JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
RETURN TO IN PERSON SCHOOLING UPDATE:
We continue to prepare schedules and make facilities plans for the return to in person schooling on April 5th.
Thank you to everyone who filled out the elementary survey. We have been extremely busy preparing for our students return. We have a tentative schedule for the school. The schedule will look quite different than what our students have been used to so our teachers will work with the students on the transition. I wish to thank the Killam Leadership Team for providing extra eyes to review these changes. We will be in person Monday-Thursday from 8:15-2:45 and Fridays from 8:15-11:30. We are moving from 3 lunches to 4 lunches and will continue to utilize the gym and cafeteria so that our students remain 6 feet apart at lunch. Please rest assured that your child's teacher and classmates are not changing.
We also have a lot of physical movement within the building. We are moving from 2 classrooms to 1 for our classes, accommodating our spaces to have at least 3 foot social distancing between desks. A huge thank you in advance to Mr. Ken, Mr. Joe, and our facilities staff who are working to make sure each classroom has exactly what it needs and moving furniture around with as least disruption as possible. What feels like building a new school while the current one is in session is a challenge and we are up for it!
I know that there are still very many questions. Today, I am reviewing initial plans with our staff. Once many eyes have reviewed the work, I will send out information to the community specific to the transition, including what our fully remote option looks like, as we finalize pieces. I expect to communicate by the end of next week or early the following week so be on the lookout for that information.
VACCINES:
We are excited that vaccine appointments are opening up for our teaching staff! Please note that our staff are encouraged to take any available appointment so you may see more asynchronous work over the next few weeks as staff are heading to their appointments.
SCHOOL PICTURES:
Many families have asked about school pictures. We are once again working with O'Connor Studios to set up dates for our students to have their school pictures taken. Due to the COVID restrictions we need to follow, we are planning to have two separate weeks to ensure everyone has an opportunity to have their photo taken. We are taking individual photos this year but not class photos due to social distancing. We are planning on having all students, grade K-4 in Cohort B and Ms. Cole's and Ms. Boran's kindergarten classes on Tuesday, March 16. Then, we will have all students in Cohort A and Mrs. Wheaton's kindergarten class on Wednesday, March 24.
Fully Remote students will have an opportunity to come in after school on March 24th from 3-4pm if they want to participate. If you are a fully remote family and wish for your child to have a school photo taken, please email our school administrative assistant, Jackie Maglio by March 12th.
COVID POOL TESTING STUDENT SOCIAL STORY AND VIDEO:
As we begin rolling out pool testing with students, we wanted to share a Killam specific social story and video to help your child understand the procedures. Students who have been signed up to be Covid tested will be accompanied by a staff and will step out of their classrooms to take the test. We have a wonderful group of nurturing individuals, led by our own Sharon Grottkau, in helping think about our students emotional and physical needs throughout this testing process.
Stay well,
Ms. Leveque
Killam Upcoming Dates
Week of March 14th: Cohort B week
-Read Across AmericaTuesday, March 16th: Individual pictures for students in Cohort B and Ms. Cole's and Ms. Boran's kindergarten classes
Wednesday, March 17th: Read Across America Spirit Day for K and Cohort B- Dress as your favorite storybook character
Hybrid In-person Weeks Staggered Dismissal:
-Grades One and Two: 2:35pm
-Grades Three and Four: 2:40pm
-Kindergarten and Grade Five: 2:45pm
-All students taking the bus or attending Extended Day will be monitored by Killam staff until picked up.
-Remote learning weeks end at 2:45, Grades K-5
Attention 5th Grade Families: RPS Middle School Transition Night
Save the date! March 29 at 6:30 pm - Middle School Transition Night for Grade 5 Families
The Parker and Coolidge Middle School principals will host informational Zoom meetings for students and their families to hear about the transition and what middle school is like. Zoom links will be sent out prior to March 29. Stay tuned!
Grades 3-5 MCAS Testing 2021
The Department of Education has notified schools that the elementary MCAS dates have moved to May 10-June 11. Below is the Killam MCAS schedule.
Killam Read Across America beginning in March!
Our Read Across America theme is Around the World with Reading. We will read and listen to authors and books from all over the world!
- Our Spirit Days are Wednesday, March 10th (cohort A) and March 17th (kindergarten and cohort B) - Dress As Your Favorite Story Book Character!
- We will have guest readers in school or over Zoom!
- Our Virtual Bedtime Story Hour is Thursday, March 11th from 6:00-7:00!
- Our 4th and 5th Graders will vote for their favorite MCBA Book!
- We will host our first Battle of the Books Challenge and vote for our school favorite!
- Our Makerspace At Home Challenge is to recreate the Landmarks of the World!
- Lauren Tarshis Virtual Author Visit for 3rd-5th Grade in the Spring!
- Send us pictures of you reading at home or at school!
Building Safety Project at Killam
Killam Safety Reminders
Arrival:
Follow these guidelines if you are participating in rolling car drop-off a child at the front of the building:
- Pull up as far as you can in the driveway prior to letting your child exit the car.
- Drivers stay in the car and children exit on the sidewalk side of the car.
- If your child is unable to get out of the car independently, please park in a street parking space and walk them in.
- Do not pass cars in the driveway and it is a right turn only out of the driveway.
Dismissal:
At dismissal time, there is no live pick up in the driveway except for students who take the bus.
As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is staff only. We've seen families parking there for dismissal and we respectfully ask that you park along the street. With our students exiting from their external doors in the parking lot, having cars drive in and out is not safe. Thanks for helping us out.
