Birch Meadow Newsflash
April 8, 2021
Fourth graders at arrival.
The Welcome Back sign makers.
Outdoor snack in Grade 3.
METCO Director Search Committee
Dear Birch Meadow Community,
The Reading Public Schools are seeking a METCO Director for the 21-22 school year. As part of that process we are seeking your input about the characteristics and skills this person should have. Please complete the survey at this link by Friday, April 16th.
The Screening Committee for selecting the next Reading Public Schools METCO Director is seeking members. This committee will review applicants for the METCO Director position, interview applicants and send finalist choices to the Superintendent. These candidates will be interviewed by the Superintendent and he will make the final choice. We are collecting community input through a survey of families, staff and RMHS students. This committee will review those survey results and use them to inform our questions as part of this process.
The composition of the committee is as follows:
LisaMarie Ippolito, Joshua Eaton Principal, Co-Facilitator
Julia Hendrix, Birch Meadow Principal, Co-Facilitator
- School Resource Officer
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
METCO Parent/Guardian
METCO Parent/Guardian
Parent/Guardian
Secondary Level Student
The following dates are the timeline for the screening committee. Please make sure you’re available for these dates prior to indicating interest.
- April 26th 4:00-6:00 p.m. Screening Committee Organizational Meeting
- May 6th 4:00-6:00 p.m. Meet to review applicants
- Friday, May 14th 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Interviews
Please click on the following link to sign up for the METCO Director Screening Committee. We will notify committee members about their selection during the week of April 19th. The deadline for sign up is April 16th. https://forms.gle/Zk4H7HoqZ3ehTrHF9
Even if you are unable to participate in the screening committee we ask that you complete the needs assessment survey.
Sincerely,
Julia Hendrix Birch Meadow Principal
LisaMarie Ippolito Joshua Eaton Principal
Class Placement for the 21-22 School Year
Dear Current K-4 Parents/Guardians;
Spring is the time of year when we begin planning for next year. Soon we will be meeting as a staff to begin the process of assigning students to classes. Student placement is a complex, collaborative process that the staff and administration take very seriously. We spend a great deal of time carefully thinking about the whole child while we create our classes for the next school year.
Any parental input should be provided in a written format through this survey form but know that written input is optional. Placements are made by the professional educators involved with your child and are also informed by your input as a parent. Our highest priority is to create safe, inclusive, heterogeneous classrooms. It is important that you offer information that is not specific to any particular teacher. Requests for specific teachers will not be considered in the placement process.
In order to facilitate our placement process, we ask that you return your written comments on the form provided to your school’s office by Thursday, April 15th. After this date, we cannot accept additional responses.
Fifth grade parents: Middle School placements will be handled at the middle school level, and 5th grade families have already received transition information about each respective middle school. This information is also available on the Coolidge and Parker Middle School websites. Do not fill out this survey form for an outgoing fifth grade student.
Families with incoming kindergarteners: Information regarding placement and kindergarten screening will be coming later in the year. Do not fill out this survey form for an incoming kindergarten student.
Please understand that once classes are created the decisions are final. We hope that you will continue to support our efforts, trust our judgments as professionals, and encourage your child to look forward to an enjoyable and productive school year.
Again, the survey form can be found here.Sincerely,
The Elementary Principal Team
Julia Hendrix, Birch Meadow
Beth Leavitt, Barrows
Lisa Marie Ippolito, Joshua Eaton
Sarah Leveque, J.W. Killam
Joanne King, Wood End
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
With the increase in staff and students in the school, we are changing and enforcing arrival and dismissal procedures. These procedures are explained in the presentation listed above. Key details:
- Parking in the staff lot will be held for staff only and there will be staff at the parking lot entrance during arrival and dismissal.
- At live drop off, drivers must stay in their cars. Students should exit cars on the sidewalk side. Please make sure this is possible from your car.
- If you are in the driveway, you may not pass a bus or van with the lights flashing.
- We love dogs at Birch Meadow, however School Committee and department policy prohibits dogs on school property unless they are service animals.
COVID Pooled Testing
If you are interested in having your child join COVID pooled testing you can still give consent by following this link. COVID Consent Form.
All students whose consents have been received the Friday prior to the week of your child’s scheduled testing will be able to participate in testing that week.
Please email Julian Carr if you want to be removed from the consent list.
