Jaguar Tracks for Families
May 11, 2021
From the Desk of Mrs. Ippolito
Thank you to this incredible parent community for all the love you showed the staff of Joshua Eaton for Teacher/Staff appreciation week. The entire staff feels so blessed to have this amazing community supporting and celebrating their work. From the yard sign to the several day's worth of snacks, gift cards, and lunch on Friday...what a great treat!! Thank you all so very much!!
All my best,
Mrs. Ippolito
Joshua Eaton PTO NEWS
Open PTO Positions for the 2021-2022 School Year:
It's that time of year when we begin to look at the PTO positions that are open for the next school year! Joining the PTO is a wonderful way to build connections with our school community and contribute. Below are the roles that we will need help filling for next school year:
· President
· Vice President - responsible for filling in during an absence of the President; also books reservations for upcoming PTO events.
· Enrichment Coordinator- oversees booking for grade-level field trips and enrichment experiences, as well as all-school assemblies.
· Volunteer Coordinator - responsible for coordinating volunteers to run all PTO events.
· Social Coordinator - coordinates social events for the PTO (including the Ice Cream Social and Halloween Howl).
· Community Service - coordinates our Halloween candy drive and other similar events.
· School Resources/Teacher Appreciation - responsible for coordinating staff appreciation week; also coordinates the occasional snack cart or other gift to staff.
If you are interested in any of the above positions, please let us know by May 30th. All positions can be served with a second person and outgoing members can meet with new members to coordinate a transition to set everyone up for success. Please email Amber Hunt at jeptopresident@gmail.com with any questions or if you are interested.
Upcoming All School Enrichment Activities:
We are excited to share with all of you the upcoming all school enrichment activities we have planned for the remainder of the year!
Matt Wilhem, BMX rider and bullying prevention motivational speaker, May 21:
Matt Wilhem is a professional BMX rider who will have students fully engaged with his clever mix of award-winning BMX tricks and character-building messages. This show will empower your kids to overcome any challenge they face.
Sarah Lynne Reul, Author visit, June 4 & 11:
Sarah Lynne Reul is an author, illustrator and animator. She wrote and illustrated The Breaking News , Allie All Along, and NERP! We are excited to have her back at JE to share her latest books and illustrations with the students!
Dance Fit Fundraiser *NEW KICK-OFF DATE*
We are excited about the Joshua Eaton Dance Fit program, now taking place May 17-26. This fundraiser will benefit our school by improving access to technology for our students.
Watch this video for more information about the program: Joshua Eaton Program Introduction
Just one week until we begin our Joshua Eaton Dance Fit program!! All students will be included in this awesome and fun program, where we will be learning about character, raising funds for our school, and celebrating with an epic dance event!
You can support our school by registering on funrun.com for free! Once registered, you can enter donations and share your pledge page with family and friends!
Book Drive: Support Understanding Disabilities & Our School!
Understanding Disabilities (UD) is a program that teaches our students that even though we may be different in many ways, we are all the same inside. To help our kids see through the eyes of people with diverse abilities, UD has created a wishlist of books for our school, chosen by our library staff, that feature characters with disabilities. Between May 10 and June 13, stop into Whitelam Books on Main Street, or call the store (781.779.1833), to purchase one or more of these books for the JE School library. While you are in the shop, check out the full display of UD-approved books in the children's section of the store, and consider picking one up for your child as well! Please share this information with loved ones and friends who might also like to support our school and Understanding Disabilities.
Important Dates
- May 2021 - See MCAS Dates below
- May 28th - District PD Day (No School for Students)
- June 18th - Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony - Car Rally
- 9:30 - Mrs. Johnston's Class
- 9:50 - Mr. Derosier's Class
- 10:10 - Mrs. Donlon's Class
- June 21st - LAST day of school K - 5
May is Mental Health Month
Reading Public Schools is offering community and staff training to promote mental health and wellness.
Tuesday, May 11th: Kids and Toxic Stress and the Effects on the Brain:
How to Help Students Regulate Kids and Toxic Stress
Presented by Windi Bowditch 3 pm-4:15 pm
Thursday, May 20th: Managing Emotional Health During Uncertain Times
Presented by Lynn Lyons 6 pm-7 pm
Tuesday, May 25th: Stress, Resilience, and Self Care.
Presented by Windi Bowditch 4 pm-5 pm Stress, Resilience and Self Care
Also, attached below are many resources available to our Reading Community.
FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL!
Through the extension of the Seamless Summer Meal program started in response to COVID-19, we are able to offer all Reading Public School Children FREE meals until the end of June.
What this means for your family–
- Your school-age children will receive a healthy breakfast (at Coolidge, Parker and RMHS only,) and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school.
