JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
Each year, the days between Memorial Day and the last day of school are filled with activities to close the school year. This year is different in many ways, yet school will still come to a close and summer break will begin on June 19th. At Killam school, the staff has been thinking about ways to commemorate and close this most unusual year while we prepare for next year. We'll be ready to share our plans within the next few weeks!
We know that each student is hard at work wrapping up their school year virtually. The same is true for our staff. In all organizations, including schools, there are behind the scenes tasks that keep the organization moving forward. At the end of the school year, your children's educators are immersed in packing up, final record keeping, transition meetings, and hiring new staff. This year is and is not different in that respect. Over the next few weeks, teachers will be packing their classrooms, participating in interviews, and (in the case of kindergarten staff) participating in placement meetings for our incoming students.
Please recognize that some of these will interrupt or disrupt the live meetings teachers are having with students. One example: teachers have limited time in the school to pack up classrooms and prepare student belongings for pick up. We have to schedule these times in accordance with social distancing guidelines from the Town Command Center. So your teachers may have disruption in live classes and student meetings because they are scheduled in the building to pack. Your teachers and I will keep you informed about interruptions to live time if there are any for your child/children but you can anticipate the disruptions the week of May 24th and May 31st.
Additionally, mark your calendars. I will be sharing a pick up schedule for the week of June 7th. During this week, you will have the opportunity to come collect your child's belongings from the school year. While certainly a different pack up, it's still important that we recognize the incredible work and growth our students have shown since they entered Killam on August 28th!
We wish everyone a Memorial Day filled with remembrance and thanks for those who have served in our Armed Forces. Please note that there will not be any school on this Monday, May 25th.
Missing the Killam students,
Ms. Leveque
Specialists' Corner
As specialists continue to think creatively about how to engage with our children, their schedules will be posted for easy access in multiple locations. Besides Google Classrooms, we'll be posting in the Principal Weekly Newsletter and here on the Killam website.
We are excited to announce that the specialists now have a Google Classroom page. The page is linked in your child's Grade Level Classroom page. The code to enter is: kpezgng
Week of May 24th:
Art with Mrs. Hussey
Draw-along
It was wonderful seeing many of you at the weekly draw-along. I hope to see you next week as well! We are still using the Teams platform to come together and the dates, times, and links are included here. All you will need is a pencil and paper. Coloring materials and any artwork you would like to show the group are optional.
When you finish your artwork, I hope you will post it on our Draw-along Sharing Padlet.
https://padlet.com/amyhussey/qkjb1q6rdxi3jmwy
Think Outside the Box Challenge
Print this week’s Challenge Page and complete the drawing. Post your creation to our Creativity Challenge Padlet https://padlet.com/amyhussey/3quf61htas5ntive to share and be entered in our weekly raffle. One lucky artist will get a trip to the art studio treasure chest whenever we can be together in person. If you are a fifth-grade winner, come back to visit next year and claim your prize! Winners will be drawn on Thursday at 5:00 PM and announced in Ms. Leveque’s newsletter on Fridays.
This week’s “Think Outside the Box” lucky winner is Zoey Lewis in Ms. Cannata’s class!!!!! Congratulations Zoey, and thank you to ALL our entrants. Your creativity is so much fun to witness!
Live Sessions:
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Draw-along- Tuesdays from 10:00-10:30.
First and Second Grade Draw-along- Thursdays from 10:00-10:30
A special thank you to our 1st and 2nd graders (and their parents) who demonstrated patience and kindness while I worked through some technical troubles last week. Way to be TRRFCC!
Library Media with Mrs. Adamo
Mrs. Adamo and my dog Charlie would love to share some more stories with you! Please click this link on Tuesday, May 26th, at 10:30 to join us for story time. This week Charlie is dressed as an octopus to help teach us how to keep our ocean’s clean. If you miss any of Charlie’s story time fun, click on my Padlet to watch Charlie’s read aloud videos (and check out his adorable costumes!) https://padlet.com/kimberlyadamo/Bookmarks
Calling all 4th and 5th graders! Come to my Library Live class on May 28th at 10:30 for a virtual MCBA party! I will be wearing my MCBA hat and I will announce the winner of this year’s Massachusetts Children’s Book Award as we play MCBA BINGO. Don’t worry if you are having trouble remembering the clues from the 25 books on the MCBA list. I will reveal the answer to each clue until we have a BINGO. Use this link to print a BINGO card
https://www.mcguffey.k12.pa.us/Downloads/Bingo%20Card.pdf or bring a blank sheet of paper to make your own. Here is a list of the MCBA books for fill out your card
https://elearning.salemstate.edu/courses/1219529/pages/2020-mcba-booklist
Live Sessions:
Story time with Mrs. Adamo and Charlie, Tuesday, 10:30-11:00
4th and 5th Grade
MCBA BINGO
Thursday, 10:30-11:00
PE with Mrs. Snow
Great to see everyone this past week! Thank you for participating in the PE Meeting on 5/18 & 5/20 involving the laundry basket challenge and paper plate workout! Monday is Memorial Day and we will not meet for our Monday K-2 PE meeting.
