Birch Meadow Newsflash

*Breakfast Information: We're happy to announce that our RPS Food Service Department has now made permanent links for breakfast ordering. I will post these links on the Newsflash and also on the website. Kindergarten and first grade families will no longer need to worry about receiving the most up to date link, as it will always be the same. The link will stop receiving orders for the upcoming week on Saturday evenings. A reminder that grades 2-5 do not need to pre-order. Just like lunch, sometimes due to supply chain issues outside of our control, a reasonable substitution to what is on the menu may be provided (for example, an apple rather than apple slices, or a different flavor of the same cereal).

KINDERGARTEN BREAKFAST

FIRST GRADE BREAKFAST

*Back To School Night Information: Our Back to School Night will be held September 11th from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. This event is for adults only and is designed for teachers to inform parents/caregivers about curriculum, standards, and expectations in their classroom. It is not conducive for conversations about individual students as the event is not private in nature, with many people coming in and out of classrooms. Conversations about individual students are best saved for parent / teacher conferences later in the year. Please do not bring your student(s) to Back to School Night, as they will be pretty bored and without classmates. It is set up as an event for parents/caregivers only.

*Rolling Drop-off Reminders

• Please, whenever possible, pull all the way up in line. Stopping to let your student(s) out when there are miles of open real estate between your vehicle and the front stairs causes the entire line to push out into the street.
• Have your student(s) exit your vehicle out the righthand doors facing the building, not out the lefthand doors into oncoming traffic. We have staff outside to assist with younger students, so you do not need to exit your vehicle.
• Please, when walking with students, use designated crossing areas. Although I am out front directing traffic most mornings, it is always safer to use a crosswalk than to take a shortcut across the driveway.
• You may pull out of line and proceed cautiously around other vehicles if your student(s) have exited your vehicle. However, you may not pull out around buses when students are stepping off. Please be mindful of this at all times.
• Remind your student(s) who ride bikes that the expectation is that they walk bikes once they are on school property. The playground and back path can get pretty crowded, and bikes weaving through pedestrians is a recipe for scraped knees and early morning trips to the nurse.
• Our rule of thumb is that getting to school safely is better than getting to school quickly.

-Dr. B

Welcome Kindergarten Students and Families - we hope you had a great first week! Whether it was full of tears and meltdowns, or hugs and high-fives we've all been there and are here to support you in whatever way you need! You can always email: birchmeadowpto@gmail.com for questions, concerns, or suggestions!

In addition to the PTO volunteers, a great way to get to know the school is to help Ms. Falvey in the library - see below for Library Updates - including info about next weeks book fair.

Don't forget to fill out the form to create and socialize classroom lists. Please complete the form to have your contact information made available to same-grade-level parents: https://forms.gle/FmXa7rFEYGXkVAZs8

Have a great week!

Your PTO Board 🌈

The library is looking for volunteers for K-3 classes! Check out the link below for a description of what that entails and/or to sign up for your child's class. Volunteering runs on an A and B week schedule so there can be two volunteers for one class. Also, volunteer posts are for the whole year. If you are interested click the link below:

Library Volunteer sign ups

It's that time of year again....Book Fair week! Next week, September 9th through 13th, all library classes will be visiting the Book Fair. You are more than welcome to come and shop with your child! Information has gone home this week with your child(ren) but you can also access by clicking the link below. Thank you for your continued support of the Birch Meadow Library!

Birch Meadow Book Fair Information

We are so thankful for the many caregivers who have signed up to volunteer and help support events at Birch! We are still looking for room parents in 2nd (Breen - 1, Gagnon - 1), 3rd (Healy -1 Kelly - 1), 4th (Milner -1) grades. We are also looking for help with our Readathon, Calareso's & Restaurant fundraisers, Teacher Appreciation events and 4th grade enrichment.

Sept 9 - Sept 13th - Book Fair in Birch Library

September 11th - Back to School Enrichment Night @ Birch Meadow 6:00PM - 7:00PM

September 18th - Lynn Lyons Presentation - (LINK TO REGISTER) - MORE INFO LISTED BELOW

September 25th - Special Education Team Chair Meet & Greet 9am @ RPL - REGISTER

September 30th - School picture day (re-take/absent date will be announced at a later date)

October 14th - Indigenous People's Day. No school

• We have a Birch Meadow storefront and will post items and fundraisers throughout the year. We also welcome direct donations and company match: https://birch-meadow-elementary-school-pto.square.site/

• Drop off your donations of clothing and textiles to the two large bins to the far right of the main entrance on Arthur B. Lord Drive. Birch Meadow earns funds through Helpsy, a for-profit company that offers local non-profits like our PTO this easy, no-cost fundraising program!

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.

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.

In person on Wed., Sept 25th @ 9:00am in the Community Room at the Reading Public Library. Come join us and meet your team chair and student service leadership in person. This is a great opportunity to foster a good relationship outside of the virtual world and demands of IEP meetings.

Refreshments provided. Registration requested.

Please click here to register

Please "like" Birch Meadow Elementary PTO" Facebook page and follow our Instagram: @birch_meadow_pto