The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Families,

Thank you to all of our families that have made efforts this week to leave your home earlier so that your students arrive at school on time. I had to make a trip over to the high school early one morning this week and pulled on to Arcadia Avenue at 8:21 am. It took me 7 minutes to drive up the hill and park--and if I were a student, I would have been officially tardy. The forecast continues to predict cold weather, which means more cars and fewer walkers. So, if you are driving your child to school, please aim to enter our Barrows neighborhood no later than 8:10 am, or your student will most likely be marked tardy--this is Barrows Rush Hour, so plan accordingly!

I have one more incredibly important request. I have noticed that many adults are looking at their phones when they are driving by the school after they drop off their students. It is state law that we are hands-free while operating a vehicle, but even if it wasn't, the visibility on our street, especially when the sun is shining, makes it challenging to see students crossing, and phones are a distraction while driving. We want to do what we can to be safe and prevent tragedies. And as a mom in the final stages of teaching my third child to drive, I know all three have been watching what I do behind the wheel. Thank you for being a great role model and a safe driver!

Highlights:

• January PTO events--PTO Meeting 7pm on 1/22 (zoom only) & Math Night at Barrows on 1/29
• Principal's Pop-Up Reading Challenge READbowl Quarter 1 ends Sunday and Quarter 2 begins Monday ! Even if your student didn't record reading minutes one week, it doesn't mean they cannot start this week! Let's encourage our students to read at home! Students should turn in their first reading log on Tuesday. Thank you!

Be well,

Alissa

Monday, January 20th: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 22nd: PTO Meeting @ 7PM (Zoom only) Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84058658038

Wednesday, January 29th:💙💛School Assembly, wear school colors💙💛and Math Night 6:30pm @ Barrows

Sunday, February 2nd: Please RSVP for Parents Night Out by this date

Friday, February 7th: Parents Night Out 7:30-10 pm @ Cafe Capri

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

School Drop Off

First Bell 8:15am I Start of Day Bell 8:25am

Students should be sitting at their desks, ready to learn for the 8:25am bell.

Any student that comes into the school building after 8:25am will be marked as tardy.

Breakfast is available for students in the cafeteria between 8:15am-8:30am.

Why is prompt arrival important?

Arriving at school on time demonstrates a commitment to a student's education, allows students to fully participate in lessons from the beginning, minimizes disruptions to the classroom, and fosters a positive learning environment by showing respect for teachers and peers.

Tips to arriving on time:

• Establish a morning routine that is followed regularly

• Set multiple alarms, if needed

• Place the alarm across the room to make sure you physically get up out of bed before turning it off

• Pick out your clothing the night before, this includes shoes and accessories

• Pack your backpack and ensure everything is packed the night before

• Do not wait until last minute to complete any school assignments

• Pack and prepare breakfast, snack and lunch the night prior so it can be a “grab and go”

• Try to minimize distractions

• Have a consistent bedtime and routine

• Establish back-up transportation if needed

• Always plan some extra time into the routine incase things come up

Please reach out to us if you have any concerns about getting your student to school on time.

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, January 22nd @ 7 PM (Zoom only) Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84058658038
• Math Night - January 29th at 6:30pm @ Barrows – Flyer attached – Please RSVP
• Parents Night Out – Friday February 7th at 7:30pm – Please RSVP

MATH NIGHT – Wednesday January 29th, 6:30 – 7:30pm

We are excited to partner with Mathnasium to bring Math Night to Barrows! Students and families will be able to engage in fun, age appropriate math games and activities earning stars in your Passport for each station completed. Complete all stations and trade your passport for a goody bag at the Rewards Table! Games will be divided into grades K-2 and grades 3-5.

In order to help us plan please RSVP for Math Night using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedznjwqjbvtk9qSpmO7IDq13HfnNkWAFv5lz4XkqmxzEj6tw/viewform

Math Night Volunteers Needed!

In order to have support at each station we are looking for quite a few volunteers. Volunteers can be middle/high school students who are good at math as well as parents. No experience is necessary! Instruction will be provided to volunteers that night prior to Math Nigh beginning. All volunteers receive a free I heart Math t-shirt! Please use this link to sign up to volunteer - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B49ACA628A0FC1-54301178-barrows#/

PARENTS NIGHT OUT – Friday February 7th, 7:30pm – Café Capri

Join us for a fun-filled evening with drinks, delicious food and great conversation at Café Capri. Pizza and light snacks will be provided by the PTO. Cash Bar available. And as usual we will have our silent auction of fantastic teacher experiences to bid on. Come alone or grab a Barrows friends and stop by for a quick visit or stay and hang out all night! Please RSVP by Feb 2nd so we can plan the food appropriately - https://forms.gle/HJ4iAxyuaQBFrDsK8

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). Thanks!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA8AD2EA2FC1-parentguardian

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For your information, our School Year 2024-2025 PTO Agendas/Minutes are on this public Google Drive. Reach out with any questions.

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!

SEPAC 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

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.

• FCSN Workshop - Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP

  Jan 22 (Wed), 7-9pm (Online; Registration is required)

  Presenter: Lynne Hanley is a former Special Education teacher in the Lowell Public School System. She also worked as an advocate previously and is currently a frequent presenter of Basic Rights workshops for the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

  
  

  Join us for an informative online workshop with The Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN). This presentation will delve into the Individual Education Program (IEP) document, its development, the breakdown of each section and understanding how the document will support a student.

  
  

  Workshop Topics:

  • Why the IEP is important, who is eligible for an IEP, and how is it developed

  • Student/Parent Concerns

  • Student/Team Vision and Student Profile

  • Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance

  • Postsecondary Transition Planning

  • Accommodations and Modifications

  • Goals & Service Delivery

  • Response, Placement, and Procedural Safeguards

  Click here to register for the Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP Workshop.

  Registration required to receive the zoom link for the workshop.

  
  

  Past Events:

  Recorded events that’s available on the Reading SEPAC Website:

  The Right to Read Panel Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw_oIuqkUt0

  The New IEP Presentation

  MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation

  Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation

  • Review tiered system of supports and provide examples

  • Outline effective communication channels with your team and school

  
  

Reading SEPAC Board members for the 2024/25 school year:

Amanda Fitzgerald

Dilly Wilson

Eunice Kenyon

Jacyln Lee

Patricia Kiely

Zea Lennard

Should you wish to reach out to Reading SEPAC anonymously, please use this form

METCO unites suburban towns with Boston to engage in a reciprocal learning partnership in support of all students. Because of this, every child who attends school in Reading Public Schools is a METCO student and every parent or guardian who has a student in RPS is a part of the METCO community.

"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."

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.

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

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.*

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

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/

Follow us on Instagram: @barrowselementarypto

Barrows Homepage: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/barrows/

Reading Public Schools: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us