The Starburst

Greetings, Barrows Families,

We had an out-of-this-world year thanks to our students, families, and staff! We truly have the most amazing elementary school community, and I am so grateful to be part of it!

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, relaxing, and adventurous summer! I encourage all our students to get outside to enjoy nature and to read for enjoyment this summer. Hopefully, students' devices can also take a vacation to keep their bodies and brains in great shape and connect beyond screens! I cannot stress how important it is for each child to continue to read over the summer (fun books, reading with parents/guardians, etc)! I won't bore you with the research, but the impact is incredible. The Reading Public Library's Reading Program starts today, so head there soon to check it out! Reading Public Library Summer Reading Program link: https://readingpl.org/kids-teens/kids/summer-reading

Keep an eye out for other Pop-Up Reading Challenges from me this summer! It's lonely here in the summer, so I hope to receive some visits with students because of summer reading!

Congratulations to Barrows Class of 2024! You were a special group of students and families and will be missed. Please note the hard work and talent of fifth grader, Cole Gramolini, who completed the colored pencil illustration of Barrows at the top of the newsletter and gifted it to our school. Thank you, Cole!

I am having trouble uploading the Fifth Grade Clap-Out from my phone at School. I plan to connect to YouTube at home with a better internet connection and then add it to the newsletter early next week!

Thank you for all your support and for sending your amazing students to Barrows daily! (And don't forget to check out the School Supply list, other important information and photos below).

Happy Summer!!

Mrs. Gallegos

Students should bring the following supplies on the first day of school. They will be stored and managed by the classroom teacher. Please reach out to Mrs. Gallegos if you are not able to provide supplies.

*Please note the brand names we have selected for our supplies - thank you!

K Supplies

Crayola Crayons (24 pack)

Crayola Markers (washable, thick ones)

Double-Sided Tape

Glue Sticks (3 pack)

Paper Towel x 1

Tissues x 1

Clorox Wipes x 1

Baby Wipes

First Grade Supplies

Thin, Black, *Expo White Board Markers (4-Pack)

Crayola Crayons (24 pack)

Crayola Markers (washable, thick ones)

*Elmer’s Glue Sticks (4)

Tissues x3

Paper towels x1

Bottles of hand soap x2

Bottle of hand sanitizer x1

Second Grade Supplies

Ticonderoga Sharpened Pencils

Thin, Black, Expo White Board Markers (4-Pack)

Elmer’s Glue Sticks (4)

Headphones

Tissues (1 Box)

Post It Notes (2 Packs)

Barrows Third Grade Supplies (family list)

Ticonderoga #2 pencils (3 packs)-sharpened is preferred

Colored Pencils/Twistables (1 pack)

Crayola Crayons (2 small pack or 1 large pack)

Glue sticks (4)

Dry Erase Expo Markers - Black – low odor (4 pack)

Post-It notes (any color/size)

Tissues (we use LOTS of these)

Clorox wipes

Barrows Fourth Grade Supplies (family list)

Ticonderoga pencils (3 packs)

Tissues - we use LOTS during the year

Paper towels x2

Glue sticks (3 pack)

Colored pencils- Twistables (1 pack)

Clorox wipes

Post it notes (any color and 3x3 size)

Single Scotch dispenser roll x1

Barrows Fifth Grade Supplies (family list)

12 pack Ticonderoga pencils

12 pack Crayola markers (thin or thick)

1 pack of black skinny Expo markers

Tissues x1

Paper towels x1

Baby wipes x1

Quart size or Gallon size Ziploc bags x1

Mid August: Class Placements will be emailed out to Families

Late August: Popsicles with the Principals for incoming K & new 1st graders

Wednesday, August 28th: First Day of School (kindergartners have 2 hour orientation on the 28th or 29th)

Friday, August 30th: No School

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

Tuesday, September 3rd: All students return to 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

S-EBT Program approved for Summer 2024

On May 31, 2024, Massachusetts was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide Summer-EBT (S-EBT) benefits to eligible households during Summer 2024.

S-EBT provides grocery-buying benefits in the amount of $120 per child to income eligible families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. The program is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) with assistance from schools.

To apply for this benefit, please complete the web-based S-EBT application via the DTA Connect. The application will be available starting June 15th. Please contact Catherine Franzetti with any questions.

Thank you!

Makenzie Bilodeau

Administrative Assistant to the Office of Learning and Teaching

Reading Public Schools

781-670-2883 x19883

I have enjoyed helping to care for the health needs of your children this year at Barrows Elementary! There are many things to think about as we approach the summer.

