The RISE Report
Weekly Newsletter, March 12, 2023
We are so excited to hold the RISE Spring Raffle! The PTN has put together quite an array of raffle prizes for some very lucky soon-to-be winners! The raffle runs until March 17th, so there is still plenty of time to purchase tickets! All the information is below and the link to the raffle can be found HERE! You won't want to miss the amazing items being offered! We will hold a virtual drawing on March 22 to announce the winners! Everyone in the RISE community (staff, students, family & friends) are welcome to participate!
As a reminder and for your planning purposes, we have a full-day of professional development planned for all RPS staff on Friday, March 17. There will be no school for students on this day.
Have a wonderful week,
~Dr. King
RISE PTN Spring raffle 2023
Get your raffle tickets NOW!
We have an exciting event for our community! Our Spring Raffle has begun! This fundraiser is sponsored by our PTN who has been hard at work putting together some amazing raffle items that you won't want to miss! How about a 1 night stay at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel in Boston? Here is the link to the drawing and prizes: https://forms.gle/o28x6yMSUEvbptkbA
Enter our Spring raffle for a chance to win!! All you need to participate is a ticket! After tickets are sold, a virtual drawing will be held on March 22, and tickets will be randomly selected. If you happen to have the lucky ticket, you win the prize! All tickets must be purchased and entered into the drawing no later than March 17!
Tickets can be purchased as follows:
- 5 tickets for $10
- 15 tickets for $20
- 30 tickets for $30
We accept cash, check or Venmo! All proceeds will be used to support enrichment programs and staff appreciation activities at RISE. We hope you take part in this final fundraiser of the year and a chance to win some amazing prizes!! Information will also be sent home in your child's backpack tomorrow, so be on the lookout! Feel free to share the link with friends & family!
Thank you for your support!
RISE PTN Board: Meghann Cerretani, Diana Gil, Rachel Bramante, Corey Mathison & Courtney Martinello
PTN News Corner
Enrichment Programs:
Our students are in for some wonderful enrichment programs over the next couple of months! Johnny the K, award winning musician and teacher, will be performing for our students on March 15. With a unique collection of hats and costumes, he empowers children to be the best they can be!
On April 5, Curious Creatures will provide our students with an interactive and "hands on" opportunity to learn about some exotic and unusual animals including alligators, lizards, snakes, and tarantulas! What kid doesn't want to see these?
Finally, in May the Discovery Museums Traveling Workshops will provide a 45-minute workshop on Liquids & Solids to each classroom. Students will investigate the role temperature plays in causing materials to change from solid to liquid or liquid to solid. This is a very engaging science exploration for our youngest learners!
Prince Pizzeria Fundraiser:
In April, we will be holding our final fundraiser for the year. This one is "as easy as pie" and provides families with an opportunity to purchase vouchers for the delicious Take 'n Bake Prince Pizza (3-pack of full size pizzas). Details coming soon!
PTN Meeting Dates for 2022-2023:
PTN members agreed to hold meetings virtually via Zoom on Monday evenings, 7:30-8:30 PM. Meeting dates for the remainder of the year will be on:
- April 3
- May 22
- June 7 End-of-year celebration at Birch Meadow Field, 4:30-6:30 PM
Quick Updates:
The PTN raised just over $300 from the Valentine Cookie fundraiser. This increases the PTN budget balance to a total of $3,893. These funds are used for teacher appreciation activities, teacher reimbursement for classroom supplies, and enrichment programs for our students. The PTN is providing a luncheon (pizza and salad) for staff on March 17 during the In-Service to show our appreciation for all our teachers and support staff do for our children. We also have our own Venmo account set up for donations; @RISEPTN can be used for future transactions, collecting dues and fundraising. There is a small associated fee of 1.9% plus $0.10 per transaction (i.e. on a $100 contribution the fee would be $2.00). We hope this makes it easier for families to help support the PTN.
If you have any questions, or interest in volunteering this year to support our PTN, please reach out to any of our PTN board members. We welcome everyone to join!
- Co-Presidents: Meghann Cerratani & Diana Gil
- Vice-President: Rachel Bramante
- Secretary: Corey Mathison
- Treasurer: Courtney Martinello
Parker Drama Production - The Little Mermaid
Nearly 100 diversely talented Parker Middle School students have been preparing for Parker Drama's second chance to perform The Little Mermaid on stage. Originally scheduled for March 2020, students quickly found out during dress rehearsal that their show was canceled due to the COVID shut down. A new cohort of students has stepped in and worked tirelessly to resurrect the performance and bring Ariel and her journey under the sea to the live stage at Parker Middle School. Directed by the same leadership team, Director Stephen MacDonald, Musical Director Jennifer DiMuzio and Choreographer Nancy Katz, this is an opportunity to honor what was lost while looking forward to new beginnings.
