Birch Meadow Newsflash
December 17, 2023
Notes From Dr. Burnham
*I couldn't have been prouder of our 5th grade Composting Student Ambassadors for the outstanding presentation they gave the RPS School Committee last week. They were poised, articulate, and enthusiastic. We're proud to be the first school in the district composting at all of our lunches! Thank you to Student Ambassadors Anna Henneberry, Britt Flaherty, Ellie McCormick, Lucy Balicki, Margaret Smith, Mikayla Austin, Owen DeCroteau, and Penny O’Karma. You can check out the presentation by watching this video (13:00-28:16 mark) and see a group photo attached attached to this newsflash.
*Please be sure to see the health office news attached to the Newsflash this week.
*Lost and found- If your child is missing any items of clothing, lunch boxes, hats, gloves, etc. please check our lost and found! Items that are still here by winter break will be donated. Anything labeled with a name will be returned so please take the time to label items. Below the notes you will find a picture of the items we've collected.
*At our next PTO General Assembly (February 13th) I will be presenting information on the 2022-2023 MCAS. I will also push out the presentation via the Newsflash for those of you unable to join us live.
*As we approach the holiday season, the Student Council is excited to announce our December Food Drive aimed at supporting those in need within our community. We believe that by coming together, we can make a significant impact and spread some warmth during this festive time. Attached is a PDF flyer providing detailed information about the food drive, including drop-off locations, acceptable food items, and other essential details. Thank you to our student council advisor, Patrick McCracken, and all of our student council members for their work on this initiative!
Dr. B
Birch Meadow PTO News
Celtics Tickets have been distributed! If you have any questions, please reach out to BirchMeadowPTO@gmail.com!
Ordering Holiday Cards? Don't forget our partnership with Minted. You get 20% off your order and the school gets 15%! Use code: FUNDRAISERBIRCHMEADOW
Clearing out Clothing/Shoes/Textiles? Consider dropping at our BLUE Helpsy box outside the 4th/5th grade classrooms.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Info - 5th grade parent, Liz Castiglia, is heading up the Teachers Appreciation Luncheon this year on Wednesday, 12/20. Food will be catered by EJ's. A Sign Up Genius has been created if you want to bring some extra goodies or to sign up to help out in your child's classroom so their teacher can have a nice long lunch! STILL NEED HELP IN MS. REGAN/MR. SCARPA, MS. HEALY, MS. DUFFY CLASSROOMS.
Birch Meadow Community Giving
Some of our Birch Meadow families can use a little support to bring Christmas and holiday magic to their children this season! If you'd like to purchase a gift, please reach out to PTO volunteer Julie Wall (wall.julie516@gmail.com). You can also Venmo Julie (@Julie-Wall-28; last 4 digits of phone number are 5078), and she will purchase items from the families' wish lists!
And, if your family can use some support this holiday season, please feel welcome to contact Dr. Burnham (stephen.burnham@reading.k12.ma.edu) anytime.
Thank you for supporting each other this holiday season!
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER DATE REMINDERS
Wed. December 20th - Teacher Appreciation Lunch - Sign Up Genius to help!
Fri. December 22nd - Early Release @ 11am.
December 25 - January 1 - Winter Break. School resumes Tues. Jan 2nd.
Monday, January 15th - MLK Day, No School
Tuesday, February 13th - PTO General Mtg (stay tuned, we're meeting after drop off!)
Cold Weather/Parking Update
With temps dropping, we expect to see an increase in cars vying for the same parking spots and using the rolling drop off option. If you are parallel parking, please pull up to the car in front or behind you, leaving just enough space for you to pull out paying attention that you aren't taking up two spaces. The lot across from Coolidge is open as well ❄️
Rolling Driveway Drop Off Procedure Reminders:
- Please pull as far forward as possible in the driveway.
- Children must exit the vehicle on the right-hand side.
- Parents are asked to stay in their vehicle at drop off.
- Traffic should be in a single line only.
- Once your student has exited the car, you can pull out and around the line in front of you if there is not a school bus or van with flashing lights indicating that children are loading/unloading. Please drive slowly and cautiously in the driveway.
NEW VOLUNTEER SPOTS!
Birch Meadow Enrichment & Event Volunteer Opportunities:
If you are interested in helping with any of our open volunteer opportunities below:
Restaurant Fundraiser Coordinator (1 volunteer)
Red Sox fundraiser Coordinator (1 volunteer)
Read-a-thon fundraiser support (1 volunteer)
BIRCH MERCH
CUSTOM NAME LABELS
MINTED STATIONARY & CARDS
Enjoy 20% off Minted cards & gift orders throughout the year, and Minted will donate 15% back to Birch PTO. Perfect for holiday cards!!
Use code: FUNDRAISEBIRCHMEADOW
Social Media Pages
Please "like" Birch Meadow Elementary PTO" Facebook page and follow our Instagram: @birch_meadow_pto