can be purchased separately.
Reading Public Schools Food Service/Lunch Menus: http://reading.k12.ma.us/departments/food-services/
It is also important for families that may need financial support including but not limted to our food services to complete the following forms on this page: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1701802399965&page=lunchapps
SAVE THE DATE – Link to PTO calendar
- PTO Meeting- Wednesday, February 26th at 7 pm
- Read-a-thon – All of March!
- Restaurant Night – Mandarin – March 7th
- Barrows Book Fair- March 11-13th
- Reading Under the Stars – March 12 at 6pm
Thanks to all who joined us at Parents Night Out and everyone who participated in the silent auction! We hope everyone had a fun time. Nearly $3000 was raised via the silent auction which will all be put to good use funding enrichment at Barrows. Thanks to all the teachers and staff for donating to the silent auction. The kids love all of these experiences and the parents have fun bidding on them 😊
Barrows Elementary Night at Fenway Park is Back!
Purchase your tickets through this link https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Barrows2025 by February 21st to attend the Tuesday, June 3rd game (Red Sox v. Angels)
We hope you can attend!
Go Sox!
LUNCH VOLUNTEERS: We welcome our parents/guardians as lunch helpers by signing up. Volunteers are expected to help for all lunch periods (11:10 am-12:35 pm, not just their students' lunch. Volunteers will be asked to help wipe down tables between lunches, help students open food packaging, etc. Volunteers must have an up-to-date CORI check (please be sure this is done at least one week before volunteering).
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA8AD2EA2FC1-parentguardian
For your information, our School Year 2024-2025 PTO Agendas/Minutes are on this public Google Drive.
Many thanks,
The PTO Board
Lori Barcikowski, Co-President (LoriBarcikowski@yahoo.com)
Meghan Dribin, Co-President (MegDribin@gmail.com)
Jen Barsotti, Treasurer
Alicia Curtin, Secretary
Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook:
@barrowselementarypto & https://www.facebook.com/BarrowsPTO/
YEARLONG FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
Minted Fundraiser
Do you need to order graduation announcements, birthday, or anniversary invitations? 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!
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.
An Important Reminder from Mrs. Atwood
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
Please follow Art and Physical Education on Instagram!
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.*
Check-Out Artsonia!
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
