Jaguar Tracks for Families
May 25, 2021
From the Desk of Mrs. Ippolito
Thank you again to our PTO! The student's loved the BMX Anti-Bullying presentation last Friday.
Our third through fifth graders have completed their MATH MCAS testing. They all worked hard and tried their best. We are so proud of them. Make-up testing will occur later this week and Science for Grade 5 on May 27th.
Congratulations to Ms. Shelburne. She has been selected as the next Joshua Eaton Principal. Here is the announcement from Dr. Doherty this morning.
Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,
I am pleased to announce that Caitlin Shelburne has been appointed as the next Principal for the Joshua Eaton Elementary School. Caitlin is currently the Principal and Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction of the Making Waves Academy in Richmond, California. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont and a Master of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley. She has a strong elementary literacy background with the Lawrence Public Schools where she taught Grade 5 and instructed ESL students in Grades 3, 4, and 5. She is the recipient of the Timothy Shiner Ally Award in 2012 from the University of Vermont and the Sontag Prize in Urban Education for Teaching Excellence from 2013-16.
Caitlin will begin on July 1st and will be visiting the school in the near future.
Please welcome Caitlin Shelburne to the Joshua Eaton Elementary School!
John Doherty, Superintendent
All my best,
Mrs. Ippolito
Joshua Eaton PTO NEWS
Dance Fit Fundraiser - Wrapping Up!
Last week, as part of our Dance Fit Fundraiser, the kids enjoyed inspirational videos featuring the stories of various sports characters. Tomorrow, we hold our Fundraiser Finale - a schoolwide, outdoor, dance-a-thon party (there will also be a virtual option). There is still time to raise funds (which will be used for technology resources at Joshua Eaton)! If you haven't already done so, please check out this video and register your student at funrun.com: https://vimeo.com/450225749/c34f4d436d. Students may earn prizes or the opportunity to be principal or gym teacher for the day!
All School Enrichment Activities:
On Friday, our students experienced a special enrichment - a virtual assembly featuring Matt Wilhem, a professional BMX rider and bullying prevention motivational speaker. With his clever mix of award-winning BMX tricks and character-building messages, Matt's show inspired the kids to overcome any challenge they face.
In upcoming weeks, the PTO has sponsored a special enrichment visit from Sarah Lynne Reul - an author, illustrator and animator. Sarah Lynne Reul wrote and illustrated The Breaking News , Allie All Along, and NERP! We are excited to have her back at JE to share her latest books and illustrations with the students!
Book Drive: Support Understanding Disabilities & Our School!
Understanding Disabilities (UD) is a program that teaches our students that even though we may be different in many ways, we are all the same inside. To help our kids see through the eyes of people with diverse abilities, UD has created a wishlist of books for our school, chosen by our library staff, that feature characters with disabilities. Between May 10 and June 13, stop into Whitelam Books on Main Street, or call the store (781.779.1833), to purchase one or more of these books for the JE School library. While you are in the shop, check out the full display of UD-approved books in the children's section of the store and consider picking one up for your child as well! Please share this information with loved ones and friends who might also like to support our school and Understanding Disabilities.
FUNDRAISER FINALE
Families, the DanceAThon is TOMORROW! Each grade will have its own event, and classes will be socially-distanced outside on the field as the Booster team leads the event with music and dancing! Remote students will receive the Dance Fit video to play at home!
There is still time to register on funrun.com, share, and enter donations! Thank you for your support!
Joshua Eaton News
Important Dates
- May 2021 - See MCAS Dates below
- May 28th - District PD Day (No School for Students)
- May 31st - Memorial Day - No School
- June 17th - Grade 5 - Fun Game Day (more details below)
- June 18th - Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony - Car Rally
- 9:30 - Mrs. Johnston's Class
- 9:50 - Mr. Derosier's Class
- 10:10 - Mrs. Donlon's Class
- June 21st - LAST day of school K - 5, Grade 5 Clap-out(more details below)
21-22 School Year
- August 30, 31st-Teacher Inservice Days
- September 1st-First day of school for all Preschool, 1-12 students. K Screening
- September 2nd-K Screening
- September 3-No School
- September 6-Labor Day
- September 7, 8-Rosh Hashanah-School in Session for Preschool, 1-12
- September 9-First day of school for Kindergarten
Email Troubles
If you need a hard copy of any information, please email the office to have it sent home.
