The Starburst
Home of the Shining Stars
Greetings, Barrows Families!
We celebrated our love of reading this week with a successful Book Fair and a memorable Reading Under the Stars Night.
Special thanks to Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Colella for running this event, all the volunteers who helped with student book selection, those who helped work the registers, and our families who donated books to classroom libraries for more students to enjoy!
We also had a cozy evening Reading Under the Stars. We want to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Becker, our school librarian, for organizing the night and to our guest readers—Sargent Orr, Officer Matt & Rusty, Mrs. LaFrancesca, Mrs. McGrath, Mrs. Chiappini, Mrs. Racicot, Mrs. Kimball, and Mrs. Ring!
Classes enjoyed a Detective Eye-Spy "Spring" this week, organized by the Student Council and solved another piece to the READATHON Mystery using tools and clues in their class.
We are racking up our minutes—we have totaled 147,150 minutes read so far! I predict we will surpass our totals next week, as students enjoy their newly purchased books and old favorites!
Upper Grades in Mrs. Raucci's music class are having fun voting each week in March Music Madness! Staff could nominate their favorite song from elementary school--we started with 64 entries and have made it to the Elite 8. The Elite 8 bracket looks holds the remaining contenders:
"Macarena" vs. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" vs. "U Can't Touch This"
"Bye Bye Bye" vs. "WannaBe"
"You Got It (The Right Stuff)" vs. "Take Me Home Country Roads"
Highlights:
- Here are photos from the Book Fair and Reading Under the Stars! Thank you for making reading a priority at home and for logging your students' minutes!
- Please join us for our March PTO Meeting on Wednesday, March 19th, at 7 pm (in-person & zoom)
- Thank you for making the extra effort to ensure your student arrives at school on time. We have seen a noticeable difference this week. Students do better and feel better when they start the day with their classmates!
Keep Shining,
Alissa
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
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
