Birch Meadow Newsflash

*I'm excited to announce that our PTO General Assembly this month will be in-person at Birch Meadow! Lisa and I will be reviewing MCAS data from last year and providing you with an updated plan of next steps. We're looking forward to seeing you there Tuesday night at 7:00 PM!

*Please see the link to our ARC Literacy at home resources here:

the at home resources can be found linked here

K-5 Curriculum Website under Literacy --> Caregiver Communication and Engagement.

These are great resources for families looking to support our literacy curriculum at home!

*The RMHS 2025 class officers are organizing a 5K Fun Run scheduled for Sunday, November 24th, and would love your support in encouraging students to join in! All proceeds raised will go directly to the RMHS senior class and all the fun senior activities, i.e. prom, senior week, and graduation. There will be two different races scheduled: a true 5k and a 10 and under ½ mile fun run! Here are a few details about the fundraiser:

• Event Date: Sunday November, 24th

• Start Time: 8:30 AM 10&U and 9:00 5K

• Location: Birch Meadow Elementary School (27 Arthur B Lord Dr.)

• Registration Fee: $15 Fun Run & $30 5k

Link to Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Reading/WalkItLikeYouRocket

Breakfast Links:

KINDERGARTEN BREAKFAST

FIRST GRADE BREAKFAST

-Dr. B

A family favorite is back for another year! On Friday, 10/25 from 5pm - 6:30pm the Birch Meadow Community will turn out another truly memorable and spooky event.

This event is FREE to all Birch Meadow families. T-or-T Chair, Mimi Connelly, has agreed to take on this event again this year - thank you, Mimi! Sign up to participate!

THIS YEARS RAFFLE WILL BE A HYBRID ONLINE AND LIVE EVENT!

It was such a huge success last year that we're bringing it back, and trying to get ahead of those "ahem" dead-zone issues we all know and love. CHECK IT OUT HERE

You can purchase and play with virtual raffle tickets OR purchase physical tickets at the event. Virtual and physical tickets will be combined and winners will be announced the week of November 3rd.

Have something you'd like to offer to help raise funds for Birch Meadow? EMAIL us at BirchMeadowPTO@gmail.com

Gift certificates can be purchased between Sept 30 - Oct 18th via our PTO Square Site or through the flyers in your students backpacks :)

Gift certificates will be sent home in late October (date TBA) in your students backpack (<$100) or for pickup at the main office (>$100 or by request).

Birch Meadow PTO is partnering with Mathnasium of Reading where Mathnasium students are raising money for their PTO. At Mathnasium of Reading, students work hard to master more than 300 topics (they are called Mastery Checks) on a monthly basis, and their hard work results in them earning different types of rewards. Students often win goodies and gift cards at Mathnasium for their hard work and dedication to Math. In the month of October 2024, Mathnasium will donate $5 for each mastery check that is completed by a Birch Meadow student enrolled with them!

Mathnasium will also donate 10% from each new enrollment of Birch meadow students at Mathnasium between now and October 31st.

October 14th - Indigenous People's Day. NO SCHOOL

October 15th - PTO General Mtg. 7:30 PM. ZOOM or in Birch Library. Dr. B will present on MCAS

October 15th - Right to Read Film Screening & Discussion with SEPAC

October 23 - Sarah Ward : The 360 Thinking Model (registration info to come)

October 25th - TRUNK or TREAT Event & Raffle 🎃👻 - SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE

Early Nov - Celtics Fundraiser Details Released- stay tuned for more info

November 5th - Teacher In-Service Day. NO SCHOOL. Remember to VOTE!

November 11th - Veterans Day Observed NO SCHOOL

November 14th - Early Release @ 12:45pm. Teacher Conferences

November 15th - Teacher Conferences. NO SCHOOL

November 26th - ANNUAL TURKEY TROT 🦃 Stay tuned for more info!!

November 27th - Wednesday, 11AM District Wide early release for Thanksgiving

• We have a Birch Meadow storefront and will post items and fundraisers throughout the year. We also welcome direct donations and company match: https://birch-meadow-elementary-school-pto.square.site/

• Drop off your donations of clothing and textiles to the two large bins to the far right of the main entrance on Arthur B. Lord Drive. Birch Meadow earns funds through Helpsy, a for-profit company that offers local non-profits like our PTO this easy, no-cost fundraising program!

To learn more about Reading SEPAC, please visit our website: Reading SEPAC Website

Should you wish to receive our monthly newsletter, please send an email to SEPACReading@gmail.com

Please note that Reading SEPAC IS OPEN TO ALL parents/caregivers and not only families who have a child with special needs as we offer various opportunities to connect with other families and provide learning experiences.

Come join us at the in-person screening of the award winning documentary, The Right to Read, to learn about the impact of literacy programs and their historic and persistent inequities.

Date: October 15th at 6pm.

Location: Performing Arts Center at Reading Memorial High School

The screening will be followed by a lively discussion with a panel of experts, moderated by Thomas Wise (Chairperson, Reading School Committee).

This event will be followed up with a presentation in November (by Dr. Sarah Hardy and Renee Limauro from RPS) where we will continue the discussion. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about reading disabilities, literacy screening in our schools and hear updates on the new literacy program, named ARC Core, that was adopted by the Reading Public Schools in 2022 that is in keeping with the science of reading as discussed in The Right to Read.

Click here to register for The Right to Read Screening.

Wednesday, Oct 23, 6pm (Virtual; Registration information forthcoming)

The 360 Thinking Model: Breakthrough Strategies to Develop Independent to Executive Function Skills

• Is your child disorganized and may not have the materials they need or even turn in the homework they have completed?

• Is their desk, room or locker a ‘black hole’ for papers and materials?

• Do you observe a student who struggles to “stop and read the room” and meet the demands of the situation?

• Or do you see students who struggle to initiate complex academic assignments, procrastinate and then run out of time to do their ‘best work’?

• Is your child constantly multitasking, so tasks/assignments take twice as long as they should? Are you looking for some solutions to digital distractions?

• Do you wish your child had a sense of urgency when it comes to time so that tasks are completed, and routines to get out the door or to the next activity or class happen on time?

• Does it seem that they have an inability to breakdown the demands of an assignment and have a sense of how to start?

• Do students seem prompt dependent? Are you constantly reminding them of the materials they need and the steps to take?

This presentation will help you to teach your children how to manage their time, space, and materials (and keep their emotions in check). Learn powerful strategies to help children develop independent executive function skills.

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