Here are just a few reminders from the clinic:

New Health Forms/Meds for the 2024-25 School Year - With each new school year, it is necessary to update your child’s Health Forms in the school clinic. All students with medical conditions (ie Asthma, Allergies, Seizures, etc.) must submit new health care plans each school year. The forms must be completed, signed by both parent and physician, dated after 6/25/24, and turned into the School Nurse, or uploaded into the SNAP portal, when school resumes in August.

Please see the school website: School Medical Guidelines for more information.

• EpiPen and/or Benadryl require an Allergy Action Plan

• Asthma medications require an Asthma Action Plan

• Seizure Medications require a Seizure Action Plan

• Insulin and diabetic supplies require a Diabetes Management Plan

• For any medications to be kept in the clinic a Medication Administration Orders and Consent Form must be turned in with the medication

Tylenol, Motrin, and Cough Drops – These are considered over the counter medications and cannot be given in the Elementary Health Offices without proper documentation.

• Tylenol and Motrin require the Medication Administration Orders and Consent form to be completed.

• Cough Drops require written parental permission to be administered in school.

See Your Pediatrician – Have your child complete annual physicals if they are due, and make sure immunizations are up to date. Medical or religious immunization exemptions are permitted; documentation of such exemptions is required annually.

Have Fun! – Enjoy the outdoors safely and create some beautiful family memories! Review the below recommendations to stay healthy and well. • Use sunscreen – wear a sunscreen that is 30 SPF or higher. Choose one that is broad-spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays), mineral-based, and is labeled as water-resistant. Apply a generous amount and re-apply often. • Wear sunglasses – Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. Sun exposure over time can cause cataracts (clouding of the eye lens, which leads to blurred vision) later in life. The best way to protect your eyes is to wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection. • Cover up – One of the best ways to protect the skin is to cover up. To see if clothing offers enough protection, put your hand inside clothes to make sure you can’t see8 through them. Some clothing offer ultraviolet protector factor (UPF) against the sun, so check the labels. Consider wearing a large-brimmed hat for added protection. • Stay hydrated – The summer heat in Massachusetts can create problems for kids who do not stay hydrated. The current recommendations are for children to drink their age in 8-ounce glasses until they turn 8 years old. Children 8 and older should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. • Water safety – Always swim with others, set water safety rules, avoid distractions, take lessons if needed.

Message from Barrows PTO

Hello Incoming K Families!

Surprise your kindergartener with a Barrows-themed package delivered to your student mid to late August before school starts! Package includes a Barrows tee shirt that can be worn on school spirit days, plus a Barrows car/fridge magnet, Shining Star pencils and a Barrows star keychain/zipper pull for backpacks! All for $20. Click this link to place your order by Friday July 12th - https://givebutter.com/ME2wGN

If you have any questions about the Welcome Package please reach out to Laura Moresco (laurasuzanne.dyson@gmail.com) and Melissa Cataldo (melissaccataldo1@gmail.com).

Thanks,

Barrows PTO

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024 PTO Board! All of your hardwork, creativity, fundnraising, donations and time made for an amazing year of incredible enrichment opportunities, family events. A special thanks to Amy Koehler who served as our Treasurer, Jen Hillary for being our Enrichment Coordinator and Kate Grant for Merch Sales, all of whom will no longer have any Barrows Shining Stars! You will be missed! Thank you to those who are stepping into these important roles!

Barrows, Be Prepared. Fun & adventure for all kids from 1st through 5th Grade. Join Reading's Cub Scout Pack 733 (charted through the Barrows PTO). Participants gain character-building attributes such as leadership, preparedness, and citizenship through a tested program based around fun, community-building activities. Events include hiking, family camping, the Pinewood Derby, ski and snow tubing, STEM activities, and so much more! If you're interested in more information, please emai: pack733cubmaster@gmail.com

Yours in Scouting

Josh Olivier-Mason

Pack 733 Cubmaster

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!

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/

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

See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events

SEPAC Year End Adult Social:

Come celebrate the end of the school year with us. Everyone is welcome!

Bunratty Tavern

Friday, June 14, 7PM

• Come join us for a drop-in informal get together

• Each person pays for their own tab

Please Click Here to Sign-Up for the End of Year SEPAC Adult Social so we have a sense of how many people. Drop-ins are welcome.

Past Events:

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

SEPAC Business Meeting

• Special Education Budget Review

• Student Services Updates on new positions created last year

• SEPAC Updates

• Family Leadership Program Series Overview

The New IEP Presentation

Transition Presentation

• For parents and caregivers whose child has an IEP and will be transitioning (between schools, grades, levels, or are new to the school district)

Extended School Year (ESY) Presentation Recording

MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation

Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation Recording Available on the Reading SEPAC Website

• 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