The RISE Report
Weekly Newsletter, November 6, 2022
This is a quick week coming up with our district-wide staff in-service day on Tuesday and Veterans Day on Friday. As a reminder, there is no school for students on either day. On Friday, I hope you take the time to talk to your child about the importance of Veterans Day. Unlike Memorial Day when we remember and honor those who have died in service to our country, Veterans Day provides us with an opportunity to honor and thank everyone who has served in the military. I know I am so grateful for my many friends and family members who have served and continue to serve our country.
Next week begins our parent/teacher conferences where we look forward to spending time with each parent/guardian to discuss your child's transition to preschool this year. This time also gives us an opportunity to let families know what we will be focusing on for the remainder of the year, as well as talk about any hopes or concerns families share. You should have already received information about signing up for a time, but if not please reach out to your child's teacher.
As a reminder, there will be an early release on Wednesday, November 16, 12:45 dismissal for all students, PreK-5, as well as no school for students on Friday, November 18. We will begin the Thanksgiving recess on November 23 with an 11:00 dismissal for all students, PreK-12. Please be mindful of the release times and the number of students being dismissed at each school. Use extra caution when driving on school grounds and please use the crosswalks.
I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at (781) 942-9179 or via email at joanne.king@reading.k12.ma.us.
Enjoy the week ahead,
Miss AnnMarie's Class had a spooky fun day!
SOME OF THE HALLOWEEN HAPENINGS AT RISE
November Conferences
PTN News Corner
RISE Spirit Wear Available November 4-11:
The PTN is excited to share with you that RISE apparel is available for purchase NOW! Please click on this LINK to access our online “store” where you can purchase gear for your RISE preschooler! The store will only be open for 1 week to ensure items will be delivered by the holidays.
Families can save on shipping costs by selecting your child’s teacher’s name at checkout, and your order will be hand-delivered directly to your child’s classroom. This online store will serve as a small fundraiser for the RISE PTN, as we will earn a small portion of every order received. Proceeds will help finance the many wonderful enrichment programs and activities our kiddos enjoy throughout the year at RISE! The PTN will also purchase a RISE t-shirt for any staff member new to RISE this year! If you have any questions, please email Christina Horn.
Fire Safety & Prevention:
As mentioned, our SAFE Coordinator at the Reading Fire Department, Lt. Ryan Buckley, will soon be visiting classrooms to share important information with our students about fire safety and prevention. He will be meeting with classrooms at Killam on November 7th and classrooms at RMHS on November 14th.
Dues Drive:
This is also the time of year when dues are collected from each family to support the work of the PTN. Informational flyers were sent home in backpacks last week. We are hoping this gives families enough time to respond and send in the suggested amount ($35 per family) before we begin our holiday activities in November and December.
If you have any questions, or interest in volunteering this year to support our PTN, please reach out to PTN President, Courtney Martinello. We welcome everyone to join!
Native American Heritage Month
A Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2021 | The White House
15 Classroom Activities, Books, and Resources for Native American Heritage Month - Waterford.org
Native American Heritage Month | NCAI
American Indian History and Heritage | NEH-Edsitement
Respiratory Illnesses in Children
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Northeast and much of the US are seeing increases in respiratory illness in infants and children. Some of these infants and children are requiring hospitalization for support with breathing and hydration. Emergency departments and other acute care health facilities have been managing significant increases in the number of patients requiring care.
Most of these illnesses are caused by respiratory viral infections, including common seasonal viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus and enterovirus, and influenza. Infants and children may be particularly susceptible to seasonal respiratory viral infections during the 2022-2023 fall and winter because they have had limited previous exposure to these respiratory viruses. We anticipate that there could be more respiratory illnesses as RSV continues to spread and influenza season ramps up.
The Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics want to remind parents and families about steps to take to prevent illness and stay healthy this season:
2. Vaccinate your children ages 6 months and older against COVID-19; children 5 and older who had their primary series more than 2 months ago should receive an updated COVID-19 booster as soon as possible.
3. Remember, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot at the same time.
4. If your infant has been offered treatment with protective antibodies due to their prematurity or another condition, keep on schedule with their monthly treatments.
5. Practice hand hygiene frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or if a tissue is not available, cover them with an elbow, not a hand.
6. Clean high touch surfaces in your home frequently with household disinfectants.
7. Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, especially with a cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever.
8. Avoid social gatherings if you or your children are ill.
9. Contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider if you believe your child needs medical care. Your provider can offer advice on whether your child needs to be evaluated in person, tested for COVID or flu, and the best location (doctor’s office, urgent care, emergency room) for care.
Please click this LINK to request an appointment at our next vaccine clinic on November 16.
Thank you for doing all you can to keep you and your family healthy during this fall and winter season.
Transition Planning Workshop
Preparing students with disabilities for life after high school officially starts at age 14 and requires planning, skill development, and network support. This VIRTUAL presentation will be particularly important for our families with secondary level students on IEPs, but it is never too early for parents/caregivers of younger children to have a sense of what’s to come. Don’t miss out on this important topic. Click here to pre-register!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
📌 Andover SEPAC’s Basics Right Workshop - Understanding the IEP. Tues. Nov. 8th, 7 to 9PM via Zoom. Click here to register.
📌 Reading SEPAC’s Basics Right Workshop - Transition Planning. Tues., Nov 15th, 7 to 9PM via Zoom. Click here to register!
We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE all parents of children who receive, or may receive, special educational services to attend one or more of the Basic Rights Workshops, especially if you never have.
Check your email for more details from us about these topics and more. Not on our mailing list? Click here to join SEPAC's mailing list and while you’re at it, follow SEPAC on Facebook and on Instagram.
Important Dates to Remember:
November
8: Teacher In-Service; No school for students
11: Veterans' Day; No school for students
16: Early Release for Conferences; 12:45 dismissal for all students; No PM classes
18: Teacher In-Service/Conferences; No school for students
23: Early Release; 11:00 AM dismissal for all students; No PM classes
24-25: Thanksgiving Recess
About R.I.S.E.
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