News You Can Use
December 8, 2020
December PTA Meeting
Seeking answers?
Principals Hammond and Amodio will be answering pre-submitted questions at Wednesday's PTA meeting. Send your questions in advance to respta4kids@gmail.com.Join Zoom Meeting here.
Meeting ID: 836 3796 9924
Passcode: 06896
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Wednesday, Dec 9, 2020, 07:00 PM
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Parent-Led Support Calls
Zoom links:
Special Ed: Tues, Dec 22 @ 7PM -- link to join
Pre-K: Mon, Dec 21 @ 7:30PM -- link to join
Kinder: Mon, Dec 14 @ 7:30PM -- link to join
1st: Wed, Dec 16 @ 8:30PM -- link to join
2nd: Wed, Dec 16 @ 7:30PM -- link to join
3rd: Tues, Dec 15 at 8PM -- link to join
4th: Thurs, Dec 17 at 7:30PM -- link to join
Monday, Dec 14, 2020, 07:00 PM
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RES PTA Frosty Gift Drive
Join us is helping out a child in need this year. The RES PTA Frosty Drive is taking on a new online form this year due to Covid-19. Please access the Sign-Up Genius form here and choose a child's wish you'd like to make a reality this holiday season. Once you commit to a gift, please purchase the gift as soon as possible.
And remember, if you are buying an actual tangible gift or gift card, please return it to one of the drop off boxes at either JRMS or RES ASAP!
President's Note
Feeling Exhausted? Overwhelmed? Confused by distance learning?
You are not alone! At times, the challenges of 2020 can seem insurmountable. Our RES PTA Parent Community is here to help!
- Gift of Generosity: Support the Frosty Drive Gift Drive! This is the last week for our Frosty Gift Drive which allows us to give back to families in need in our community. Giving is easier than ever this year with many virtual options, as well as a drop box at RES and JRMS. Check out our sign up genius for more information!
- Gift of Understanding: Parent to Parent Support Calls. We will be hosting live zoom sessions, per grade, led by parents FOR parents. Join us starting the week of December 14! These informal calls will last about an hour and are open to all to ask questions or simply listen for ideas! See the flier on our facebook page and check your inbox later this week for all the dates and times.
- Gift of Caring: Parent Support with Dr. Donna Volpitta on 'Parenting through the Pandemic'. We are partnering with Dr. Donna to offer a private RES web page with exclusive access to parenting information, classes and resources, book clubs and discount codes for further classes.
- Gift of Community: Are you having challenges or questions with Special Education Learning? Our Special Education Committee Representatives, Danielle Garavito and Meredith Ferris are here to help! Visit their website at www.er9spedcom.com for more resources.
We are so thankful for the strong, supportive parent community that we have at RES. The PTA is here for you! Please don't hesitate to reach out through our social media channels or respta4kids@gmail.com, if we can assist with anything!
Take care and be well!
Meredith and Angela
Fourth Grade Yearbook
We are currently gathering photos for the yearbook, and are in need of many more. We are looking for 2020 Halloween and 2020 learning at home photos as well as memories "through the years" (think field days, class parties, class trips, groups of friends, etc.).
Please send your photos to Jen Lyons at reddingyearbook@gmail.com
Note that not all photos may make it into the yearbook, but we would love to gather as many as possible!
Happy Hanukkah
Class Pictures
Did your child miss an opportunity to be in a class picture? Some families chose to be 100% remote and we know their child(ren) are missing the chance to have a class photo. If this is your situation, please send us an email at respta4kids@gmail.com with your child's name, teacher and grade. The RES PTA will work with the class and put together a plan so everyone is included in a photo.
2020-2021 HRRA Annual Billboard Contest
The deadline is January 15th and artwork can be submitted electronically but students are asked to keep their original artwork. More details can be found here. And the template to enter can be found here.
Our local coordinator for the contest is Peggy Palmer: ppalmer@townofreddingct.org
Don't Forget -- Use Amazon Smile for your Holiday Shopping
Employer Donation Matching
As we approach the end of the year, you may be thinking about charitable donations. The RES PTA is a 501(c)(3) organization, and if our work is valuable to you, you can consider making an angel donation right here, or by mailing it to the RES PTA at 33 Lonetown Rd., Redding, CT 06896.
