The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Families!

The staff and I enjoyed seeing many of our students' parents and guardians at Back to School Curriculum night this past week. I hope you all enjoyed meeting your students' teachers and learning about what they will be up to this school year! I am including the link to my presentation here, which includes the informational video from SEPAC.

Principals Back to School Night Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGQHZc6zDw/KpQ2jICuD_E92TXVzHXRtQ/view?utm_content=DAGQHZc6zDw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

We had our first back-to-school assembly on the same day as curriculum night. Students said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our school song (and I am so mad I didn't record it because it sounded so good), and our Barrows Pledge. We also interviewed and welcomed our new staff. We discussed the importance of using our Barrows Belief's of kindness, respect, being safe, collaborating and persevering, which we will continue to model and encourage this school year. But what was most exciting was celebrating all 47 students who met the Principal Pop-up challenge of reading 10-20-50 or 100 (and more) books this summer! Please enjoy the photos below! I am so proud of these students!

My main reasons for offering reading challenges all summer were to encourage reading and build the habit of reading regularly. Soon, I will bombard you with research on the importance of READING AT HOME! This can be in any form--reading independently, listening to a books, or having someone read to them. To help find the best ways for us to partner with families to promote reading at home, we are asking every parent/guardian to complete this survey for each of your Barrows Students. This anonymous survey will help us create plans throughout the year to help all of our students become avid readers. Students who read a lot become better writers, wordsmiths, and more interesting people! Thank you for taking the time to complete this quick and important survey: https://forms.gle/k9yNXRmfAv82cRap6

This week's highlights:

• Our new breakfast routine is going smoothly. Please send your students to school as close to 8:10 as possible so they can enter the doors at 8:15—especially if they are picking up breakfast on the way in!
• Picture Day is Wednesday! Please send in your order forms!
• We have our first PTO meeting this Wednesday night. We will meet in the Barrows Library at 7 pm! Can't leave the kids--join us by Zoom. Here is the link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/81258142620
• 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.

We have a little visit with summer this weekend! Enjoy the gorgeous weather!

Warmly,

Mrs. Gallegos

As a parent guardian of a child in the Reading Public Schools, you have access to the Parent PlusPortal. EVERY YEAR parents/guardians MUST log into to ensure all neceesary and imporant contact information is up to date. The Portal will be used throughout your child’s academic career as it is where you update your child’s emergency contact information, view report cards, and beyond elementary school, see your child’s grades in real time. It also acts as a communication portal between you and your child’s teacher where oftentimes, different academic links, notes, or activities are shared.

If you are a returning parent, your account is still active. If you are a new parent guardian and have not received access, please reach out to our school administrative secretary, Donna Walsh at donna.walsh@reading.k12.ma.us. At that point, you will receive a separate email with your PlusPortal login information. The subject line of the email is Important! Barrows School PlusPortals login. This is a confidential portal that is linked to your email account. You have 48 hours to activate your Portal account using the temporary password supplied through the email. Once you login, you can update the password and personal information.

Wednesday, September 18th:

• Picture Day! (Make-ups on Oct. 29th)
• PTO Meeting (Barrows Library & Virtual Option) 7pm
• Don't Miss Lynn Lyons virtual presentation: Tackling the Patterns of Anxiety, Depression, and Avoidance for great parenting tips! She really is amazing!! (registration instructions below)

Friday, September 20th: Barrows Families at home Reading Questionnare Due today

Link: https://forms.gle/2Asnr8c1QaD37Syv8

Friday, October 18th, 3-6pm: Monster Mash (raindate 10.25)

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

The Food Service Department is thrilled to announce that starting this school year, we will expand our breakfast program to all elementary schools! We are eager to bring nutritious and delicious breakfast options to every student in our district. We'll start with a limited menu and explore ways to expand our offerings as the year progresses. 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.

THANK YOU: Thanks to all the families who have already paid their PTO dues and completed the volunteer form! This really helps us start the year off strong. We appreciate all the ways our Barrows families help us out – paying dues, volunteering time, attending meetings, connecting on the black top – all levels of engagement are valuable and help us be successful.

JOIN US: The first PTO meeting of the school year will take place Wednesday September 18th at 7pm. You can join in person in the Barrows library or via Zoom. Agenda and zoom link will be circulated prior to the meeting. New and old faces are encouraged to join!

PTO WELCOME PACKET

• Please help us start the school year off strong by paying your PTO dues this month - https://givebutter.com/xxiGJl.
• Please submit your volunteer interests by completing this form as soon as possible - https://forms.gle/AFCisdBwFskoxDtC8

SAVE THE DATE – Link to PTO calendar

- Calareso’s Fundraiser: Sep 30 – Oct 18

- Otis Spunkmeyer Fundraiser: Oct 2 – Oct 16

- MONSTER MASH: Friday Oct 18 (rain date 10/25)

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!

Many thanks,

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/

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."

We had a great turnout at the Friends of Reading Metco Back-to-School Celebration, followed by the Reading Town Street Faire! I saw so many Shining Stars having fun on Haven! Thank you to all of our Barrows families who turned out for the event and to the Chesleys who helped organize it!

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

Welcome back students, families, teachers, and staff. We hope everyone had a wonderful summer. The Reading SEPAC Board looks forward to meeting new families and to continue fostering our wonderful relationships with returning families.

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.

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

As always, we are ready to continue to advocate for students with special needs who attend our public schools in Reading and provide guidance to their parents/caregivers. Feel free to reach out anytime, we are here to help!

Tackling the Patterns of Anxiety, Depression and Avoidance:

Come join us virtually for a presentation by Lynn Lyons on Tackling the Patterns of Anxiety, Depression, and Avoidance. She will share the following. Registration is required for this event.

• Strategies for managing anxiety, moods, and social pressures, including school avoidance;

• Strategies for prevention and collaboration;

• What may make problems worse;

• What are better approaches

• Please click here to register for this virtual event with Lynn Lyons.

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