Dogs and Puppies on School Grounds
As much as we all love dogs and puppies and as much fun as it is walking them, School Committee policy prohibits dogs on school grounds. If you'd like to walk your dog as part of your pick up routine, the dog has to stay off school property. If you'd like your child to walk to you on the sidewalk or to the driveway entrances at dismissal so you can wait with your dog please make that plan with them.
The Jungle Book
Parker Drama is presenting The Jungle Book - livestreamed! - on Thursday, March 25 @ 6:30pm and Friday, March 26 @ 7:30pm.
One of literature's most enduring classics is brought vividly to the stage in this exciting adventure. Interspersed with the classic Mowgli tale is the equally intriguing story of a young Rudyard Kipling, who is sent from his home in Bombay to a British boarding school where he encounters his own "jungle," including people—both good and otherwise—who parallel many of the animal characters he created. Filled with excitement and humor, the play highlights the struggle of good versus evil, the worth of friendship, and the importance of loyalty and other values required for surviving the "law of the jungle."
Tickets are $10 per viewer and can be purchased at: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/46795
Student Services Office Hours
Dear Families,
We hope everyone is feeling rested after February break and that you were able to spend some time with your families! As we move into the month of March, we wanted to share the Student Services Office Hours for the upcoming month. Please use the link to the DOODLE Poll to select a time to meet with us.
The purpose of Office Hours is to meet with the Director and Assistant Director of Student Services to ask questions, express concerns or to share personal experiences of your student. These are optional meetings and are not team meetings. We've enjoyed these opportunities and look forward to continuing connecting with families during office hours.
Prior to your scheduled time, a ZOOM link will be sent to you via email. Please be sure to include your email address when you sign up!
If you have any questions regarding Office Hours, please contact Allison Wright, Assistant Director of Student Services @ Allison.Wright@reading.k12.ma.us.
Office Hours for March 2021
- Thursday 3/18 @ 11:00-12:00 pm
- Monday 3/22 @ 10:30-11:30 am
- Wednesday 3/31 @ 9:00-10:00 am
Link to the Doodle Poll to sign up for Office Hours:
Thank you,
Jennifer Stys and Allison Wright
PTO Corner
April Dine-out!
The March Dine-out at EJs grab and go pizza has been postponed to April 7th!
5th Grade Fundraiser
Thank you from the 5th grade team for supporting the Scentsy fundraiser! It was a huge success!
Paint Night!
Please join us for a virtual paint night with Mrs. Hussey funded by the Killam PTO! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP!
Read on for more details and then complete the form here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfrE3ujaMt.../viewform…
SEPAC Information
Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council).
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.
Remote Access for In-Person Students Who Are Absent From School
Below are the remote criteria that will be used when students who are in person during a particular week are absent from school. This was shared by Dr. Doherty in a newsletter.
Students will have live remote access under the following conditions:
- He/she is quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is quarantined due to being in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is being quarantined for being out of state and is waiting for a negative COVID test per DPH guidelines.
- He/she is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and is awaiting test results.
- He/she has another medical condition that prevents them from coming to school.
Students will not have live remote access under the following situations:
- He/she is absent for any reason other than described above.
- He/she is quarantining for 10-14 days because of out of state travel as defined by the MDPH Travel Order and is not getting a COVID-test.
- He/she is going on a family vacation or other non-school activity during school days.
Please note that there may be extenuating circumstances in a school that would require a different action than above. These decisions are at the discretion of the building principal.
Lunch Reminders
Mask Up Reading!
The Town of Reading asks residents to:
· Wear a mask or face covering whenever you are not at home or in your personal vehicle.
· Maintain social distancing, at least 6' from others.
· Observe the State's Stay-at-Home Advisory from 10PM – 5AM.
· Review the latest CDC Guidance.
· Get a flu shot.
· Talk about Covid precautions with household members, neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
· Stay home when you are experiencing symptoms.
· Don't hesitate to get a COVID-19 test (click here for testing sites).
If you have any questions, please contact our local Board of Health.
Reading Public School Laptops
A friendly reminder that if you were loaned a laptop from RPS, it is expected that your child is bringing that device to school whenever they are in person. Thank you!
A Note from Food Services
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 for the entire 2020-2021 school year.
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, is meal distribution. This includes remote learners, learnings 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. Our meal distribution is provided under the bridge at Reading Memorial High School every Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
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
Resources to Setup Your Child for Remote Learning
All information is listed under the Distance Learning Resources tab on the Killam Homepage.
Google Classroom
-How to Sign-in to Google Classroom
-How to Post Assignments in Google Classrooms
-How to View and Respond to Comments in Google Classroom
-Supporting your Child in Google Classroom
-Google – Teach from Anywhere: Google has established a website to help families and teachers (individual links) use Google and troubleshoot common problems, but all provide helpful hints. This is something teachers may want to share with families at some point. Click HERE to check it out!
Zoom
-How to Login to Zoom
Microsoft Teams
-How to Login to Microsoft Teams
SeeSaw
-How to Access SeeSaw through Google Classroom
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support Resources:
In an effort to streamline locations that you can access for support, we've included all the information in one centralized location. On the Behavioral Health page of the Reading Public School's District website, you will now find all Covid-19 related resources, broken down by categories (upper right hand corner of the page). We are fortunate to have access to an incredible array of resources and we hope this helps you navigate this unprecedented time. Each page is set up in the same format, and hyperlinks are included to help get you quickly to the information you need.
We have a secondary RPS Social-Emotional Learning Resource Center with additional materials.
School Presentations:
Building (Hybrid) Safety Procedures, October 2020 (Passcode: 2*7M=v9S)
About These Services
Ms. Sarah Leveque, Principal
Email: sarah.leveque@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/killam/
Location: 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-7831
Facebook: facebook.com/JWKillamSchool
Twitter: @Killamnews