We'd also like to remind you that your employer might be like Thomson Reuters -- a company that generously matches employee gifts to local nonprofits doing the work communities rely on. If that's the case, please let us know, and we'll help you complete all the paperwork you need to make it happen!
Caraluzzi's
Caraluzzi's is a family owned and operated grocery store located in Bethel, Georgetown, and Newtown.
A big thank you from the RES PTA to Caraluzzi's for being a Silver Sponsor!!
Caraluzzi's Bethel Market
98 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT
203.748.3547
Caraluzzi's Georgetown Market
920 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT
203.544.7021
Caraluzzi's Newtown Market
5 Queen Street
Newtown, CT
203.270.7500
Website: https://caraluzzis.com/
Library Books
Library books are available to RES Families!
Our RES Library staff is providing an opportunity for our students and families to continue borrowing books from school during Distance Learning. Mrs. Peronace and Mrs. DiScipio have shared the following steps necessary for checking out a book. You can find the steps here or by following the steps below:
Step 1: Student will search the online Destiny catalog
Step 2: Student will complete a Google Form to request a book
Step 3: RES Library staff pulls the book and prepares it to be distributed
Step 4: RES Library staff emails the student and parent that book is ready for pickup
Step 5: Requested books will be prepared and left in the front vestibule on a blue cart marked “Library Book Request Holds”
AND... We want your help with adding books to our RES library. If you have any recommendations of children's books that will help us with our diversity and inclusion goals please let us know! We will be working with the library to add books that represent all families and cultures. Email dianajimenez11@gmail.com with your recommendations.
Notes From the Backpack: A PTA Podcast
You may not be aware, but every school has LGBTQ youth and families. Is your PTA using inclusive language and offering affirming programs and activities? We sat down with two guests from the Human Rights Campaign Ellen Kahn, senior director of programs and partnerships, and Jodie Patterson, board chair of the HRC Foundation, to learn how to become better allies to the LGBTQ community.
Parents-Helping-Parents
Thanks to Becky Parkin for starting a thread of Facebook, we have terrific tips and tricks as parents-help-parents successfully navigate remote learning. Keep the ideas rolling to respta4kids@gmail.com!
Tips to keep you on task
- Add the zoom schedule into the google calendar with 1-minute reminders and a quick link
- Check email in the morning and create a list of tasks for the day
- Set alarms on house smart speakers
- Name alarms on the iPhone
- Download your child’s ER9 account and classroom app to your phone so you can take a photo and easily upload it to the assignment
- Investigate the “NOTES” app allowing you to create documents with multiple pages and scan a child’s work
- Erase/archive older emails or assignments so you can navigate quickly
Tips to keep children on task and focused
- Utilize small whiteboards to write tasks -- schedule and erase after completion
- Synch the Chromebook screen to the household TV with a Chromecast device
- Place a clock within the workspace to help the child take ownership of time and schedules
- Keep healthy snacks and drinks in an easy to reach location
Keeping worksheets organized
- Purchase a storage clipboard with side opening – keep all the week’s work in one place
- Print out all the worksheets for the week/night prior and review order with your child
Structure the day
- Encourage quiet activities in between lessons – e.g., arts & crafts
- Create a scheduled time for work vs. time for play
Thank you super parents for these tips and tricks – Becky Parkin, Sarah O’ Dell, Martine King, Kori Gawrych, Teresa Elizabeth, Melissa Lukas, Nicole Lilley, Alex Zuluaga, Steve Arnott, Dana Schmitt, Chase Sobelman, Dani Garavito, Pina Jabbari, Melissa Stern, Marla Wendell and Becky Rappoccio!
In case you missed it -- November PTA meeting
Easton, Redding, Region 9 Special Education Committee
The tri-district special education committee works to support students and families who rely on additional support services in kindergarten to 12th grade.
Learn more about the committee's efforts and events at its website here.
Contact Us
Email: respta4kids@gmail.com
Phone: (203) 938-2519
Join the PTA!
As a PTA, our main goals will remain what they have always been:
- To provide academic, cultural and social programs for our children to enhance their learning and
- To support our teachers and staff and to act to unify our school community.
To fulfill our mission for a unified parent/ teacher community, we strive for 100% PTA membership. Dues are $25 per family this year. For more information on how to join, go to:
RESCTPTA.MEMBERSHIPTOOLKIT.COM
We are planning lots of safe and exciting virtual events this year that will be available to PTA members only, so sign up today!