News You Can Use
January 5, 2020
Redding Board of Education January Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting here.
Meeting ID: 978 5794 7516
Passcode: 796664
Tuesday, Jan 5, 2021, 07:30 PM
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January PTA Meeting
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 07:00 PM
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ER9 School Community COVID-19 Information
President's Note
Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality - Malala Yousafzai
The reality of Monday morning school was delightfully cast with a view of a Redding winter wonderland. The pristine white cast brilliantly by the morning light symbolically felt like a new beginning. A new year to begin planning for the future amid the optimism of getting a step closer to a return to community. No matter what learning looks like short term, we are committed to a new slate of programs and activities for our children and families over the next several months.
2021 New Year -- Redding Elementary School PTA Check List
Become a Member!
It's never too late to stand up and support RES PTA efforts.
Speak Up!
Parent and Teacher suggestions and ideas drive 90% of all programs, activities, speakers and enhancements.
Tell us your next great idea for RES!
Get Involved!
You've seen some of our programs; consider asking about opportunities to help - big or small!
Our children will drive future innovation so lets champion their learning opportunities today!
Optimistically,
Angela & Meredith
4th Grade Yearbook
Thanks for the pictures you have sent already! We want to make this year memorable for your 4th Grader; Do you have any photos of friends, class parties, SnowBall Dance, field trips, garden club, Boys and Girls Club Activities, Art Show, and International Festival...
Click here to upload your images directly to our yearbook website
Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload, click on “Select My Images.”
Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information.
Click “Upload Chosen Images.”
It’s that easy, submit your photos today!
Explore the Arts and Express Yourself
Monday, January 11, 2021 Deadline
Submit all contest entries directly to the RES PTA. For details and an entry form, please email: RESPTA4Kids@gmail.com.
National PTA's Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Matter Because.... Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.
RES has heART -- update!
RES Has HeART thanks to the tireless efforts of our art teacher, Mimi Weiss! What will your child's heART be when complete? All RES students are completing 4"x4" canvas tiles to contribute to a community mural. We anticipate more than 480 hearts to be completed by mid-January. Funding for this project and all art supplies is thanks to the National PTA and TikTok Grant awarded to the RES PTA in 2020. Each RES student received a PTA art kit with watercolors, markers, pastels, an art journal, a canvas tile inside a mesh pouch (approximately $4,500). We hope to construct the community mural in late Winter 2021.
Driving Social and Emotional Wellbeing
The awarded grant focused heavily on engaging students artistically and equipping students with tools to cope through the changes, stress and frustrations of our pandemic times. Our collaborative efforts stretched from the PTA to all teaching staff, wellbeing staff and art team to consistently offer tools and coping mechanisms to navigate the ups and downs of every day. Work initiated over the summer has been actively in place for the school year.
Thanks to the leadership of Meredith Ferris and the professional skills of Jay Patts, the RES team created a video on our strong emotions and what we can do to manage our feelings. We are incredibly appreciative of the time of Dr. Sammi Gureasko, Kristin Miller, Ms. Carr and Mrs. Fisher. Click to watch it at home - as parents, as a family, as an extended family! https://vimeo.com/464223877/c5d3cf6e14
As always we appreciate ideas and feedback on these initiatives -- reach out in person or email respta4kids@gmail.com.
2020-2021 HRRA Annual Billboard Contest
The deadline is January 15th and artwork can be submitted electronically but students are asked to keep their original artwork. More details can be found here. And the template to enter can be found here.
Our local coordinator for the contest is Peggy Palmer: ppalmer@townofreddingct.org
La Comida Social
La Comida Social founder, Jenny, has been baking for as long as she can remember. Using a step stool to reach her mother’s baking bowls to measure out the flour and sugar. She learned early on from her mother how to make people smile by baking them delicious homemade treats. As she grew up, Jenny carried that love and aspiration with her as she worked in bakeries on Long Island.
She knew there was something out there for her in baking, and years later found it in La Comida Social. Jenny makes custom-made desserts and sweet treats for any occasion. Putting much time and thoughtfulness into each creation, every dessert is made with the highest quality ingredients and freshness. You will taste it in the first bite. Jenny uses organic King Arthur Flour, organic sugar, organic cream and organic eggs. All orders are custom made one-of-a-kind creations.
