Wood End Wildcat News
April 29, 2024
*Please check the dates below and mark your calendars! *
May 2: Grade 2/3 Pedestrian Safety -in school event
May 8: Grade 3 Field Trip
May 9: ABC countdown begins
May 13: Grade 3 & 5 Math MCAS
May 14: Grade 1 field Trip, Grade 3 & 5 Math MCAS
May 15: Grade 4 Math MCAS, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Global Awareness day - blue is the color for TSC, PTO meeting (virtual meeitng- link below)
May 16: Grade 4 Math MCAS, Kindergarten Field trip, Spring Open House
May 17: Kindergarten Screening Day
May 21: Grade 5 STE MCAS
May 22: Grade 5 STE MCAS, Grade 2 field trip
May 24: All School Assembly
May 28: School Council Meeting
May 31: Term 3 closes
June 4: Field Day
June 5: PTO meeting (in person)
June 6: Field Day Rain Date
June 11: 5th Grade Graduation
Last day of School: Report cards emailed home, Dance Party!
2024 Kite and Bike Festival
On Saturday May 18th from 12pm-3pm Reading METCO will be back at the Boston Kite Festival. This is a day where we host Reading in Boston at one of our many staple community events. We will have free kites for children, face painting, Ballon animals, pizza, Reading METCO T-shirts and more. We hope to see you all there.
Family Survey
When families and educators team up, we have the ability to foster foundational years for our children where they begin to understand the world as a place where they are seen, valued, heard, challenged, supported and celebrated for who they are and all that they will become.
We can only accomplish this if our families feel valued as authentic partners in our work. If you are open, we would love to hear from you about how you feel about your partnership with Wood End via this survey. This survey data may be viewed with the school council or other bodies to support in improving our practice. The survey will be open until Friday, March 22.
Thank you for your input and for partnering with us to support our growth as a school community!
April 30th Reading community parent listening sessions to support middle schoolers
April 30th Reading community parent listening sessions to support middle schoolers
The Reading Children's Cabinet is hosting parent listening sessions to discuss best practices to support our middle schoolers so they are empowered to thrive socially and emotionally! Community Listening Sessions will be held on Tuesday, April 30th from 9:30am - 10:30am and 6pm - 7pm at Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Ave, Reading, MA 01867. Please complete this form to RSVP for one of the listening sessions.
RSVP form for Reading Parent Listening Sessions
For additional information, please contact Barbara Best at bbest@gse.harvard.edu.
Wood End MCAS Dates
Mark your calendars! Grades 3-5 2023 MCAS Assessment dates are noted below. The testing window has been set by DESE and we are planning for the following MCAS test dates at Wood End. Please note that students will take 2 days of tests per content area (English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Gr. 5 Science and Technology). Please refrain from vacations or unnecessary absences on these dates.
Phones and Smart Watches
Roaring with Rigor- April 24, 2024
Arrival During Inclement Weather
Social Emotional Learning
The role of the SAC involves working collaboratively with all students, teachers, families and other school staff to address a wide range of concerns that may affect a student’s overall well-being and success. These concerns could include social interactions, emotional well-being, and coping with various life situations. The goal is to provide a supportive and safe space where students can express their thoughts, feelings and concerns.
Curriculum Update
Through data analysis, we work to create flexible, differentiated learning groups that allow teachers to meet students where they are, set goals for growth, and provide targeted instruction.
Our tutors, reading specialist and assistant principal will support this work. They will work with small groups of students across grade level classrooms to target student needs in both reading and math. Students may work in their own classroom, in Ms. Foresman's classroom, in Ms. Hester's classroom, or they may work in another grade level classroom with grade-level peers. All groups are flexible and will change many times throughout the school year.
We look forward to the year ahead with your children and celebrating their growth along the way. It's one of the best parts of elementary school!
Specialist News
See below for an update from Ms. Norcross
Attendance Matters!
This year, our goal is 98% attendance with ZERO chronically absent students (18 absences).
- Students are marked tardy after 8:25 and marked absent if they are dismissed prior to 11:00am.
- Attendance notices will go home after each term
How Families can help!
Schedule family vacations during school vacation windows. Last year, family vacations were the second leading cause of absences, second to sickness.
Make a consistent routine with your student every morning.
Schedule appointments outside of school hours.
From Nursing Director Mary Guiliana,
Here are the updated guidelines as they pertain to staff and student absence who have any respiratory illness, including COVID:
You may begin to resume normal activities with precautions if:
- You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicines; AND
- Your other symptoms are improving
You may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better.
For at least the first 5 days after you resume normal activities, take these extra precautions:
- Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Wear a mask anytime you are indoors around other people
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid spending time with people who are at increased risk for severe disease.
Wood End PTO Board
We have some amazing parents who have taken on leadership roles to keep our very active PTO up & running. We are so grateful for their willingness to provide our community with many opportunities to volunteer and support our students and families. Our PTO has been involved in coordinating fundraising events, book fairs, enrichment programs, school supplies, teacher appreciation events, flamingo flocking, and restaurant nights, just to name a few, to make Wood End the special community it is today. If you are interested in becoming more involved in our PTO, please reach out to any of our board members.