K-2 is welcome to join in on the Wednesday PE activity with grades 3-5. We will be working on a PE activity that has various options.
Equipment needed:
Chalk (it is okay if you do not have chalk - optional)
A ball that can bounce
Outdoor space or indoor space
See you on Wednesday.
Virtual High Five!
-Mrs. Snow
Live Sessions:
K-2 PE Meeting – Monday, 10-10:30
(Please note: no PE meeting on Monday 5/25)
3-5 PE Meeting – Wednesday, 10-10:30
Music with Ms. Gallant
There will be No Live Session on Monday May 25th for Memorial Day. Please pick a Patriotic Song from my website to sing outside between 12:00-2:00pm! All music students preK-12 are being asked to fill the town with patriotic songs!
Wednesdays session will be a review of last week as well as diving deeper. I will play different instruments off screen and see if you can guess which instrument family (bonus if you get the instrument!). All students are invited to this session since Monday will be cancelled. Hope to see you all there!
Live Sessions:
Music Check in with Ms. Gallant K-2, Monday at 12:30
(No Monday Session this week!)
Music Check in with Ms. Gallant 3-5, Wednesday at 12:30
(This week everyone!)
Student Collections in the Front Entrance
We are in need of everyone's help! We know there are many, many library books that are in homes and backpacks. Beginning May 26th, there will be book return bins on the front entrance of Killam, each day from 8:00 to 3:00. If you are out taking a walk or a bike ride and have some library books, we would love to get them back. Checking in and shelving books will be a huge task.
We'd also love any extra paper bags you have for us to use in packing up student belongings. For everyone who's ever packed up a house, there are always more "goodies" than anticipated. You'll see a collection bin outside the school.
Finally, as Mrs. Hussey will share, there is a Reading artist creating a community rock message sculpture. We'd love to get Killam students involved. There will be a bin by the front entrance for kids to leave painted rocks. The rocks will be delivered to the artist on June 1st (see information below).
Helmet Safety
It is wonderful to see so many kids outside riding bikes and scooters, but unfortunately accidents sometimes happen. Boston Children’s Hospital recommends, “have your child wear a helmet any time they are on wheels – whether it’s a bike, scooter, or skateboard”. Helmets prevent 85% of head injuries. The law states that any child sixteen years of age or younger should wear a helmet.
Did you know that there are different helmets designed for different activities?
· A bike helmet is the best helmet to wear while bicycling because it is designed to protect the front of the head. It is common for the rider to fall forward in bike falls.
· A multi-purpose helmet can be worn when skateboarding, roller-skating or riding scooters. Children often fall backwards or to the side when on skates or scooters. A multi-sport helmet is designed to better protect the back of the head.
How to Check for Correct Fit
· Put the helmet on your child’s head. Have your child look up; they should see the helmet. The front straps go under the chin and make a “V” under the ears. Rear straps should be flat behind the head.
· Ask your child to open their mouth as wide as possible. Does the helmet hug the head? Tighten the straps as needed until the helmet does not move around on the head. One finger should fit between the chin and the chinstrap when your child’s mouth is closed.
I’ve attached some links that provide more information on the importance of helmets.
Please take care and be well!
Sharon Grottkau
https://www.safekids.org/video/safety-seconds-bike-helmets
https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/wheeled_sports_safety_infographic.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/helmets/headsup_helmetfactsheet_bike_508.pdf
Reading Memorial Day Performance Celebration
All Reading students, staff, and community members are invited to join together in a musical tribute this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. Current 6th-12th band and chorus students at Coolidge, Parker, and RMHS and general music students at all levels are being encouraged to honor those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms by playing or singing the National Anthem, a patriotic song, an American folk song, or another meaningful piece by an American composer on that day. Teachers will be providing students with appropriate suggestions according to their age and skill level.