This link will take you to a social story about COVID testing, which you can use to prepare your child
Updates from the PTO Board
- The next General PTO Meeting is April 12th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. Lynette Owens of Trend Micro will give a presentation on Internet Safety during our Monday, April 12th General Meeting. Join us for a conversation on ways to help our children use the internet in safe and healthy ways.There will be time for questions. Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/88536393295
- Thank You for Supporting Our Calareso's Fundraiser! Birch Meadow made $587.50 from this event. Thank you to everyone who purchased certificates. We also want to thank Melissa Henri for coordinating and Calareso’s for always supporting the school and community!
- We Need Your Help! We have several PTO board positions that need to filled for the 2021-2022 School Year. Please scroll down for the list and job descriptions. Email at birchmeadowpto@gmail.com if you have any questions.
- Don’t Forget to Shop Our School Store. We have lots of great gear for the whole family. The quality is fantastic and the prices are affordable. So far, we have raised $215 from sales at the store. Let’s keep it going and shop! Birch Meadow Store Link.
- Thank you for continuing to shop with Amazon Smile, Shutterfly and Stop & Shop. Please remember anyone can help us to raise funds for our kids, so please ask your family and friends to shop through our links, as well.
- Do you want to make a Direct Donation to our fund? Click here and make your donation via PayPal.
Have a fun and safe week,
The Birch Meadow PTO Board
This Week's Staff Spotlight Features Ms. Kramer!
Ms. Kramer started working at Birch Meadow last year and we are so lucky to have her at our school. Her childhood photo was taken when she was in 2nd grade - the same grade she teaches. Thank you Ms. Kramer for being in the spotlight this week!
Your name: Allison Kramer Your birthday: August 8th
Where did you grow up? North Andover, MA
Please tell us about your family/pets: I live with my boyfriend, Edison, in Belmont, MA. I am very close with my family. My parents still live in North Andover and I actually teach from their house on remote weeks! I constantly talk about “my” dog Brody, he’s actually my cousin's pup, but I like to consider him mine too.
How long have you worked at Birch Meadow? This is my second year at Birch and loving it! I am so thankful for such a wonderful community.
What is your favorite part of your job? Getting to have fun with the kids and see how much they change from the start of the year to the end of the year! I love building a classroom family and sharing a positive outlook with my students.
Your favorite snacks: Popcorn and Twix bars
Your hobbies: I love to dance and journal!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why? Ireland! I would love to explore and experience the culture, food, and people!
More Enrichment at Birch Meadow!
Our 5th grade students will have the opportunity to view the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Concert virtually this month! Youth Concerts introduce students to the unique experience of hearing a live professional orchestra, encouraging a greater appreciation of orchestral music and a sense of connection to the BSO. Positive character development messages are delivered throughout each performance in a program that is designed with 4th – 6th grade aged students in mind. The BSO also provides educational materials for teachers you use in the classroom to accompany the concert experience.
Open Board Positions and Their Job Descriptions
- An officer must be a parent or guardian of a student enrolled at Birch Meadow Elementary School.
- The officers shall be elected for a term of two years or for the term of their child’s enrollment at Birch Meadow Elementary school, whichever term is shorter. The officers shall be elected by the general membership and take office at the beginning of the fiscal year. The officers shall constitute the members of the Board.
- The elected officers of this BIRCH MEADOW PTO shall be a President and Co-Vice Presidents; or Co-Presidents and a Vice President; a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Director of Communications, and an Enrichment Chair.
1) President
Will preside at all meetings of the BIRCH MEADOW PTO and of the Board.
Will be responsible for the preparation and posting of the agenda for all BIRCH MEADOW PTO meetings.
Will have such usual powers of management and operation of the BIRCH MEADOW PTO and shall have the usual decision making responsibilities of the office of the chief executive officer.
Will sign checks, notes, etc. in the absence of the treasurer.
Will coordinate the work of the officers and the committees to facilitate educational and extracurricular activities.
Will be responsible for recruiting as well as appointing committee chairpersons.
Will act as a liaison along with either the Co-president and or Vice President(s) between committee chairs and the PTO Board.
Will appoint special committees when needed.
Will provide a summary year-end report of his/her year in office to give to the newly elected President at the June Board meeting.
2) Co-President
Will act as an aide to the (Co-) President(s), upon request, and assume the duties of the (Co-) President(s) during his/her absence.
