Jaguar Tracks
October 21st
Dear JE community,
I am so proud of your children! This has been a wonderful week at our school. The learning happening in each classroom is next level. This week, we hosted a district wide professional development for math in our fourth grade classrooms. All of the fourth grade teachers participated in what we call a "lab classroom" observation, where they observed the instructor teach math lessons in 2/3 of the three of our classrooms. We were blown away with our students math thinking and their strong participation.
I am sure that many of you have heard from our students that we have new and improved lunches! Students now have two choices for hot lunches along with a yogurt parfait option. The excitement for this is uncontainable! With new options comes a need to ensure more accurate tracking for safety purposes. (More options = more ingredients and potential allergens!) Prior to the pandemic, students got used to punching in their pin numbers--we moved back to this model on Monday. As we are acclimating to this system, please note that we give students the option to stay back if they were at the end of the line to allow for adequate time to eat. As the week went on, we saw more students remember their numbers and it got smoother each day. One of the highlights of my week was hearing a third grader add a tune to their number to help them remember it!
Looking ahead:
We will have a Sense of Belonging assembly on Wednesday, where we will review our goals for the year around fostering an even more affirming and cohesive community. As part of this work, we will be administering a survey about how students feel at school. If you are interested in learning more about this survey or have questions, join us for a brief zoom meeting at 3:15 on Wednesday!
Have a wonderful weekend! We look forward to a great week ahead!
Caitlin Shelburne
Health Update
From the Health Office -
We have seen a few cases of head lice in school. Please check your child’s hair frequently and consult with your physician if you believe they need treatment for lice.
Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene and are not responsible for the spread of any disease. No healthy child should be excluded from or miss school because of head lice.
For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/head-lice-pediculosis
Here is some public health guidance about head lice.
Here is some additional information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Last Reminder – I will begin Mandatory Health Screenings soon. The state requires that we complete the following screenings by grade level:
Kindergarten: Vision (completed – we will have a follow up make up day for any students that missed the first screening) and Hearing
First Grade: Vision, Hearing, Height, and Weight (BMI)
Second Grade: Vision and Hearing
Third Grade: Vision and Hearing
Fourth Grade: Vision, Height, and Weight (BMI)
Fifth Grade: Vision, Postural Screening (IN THE SPRING)
For more information please see https://www.mass.gov/lists/school-health-screening.
To opt your child out of one (or more) screenings, please complete the following google form.Mandatory Screening OPT OUT Form (one per child) or email me directly elmy.trevejo@reading.k12.ma.us BY OCTOBER 23rd, 2022. I will be doing kindergarten and first grade hearing screenings next week.
In Good Health,
Mrs. Trevejo, RN MPH
STEM Update
Massachusetts STEM Week 2021 takes place from October 18 – 22 (inclusive of the weekend before and after.) It is a statewide effort to boost the interest, awareness and ability for all learners to envision themselves in STEM education and employment opportunities, and compliment the formal instruction happening in the Commonwealth beyond STEM week. To get some ideas for ways to engage with STEM at home, check out the ideas and resources HERE.
Student Council Update- Socktober is here!!
What is Socktober? It is an event that was created by kids like us to help bring warmth to those who are homeless. Starting this week, we will begin collecting new socks to donate to the LifeBridge North Shore homeless shelter. They have homeless shelters in Salem, Beverly, and Gloucester. There will be a collection box outside of the office door. Please bring in your sock donations by 10/28. Let’s work together to help keep others warm as colder weather is coming!
Veteran's Day Assembly
Veteran’s Day Assembly Information:
Posters- We are collecting homemade posters from students to help decorate the gym for the Veteran’s Day Assembly. We encourage families to make artwork for the assembly using their creativity! Please bring it to your teacher anytime before 11/1.
Invitation for Veterans- Do you have a veteran or active duty military personnel in your family? Due to the space constraints of this event, our visitors are limited to the veterans and one family member. Please complete the attached form for your veteran family member or friend who will be honoring us with their attendance at our Annual Veterans Day Assembly. You may also complete the form for currently actively serving military family members or friends to be acknowledged during the assembly. We are requesting the veteran’s service information and the RSVP to the breakfast buffet to expedite the check-in time at the door. Please drop-off or send this attached form to school by Wednesday, October 26th so we can plan accordingly.
