The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Families!

What an awesome week of learning, Science from Scientists, Poetry Readings, Understanding Disabilities, and fun at Barrows, capped off by the highly anticipated Monster Mash. I want to thank PTO Co-Presidents and Monster Mash Chairs Lori Barcikowski and Meghan Dribin for planning this event. Thanks to all the volunteers, those who decorated your trunks, and those who donated raffle basket items, candy, snacks, and water; this event would not have been possible without your time and generosity. You are a great example of our Barrows Beliefs in collaboration and kindness! Enjoy the Monster Mash Memories 2024 Photo Collection below.

This week's highlights:

• PTO Updates—Our next PTO Meeting is on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This week, I will share our Barrows 2024 MCAS Scores and our plans to ensure that our instruction continues to promote growth and student confidence. We will also talk about past and upcoming fundraisers, learn how you can get involved, and more! See more information in the PTO section!
• New SEPAC updates for October
• Grades 3-5 will be having an author visit soon. Order forms for signed copies of Jessie Janowitz's books are due on October 25th

Thanks for reading,

Mrs. Gallegos

Wednesday, October 23rd: *PTO Meeting, 7pm* (new time) 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: Turkey Trot 10:20 am & 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

Reading Public Schools Calendar

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

We are serving breakfast to at least 80 students each morning! Thank you kitchen staff for starting our mornings off with a smile and a healthy breakfast!

THANK YOU: We’re filled with gratitude for all the ways you helped make our Monster Mash such a fantastic event! Whether you donated items, volunteered your time, or helped with planning, your support made it all come together perfectly. Thanks to your efforts, the kids had an amazing time full of fun, laughter, and festive memories. From exciting activities to tasty treats, the event was a howling success! Thank you for making this celebration so special—our school is lucky to have such boo-tiful families like you.

JOIN US: For our PTO Meeting, Wednesday October 23rd at 7 PM in the Barrows Library or join by zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89519934724 (Please make note of the new time)!

SAVE THE DATE – Link to PTO calendar

-Winter Craft Fair: Saturday December 7th

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.

Free Virtual Screening of The Right to Read Film and Discussion:

In honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month

The free virtual screening will be open at 12:01 am on 10/19 and close at 11:59 pm on 10/25. The free virtual screening will be available to only the first 300 viewers. To ensure access to more families, we ask that each interested household claim only one free viewing of the film.

Below is the virtual screening room link and the invitation code for the screening of The Right To Read:

Link: https://www.filmplatform.net/events/the-right-to-read-reading-public-school/

Invitation Code (case-sensitive and contains a single dash): TRT-RPSS

Using the link above, click “Register” and enter your email address and the event invitation code. You can return to the same or future events by clicking “Event Login” and entering the same email address and the event invitation code. Please note the film is only accessible during the screening dates and to only the first 300 viewers. Please note: the recommended browsers for the screening are Chrome and Safari. Additionally, RCTV recorded the discussion that followed the in-person screening on 10/15 and it will be available on the Reading SEPAC Website (under past presentations) soon.

Finally, Reading SEPAC plans to follow this event up (Nov. 20th) with a presentation from Dr. Sarah Hardy and Renee Limauro. More information is coming soon.

This viewing is cosponsored by the Reading SEPAC, Reading School Committee, and the Friends of Reading METCO and was made possible by a grant from the Reading Cultural Council.

“Illiteracy is one of the most solvable problems of our time. We made this film to show the importance of early literacy and how crucial it is for children's lifelong success.' The Right to Read.

Sarah Ward: 360 Thinking Model: Wednesday, Oct 23, 6pm (Virtual)

The 360 Thinking Model: Breakthrough Strategies to Develop Independent 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. Click here to register for Sarah Ward

Past Events:

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

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

***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