Will in the event of absence, disability, or death of the President, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office.
Will perform such other duties as the President or Board may designate.
Will coordinate and maintain the calendar of events coordinated by the BIRCH MEADOW PTO.
Will provide a written year-end report to the newly elected Vice President(s) at the June Board meeting.
3) Treasurer
Will maintain an accurate account of all receipts, disbursements, and other pertinent financial information as it pertains to events and purchases sponsored by the BIRCH MEADOW PTO.
Will give a financial report of the collections and expenditures and call attention to any unusual items at each BIRCH MEADOW PTO General and Board meeting.
Will provide a written Year to Date and annual financial statement at each BIRCH MEADOW PTO General Meeting.
Will maintain and safeguard the funds and financial records of the BIRCH MEADOW PTO. Financial records will be maintained at a secure filing location at Birch Meadow designated by the principal, or if possible, shall be stored electronically on a secure school server or portal.
Will receive all moneys due.
Will be the custodian of these moneys, with responsibility for all banking activities.
Will disburse funds as approved by the Board at its meetings.
Will pay out funds only as authorized by the Board as part of the committee specific approved budget.
Will prepare monthly financial reports and year-end financial data for review and comment to the Board.
Will be responsible for the complete and timely filing of all federal and state tax returns, as well as reports to the MA Division of Public Charities and reports to the Secretary of State. Bi-annually, with consent by the Board of Directors, the treasurer may consult with a Certified Public Accountant to be sure the list of required filings is complete and accurate. At present, the required filings are:
Annual Report to the Office of the Secretary of State, due November 1 each year;
Form PC to the MA Division of Public Charities, due November 15 each year; and
Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N, as required by the IRS for the gross revenue of the prior fiscal year, due November 15.
Form 1099-MISC for any individual to whom the Birch Meadow PTO paid professional fees of more than $600 (or the current IRS threshold), to the IRS and to the individual, due January 31 of the following calendar year.
Will provide a written year-end report to the newly elected Treasurer at the June Board meeting.
4) Director of Communications
Will determine with Board approval the most appropriate methods and frequency of communicating with members.
Will work in partnership with the committee chairs to market committee programs and dates.
Will manage communications and marketing for the BIRCH MEADOW PTO, including, but not limited to the following: newsletter, email, website, social media, and bulletin boards.
Will maintain a file of work, including samples of each document.
Will collect email addresses from members and maintain BIRCH MEADOW PTO directory.
Will notify local media about interesting BIRCH MEADOW PTO news.
Will prepare correspondence on behalf of the BIRCH MEADOW PTO at the beginning of the school year i.e., welcome packets
Will provide a summary year-end report of his/her year in office to give to the newly elected Director of Communications at the June Board meeting.
(5) Secretary
Will keep all minutes of the meetings of the Board, and business meetings of the membership.
Will circulate the minutes at each subsequent Board meeting and make corrections as approved by the Board.
Will maintain and safeguard all records of transactions, contracts, correspondence, and other related documents. A secure filing location at Birch Meadow will be designated by the principal, or if possible, shall be stored electronically on a secure school server or portal.
Will provide each member of the Board a copy of the current bylaws at the first meeting of the Board.
Will hold a copy of the bylaws making them available at all General, Special, and Board meetings of the BIRCH MEADOW PTO.
Will notify BIRCH MEADOW PTO members of special meetings called by the Board five (5) days prior to such meetings.
Will appoint a replacement to take minutes in case of Secretary’s absence from any meeting.
Will provide a written year-end report to the newly elected Secretary at the June Board meeting
Visit the Birch Meadow School Store
Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at our next business meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM!
New business to be discussed includes a presentation by Team Chair, Kelly DiCato, on the DESE Resource Guide to the MA Curriculum Frameworks for Students with Disabilities, followed by caregiver comments/questions; also a parent prepared presentation on local/regional community resources providing family education/advocacy, recreational opportunities, and summer camps, followed by a parent discussion regarding the same; and other items.
Please join us for these presentations and discussions 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, April 13th at 7 PM.
Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting
SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) hosts programs throughout the academic year that are beneficial for the whole school community. 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)
Birch Meadow PTO
Email: BirchMeadowPTO@gmail.com
Website: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/birchmeadow/
Location: 27 Arthur B Lord Drive, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-2335
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirchMeadowElementarySchoolPTO/
Twitter: @birch_meadow