JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
This week begins our 3rd graders in Cohort B joining our hallways. We are excited that our 4th and 5th graders will begin the hybrid schedule on November 16th. Classroom teachers and I will communicate directly with our families with information about arrival, dismissal, and any fully remote learning you need to be aware of.
Thank you to all of you for wearing masks and for adhering to social distancing during drop off and pick up. You have been amazing and we appreciate it. Now that more classes are being added to the mix, please be mindful of how many families are walking around and exit the blacktop as quickly as possible.
To that end, with our full hybrid schedule starting on November 16th, we will begin a staggered dismissal. As I have shared before, the purpose of this is to allow our students to exit safely and quickly with minimal opportunity for social interactions across the school. I recognize that if you are a parent picking up siblings, you will need to stay on campus until everyone is dismissed. I ask all other families to meet your child at the classroom dismissal door and then head home. It is our hope that by decreasing the opportunities for student and adult gatherings, we will keep everyone healthier and have our doors open as long as possible.
The schedule for in-person dismissal, beginning Monday, November 16th is a follows:
-Grades One and Two: 2:35pm
-Grades Three and Four: 2:40pm
-Kindergarten and Grade Five: 2:45pm
-All students taking the bus or attending Extended Day will be monitored by Killam staff until picked up.
-Remote learning weeks end at 2:45, Grades K-5
Stay well,
Ms. Leveque
Killam Upcoming Dates
Monday, November 9th: Grades 1, 2, and 3 hybrid (Cohort B in-person; Cohort A remote)
-Killam School Council Virtual Meeting, 3-4pm
Tuesday, November 10th: Killam School Virtual PTO Meeting, 7-8 pm
Wednesday, November 11th: Veteran's Day- No School
Friday, November 13th - November 22nd: PTO Sponsored Book Fair
Monday, November 16th: Grades 4 and 5 hybrid begins (Cohort A); Staggered dismissal begins (see above)
Reading Public School Laptops
A friendly reminder that if you were loaned a laptop from RPS, it is expected that your child is bringing that device to school whenever they are in person. Thank you!
School Council
Please join me in welcoming our Killam School Council Members for the 2020-21 school year:
Tonia McGuire, Teacher Representative
Kim Adamo, Teacher Representative
Bryn Burkhart, Parent Representative
Christine Strack, Parent Representative
-Monday, November 9, 2020, 3-4pm over Zoom
-Monday, January 11, 2021, 3-4pm over Zoom
-Monday, April 12, 2021, 3-4pm over Zoom
-Monday, June 7, 2021, 3-4pm over Zoom
Attention 2021-2022 Incoming Kindergarten Families
Attention Reading Families: If you have a child born between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016, we are looking for you. The registration process for the 2021-22 school year will begin soon. Please contact Linda Engelson by phone (781 944-5800) or email (linda.engelson@reading.k12.ma.us) if you have any questions or would like to be sure your child is on our preliminary list. If emailing, please provide your child’s name, date of birth and address.
Registration packet available on the district website– www.reading.k12.ma.us
The Incoming Kindergarten Parent Information session took place on November 4th and is available for viewing through this link (Passcode: 35^CYsCs).
A Message from the Health Office
Flu Immunization Information:
Thank you to all families who have provided immunization documentation!
Massachusetts is requiring all students to have a flu shot by December 31, 2020. The school immunization requirements apply to all Massachusetts students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12, regardless of whether the district is providing instruction in-person or using a hybrid or remote learning model.
A Note from Food Services
Through the extension of the Seamless Summer Meal program, started in response to COVID-19, we are able to offer all Reading Public School Children FREE meals for the entire 2020-2021 school year.
What this means for your family–
- Your school-age children will receive a healthy breakfast (at Coolidge, Parker and RMHS only,) and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school.
- Our other option for FREE meals for children, ages 0-21, is meal distribution. This includes remote learners, learnings participating in a hybrid learning mode, or any other children in your home. These meals will provide breakfast and lunch for each day, including weekends. Our meal distribution is provided under the bridge at Reading Memorial High School every Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
This program allows Reading School District to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on providing wonderful, nutritious meals for your family. If your children have never participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!
If you have any questions please contact Danielle Collins, School Nutrition Director, at Danielle.Collins@Reading.k12.ma.us or 781-670-2822
PTO Corner
November is a busy month for the Killam PTO! Here is what we have going on:
Please join us on November 10th at 7:00pm for a presentation from licensed clinical psychologist Ilana Blatt-Eisengart, Ph.D. She will be talking about ways of preserving and promoting mental health in the context of the pandemic. Q&A to follow. This event is presented by the Killam PTO and open to the public. A zoom link will be sent out closer to the event.
New gear is available for preorder in the Killam shop! Order before November 20 for pickup in December, just in time for the holidays! https://jwkillampto.square.site
The Holiday season is coming, and we all could use an easy weeknight meal, or a gift idea for a friend or teacher. Order $25 gift cards now for Harrows for **just $20 now** on our PTO site! Order deadline is November 16, and cards will be available for pickup or delivery via your child’s folder the week after Thanksgiving.
https://jwkillampto.square.site/harrows-2020
The book fair is coming! The book fair is coming!
November 13-22, 2020
While we can't do an in-person fair this year, the Killam PTO has partnered with local bookseller Fantastic Book Fairs to host a virtual book fair! From November 13-22, you and your child can purchase books at our online Fantastic Book Fairs shop! Books will be delivered to the school for pickup in early December! More details coming soon!
Information from SEPAC
SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is hosting a presentation by Coordinator of Mediation and Facilitation, Myrto Flessas, of the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) at our next general meeting, on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 7:00 PM.
This presentation will be held virtually, via Zoom.
Join us for our next
VIRTUAL SEPAC MEETING
on Tuesday, November 17th at 7 PM.
Meeting link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85279985457
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)
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.
Resources to Setup Your Child for Remote Learning
All information is listed under the Distance Learning Resources tab on the Killam Homepage.
Google Classroom
-How to Sign-in to Google Classroom
-How to Post Assignments in Google Classrooms
-How to View and Respond to Comments in Google Classroom
-Supporting your Child in Google Classroom
-Google – Teach from Anywhere: Google has established a website to help families and teachers (individual links) use Google and troubleshoot common problems, but all provide helpful hints. This is something teachers may want to share with families at some point. Click HERE to check it out!
Zoom
-How to Login to Zoom
Microsoft Teams
-How to Login to Microsoft Teams
SeeSaw
-How to Access SeeSaw through Google Classroom
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support Resources:
In an effort to streamline locations that you can access for support, we've included all the information in one centralized location. On the Behavioral Health page of the Reading Public School's District website, you will now find all Covid-19 related resources, broken down by categories (upper right hand corner of the page). We are fortunate to have access to an incredible array of resources and we hope this helps you navigate this unprecedented time. Each page is set up in the same format, and hyperlinks are included to help get you quickly to the information you need.
School Presentations:
Building (Hybrid) Safety Procedures, October 2020 (Passcode: 2*7M=v9S)
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