A big thank you from the RES PTA to La Comida Social for being a Silver Sponsor!!
Email: lacomidasocial@gmail.com
Website: https://lacomidasocial.com/
Phone: 203-984-5059
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacomidasocial/
Library Books
Library books are available to RES Families!
Our RES Library staff is providing an opportunity for our students and families to continue borrowing books from school during Distance Learning. Mrs. Peronace and Mrs. DiScipio have shared the following steps necessary for checking out a book. You can find the steps here or by following the steps below:
Step 1: Student will search the online Destiny catalog
Step 2: Student will complete a Google Form to request a book
Step 3: RES Library staff pulls the book and prepares it to be distributed
Step 4: RES Library staff emails the student and parent that book is ready for pickup
Step 5: Requested books will be prepared and left in the front vestibule on a blue cart marked “Library Book Request Holds”
AND... We want your help with adding books to our RES library. If you have any recommendations of children's books that will help us with our diversity and inclusion goals please let us know! We will be working with the library to add books that represent all families and cultures. Email dianajimenez11@gmail.com with your recommendations.
Parents-Helping-Parents
Thanks to Becky Parkin for starting a thread on Facebook, we have terrific tips and tricks as parents-help-parents successfully navigate remote learning. Keep the ideas rolling to respta4kids@gmail.com!
Tips to keep you on task
- Add the zoom schedule into the google calendar with 1-minute reminders and a quick link
- Check email in the morning and create a list of tasks for the day
- Set alarms on house smart speakers
- Name alarms on the iPhone
- Download your child’s ER9 account and classroom app to your phone so you can take a photo and easily upload it to the assignment
- Investigate the “NOTES” app allowing you to create documents with multiple pages and scan a child’s work
- Erase/archive older emails or assignments so you can navigate quickly
Tips to keep children on task and focused
- Utilize small whiteboards to write tasks -- schedule and erase after completion
- Synch the Chromebook screen to the household TV with a Chromecast device
- Place a clock within the workspace to help the child take ownership of time and schedules
- Keep healthy snacks and drinks in an easy to reach location
Keeping worksheets organized
- Purchase a storage clipboard with side opening – keep all the week’s work in one place
- Print out all the worksheets for the week/night prior and review order with your child
Structure the day
- Encourage quiet activities in between lessons – e.g., arts & crafts
- Create a scheduled time for work vs. time for play
Thank you super parents for these tips and tricks – Becky Parkin, Sarah O’ Dell, Martine King, Kori Gawrych, Teresa Elizabeth, Melissa Lukas, Nicole Lilley, Alex Zuluaga, Steve Arnott, Dana Schmitt, Chase Sobelman, Dani Garavito, Pina Jabbari, Melissa Stern, Marla Wendell and Becky Rappoccio!
In case you missed it -- December PTA meeting
Easton, Redding, Region 9 Special Education Committee
The tri-district special education committee works to support students and families who rely on additional support services in kindergarten to 12th grade.
Learn more about the committee's efforts and events at its website here.
Employer Donation Matching
As we approach the end of the year, you may be thinking about charitable donations. The RES PTA is a 501(c)(3) organization, and if our work is valuable to you, you can consider making an angel donation right here, or by mailing it to the RES PTA at 33 Lonetown Rd., Redding, CT 06896.
We'd also like to remind you that your employer might be like Thomson Reuters -- a company that generously matches employee gifts to local nonprofits doing the work communities rely on. If that's the case, please let us know, and we'll help you complete all the paperwork you need to make it happen!
Contact Us
Email: respta4kids@gmail.com
Phone: (203) 938-2519
Join the PTA!
As a PTA, our main goals will remain what they have always been:
- To provide academic, cultural and social programs for our children to enhance their learning and
- To support our teachers and staff and to act to unify our school community.
To fulfill our mission for a unified parent/ teacher community, we strive for 100% PTA membership. Dues are $25 per family this year. For more information on how to join, go to:
RESCTPTA.MEMBERSHIPTOOLKIT.COM
We are planning lots of safe and exciting virtual events this year that will be available to PTA members only, so sign up today!