Student Absences - IMPORTANT
There are two ways to do that prior to 7:45 am of the morning the student is absent:
1. Call 781-942-9161, Dial 1 - leave a message
2. Email jeeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us
Student Council Rock Garden Project
Mrs. Ippolito can up with a great idea for the School Council that will be carried on for years to come!
We are starting a fun spring project of creating a rock garden to celebrate Joshua Eaton’s staff and students. This rock garden will line the gardens in front of JE, near the ramp to the Oak Street door). We are looking for students to decorate rocks that show Jaguar Pride, peace, and community! Please bring these rocks into school by June 4th. There will be a box outside of the office to drop off completed rocks.
Rock Guidelines:
- Small rocks no larger than your hand
- Use paint and decorations that are water-resistant (acrylic paint, paint pens, etc.)
- Use JE colors or phrases to represent Jaguar Pride, peace, and community
Here are some samples from our Student Council members:
May is Mental Health Month
Reading Public Schools is offering community and staff training to promote mental health and wellness.
Tuesday, May 25th: Stress, Resilience, and Self Care.
Presented by Windi Bowditch 4 pm-5 pm Stress, Resilience and Self Care
Also, attached below are many resources available to our Reading Community.
FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL!
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 until the end of June.
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, in your home is meal distribution. This may include remote learners, 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, at the bridge of Reading Memorial High School on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
Your family may participate in BOTH options. Students can eat at school and receive Meal Distribution for the remote days and weekend meals that your family is entitled to.
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
MCAS Update
Grades 3-5 MCAS 2021:
The testing dates for Joshua Eaton are:
Math
Tuesday, May 25th Grs 3 & 4 Math
Science
Thursday, May 27th - Gr 5
Make-Ups
Thursday, May 27th - Grs 3 & 4
DESE has made the adjustment to one session per grade and content area and a shortened testing window.
21-22 Incoming Kindergarten
Kindergarten Screening for next year’s incoming kindergarten students will take place on September 1 and 2. All Kindergarten classes will begin on Thursday, September 9th.
Detailed information will be sent to families during the summer.
Book Drive: Support Understanding Disabilities & Our School!
Understanding Disabilities (UD) is a program that teaches our students that even though we may be different in many ways, we are all the same inside. To help our kids see through the eyes of people with diverse abilities, UD has created a wishlist of books for our school, chosen by our library staff, that feature characters with disabilities. Between May 10 and June 13, stop into Whitelam Books on Main Street, or call the store (781.779.1833), to purchase one or more of these books for the JE School library. While you are in the shop, check out the full display of UD-approved books in the children's section of the store, and consider picking one up for your child as well! Please share this information with loved ones and friends who might also like to support our school and Understanding Disabilities.
From the Desk of Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
Pool Testing update
All pools from 5/17-5/21 were negative.
This week our testing schedule will be:
Tuesday 5/25 1 pm to 2:30 pm Full time kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade
Wednesday 5/26 10 am to 11:30 Grades 3-5
Please remember that you will not be notified of results UNLESS your child’s pool tests positive and they will need to participate in the follow up reflux testing. I will be in touch with you directly if that is the case.
Quick Reminders:
Please send in an extra set of clothes. I have had multiple students in my office this week that have needed a change of clothing. I have a very limited supply in the health office. Please send your child to school with a full set of extra clothes. There are many reasons that students may require a clothing change. If a student needs a change of clothes and does not have one, a call will be placed home.
Remember to send your child in with a water bottle. As the weather continues to warm up, we need to make sure that our students stay adequately hydrated.
Thanks for your support with these items.
In good health,
Mrs. Trevejo, RN MPH
SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
All are welcome and
ENCOURAGED to attend!
The Reading SEPAC typically meets the second Tuesday of the month. It is anticipated that the SEPAC will follow this custom during the 2020/2021 school year. Accordingly, the remaining meeting dates for the 2020/2021 school year are as follows:
The remaining dates include:
Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 7 PM
All meetings will be held virtually until further notice.
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.
Thank you,
SEPAC BOARD
Reading Training for Families
From Reading SEPAC Subcommittee
Family Support 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!)
Mrs. Ippolito, Principal
Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
Mrs. Greco, Administrative Assistant
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/joshuaeaton
Location: 365 Summer Avenue, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9161
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaEatonSchool/
Twitter: @Mrs_Ippolito