Birch Meadow Newsflash

We're excited to announce the dates for some of our Turkey Trot Fundraiser Prizes!

*All School Pajama Day CELEBRATED LAST FRIDAY! I even wore my favorite slippers for this one.

*3/14 Silly Sock Day & All School Dance Party

*3/21 Board Game & Movie Day

*3/28 All School Assembly & Principal/Assistant Principal Pie In The Face

*BMI SCREENINGS This Week – Heights and weights are being conducted on students in Grades 1 and 4 beginning next week. Families of first and fourth graders should have received an email explaining this screening. If you did not receive the email or if you have any questions or would like to opt your child out, please reach out to our nurse Peggy Costello.

Breakfast Reminder - Just a reminder that the link for breakfast ordering is the same every week. Therefore, if there is an issue getting the Newsflash out on any given week, you can simply visit a previous edition and use the link there.

Breakfast Links:

KINDERGARTEN BREAKFAST

FIRST GRADE BREAKFAST

FIRST WEEK STATS

- 235 students (out of 359) are logging their reading!

- 53,347 Minutes Read!

If you've been inside the school - you might have noticed the ReadAThon Tree! Each class has an Owl represented on this tree helping to track progress across student classrooms towards our 210,000 minute goal!

Come check out the tree next time you're at school!

The PTO is excited to host two upcoming evening community reading sessions for students to boost their reading minutes! Please join Dr. Burnham, other members of the Birch staff, and School Resource Officer Matthew Vatcher and his sidekick Rusty the Golden Retriever as they read their favorite children's books to us!

Reading night #1: Tuesday, March 11th in the Birch Meadow Library -

6:00-6:30 PM for students in kindergarten - 2nd grade

6:30-7:00 PM for students in 3rd - 5th grade

Reading night #2: Tuesday, March 18th on ZOOM - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4915113640

6:00-6:30 PM for students in kindergarten - 2nd grade

6:30-7:00 PM for students in 3rd - 5th grade

We look forward to seeing you and don't forget to log your minutes!

March 1 - March 31st - Read A Thon Spring Fundraiser!

March 10th - No school, Teacher In-Service Day

March 11th - Reading with Rusty in the Birch Meadow Library 6 & 6:30pm

March 14th - Silly Sock Day & All School Dance Party

March 17 - 21st - SPIRIT WEEK! See photo above for the theme days

March 18th - Reading with Rusty over Zoom 6 & 6:30pm

March 19th - SEPAC Budget Review & Business Mtg

March 21st - Board Game & Movie Day

March 26th - RPS Presents: Social/Emotional Learning Workshop

March 28th - All School Assembly & Principal/Assistant Principal Pie In The Face

Date TBA - Spring Shuffle (to replace the Turkey Trot/Winter Walk)

April 2-3 - Grades 3&4 ELA MCAS

April 7-8 - Grade 5 ELA MCAS

May 5 - 6 - Grade 5 Math MCAS

May 7 - 8 - Grades 3&4 Math MCAS

May 14 - 15 - Grade 5 SCI MCAS

Hi Birchie Bears -

We have one unclaimed raffle prize from Trunk or Treat and we've tried to reach out, to no avail, so we're calling in our amazing community! Is this you? Do you know this person?

KAYLASH Gift Card - Ervin #647364

Please contact nicole.morinon@gmail.com to collect your prize!

A social for girls of all ages with their fathers, grandfathers and other guardians!

Date: Friday, March 14, 2025

Location: The Field House / Gymnasium at Reading High School

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tickets are $20, which covers a guardian and their daughters

Free photo booth with admission and as always music by DJ Ken. Light refreshments and snacks available for purchase.

You can purchase tickets online now using this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-friends-of-reading-rec-annual-daddy daughter-dance-tickets-1253029367569?aff=oddtdtcreator and will also be available at the door on the night of the event!

Watch our Facebook, Friends Of Reading Recreation page.

Be part of something that will provide a lifetime of memories!

Proceeds will benefit the Fireworks at Town Day in June.

Wed, March 19th, 7pm (Online)

Philip Littlehale, Interim Director of Finance and Operations, will be presenting the Special Education Budget at the next SEPAC business meeting.

• Changes between the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Special Education Budget

• Special Education Budget funding priorities for the next school year

• Opportunity for parents to ask questions

If you attend only one SEPAC business meeting this year, this would be the one!

Additionally, Student Services will be available to answer your questions regarding the changes in Special Education or other special education related questions you may have.

Registration will be required to receive the zoom link for the business meeting and to submit questions anonymously to both Student Services and Phil Littlehale in advance.

Register for the Reading SEPAC Business meeting and Special Education Budget Review.

Wed, March 26th, 7pm (Online)

Social-emotional learning is the process of developing the self awareness, self control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.

Registration Link: https://fcsn.org/event/reading-social-emotional-learning/

• 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!

Please "like" Birch Meadow Elementary PTO" Facebook page and follow our Instagram: @birch_meadow_pto