If comfortable, students will be sharing their performances with the public by playing or singing outside on their porches and front yards between the hours of noon and 2:00 PM that afternoon. All Reading PK-12 students, staff, and community members are encouraged to come outside to listen or even participate themselves! Performing at the same time will bring a sense of unity to this day, even from our separate homes.
Message from the Curriculum and Learning Office
Fourth Annual Summer Groceries Program
The Reading Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul Society is pleased to invite you to share in the Fourth Annual Summer Groceries Program. As in previous years, this free program is being offered to families of students who participate in the National School Lunch Program in the Reading Public Schools during the academic year.
We have a limit of 40 participants this summer. These students will be selected on a first come first serve basis. If the program is already filled when you email us, please consider enrolling in the Reading Food Pantry at the Olde South United Methodist Church, 6 Salem St., Reading.
Groceries will be distributed on the ten Wednesdays of the summer starting on June 17, 2020 through August 19, 2020. This summer your groceries will be delivered to your home in Reading by our partners at the Knights of Columbus Organization.
Register your child(ren) with us by providing us the following information:
- The last name of the child(ren)
- Number of students in your family
- The address where you would like us to drop off these bag(s)
- Which OUTSIDE door you would like us to drop off these bag(s)
- Send this information to us via email at st.agnes.reading.svdp@gmail.com
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Although we are very sensitive to friends with food allergies, we are not able to meet everyone’s personal needs. Just as you would shop in a store, we ask you to select the items for your family; and if there is something that you cannot use, please pass it on to someone else.
All the best wishes to you and your family for a safe and healthy summer,
Alicia Gallagher, Coordinator of Summer Lunch Program
Killam Classroom Teachers
We are also pleased to announce our general education classroom teachers for the 2020-21 school year.
Kindergarten: Mrs. Boran, Ms. Cole, and Mrs. Wheaton (Half-Day K classroom)
First Grade: Ms. Cannata, Mrs. Pegoraro, Mrs. Rice, and Mrs. Walker
Second Grade: Ms. Binns, Mrs. Gramolini, Ms. McMahon, and Mrs. Nawrocki
Third Grade: Mrs. Bruno, Mrs. McGinnity, and Mrs. Treacy
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Encarnacao, Ms. Rees, and Ms. Vetal
Fifth Grade: Mrs. Gustafson, Ms. McGuire, Mrs. Palmieri, and Mrs. Sweeney-White
Killam Remote Learning Communication Schedule
We want to be mindful of how overwhelming it can be to receive multiple emails a day. We hear you and are attempting to streamline the information for you. If information changes, we will update you.
REMOTE LEARNING PHASE III
Classroom teachers: Classroom teachers will communicate enrichment opportunities either on a daily basis or weekly basis, depending on the grade level team decision. In addition, you will receive check-ins and live opportunities to see if you need any clarification or support multiple times a week.
Special Education teachers: If your child receives special education services, an email with enrichment opportunities for your child will be sent on Tuesday. You should also have received an individual Continuation of Learning Plan from your child's liaison. In addition, you will receive check-ins and live opportunities to see if you need any clarification or support multiple times a week.
NEW Specialists (Library Media, Art, Music, and Gym): An email with enrichment opportunities for your child will be posted on Google Classrooms on Wednesday or daily, depending on the grade level team decision. Information regarding live enrichment opportunities will be posted Friday under the Specialists tab on the Killam website and in the Principal's Newsletter. Your child's Google Classroom will also have the weekly information.
We are excited to announce that the specialists now have a Google Classroom page. The page is linked in your child's Grade Level Classroom page. The code to enter is: kpezgng
Principal's Weekly Newsletter: An email will be sent out on Friday and previous newsletters will continue to be posted on the Killam website.
Closure Information: Access to links and information will be posted on the Killam and RPS District websites.
Adult Articles and Resources
Reading Public School Remote Learning
Reading Public School Covid-19 Information
Reading Public Schools Behavioral Health Page
Open Circle Guidance on How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus
Open Circle Social-Emotional Health Resources
National Association of School Psychologists resources
CDC Talking to your Kids about Coronavirus
National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Talking to Kids about Covid-19
About These Services
Ms. Sarah Leveque, Principal
Email: sarah.leveque@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/killam/
Location: 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-7831
Facebook: facebook.com/JWKillamSchool
Twitter: @Killamnews