Wood End Wildcat News
January 24, 2021 ~ Cohort B In-Person This Week
I hope you are staying warm during this blustery winter weekend. I typically do not mind the cold weather, as long as we have some snow to enjoy. This winter has been a bit disappointing in that category, though there's still time for a good 'ole New England snowstorm!
You may have seen several trucks parked at the school throughout the day. We are having some much-needed safety upgrades done at Wood End. As part of the district wide building safety plan, all schools are getting new cameras and keyless entry systems. The electrical contractors are currently at Wood End doing this work. All contractors are wearing IDs and have completed CORI checks. They are following all COVID safety protocols. This work is taking place before, during and after school hours with as little disruption to our students' learning as possible. So far the process is working well. We anticipate this work to be completed over the next 4-6 weeks.
Another update from the Department of Education provides details about the MCAS test administration this spring. We are beginning preparations now for the spring schedule:
- April 5 to May 7 English Language Arts - Grades 3, 4, and 5
- April 26 to May 28 Math - Grades 3, 4, and 5
- April 27 to May 28 Science, Technology Engineering - Grade 5
DESE is making adjustments to the number of sessions due to the shortened testing window. We do not have information yet on how tests will be administered for fully remote students. Please keep these testing windows in mind when scheduling appointments or other school absences for your child.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Dr. King
Driving Safety Reminder
Also, please do not watch your child walk into the school building in the morning. We have had several drivers distracted by watching children walk to the front entrance and not watching where they are driving, which resulted in a "near miss" in the crosswalk on Thursday! Trust us, we have never lost a child between the sidewalk and the front door, so please pay attention to your driving and look ahead!!
Wood End Meal Train Continues
The goal of this meal train is to provide some nourishment for these beautiful ladies and their families. If you are interested in providing a meal, or gift cards to some local restaurants, please click on this link and join the meal train. We thank you for any support you can provide, as well as your thoughts & prayers.
If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to Dr. King. We are happy to help in any way!
Wednesdays are School Spirit Days!
- January 27 - Wood End Wildcat Day (wear your favorite wildcat gear, or blue & yellow)
Reminders From Our School Nurse
We continue to see cases of COVID in Reading, so please continue to follow all social distancing guidelines and wear a mask! It's helpful to send you child to school with an extra mask in his/her backpack just in case.
We appreciate families keeping children home with any illness symptoms. We also need to keep students out of school if they are awaiting COVID test results. These are important steps to stop the spread of this virus. Please contact the school nurse if you have any questions or need more information.
Happy Weekend!
Kristen Agami, School Nurse
As we expand our collection to include more diverse books, these wonderful titles are available for check-out!
This is lovely picture book that reinforces the themes of belonging, diversity, immigration and inquiry. “Every kid in Lola’s school was from somewhere else. Hers was the school of faraway places.” Her teacher asks the class to draw a picture of their country of origin. Lola can’t remember as she was a baby when her family emigrated from a Caribbean island to America. “I should talk to everyone who does remember. I should draw from their memories.”
She makes inquiries with her family and neighbors to collect memories of “the Island”. They recall music, beaches, sweet mangoes and a colorful environment. “Even the people are like a rainbow.” They recall fears and difficulties including defeating the “monster” dictator and nature's destructive forces. These tales build Lola’s pride in her heritage and she takes her abuela’s words to heart. “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not in you.”
Island Born Read Aloud Video
Every child feels different in some way, but Thuy feels “double different.” She is Vietnamese American, and she has two moms. Thuy walks home one winter afternoon, angry and lonely after a bully’s taunts. Then a bird catches her attention and sets Thuy on an imaginary exploration. What if she could fly away like a bird? What if she could sprint like a deer, or roar like a bear? Mimicking the footprints of each creature in the snow, she makes her way home to the arms of her moms. Together, the three of them imagine beautiful and powerful creatures who always have courage – just like Thuy.
Read Aloud video
Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal and the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.
Read Aloud video
Book reviews provided on Amazon
Reading Coalition Offers Student Support!
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support has partnered with Doc Wayne to bring an exciting youth therapeutic program to Reading students ages 5-18. If you are looking for individual therapy for your child or are interested in learning more about group therapy, please join Doc Wayne and the Reading Coalition for a virtual information session. Sessions will be hosted on:
- Tuesday February 2nd, 7:00-7:30PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83625231000?pwd=dk5PMWlPZVJzdHdudjYzOEFqZjRIUT09
- Thursday February 4th, 12:00-12:30PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81745519753?pwd=OGViZG1ucFpEVUU3Q0ZtWVY0MmJIQT09
Using a theoretical curriculum, which incorporates social-emotional learning and life skills, Doc Wayne offers innovative mental health programming. In addition to traditional individual therapy, Doc Wayne offers unique group therapeutic programs. Through these groups students:
- Have the opportunity and needed supports to become resilient and regulated individuals with positive adult and peer relationships
- Create positive relationships with teammates, friends, and family members
- Become confident and competent members of their schools and larger communities
- Achieve their highest level of academic success
Please see the attached PDF for additional information on Doc Wayne. All of Doc Wayne’s programming is being offered via telehealth due to COVID-19.
If you have any questions please contact Sammy Salkin, Outreach Coordinator, Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support at ssalkin@ci.reading.ma.us.
Special Education Office Hours
Dear Families,
As this year comes to a close, we wanted to thank you for all that you do. This has been a challenging year for all and we couldn't have done it without the support you've provided to your students and the school. As Russel Johnson, the Director of Special Ed for DESE always says, 'We are only stronger when we work together. We are all looking forward to the New Year!
