JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
Week of March 13, 2023
It’s been a fun filled week at Killam kicking off our Read Across America celebration! Thank you to all the caregivers who helped at our Book Fair this week. This was our most successful Spring Book Fair to date with lots and lots of exciting new books going home with our students! School Committee members Tom Wise and Erin Gaffen visited the library to read to more of our Kindergarten classes. We also enjoyed dressing up as our favorite storybook characters.
Next week our fifth graders will have a special presentation with Reading Librarian Ashley Waring to learn all about the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. On March 24th, our second through fifth graders will have an author visit with Max Brallier! Max Brallier is a former Reading student who attended Joshua Eaton and Parker Middle School. His popular book series The Last Kids on Earth has been turned into a Netflix series and the inspiration for the school in that series is rumored to be Parker Middle School! He also wrote the series Eerie Elementary under the pen name Jack Chabert. This series is rumored to be about Joshua Eaton! On April 14th, our kindergarten through second graders will have an author visit with Kimberly Hirsch who wrote the book Our Best Friend Karma. Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring these author visits!
Just a reminder that there is no school for students this Friday, March 17th.
Stay well,
Ms. Leveque
Read Across America
Killam Upcoming Dates
-Friday, March 17th: No School for students; teacher in-service day
-Monday, March 20th: Elementary Report Cards and Progress Notes emailed home
-Tuesday, March 22nd: Ramadan begins
School Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 8:15-2:45 (8:10-11:30 for half-day kindergarten)
Friday, 8:15-12:45 (8:10-12:45 for half-day kindergarten)
Elementary Assistant Principal Hiring Advisory Committee- Parents wanted!
The survey will be open until 3pm on Wednesday, 3/15. We will choose two family representatives at random by Wednesday, 3/15. You will be notified if you are invited to join the committee.
Killam MSBA - School Building Project Update
ARTSFest 2023
District Strategic Planning - Family/Community Engagement
RPS has started the process of developing a multi-year District Strategic Plan to outline what’s ahead for our district. As part of this process, we are seeking teacher and parent participation on the steering committee for our “Family and Community Engagement” work within the District Strategic Plan. Please see this link for more information Please email Alissa Gallegos, principal of Barrows Elementary school @ alissa.gallegos@reading.k12.ma.us if you are interested in lending your voice to this work. We look forward to engaging our community as the process of developing our District Strategic Plan moves forward.
Health Updates
BMI SCREENINGS – 2023
Heights and weights are being conducted on students in Grades 1 and 4 during the upcoming weeks. Families of first and fourth graders should have received an email explaining this screening. If you did not receive the email or if you have any questions or would like to opt your child out, please contact me.
Thank you,
Sharon Grottkau, School Nurse
Friends of METCO Event
A Little Lunch Music
Attention 5th Grade Families: Middle School Transition Information
On behalf of Parker and Coolidge Middle Schools, we would like to share with you the following welcome letters, which contain important upcoming middle school transition dates as well as links to other helpful information. Please read the letter that pertains to your child’s future school. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Principal Sarah Marchant (Coolidge) or Principal Rochelle Rubino (Parker).
Reach out with any questions to Principal Rochelle Rubino, Parker (Rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us) and Principal Sarah Marchant, Coolidge (Sarah.marchant@reading.k12.ma.us).
Killam Grades 3-5 MCAS Dates
PTO Corner
SEPAC News
Latest Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
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
For much more information about the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, click here for our latest newsletter.
We encourage you to join SEPAC's mailing list, follow SEPAC on Facebook, and follow SEPAC on Instagram
2023-2024 Incoming Kindergarten Information
It's that time of year to start thinking about our incoming kindergarten students for the 2023-2024 school year. To be eligible for admission to the Reading Public Schools, a child must have reached the age of five on or before August 31st of the entering year to begin kindergarten or have reached the age of six on or before August 31st of the entering year to begin grade one. We had a great turnout for a virtual incoming kindergarten information session on Wednesday, January 4th. Information on the school registration packet and links to the presentation are shared below and can be found on the Reading Public Schools district website.
Ongoing Information:
-Sign up to receive email updates during the kindergarten registration process by visiting: https://forms.gle/LK4esx7RoP7YxQ498-To learn more and stay up to date, visit the registration website at Registration Forms - Reading Public Schools
Introduction to Kindergarten Presentation from January 4th:
-Here's the link to January 4th Introduction to Kindergarten Presentation in video form: Virtual Kindergarten Information Session-20230104_190233-Meeting Recording.mp4 - Google Drive
-Here's a link to the January 4th Introduction to Kindergarten presentation in English.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1sK9kOUVIc0t58Mn9k4Jld725ULiwsiddo5Cav0A3l2k/edit?usp=sharing
-Aqui está o link para a apresentação de Introdução ao Jardim de Infância de 4 de janeiro em português.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Dyq75gPb2YB6MY3t2pUTSAJjbEseopwE-RHNSludJUE/edit?usp=sharing
-Aquí está el enlace a la presentación de Introducción a Kindergarten del 4 de enero en español.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GUKK3DNGRyIwMjQhzW1QY_AfA1YR65JbKBiyRgSK4lM/edit?usp=sharing
Killam Change in Dismissal Form
Reporting an Absence
You can continue to call the school absence line and leave a message 24-hours a day. The number is 781-944-7831, option 1. Now, you can also email an absence to jwkabsences@Reading.k12.ma.us. Either way, letting us know will help us make sure the Killam community is safely in the building or at home.
Speech and Language Ideas
Killam School Map
Parent PlusPortal Access
As a parent guardian of a child in the Reading Public Schools, you have access to the Parent PlusPortal. The Portal will be used throughout your child’s academic career as it is where you update your child’s emergency contact information, view report cards, and beyond elementary school, see your child’s grades in real time. It also acts as a communication portal between you and your child’s teacher where oftentimes, different academic links, notes, or activities are shared.
If you are a returning parent, your account is still active. If you are new parent guardian and have not received access, please reach out to our school administrative assistant, Jackie Maglio at jaculen.maglio@reading.k12.ma.us. At that point, you will receive a separate email with your PlusPortal login information. The subject line of the email is Important! Killam School PlusPortals login. This is a confidential portal that is linked to your email account. You have 48 hours to activate your Portal account using the temporary password supplied through the email. Once you login, you can update the password and personal information.
School Lunches free 2022-2023
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