Breakfast Volunteers- The PTO is looking for 1-2 people to coordinate a welcome reception/breakfast for the veterans who are attending the assembly in person. Responsibilities include managing the sign up genius for donated food and setup/cleanup. We’re excited to bring this beloved event back but we need volunteers to make it happen. Volunteers are welcome to stay for the event which includes some great entertainment by Sgt. Dan Clark. Please contact JEVolunteers@gmail.com if you can help.
Pennies for Veterans- As a symbol of appreciation to our veterans, we will once again kick off our penny collection as part of our community project. These pennies will be sent to The Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Inc. in Haverhill, MA. Collecting will begin now and will conclude on Memorial Day. Please check your house for spare change and bring it to the main office!!
At-Home Star Activity- As part of our school community tribute to honor our veterans, all students/families may participate in an at-home activity.
If you wish to participate, please complete the following with your child:
Ask your classroom teacher for a special star. A suggested donation is $1.00; however, this is not necessary. All proceeds support the veterans at the Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill, MA.
Decorate the star with your child and fill out the form with the name, rank, and relationship of an honored veteran in your life. The veteran may be actively serving or may have served in the past (parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, a friend, etc.).
You may also wish to add a photo of your veteran on the star.
Send your completed star to school by Wednesday, October 26th. School staff will hang your veteran’s star around the school for all to appreciate.
The library is looking for volunteers
Please note that the new volunteer library training has been changed to Wednesday, October 26 at 8:30-9:30 AM.
If you are interested in volunteering in the library, please plan to attend the new volunteer library training on Wednesday, October 26, at 8:30 – 9:30 AM or the returning volunteer meeting on Thursday, October 20, at 1:30 - 2:15.
If you have any questions, please contact the library media teacher, Karen Ghirardi, at karen.ghirardi@reading.k12.ma.us or at 781-942-9161 x 137
Mark Your Calendars!
October 21............................Halloween Howl
October 27................................Picture Make-Up Day
November 8 ................................... Teacher In-Service / No School
November 11 .......................Veteran's Day: No School
November 16........................Half Day (12:45 Dismissal)
November 18 ......Conference Day/ Teacher In-Service
SEPAC Update
NEXT SEPAC MEETING Tuesday, October 18 at 7PM HYBRID: in person at the RMHS Schettini Library Media Center with remote access using this link Hear about last year’s special education program reviews Board Elections. Consider serving on the board! We could really use someone who is good at taking notes and posting agendas and meeting minutes. We can have up to six people on the board.
PTO's Corner
We look forward to seeing many families at the Halloween Howl this afternoon!
Enrichment Coordinators Needed for Grades 1 & 2: We are still looking for 1-2 enrichment coordinators for Grade 1. Grade 2 needs 1 enrichment coordinator. Coordinators work with the grade level teachers to plan memorable field trips and special visitors throughout the school year. Please email JEVolunteers@gmail.com if you can help!
JE Spiritwear Orders Due 11/1: Check out the Spiritwear store for JE t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more! Orders must be placed by November 1 and will be ready for pick up before holiday break in December. Visit the store at the link here.
Calareso’s Gift Certificate Fundraiser SUCCESS: Thank you to all of those who purchased gift certificates to Calareso’s! We were able to raise $2500 for the PTO. We will have another Calareso’s fundraiser in the spring!
Have a great week!
Meredith Yoder & Jessie Tran
PTO Co-Presidents
Reading Public Schools is a METCO District
"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."
Found Family Program
Please take a look at the attached document detailing our “Found Family” Program. With the collaboration of 8th grade students from Parker Middle School and all Elementary PTO’s we produced the name “Found Family,” and this document for our district Found Family program. What does Found Family mean? “A group of people who find themselves united in a family-bond based on shared experiences, mutual understanding, and interpersonal connection. Found Family is not biological but found when placed in a new place.”
If you are interested in participating, please sign up HERE.