Perfect for families and adults alike, this lively, bright, and fresh show features classic favorite songs like; Under the Sea, She's In Love, Les Poissions, and Kiss the Girl. Join them *live* and *on stage* at Parker Middle School There are three family friendly performances: Thursday March 9th at 6:30pm, Friday March 10th at 7:00pm, and Saturday March 11th matinee performance at 2:00pm. Purchase tickets in advance to ensure your seat and avoid the lines!
ArtsFest 2023
Our district-wide celebration of the arts is just about a month away and there is excitement in the air! ArtsFest, our three-day event is scheduled for Monday, April 10th, Tuesday, April 11th. Some of the great visual arts and media on display at RMHS Main Street and the main lobby will include student artwork from:
- Each elementary school
- Both of our middle schools
- RMHS visual arts courses
- RMHS multimedia projections
We will also have some amazing musical performances by our students including:
- Our RISE preschool will be performing on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
- Each of our elementary schools
- 8th grade combined band (Coolidge and Parker Middle Schools)
- 8th grade combined chorus (Coolidge and Parker Middle Schools)
- RMHS Mixed Choir and Harmonium
- 6th grade combined band
- 6th grade combined chorus
- Reading Middle School Jazz Band (comprised of Coolidge and Parker students)
- RMHS Stage Band
- RMHS Jazz Ensemble
Please see the flyer below with the schedule of events. We invite you to come support our Reading students as we celebrate how the Arts bring us together as a district and as a larger community! A special shout out to thank our talented fine and performing arts teachers for their incredible dedication and commitment to our students! We hope to see each of you for Arts Fest!
District Planning...Are you interested?
RISE Extended Day Applications for 2023-24
Below are the RISE registration forms for the 2023-24 school year. Please complete this information and submit it to the Extended Day Program as soon as possible to be considered for a spot. These fill up quickly, so don't delay! If you have any questions, please contact Mackenzie Irwin, Assistant Director of Community Education.
North Suburban Child & Family Resource Network
Now Hiring...Crossing Guards!
In collaboration with the Reading Police Department, we are seeking community members who may be interested in serving as a Crossing Guard. These positions are essential in ensuring the safety of our students and families. Here is a link to the job posting with information on expressing interest. Please help us spread the word!
Kindergarten Registration for 2023-24
We know the registration process can generate a lot of questions. Here are some of the FAQs we have heard from families.
This month, we're all a wee bit Irish, so let's celebrate with some fun activities you can do at home! Get ready to hunt for some gold coins, create some colorful rainbows, and go on a scavenger hunt! Feel free to reach out if you need these activities tweaked to meet your family’s needs.
Have a great month!
Linda Boyages, OT #1537
Occupational Therapist
RISE Preschool
NEW Student Electronic Health Record Software System
We are updating our student electronic health record software system. The new Health Portal will allow parents to directly message school nurses, update any emergency contacts and medical conditions and securely upload medical documents to their child’s health record. Families should have received an email inviting them to log into the Health Portal. Please see here for more information about the Health Portal.
Please note that even if parents opt in to consent for administration of over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen, a doctor’s note will still be required for elementary students to receive any medication at school. Please contact our Director of Nurses, Mary Giuliana with any questions.
Latest News from SEPAC
Save the Date: Bullying - What Parents Need to Know. Virtual Training, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 7pm, via zoom: Click here to register (you MUST pre-register to get the zoom link). Parents and professionals are welcome to join this extremely important discussion which will cover the following topics:
- What is bullying?
- What are the school’s legal obligations to prevent and address bullying?
- What are some strategies and tools for dealing with bullying?
- How to address bullying on the IEP?
Reminder that SEPAC events are open to all! For much more information about SEPAC and the opportunities mentioned above, click here for our latest newsletter.
We encourage you to join SEPAC's mailing list, follow SEPAC on Facebook, and follow SEPAC on Instagram
About These Services
The Town of Reading contracts with William James College to offer a special service for our residents. The William James INTERFACE Referral Service maintains a mental health and wellness referral help line Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm, at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for individuals across the lifespan living in Reading. Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database. Each referral meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller. Click here to learn more!
Important Dates Coming Up:
March
17: In-Service Day for Staff; No school for students
22: Spring Raffle Virtual Drawing via ZOOM
Overview of RISE Programs
Reading Public Schools offers a variety of outstanding integrated preschool programming for Reading residents. Our integrated programs serve tuition-based students and students who receive special education services. Our goal is to create an environment of mutual respect, where all students learn from their teachers and from each other.
Our integrated preschool programs are multi-age, and students may enter when they turn three years old. This enables our younger students to learn from their older classmates. Our four-year-old students love being role models and leaders to our three-year-old students.
Our integrated programs are designed to support the learning and growth of both tuition students and students with disabilities. Our approach is play-based. Students learn school, social and academic skills through center activities, free play, circle time, recess, and more.
If you have questions about our programs, you are welcome to contact Dr. King.
Contact Information
Email: joanne.king@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://rise.reading.k12.ma.us/
Location: 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9179