The Starburst
Home of the Shining Stars
Greetings, Barrows Families!
As I mentioned in my message last week, we want to highlight our commitment to encouraging our students to read, read, read! As Levar Burton would say in Reading Rainbow (I know I am dating myself), "If you're a reader for life, then you're a learner for life." To help with increasing the frequency of reading at home (because it is what we do most at school), we are asking parents/guardians to complete the Barrows at Home Reading Survey for each of your students. This is anonymous and will help us create better ways to encourage our students to read more at home. Please click on the link further down in the newsletter if you haven't completed your survey(s) yet.
In keeping with our reading focus, at the start of each year, I make it my goal to read to every class—and I was able to do that in just four days this week. Your students are so engaged, funny, and observant—and they love a good story!
This week's highlights:
- Please complete the Home Reading Survey if you haven't yet.
- Repeat: Have you gone to the Portal this week to update your child's forms (this ensures we have the most up-to-date emergency information)? These forms must be completed at the start of every school year.
- Please check out the PTO section to see how you can get involved in volunteering at the Upcoming Monster Mash and other PTO Events. It is an easy way to meet other families in our school community and be a part of what makes our school so special!
- The weather is changing—cool mornings and warm afternoons. Don't forget to label all of your students' layers (coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, lunchboxes, and water bottles) because they shed them quickly during the day and items quickly become More Lost than Found!
- Last call for Grade Level Barrows t-shirts ($10). Please send in money and order form by Monday. We want every student that wants one to have one. Please reach out to me if this is a financial hardship.
- See METCO section below for updates about our recent distrct staffing change in this program.
Thanks for reading,
Mrs. Gallegos
Barrows Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, September 25th: 💙💛All School Assembly Part 1: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Wear our school colors (blue & yellow) and/or Barrows Gear
Wednesday, October 9th: 💙💛All School Assembly Part 2: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Wear our school colors (blue & yellow) and/or Barrows Gear
Monday, October 14th: No School in honor of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day
Friday, October 18th, 3-6pm: Monster Mash (raindate 10/25)
Wednesday, October 23rd: PTO Meeting, 8:30 am in the Barrows Library
Tuesday, October 29th: Make-up Picture Day (for retakes & absences)
Tuesday, November 5th: No School- Teacher In-Service Day
Monday, November 11th: No School in honor of Veteran's Day
Thursday, November 14th: Early Release- Conference Day
Friday, November 15th: No School- Conference Day
Wednesday, Novermber 27th: 11 AM Dismissal**
Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29th: Thanksgiving Recess- No School
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
The Food Service Department is thrilled to announce that starting this school year, we will expand our breakfast program to all elementary schools! 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.
All Reading Public School students are assigned a PIN number that they must use to get breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Please help your child memorize their PIN number. Although we provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, we ask that families send in a healthy snack for their students each day. If they forget their snack, they may purchase one in the cafeteria.
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
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
