Barrows Starburst Newsletter
12-7-2017
Dear Barrows Community;
As I shared in our last Starburst, I will be spending some time this month to spotlight reading. Last week I shared some information with you about the value and importance of reading at home. The more we can collaborate as a community to foster a love of reading, the better for our students all around!
It is important to think of reading at home in many different ways, it is not exclusively a student reading independently to themselves. Fostering reading includes engaging students in many behaviors around language, stories, and art. Consider utilizing wordless picture books as a strategy to support readers, especially those that are currently non-readers. These text provide a great way to engage family members of all ages around a common book. Wordless picture books tell a story, but also allow the reader to make their own story. They provide the components of any book; setting, characters, events, conflict, action, and more. Some favorites in my household are the "Journey" trilogy by Aaron Becker. We will take turns 'reading' the book through the pictures, take turns on each page, or will all add to each other's ideas as we explore the details of the pictures. This time of year "The Snowman" is also a great selection! This strategy can be expanded through looking at photographs, paintings, or other pieces of art to tell the "story" around the piece. Continuing this theme can be fun, challenge your child to make a picture that includes enough detail to create a story. To see more titles, check out this list on Reading Rockets website.
Looking for some good titles to check-out at the library or purchase for your child? Check out recommendations directly from children; You can find recommendations from kids a at the International Literacy Association Children's Choices site.
Check next week to hear another at-home tip to help encourage your family to prioritize reading-at-home time (and some of the many benefits it can bring!) Also, a new section of our weekly newsletter will include "What's Mrs. Leonard Reading?" I will share out some of the children's books I'm reading with the hope to spread good titles that your family may enjoy! (Check it out below!)
Dr. Doherty will be joining us at our upcoming Barrows School Council meeting, Monday 12/18 at 3:15pm. This is an open meeting and he will be sharing an update about the ongoing budget process, this is a chance to learn more. We invite you to join us.
Love, Principal Leonard
Check out our week in review: https://goo.gl/zsWxJn
Fall BOKs Session
The Fall BOKS crew finished up another fantastic session last Friday. Kids got their bodies and brains ready for a day in the classroom by participating in fitness games and completing team building tasks during this morning program. Special thanks go out to BOKS parent volunteers, without whom the program wouldn't be possible. They are: Tara Byrne, Deanna Dodge, Jen Furey, Kate Grant, Megan Holton, Jennifer Ray, Cindy Runge, and Laura La Francesca. Watch for sign up information later this winter!
W.A.S.H. committee encourages our Barrows Community to take a few moments to be mindful
This time of year is so busy and can be stressful for families. Next time you’re running between activities, moving between seasonal activities, or finishing up home chores, we challenge you to take a simple 5 mins. per day to pause and stop to regroup, relax, and engage in mindful activities. You may decide to do this individually, as a family, or even bring in stuffed animals or family pets. You might do some breathing strategies, pause for written reflection, or try a new yoga pose. Tweet us or add to the Facebook pictures or hints about your family trying this! Add the hashtags; #BarrowsShiningStars and #BarrowsWellness
Barrows PTO Update
UPCOMING EVENTS:
A HUGE thank you to Carol Sansom and Rebecca Schromm for running such successful fundraisers. The Craft Fair had a fabulous turnout and Carol and her team did an amazing job organizing and running the event. Thanks to Rebecca’s hard work at getting the word out, the Calareso’s gift certificates sale resulted in another amazing fundraiser for Barrows. Thank you to ALL of our chairs and volunteers for all that you do!
Like us on Facebook: For up-to-the-minute PTO and school information, and a forum with which to communicate with other Barrows parents, please like the Alice M. Barrows PTO page on Facebook. Either search for “Barrows PTO,” or go to: https://www.facebook.com/Alice-M-Barrows-PTO-136454196405534/ .There are two PTO pages and both are updated and active…until Facebook develops a way to merge them!)
PTO BOARD CONTACT INFORMATION
Susan Austin, President, suseaustin@gmail.com
Melissa Foley, Treasurer, barrowsptotreasurer@gmail.com
Karen Martignetti, Vice President, kmartignetti@hotmail.com
Cindy Runge, Secretary, cynthiarunge@yahoo.com
Budget Meeting Dates *Revised*
December 18th-Preoverview of FY19 Budget (To save time on the 8th we would like to do a global overview of the budget process so we do not have to do as extensive a presentation on the 8th). Specifics will not be discussed at this meeting.
January 8th-Shorter overview with more specifics, Administration, Districtwide, School Facilities cost centers and capital
January 10th-Regular Day Cost Center
January 11th-Special Education Cost Center, Public Hearing, Override Budget
January 16th-Questions
January 18th-Questions/Final Vote
Thank you Barrows Alumni!
- Dana Granara
- Megan McLaughlin
- Madeline LaMarche
- Astrid Puff
- Caroline Sewall
- Allie Zurcher
- Ethan Forse
- Peter Tompkins
- Baxter McCarthy
- Rachel Romboli
- Alexa Romboli
- Elizabeth Fail
- Rachel Staffier
- Jake Powers
- Riley Murphy
- Amanda Samways
- Dan “Pip” Robinson
- Nora Flaherty
- Will Flaherty
A Message from the Lunch Room...
What is Mrs. Leonard reading?
Pocket Full of Colors… a picture book written about the true story of Disney artist Mary Blair - we loved this book at home!
Helpful Links
· Barrows School Lunch Menu: http://readingps.nutrislice.com/menu/alice-m-barrows/lunch/
· Barrows School Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarrowsElementary
· Ms. Leonard’s Blog: http://barrowselementary.blogspot.com/
· Barrows on Twitter: @BarrowsSchool https://twitter.com/BarrowsSchool
· Barrows Homepage: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/barrows/
· Reading Public Schools: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us
Stay Connected
The Barrows Staff is hooked-up and connected - Check out some of our awesome specialists and their sharing on Social Media;
* Follow our Barrows Library on Twitter; @BarrowsLibrary
* Follow Mrs. Lanzo on Twitter; @sarah1stgrade
* Follow Mrs. Becker on Twitter; @carinabecker6
* Follow Mrs. Boston on Twitter; @pbossrdg
* Follow Mrs. Murphy on Twitter; @hmurphygrade4
* Our PE and Art classes are on Instagram - (both are private accounts, you will need to request to follow)
- Find Ms. Hurley at: mrs.hurley_art
- Find Ms. Atwood at: barrowspe
*Our PTO treasurer can be reached here: barrowsptotreasurer@gmail.com