- Laura Brandt - Co-President
- Emily McNaughton - Co-President
- Andrea Freeman, Shana Lyons and Dave Scannell - Events and Fundraising Coordinators
- Steff Keilty - Room Parent Coordinator
- Bridget Briere & Sarah Henic - Enrichment Coordinators
- Linda Liang - Secretary
- Kristen Godsoe - Treasurer
PTO General Meeting Schedule
- May 15 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
- June 5 @ 8:15am (In Person)
- Nicole Schwartz, Principal
- Amelia Sinha, Teacher
- Maureen Habeeb, Teacher
- Lindsey Tainsh, Teacher
- Lindsay Baker, Parent
- Kristine Crowley, Parent
- Chris Kowaleski, Parent
- Christine St. Hilaire, Parent
All meetings will be held on Tuesday 3:15 - 4:15 PM, Virtually unless otherwise posted.
2023-2024 School Council Meeting Dates
May 28, 2024
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!
Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram
The New IEP Presentations:
Reading Public Schools will implement the new IEP in the fall. Please join us for an opportunity to learn what changes to expect and to ask Student Services your questions. The presentation will be held both in person and virtually.
More information about the new IEP can be found here.
If you have a child on an IEP, we recommend that you take a moment to familiarize yourself with what the new IEP form will look like.
Understanding the New IEP Form in Massachusetts: Article Published by Mass General Hospital for Children and Lurie Center
Wednesday, May 8th, 6PM (In Person - Location: Distance Learning Lab at RMHS)
This will be a presentation for families to review DESE's NEW IEP Improvement Project to include the school’s timeline for rollout, what the new forms look like and what to expect for any adjustments to the team meeting process.
Location: Distance Learning Lab at RMHS. This room is on the 4th floor. Parents will take the elevator to the 4th floor and follow signs to the Distance Learning Lab. We will also have people directing until just after 6pm.
Please register for this presentation so we can be prepared with how many families will be attending as we need to be sure to accommodate a large crowd if needed.
Please Click Here to Register for the May 8th In-Person Presentation.
Thursday, May 9th, 12PM (Virtual)
This will be a presentation for families to review DESE's NEW IEP Improvement Project to include the school’s timeline for rollout, what the new forms look like and what to expect for any adjustments to the team meeting process.
Registration required to receive the zoom link.
Please Click Here to Register for the May 9th Virtual Presentation.
Tuesday, May 14th, 11-1PM (In-person at Northern Bank’s Community room or join virtually)
Come have lunch with other SEPAC families and some members of the Reading SEPAC Board. SEPAC will provide cheese pizza. Feel free to bring optional potluck sides or your own brown bag lunch, especially if you or your loved one has a special diet. Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverages if you will be joining us.
A picnic blanket will be set up with toys for any kids who want to join and don’t need a chair. Feel free to bring other toys your child wouldn’t mind sharing with others.
This will be an informal monthly gathering on the 2nd Tue of the month just to hang out with other SEPAC families.
Space is limited to 8 adult seats in person and unlimited virtually.
Please Click Here to Register for the May SEPAC Lunch Meetup.
We reviewed the survey results at our last meeting. Thank you to everyone who was able to complete the survey. If you did not get a chance yet, it’s not too late to submit as we will use this as a reference point to plan for next year.
Past Events:
Recorded events that’s available on the Reading SEPAC Website:
Transition Presentation
For parents and caregivers whose child has an IEP and will be transitioning (between schools, grades, levels, or are new to the school district)
Extended School Year (ESY) Presentation Recording
MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation
Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation Recording Available on the Reading SEPAC Website
Review tiered system of supports and provide examples
Outline effective communication channels with your team and school
***Should you wish to reach out to Reading SEPAC anonymously, please use this form
Reading Public Schools is a METCO District
"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."
School Lunch
If you are looking for the allergens, nutritionals and ingredients please use the link below. This will bring you LINQ Connect which will provide you with up to date additional helpful information. You can filter viewing by week or month. Additionally, you can filter out menu items according to allergens and dietary restrictions ect. along the top tool bar.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
At the Reading Public Library, there are 10 different kits that address different needs that people in the community may experience (e.g. Grief, anxiety, trauma, etc.). You can request a kit through the online library catalog or check it out in person. Kits contain a variety of materials that are accessible to kids, teens, and/or adults, as well as a resource packet with lists of community resources and activities. Each kit also contains a notebook where others who have used the kit can leave words of support.
Summer Adventure Camp
Program Overview:
Dates: Monday, June 24th to Friday, August 9th
Location: Birch Meadow Elementary School
Grades: Entering Grades K – 6
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
About the Program:
The Summer Adventure Program offers seven week-long sessions, each centered around a unique theme. Led by RPS teachers and staff, students will engage in a variety of hands-on projects, sports, games, arts and crafts, and academic enrichment activities. It's a fantastic opportunity for children to explore, learn, and have fun during the summer months.
Registration & Details:
Attached to this email, you will find the official flyer containing all the necessary information about the program, including session dates, themes, costs, registration process, and contact information. We kindly ask you to distribute this flyer to the families of your school community so they can take advantage of this enriching summer experience.
Contact Information:
For any further questions or assistance, families can reach out to Mackenzie Irwin at Mackenzie.Irwin@reading,k12.ma.us.
Principal Schwartz
Wood End Resource Guide/Handbook
Email: nicole.schwartz@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/woodend/
Location: 85 Sunset Rock Lane, Reading, MA, United States
Phone: 781-942-5420