We wanted to let you know of our Office Hours for January. We have enjoyed meeting with families during this time and encourage you to sign up if you have any questions or concerns for us. Please use the link below to select a time to meet with us. Prior to your scheduled time, a ZOOM link will be sent to you via email. Please be sure to include your email address when you sign up.
Office Hours for January
- Monday 1/25 @ 10-11 am
Link to the Doodle Poll to sign up for Office Hours:
https://doodle.com/poll/pc8hemvgiwr8nn34?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link
We hope that you all have a restful and enjoyable break! Happy Holidays!
Best,
Jen Stys and Allison Wright
FY22 Budget Process Wraps Up
The FY22 Superintendent's Recommended Budget will be voted upon at the next School Committee meeting.
Monday, January 25th
- School Committee Vote on FY22 Budget
Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams and will be broadcast on RCTV. We encourage all members of the community to participate in this budget process. If you have any questions about the budget, please do not hesitate to contact Superintendent of Schools John Doherty at john.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us .
5th Grade Celebration Planning
All parents of students in Grade 5 are invited to a planning meeting hosted by Dr. King on Tuesday evening, February 2nd, 7-8 p.m. via ZOOM. The link will be sent out to all 5th grade families prior to the meeting time. This meeting is for anyone interested in helping to plan the end-of-year activities for our 5th grade students, including the "Moving On" ceremony and celebration in June. This will be the first of many meetings and we will provide periodic updates to keep everyone informed. We hope you can join us!
Updates From the PTO
PTO Meeting, January 27th
The WE PTO is hosting its first "virtual meet-up" of the new year for parents on Wednesday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. Join us via Zoom from the comforts of your home for a casual opportunity to:
- Connect “live” with fellow WE parents and get to know parents of all grade levels
- Connect with current Board members to learn more about the Wood End PTO. What types of things has PTO done in the past? What is it like to be on a committee? What is it like to be on the Board?
- Learn the latest on PTO happenings and plans for the remainder of the 2020/2021 school year, including a new online Spirit Wear store, a virtual visit by author & illustrator Scott Magoon, the creation of the WE Little Library, and the 5th grade moving on celebration
- Share any ideas you may have to further support our kids and our teachers this year
- Ask any questions about the PTO or what we do
- Ask any questions about Wood End
- Enjoy some fun, adult chit chat!
There is no time commitment required, so feel free to stay for the hour, or pop on for a few! We’d love to see you!
Your PTO Board,
Cristina, Melissa, Kathy, Jackie, Lindsey, and Dimpee
We have several ways families can help with some easy "fundraisers" including...
Amazon Smile
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the PTO. Bookmark in your browser for every time you shop Amazon. Save this link as a shortcut on your phone desktop!
Shutterfly
Be sure to use our school's Shutterfly & TinyPrints Storefront when ordering cards, photos, gifts, invitations, etc. Did you know that 8% of your purchase gets donated back to Wood End for our kids? Please feel free to share our storefront with family members and friends.
Stop and Shop A+ School Rewards
Once registered, Stop and Shop will donate to the school when you use your card and shop, sign up now! Go to: https://stopandshop.com/school-rewards/
Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at our next business meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:00 PM!
New business for this meeting includes an update from our reading/literacy subcommittee and a brief presentation by Alice Gomez, School Psychologist, on community resources, followed by a parent discussion regarding the same. Please join us for this presentation and discussion and feel free to share any additional resources that you think other parents may find helpful. All are welcome! This meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom.
Join us for our next
VIRTUAL SEPAC MEETING
on Tuesday, February 9th at 7 PM.
Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting
Please also join us for our next VIRTUAL Reading and Literacy Subcommittee Meeting
on Tuesday, February 2nd at 7PM.
Meeting link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/87835232197
All are welcome and
ENCOURAGED to attend!
Connect with SEPAC by clicking these links:
- Join SEPAC's mailing list by emailing SEPACREADING@gmail.com
- Follow SEPAC on Facebook (please adjust settings so that you are sure to see our posts)
- Visit SEPAC’s website
The mission of the Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community.
Technology Help
If you have any technology issues with your student's laptop, please contact our IT department HELP DESK or by calling 781-670-2888.
Remote Access for In-Person Students Who Are Absent From School
Below are the remote criteria that will be used when students who are in person during a particular week are absent from school.
Students will have live remote access under the following conditions:
- He/she is quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is quarantined due to being in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is being quarantined for being out of state and is waiting for a negative COVID test per DPH guidelines.
- He/she is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and is awaiting test results.
- He/she has another medical condition that prevents them from coming to school.
Students will not have live remote access under the following situations:
- He/she is absent for any reason other than described above.
- He/she is quarantining for 10-14 days because of out of state travel as defined by the MDPH Travel Order and is not getting a COVID-test.
- He/she is going on a family vacation or other non-school activity during school days.
Please note that there may be extenuating circumstances in a school that would require a different action than above. These decisions are at the discretion of the building principal.
About These Services...
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!
Family Resources
Please be reminded of these amazing resources, if your family is in need:
- RPS Behavioral Health Resources linked here.
- Town of Reading: compiled resources linked here.
- RCASA and Mental Health Support linked here.
- St. Vincent de Paul linked here.
- Free & Reduced lunch access: sign up here.
- Reading Food Pantry linked here.
- Project Bread link here.
- Residential Financial Assistance (Rent/Mortgage) link here. (New resource! Check it out!)
Upcoming Events:
About Us
Email: joanne.king@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/woodend/
Location: 85 Sunset Rock Lane, Reading, MA, United States
Phone: 781-942-5420
Twitter: @WoodEndSch