The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Students and Families!

What a great start to 2024-2025! As I visited each classroom over the first two days, there was a hum of excitement and enthusiastic conversation as friends reconnected and caught up on their summers. We have also welcomed many new families (including 18 new students in grades 1-5) this school year, and I was so happy to see our returning shining stars inviting our new friends to partner up, sit with them at lunch, and join them to play at recess! The energy and enthusiasm in the building feel so special, and I am so happy to have everyone back!

I am writing this message from Colorado while we visit our oldest son for Parents' Weekend at the Air Force Academy. I am reminded of how busy the start of the school year is for all families, no matter what stage of life we are in when parenting! Mrs. Ring, a handful of other teachers at Barrows, and I dropped off our children at college over the last few weeks, and although we all agree they are ready, we still miss them. We are thankful for the distraction the start of the school year provides as we notice our quieter homes, slower after-school schedules, and shorter grocery lists. We are all adjusting to new routines and schedules and setting goals for the start of a new school year. With that in mind, as you prepare for your student's school year, I ask you to please take some time to read through this newsletter to make sure you have the important dates imported into your calendar and are familiar with all of our back-to-school routines (breakfast, lunch, drop-off, pick-up, labeling students lunchboxes, sweatshirts, etc.). Everything included here is meant for every student and family to help us have a safe year filled with fun and lots of learning!

I want to highlight important items & dates:

• Please be sure to go to the Portal this week and update your child's forms (this ensures we have the most up-to-date emergency information). This needs to be done each year.
• Please help your child memorize their PIN for breakfast and lunch & purchase extras (they will have this number for the rest of their RPS school career)
• Important Drop-off & Pick-up reminders:
  • We continue to see families doing this after continued reminders. NO ONE is allowed to walk through the staff parking lot with or without your student. We tell our students this rule and need their adults to follow it, too.
  • The "Kiss & Go Line" is only for students who can quickly and independently hop out of the car and walk to class. If your child needs assistance getting out of the car, please park elsewhere to help them.
• Every family is invited to our Back to School Picnic on Friday at 5 pm (more info. in the PTO section)
• Please read the PTO section--we are in desperate need of volunteers! Many hands make light work.
• Back to School Curriculum night is Wednesday, September 11th & for adults only.
• We look forward to welcoming our kindergarteners for their first day on Tuesday!

Thanks for reading all the way through!!

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.

Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day--No school

Tuesday, September 3rd: All students return to school (Kindergartens first official day of school) & Final Book Challenge Forms are Due to the Office (be sure to write your name & grade)

Friday, September 6th, 5:00-6:30 pm: Back to School Family Picnic

Wednesday, September 11th: Back to School Curriculum Night for Adults Only

5:30-6:00 pm: Grades 3-5

6:00-6:30 pm: Principals Welcome, meet our staff & learn about our PTO

6:30-7:00 pm: Grades K-2

Wednesday, September 18th: Picture Day!

PTO (Barrows Library & Virtual Option) 7pm

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

In phase 2 of the breakfast roll-out (starting on Tuesday) please note the following:

K & 1st: Enter school as usual, if students would like breakfast they should let their teacher know when they arrive. Staff will help K & 1st get their breakfast.

Grades 2-4: Enter door #12 and go directly to the cafeteria to get breakfast. Students will eat their breakfast in the classroom.

Grade 5: Enter cafeteria door by the dumpster (lovely, I know) to get breakfast. Students will eat their breakfast in the classroom.

Grades 2-5 who are NOT going to get breakfast should enter their usual way and head straight to class.

If your child would like a second breakfast or lunch, these will be available for purchase at $1.50 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. Additionally, our cafeteria will 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.

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

School lunches are once again free for students in the Commonwealth. We look forward to providing nutritious meals for our students!

Reading Public Schools Food Service/Lunch Menus: http://reading.k12.ma.us/departments/food-services/

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.

PTO Opportunities for the 2024-25 School Year:

VOLUNTEER to help lead our Enrichment Program, Family Events (Back to School Picnic, Monster Mash, Restaurant Nights, Fundtraisers, Parents Night Out, Sip & Shop, and more). Please reach out to the board if you want to learn more about how you can help serve on the PTO!

Classroom Parents Needed: We are looking for volunteers to be Classroom Parents. Ideally we will have one per class. Classroom Parent's act as a parent contact for the grade, help organize grade level participation at PTO events (raffle baskets, grade level tables at events, organize classroom support when requested by teachers). It is a fun way to get involved with your child's class and the school. If you are interested please click this link to volunteer by Friday September 6th - https://forms.gle/F7XqHpGfwJURKjeL9. The PTO will reach out to selected parents to organize a kick off meeting in September.

PTO Class Contact Information: The PTO is collecting contact information by classroom. They will provide this information to the Classroom Parents for your child's grade level so they can reach out to you throughout the year and they can also provide classroom contact details to you to help with planning play dates or birthday parties. This is completely optional, but very helpful as the school/teachers are not allowed to provide. Please click the link and complete for each of your enrolled Barrows students - https://forms.gle/HD3Jnu3XQ9LQfqYN7

VOLUNTEER

Be a Cafeteria Volunteer

Sign up to help in the cafeteria during lunch periods (11am - 12:35pm). The cafeteria is fully staffed, but can always use a couple extra hands to help with opening up packages, milk cartons, moving through lunch line efficiently. Please note that all volunteers must have a completed CORI (complete 1 week prior to volunteering) on file prior to volunteering and unfortunately non school aged children will not be allowed to join with the volunteer.

FUNDRAISING

Minted Fundraiser

Do you need to order birthday, or anniversary inviations? 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!

2024-2025 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."

Sunday, September 8th

10am – 12pm at Birch Meadow Park.

We will then go as a group to the Reading Fall Street Faire, connecting Boston Families to this great local event.

ALL families and staff are welcome - Register here: Eventbrite link.

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.

Understanding Disabilities is back at the Reading Fall Street Faire with our annual raffle - for every $5 donated to UD from now until the end of September (dates extended this year!) at https://givebutter.com/UDatStreetFaire2024 (or in person at the Faire on September 8th), the giver will get one raffle ticket for themselves AND can choose to help the Reading school “team” of their choice win a prize. Make sure when you donate online that you choose a school "team" if you'd like your donation to help that school win a prize. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram (@understanding_disabilities) throughout September for more information on our raffle prizes, and visit UD at the Faire on September 8 between noon and 5pm.

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