- Our other option for FREE meals for children, ages 0-21, in your home is meal distribution. This may include remote learners, participating in a hybrid learning mode, or any other children in your home. These meals will provide breakfast and lunch for each day, including weekends, at the bridge of Reading Memorial High School on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
Your family may participate in BOTH options. Students can eat at school and receive Meal Distribution for the remote days and weekend meals that your family is entitled to.
This program allows Reading School District to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on providing wonderful, nutritious meals for your family. If your children have never participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!
If you have any questions please contact Danielle Collins, School Nutrition Director, at Danielle.Collins@Reading.k12.ma.us or 781-670-2822
Joshua Eaton News
21-22 School Council
School Council members serve a two-year term. We typically hold elections for School Council members in the spring of each year. We plan to hold 4-5 School Council meetings.
A special thank you to Katrina Madden and Liz Gustavsen for serving on the School council these past two years.
If you are interested in being on the School Council, please reach out to Mrs. Ippolito. Dates and times for School COuncil will be set by the incoming principal.
RPD Served Lunch
Welcome to Joshua Eaton
Mrs. Ferrari getting some help in the kitchen
Chief Clark getting a salute from his new Kindergarten friend.
MCAS Update
Grades 3-5 MCAS 2021:
The testing dates for Joshua Eaton are:
Tuesday, May 11th - Gr 5 ELA
Thursday, May 13th - Grs 3 & 4 ELA
Math
Wednesday, May 19th - Gr 5 Math
Tuesday, May 25th Grs 3 & 4 Math
Science
Thursday, May 27th - Gr 5
DESE has made the adjustment to one session per grade and content area and a shortened testing window.
Families of remote students should have received an email about MCAS remote testing. If you haven't, please reach out to Mrs. Ippolito. lisamarie.ippolito@reading.k12.ma.us
21-22 Incoming Kindergarten
Kindergarten Screening for next year’s incoming kindergarten students will take place on September 1 and 2. All Kindergarten classes will begin on Tuesday, September 7th.
Detailed information will be sent to families during the summer.
Student Absences - IMPORTANT
There are two ways to do that prior to 7:45 am of the morning the student is absent:
1. Call 781-942-9161, Dial 1 - leave a message
2. Email jeeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us
From the Desk of Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
Pool Testing Update
All results from last week (5/3-5/7) were negative. (241 samples tested)
Testing schedule for the week of 5/10-5/15
Tuesday 5/11 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Full day Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2
Wednesday 5/12 10:00 am to 11:30 am Half day K, Grades 3-5.
Please remember that you will not be notified of results UNLESS your child’s pool tests positive and they will need to participate in the follow up reflux testing. I will be in touch with you directly if that is the case.
If you haven’t signed up for testing and are interested, please fill out this google form. We will not be able to include your child in this week’s testing, but we will be able to include them the following week.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pLyBa1nNQUOpBOov91j-Khq-qSxcUPJBqh7GozD1HDlUMjcwOU1DWDVCUjFMMldSTkRHSTU3NkFBVC4u
Change of Clothing
Please remember to send in a back-up set of clothes with your child. There are numerous reasons why a child may need to change their clothing during the school day. Due to COVID protocols this year, I am unable to receive clothing donations to the health office. My clothing supplies are limited, and it would be a huge help if you could leave a set of back-up clothes (including socks and underwear) in your student’s backpack. If your child needs to change clothes and does not have back up, a call will be placed home.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies have been brutal this year. If your child suffers from allergies, and takes an antihistamine, please remember to medicate them.
In good health,
Mrs. Trevejo, RN MPH
From the Desk of Ms. Cucinotta, PE Teacher
SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at
our next business meeting on
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
at 7:00 PM
New business to be discussed includes a presentation on how to read and understand progress reports, followed by caregiver comments/questions; and other items.
Please join us for these presentations and discussions and feel free to share any
additional resources that you think other parents may find helpful.
All are welcome!
This meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom
Join us for our next
VIRTUAL SEPAC MEETING
on Tuesday, May 11th at 7 PM.
Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting
All are welcome and
ENCOURAGED to attend!
Connect with SEPAC by clicking these links:
- Join SEPAC's mailing list by emailing SEPACREADING@gmail.com
- Follow SEPAC on Facebook (please adjust settings so that you are sure to see our posts)
- Visit SEPAC’s website
The mission of the Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community.
Thank you,
SEPAC BOARD
Family Support Resources
Please be reminded of these amazing resources, if your family is in need:
- RPS Behavioral Health Resources linked here.
- Town of Reading: compiled resources linked here.
- RCASA and Mental Health Support linked here.
- St. Vincent de Paul linked here.
- Free & Reduced lunch access: sign up here.
- Reading Food Pantry linked here.
- Project Bread link here.
- Residential Financial Assistance (Rent/Mortgage) link here. (New resource! Check it out!)
Mrs. Ippolito, Principal
Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
Mrs. Greco, Administrative Assistant
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/joshuaeaton
Location: 365 Summer Avenue, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9161
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaEatonSchool/
Twitter: @Mrs_Ippolito