Birch Meadow Newsflash
May 20, 2021
Second Grade Insect Explorers.
4th Graders at Mask Free Recess.
5th Graders at Art.
From the Desk of Ms. Hendrix
Dear Birch Meadow Families,
As a school community, we must provide all students with an educational experience that enables them to grow academically, socially and emotionally over their time at Birch Meadow School. Our understanding of children (and adult) learning has developed to include the knowledge that an individual's sense of safety and being known and understood in their learning community has a profound impact on academic achievement. Furthermore, we know that historically there have been groups in society who have not been honored or represented in schools. It is incumbent upon educators to create learning environments that honor the many cultures and identities present now and in the future at our schools so that any student who enters the school feels the safety and belonging necessary to learn at the highest levels.
As part of this work, one of the goals in the 20-21 School Improvement Plan is to rewrite the Birch Meadow Mission/Vision statement with an equity focus. Over the school year the following happened:
- November 10 - School Site Council Meeting to review and discuss School Improvement Plan (posted as an Open Meeting)
- January 25 - Joint Meeting between School Leadership Team and School Site Council to discuss mission and vision work (posted as an Open Meeting)
- February, 2021 - Birch Meadow Staff Meeting: Faculty worked in groups to draft a mission/vision statement
- February and 1st week of March, 2021 - Each classroom worked on ideas for the mission/vision statement
- March 8 2021 - Joint Meeting between School Leadership and School Site Council to review teacher and student ideas and draft statement (Posted as an open Meeting)
- April 5, 2021 - School Site Council meeting to finalize the draft statement and plan the Community Forum (Posted as an Open Meeting)
- May 12, 2021 - Community Forum for input on draft mission/vision statement
- May 17, 2021 - School Site Council meeting to review and incorporate community input (Posted as an Open Meeting)
Thank you to the School Site Council and School Leadership Team for their hard work on this statement and to the entire Birch community - staff, students, and family members - who contributed to its development.
At the Community Forum on May 12th, in addition to getting insight and input from families, we also got questions and thoughts that can be used to guide community meetings next year.
This link will take you to the Vision and Mission Statement posted on the Birch Meadow website.
Class Pictures and School Picture Make Up Day - Wednesday May 26th
Class pictures will be taken on Wednesday, May 26th. The pictures will be outside and students will be socially distanced without masks. Your child's teacher will send home an order form. If you want to order online at https://oconnorstudio.com/order-central you should use order code 40220g6e
Make up pictures will be taken on May 26th. If you are requesting make up pictures, please bring your original pictures to school. If you need new pictures, please ask your child's teacher or the office for a school picture form.
MCAS Update
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Below are two fliers for mental health and stress reduction workshops being offered this month by the Reading Public Schools. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we are all feeling the impact of a very difficult year combined with the usual end of year school stressors and jitters. These workshops may be helpful to you as your family manages end of the school year feelings. Each link opens a flier for a workshop or series of workshops.
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
- PTO Board Elections are June 8th during the General Meeting The PTO board still needs someone for the position of Secretary. If you are interested in the position, please send an email to BirchMeadowPTO@gmail.com and include your name and which position you are interested in. Please feel free to contact us with general questions as well. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Our next dinner fundraiser is May 24th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Bunratty Tavern in Reading. 20% of total food sales (take out and dine in) from Birch Meadow participants will be donated back to the school.*Please mention you are part of the fundraiser so Birch gets credit for your meal.*
REF Teacher Tributes: What better way to thank a Reading school teacher, staff member, or administrator than to order a tribute and support future teacher grants at the same time! A donation to the REF Teacher & Staff Tribute Program brings a small gift and special tribute card thanking the recipient for their commitment to the educational experience of our children. Included on the card is your personal message. REF is collaborating with all school district PTOs, sharing 30% of profits based on the number of tributes sold. Go to Reading Educational Foundation to order now!
- Don't forget to Save the Date for 5th Grade Graduation. June 18th. Details to come.
Our next PTO General Meeting is June 8th at 7:30 pm via Zoom.
Thank you for your time and for your support of PTO activities.
Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Erin Gibson
This week's Staff Spotlight belongs to third-grade special education teacher, Mrs. Erin Gibson. She is kind, patient, smart, and talented, and we are so fortunate to have her at Birch Meadow. Thank you for helping us get to know you, Mrs. Gibson.
Your name: Mrs. Gibson
Your birthday: September 7th
Where did you grow up? Reading, MA
Please tell us about your family/pets: I have 3 boys (Chase, Austin and Dillon). We have a dog (Rocky) and a fish (Max).
How long have you worked at Birch Meadow? I have been teaching 14 years but this is my 3rd year at Birch Meadow School.
What is your favorite part of your job? I love that I am teaching at the school I went to as a kid. A lot of things are still the same! I love how every year is different and exciting! My favorite subjects to teach are reading and writing.
Your favorite snacks: I love salty snacks like chips and pretzels. I also love sour candy. Sour Patch Kids are my favorite.
Your hobbies: I enjoy going to the beach, reading, being outside and visiting new places!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why? I would love to visit Spain because I can speak some Spanish and I have ancestors from there.
Book Drive at Whitelam
Understanding Disabilities 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 wish list of books for our school, chosen by our library staff, that feature characters with disabilities. Starting on Monday May 10 and running through June 13, stop into Whitelam Books on Main Street here in Reading, or call (781) 779-1833, to purchase one or more of these books for our school library, and while you are there, check out the full list of books and consider picking one up for your child as well! Many of these books are past MCBA book honorees, and Whitelam has books from picture books through young adult books selected for all five elementary schools and the two middle schools in town. The books for Birch Meadow will be delivered to our library in June after the drive is complete, and will be ready for students to start reading in the fall. Please share this information with loved ones and friends who might also like to support our school and Understanding Disabilities.
The books chosen for Birch Meadow are:
The Snow Rabbit Hardcover
Moses Goes to a Concert
Completely Me
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah Hardcover
The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game
Farah Rocks Fifth Grade
Show Me A Sign
Caleb and Kit
Wink
What the Wind Can Tell You
So B. It
Second Grade Enrichment with Drumlin Farm
Bunratty Tavern Dinner Fundraiser
20% of total food sales including Take-Out & Dine-In will be donated back to the school.
*Please mention you are part of the fundraiser so Birch gets credit for your meal.*
Monday, May 24, 2021, 05:00 PM
Bunratty Tavern, Main Street, Reading, MA, USA
Visit the Birch Meadow School Store
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